Rinse 50% Off That Price!
Nellie’s Laundry Soda drops the stench in clothes, so we’ve dropped the price! Look at it this way: With a hundred loads, you’re paying ¢9.5 per wash! If price points aren’t your shtick, consider the coconut oil based surfactants and sodium silicate cleansers a fair trade for your environmental laundering woes. Bid stains and half the price of a hundred squeaky clean loads a fond adieu.
100 loads of fabric dazzle
Was: $18.99
Home Town: West Linn, Oregon.
Mitchell
Job Title: Director of Merchandising
Job description in your own words: I research the best, newest, coolest eco-friendly products in order to keep our customers happy with our product selection and stay ahead of our competitors.
Reasons for working at GreenCupboards: I like what I do here and you can’t beat the culture. Working here is never monotonous, being involved in a start-up really makes you be on your toes, think innovatively and creatively, which I love.
#1 GreenCupboards shopping spree item: Duh! Vers Audio alarm clock. Have you seen those things??? Super cool!
What environmental issue concerns you most and how would you like to see that resolved: The extreme use of fossil fuels… engines that run on alternative energy other than oil.
If I could grow up in any era of history it would be: The roaring twenties. Rum-running and bootlegging always seemed thrilling.
My happy place is: On the beach, any beach.
The most creative thing I know how to do: Juggle flaming pins
Favorite book: it’s a tie: Heart of Darkness and Les Miserables
Favorite celebrity: Ron Artest, ESPECIALLY after he changed his name to Metta World Peace and subsequently elbowed James Harden in the face.
One time I: Received 586 stitches on the same injury. [Editors note: The injury was on Mitchell's head. He was a little kid when it happened and he nearly gave his babysitter a heart attack!]
GreenCupboards employees Lewis Cutter from IT and Amy DeLorenzo from Customer Care.
Last night, a handful of GreenCupboards employees from every department attended the Connect Northwest Investment forum. GreenCupboards co-founder Tom Simpson was the event moderator and gave an inspiring speech about “the momentum growing in Spokane” of entrepreneurs. He also highlighted some of Spokane’s up and coming startups (GreenCupboards included). Tom quoted his grandmother and said, “Blossom where you are planted.” He described his personal commitment to the success of Spokane’s economy because this is where he grew up. GreenCupboards is just as dedicated to Spokane, as this is where we planted our roots.
GreenCupboards is proud to be apart of so many great Spokane companies.
Part of the evening included a panel, moderating by Tom. Panelist included representatives from Founder’s Co-op, WRF Capital, Union Bay Capital, 2ndWatch and Gravity Jack. Some of the panel topics included the importance of location, networking, team building, and being visionary with your work. Chris DeVore, who is a General Partner at Founder’s Co-op also gave the keynote address.
GreenCupboards was proud to be a Table Sponsor at the Connect Northwest Investment forum. All of the employees who attended the event learned many valuable lessons and will be sharing those with the rest of the GreenCupboards staff who were unable to attend.
After the event, several GreenCupboards employees met up with Mitch Williams of Gravity Jack and Justin Farris of Browsar Application at Scout, a nearby restaurant. GreenCupboards loves to get involved with local events to show our support for the community that we call home. Spokane, Washington is near nature and near perfect in our minds.
There are seven different categories of plastics that can be recycled, as described below:
#1 PETE
Polyethylene terephthalate
A strong, shatter-resistant plastic that is inexpensive to produce. Bottles for soda, water, mouthwash, various foods (peanut butter, salad dressing, vegetable oil), as well as food trays and some household cleaners. May be recycled into fleece, clothing, fiberfill in coats, tote bags, furniture, carpet, paneling and automotive parts. PETE is lightweight, one of the most recyclable plastics and poses a low risk of leaching toxic chemicals into contents. Like all traditional plastics, it’s petroleum-based. Collected by most curbside recycling programs.
#2 HDPE
High density polyethylene
A lightweight, translucent, flexible plastic used for bottles for milk, juice, bleach, detergent, shampoo and motor oil. May also used for margarine and yogurt containers, plastic wrap products, some grocery bags. Can be recycled into bttles, pens, bins, tile, drainage pipe, lumber. One of the most common and least toxic petroleum-based plastics, with a low risk of leaching. Collected by most curbside recycling programs.
#3 V or PVC
Vinyl or Polyvinyl Chloride
A durable plastic widely found, for example, in water pipes, bottles for window cleaner, detergent, shampoo and cooking oil, meat wraps, baby bottle nipples, teethers, squeeze toys, coffee containers, shrink wrap, shower curtains, raincoats, vinyl dashboards, seat covers, some construction materials, electronic and medical equipment. Rarely recycled but is accepted by some plastic lumber makers for decking, paneling, gutters, flooring, cables, mats. Potential toxicity from release of dioxin, a potent carcinogen, during production and disposal; and leaching of phthalates, used to make PVC flexible.
#4 LDPE
Low density polyethylene
Found in squeezable bottles; bread, frozen food, dry cleaning and shopping bags; wrapping film, clothing; furniture; carpet. May be recycled into trash can liners and cans, compost bins, envelopes, paneling, lumber, landscaping ties, floor tile. Not often recycled curbside, but some communities accept it. Gradually getting easier to recycle.
#5 PP
Polypropylene
Found in rigid containers, including some baby bottles, cups and bowls. Also may be found in syrup, ketchup and medicine bottles, yogurt containers, margarine tubs, straws, microwavable meal trays, diapers, outdoor carpet. May be recycled into signal lights, battery cables, brooms, brushes, auto battery cases, ice scrapers, landscape borders, bicycle racks, bins, pallets, trays. Recycled through some curbside programs. Has a high melting point, so is often chosen to contain hot materials. Likely poses a low risk of leaching.
#6 PS
Polystyrene
Found in coffee cups, disposable cutlery and cups (clear and colored), bakery shells, meat/fish trays, “cheap” hubcaps, packing peanuts, styrofoam insulation, yogurt containers, carry out containers, egg cartons, protective product packaging (e.g., for toys and electronics such as compact disc cases. Insulation, egg cartons, vents, rulers, foam packing, carry-out containers. Some styrene compounds may leach from food containers and disrupt normal hormonal functioning. Styrene is also considered a possible human carcinogen. Rarely recyclable curbside.
#7 Miscellaneous other plastics
Found in large water containers, bullet-proof materials, DVDs, iPods, signs, food containers, nylon. Also some baby bottles, some metal can linings. Products labeled as “other” are made of any combination of 1-6 or other, less commonly used plastics including compostable plastics made from corn or other plants (which are safe and green!). Not usually recycled. May be recycled into plastic lumber, custom products.
The most controversial is polycarbonate, which can release bisphenol A, a suspected hormone disruptor, into liquids and foods. Compostable plastics are easy to dispose of, but the rest can be tricky.
Xylene is an extremely toxic, organic compound that is often found in graffiti and scuff removers, spray paints and some adhesives. Symptoms of acute exposure may include headache, fatigue, irritability, lassitude, nausea, anorexia, flatulence, irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, motor incoordination and impairment of equilibrium. Chronic exposure may cause conjunctivitis; dryness of the nose, throat, and skin; dermatitis; and kidney and liver damage.
This term refers to consuming less and throwing away less. All products purchased, or at least their packaging or containers, will eventually require disposal. Packaging alone now accounts for 33% of all our garbage. As an example, if each person in Spokane County reduced waste by only one pound per week, the amount of reduction county-wide would total over 11,000 tons a year.
VOCs include a variety of chemicals emitted by a wide array of products. Examples of household products that may contain VOCs are paints and lacquers, paint strippers, cleaning supplies, pesticides, cosmetics, degreasing, and hobby and craft materials including glues and adhesives, permanent markers, and photographic solutions.
VOCs are airborne chemicals that can irritate the eyes, nose, throat, lungs and skin. They can also causeheadaches, loss of coordination, nausea; damage to liver, kidney, and the central nervous system. Some organics are suspected or known to cause cancer in humans.
