Green Eyed Monster
Founded by sisters Kimberly and Ashley Ulmer, Green Eyed Monster is a brilliant concept in eco-friendly, multi-dimensional business. Not only does it provide a much needed product (reusable shopping bags), but it encourages artistic expression, friendly competition, and community interaction.
Green Eyed Monster bags are high-quality eco-friendly products made from 100% post-consumer recycled cotton and recycled plastic bottles. Unlike many other reusable bags, they are big enough to handle grocery shopping for a family–dimensions are 15” high x 18” wide x 4” deep! The bags are affordable and only cost as much as a new t-shirt.
But what makes these bags so awesome is that they are created as limited edition art work, with the designs generated through periodic competitions on the company’s website. Artists (professional or amateur) are invited to participate by submitting designs based on a specific theme; and the winner receives a $500 prize–plus having their work immortalized on the limited editon bags (only 1000 of each design are made) sold through Green Eyed Monster. The next competition begins on February 1:
sisters of GreenEyedMonster) but also the one day people take time out
of their schedules to get down with Mother Earth: Earth Day. The focus
of this competition is on WATER. So harness your inner Poseidon and get
creative! 71% of the earth’s surface is covered by ocean and there are
tons of issues surrounding water on our planet… access to clean
drinking water, plastic water bottle waste, fertilizer and pesticide
runoff into rivers and streams, overfishing, bycatch, coral bleaching,
ocean acidification, ice caps melting, droughts, etc. As always, you
can be a literal or as abstract as you like. So whether you cry over
polar bears or get fired up when you see plastic bottles piled
everywhere, put pen to paper and submit it to us! This competition
begins on February 1st and the deadline is March 31st! If your design
wins you will receive $500 and your image printed on limited runs of
Green Eyed Monster totes!
Taking inspiration from similar design communities like Threadless Tees, the Ulmer sisters share their enthusiasm for green living and art with their innovative and sustainable business model. Their fun, collectable, and totally recycled products are a wonderful example of how a product can be many wonderful things all at once.
If you are still unaware of the damage done to the environment by disposable plastic bags, I urge you to watch this short fact-filled slideshow on the subject.
I love reusable and fun bags! It’s so great to see more people caring about the environment. These are definitely a huge improvement over the eco-bags of old!