Jul 11
000

Toilet-Paper-Inspired Wedding Dress Contest

By Paige Wills in Why Choose Paper?

 
Toilet paper

Image via Wikipedia

          When most people think of toilet paper, the first thing that comes to mind definitely isn’t wedding gowns.

           Nearly 1,000 applicants entered an interesting contest to design a wedding gown made of toilet paper. This contest was hosted by Cheap Chic Weddings.

            According to Cheap Chic Wedding’s Website, this is the 7th time the company has hosted this contest. This year’s first place, $1,000 winner made her gown with only four rolls of toilet paper, packing tape, and some hot glue.

            According to the website, the second place, $500 winner used five rolls of one-ply toilet paper, first aid tape, transparent duct tape, and some spray adhesive. The third place, $250 winner used a whopping 20 rolls of toilet paper to create her dress along with hot glue, duct tape, mod podge glue, and fabric glue.

            This is definitely an interesting use for toilet paper. Now whether or not anyone ever wears a wedding dress made from toilet paper is another story. I imagine the gowns don’t hold up too well in the rain and one could only imagine what would happen if someone spilled a drink on the gown!

          On the other hand, this is still a unique contest that encourages creativity and the contest seems to be a hit.

            Watch this short YouTube video below to see the first, second, and third place gowns.

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Jul 07
000

RePaper Campus Challenge

By Paige Wills in Facts About The Paper Industry, How Paper Is Environmentally Friendly

 
Trash Recycling with Disposal Containers

Image by epSos.de via Flickr

            On Earth Day, college campuses across North America were called to take part in the RePaper Campus Challenge. According to environmentalpaper.org, the RePaper Challenge’s goal is to increase sustainability across campuses by recovering and recycling 75 percent of campus paper waste by 2015. The campaign is headquartered in Environmental Paper Network’s RePaper Project. This program focuses on increasing paper recovery to maximize the amount of recycled content used in the manufacturing of paper.

            Pam Blackledge, RePaper’s Project Coordinator, said in a press release,

“With over 20 million students in the United States today, each using at least 700 pounds of paper a year, campuses have a huge opportunity to make a difference.  Paper is often ignored as having an immense environmental impact, mostly because we use it every day – it’s everywhere we look.  But by creating paper practices that matter to the environment such as reducing waste, recovering more paper for recycling, and purchasing recycled content paper, a campus can make a dramatic impact on their sustainability goals.”

            However, this campaign isn’t only limited to college campuses in North America. Individuals, businesses, offices, and schools are encouraged to participate as well to help protect the environment.

            According to RePaper’s Website,

 “The United States collects just 56% of recyclable paper and the American Forest & Paper Administration estimates that only 50% of office paper is recovered. This translates to approximately 33 million tons of high-grade paper that could be recycled but is instead removed from the recovery stream. Much of it ends up in landfills, adding to climate warming pollution. It can be estimated that the annual value of that recyclable paper is approximately $2.5 billion.”

            The RePaper Project’s partnerships include:

           For more information on this project or to find out how to get involved, go to http://www.repaperproject.org/

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Jul 04
000

July 4th – The Anniversary of one of the Most Important Paper Documents Ever Signed in American History

By Paige Wills in Why Choose Paper?

 
U.S. Declaration of Independence ratified by t...

Image via Wikipedia

          The Fourth of July marks the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, one of the most important documents in American history.

           July 4th is a time to get together with friends and family to celebrate America’s birthday. It’s a time to relax at home, the lake, or a cookout surrounded by good company. It’s a time to thank the military, past and present, for all of their services and take pride in all that America has accomplished.
         How many Independence Day parties have you been to and seen patriotic paper-based memorabilia? You probably never realized how much paper plays a role in celebrations. I know I didn’t until I started looking.
         America’s birthday is celebrated with many patriotic paper-based products such as:

American Flag Crumbled

Image by Kyle Wegner via Flickr

  • Patriotic paper napkins
  • Patriotic paper plates
  • Patriotic paper cups
  • Patriotic tablecloths
  • Patriotic signs/banners
  • Patriotic Decorations

         I just listed a few; however, one of the most important parts of many Fourth of July parties is:

  • Fireworks
A Fourth of July fireworks display at the Wash...

Image via Wikipedia

          I know it’s something we overlook or never really think about. However, look into the brown paper bag your fireworks came in and you’ll notice how many fireworks contain some form of paper. Whether it is the package it came in or the firework itself, paper-based products play a significant role in helping America celebrate its birthday!

         However, don’t forget that Independence Day marks the signing of one of the most important paper documents in America’s history:

  • The Declaration of Independence

          Just think, if it wasn’t for that one little piece of paper, we wouldn’t be celebrating Indepedence Day today!

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Jul 01
002

Plastic Shopping Bags Banned in Los Angeles County

By Paige Wills in How Paper Is Environmentally Friendly, Why Choose Paper?

 
Plastic Bags Blow!

Image by katerha via Flickr

         The question of “paper or plastic” is now a thing of the past in Los Angeles County. The new question is “Do you want to pay for paper bags or did you bring reusable bags?”
          On July 1, 2011, the use of plastic shopping bags was banned in Los Angeles County. According to Elex Michaelson’s news story titled, “Plastic-bag ban begins in unincorporated Los Angeles County,” this ban affects the county’s one million-plus residents. Customers now have to bring a reusable bag or pay 10 cents per paper bag.

paper grocery bags

Image by G & A Sattler via Flickr

          Complimentary shopping bags are second nature. Many people have purchased reusable bags. However, until recently, if you forgot to bring your reusable bags, it wasn’t a big deal because complimentary plastic or paper bags were at almost every store.

          I think it’s a great idea to reduce the amount of plastic that goes into our landfills. Most people don’t recycle their plastic bags, even though many stores will recycle your plastic bags for free.

         Paper bags seem to be more useful than plastic bags. They are often more sturdy and can hold more. However, the question is…will paper bags simply replace plastic bags in landfills or will people use reusable bags?

Australian Green Bag

Image via Wikipedia

         I believe most people will bring reusable bags; however, how many reusable bags would a person grocery shopping for a family of four have to bring?
        According to the article, a ban similar to this one has already taken place in Santa Monica, California and a plastic bag ban will take place in Long Beach next month. A statewide law to ban plastic bags was shot down last September; however, according to the Michaelson’s article, there is pressure to bring the ban back on the table.
         Do you think a nationwide ban on plastic shopping bag is in America’s future? Would you bring your own recyclable bags or would you pay the 10 cents per paper bag? I have a feeling many people will bring a couple of reusable bags and end up paying for paper bags to hold the items that don’t fit in their reusable bags. Ten paper bags would only cost $1.
         

 
 
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