The Dirt on Compost for Earth Day

There's nothing like a shovel full of rich, dark, black compost. It's light and flakey and so so good for you. Well not exactly good for YOU. I mean it's good for the things you grow, and they're good for you -- the city trees and flowers that nurture the spirit and the air we breathe, or the home grown organic vegetables that nourish the body. Good fresh compost is something I think a lot about these days.

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A New Home For Our Growing Green Materials Library

Part of Two Twelve's longstanding environmental mission has been to encourage our designers to incorporate "green" materials and production methods in the design process.  Our EGD (environmental graphic design) teams typically specify materials and fabrication methods for the signs they design, and physical building product samples allow us to best understand the various aesthetic and physical properties of the many choices on the market. When we first started our Green Library in 2005, there were only a few "eco-friendly" products on the market that were appropriate for signage. We originally created a labeling system for each material to describe its basic "green" qualities. Over the years, we have acquired a larger collection of materials with the ever-increasing number of products available on the market. Simultaneously, the vocabulary to describe qualities and facets with regard to sustainability has also grown.

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The 212 Green Team Recommends: Interface

Last month we focused on Seventh Generation's innovative methods for reducing the environmental impact of their household cleaning products. This month we are highlighting Interface, a modular carpet manufacturer that is raising industry standards for sustainable research and product design. 

Unlike many so-called New Age companies, Interface is not a "born-green" business. In 1994, Interface founder Ray Anderson transformed the Interface brand and mission, challenging the 21-year-old company to adopt a new business model that would reinforce the value of sustainability-based commerce. His vision was to empower clients, fabricators and community members to ask for more transparent production methods, such that Interface would change the prevalence of green products in the marketplace.

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The 212 Green Team Recommends: Seventh Generation

Last month we explored Patagonia’s sustainability mission and methods to produce better products to reduce how much customers consume. This month, we focus on household products manufacturer Seventh Generation.

The name "Seventh Generation" comes from the Great Law of the Iroquois Confederacy that states, “In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations." With this message in mind, Seventh Generation finds ways to inspire their customers and retailers to think about sustainability.

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