Working Wonders

reduces waste

This product contains a large proportion of recycled and/or bio-based material which reduces or eliminates hazardous gaseous, liquid or solid waste.

This product does one or more of the following:

• Uses pre-consumer recycled content
• Uses post-consumer recycled content
• Uses agricultural waste products
• Reduces overall material usage
• Reduces or eliminates solid waste in the operation
• Increased durability/low maintenance requirements for a longer lifespan
• Designed for recycling after useful life is past
• Reduced impact of product demolition
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Earth Weave Carpet Mills produces 100% natural wool carpet and area rugs that are 100% biodegradable, reducing solid waste by decomposing like trees, brush, and grass clippings.

conserves natural resources

This product uses recycled, rapidly renewable, or certified sustainable materials, and/or reduces material usage overall, and/or increasing product durability and lifespan.

This product does one or more of the following:

• Uses certified sustainable wood
• Uses rapidly renewable raw materials
• Uses agricultural waste
• Uses pre-consumer recycled content
• Uses post-consumer recycled content
• Reduced material usage overall
• Uses only renewable/sustainable energy sources in operation
• Requires increased durability and reduced maintenance for a longer lifespan
• Designed for recycling after useful life is past
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West Paw fills its Heyday Dog Bed with recycled IntelliLoft fill – made from recycled plastic bottles. Since starting, this maker has given new life to over 15 million plastic bottles.

improves air quality

This product uses natural or minimally processed, non-hazardous materials that do not release pollutants or ozone-depleting gases, and/or removes indoor pollutants, and/or blocks the introduction, development or spread of contaminants.

This product does one or more of the following:

• Uses natural or minimally processed materials
• Uses no hazardous chemicals or operation
• Creates no hazardous chemicals or emissions in operation
• Creates no climate change/ozone-depleting gases in operation
• Reduces or eliminates pesticide treatment
• Removes indoor pollutants
• Blocks introduction, development or spread of contaminants
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For example, the Austin Air purifiers are leading-edge technology for improving indoor air quality.

saves energy and/or water

This product reduces the energy and water required for a building’s functionality and the occupants’ needs.

This product does one or more of the following:

• Uses natural or minimally processed materials
• Reduces the energy required to maintain the building at a comfortable temperature (a.k.a. "heating and cooling loads")
• Reduces the energy required to support building functions (a.k.a. "managed loads")
• Uses renewable/sustainable energy sources in operation
• Minimizes total energy use in the operation
• Conserves water in operation
• Reduces or eliminates stormwater pollution and harmful discharges to watersheds in operation
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For example, the Evolve ShowerStart eliminates what is termed "behavioral waste" by saving gallons of shower water and energy used from the time it's turned on until it's warm enough.

better production practices

This company reduces the impact of production by using recycled/recyclable, non-hazardous materials, and/or reducing or eliminating solid, liquid or gaseous waste, and/or reducing or eliminating worker exposure to hazardous materials.

This product does one or more of the following:

• Uses and creates no hazardous chemicals
• Emits no toxic gases
• Emits no climate change/ozone-depleting gases
• Eliminates solid waste
• Conserves water
• Reduces or eliminates stormwater pollution and harmful discharges to watersheds
• Uses only renewable/sustainable energy resources
• Uses alternatives to ozone-depleting materials
• Reduces or eliminates pesticide treatment
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For example, Coyuchi takes expert care to ensure that everything with their label is produced to fulfill third-party certifications set by the USDA National Organic Textile Standards (GOTS),  and the International Labor Organization(ILO), Textile Exchange, and or Fair Trade USA.

better shipping practices

This company uses sustainable packing material, and/or uses minimal packaging, and/or minimizes total energy used in transportation, and/or uses renewable fuel sources.

This product does one or more of the following:

• Minimizes total energy use in shipping and company transport
• Uses renewable energy resources in shipping and company transport
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For example, Riverside Designs ships its recycled and recyclable glassware using renewable resource packaging materials which are easily recyclable and biodegradable.

better community relations

This company protects the safety, health, and well-being of its workers, consumers, and community, while providing fair compensation to all workers, and/or taking responsibility for the environmental, social and health impacts of its operations.

This product does one or more of the following:

• Takes responsibility for environmental, social & health impacts of operations
• Warns workers and community of health hazards
• Enhances community well-being
• Protects workers’ safety, health, well-being
• Protects consumers’ safety, health, well-being
• Provides fair compensation for all workers
• Contributes positively to affected communities
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For example, the artisans who produce Eangee Home Designs home décor and lighting are paid a living wage, provided quality housing, have access to continuing education, and work under dignified and safe conditions.

manufacturing location

The location where this product is extracted, processed and manufactured may make it eligible for being used in a project seeking USGBC LEED certification (as a nationally recognized green building or interior). Alternatively, it may represent a country or community which you would like to support.

For example, Maple Corner Woodworks has been making its sustainably-harvested, quality walnut, maple, and cherry wood furniture in the United States since 1982.