By now it's common knowledge that our world's rainforests need to be protected before they're all gone.  But new information released yesterday gives us even more of a reason for rainforest preservation.

According to Popular Science, students from Yale University discovered that one Amazonian fungus can eat even the most durable of landfill waste.  The group of students made the discovery while traveling to Ecuador.  Most importantly, the researchers found that the fungus can break down polyurethane.

While this form of plastic has certainly been hailed by many for being both flexible and strong at the same time, it's also very difficult to break down.  It lasts in landfills for quite some time.  Coming along something that can degrade it naturally is obviously a great solution.

The particular fungus that the students found is called Pestalotiopsis microspora, and can actually survive on polyurethane alone.  Hopefully scientists will be able to find the hungry species in the rainforest!

Less than two weeks into the New Year, I am already noticing an influx of mail from vendors. Dozens of catalogs come in by the day, weighing more than you would believe. As I write this, I have an empty desk and a small shelf covered in the catlogs.

I'm finding my custom imprinted Corn Direct Imprint Letter Opener to be very useful. It's a very sturdy item that stands up to the professional packaging and envelopes these catalogs are often mailed in. The letter opener is made of 100% corn plastic, making it a biodegradable item and very good for the environment. The letter opener has an option to include a back magnet for pennies on the dollar and gives you many color options. 

If you find yourself swimming in mail, you should consider this custom imprinted letter opener. It's a great buy.  

The weather might be getting progressively colder as we fastly approach January but that shouldn't prevent you from applying use of your green thumb.

The custom imprinted Mini Rice Hull Planter is a beautiful item that, unlike many other promotional products, is composed of ingredients and materials only found in nature. The planter is made of renewable grain husks which may vary the color of the item but is guaranteed to look professional and natural. This item will last 5 years if used regularly, is resistant to freezing and thawing and will nurture the tender roots of any plant. Insert your favorite seeds and you have an item that is sure to please those with a talent of growing plants and flowers. 

Nothing is better during the Holidays than the desserts that come with it. While many prefer complexities such as gingerbread houses and the notoriously unappetizing fruitcake, there is nothing better than the traditional sugar cookie. Santa's night-time snack happens to also be mine. Any noticeable weight-gain can be directly attributed to these treats. 

I also love the basic shapes these cookies are made in. Simple shapes such as stars, circles, angels and snowmen make these snacks appealing to children but it seems that the most popular shape cookie during the Holiday season is the Christmas Tree.

Pictured below, Motivators carries an eco-friendly promotional Christmas Tree Cookie Cutter. This item is made of biodegradable plastic, is a brilliant green color, is made in the United States and has a large space for your imprint in the center of the cookie cutter. Children will want to make cookies all the time and you'll be happy to have a promotional item that will appeal to family members of all ages.  

When you think of mushroom, you probably let your imagination run wild about Woodstock or recall the last time you ordered a pizza.

But what if you got a box chock full of the wild stuff every time you ordered a TV, radio, iPad, even promotional products? Might sound strange but it's what one company is working to achieve.

Ecovative Design, out of Green Island, NY, is currently producing packaging made of out mushroom. The product is just as inexpensive and sturdy as its styrofoam counterpart but is also a Class A fire retardant material. A mini-documentary on the product, directed by a friend of a friend for Motherboard TV, shows how the product is made, how it is against fire and the benefits of using this packaging over others.

The technology is new so it isn't heavily implemented but has the potential to make non-biodegradable packaging a thing of the past. 

We've heard it as a kid yet many of us break the rule all the time: "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day."

According to Web MD, it's not just a myth or urban legend. A healthy, doughnut free breakfast means more endurance and concentration throughout the day and even lower cholesterol over time.

Because coffee tends to be the staple and foundation of every working persons' breakfast, finding a mug that is reusable and eco-friendly is a great way to help green the planet a little at a time. Rather than using plastic or styrofoam cups on a daily basis, either brew your own coffee at home or even bring it with you to work.  

The custom imprinted Classic Mug - 10 oz. The mug is made of a biodegradable plastic, is hand-wash only (conserves water) and comes in a small array of colors. This is a must-have for around the office, for the home and as a gift. 

Most of us don't like thinking about our loved ones passing away.  But if you've ever had the conversation with your friends and family, I bet you've found that many individuals wish to be cremated once they've passed.  I've always wondered what people do with the ashes of their relatives and buddies who have deceased.

Did you know that there's an eco-friendly way to respect the dead? That's right -- Cool Green Magazine reports that the Poetree, which is a ceramic ring that features the deceased's details, can be filled with the deceased ashes.  Family members can take the urn home, along with a tree sapling inside of a biodegradable pot, and plant the tree inside of its ashes. 

According to the magazine, "After giving the boxwood tree some time to grow, the urn can then be planted outside, where the cork container can biodegrade, leaving only the ceramic ring as a marker and a living, growing tree to commemorate those who have passed on."  If you ask me, this is a beautiful way to honor the dead and turn death into something hopeful.

When it comes to environmentally-friendly promotional products, we're all familiar with the usual suspects:  bamboo kitchen utensils, recycled pens and pencils, biodegradable plastic bags, etc.  But there are also plenty of eco-friendly products that would surprise you.  Let's take a look at some promotional products that'll have you saying, "Eco-friendly what?"

1.  Hats

If you're like most people, you had no idea that a cap could be made in an eco-friendly way.  But if you don't leave the house without something on your head, you're totally going to fall in love with these custom eco friendly caps and hats.  These high-quality hats are eco-friendly because of their organic materials.  For example, the super-attractive promotional Dri-Duck wildlife organic hat is made from 100% organic cotton chino twill.  Not only does this fine material allow the cap to be extremely comfortable, but it also means it was made with limited impact to the environment. 

2.  Electronics

Although we've all used a solar-powered calculator at one point or another, few people know the extent to which electronics can be eco-friendly.  But there are actually many different promotional energy-friendly products!  One great example of an electronic item that'll make you say, "That's eco-friendly?" is the promo water powered alarm clock.  This amazing item uses just a splash of water to keep you up-to-date on the time.  Users simply fill with water to activate.  There are also energy-friendly flashlights, eco-smart dynamo cell phone chargers, and more. 

3.  Messenger bags

While we absolutely love recycled tote bags and biodegradable plastic bags, many people don't realize that fancy bags can be eco-friendly, too.  Take the logo natural recycled cotton messenger bag, for example.  The fact that this bag is environmentally friendly is going to blow them all out of the water!  Made from 85% recycled cotton, this product can be used for everything, from commuting to work to carrying books to and from class.  Everyone's going to be thrilled to know such a trendy-looking bag is also safe for the environment! 

The next time you choose to go green for your promotional campaign, remember that you're not as limited as you think!  In fact, there are pages and pages of environmentally friendly promotional products through which you can browse.  We love recycled pens and biodegradable bags, but sometimes it's fun to think outside the box.  Plus, you're just going to love hearing people say "Eco-friendly what?"

There are several different categories of items that can be defined as "environmentally friendly."  Some are biodegradable, while others are made from natural products.  Everybody has his or her own preference.  So what kind of eco-friendly are you?

Some of the most popular environmentally friendly promotional items are ones that are made from recycled materials.  These make great giveaways because their recycled properties are very recognizable, and will therefore impress all recipients.  You'd be surprised by how many recycled items are available to choose from, too.  A great recycled item is the custom imprinted nine inch flyer.  It's made from 100% recycled materials, and offers a large imprint area for customized messages.  This recycled promotional product will help your company soar to success! 

Others prefer biodegradable items.  This group of products can be easily broken down by living organisms, so the products have a less harmful impact on our beautiful earth.  The types of promotional products that can be made to be biodegradable are almost limitless.  They include bags, water bottles, pet dishes, and more.  Explore our huge selection of biodegradable promotional products to find the perfect green item for your next promotional campaign!

Another group of highly popular eco items is organic promotional products.  These items are particularly great because they are made from materials that were grown without any harmful pesticides or fertilizers.  There are t-shirts that are made from organic cotton, as well as lip balm that's made from organic ingredients like palm oil and beeswax. 

No matter what kind of eco-friendly products are your favorite, one fact remains true:  Buying environmentally friendly promotional products is beneficial to our earth and generations of people to come.  So whether you're a biodegradable type of person or prefer products made from organic materials, keep up the good work!

Earlier this week, Adweek Magazine's Web site featured an article about a new eco-friendly billboard. According to the article by Tim Nudd, "Coca-Cola and the World Wildlife Fund have unveiled a new 60-by-60 foot billboard in the Philippines that's covered in Fukien tea plants, which absorb air pollution."  This exceptional ad does not only promote environmental friendliness, but helps to actually clean our Earth's air. 

Each of these plants, as reported by Nudd, will absorb up to 13 pounds of carbon dioxide every year. Nudd reports that the billboard can therefore absorb a total of 46,800 pounds of CO2 from the Earth's atmosphere, according to botanist Anthony Gao.

However, the billboard's designers didn't stop there. According to Nudd, the rest of the billboard is equally as eco-friendly. "The plants are contained in 3,600 pots made from old Coke bottles and designed to help the plants grow sideways. The potting mixture was made from industrial byproducts and organic fertilizers. And a drip irrigation system was installed, which saves water and fertilizer by allowing water to drip slowly to the roots of the plants, through a network of valves, pipes, tubing, and emitters," said Nudd.

According to Nudd's article, the goal of the billboard is to inspire Filipinos to incorporate sustainability into all that they do. Hopefully the message will be well-received, and Filipinos as rest as the rest of the world's citizens will begin to display an increase in environmental responsibility.