things of note:

So, you know how these days everyone preaches about drinking plenty of water, but at the same time, we're supposed to use less plastic? And, we have a tendency to leave our "bottles" at home leaving us to the throws of buying that Dasani at the corner market? Well, why in the world don't more companies think the way this Michigan based company has, by creating and selling bottle water... packaged in boxes? True story.

I mean, really when you think about it, people have been packaging liquid beverages in boxes forever: milk, juice, etc.... so why did plastic bottles take off so much? I'm guessing because of marketing and people wanted to see how "clear" their water was, but hopefully I'm assuming we're smarter consumers now and we don't need to see our water to believe it's clean and clear. Anyways "Boxed Water is Better" packages their water in containers that are made from 90% renewable resources, trees! The company states that "trees, when harvested in a responsible, managed, and ethical way... serve as an amazing renewable resource that benefits the environment even as it's renewed." As well, BWIB, states that their "carbon footprint is lower since the container boxes are shipped flat to the filler and filled only as demand is created, opposed to most bottled water companies who ship their empty bottles across the globe to be filled only to then be shipped back for consumption." Basically, by using flat unfilled boxes... they can transport the same amount of containers on one truck that it would take five trucks to ship empty bottles. That's a whole lot of saving! As well, they're giving back 20% of their profits back to the resources their product is composed of, water and trees. So, even though drinking tap water is better than purchasing water, sometimes you just don't have a choice. This company is trying to lessen the impact that plastic bottles have on the environment by creating an alternative. Right now, they're only available in Michigan, but hopefully before too long it'll catch on like wildfire. ;)
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Also, a few weeks ago this item came across my radar and i thought it was wicked cool. What this is (as seen above) is a Contrail. Contrail was developed by Brooklyn-based Studio Gelardi, and created as part of last year's Design21"Power to the Pedal" Design Competition, where it was a finalist. Basically, Contrail is a device that attaches to any bike seat tube and applies a thin layer of chalk powder in one of several colors, to the rear tire. The result is a whimsical streak of color that traces your bike path and leaves an impression based on the cumulative movements of many cyclists over time. In many ways, this lies somewhere between sky calligraphy, temporary street graffiti, and overlapping footprints in the snow. Now, if you have a stalker this may not be the best idea, but if you're like Hansel and Gretel, just want to leave your mark as a fun harmless urban graffiti or help make motorists more aware of the presence bikes have on the roads... then, this is product for you!

As well, this reminds me of once last summer, someone wrote a heartfelt birthday message to their sweetie in chalk on one of the bike paths on the Broadway Bridge. I rode my bike over the inscription not too long after it was written, and I noticed how I, and all the others to pass over the chalk message before me, each took a little bit of chalk on our bike wheel and carried it forward onto the pavement for the rotation ahead of us. Over the next several days, so many people had ridden over the message, that it became smeared and distorted... but left in it's place was an awesome impromptu piece of street art. Errant and purposeful bands of color stretched out for several feet in each direction from the original drawing... it was pretty amazing and cool how everyone, just in their daily bike trips, helped contribute to the art whether they meant to or not.

(originally posted March 27, 2009)