I'm not going to pull any punches... The Deepwater Horizon Gulf Oil Spill has really pissed me off and it disgusts me. We are going to paying for this, both financially and environmentally, for decades to come. So, why is PoopBags sending you an email on something that is endlessly covered in the daily news? Actually, this subject is directly tied to business decisions on which we have made to base the PoopBags, Inc. company. Let me explain. There are basically three types of poop bags that exist in the marketplace.

Plastic Packaging and Bags High density polyethylene (HDPE) and low density polyethylene (LDPE) are thermoplastic made from petroleum oil. They are what you normally see at the grocery store or can be purchased in bulk. They have caused the toxic dump that the Pacific Ocean has become. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is the world's largest floating dump. It extends from California to China and measures over 10 million square miles. The waste is estimated at 3.5 million tons of junk and 80% of it is plastic. Since plastic photodegrades and resembles plankton, fish then eat it, then you eat it. Please click here for more information.

Oxo-Biodegradable/Degradable Products These types of bags are manufactured by companies such as EPI, which is probably the largest "oxo-biodegradable" manufacturer on the market. These producers claim the bags will degrade in 24-36 months. The bags are actually a mixture LDPE bags, and chemical foaming and purging agents called "Totally Degradable Plastic Additives" (TDPA). The producers should be applauded for attempting to reduce waste. We take issue with oxo-biodegradable and degradable bags because of the material sourcing, and what these chemicals are potentially leaving behind. The Deepwater Horizon Gulf Oil Spill has brought a renewed call to find alternative energy sources. While the majority of oil is used for energy purposes, LDPE plastic bags, which, again, originate from oil. Oxo-biodegradable producers only perpetuate the oil crisis and do not innovate to find solutions to lessen the world's dependence on oil. BP's seemingly reckless response and uncommunicative behavior has also left all of us feeling clueless and ineffective. As we have all read, BP is using chemical dispersants to break down the oil. No one outside of BP knows what the dispersant's properties are and their long-term environmental effects. What is in this dispersant that degrades oil, but kills wildlife and ruins the environment for years? We have to consider the possibility that the BP dispersant is made of the same chemicals that the oxo-biodegradable producers are using to break down LDPE plastic bags. It is also really disturbing as EPI and other oxo-biodegradable producers are not forthcoming about the specific chemicals or purging agents used to break down a plastic bag.

Biodegradable/Compostable Products Biodegradable is probably the most abused word used these days. In fact, we cringe when someone says, "well, Bags on Board are biodegradable." No, they are not. In order to be considered truly biodegradable in all 50 states, the bags must be ASTM D6400 specified. PoopBags proudly meets those standards. Our bags are made with corn and other renewable resources, no heavy metals have been added, no chemicals were added to enhance the degradation process, and they are produced in the USA. This allows us to support the US economy and cut down on our carbon footprint by cutting the shipping distances our bags travel. Are PoopBags more expensive that option 1 or 2? Well, from a financial perspective, yes we are. From an environmental perspective, we are the clear leader. PoopBags could produce any of these three options but we CHOOSE to produce what we feel is the best solution for our planet. We will continue down the path we have chosen and we hope to continue to build a loyal following of more and more PoopBaggers along the way. So, if you're on board, thank you. As fellow business owners, we believe businesses – such as yours and ours – are fundamental drivers to achieve a more sustainable planet. You have the ability to make a huge impact by influencing many others to use 100% biodegradable dog waste bags which are packaged in 100% recycled/70% post-consumer waste paperboard boxes and converted with 100% windpower. You have the power to educate your customers on the information noted above and make decisions such as carrying 100% biodegradable PoopBags in your store.

The above was sent to us by one of our very caring vendors Poopbags, we were so impressed we want to share it with our customers as well.  Thank you Paul and Paige for sharing this with us, we wish BP cared this much!

As we mentioned in a previous blog, for reasons very dear to us we have partnered with Cheyenne P. to raise funds for the Susan G Komen 3-Day for the Cure.  Cheyenne will be participating in San Diego's  3-Day 60 mile walk.  To help Cheyenne reach her donation goals we will donate $6 from the sale of each and every bpa free pink and now blue KOR ONE hydration vessels sold May 14th - June 10th.  To learn more about Cheyenne, the Susan G Komen 3-Day for the Cure or to donate directly to Cheyenne please click here

 Ice Blue              Orchid Pink       

We believe the KOR ONE hydration vessel is one of the best beverage bottles on the market and so does National Geographic Adventure Magazine. Last year it was the  winner of the National Geographic Adventure Magazine Best of Adventure Gear Award for 2009    

So Check it, when you buy a KOR ONE Hydration Vessel in Orchid Pink over the next 2 weeks from Maku EcoShop we will donate $6.00 for each bottle sold!  This is a great Eco Friendly gift for your friends doing the walk and a great way for them to stay hydrated over the 3 days and 60 miles.  

In the meantime, check out Cheyenne P's website for some great ideas and updated info.  Cheyenne and her friends have already started dialing in their hydration needs and adding to Cheyenne's fundraising goal!  We hope to help her reach the goal of $2500 over the next 2 weeks!

This is a particularly important cause to us at the EcoShop as my favorite mother-in-law is a breast cancer survivor who is doing great!!

CSA was first started in New England during the mid 80's as a way of supporting social and ecological responsibility in the local communities.  25 years later there are more than 3000 CSA's Farms across the country.  The majority of which are Organic!  There are some very cool advantages of owning shares in a CSA.  (all info via Local Harvest)

 Advantages for farmers:

• Get to spend time marketing the food early in the year, before their 16 hour days in the field begin
• Receive payment early in the season, which helps with the farm's cash flow
• Have an opportunity to get to know the people who eat the food they grow

Advantages for consumers:

• Eat ultra-fresh food, with all the flavor and vitamin benefits
• Get exposed to new vegetables and new ways of cooking
• Usually get to visit the farm at least once a season
• Find that kids typically favor food from "their" farm – even veggies they've never been known to eat
• Develop a relationship with the farmer who grows their food and learn more about how food is grown 

Advantages for Mother Earth  

• ecologically-responsible farming methods which improve the mineral and nutrient content of the soil

• recycle local green waste into compost.
• Organic farming helps preserve the water and air quality of their community by not using or encouraging the manufacture and use of chemical fertilizers, or dangerous chemical pesticides and herbicides

Here in San Diego county alone there are nearly 2000 Families that own shares in Be Wise Organic farms.  Make that 2001 families as we just signed up tonight!  

Check out a local CSA organic farm in your area, your family and mother earth will thank you! 

Check em out!

The craziness @ Maku EcoShop continues.  Between fufiling orders, developing our new website (epic pain in the arse but coming soon), having babies (pain elsewhere thankfully for someone else than myself....sorry A2), JW with his Ironman triathlon training, and adding the most kick ass eco friendly products so we have something for everybody there just doesn't seem to be enough time in the day to update the EcoShop blog. 

All excuses aside we are sorry and promise to improve with more consistent updates.  Here at the EcoShop we have so many great things to share so check out some of of our new and upcoming bits of Eco-goodness!

The ice blue KOR ONE hydration Vessel was spotted in the movie Iron Man 2.  Way to go KOR we have always loved your bottles, For a limited time we are offering the KOR ONE hydration vessels at the special Iron Man price of $25.00   Come learn why you too should drink from KOR ONE hydration vessels. 

We truly believe in doing things our way, the right way and leaving this world a better place than when we came into it.

Thanks for looking at our part of the world wide web and wanting to make the real world a better place!

The newest product on the Maku EcoShop is something that we can all use, just in case… These survival kits are outfitted with everything you need to sustain you and your families lives for a few days after a major disaster or catastrophic event.

While we are most certainly not doom and gloom type people, we definitely believe being prepared and able to take care of those closest too us.

As part of the launch of our Survival Kits on the EcoShop, we are going to donate 10% of all sales in the Survival Kits to the Red Cross Chile Earthquake Relief!

Check out all of the goodies in this Deluxe 5 Person Family Survival Kit!

Deluze 5 Person Home or Office Survival Kit

All items are packed securely in a 5 Gallon Bucket with Toilet Seat Lid

The kit includes the following:

Food and Water:

5 Boxes of Aqua Literz – Equivalent to 30 packets of emergency water (5 Liters) and each box has a 5 year shelf-life

5 – 2400 Calorie Food Bars (12,000 Calories) – 30 Individually wrapped bars with a 5-year shelf life

50 Water Purification Tablets – each tablet purifies 1 liter of water

Light and Communication:

Dynamo Radio Flashlight 4 in 1 – AmFm Radio, Siren, 3 LED Flashlight, Cell-phone Charger with adapter included (NEVER NEEDS BATTERIES)

Rechargeable Squeeze Flashlight – 3 LED flashlight which generates and stores power by squeezing the handle (NEVER NEEDS BATTERIES)

30 Hour Emergency Candle – can also be used as a stove

5 – Green Emergency Glow Sticks – lasts for 24 hours

5-in-1 Survival Whistle – loud shrill whistle (travels over 1 mile) containing a flint starter, signal mirror, compass, and lanyard

Box of 50 Waterproof Matches

Shelter and Warmth:

5 Emergency Survival Blankets – Retain over 90% of the users body heat

2-Person Tube Tent with Rope

5 Emergency Ponchos with Hood

Tools:

10´ x 10´ Blue Tarp

7-1/2" Flat Pry Bar

16 Function Knife

Leather Palm Working Gloves

Duct Tape – 2″ × 10 yards

5 – N95 Respirator Dust Masks – NIOSH approved

Hygiene and Sanitation:

Toilet Bags with Chemicals – Sealable, leak proof outer bag sealed to inner waste bag containing Bio-Gel waste gelation

5 Hygiene Kits- toothbrush, toothpaste, bar of soap, and 9 wet wipes

5 Tempo Pocket Tissue Packs

Air Freshener

First Aid:

2 – 42 Piece Portable First Aid Kits – contains 42 pieces – 10 spot bandages, 10 sheer junior,5 sheer medium, 5 sheer strips, 2 antibacterial, 3 clear strips, 2 fabric strips, 1 extra large, 2 alcohol pads, and 2 gauze pads

2 Guardian First Aid Essentials Kits – 1 Trauma Dressing (5″×9″), 3 Sunscreen Lotion Packs, 1 Sting Relief Prep Pad, 1 Burn Cream Pack, 4 Non-Aspirin Tablets, 4 Antacid Tablets, 4 Ibuprofen Tablets, 1 Lip Ointment Pack, 1 Antibiotic Ointment Pack, 1 Pair of Vinyl (non latex) Gloves, 2 Finger Splints, 10 Cotton Tip Applicators, 1 Roll of First Aid Tape, 1 Roll of Gauze Dressing, and a First Aid Instruction Guide

Other:

Deck of playing cards for entertainment

Emergency Survival Kit Information:

This survival kit was designed using advice from experts in the emergency preparedness industry. It follows guidelines given by government agencies and non-profit preparedness organizations. This 5-person deluxe office emergency kit has a retail value of $195.

The hottest eco friendly water bottles to hit the market have just landed on Maku EcoShop. KOR ONE Hydration vessels are not only cool but eco friendly and motivational at the same time.

Made of Eastman Tritan™ copolyester, the KOR ONE is completely BPA free and offers beautiful glasslike clarity with excellent impact resistance

Customize your vessel by inserting an inspirational KOR Stone™ message into the top; KOR Stone messages are visible when the cap is flipped open

KOR donates 1% of all sales to a select group of non-profits that focus on water-related issues and we do to so that is 2% of sales on this bottle going to help make the world a better place!

Available in 4 cool colors all with their own Non Profit

- Orchid Pink sales benefit Blue Planet Run, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing the global community together to provide safe drinking water to people in need around the world

- Sunrise Orange (my favorite!) sales benefit The Container Recycling Institute, a nonprofit that studies and promotes policies and programs to increase recovery and recycling of plastics

- Sawgrass Green sales benefit The Wetlands Initiative, a nonprofit working to sustainably restore wetlands in order to improve water quality and increase wildlife habitat

- Ice Blue sales benefit one of our favorites the Algalita Marine Research Foundation, a nonprofit focused on the protection of the marine environment through research, education and restoration, in particular studies of the North Pacific Gyre / Blob of Floating Trash…