Green Gear

A New Spin
Two artists have salvaged old vinyl records from the landfill by ingeniously recycling and remixing. The handmade recycled vinyl record handbag by Brazilian artist Gueth Freitas is a tuneful tote, complete with brass fixtures, a zipper closure, and visible track names on the inside. The record cuff bracelet by New York designer Jeff Davis is made from rhodium-plated brass covered with a sleek layer of vinyl. And the record bowl, also by Davis, is a decorative reuse of an old LP.
handbag, novica.com $40
bracelet and bowl, uncommongoods.com $35 and $25

Out to Lunch
Pack a bag lunch — with no bags! The Laptop Lunches Bento Kit comes with a box that holds five removable containers of different sizes to store each part of your meal — no plastic bags required. For a simpler approach, try the PlanetBox, a stainless-steel case with built-in compartments. The PlanetBox Complete kit comes with a carrying bag, two lidded containers for messy foods, and a set of magnets to decorate the outside of the box.
Bento Kit, laptoplunches.com $40
PlanetBox Complete kit, planetbox.com $60

Hands-On Science
Proving that you can learn and have fun at the same time, 4M Green Science Kits are a great way to introduce kids to science and sustainability. Learn how solar panels convert sunlight to energy by building a solar-powered soda-can car. Make a windmill generator to harness the power of the wind and learn how to use salt water as an energy source. And, of course, power a clock with a potato.
4m-ind.com $20

A Tall Drink of Water
The Klean Kanteen Reflect is one eye-catching water bottle. This sleek beauty is made from three materials: stainless steel, silicone, and sustainably harvested bamboo. In other words, no plastic (and no ink — the logo is laser-etched into the steel). Add to that a strikingly elegant design and your choice of brushed or mirror finish, and you’ve got a water bottle to replace all water bottles.
kleankanteen.com $35

One Man’s Trash…
There are plenty of iPhone cases out there, but none quite like this. The Re-Case is made completely from trash, including postconsumer plastics from car bumpers, CD cases, and bottle caps. Reprocessed rice husks — by-products from rice farming that typically become agricultural waste — are added to the plastic mixture for increased durability. The ergonomic case comes in six different colors and fits iPhone 4 and 4S.
miniwiz.com $25

Ahead of Its Time
The watches from Sprout are made with corn resin, a material similar to plastic. But unlike most plastics, corn resin is produced from a renewable resource, and 99 percent of it will biodegrade within a year in a composting environment. Sprout also incorporates several other eco-friendly materials, including bamboo dials, organic cotton straps, and mercury-free batteries. Men’s and women’s models run the gamut from casual to chic.
sproutwatches.com $30–$80

Here Comes the Sun
The compact Solio Bolt unfolds to reveal two solar panels that drink in the sun to charge the device’s onboard battery. Once it’s charged, use the Bolt to power up most any device that connects via USB or micro-USB: cell phones, tablets, e-readers, cameras, and more. The Bolt will give most smart phones two complete charges, so it’s an ideal companion when you’re on the road and need power on the go.
solio.com $70

In the Pocket
The Holstee Original Upcycled Wallet is slim and stylish — and made from trash. Plastic bags and newspapers collected from the streets of Delhi, to be exact. Since the wallets are made from different newspaper clippings, each one is unique. You pick the color (blue, gray, or purple), and the design is left to chance. The minimalist wallet features slots for credit cards on one side, a slide-out pocket for easy access to IDs or public transit cards, and a place in the middle to stash cash.
holstee.com $25