peace. love. recycle.

Hey everyone!  I’m back! =)  Not that I physically went anywhere… I was just neglecting my blog =(  I’ve missed blogging, and I am going to try to make more time for it.

I came home today to this pretty little package =]  Imagine my surprise when I saw the biodegradable airbag in the box!

And for all of you that are more interested in my purchase, I picked up this little gem =P

What I wasn’t too happy about was all the freaking packaging that came in the box!  Who really needs an abundance of tissue paper?!  Sigh, at least it’s pretty and I can find a way to reuse it in the future…

Although this was my first Kate Spade purchase, I must say I am more inclined to do business with them again all thanks to that biodegradable airbag (in addition to their cute designs, of course).  I know it kinda sounds silly, but the fact that they made that small change in their packaging makes a huge difference with the mass amount of orders they must ship out!

What do you ecowarriors feel about buying designer brands?  I admit, I felt guilty for spending that amount of money for one product, mostly because I’m the type of person that prefers bang for my buck; and I’m not gonna lie - all my money goes to food haha.  However, I’m starting to realize that it’s a much better (and even eco-friendlier) choice to invest in my purchases because: a) you spend less money overall than if you were to constantly replace a cheaper product, b) eco-friendly products are more expensive due to the use of recycled and/or quality ingredients, and c) investing in a few everyday staples is probably (or definitely) less waste than purchasing 50 similar products from Forever 21 for the same price.

Edit — 11/14/11

I ended up reselling the wallet because it was too small for me… it was the perfect size when it was empty, but it bulged too much when I put even a few cards in.  Sigh, the card ID from Irene is still the perfect wallet!  Good news is: I reused the same packaging to send it out! :)

I found out about this reusable bag simply from browsing JustJared.com, an awesome website that I get all my celebrity gossip from =P  I like when I find things like this randomly online!  Many of you know that I love reusable bags, and I am never without one when at the grocery store or at the mall.  I use different kinds of bags depending on where I am.  I use the simple, cheap tote bags that Forever 21 sells when at the mall because clothes aren’t that heavy; plus, it would look kind of weird to be carrying a grocery type of bag full of clothes at the mall… at least in my opinion hehe.  For grocery stores, I go for the reusable bags that can hold up to 25 pounds, which is a necessity when buying groceries.

So when I saw this product, I instantly wanted it!  Not only is it cute, but purchasing this particular bag will provide food for one child during an entire school year in an underdeveloped country!  And of course it reduces the waste of plastic bags that are NOT recyclable through your neighborhood garbage pick-up.  Although most grocery stores are starting to offer recycling bins solely for plastic bags outside the store, there are SO MANY plastic bags that get tossed into the garbage and thus lay in wastelands for years and years and years!  Just thinking about it now makes me sad all over again… It seriously takes no effort to carry around your own reusable bag since many of them fold up into tiny pouches.  I keep one in my purse and one in my car at all times =)  Anyway, back to the point!  If you’re shopping around for a reusable bag, I highly suggest purchasing a FEED bag!

Now, I know that they’re pricy for a reusable bag.  But think about the children!  I know some people would say, “Well, for that price, I would rather just donate that money directly to the children.”  Yeah, they say this, but how many of them actually go through with it?  Since you would be spending that money to feed a starving child, you might as well also get a bag!  Plus, if you divide the price by how many times you will use the bag, it practically pays itself off!

I think this cause hits close to home because I’m currently taking a class about child development and how crucial an education and nutrition is to their development.  I’m also taking a lab where I am a caregiver to children 3-4 years of age, and it kills me to ever think of them without an education or food.

One more thing I wanted to say… I don’t want to sound like a hypocrite, but I don’t own this bag.  I am a poor college student who is neck high in loans and credit card bills… but I am saving up for this bag for the near future!  I guess I’m recommending this reusable bag to those who can afford it without feeling guilty!  I don’t want to feel like I’m forcing it on anyone =)

OH and just to throw it out there, stores like Safeway, Walmart, Rite Aid, and I’m sure many others have bins outside of their stores where you are encouraged to bring back those plastic bags to be recycled.  They recycle those types of bags specially because the neighborhood recycling doesn’t accept them.  So at the very least, take advantage of those bins! =)

More Information: The FEED bag

SUMMARY: The FEED bag is a fashionable reusable bag offered exclusively through Amazon, partnering with the UN World Food Programme and spokesperson Lauren Bush.  Purchasing this bag will provide food for a child for one school year in an underdeveloped country.  The price is $35 with free shipping.  I’m not sure how many pounds it can hold, but it’s made out of burlap so it’s definitely durable.  Oh, and it’s reversible! =)