Ziwira February 2015

the

Future

SUSTAINABLE

E COV

R

R STO

February Issue 2 2015

Building

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Y

WETLANDS FAST DISAPPEARING ECOSYSTEM Also Includes: Eco Tech | Business | Lifestyle

| Tourism

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CONTENTS

BUILDING THE FUTURE

CONTENTS ZIWIRA FEBRUARY 2015

WETLANDS

14

CONSTRUCTION 24 Tiny Homes At least 80% of humanity lives on less than $10 a day according to World

Bank figures. The Tiny House Movement is an attempt to change this.

COVER STORY 14 Wetlands The plight to conserve our fast disappearing ecosystems.

COVER STORY MOTORING 34 Review

2015 SOUL EV

BUSINESS

22

26 TerraCycle One Man’s rubbish, is another man’s treasure.

That is certainly the case for Tom Szaky.

His company TerraCycle leads the way to fresh, innovative, eco-friendly solutions.

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32

February Issue 2 2015

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44

34 GREEN PERSONALITY 32 Jared Leto The beautiful blue-eyed boy from Louisiana makes it into our green books

this month for more than one reason.

HEALTH 30 Save the Night Light pollution wasting energy

LIFESTYLE 08 Tying the Knot‌Sustainably Time to swap that white gown for a

green one. Eco-friendly weddings are

gaining popularity amongst young couples across the world in a bid to further protect the environment.

10 Reduce Carbon Paw Prints Too! A personal guide to developing more sustainable habits in caring for pets.

ECO TECH 40 Greening the Bluetooth

Greener solutions for Bluetooth de-

vices are now available, so how come everyone’s not using them?

TRAVEL 44 Costa Rica

Where Luxury Meets Sustainability

46 Travel Right Plan the greenest getaway you possibly can with these recommended eco-friendly travel accessories.

WILDLIFE 42 The Reality of Extinction If you could save one endangered species from extinction, which would you choose?

06 News & Events www.ziwira.com

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POEM OF THE MONTH

Seedling Once, I fell in love with a man, Then I watched him grow Careless, wasteful He abandoned the plan Once, I fell in love with my newborn child And I watched her grow, She planted a seed And smiled Now I’m falling again Oh help me, help me I’m falling so hard For the earth, My most neglected gift from God That suddenly stole my heart And is pulling, pulling me closer Will I fail? Will I be disappointed again?

Why can no one else see it?

Oh help me, help me I’m falling in love with the earth It needs me, must help it, must save it, must defend it But I’m clueless, just a seedling who must grow in this new space for love A green love, naïve love, give-it-all-you’ve-got-till-you-break love, Oh help me, I’m falling in love with the Earth Can u feel it too?

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February Issue 2 2015

BUILDING THE FUTURE

Publisher Ziwira CEO and Founder Adam Merza adam@ziwira.com Editorial Saba Khan saba.khan@ziwira.com Nasreen Rasool nasreen.rasool@ziwira.com Zane Small zane.small@ziwira.com Stephanie Gay stephanie.gay@ziwira.com Fizzah Khan fizzah.khan@ziwira.com Marketing Nadir Khan nadir.khan@ziwira.com +971 56 7481747 Design Asif Habib asif.habib@ziwira.com Head Office Techno Hub Building, Office No. 161-162, PO Box No. 341171, Dubai Silicon Oasis, UAE. USA Office Ziwira Inc. 445 Park Avenue 9th Floor New York City

FEBRUARY 2015

EDITORIAL The issue of educating the citizens of the world about the importance of sustainability and profound understanding of the pathway to envi-

ronmental conservation and development is critical for a sustainable

future. Doing our bit to keep you updated about sustainability and environmental crises taking place around the world, we present you with yet another edition of Ziwira.

We have dedicated this issue to World Wetlands Day. The cover story

on wetlands will give you some insight about the massive commerciali-

zation and industrialization of wetlands, which is resulting in the extinction of some marvelous animals. The lifestyle section is full of eco-

friendly paraphernalia: from eco-weddings to eco-pets, it’s all here.

We also have a motoring column (for all our car loving readers) to

keep you informed about the latest eco trends and technology your favorite manufacturer is coming up with. This month find out how

impressive Kia Soul EV is, with its noiseless engine and organic light system.

The green personality of this month is Jared Leto, heartthrob from

Louisiana, who was recently appointed as the global ambassador for WWF. Don’t miss out reading the tech section, which talks about 3D scanning and eco-friendly Bluetooth technology.

Have you noticed the starless sky of a rapidly growing city? Read the health section to know more about the mystery of disappearing stars and its effect on our health. Luxury and sustainability at the same

place and cost… does that sound weird? Well, this month’s travel section will take you to Costa Rica where this deadly combination comes

alive. And lastly, learn more about the reality of extinction in the wildlife section.

Happy reading!

New York 10022 United States of America Canada Office Ziwira Inc. Toronto, Canada

© Copyright 2015 Ziwira. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication can be reproduced in

parts, stored in retrieval system or transmitted in

any form or by any means without the prior written

permission of the publisher.

Saba Khan E D I T O R @ZIWIRA

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NEWS & EVENTS

Apple to build new solar farm Apple recently revealed it would be

building a 70 megawatt solar farm in Arizona. The idea came after Apple partnered with GT Advanced to

build an artificial sapphire factory last year. When GT Advanced later went bankrupt, Apple decided to convert

the factory into part data HQ and part solar farm. The mobile company has

been receiving accolades from Green

Peace since its impressive 2014 Earth

Day campaign. Now they are setting their sights on being leaders in renewable energy and sustainability.

Solar Impulse 2 ready for take-off 17,000 solar cells on its wings.

Dubai seminar for World Wetlands Day

newables such as solar power. We

The Dubai Municipality will host a

night in an aircraft without a drop

about the importance of wetlands.

trand Piccard, at a press confer-

year on the 2nd February to com-

public will be able to visit the plane

Wetlands Treaty in 1971. The UAE

tries.

Dr. Rashid Ahmed bin Fahad, said

The fully solar powered plane, So-

be powered by solar energy from

its journey around the world by the

“ Miracles can be achieved with re-

lar Impulse 2 is set to take off on end of this month. The route for the journey will include 12 stops along

the way. The plane will take off from Abu Dhabi and make its first stop in

Oman, then India, followed by an-

other two pit stops in China. The total distance of the trip will be 22,000

miles and is due to be completed in 5 months. The plane’s engines will

want to show we can fly day and

seminar to raise public awareness

of fuel,” said one of the pilots, Ber-

World Wetlands Day is honored every

ence in Abu Dhabi. Members of the

memorate the signing of the Ramsar

during its stops in various coun-

Minister of Environment and Water, the country had made huge strides towards preserving its Wetlands and educating the public about their value

as ecosystems. The Ramsar Conven-

tion identified five wetlands in the UAE as having international importance.

Together they cover a surface area of over 20,000 hectares.

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World Sustainability Energy Days (WSED) From February 25 – 27, 2015, World UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner (front left) with foreign ministers and heads of state from the Group of African Small Island Developing States.

UNEP discusses sustainable development with small African islands The 24th African Union Summit re-

vulnerable to climate change and

great opportunity for discussions on

of food, water and exposure to ex-

cently held in Addis Ababa provided

the topic of sustainability. UNEP’s

Executive Director Achim Steiner, met with leaders of the Group of Afri-

can Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to lay a roadmap for helping them achieve sustainable develop-

ment goals. Due to their size and location, the SIDS are particularly

its ripple effects such as shortage

treme weather hazards. This raises the urgent need for innovation and

financing in the area of renewable

energy, sustainable farming and living habits. UNEP has proposed the

Africa 2020 Renewables Initiative

which aims to assist these smaller states in this vein.

Australians devoted to eco-friendly, innovative projects

Sustainability Energy Days takes place in Wels/Austria. Five conferences

will feature, including-- the

European Pallet Conference, the European Nearly Zero Energy Buildings Conference, and the Young

Researcher’s Conference: Biomass

Energy Efficiency. Furthermore, the Energy Efficiency Watch Conference,

and lastly the Energy-Efficient Commercial Buildings Conference. The purpose of the WSED is to educate

and share ideas. The conference offers the latest information regarding

technologies, policies and markets. It is an excellent setting for companies

to meet and share solutions/contacts, and an official meeting place for experts from all around the world to

share their ideas with those who are keen to provide assistance with cre-

Australian company Eco Innova-

partments, and social enterprises.

ating an eco-friendly environment. In

counter eco-friendly ignorance. The

minutes, to a day or two. Programs

participants from about 59 countries.

tors, has developed a solution to

company has introduced a program called ‘Ecovators’, a sustainability workshop which aims to broaden

the minds of its participants through

engaging activities such as creative play and innovation challenges, a

waste and recycling challenge, sustainable art practices, design problem solving through sustainability,

and sustainability science. The lectures and workshops will facilitate

schools, charities, government de-

Workshops run from between 45

such as this would greatly benefit

children, as they would better understand the problem of pollution and

the effect that it has on their environment. Anne Allan, from Padua Sec-

ondary College is enthusiastic about

the programs. She believes that the workshops provide the necessary

skills an individual needs to know, to be able to effectively change the way they treat the environment and facilitate change.

2014, the event brought in over 750

8

LIFESTYLE

ECO WEDDINGS

h t e Knot g n i y T Sustainably

Time to swap that white gown for a green one. Eco-friendly weddings are gaining popularity amongst young couples across the world in a bid to further protect the environment.

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I

magine yourself dressed in a white, organic-cotton wedding

gown, embellished with handmade jewelry. En route to your electric car, you walk by a rustic wooden table strewn with

bark vases, naturally fashioned, wooden tree light holders and simple containers filled with flowers. Autumn leaves and recycled paper flowers decorate your path.

Conventionally, weddings have been linked to extravagance,

large quantities of money spent on dresses, venues, decorations, food and entertainment. Although, there is an obvious

cause for this level of celebration, weddings are wonderfully

wasteful occasions where, people utterly forgo their ethics and

beliefs concerning the environment. With the quantity of people celebrating such occasions – with almost two million marriages

annually in the US alone – we can’t overlook the impact we are having on the environment through this kind of splurging. Think of the waste; the plastic plates, the catering service, the non-

biodegradable decorations, the quantity of food required, and of course, the water and energy expenditure.

The concept of eco-friendly weddings aims, not to tarnish your

dreams of a perfect day, but to offer responsible, viable alternatives to services and products, helping you reduce waste by

proposing substitutes which demand fewer resources to enact.

To help narrow down the ways you can make your wedding more ‘green’, here are a few suggestions:

Venue

Dresses

Decoration

Menu

Selecting a suitable

Conventionally, wedding

When deciding which

Provide healthy, or-

venue for your wedding

is considered one of the

most important aspects –

after the dress, of course!

For an eco-wedding,

steer clear of five star

hotels and resorts which guzzle electricity, water and other resources,

and where you have little control over how your

food is served and where it comes from. Celebrating a wedding out in the open shall unburden

your pockets, and save

on electricity. If there are any certified eco-friendly hotels, that can be a viable option.

dresses are elaborate,

decorations to use, pick

ganic dishes for your

recyclable materials

guests. By doing so you

the craftsmanship of a de-

ambience of the venue.

footprint as well as the

is usually only worn once,

can serve as vases.

heavy things with long

trains that truly showcase

and candles to set the

signer. For something that

Decorated used cans

dresses require a lot of

Use recycled paper for

ten designed without eco-

e-invites to cut the paper

ing sustainable materials

To cover tables, use table

fabric to make, and are offriendly methods. Choos-

for your dress, or ordering dresses from an estab-

lished eco-designer would ensure that your gown

the invitations or send

consumption completely.

decrease your carbon

chances of anyone leaving your wedding sick.

Ensure you have pesti-

cide free food as well as support local farmers.

cloths dyed with natu-

ral colorants, and linen

napkins instead of paper napkins.

hasn’t had a negative impact on the environment.

Reusing your sibling’s or

mothers wedding dress is

another great way to save resources.

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10

LIFESTYLE

PETS

Reduce C

PAW PRIN A personal guide to developing more

P

ampering our pets is a pleasurable pastime for many. New tr

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spread and numerous as baby goods. The one thing most

problem. Though they are often small in stature, our furry co

simple steps to reduce the negative

February Issue 2 2015

Carbon

NTS TOO! sustainable habits in caring for pets.

rends in pet couture, toys, homes, and food are becoming as wide-

t pet lovers can easily overlook is that this may lead to an ecological

ompanions can have an impact on the environment too. Follow these

e ecological paw-prints your pets might have.

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LIFESTYLE

PETS

ECO-CLEANING With the amount of mess and mayhem our pets create, it’s just easier to use umpteen paper towels to clean up spillage than to find a mop and broom. Keeping pets – especially when they are young – guarantees bin bags filled with dirty papers, ruined carpets and bottles of cleaning products. In a bid to get rid of the mess as quickly and

reliably as possible, most of us will resort to conventional cleaning

brands and use paper towels to clean up the smallest spillage. However, these are not always the most environmentally friendly meth-

ods. Many chemicals and energy resources go into the production of paper towels – even the biodegradable ones. Additionally, the strong cleaning chemicals we resort to have, have similar negative impacts

on the environment, as well as your health. Opt for re-useable towels or eco-friendly cloths which don’t have to be disposed every time

you use them, and search your local organic supermarkets for eco-

friendly cleaning products made from plant-based sources. Adopting these simple eco-friendly methods can protect the environment on a daily basis.

ORGANIC FOOD As our human dietary requirements shift to accommodate the latest research and findings in nutrition, so should

the food we feed our pets. Alongside the growing number of organic food shops, many organic pet food brands are

emerging – names like Petguard, Natura, Karma and Core come to mind. Much like their human counterparts, organic pet food is noticeably more expensive, but their containers and manufacturing processes are also far more environ-

mentally sound. For owners with more time on their hands, there’s an array of YouTube videos and online demonstra-

tions on how to make home-made food for your pets. In line with feeding your pet organic pre-made food, making your own is a fun and interesting way to lessen your pet’s environmental impact.

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February Issue 2 2015

ECO-FRIENDLY TOYS Like children, our animal friends must be entertained

too. Play is an essential part of their mental and physical

stimulation. Hence, the importance of pet toys for providing them with the activities and exercise they need to be

healthy and happy. With a little effort, it’s possible to find

alternatives to standardized rubber toys and balls, which

often are made with harmful chemicals and questionable labor practices. Fire hydrants made of recycled canvas, hand knitted ‘knit-knacks’ and red rope toys are a few

examples of eco-friendly alternatives to purchasing rubber balls.

PET POOPS Yuck! The worst part about having a pet is the cleaning up.

Replace the plastic bags with biodegradable ones.

SPAYING If you have a cat who likes to roam about at night, make

sure they are spayed. According to the Watauga Humane Society, a male cat can sire as many as 2,500 kittens in

ADOPT A PET

Before going to that pet store or breeder, consider adopting an animal from a local shelter. Puppy

mills are still an issue around the world, and you

a single year, and one un-spayed female cat and one un-

neutered male cat and their offspring can result in 420,000 kittens in 7 years. Do you know 420,000 people who want to adopt a kitten? No, nor do we, thousands of these kittens will have to be euthanized because of it.

can help put them out of business by not funding their cruel and inhumane practices.

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14

COVER STORY

WETLA

Disappearing at a

Pantanal, Camargue and Okav most precious ecosystems, no of wildlife they support, but for surrounding water supplies, de preventing widespread ooding interference and infringement delicate ec

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February Issue 2 2015

ANDS

an alarming rate

vango are some of the world’s ot only for the peerless variety r their pivotal role in managing ecreasing water pollutants and g. However, increasing human t are rapidly destroying these cosystems.

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COVER STORY

WETLANDS

WETLANDS DEMORALIZED

INDUSTRIALIZATION Industrialization has led to the annihilation of many Wetlands.

T

he most biologically diverse ecosystems in the

industrialization, dams, over-fishing and climate change

land are found globally – excluding Antarctica –

Developments in agriculture alongside our other growing

world, these vast expanses of water-saturated and play a vital role in managing flood control,

shoreline stability, as well as water purification.

More than half of the wetlands have already disappeared from the face of the earth. Continuous development and

alterations pose to be a great threat to wetlands, despite their importance and value for human life.

With hosts of migratory and non-migratory animals supported by unusual looking, but well adapted hydrophilic vegetation, the wetlands are prized for their unique

appearance and frequently shifting ecosystems. Home

to some of the most diverse flora and fauna, the destruction of these habitats has led to the extinction of many

animals and plants, and the endangerment of countless other species.

Apart from the physical removal of these plains, pollution,

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aid in culling our Wetlands’ biodiversity.

construction needs have benefited society in many ways, but at the expense of our environment. Alongside draining wetlands to make way for crops and farms (which

require vast quantities of space) to accommodate our

growing population and consumerist needs, wetlands are being replaced with houses, shopping malls and manu-

facturing plants. Entire ecosystems are being devastated by our grand-scale re-sculpturing of the environment.

Like some sinister Plastic Surgeon from a Hollywood B-

rate movie, we stand armed with a scalpel, fully prepared to maim our planet and remove substantial portions of

‘unwanted’ ecosystems for capital gain and to fuel a burgeoning population that is spiraling out of control. Thousands of hectares of wetlands continue to be destroyed due to these industrial demands.

February Issue 2 2015

POLLUTION

Pesticides and chemical spills pollute wetlands and disrupt the food chain.

L

ike many other ecosystems, wetlands have fallen prey to pollution. Pesticides and insecticides used in agriculture, as well as other harmful

chemicals used in manufacturing can leech into

surrounding water bodies, either through rainfall, or due to unsafe environmental practices. Although Wetlands are responsible for water puriďŹ cation and desalina-

tion, these chemicals cannot be removed naturally, and disrupt the process. Furthermore, their presence in the water systems ensures that they infect all members

of the ecosystem; causing nitrogen ďŹ xation in plants

and destroying key players in the food chain, like small rodents and insects, which disturbs the population of predators further up the pyramid.

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COVER STORY

WETLANDS

CLIMATE CHANGE

A

global issue, the effects of Global Warming can

Rising temperatures from human-induced climate change ]leads to the drying up of Wetlands.

be felt everywhere. For wetlands, the changing temperature is particularly bad news. Varying

temperatures are disturbing the water levels of

some wetlands, leading to flooding in some areas, and

drought in others. As a result, animals that have become

adapted to their habitats are unable to evolve fast enough to meet these changes, and are gradually dying out.

Greater measures must be taken to preserve these critical ecosystems, which are home to vast populations of

animals and play a pivotal role in maintaining the health and purity of water supplies.

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Figures collected by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) claim that over 50 percent of the world’s wetlands have been lost since 1900, with numbers as high as 80 percent for specific wetlands, such as the coastal wetlands of the Philippines.

April Issue 1 2015

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FEATURE

COVER STORY

Endangered

WETLAND

ANIMALS

Commercialization of wetlands, endless

construction, extraction of minerals and pollution from industrial waste, all are to be blamed for the disappearing wetlands and extinction of some splendid animals.

February Issue 2 2015

AMERICAN CROCODILE

An American crocodile’s diet consists mainly of small fish

American Crocodile

To date there are less than 1200 Ameri-

of south Mexico as far as South America.

ful hunter, these reptiles can be found in

and poaching have taken a grave toll on

can Crocodiles left in the wild. A successFlorida, all the way down the pacific coast

Despite their prowess, habitat destruction the American Crocodile population.

CHINESE EGRET

One of the Fifty Rarest Birds of the World

Chinese Egret

The iconic alabaster Chinese Egrets

destroy necessary nesting grounds, the

in Russia, China and Korea. As humans

fallen to around 3000.

have lost many of their wetland homes encroach on their breeding areas, and

population of the Chinese Egrets has

EAST INDIGO SNAKE

The eastern indigo snake can grow to over 8 feet in length

East Indigo Snake

Well adapted to life in the Everglades

destroyed and its staple food sources

Snake has received a threatened sta-

predator has steadily declined.

and freshwater marshes, the East Indigo tus in recent years. As its habitats are

eradicated, the population of this versatile

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22

FEATURE

WHITE WINGED WOOD DUCK

The white-winged duck now has a patchy distribution across India and Southeast Asia

White Winged Wood Duck

One of the largest species of duck, the

gone extinct in these regions. Surveys

pushed to the brink of extinction. Resi-

Ducks in 2002: 200 were found in Laos,

White Winged Wood Duck has been

dents of India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and

Thailand, these ducks were once found in Java and Bangladesh, but have already

recorded only 800 White Winged Wood Thailand, Vietnam and Canada, 150 in Sumatra and 450 in India.

WEST INDIAN MANATEE

The reproductive rate for manatees is low

West Indian Manatee

• 50 percent of India’s Wetlands have been lost in the last 50 years.

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One of the largest aquatic mammals,

and constant run in with boat propellers

known as the ‘sea cow’) fails to find a

In spite of governmental and non-govern-

the West Indian Manatee (affectionately foothold in its dwindling habitat. Found

in the rivers, wetlands and coastal areas of Florida, damage to their ecosystems,

• India has lost between 70-80 percent of their Wetlands and lakes according to a study taken in 2011.

In United States, 63,000 hectares of Wetlands have been destroyed from 2004-2007 according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

are destroying the Manatee population.

mental efforts to protect this species, the Manatee population continues to fall.

Over 340, 000 sq. kilometers of Wetlands have been destroyed in China since 2003.

February Issue 2 2015

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CONSTRUCTION

TINY HOMES

At least 80% of humanity lives on less than $10 a day according to World Bank ďŹ gures. The Tiny House Movement is an attempt to change this, with ďŹ scal relief as well as environmental consciousness at its heart.

O

ver population and poverty occupy much room in the

day-to-day global discourse.

Millions of people in various developing and under developed countries are living below the poverty line,

with an estimated 640 million liv-

ing without adequate shelter. The

infamous slums of Brazil, India and

Africa are only growing larger as the

income gap expands, and population growth remains unchecked. While

we attempt to remedy this economic discrepancy between people, the Reduce the complexity of life by eliminating the needless wants of life, and the labors of life reduce themselves

Tiny House Movement is bringing

some much needed relief to those who cannot afford much room.

It remains unclear exactly who

started the movement and when, but the concept of building smaller DIY homes has been around for some

time now and is prevalent in several countries. The idea is to provide a

practical solution that allows people on lower incomes to not only build

and own their homes, but also use up less land space, allowing more Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful

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room for others to build their houses.

In doing so, there is also less harm-

from bales of hay or straw. Once a

smaller homes eliminate the need to

set, bales of hay are used to fill the

clear masses of natural vegetation

for the purpose of construction. Tiny Homes are often portable and can

be maneuvered on wheels. The light DIY material used for building them

also reduces consumption of water, energy and gas emissions that, go into producing building materials.

Tiny homes are cheap, sustainable

buildings, often built from eco-friendly renewable or recycled goods. Easy to make, and do-able on a small

budget, these mini residences rarely exceed 500 sq. feet – perfect for conserving space and providing

economical homes for our growing population.

Despite their compact size, they are ingeniously made and meet all the

basic requirements of a home, with space enough to house a kitchen, washroom and bedroom.

Tiny houses come in an array of

shapes and sizes, prices and quality.

Although, there are a growing number of luxury tiny homes made from uneconomical materials, standard

designs usually employ the most facile and plentiful resources the region possesses – like Tiny Houses made

wooden frame of a desired size is

walls. Natural materials like clay, soil or concrete form the base of their

foundations and due to their com-

position, minimize the risk of water

seeping during rains. Tiny Homes of this design are cost-effective, easy to make and can be produced en-

masse without harming the environment. Additionally, their economic

sizes make them a prime candidate

for using renewable energy sources exclusively, something that is much

harder to do with larger residences.

Governments would prosper from

endorsing and funding Tiny Housing

projects across third world countries, where homelessness has skyrocketed. Places like India (which sup-

ports over two million people without homes), Brazil and much of Africa would greatly benefit from this ef-

ficient housing method, for their low

start-up costs, their limited impact on the environment and their negligible energy requirements. For owners, it gives people the opportunity to

change their lives; to afford their own living space, manage smaller power bills and find relief from burgeoning living costs.

The Tiny House Conference takes place in Portland, Oregon from April 18-19, 2015. Tiny house builder and owner Corinne Segura of British Columbia, Canada, will share her story about her chemical free Tiny House that is free of flame retardants, formaldehyde, volatile organic compounds, and fiberglass.

“

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication

“

ful impact to the environment, as

Small rooms or dwellings discipline the mind, large ones weaken it.

– Leonardo Da Vinci

26

BUSINESS

TERRACYCLE

ECO-FRIENDLY SOLUTIONS ‘ONE MAN’S RUBBISH, IS ANOTHER MAN’S TREASURE’ That is certainly the case for Tom Szaky. His company TerraCycle leads the way to fresh, innovative, eco-friendly solutions.

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February Issue 2 2015

T

erraCycle is not your everyday business. Unlike most

raCycle in 2008, to create the worlds’ first reusable tote bag.

businesses, rather than buying and selling brand new

By 2009, TerraCycle, with the addition of over 25 new programs,

product to make profit, TerraCycle collects unwanted

had expanded to Brazil, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

product, or ‘rubbish’, and transforms it into something usable

Furthermore, in 2011 TerraCycle had opened up in Norway,

– from bicycle tires, to chip wrappers, to cigarette butts – Ter-

Spain, Germany, Ireland, Switzerland, Denmark, Israel, Bel-

raCycle accepts it all.

gium, Argentina, and the Netherlands, with a staff total of over

It all started with Tom Szaky who dropped out of Princeton

100 employees. Finally, in 2013, TerraCycle expanded to the

University to pursue his dream of founding a company that

Pacific, opening in Australia and New Zealand, marking over 20

makes the non-recyclable, recyclable. The idea for the company

countries of operation.

came to Szaky when he witnessed his friends feeding kitchen

TerraCycle currently operates a vast amount of waste brigades,

scraps to worms, and then using the resulting fertilizer to feed

collecting rubbish in the forms of cell phones, cigarettes, tooth-

their indoor plants. That was his original business plan: ‘to help

paste/oral care, diapers, drink pouches, energy bar wrappings,

eliminate the idea of waste by making quality fertilizer from food

paired shoes, stationary, and many more. Some of the amaz-

waste.’ When his first partner Suman Sinha invested in his com-

ingly innovative creations for sale on the TerraCycle website

pany, Szaky was able to set up his first office in New Jersey.

include a handbag made from Dorito wrapping, a recycled desk

From there, his business grew. It was the plant food from Szaky’s enormous worm poop conversion unit that enabled the company to establish profit,

ABOUT

Tom Szaky

organizer made from tubing, and a slim pencil case made from a washing powder box – innovation at its absolute best.

As a modern company, TerraCycle has

selling the product to buyers such as

certainly made an impact on the world,

Walmart and Home Depot.

by proving that not all rubbish should be

From there, TerraCycle further expand-

condemned. In actual fact, waste can be

ed with initiatives such as the Bottle

used to create all types of useful things.

Brigade, and the Energy Bar Wrapper

It is a fact that all energy is recycled,

Brigade, programs designed to collect and repurpose such waste. Tom Szaky was named Brand Innovator of the year after initializing a campaign where the public gave 47,000 waste bags to Ter-

Tom Szaky (born 1982) is the

CEO and founder of TerraCycle,

a company that makes consumer products from waste

including the energy within ourselves.

TerraCycle has confirmed this, and has opened a pathway to a better, more sustainable future for our world.

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28

INTERVIEW

RENU OJHA A motivational Q & A with a fiery organic guru who’s concerns about growing health, led her to take action.

INSPIRING OTHERS TO GO ORGANIC Renu Ojha is a social entrepreneur with firm beliefs in organic, sustainable living. But what she loves even more is sharing this with others and inspiring people to change their lives with healthier eating choices. She founded the company Blue Planet Green People, which is already doing great things in Jumeirah, Dubai. Find out what Renu really thinks about organic foods and those who shy away from it.

People. What exactly do you do?

A: Blue Planet Green People (BPGP) started in the year 2012 as an

organic and natural store with the

quality organic, natural and local (wherever possible) products

at affordable prices. And with a clear- focused message about

the brand values it stands for i.e.

“Quality, Convenience & Speed”.

This has in turn strengthened

our customer value proposition, and resulted in a highly loyal

base of dedicated customers.

commitment to healthy, fresh, and

offered are in affordable range &

well-being of all! We offer Corporate

tional supermarkets. Most products

considered to be of high quality, both in terms of taste and healthiness.

The current store has very small foot

“

“Brick n Click” model. It was set up with an objective of offering high-

are distinct from those sold in tradi-

Today we have grown as a quirky organic, natural and

healthy food store with a dramatically simplified product

range, and we have strategically

created product range that caters for

people who lead busy lifestyles and

prefer the convenience and simplic-

ity of having fewer but good, healthy options to choose from.

BPGP offers an array of products that www.ziwira.com

‘Good Health’ plans, dinner boxes and other focused offerings con-

necting us to our consumers without mass media advertising!

Q: As the founder, how did you come up with the concept?

As demand for organic food and products is increasing, technological innovations and economies of scale should reduce costs of production, processing, distribution and marketing for organic produce – Renu Ojha

portfolio that appeals to our tar-

get audience. These are mainly

affordable locally grown food for the

paleo, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and raw food diets.

We also have a BPGP Farmers

Market that further reinforces our

A: I believe in the saying that,

“We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from

our children.” It’s our duty to give

“

Q: Tell us about Blue Planet Green

the next generation a healthy, clean, green and sustainable

life. And this is our small way of

connecting people with farmers, ethical products and good food.

I’m also deeply concerned with the growing problem of obesity in our society that’s related to

lifestyle, the use of GMOs, ad-

ditives and preservatives in our

food chain. We wanted to create a

place where every food on the shelf is good for you! And Blue Planet

Green People is desired to be that destination.

February Issue 2 2015

when setting up the business?

A: We are a self-run business with a very limited budget and the biggest

challenge is changing the mindset of people towards organic and natu-

ral. Making people understand that

organic is for all and can fit into your

budget but it requires a little bit smart working around. In other words we must differentiate between “Must

have” and “Would like to have”. We are constantly trying to create an

understanding that local food is more affordable and an important “green

step”. Also, availability and affordability is a continuous battle.

Q: Do you think people would buy

organic if it were more accessible?

A: Yes, who would like to consume

chemically laden toxic food or GMOs in their diet! I think we are shying away from reality.

Q: Why are organic products so

much more expensive than regular ones?

A: It has to do with the supply and

demand gap and also the “fluff price”

• Avoidance of health risks to farm-

is same as your grandma ate? The

pesticides (and avoidance of future

acknowledge and act!

ers due to inappropriate handling of medical expenses)

• Rural development by generating

Q: What changes would you like to

suring a fair and sufficient income to

government level to make organic

additional farm employment and asproducers

• Also cost is higher because,

Organic food supply is limited as compared to demand

& post-harvest handling of relatively small quantities of organic foods

for organic products is relatively inef-

future?

• Marketing and the distribution chain ficient and costs are higher because of relatively small volumes.

However, we may see this chang-

ing in the near future. As demand for

organic food and products is increasing, technological innovations and

economies of scale should reduce costs of production, processing,

distribution and marketing for organic

Q: Are there any plans to expand the company?

the moment and are investing in peomake organic produce more affordable and accessible.

why should I go organic?” How would

nancial returns of rotational periods which are necessary to build soil fertility

• Higher standards for animal welfare

ket growing in the UAE in the near

A: Yes, there is increasing awareness about healthy eating and food quality.

More middle-class consumers are

discovering organic products for the

first time. The key is for consumers to understand the benefits of organics.

Local farms and farmers markets are gaining popularity too.

produce.

expenses to mitigate pollution). For cash crops compensate for low fi-

A: Always look at certification.

Q: Do you see the organic food mar-

Q: Many people say “I’ve been eating

example, higher prices of organic

is organic, how do I know if it really

results in higher costs.

• Environmental enhancement and

protection (and avoidance of future

caution note!

is?

ple, infrastructure and technology to

food, such as:

A: Label conventional food with a

greater labor inputs per unit of output

are typically higher because of

of the food production itself, but also captured in the price of conventional

foods the norm?

Q: If a local farmer says his produce

A: Yes, we are in a growth mode at

a range of other factors that are not

see on the individual level and on

• Production costs for organic foods

in conventional industry. Prices of organic foods include not only the cost

answer is with us and it’s time to

this way for so long and I’m ok, so you respond?

A: Just name people you know who

are fighting cancer, the latest ADHD case you heard of, kids growing up

bigger and faster and moreover, do

“

“

Q: What challenges did you face

We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children

you really feel that the food you eat

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30

HEALTH

Light pollution does not only waste energy but deeply affects the sleep patterns and health of human beings.

I

n cities and suburbs stars are a rare sight. As soon as the sun sets, the dusk is vanquished by the glare of

artificial light. Behind it are the stars. Buildings, houses,

factories, parks, lawns, parking slots, bus bays, train

stations, airports and roads each radiate light. To make

matters worse, our homes are relentlessly illuminated by LED bulbs on electronics, computers, televisions, lamps and fitted lights. Constant exposure to artificial light has

made us oblivious to the great absence of natural nocturnal light in our life.

The IDA refers to this excessive use of artificial light as

‘light pollution’, and as the name suggests, has various adverse effects on our health and environment.

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“

Light pollution wastes energ�, affects ast�onomers and scientists, disr�pts global wildlife and ecological balance, and has been linked to negative consequences in human health

– International Dark-Sky Association (IDA)

“

SAVE THE NIGHT

February Issue 2 2015

LIGHT POLLUTION AND HEALTH Scientists have observed that human sleep patterns have changed significantly over the years. Namely, less sleep, more time spent browsing the internet, or staring out into space until finally nodding off. However, more serious ailments including insomnia, depression, anxiety and

other sleep disorders have become common, and many researchers are now connecting this phenomena to our constant exposure to artificial light.

According to scientific theories, artificial light disturbs the melatonin (hormone which helps regulate sleep), which

is released by a gland (pineal gland) that helps stimulate sleep. Triggered by darkness, the production of the hor-

to feel less alert, and also helps you warm up to the idea

GREATER PROBLEMS

light inhibits the production of melatonin, and as recent

Some experts have also begun to link cancer, headaches,

mone melatonin is released into the blood, causing you

of sleep. Naturally, to avoid feeling drowsy during the day, studies have shown, so does artificial light, resulting in

health related issues in the future. With televisions, dim

and bright LEDs and other artificial lights left on in most households, we run the risk of ruining the health of our environment, and our own.

and near sightedness with the excessive exposure to artificial light.

A Harvard Neuroscientists, Steven W. Lockley, conducted

a survey on breast cancer sensitivity across 164 countries in 2010. He discovered that there was 30 to 50 percent more risk of breast cancer in countries with high light

pollution. However, it was Richard Steven, professor at

University of Connecticut, who first noticed the correlation between breast cancer and artificial light.

A Belgian survey of 1,656 teenagers found that those who used phones at night, less than once a week were still

twice as likely to be tired as those who didn’t use them

at all. As Rensselaer Polytechnic University discovered in 2012, exposure to bright screens reduced melatonin

levels by 22 percent, which explains why teenagers in the 2007 study felt fatigued when using their phones at night.

In order to have a decent night sleep, advice from doc-

tors is to turn off all those pesky devices at the mains, and make sure you stop using computers, phones and the like a few hours before you go to sleep. This way you can en-

sure that your body gets the rest it needs while protecting the environment from unnecessary electrical wastage.

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32

GREEN PERSONALITY

ANOTHER REASON TO LOVE JARED LETO The beautiful blue-eyed boy from Louisiana makes it into our green books this month for more than one reason.

He was every teenage girl’s heartthrob in the TV series

research and drastically changing his appearance to

charmed audiences with his blue eyes and captivatingly

dedication to his role as an ambassador for Mother Earth

“My So-Called Life” in 1994. Since then, Jared Leto has good looks. He slowly broke away from being poster

boy to philanthropist and environmental activist, receiv-

ing much flak from celeb gossipers about the change in his appearance. Now we have one more reason to love

Jared Leto and that’s his recent appointment as a global ambassador for WWF( World Wildlife Federation).

One of his first tasks in this new role will be to work with WWF in raising awareness about wildlife crimes. The awardwinning actor, musician and director

recently visited South Africa with WWF

to gain firsthand experience of the country’s rhino poaching crisis.

“Being that close to majestic creatures like rhinos and elephants reminds me of the deep connection and important responsibility we have to protect and

shepherd these fragile species and their habitats. I’m committed and passionate

about doing all I can to help ensure that these endangered animals survive, and

will continue to encourage others to get into action as well,” said Leto.

“I’m honored to join with WWF and the global conservation community and do my part. I hope you will too,” he added.

Leto’s mother was part of the hippie movement so he

grew up around creative people. As an actor, he is known to be methodical and dedicated to each role, doing

suit the character. It’s apparent that he applies the same

which goes far beyond WWF. Leto is a practicing Vegan, and supports animal rights as well as several children’s charities. He has also been involved with Habitat for

Humanity. A year after the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Jared visited the country and on is return released a book of

photographs from his trip to raise funds for the survivors.

Hollywood fans may not know that Jared Leto is also the lead vocalist in a band

called Thirty Seconds to Mars. They sing

spiritual and philosophical rock songs and launched a blog called abeautifullie.org

to raise funds and awareness for environmental issues. Leto directed the music

video for the band’s song “A Beautiful Lie” in Greenland in 2008. He worked closely with the Natural Resources Defense

Council to ensure minimal fuel consump-

tion and environmental impact. Proceeds from the video’s sales went toward the NRDC.

So why do we love him? He’s deep with a

side of crazy (his Facebook profile pic shows him hugging a tree!). And he’s genuine in his fight for the envi-

ronment. WWF did good to choose Mr Leto as their new ambassador. Anyone who loves those dreamy eyes is

bound to fall in love with the rhino he’s standing next to.

So Hollywood can criticize his long hair and beard all they want, because we don’t mind, and it’s highly unlikely that the rhinos will either!

“Can you imagine a time when the truth ran free A birth of a song, a death of a dream” www.ziwira.com

February Issue 2 2015

Academy Award-Winning Actor Joins WWF as Global Ambassador

GREEN PERSONALITY

Jared Leto

- Born: 26 December 1971, Louisiana - Biological name: Jared Metrejon (Leto is the surname of his stepfather) - Earliest claim to fame: TV series “My So-Called Life”, 1994 - Films: American Psycho, Lord of War, Fight Club and Lonely Hearts, Requiem for a Dream

- Won Academy Award for his portrayal of a transsexual woman in “Dallas Buyers Club”, 2013

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34

MOTORING

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2015

February Issue 2 2015

Fully charged.

Eco-friendly and fun, together at last. Starting as low as $26,200

($33,700 MSRP - $7,500 federal tax credit), the Soul EV has a best-inclass EPA-estimated driving range of 93 miles and MPGe of 92 miles

on the highway and 120 miles in the city (105 miles combined). It’s the same vibrant Kia Soul now with a standard DC Fast Charge port.

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36

MOTORING

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February Issue 2 2015

A

nd so, the Korean brand finally decides

to go green with its first foray into the all electrical vehicle segment.

Recently launched in the US, the all new Kia

Soul EV, is a fun and funky car, positioning Kia as one of the strong contenders in the green segment.

Design The overall look of the Soul EV was inspired by the 2012 Kia Track’ster. It has retained the

iconic square-shouldered broadness of the original soul, and also features a bold exterior.

The Soul EV will be available in a range of three

Set to launch in California and go on sale to

color combinations, including Caribbean Blue

Soul comes with two standard charging ports,

lower body with Inferno Red roof, and lastly Ti-

charging, and a CHAdeMo DC fast-charging

features an exclusive 16-inch set of alloy wheels

as little as 33 minutes with a 50 Kw–output fast

sistance (SLRR) tires that offer 10 percent less

the selected additional markets in 2015, the

lower with a Clear White roof, or Shadow Black

an SAE J1772 port for Level 1 and Level 2 AC

tanium Grey and Clear White. The Soul EV also

port (480v). It can be charged to 80 percent in

with specially engineered Super Low Rolling Re-

charger (five hours using a 240v outlet).

resistance than standard low rolling resistance

High Energy Density Battery and Usable Power The Soul EV is equipped with a high-energydense lithium-ion polymer battery. This 27kwh,

air-cooled, 200 watt-hour/kg battery enables an EPA estimated range of 93 miles, which is better than most EVs on the market. The Soul EV

uses Kia’s third-generation regenerative braking system to capture up to 12 percent of the car’s

kinetic energy, which is fed back into the battery while the Soul EV is coasting and braking. To

recharge, you can simply plug into any standard 120v outlet or a conventional 240v EV charger.

The time to recharge a fully depleted battery in

a 120v charger will require at least 24 hours and five hours when it is plugged into a 240v outlet.

A further excellent addition to this economic

machine is the improved aerodynamics, and ab-

tires. An ‘Eco Electric’ badge has also replaced

the ‘Soul’ fender garnish. In terms of lighting, the brilliantly sustainable car boasts Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) technology with low energy consumption.

Interiors The Soul EV manages to stand out from other conventional gasoline-powered vehicles, with a bright white accent trim on the center con-

sole, instrument panel and door panels, giving

it a sleek, fresh, modern look. The vehicle also features a circular theme, which is a comple-

menting contrast to the exterior’s angular look.

Distinguished by Kia’s most extensive use of

bio-based materials, the Soul EV has received UL’s first ever automotive environmental claim validation for its 52.7 lbs. of bio-based organic content in interior plastic.

sence of engine noise. Special sound-proofing material results in a quiet, enjoyable ride.

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38

GREEN DRIVING

GREEN DRIVING HABITS Buying an eco-friendly car is the first

4. A careful tip about gasoline, is that

mental impact you make when travel-

toxic, hazardous substance, with fumes

step in reducing the negative environ-

Few tips for those who want to reduce their eco tire tracks

ling. However, it should not stop there.

There are many more, surprisingly

easy ways that you can help to keep your carbon footprint down, when it comes to your car.

1. A simple way to avoid wasting gas

when driving, is to anticipate stops and

let your vehicle coast down as much as possible.

2. Combine trips in your car by plan-

ning ahead. A warmed up car engine

produces much less air pollution than starting a car from cold.

3. A helpful maintenance tip is to regu-

larly change the oil and oil filter in your

car, as this will help with fuel economy.

It is recommended however, to check your owner’s manual for specific

recommendations about how often to change it.

people often forget that it is a very

that are carcinogenic (substance di-

rectly involved with causing cancer and smog). It is important to never overfill your car with gasoline letting it spill,

because excess gas will evaporate and create smog – it can also leak into the groundwater.

5. A beneficial way for employers to

help reduce carbon emissions, is by

encouraging carpooling to work, and offering benefits to those employees who walk to work, or commute with

others. In the USA, the Environmental

Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation have been teaming

up with businesses to set up ‘commuter choice’ programs. One example is a

company that offers staff free walking shoes with the promotion, “we’ll even

buy your walking shoes if you hoof it to work!”

February Issue 2 2015

40

TECH

GREENING THE BLUETOOTH Greener solutions for Bluetooth devices are now available, so how come everyone’s not using them?

S

olar power is finding

lives. The latest trend these

more homes and is

devices with solar energy. Like

its way into more and

quite common in some parts of

the world. However, we are still far from integrating this form of

renewable energy into our daily

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days is powering Bluetooth

most new tech inventions, it’s

a great concept, but somehow

still slow to catch on among the masses.

February Issue 2 2015

BLUETOOTH MEDIA PLAYERS

W

ith the solar powered

expeditions. Perhaps the only

users will be able to do

a few hours to charge.

portable media player,

much more than with an ordinary

one. Absorbing the sun’s rays, this player uses mini solar panels to

charge its battery, and can store enough energy to power the de-

vice for up to 35 hours. This nifty

player also comes with a standard 1GB of memory, but can easily be expanded to accommodate over

16 GB – that’s over 4,000 songs,

or 7,000 e-books! If you happen to

downside is that the battery takes In today’s rapid techno world where some phone batteries

can be fully charged in under 10

minutes, this portable player takes between one and five hours to

charge. This being said, this versatile contraption also has the capacity to recharge all cell phones and any other gadgets which run on lithium batteries.

Solar Media Player doubles up as

run out of sun, the machine comes

a speaker and solar-powered phone-

equipped with solar power batter-

charging case

ies, which you can pre-eminently charge for cloudy days or long

BLUETOOTH HEADSETS

Above: Secur Products’ Solar Media Player Image Credit: Secur Products

A

longside the media player, the

Swapping our commercial headsets

comes the new solar powered

would be a seamless transition. Cost

world of green tech also wel-

portable Bluetooth headset. Compact, wireless and eco-friendly, this unique apparatus also runs on sunlight and

unlike previous models, does not suffer from poor voice quality or network reception.

and players for these eco-gadgets

effective and able to run all the soft-

ware, programs and tools you need, if everyone were to pick up this eco-

device we would certainly protect the

environment from yet another energy demand. These devices usually cost within the range of $40-200.

There are several companies in the world who have created and sold

these headsets and MP3s, yet be-

cause of stiff competition from dominating tech figures, like Apple and

Samsung, they are not particularly

widespread and can only be found

in certain specialist shops or online.

Hopefully, as society grows more

conscious of the impact their spend-

ing has, they will actively seek these

options to replace conventional ones.

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WILDLIFE

THE REALITY OF EXTINCTION If you could save one endangered species from extinction, which would you choose?

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“

People are beginning to realize that we need to live in accordance with the law of ecolog�, the law of finite resources, and if we don’t, we’re going to go ex�inct.

-Paul Watson

“

42

February Issue 2 2015

• SCIENTIFIC NAME: Panthera pardus orientalis

• STATUS:

F

IUCN: Critically Endangered C2a(ii)

ew in this world are as in touch with nature and the

• POPULATION:

reality of extinction, as the legendary, Sir David At-

About 7-12 in China and

tenborough. On BBC’s ‘Attenborough’s Ark’, when

20-25 in Russia

• LONGEVITY:

faced with the perplexing question of what 10 species

15-20 years

Attenborough would take on his ark to save them from

extinction, he surprised us all by choosing some very rare, very special creatures, that to most are unheard of. One of the bizarre creatures that he deems necessary to de-

fend, is the endangered Olm salamander, a small aquatic species that can survive without food for up to ten years.

It is a pale, sightless, wormlike European (Slovenia, Croatia) cave dweller which has evolved independently from an ancient lineage of amphibians for 190 million years.

It is fortunate that the world has someone like Attenbor-

ough, to defend the likes of those we simply do not know about. However, there are endangered species out there that we do know about, species that are blatantly failing

The Amur leopard also known as the Far Eastern leopard

terribly to keep their lineage alive.

One such animal struggling to maintain its existence is the Amur Leopard, a sub-species of Leopard. In 2007, it was recorded that only 14-20 adults and five cubs were still

alive in the northern ranges of Russia’s Primorye region.

Another very rare species is the Javan Rhinoceros. There is approximately 40-60 of these majestic creatures left on

the island of Java, Indonesia, at the Ujung Kulon National Park. What’s more, in 2011 the last member of another

small population in Vietnam was killed by poachers, most likely for its horn which is used to make Asian folk medicines.

This is only a taste of a sad reality that we live in. Incredibly, conservationists are able to calculate the extinction

rate of a species, by keeping track of how many die each year. Using this technique, National Geographic reports a rate of 100 to 1,000 species lost per million per year

due to destruction of natural habitat, and climate change.

Information also points out that before humans evolved, around 200,000 years ago, it was revealed (by studying

fossil records), that less than a single species per million went extinct annually.

As sobering as this information is, it begs the question; are there too many humans on this planet to allow for

other species to co-exist with us? Or are we simply too careless and too ignorant to care?

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44

TOURISM

COSTA RICA

Where Luxury Meets Sustainability Living the high life doesn’t have to mean high costs to the environment. This eco-friendly hotel provides the perfect balance between luxury and green living.

H

otel Punta Islita, a luxury beach resort in Guanacaste, Costa Rica was identified by the Travel Chan-

nel as one of 6 earth-friendly luxury resorts around the world. While travel destinations of this type usually include backpacking, cozy wooden lodges and bamboo beds, it’s rare to find a luxury resort that can also offer you peace of mind when it comes to its environmental impact. True, luxury Hotel Punta Islita

is usually associated with opulence and wastage, but with a little green consciousness, Hotel Punta Islita has proven it is possible to defy the norms.

Hotel

Punta Islita Costa Rica

The resort offers everything one could expect for a relaxing, decadent getaway from Infinity pools to draped 4-poster beds and the chance to view some rare species of wildlife. The hotel is located on a secluded beach cove along the Guanacaste coastline. Vacationers can enjoy sustainable luxury, friendly hospitality and earthly adventures while reveling in the lush sights of the surrounding tropical forests of Costa Rica. Open plan rooms are designed to give guests the best of natural light and their surroundings. Much of the natural vegetation and wildlife was preserved in the development of the spa, which also had full support from the local.

It spurred opportunities for environmental conservation and more employment for the indigenous population.

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“

February Issue 2 2015 The eco-system is thriving thanks to a partnership between the hotel and regional conservation NGOs. The local fauna consists of iguanas, howler

Eco-tourism affords travelers the opportunity

“

to directly benefit the people and places they visit by supporting conservation and protecting cultural heritage as well as economic

development,” - Brian T. Mullis, President of Sustainable Travel International.

monkeys, macaws and other exotic birds. The hotel is also actively involved in wildlife conservation. It houses the headquarters of the Ara Project which is dedicated to the recovery and release of red and green macaws.

Costa Rica is a North American country, swept by the Pacific Ocean on west and the Caribbean Sea to its east. It also boasts beautiful mountain rises. The country has been identified by UNEP as a leader in sustainability due to the

government’s effective management of forestry and its commitment to becoming carbon neutral by 2021. A large percentage of its electricity is produced from renewable energy sources. The government has invested considerably into biofuel and sustainable construction.

Tourists visiting Hotel Punta Islita in Costa Rica, can look forward to kayaking, horse-riding along the coast, dolphin watching and viewing of other rare wildlife such as sea turtles. Then wind down with a sip of herbal tea at the resort’s pampering luxury spa. It’s an experience that will leave you rejuvenated and ethically cleansed too. www.ziwira.com

46

TRAVEL

TRAVELRIGHT Plan the greenest getaway you possibly can with these recommended eco-friendly travel accessories.

The civilized, squeezable travel tube

RE-USABLE SHAMPOO CONTAINERS Reduce plastic consumption by using these BPA Free travel bottles from GoToob for your

shampoo and conditioner. Made from soft yet rugged silicone, they are approved by the FDA (Food & Drug Administration) and 100% PC free. They have wide openings for easy-to-pour usage and are easy to squeeze, but also keep your liquids safely inside with no leaks.

REYA NATURAL CORK BAGS Matt & Nat sounds like a company named after two brothers. But it actually stands for Material and Nature. Their motto ‘Live Beautifully’ sums up the philosophy behind their designs. All bags and wallets

are made from non-animal products such as vegan leather, cork or recycled nylon. This cork backpack is perfect for your travel essentials.

SOLAR POWERED CHARGER Since you’ll be spending plenty of time basking in the sun, why

not let your charger soak in some natural sunilght too and put it

to good use! This is great option for travelling, since you may not

easily find a power source, especially if you’re camping. This nifty device can save on electricity while charging your mobile phone, iPad and any other electronic device that has a USB port. www.ziwira.com

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