Taiwanese design firm Miniwiz is putting an elegant new spin on a classic party-going gift with their new Re-wine Classic: a biodegradable, recycled wine tote that makes any gift of the good stuff a whole lot greener. This reusable, durable tote protects your wine from unintentional breaks and spills using Miniwiz’s patented POLLI-BER material, and makes for a creative way to liven up your gift.

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Post tags: biodegradable packaging, biodegradable wine tote, ces 2012, ces 2012 las vegas, interlocking wine tote, lego wine tote, miniwiz, RE-wine, re-wine classic, recycled packaging, recycled wine tote, stackable wine tote, wine-tote

Inhabitat had the chance to check out the latest and greatest from Taipei’s 2011 World Design Expo, and leading the pack of Asia’s top designers was the city’s very own “Miniwiz” sustainable design firm. Miniwiz was commissioned by the Taipei City Government to construct the Taipei Pavilion, to capture the capital’s charm and recent surge in first class design. True to their commitment to sustainable development, Miniwiz’s pavilion said no to “virgin materials,” and was constructed using their patented 100% post-consumer recycled building products.

Read the rest of Taipei’s World Design Expo “No Virgins” Pavilion Uses Only Post-Consumer Recycled Products

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Post tags: 2011台北世界設計大展, 2011台北世界设计大展, arthur huang, expo pavilion, miniwiz, polli brick, pollibrick, RE-wine, recycled plastics, rewine, taipei 2011 world design expo, taipei design expo, taipei pavilion, taipei world design expo, taiwan 2011 world design expo, taiwan design expo, taiwan world design expo, 台北2011国际设计展览

Taiwanese green design firm Miniwiz is back at it again with the launch of their newest line of sleek, and “trashy” iPhone cases made entirely from, you guessed it, recycled waste. Akin to their line of mobile wind generators and various architectural innovations, Miniwiz has once again struck the perfect balance between form, function, and sustainable sourcing. As luck would have it, Inhabitat received a few of the first prototypes to play with – *ahem*, we mean test - and needless to say, this design won us over.

Read the rest of PRODUCT REVIEW: Miniwiz’s Trashy “RE-case” has got your iPhone 4 Covered!

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Post tags: cell phone case, eco iphone 4 case, eco iphone case, green iphone 4 case, green iphone case, iphone 4, iphone 4 case, iphone case, miniwiz, polliber, recycled cell phone case, recycled iphone 4 case, recycled iphone case, rfid card cell phone case, rfid iphone 4 case, rfid iphone case

Tara St. James and Bahar Shahpar are no strangers to the challenges designers face when producing sustainable and ethical fashion. Frustrated by the industry’s seemingly stagnant conversation about the topic, the seasoned designers decided to take matters into their own hands and create GUILDED. We spoke to them about this new educational institute, which seeks to redefine the way the fashion industry educates itself about sustainability, with everything from a whole new set of standardized vocabulary, to customizable “sustainable fashion bootcamps” for small business owners and designers. Click below to see what they shared with us!

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Post tags: Bahar Shahpar, eco-fashion, Ethical Fashion, green fashion, Guilded, IndieGoGo, new york city, Sustainable Fashion, sustainable style, tara st. james

News from the septic tank appears to be all the rage as of late, and it seems as though NASA is also on board. This Friday, their innovative design to recycle human urine into a “sugary drink” will accompany astronauts of the Atlantis space crew. Their “forward osmosis” technology has the potential to save NASA a ton of money and fuel because of the system’s lightweight design, but we think their invention could serve a multiplicity of uses well beyond the rocket ship.

Read the rest of NASA’s Pee Recycling Bag Turns Urine Into a Sports Drink

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Post tags: astronaut pee, astronaut urine, astronauts, forward osmosis, nasa, pee recycling, space travel, urine recycling, water issues, water osmosis, water recycling

As if Europe wasn’t already advanced enough when it comes to transportation, the EU recently invested $6.2 million into researching the possibility of incorporating Personal Aerial Vehicles (PAV’s) as a way to ease congestion in their dense infrastructure. Named the “myCopter” project, this government-led initiative seeks to solve the plethora of problems that arise with non-commercial air-travel. If successful, they might just solve mankind’s urban transportation dilemma — while simultaneously making the rest of the world extremely jealous!

Read the rest of EU Invests $6.2 Million in Research to Develop Futuristic Flying Cars

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Post tags: air car, automotive alternatives, EU personal aviation, eu transportation, flying car, green transportation, jetsons car, mycopter, PAT, PAV, personal flying vessels, personal helicopter, personal plane, personal planes, private planes

Lagomorph Design‘s super-sleek Black Walnut bike is the crossroads of luxury design and sustainable craftsmanship. While this $6,000 bike isn’t for the faint of heart (or wallet), it is arguably worth every penny in terms of aesthetic payoff and quality. In addition to being the perfect green transportation alternative to your fancy car, this top of the line whip is without question the Bentley of bikes.

Read the rest of Lagomorph’s Droolworthy $6K Whip is the Bentley of Bicycles

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Post tags: 6 thousand dollar bike, 6k bike, biking, black walnut bike, eco bike, expensive bikes, green bike, green transportation, lagomorph design, sustainable bike, walnut bike, walnut wood bike, wooden bike

The release of the 2011 Ford Explorer comes with some amazing news of progress for the automobile industry’s use of sustainable materials. Harking back to the company’s roots, Ford is set to implement soy-based polyurethane foam in the manufacture of their seats as one of many new eco-friendly features of the new Explorer. The real shocker is that Ford has been on the bio-foam train for years, and to date, more than 2 million vehicles on the road already possess bio-foam content.

Read the rest of Ford Incorporates Soy-Foam Seats Into Explorer Encouraging Bio-Foam Usage

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Post tags: biofoam, biofoam seats, ford, Ford Explorer, Ford Explorer 2011, green cars, green transportation, Henry Ford, soy foam, soy-based seats, soyfoam, soyfoam seats

Looking to take your beach-going activities to the next level? Enter the human-powered Aquaskipper – a folding, featherlight watercraft that can reach speeds of 17 mph depending on how feverishly its rider can hop up and down. The Aquaskipper’s hydrofoil frame is made from aircraft-grade aluminum and features a fiberglass spring that transforms a rider’s hopping motion into forward thrust. Because hydrofoils have very little drag and are typically low weight, the Aquaskipper weighs a manageable 26 pounds – and it can even collapse into a not-so-summery grey tote bag.

Read the rest of Human-Powered Aquaskipper Propels You Across Water as Fast as You Can Hop

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Post tags: aluminum watercraft, aquaskipper, green watercraft, hopping powered watercraft, human powered watercraft, hydrofoil watercraft, jumping powered watercraft, zero emissions watercraft

In an age when cellphones have been streamlined to a slew of uninspiring, minimalist bricks, steampunk designer Richard Clarkson offers up a throwback dose of vintage nostalgia: the Rotary Mechanical Phone. Inspired by the interchangeable lenses of a camera, this phone has two different button interfaces that allow you to rediscover the tangible side of technology. But don’t think that this awesome old-school phone doesn’t pack a punch; its core is comprised of a smart phone that can meet the needs of the modern techno-whiz.

Read the rest of Steampunk Rotary Cellphone Makes Technology Tactile Again

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Post tags: diy cellphone, hacked cellphone, richard clarkson, rotary cellphone, rotary mobile phone, steam punk cellphone, steam punk mobile phone, steampunk cellphone, steampunk mobile phone, vintage cellphone

Since most of us never realized our 4th grade aspirations of procuring a go-kart, now is the perfect time to revive those lost childhood dreams with Beau Reid‘s latest design: the super fast, foldable GK2G. In lieu of the conventional (and totally passé) gasoline go-kart engines, this carbon framed hot-rod is entirely battery powered, and of course, boasts zero emissions.

Read the rest of Slick and Speedy GK2G Electric Go-Kart Folds in Half!

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Post tags: beau designs, beau reid, carbon fiber go-kart, eco go-kart, electric go-kart, folding electric go-kart, folding go-kart, green go-kart, lithium ion go-kart

Bioengineers at the University of Auckland in New Zealand have developed a super-thin “dielectric elastomer” generator which can harvest the energy of footsteps! As opposed to piezoelectrics which can only harness the power of sharp, succinct motions, this technology is better tailored to the “large slow motions” we perform everyday. The thin, light package of components has the potential to suit a variety of applications that reach beyond fancy footwear.

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Post tags: eco-fashion, Ethical Fashion, green fashion, human-powered clothing, piezoelectric clothing, piezoelectric fibers, Sustainable Fashion, sustainable style, University of Auckland, wearable technology

Read the rest of Glowing Nourishment Lamp Feeds the Eyes with Elegant Design

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Post tags: bright ideas lighting contest, bright ideas lighting design competition, carolyn lau, diy lamps, diy lighting, eco friendly lamps, eco lamps, eco lighting designs, energy efficient lamps, energy efficient lighting, energy efficient lighting designs, green lamps, green lighting, green lighting competition, green lighting designs, green lighting fixtures, Honeycomb Lamp, inhabitat and philips bright ideas lighting competition, inhabitat and philips lighting contest, inhabitat bright ideas, inhabitat lighting competition, LED lamps, led lighting contest, led lighting design competition, led lighting design contest, led lighting fixtures, lighting design competition, nourishment lamp, philips bright ideas, Philips led bulbs, plastic bottle lamp, recycled bottle lamp, recycled material lamps

The Fukushima nuclear meltdown has had an incredible impact upon international energy policy as Germany, Switzerland, and Japan officially declared government efforts to phase-out nuclear power. Now Italy may be the next nation to follow suit, as a referendum voted upon by 57% of its population opted to abandon the use of nuclear energy.

Read the rest of Italians Vote to End the Use of Nuclear Power in Landmark Referendum

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Post tags: berlusconi, fukushima meltdown, italian energy, italy bans nuclear power, italy energy, italy nuclear power, italy renewable energy, italy voters, italy votes no on nuclear, nuclear power

Anirudha Surabhi‘s brilliant cardboard Kranium helmet is the latest and greatest development in sustainable noggin-protecting technology. While cardboard might not sound like the material of choice to protect your head in a bicycle accident, the shell’s structure is able to absorb 4 times more collision force than a conventional polystyrene core! The lighter and stronger helmets can also be custom-fit to a wearer’s head, replacing the uncomfortable, poorly fitting helmets of the past.

Read the rest of Brilliant Corrugated Cardboard Kranium Helmet is 4 Times Stronger Than Polystyrene

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Post tags: Anirudha Surabhi, better helmet, biking, cardboard helmet, corrugated cardboard helmet, custom helmet, customized helmet, eco-friendly helmet, green biking, green helmet, Kranium helmet, safe helmet, strong helmet, sustainable helmet

It’s no mystery that Google is an internet powerhouse, but within the last couple of years, they have expanded their efforts to make big changes in the way we power our homes and cities. Their goal? To create a viable renewable energy option that is cheaper than coal, and their new patented solution just might do the trick. The concentrated solar technology makes use of a camera to adjust mirrors that optimize a given plant’s efficiency. The camera and a processing computer are located within the central tower of the solar thermal plant, and if a misalignment, or better (more efficient) angle is detected, then the mirrors are adjusted by robotic actuators.

Read the rest of Google Ups Research & Development to Make Solar Cheaper than Coal

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Post tags: "solar energy", google patent, google renewable energy, google solar camera patent, google solar patent, green energy, renewable energy, solar concentration tower, Solar Power, solar thermal power, solar thermal tower, solar-thermal energy

Futuristic designer Continuum Fashion and 3D printing experts Shapeways have teamed up to bring you the world’s first commercially available 3D-printed bikini. The innovative manufacturing process used to print each bikini eliminates the need for middleman suppliers, and allows for cheaper prices and improved efficiency. The swimsuit has no stitching, no closure hooks, and secures onto the body using circular components that easily snap together. Named the “N12″ bikini, this sci-fi swimwear demonstrates the potential of 3D printing as a viable manufacturing technology. And despite all its awesomely geeky specs, did we mention that the bikini is also really cute?

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Post tags: 3D printing, Continuum Fashion, eco-fashion, eco-friendly bikinis, Ethical Fashion, green fashion, Mary Huang, Shapeways, sustainable bikinis, Sustainable Fashion, sustainable style, wearable technology

Now that the Kindle, the iPad, and a slew of other e-readers are making paper-bound print increasingly passé, the issue of book paper waste is becoming increasingly salient. Lucy Norman’s “A Bit of Light Reading” lamp offers a stylish solution to this problem by re-purposing the once-loved pages of your favorite novel into a gorgeous chandelier. Each page is carefully folded in half, arranged, and cut into layered, geometric patterns. If you love this literary light then vote for it in our Bright Ideas Design Competition!

VOTE FOR THE LIGHT READING LAMP HERE >

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Post tags: bright ideas lighting contest, bright ideas lighting design competition, diy lamps, diy lighting, Dutch Ginkgo Studio, eco friendly lamps, eco lamps, eco lighting designs, energy efficient lamps, energy efficient lighting, energy efficient lighting designs, green lamps, green lighting, green lighting competition, green lighting designs, green lighting fixtures, inhabitat and philips bright ideas lighting competition, inhabitat and philips lighting contest, inhabitat bright ideas, inhabitat lighting competition, LED lamps, led lighting contest, led lighting design competition, led lighting design contest, led lighting fixtures, lighting design competition, Lucy Norman, philips bright ideas, Philips led bulbs, recycled material lamps

Created for homeowners who struggle with incorporating plants into their home decor, Emily Paul’s Sprout Living Lamp offers a striking yet space-efficient lighting fixture that combines the best of both worlds. The lamp base and shade are made with found materials, and its insides are brimming with the life of a lush plant. If you feel drawn to this lamp’s green glow, then vote for this fantastic Bright Ideas finalist here!

VOTE FOR THE SPROUT LIVING LAMP HERE >

Read the rest of Sprout Living Lamp Doubles as a Lush Terrarium

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Post tags: bright ideas lighting contest, bright ideas lighting design competition, diy lamps, diy lighting, eco friendly lamps, eco lamps, eco lighting designs, emily paul, emily paul designs, emily paul sprout living lamp, energy efficient lamps, energy efficient lighting, energy efficient lighting designs, green lamps, green lighting, green lighting competition, green lighting designs, green lighting fixtures, inhabitat and philips bright ideas lighting competition, inhabitat and philips lighting contest, inhabitat bright ideas, inhabitat lighting competition, LED lamps, led lighting contest, led lighting design competition, led lighting design contest, led lighting fixtures, lighting design competition, philips bright ideas, Philips led bulbs, plant lamp, recycled material lamps, sprout living lamp, terrarium lamp

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Post tags: cellphone cancer, cellphone carcinogen, cellphone danger, cellphone emf, cellphone radiation, cellphone safety, emf, how to avoid cellphone radiation, who cellphone radiation