Let’s face it, for a lot of people owning a hybrid car or buying recycled products is as much about appearances as it is about saving the environment. If you are the type who likes to feel smug about your environmental efforts, the following products will take you far above and way beyond what everyone else in the neighborhood is doing.
eco-friendly
The green movement has gained a lot of momentum in recent years, no doubt prompted by rising energy costs, a weak economy and environmental disasters like the BP oil spill.
Some have been quick to capitalize on the trend, losing practicality in the frenzy to attain another kind of green—the kind that shows up on a balance sheet. Others create extreme concepts that will never become everyday realities, in order to raise awareness.
Either way, the results can be just plain nuts.
Playtime becomes a lesson in environmental responsibility thanks to this recycling truck toy made from discarded milk jugs. Now kids can supplement the garbage truck with recycling and wake up the army man neighborhood at 7 am on a Friday morning to the sound of large trucks and clattering bottles.
Product Page ($25)
These Lightcup drinking vessels feature a solar or dynamo-powered LED lamp fixed underneath the lid that can be used as a flashlight or a warning signal (white or red light settings) when camping, hiking, etc. It’s an interesting idea, but it would be even more helpful if it included a UV light setting to sanitize nasty river water. The dynamo version is pictured after the break.
If you are the eco-friendly type, cheap, or you have built up an enormous amount of wrist strength after years of touching yourself, the Shake-u-lator Calculator is perfect for all of your math-related needs.
The Shake-u-lator uses Faraday’s Principle of Electromagnetic Energy to operate – no batteries or solar panels required. Just give the calculator a quick shake when the power dies out and you’re back in business. And don’t worry, your calculations will not be lost during the process.
Product Page ( £9.99 or $18.58 )
