You never know what climate you may end up in...

An estimated 2,000 synthetic chemicals can be used in conventional packaged foods; for organic the number is 40.

Image from Tetra Pak Tetra Pak is the world's largest packaging company so when they decide to do something environmental it has a big impact. They have just announced that all of their UK and Irish packaging will be FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)

We've discussed Osprey packs in the past, particularly their Resource collection of packs with about 80% recycled content (see links below). Recently, we noted via SNEWS that they'd released their 2009 Sustainability Report, indicating

A really interesting housing project and a look back at Canadian Thanksgiving

There's always clung to the Tetra Pak a bit of uncertainty regarding its environmental credibility: is it or isn't it green? Tetra Pak recycling rates are lousy, but in at least one life cycle analysis it came out ahead of glass and PET plastic in energy

This is where we started.

Portable solar chargers keep getting lighter, smaller, and more rugged, and PocketPower promises to deliver on all three of those features at a low price.

The HANS Solar Briefcase and PowerPack systems do double duty by supporting the Billions in Change movement.

Most refugees live in refugee camps for an average of 12 years and most of that time it's in drafty, tattered tents. Now IKEA has a solar-powered camp house that is flatpack and quick to assemble.

Dutch designer Benjamin Vermeulen solves the problem of the missing nut or screw.

Inspired by origami and looking a bit like an accordion, this no-tools-required bookshelf sets up in seconds to adapt to any space.

This flat pack, do-it-yourself version of a chicken has a lot of features, but can it help raise happy chickens on a city balcony?

Norwegian architect Marianne Borge is designing a series of them in different sizes.

It's like flatpack without the fasteners; you just bang it together with the big mallet that's harder to lose than an Allen key.

A new furniture line is designed to be affordable to buy and fast to assemble.

Besides looking lovely, all proceeds from this lamp will go to a project that is developing electricity-free lighting that is inspired by nature.

In stark contrast to other flat-pack furniture designs, Groovebox is meant to be as simple to put together as possible, with no fasteners, tools, or mammoth assembly instructions needed.

The bookcase was designed on a napkin because "Ideas are perishable"

This flexible line of furniture is made for people who are on the move a lot, and need furniture that's easy to assemble and customize.

And it is all held together with sex bolts.

These designs from Leckie Studio and the Backcountry Hut Company are lovely to look at, but what are they really?

This prototypical house acts as an active interface between its inhabitants and the outside.

Made right in downtown Los Angeles, this prefab unit is made with an innovative recyclable and recycled panel system.

Sleek and easy to assemble, this portable cabin offers a comfortable place to stay even in remote places.

This Australian design takes the work out of parking bikes.

StackitNOW is a great idea but also demonstrates how intractable the problem is.

This winter-proofed van is now home to two engineers who love the outdoors.

Forget smoothies. Omelets are the best way to sneak piles of greens into the morning meal.

Whether you're in a plane, train, or car, it's important always to have good snacks.

Go Box founder Laura Weiss has worked hard to make Portland (foodie paradise) just a little more sustainable, waste wise, with her system of reusable to go containers.

Phoenix Haus brings European prefab technology to the midwest

The Canadian province is overhauling its recycling program, which would include holding producers accountable for their wasteful packaging designs.

Combining computer-aided parametric design and the design principles of tensegrity (tensional integrity), this experimental pavilion tests the boundaries of building a stronger structure with less material.

In some areas of the world, transporting water to where it is needed is a major burden, in terms of both time and health, but a new solution may help to ease that process.

This is the "guns don't kill people, people kill people" defense.

Waitrose wants to see how serious shoppers are about bringing their own containers.

The company is ramping up pressure on suppliers to design less wasteful packaging.

Starting in 2020, the company will redesign packaging to be more environmentally-friendly.

We love transformers, those things that serve multiple functions. But I wonder about this one.

Simmer like a crock pot and bake like an oven, using the clean energy of sunlight.

Creative crafters can come up with all sorts of beautiful and innovative ways to

Where did the Convenience Industrial Complex start? A 1960 classic tells all.

One of the biggest floor-care brands in Britain has unveiled a cardboard vacuum cleaner made from its own packaging, the Vax ev. And it was created by a student.Open and Assemble—Without the Packaging Waste The vacuum is sold in a

A hopeful report by Greenpeace envisions a future where supermarkets have gotten rid of superfluous waste.

Why so much focus on packaging when product waste is equally important to consider?

How many of these common items have you placed in your blue bin?

“Lightweighting” often shrinks down packaging into items that are unrecyclable, difficult to capture, highly polluted and designed without end-of-life solutions.

Wastes are made in the kitchen.

What do you do when there's no more carry-on room?