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Wednesday, May 16. 2012Reusables Make Traveling Easier!
For even more ideas we've handpicked some of the most practical, compact & convenient reusables to help reduce waste (and save money!) when you're on the go. Check out our Gifts for Travelers list here. With innovative reusable products it's easy to cut back on the disposable bottles, cups, toiletries, etc. that are consumed while traveling. What reusables do you use to smooth your ride? Friday, May 11. 2012Made in China Is Not A Dirty Word
Since the launch of reuseit.com in 2003, the concern over products manufactured in China (and other countries) has grown. So, as skeptical consumers ourselves, the team at reuseit makes sure everything we offer (including products made in the USA) meets strict criteria in areas like:
It’s nearly impossible to source certain products, such as safe, high-quality stainless steel water bottles, from within the US. However, we’ve been fortunate to partner with over 300 brands and continue to support companies which manufacturer responsibly – no matter which one of the 20 countries the products we carry are manufactured in. Ultimately, our goal is to help the environment by supporting companies that adhere to safety and ethical manufacturing & labor practices while creating alternatives to disposable items. Companies such as ECOLunchboxes, Kinderville, Klean Kanteen, ChicoBags and Blue Avocado all manufacture their products safely and responsibly in China. For example, one of our partners, To-Go Ware, manufacturers their products abroad (while still maintaining high manufacturing standards) so they can sell their products at an affordable price point. They explain it well, highlighting the importance of making reusable products available to the masses, not just the people wealthy enough to afford them: “The issue of accessibility within the modern sustainability movement is something that concerns us, as we have witnessed the privilege that has turned "sustainability" into a luxury not everyone can afford. This is why we have chosen to source our manufacturing abroad. Currently the grade of stainless we require for our food carriers is not available for manufacturing in the United States at a price that would allow us to sell the food carrier at an affordable price point. We also believe that the more accessible our product is, the wider the audience and the greater shift in consciousness around our society's wasteful throw-away culture. In doing so, we have sought out international partners that are doing well by their employees and the environment.” - To-Go Ware
If we as consumers want to see more reusable products made in the USA in the future, then we need to support and buy products from these companies that manufacture both in the US and in foreign countries safely and responsibly. In our experience, it’s difficult for companies to meet the conflicting demands of consumers who want products manufactured in the USA but in the same breath demand “discounts”, “sales” and “bottom dollar prices”. The demand, in supply and demand, does not mean that we “demand” made in the USA products or “demand” responsibly made but rather represents the amount that consumers are willing to pay. Check out all of our Made in the USA products, products safely and responsibly made in China, and India. We have a neat "Filter By" feature on the left-side of the page - scroll down to Country of Origin to sort by country to see them all. We think that the folks over at every little bit have a great perspective on this too! Read more about this issue here. Monday, April 30. 201210 Items You Can Reuse
Our world is becoming increasingly “convenient,” but that also means
increasingly disposable. It’s not a new trend, unfortunately. For at least the past 30 years,
businesses have been making products with the intention that they will break down after
a certain period of time and we will have to buy new ones. After all, how else are they
going to make their profits?
But it wasn’t always this way. Now, electronics are so relatively cheap that if a
component breaks, we simply toss the whole thing away and get a new one because
it’s cheaper than fixing the problem. We buy disposable water bottles because they are
convenient, disposable mop and broom heads with products like Swiffer, and condiment
companies are even starting to market the equivalent of fast food ketchup packets to
regular consumers so that they can have them “on-the-go.” Where does it end?
With us. As individuals, we have to stand up and say no to this kind of behavior. But just
as important is something that our grandparents knew 50 years ago – anything can be
reused if you’re willing to look for a way, and as part of a way to combat our disposable
society, we need to look at ways to reuse everything in our lives. You might be surprised
with some of the things you see here – ideas that could help the Earth and save you
money!
Anything empty is a container.Whether or not you can find a specific use for it is another question, but I remember my grandpa’s garage full of milk jugs, takeout containers, and all kinds of glass jars from spaghetti sauce and other kinds of food. But it wasn’t food he kept in them – it was his hardware. Each glass jar had different kinds of screws and nails, and the plastic containers held everything from sand to anti-freeze (that he’d mixed himself!) to concrete powder. Obviously, this is not how you have to use any of these, but I think it’s a great way to show how we can take everyday items most of us would toss and repurpose them.
Old coffee is good coffee.You’re probably shaking your head right now, but hear me out. If you make a pot of coffee and end up not drinking it before it gets cold, don’t toss it. Instead, consider adding it to some ice and throwing it in the fridge for later – yes, that’s right, you just made your very own iced coffee. And those wet coffee grinds don’t need to go in the trash either. Coffee is organic, and a great compost. Set the grinds aside and you can use them in your garden or on your yard.
Fruit and veggies.Scratching your head trying to figure this one out? Okay, I’m not being as clear as I should. Of course you can’t “reuse” fruit and vegetables (other than as a compost, maybe), but if you eat anything that has seeds, try planting those seeds and growing them! No yard? No problem! Use a windowsill planter.
Past-their-prime toothbrushes.Why buy things like toilet brushes or scrub pads? Next time, don’t throw away your toothbrush when you switch to a new one – make it a cleaning brush! Lots of toothbrushes are fantastic for this, since they’re meant to scrub anyway.
Bottle caps.This one is great for kids. Instead of buying a new checker set, save your old bottle caps and use them as the pieces. You can make a fun project out of it by painting the caps red and black, and go all the way DIY with the game by following the next tip…
…old cardboard is a canvas.As written, that probably sounds like a weird tip, but old cardboard boxes that have gone through too much wear and tear to hold heavy items are perfect surfaces for your kids to paint and draw on. Perhaps they’d be interested in drawing a checkerboard for their new checkers pieces?
Pool and cooking water.The little ones love their kiddie pool, but it’s such a waste when you just have to dump the water into the drain after they’re done! Next time, instead of this, try using the water for plants and flowers in your yard. You’ll conserve water by not having to do it separately. This also works for water used to cook things like pasta – just make sure you let it cool down first!
Heat.How can you reuse heat? By opening the oven door after you’re done cooking! Try it instead of turning up the heater the next time it gets a little cool. You can also do this by opening bathroom doors after hot showers.
Packing materials.This one might be obvious, but it’s extensive if you’re vigilant. Among the things you can – and should – reuse: boxes (shipping boxes and the ones you get from stores for clothing), gift bags, gift wrap (if you can), bubble wrap, air pillows, and packing peanuts. Also, large envelopes can be great for storing paperwork.
Pillows, stuffing, and clothing.One of these seems pretty obvious, right? Old clothes can be handed down or donated to charity. True, and you should absolutely do that if they are good enough to wear – but what if they’re not? Most people toss them, but it’s such a waste! Depending on the material, old clothes can make great rags (pillows and pillow cases, too!), could be sown into a quilt, or might make a great covering for a new dog toy. Which is where the stuffing from pillows and even comforters comes in. If you have even rudimentary sewing skills, an old pair of jeans filled with pillow stuffing can make a great toy – without you having to spend a ridiculous amount of money at the pet store!
We offer practical, innovative and high-quality reusables in our store, but we also empower our customers to save money and cut back on waste by reusing and upcycling the items they already own. Check out all of our great DIY Ideas here.
Author Bio: Krisca Te works with Open Colleges, Australia's leading provider of TAFE courses equivalent and nutrition courses. When not working, you can find her actively participating in local dog show events – in support of her husband.
Tuesday, April 24. 2012NRDC's This Green Life features "The Smart Lunch Box"
The National Resources Defense Council is the nation's most effective environmental action group, combining the grassroots power of 1.3 million members and online activists with the
courtroom clout and expertise of more than 350 lawyers, scientists and other professionals. We are big fans of the NRDC! Monday, April 16. 2012Good Habits and Plastic Produce Bag State of Mind
Earth Day is this month so many people are talking about ways to be more mindful of the earth and preserving resources. Well, talk is talk. What about actually doing it? Is it really worth it? How do I stop the old habit? How do I start a new one? Do I have the energy for this? Haven’t I done enough already? I was just in Florida with my family last week (Spring Break) visiting my parents. My mom is green at heart, but she needs a nudge. She is my test case. If she’ll change a habit and adopt a new one, anyone (who is interested) can. I am very happy to say that she is (and has been for awhile) the champion of reusable shopping bags - a real renegade in Watervliet Michigan and Naples Florida. She gets lots of compliments (on her reusable shopping bags) and secretly likes the attention. She tells everyone about her bags and where to buy them. Of course I’ve made many other suggestions/strong recommendations/guilt-laden demands over the years (and still do), like grass-fed beef, recycled toilet paper, SLS-free shampoo, etc. that haven’t been so successful……….but I digress. Back to Florida. We were shopping together at Publix, picking up a few things for dinner, and I caught my mom sticking her asparagus in a plastic produce bag. (The irony! I just wrote about this!) So I said with authority “mom, you don’t need a produce bag for the asparagus”. She said “yes I do”, with equal authority. I quickly snapped “why?” She looked at me for a moment then said, “because I do.” She said it in a way that really communicated “Don’t question me. I’m older than you. I know better. You’ve talked me into reusable shopping bags, organic apples, hormone free milk, reusable thermal water bottles and expensive organic fair trade coffee that I have to order from Wisconsin and I used cloth diapers when I had children and that’s all I can take…!!!”. Understanding there was to be no further conversation on this matter, I dropped it. When I got home I thought about it again, and instead of a sense of failure, I realized that sometimes it’s like that..... Just because. A habit without question. A belief without science. Asparagus in a plastic bag. I’m still hopeful that my mom will stop using plastic produce bags. Maybe it just has to sink in awhile. I know she gets it. She helped start and run a very successful gardening program at an elementary school in Naples, called Global Garden, so that children would understand where their food comes from, and the pleasures of radish sandwiches. Do you want to change a habit but you’re not sure how? Here are the basics:
Check out our entire line of reusable produce bags to get started! Need a
reason to change? Here is my favorite music video on the importance of kicking
the plastic habit. Please share! Rethinking Plastics: Plastic
State of Mind Wednesday, April 11. 2012How to Save Paper with Reusable Gift Bags
Author Bio: Cheryl B. is a freelance writer and activist who loves finding simple ways her family in Michigan can be smart about their waste. She has also researched which car insurance companies are the most environmentally friendly. Gift giving is big business in the U.S. and requires tons of paper gift wrap annually. According to earth911.com, nearly 50 percent of the country's total paper consumption per year is wrapping paper. That amounts to approximately 42 million tons of waste paper. Not only is gift wrap typically a one use commodity, it is often non-recyclable due to dyes, lamination, and metallic or plastic additives. This adds up to rampant consumption of trees as well as considerable greenhouse gas emissions from the paper-making process. In terms of personal consumption, disposable gift wrapping and gift bags are expensive. If all Americans adopted reusable gift bags for just a few of the gifts they give each year, this would translate into a significant savings in cost with a minimum of effort. The Anti-Waste Wrap RevolutionFortunately for U.S. forests and budget-conscious consumers, enterprising environmentalists offer fabulous reusable options in gift bags that preserve the mystery of gift giving while saving on paper usage. Some of the advantages of multi-use gift bags include:
With all of the designer options currently available in fabric gift sacks, spending a bit more for multiple usage wrap makes good sense. In fact, giving a gift in a designer fabric bag is like giving two gifts in one, because the recipient will save the wrap and play it forward. Types of Reusable Gift BagsReusable gift bags are often made from natural cotton fabric that is sewn into a pouch shape with a drawstring closure. Those that have gusseted bottoms -- enlarged with seaming that forms a squared-off shape -- are designed to hold heavier or bulky objects. Some reusable fabric gift sacks are made from recycled fibers, and some incorporate fibers grown without chemicals for enhanced environmental sustainability.
With a bag to fit virtually any type of gift, wrapping it up in reusable materials is quick, environmentally savvy and simple. No need to track down the scissors or tape, because the bag is a self-contained package. Variations on the Reusable ThemeReusable gift bags come in designs ranging from solid colors to prints and work well in all sorts of gift-giving situations. Some ideas for pairing a gift bag with a specific occasion include:
Project Gift BagsReusable bags are great do it yourself projects for preschoolers through adults. Younger children can work with felt fabric that requires no hemming but just simple side seams sewn by hand. Crafty adults can devise custom bags in sizes to fit specific gifts and occasions.
No matter the gift, making use of reusable gift bags makes good sense in terms of budget and responsible consumerism. Pretty fabric bags last through several gift exchanges looking fresh and enticing while saving paper and reducing waste. Having a supply of reusable bags on hand in a variety of sizes and styles makes gift giving easier and more fun than ever before. Wednesday, March 28. 2012Bring Your Own Produce Bags!
So, the next habit that good green shoppers need to get into
is bringing your own produce bags. Just keep about 5 - 10 with your set of
shopping bags. Thankfully, we offer a lot of wonderful choices at every price
point. Our most popular set is flip
& tumble Reusable Produce Bag Set – a great price for a set of 5 (for a limited time, we're offering an even better price --30% off!-- when you use coupon code FLIP30 at checkout!). The mesh styles, like Blue
Avocado’s Large Mesh Produce Bag and reuseit’s
Recycled PET Mesh Produce Bag Set are nice too because you can see what’s
in it, whether it’s at checkout, in the refrigerator, or holding your son’s
collection of matchbox cars. Personally, I like our Organic
Cotton Muslin Produce and Snack Bags and they seem to end up all over my
house, since produce bags are great for holding anything, like crayons,
knitting projects, building blocks and hair accessories. Oh, and in a pinch,
produce bags make a great gift bag – just put a nice ribbon around it – that’s
a double gift! See our complete selection of produce bags, and don’t forget to BYOPB – bring your own produce bags! Sunday, January 29. 2012It's that Time of Year Again... We've just added a ton of new products to our Annual Warehouse Clearance Sale! People Towels, Snack Size Bento Boxes, RuMe Stand Up Tote Bags & more awesome reusables are available at up to 70% OFF! Check em' out while supplies last! You won't want to miss these great savings! Thursday, January 26. 2012Don't Space Out! 10 Reusables You Might Not Know About
If not, a recent article,"10 Things You Didn't Know You Could Buy Reusable, from our fellow frugal friends Earth911 offers fantastic recommendations to get your started. We're honored to have been featured in the piece as a hub for the best of the best reusables! Check it out and explore more stellar green possibilities! At reuseit.com you can shop by "Disposables Replaced" and discover more ways to kick the use-and-toss habit with our Staple-Free Stapler, Reusable Plastic Cutlery, Feminine Products and more!
Wednesday, January 18. 2012Reusables vs. Disposables (Round 4)Switching to reusable products saves money in the long run, so we had Casey Slide, a frugal living contributor for the Money Crashers personal finance site, conduct a cost analysis to show just how much you can save. As promised, we've thrown our last disposable items into the ring! Check out Round 1, Round 2 and Round 3. 1. One-Time Use Batteries vs. Rechargeable Batteries
2. Disposable Feminine Hygiene Products vs. Reusable Feminine Hygiene Products "When you think about all of the disposable items that you regularly buy, don't forget about feminine hygiene products. The thought of reusable feminine hygiene products may seem repulsive to some, but if you trust your washing machine, you should have no fear about using these products, especially if you have used cloth diapers. Making the switch to reusable feminine hygiene products saves you a lot of money. Many women also find that the products are more comfortable than disposables."
Final Thoughts
"A family of four making these changes can save up to $1,419.32 each year for five years, for a total savings of $7,096.60! After five years, you may have to replace many of these reusable products. Even though you have to replace some of the items over time, you will still save thousands by switching to reusable products.
For even greater savings, you can find many additional products on reuseit that can replace other disposable items that you regularly purchase for your family.
Have you made the switch to reusable products? Has it saved you a significant amount of money?"
Wednesday, January 11. 2012Have you Passed Along a Blue Marble Yet?While scouring the web for potential Newsroom posts, we came across this amazing project that we'd like to share with you! Born from the wildly popular and yet simple initiative of marine biologist Dr. Wallace J. Nichols, blue marbles have been exchanged around the world with millions of people in celebration of our beautiful, fragile planet. The Blue Marbles Project has set out to pass a blue marble through every person's hand on earth, with a simple message of gratitude along with it. That’s the BLUEGAME part, according to the website. See someone carrying a reusable bag or sipping Have you been passed a blue marble yet? It takes one to pass one. For more information, visit BlueMarbles.org. While you're at it, take a look at this great article on Huff Post's GREEN blog, "What Will You Do With Your Blue Marble?" and share your story with the world. Thursday, January 5. 2012Reusable Products vs. Disposable Items (Round 3)Ever wondered whether switching to reusables really saves you money? Take a look below as we have two more disposables go neck and neck with high-quality reusables. Check out Round 1 and Round 2 to view past defeated disposable competitors. Preserve natural resources and save! 3. Disposable Diapers to Cloth Diapers
"I have enjoyed using cloth diapers on my son, and their use has become quite popular among
4. Plastic Straws to Reusable Straws
"Kids love straws and honestly, I love them too. I always have them in the house and I use them to drink tea, soda, juice, and my own kid-friendly smoothie blender recipe. The durability of stainless steel drinking straws makes them last much longer than disposable plastic straws. In fact, I end up recycling many plastic straws
Wednesday, December 28. 2011New Years 'Reusable Resolution' Giveaway!
In honor of the new year, we're asking our customers to consider the environment and develop a 'Reusable Resolution' to help cut consumption of use-and-toss disposables. Be it ditching plastic cutlery, always remembering to bring your Eco-Cup to the coffee shop, or simply remembering your reusable bag, every action counts! To kick off 2012 with a bang, we'll be giving away 3 Built Market Totes to 3 lucky winners who share their Reusable Resolution!
We'll randomly select a winner on JANUARY 10th and notify winners through facebook. Don't forget to "like" us on facebook in order to stay posted! Need inspiration? Take a look at our staff resolutions below.
- Lauren, PR and Communications Manager
"I've done a lot in 2011 to cut back on waste, but one area that's still lacking is my use of
- Laura, Operations Associate
"I'd like to eliminate using straws when I buy drinks this new year. I'd like to
also eventually work on other items for take-out, but I think this is the best one to start out with. I love iced coffee drinks, but I end
up going through more straws than I'd like when there are so many amazing reusable alternatives!" - Susan, Finance & Inventory Manager
Image: redorbit.com Thursday, December 22. 2011Reusable Products vs. Disposable Items (Round 2)Switching to reusable products saves money in the long run, so we had Casey Slide, a frugal living contributor for the Money Crashers personal finance site, conduct a cost analysis to show just how much you can save. As promised, we've thrown two more disposable items into the ring!
5. Plastic Cutlery to Reusable Cutlery "We always used plastic cutlery in packed lunches and on picnics. Depending on what we eat, we may need a full set of cutlery. Not only does this add up when you must have one of each and a set for each person, you also end up with more items that need to be packed and carried around. Also, the fragility of plastic cutlery means it never seems to do the job. Fortunately, you can find some great reusable alternatives out there that combine the functionality of all three utensils."
"I think everyone knows that buying bottled water wastes money. You really do not need to purchase bottled water ever again, with the exception of having some stored in case of an emergency such as a natural disaster. But many people still default to buying bottled water, and their money goes down the drain again and again. You can begin saving a lot of money by investing in a water filter and some quality reusable bottles."
Stay posted with two disposables replaced per week! Only four more left! Wednesday, December 21. 2011How do you simplify the Holidays?
How will you simplify the holidays? Below are a few of our favorites from the Center for a New American Dream. "Don't give children toy catalogs! Providing young children with
incentives for greed will ultimately lead to more spending, more waste,
and unnecessary consumerism based solely on instant gratification. Let
children use their imaginations when making their Christmas list and be
sure that it includes some non-material gift items as well." "I bought fabric gift bags and re-usable gift tags from a local crafter.
This year I will shop at locally-owned businesses as much as possible,
to support our town's economy. And going to local music programs and
watching old favorites on TV are much more fun than shopping!" "How about an eco-friendly vacation rather than buying a bunch of stuff for Christmas?" Tell us what you think in a comment below! Image: eco2o.com
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Whenever I set out on a trip, I always have a handful of reuseit's trusty products that make things easier for me AND helps me cut back on waste on the road!
). When it's empty, it folds up nice and small so it doesn't hog room in my carry-on. More and more airports have those 
If you’re anything like me, you can go into a sheer frenzy over “sales” and “low prices”. Who doesn’t like a bargain? Unfortunately, I believe that our understanding of the true cost of a product has been skewed. Often, products are manufactured abroad – with low wages and low labor standards. We woke up one day to realize that almost everything in our homes was manufactured in another country – most likely, China.
“We are what
we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” - Aristotle 
I was in a large natural and organic food store yesterday (you know the one) and was impressed by how many shoppers actually brought
their own shopping bags with them. Hooray for us and the growing number of
conscious consumers! However, I noticed that those same reformed shoppers used
at least 5 plastic produce bags (many used 10 or more)! Do you really need to
put your broccoli in a plastic bag? Ok, maybe your meat, but I don’t do that
either, since it is typically over-packaged, even from the butcher – to this
day, I have never had a leak. 
A couple weeks ago the reuseit staff headed down to the Chicago warehouse to complete our annual inventory check. As a small, independent business, we work hard to benefit the
environment and maintain a closeness with our products and our customers
like you. So after counting and tallying our best of the best reusables, we selected products from our favorite categories to pass huge savings on hundreds of great items right to you! 
In the realm of reusables, there are infinite ways to eliminate single-use disposables from your life. Reusable water bottle? Check. High-quality reusable shopping bag? Check. But have you made the switch to reusable drycleaning bags, produce bags and coffee filters yet? 
"If you have ever shopped at Toys "R" Us, you probably needed to buy batteries too. Never in my life have I needed as many batteries as I need now that I have a child - it seems like almost every toy needs them! It pained me to continually buy more disposable batteries, and eventually I made the switch to reusables."
a soda out of a reusable stainless steel straw? Tell them you appreciate it and our blue planet does as well! Then place a blue marble in their hand. It's that simple. 
young families. The diapers don't harm your children or the environment, and they cost much less than disposable diapers. You can easily use and clean cloth diapers, despite popular belief. It only takes me 10 minutes every other day to clean the cloth diapers used in our home."
because they rip at the flexible part before we can even use them."
"I will try to avoid polystyrene (Styrofoam) at all costs in 2012. Taking over 1 million years to biodegrade, the material is incredibly
environmentally destructive and harmful to human health (cringing just thinking about those spooky foam containers). When it comes
to take-out or carting leftovers home, I will absolutely be prepared
with a reusable alternative." 
paper napkins & tissues. I
already keep a cloth napkin in my drawer for use at work, but in 2012,
I'm going to start using cloth napkins for meals, even dinner parties,
at home. I will also try to carry a handkerchief or two with me when I'm
out and about to avoid using tissues." 
6. Bottled Water to Reusable Bottles
This holiday season, celebrate sustainably. Whether it's handmade gifts or buying local, it's never too late to reinvent your holiday festivities by creating more joy
and less waste from "stuff" (i.e. wrapping paper,
packaging and food scraps, single-use decorations, etc.). After running across the Center for a New American Dream's Customer Service
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