Awesome Eco-friendly

The Reclaim Ocean watch features a unique case made from plastics that were destined for the ocean. Created by Timex using Tide Ocean Material, the plastic is collected from coastlines by fishermen, then washed and shredded to make this sustainable material. The watch features an Indiglo light-up dial and a date window and is water-resistant to 30 m.

Standing 20 stories tall, The Wood Hotel is the world’s tallest hotel mainly made from wood. Located at the birthplace of cross-country skiing, Skellefteå in Swedish Lapland, the 205-room property was built from locally harvested spruce and pine which smells awesome and absorbs more CO2 than it uses.

Coffee grounds aren’t easy to dispose of in an eco-friendly way. A startup in Kyiv, Ukraine, came up with a clever use for the waste – eyeglass frames. Business Insider shows us how OCHIS combine the grounds with plant oils and other sustainable elements, presses them until solid, then cuts them into eyeglass parts.

Cars aren’t the most efficient way to get around cities. They cause traffic jams, and are bad for the environment. Not Just Bikes takes a look at an alternative mode of transportation called a Bakfiet. These cargo bikes are popular in the Netherlands and offer a fun ride for kids. They come in 2- and 3-wheel varieties as well as eBikes.

Nike’s innovative sneakers are designed to be taken apart. Their interlocking, modular design means their materials can be easily separated for recycling when they reach the end of their useful life. The ISPA Link features earthy tones and bumpy sole pads, while the ISPA Link Axis is bold and colorful with a translucent white outsole.

Designed by architects Atruio Vittori and Andreas Vogler, these unique structures harvest clean water from the air for drinking and sanitation purposes. They were designed to be buildable without scaffolding or machinery, using local, sustainable materials. Find out more about the project at the Warka Water website.

Just BioFiber makes sustainable building materials from hemp plants, lime, and a biocomposite frame. The bricks stack like giant LEGO blocks up to 30 feet high, are as strong as concrete, and are self-insulating. Exploring Alternatives met with BioFiber President Terry Radford for a look at this innovative construction material.

United Airlines might need to update its slogan to “It’s time to fly electric” and get some extra-long Lightning cables. They’re buying 100 electric planes being developed by Sweden’s Heart Aerospace. The 19-seaters could take off by 2026. They’re also buying 200 Archer electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft for air taxi service.

Disposable plates are typically made from paper or plastic. The paper ones are easy to recycle, but plastic is more challenging. As a green alternative, India’s Vistaraku makes biodegradable plates and bowls by stitching together and pressing leaves of the Palash tree. Apparently, the leaves have natural antibacterial properties.

MoEa’s sustainable sneakers are made from recycled fruits and plants, making them friendlier to the environment. The bio-based materials are combined with cotton and recycled polyurethane or recycled plastic for stability. They come in apple, pineapple, cactus, corn, and grape, color-coded to their source material.

Bag maker Incase has added the everyday carry Hipsack to its products made from Bionic – plastic pollution recovered from the ocean. Designed to be worn at the waist or as a shoulder sling, the Hipsack has secure mesh, Velcro and zippered storage pockets, and a detachable keyring to keep valuables organized.

Designer Tom Ford’s distinctive black and white watch not only looks great, but it also makes a statement. Its case and hand-braided strap are made entirely from plastics pulled from oceans. It features a Swiss quartz movement, Super Luminova hands and numbers, an anti-reflective sapphire crystal, and stainless steel back.

When it comes to the outdoors, you should always leave it better than you found it. The Colony Cleanup is a bag designed for carrying and disposing of any trash you might encounter. Its spring steel top stays open for easy loading, and has a bottom zipper to dump its contents. It’s also got a lined front pocket for non-trash items.

Yusuf / Cat Stevens teamed up with director Chris Hopewell and Black Dog Films to create an animated music video for his classic Where do the Children Play?, an ecological anthem which is as relevant today as ever. The revamped track will be featured on Tea for the Tillerman², which celebrates his acclaimed 1970 album.

Exploring Alternatives introduces us to Catherine and Wayne, who have lived for nearly 30 years on a tiny man-made island in Tofino, BC, Canada. Freedom Cove was built by hand, using recycled and sustainable materials. It has multiple greenhouses, an art gallery, and a floating dance floor.

Buffy eucalyptus sheets are earth-friendly, made 100% from fiber grown sustainably in Austria (not Australia – no koalas affected!), then dyed with all-natural ingredients like rose, turmeric, pomegranate, and tea. It’s an industry first: zero chemicals. The cool-touch fabric is more breathable than cotton and softer than linen.

Stop shuffling batteries between remotes and just invest in a battery charger already. This handy 2600 mAh battery charger from RavPower comes with 8 AA batteries, and it’s on sale today in The Awesomer Shop.