Cool Green Stuff: A Guide to Finding Great Recycled, Sustainable, Renewable Objects You Will Love

by Dave Evans

As fun to look at as it is to use, Cool Green Stuff features a gallery of environmentally friendly fashions, jewelry, bags, gadgets, home decor, and other one-of-a-kind products that were designed and produced to make the world a cooler and greener place. Inspired by the latest reports of “cool hunters”—a new breed of trend watchers who travel the physical and virtual world in search of cutting-edge design—these products will amaze and tempt you. From a wine-bottle hanging lamp to floral bracelets made of vintage fabric, this collection showcases the imagination and innovation of leading designers at work around the world today. Some of the designs in Cool Green Stuff meet our environmental challenges head on, actually saving energy, water, and waste; others aim to tread lightly on our delicate planet. Each product is coupled with an explanation of its environmental significance, the materials used to create it, and its website* so you can buy it. Best of all, when you start using the Internet sites to kickstart your own search for cool green stuff, a new, eco-chic world will open up to you. * no one paid to be in this book

Genres: Nonfiction, Green, Crafts

256 pages, Paperback

First published October 30, 2007

Reviews

[Tamara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Taking perfectly usable products like rubber bands, tape measures & knitting needles and making bracelets out of them is not green.

Using bullet cartridges, old billboards & vinyl records is a bit more green, as these products are obviously not viable for use in their original form.

Come on, people.

[Miriam · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was fun to look at--there were a lot of clever ideas, and I looked at many of the websites that were included. I had some problems with the catalog-like nature of it--it is basically a lot of pictures with a very slight amount of text. Considering that everybody included in the book received advertising, it seems that the book should offer a bit more, since people are paying for it.

There are some very interesting products in this book, and it does provide ideas that a crafty person could use to make some recycled art of their own. However, many of the products are ridiculously expensive ($106 for a cardboard cradle?), and many of them don't seem very practical (a tote bag covered with keys from old computer keyboards may look cool, but I can't imagine that it is very comfortable to carry; ditto the purse made out of soda can tabs). It is a fun book to look at, but I can't imagine ever purchasing about 65% of the included products, even if money weren't a concern.

This brings me to my primary issue with this book and with similar ones I've read: If somebody buys something they don't need, are they helping the environment? It seems that right now many people have jumped on the "If it's green it's good" bandwagon without actually asking themselves if they need dish towels made from bamboo fibers or a hanger made from recycled newspaper. They aren't becoming less materialistic; they are simply redirecting their materialism. In the long run, this will keep some items out of the landfills, which is good, but what about shipping, packaging, etc.? This isn't the author's fault, of course, but it would be interesting to see a book that wasn't primarily composed of ecological clutter, but that focused on practical products that are affordable and necessary.

[Kristian]

This book should probably be called "cool sorta-green stuff." This is simply a catalog of various things the editors thought were cool, green and stuff. Some of the objects don't quite hit all three of the criteria, and frankly a few hit only the "stuff" criteria. There are a few gems in the book however that might inspire future cool green things... in general though this is a waste of paper and you might want to flip through it at a book store or library, but don't waste the resources to actually purchase a copy yourself...

[Rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are a lot of great ideas in this book, I got inspired. I really like the bic pen chandelier. My only disappointment was I looked up some of the websites credited for the designs, hoping to find even cooler stuff, but really I didn't, the designs in the book are the filtered best. it's a good coffee table topper though :)

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book features some VERY cool stuff that is environmentally friendly. Each page features a photo, short description and the website of the designer or manufacturer. There is everything from a tote bag made of marker lids to a set of bookshelves made of books. This is a quick read as there is not very much text, however you will find yourself looking at it over and over!

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't a 'readable' book, but is fun to look at...creative stuff made from recycled materials. Everything from jewelry (made from tupperware, barbie faces, bullet cases, computer keys, etc.) to global warming undies (yep, on my b-day list). Groovy art an decor!

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, I guess if you've got $50,000 burning a hole in your pocket, you might need this book. Otherwise, it's just pictures of things you can buy that are either silly, or would be very difficult to DIY. A little eye candy, but mostly not.
Whatever I was expecting from this book, this was not it.

[Søren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dig green design? Here's a bunch of good stuff you should have a look at.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is really interesting and a great link to one of the newest industries. It great to find out fun ways to contribute.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

has lots of websites to find the products....fun to look at!

[Lauren Devon · Rating 5 out of 5]

very cool green stuff- would be good Christmas presents to order in advance.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING!

[Karen Siddall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just like it says ... cool green stuff.

[Rogue Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unusual objects constructed out of other items, not all sustainable in that the work to collect or construct often largely outweighs the value or importance of the object. Recycled, sustainable, renewable should reduce the footprint, not enlarge it. But! a remarkable and creative collection for sure.