Stop Junk Mail. Be Eco Friendly. Do Good. The GreenDimes Blog

Going Green Event

This Saturday, GreenDimes and TONIC will be at an amazing 'Going Green' event in LA at the Ritual Supper Club. If you are in the area, swing by and say hi!

Click on the flyer for more info- see you there!

  -GreenDimes Team

TONIC!

2007 was an incredible year here at GreenDimes, thanks to our members telling their friends and spreading the word. National coverage on The Ellen Show, NY Times, CNN, Fox News and a slew of other media outlets didn't hurt, either!

Your support allowed up to save/ plant over 700,000 trees, stop millions of catalogs and eliminate over 3.5 million pounds of junk mail. So, thank you.

We wanted to tell you about our latest project, TONIC. The definition (anything invigorating- mentally, morally or physically) itself embodies the spirit of what we are trying to accomplish. The concept is to retail merchandise that looks great, feels great and helps out a very specific cause. Our first run of limited-edition tees has been met with great enthusiasm... so please get yours before they're gone!

Made out of bamboo and organic cotton, these designer tees are soft and durable. A full 40% of our revenue goes directly to support great causes.

Check it out: www.tonicgen.com!

Thanks!

Sanjiv so kindly reminded me that the picture should be one of our beautiful models, not the logo. Thanks for keeping me on my toes!

Affiliate with GreenDimes

GreenDimes Services

Here's my abridged letter that I send to would-be affiliates.  Love to have you on board.

GREENDIMES AFFILIATE PROGRAM

Over 113 million households receive junk mail. Do you want to be part of the solution?

ABOUT 

GreenDimes stops your entire household’s junk mail and plants 10 trees on your behalf for $20 the first year. ($10/year after only if needed).  We also offer you the choice to remove only the catalogs you don’t want.

Our impact is huge.  In just over a year, we've stopped 3 million pounds of junk mail and saved/planted 400,000 trees. We have over 70,000 happy members and growing.

WHY AFFILIATE/FUNDRAISE WITH US 

• People are looking for a solution to the crush of junk mail, but most haven’t heard of a way.
• Stopping junk mail is recognized as one of the top 5 easy ways to go green.
• Feel good that you are fundraising with something socially good.

HOW TO AFFILIATE

It’s simple. We give you banners and a special link, and you post it on your e-newsletter or site.  Add some copy like “Help [your organization] and the environment with GreenDimes.” 

Whoever purchases via that link, you receive $3.

It's a great way for people to go green for something they didn’t want anyway. Ready to join?  Just reply to Sanjiv@greendimes.com.

Bengal Tiger More Endangered than Thought

Tracking a Tiger

Last year I was fortunate enough join a tiger tracking expedition in India. (well we took pictures of the experts who tracked the tigers) So when I just heard on NPR that the tiger population is half of what they estimated (less than 1500), I decided to share my experience.

First off, this isn’t a safari, teeming with wildlife. For two hours, we saw little more than dirt, and tiger tracks, and dirt. (backdrop of great scenery though)  We were just about to give up when we saw the above pic less than 15 feet away. So what did I do?

Just about the cheesiest thing you can do – take a pic with a Bengal tiger.

What was strange was that the Bengal didn't respond to the nearby watering hole with several tasty anteloped creatures. The tiger slipped back into the tall grass.  We waited and thought that was it.

Then someone spotted him in the forest.

The expert explained that tiger was avoiding giving off its scent because of the direction of the wind. Soon the tiger hid in the grass on the other side of the watering hole.

Enlarge: tiger bottom right

So the tiger is about to pounce, when we here warning calls behind us. Apparently, some deer were in the woods while the tiger was trying to avoid the wind. And poof, we saw like 50 deer scatter off from the watering hole.  Pretty amazing

Two main reasons why the Bengal tiger, who shrank from 100,000 to less than 1500 in just a century. Poaching (unforgivable) and deforestation (fixable).

Tigers need a lot of space, that’s their nature. Deforestation, that’s in our control. Start with the World Wildlife Fund - they’re great.

-Sanjiv

Green Children's Book Free with Green Me!

Special Offer -  Little Critter Children's Book!

Mercer Mayer has written over 300 children's books since 1966.  Somehow, I missed the boat, but everyone here at the office has had fond childhood memories of his stories.  He even has his own website complete with interactive games and video story-times. 

Now, our friends at Harper's Collins have given us a special printing of Mercer Mayer's latest creation from the Little Critter series - Little Critter: My Earth Day Surprise!

Our $36 Green Me pack already comes with our junk-free service, a tee, two efficient light bulbs, and a reusable tote.  As a special bonus, we have added the book to our Green Me! pack free for a limited time.

Front Cover

It's an entertaining positive way for kids to learn about the environment.  No kids, no problem, gift it to a little one.

Enjoy!  -Sanjiv

End the Avalanche of Catalogs

GreenDimes Services: Introducing Our New & Improved Catalog Screener

Yeah, okay, our new Catalog Screener is ridiculous, ridiculously good that is. Here’s how it works. The first time you’re a member, you’ve got to log in to your account and click the ADD NAMES button. Enter in all names and name variations in your household. (yep, we cover your entire household) 

Then, as you receive catalogs and non-profit mailings that you don’t want, click on the CATALOGS AND REQUESTS button, choose the name (mail recipient) who receives it, plug in the catalog, and watch your catalogs disappear.

It’s that simple. And we’ve made it even simpler. As you’re typing in the unwanted catalog, suggested names pop out in a drop-down menu. Now look below.

That’s your report card of catalogs and Its status. 

Its status is either:

NEW: We don’t have that catalog in our database yet, but will open up a new request

PENDING: We’ve automatically requested an opt-out and are awaiting confirmation

COMPLETED: You’re off their catalog list!

ACTION REQUIRED: A handful have made it so complicated, that the catalog requires more info (ahem Victoria Secret)

Pretty cool, huh? Oh and look just to the right of the date requested, that’s right, the first 5 catalogs, we plant 5 trees.

Enjoy your New Catalog Screener!

Sanjiv

Changing the Margins...

Another no-brainer tip for those of you trying to 'go green' this year, courtesy of the good folks at GOOD Magazine.

The website changethemargins.com is pushing hard for every person out there who owns or uses a printer at home or work to change the settings on their margins from the standard 1.25 inches to .75 inches.

They note that if everyone in the US complied with their wish, we'd save an area slightly smaller than the state of Rhode Island *every year*. Uh huh, that's a lot of trees. And if you need another reason to visit the site, it's worth mentioning that they are also petitioning Microsoft to change the default print settings to the smaller margin so you never even have to think about it. And really, isn't that what Microsoft is here for?

Marginally better for practicing what I preach,

Kendra

Water-wasters, heed the call...

Sanjiv was harassing me this morning, making me guess what percentage of household water use comes from the bathroom... a glimpse into our conversation:

Me: I don't know
Sanjiv: Well, guess.
Me: Ahhh! I'm trying to convert $45 USD into Euros, hold on!
Sanjiv: Come onnnnnn, just guess. Now.
Me: 25%?
Sanjiv: More.
Me: 50%?
Sanjiv: More.
Me: Can you just tell me?
Sanjiv: 75%!
Me: That has to be wrong. Here's why (yada yada, something about dishwashers)
Sanjiv: K, think about it...

I brushed it off, but I have been thinking about it since (Sanj wins). I'm also confident that this conversation is going to haunt me every time I walk into my bathroom. And it should. It should haunt you, too. SO, here are 5 things you can do to save water (in addition to stopping your junk mail), courtesy of thedailygreen.com:

1) Install a low-flow shower head (will look into it)
2) Turn off the tap while you brush (I already do, thank you very much)
3) Water your yard in the morning (this one's easy, I can't afford to have a yard)
4) Use a pro car wash (I already do this one too, goes with the yard thing- don't have a hose)
5) Fix that leak (um, you mean call my landlord, right?)

Your washroom wonder-woman,

Kendra

Eco Spot Winning Video from MySpace/CurrentTV

This is a great, fun video from our partners at MySpace - Our Planet and my new favorite TV channel/website Current TV. 

Enjoy. -Sanjiv

Lose 50 Pounds This Year, Even If You're Fit

Before GreenDimes

The GreenDimes diet is the easiest way I've seen to lose weight.  Beats missing out on carbs...or protein, or whatever that beach diet calls for.  This before pic was borrowed from a blogger fan who kept a year's stack of catalogs before GreenDimes.   Coming in at a cool 55 pounds, his stack had 90% tree fat and a wasted water index of some big number. (you try being clever on New Years Day)

The only thing you'll miss is the carbon.   

Happy New Years.  -Sanjiv