Every year, parents are obligated to buy their kids (whether they like it or not) school supplies, and you can bet that pencils are on the list. Moms and dads might be surprised to find out that those little orange sticks are made out of the 4 billion trees cut down worldwide for paper industries, and assembled with toxic chemicals in factories that pollute the air (most erasers are made from latex).

In a world where supplies of fresh and clean water are becoming increasingly scarce, now is a great time to learn more about rainwater harvesting. From simple DIY systems using the crudest of make-shift tools, to the installation and use of professionally produced and scientifically designed equipment, rainwater harvesting systems can really be put together just about anywhere.

Many smart shoppers are talking about eco-clothing these days. People are becoming increasingly aware of materials used in the products they buy, and how they are manufactured. Designers are looking for ways to incorporate materials from sustainable resources. Eco-clothing lines are those which are designed in such a way as to maintain harmony with nature.

The eco-concious consumer knows a thousand ways to be green: take the bus to work, turn lights off when you leave the house, and of course, compost and recycle. Recycling initiatives are on the rise in communities around the world, but individual programs are only part of the solution.

When you recycle your toner cartridge, you preserve the environment while lessening the toll of printing costs on your pocketbook as well. These days, throwing your toner cartridge in the trash is not just a waste; it’s like throwing money away while unnecessarily filling landfills at the same time.

This simple DIY recycling project can be used for educational purposes, as a school or class activity for kids, or when you really do want to recycle your own paper. It serves as a good demonstration of how recycling works, and anyone who has gone through with this process is likely to think twice in the future, before discarding waste paper into the wrong basket.

There is no need for old, replaced, or even obsolete electronics to go to waste. It can be reused, repurposed, or recycled, and in more ways than one. This very amusing video will make you think twice the next time you’re about to toss your 1980s walkman or you 2007 computer; and will give you some ideas on how to better approach the issue.

During October, pumpkins are abundant. Sometimes, too abundant. And it’s not uncommon to see excess pumpkins cast aside or left to rot after Halloween, but there’s really no need to let the extras go to waste.

All of this hype about “green” business can easily exhaust even the most dedicated environmentalists. “Green”, “eco-friendly”, and other environmental buzzwords were not in the lexicon of the average citizen until a couple years ago.

So, how do you know if your company is already performing up to, or maybe even surpassing, “environmental standard”? How do you know exactly which areas of your business could use some “greening” and which areas are doing just fine?