Feed: Ways2GoGreen.com Blog - AggScore: 41.2

Guest Post: Outdoor Eco-Friendly Family Activities

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Summertime is the perfect time of year to enjoy the sunlight and fresh air with your family. It's also the perfect opportunity to educate your loved ones on the importance of doing things that are good for the environment.

Contrary to some people's popular assumptions, you don't have to be earth-conscious and boring. There are actually a lot of outdoor eco-friendly family activities that you can do that are fun, rewarding and quite possibly even things that your kids will ask to do over and over again.

Spend your weekend outdoors. Walking, hiking, jogging, bicycling, playing games like freeze tag and Hide-n-Seek---if there are two things that they all have in common is that they're a great source of exercise and also a wonderful way to entertain the family without using any kind of electricity. If you want to get the children extra excited, make a competition day out of it where there are eco-friendly prizes given to the winners of each activity. You can do the prize portion by giving vouchers (with a limited amount) to a local thrift store or going to shops like HappyHippie.com for a list of stores with a "go green" theme.

Host a yard sale. As you're looking around the house (and garage), there's a good chance that there are some things that you need to get rid of. You know the old saying, right? One man's junk, more times than not, is definitely another man's treasure. So, why not have a yard sale, invite a couple of other families to join in and let your kids pocket (or save) the money that they earn from their own things that they decided to donate.

Build a garden. One of the best things that you can do for your health is to use the earth for the purpose of growing your own fruits and vegetables. Sure, it's kind of a lot of work (at least initially), but it's also something that the entire family can enjoy doing. Have everyone pick a particular fruit or vegetable that they'd like to grow, do research online on how to cultivate them and then get going. If you don't know a thing about how to start a garden, there are a lot of videos on YouTube that can take you through the steps or you can connect with a local community garden for tips or even to use their grounds (if you don't want to start a garden in your own backyard).

Go to a botanical garden or the zoo. Spending time observing nature is definitely a great way to teach your kids about the environment around them while keeping them entertained. Whether it's a botanical garden or the zoo, admission tickets are cost-effective and it's a wonderful way to let a few hours pass without the need for any kind of technology.

Eat outside (vegetarian style). There are many studies that support the fact that it's better for both the environment and your body if you limit the amount of meat that you consume. In keeping with this theme, designate a day a week where you will have a meal that's completely vegetarian. Serve it outside in picnic baskets with candles and recyclable dishware to add to the "go green" flair.

Guest Post: When it Comes to Identification Cards, Go Green!

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Green identification cards not only look good, but they give the owners the sense that they are doing what they can to help the planet.

There are many little things that individuals can do to help the environment. For example, think of how many individuals use Identification Cards for work. Hospital workers, government workers, airport security, employees at large corporations; all of them are required to wear id badges every day for work. Most ID badges are placed in plastic badge holders. The use of ID cards and badges made by companies that are dedicated to protecting the planet can help conserve resources and reduce pollution.

"Earth-friendly" badge holders are a good example of environmentalism made practical. Featuring slot/chain holes, the holder is not only sturdy enough to protect the card it displays but free of phthalates, which are found in many plastics and can be harmful to humans.

Green ID cards made of bamboo or of recycled products help protect the earth for several reasons. Bamboo crops are easily replenished. They also require only limited amounts of water, and they can be grown in many regions and climates, thus spreading the resources needed to sustain them. The process of recycling helps to conserve by using products that would otherwise have ended their usefulness. This makes it unnecessary to gather or manufacture the materials needed to make new products, which conserves energy.

Green ID cards also employ lanyards that are manufactured from recycled plastic materials. The fact that they are recycled does not reduce their usefulness or their appearance, as the lanyards come in a variety of styles and colors.

Less manufacturing will reduce the amount of greenhouse gas released into the atmosphere. Recycling also reduces the number of products that are discarded. These products can increase the need for landfills and the problems associated with them, and also air pollution if they are destroyed through burning.

Green ID printers have a number of features that are friendly to the environment, including biodegradable supply cores and power systems that automatically turn off when they are not in use. The reduced costs of manufacturing them can also save consumers by reducing the costs of products that have been recycled.

Green ID cards are thus more affordable, in addition to being easier on the environment.

Anyone considering obtaining identification cards or upgrading existing cards should consider making another commitment to protecting the planet, by going green.

Virginia Cunningham is a technology writer for AlphaCard Systems.

Guest Post: Eco-Friendly Backyard Design Tips for Your Home

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Wherever you go these days, people are talking about the environment. It's a major issue in politics, science, and at the gas pumps, as the warmer weather brings steadily rising prices per gallon all over the country. Environmental sustainability is now a legitimate aspect of the planning that goes into new corporate and private construction, and homeowners are starting to come around as well. People are installing solar panels to minimize their environmental footprint, using recycled materials in housing construction, and buying energy efficient appliances to replace the traditional ones around the house. And when it comes to backyard landscaping, green thumbs everywhere are realizing it's easy to be eco-friendly. You want a comfortable and beautiful yard space that doesn't break the bank. Luckily, it's not terribly difficult to join those desires with an environmentally conscious approach. Here are a few tips for eco-friendly backyard design in your home.

First off, consider using recycled materials for your backyard building needs. Construction projects regularly buy too many raw materials, and when new installations replace the old, the leftovers are usually hauled away to the dump. Your backyard is a great place to repurpose some of these recycled materials to great effect. If you're building some sort of counter space, wall or fountain, consider incorporating recycled glass. Wine bottles make incredible mosaics, giving your backyard a unique, classic look. And if you're pulling up old and crumbling driveways or patios, don't just send the materials off to a landfill. You can repurpose the concrete as crushed stone, which you can then use all over the yard. And when it comes to your garden, there's almost no need to buy new. Recycled mulch will excel in your planting beds or playground areas, and you'll be happy knowing you're helping to protect our forests.

When it comes to your greenery, being eco-friendly in the backyard comes down to thinking strategically with your planting efforts. Trees should be a primary focus. They help all the other plant life, and create eco-friendly shade during those hot summer days. Plant deciduous trees on the south or west sides of your home for optimum efficiency. Besides offering that delicious shade during the hot months, they'll shed their leaves in the fall and winter, allowing the sunlight through to naturally heat your home. If you're thinking of covering over your patio, consider a living roof instead of new wood. Put up a lattice and set up vines to grow across them. It's environmentally friendly, and the greenery will actually cool the patio space much more efficiently. Plants release water through their leaves when the weather turns hot, helping to refresh you while spicing the air with an incredible fragrance.

Finally, be eco-friendly with your water use. Most people use way too much water on their landscaping, and you can cut that down significantly by planting things that require similar amounts of watering. Then spend the extra money to install automatic sprinkler systems that have different zone settings, so you can water the grass, trees and garden on their own schedules. And if you are going to install water features, such as a garden pool or wall fountains, make sure the system is set up to recycle as much of the water as possible. You'll get the look you want, while keeping an eye on the future of our planet.

Going Green In Your Home [sponsored]

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In recent years, the pressure of "going green" has become a pressing global concern. The impact of carbon dioxide created from fossil fuels along with wasteful consumption of natural resources continues to affect the planet. Many big businesses have taken initiatives to reduce their carbon footprint; the focus is on developing products that use recycled materials where possible and produce as little CO2 emission in manufacturing and production. However, many important changes can be made by individuals in the home. Some take very little effort, but can make a big difference.

Recycle Everything

Recycling is perhaps the easiest and most popular way of going green. Many councils will collect plastic, tin, paper and even food for recycling. It is as simple as separating waste before it goes in the bin. Recycling drastically cuts down on household waste being buried in landfills and it is an excellent way of conserving the environment.

Energy Saving Light Bulbs and Shower Heads

Of course, conserving energy in the home is an excellent way to go green. Turning off lights and electrical appliances when they are not in use not only conserves energy, but can drastically cut down the prices of energy bills. Energy saving light bulbs can also make a contribution; they are still bright and effective, but use considerably lower energy. There are also energy saving shower heads, which produce less pressure and use less hot water.

Wireless Meters

Installing a wireless home energy monitor is an excellent way to see how much energy a household is using. The easy to use device attaches to the electricity meter and produces a readout of how much electricity is being used and what it is costing per hour. It can be a real eye-opener to how much the average household is spending when just a few electrical devices and light bulbs are left on, and it can encourage more practical energy use.

Grow your Own

Amateur horticulture has really taken off in recent years. Many people now grow their own vegetables and fruit in their gardens at home. It may take a little bit of effort, but it is much cheaper than buying organic fruit from the supermarket and you are guaranteed that the food you are eating is fresh and free of pesticides. While everyone may not have a big garden to grow vegetables, window ledge boxes can be used to grow herbs and spices, or community allotments (which have seen a surge in popularity in recent years).

Solar Panels

Many new build houses are being constructed with solar panel heating, and it is easy to see why. Even on overcast days, well positioned solar panels can absorb enough sunlight to heat up to 50% of a household's hot water. They can be used in addition to traditional boiler systems to contribute toward a households heating requirements. Although they may seem like a costly investment at first, solar panels can save money on energy bills in the long-run and are an excellent way of using natural resources to produce energy.

This post was written by Michael Turner, an enthusiast in home improvement, technology and design on behalf of Inlec, a test equipment hire specialist.

Guest Post: Ways to Go Green in Colleges

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Colleges are the first places where the concept of conserving the environment were first known and adopted. Every other student is taking a course related to environment such as, environmental science and technology. This has helped them in coming up with ways on how to go green in the colleges. Education has helped a great deal in these endeavors, and more and more ways to conserve the environment are coming up. Each and every student in college has a responsibility of going green. It up to the individual to love the environment that one is living in and appreciate the gifts of nature that come along. Human beings depend on the environment for a lot of things starting with the provision of oxygen which is emitted by the plants as they take in carbon dioxide. Many colleges are on the move to go green and help maintain the environment. These interests must first come from the students since they are the people who are in these colleges.

There has been several measures and tactics put forward to promote the going green campaigns in schools. Green buildings have been set up in colleges as one way of promoting this campaign. Green color will impact the need to have a green environment which will have positive effects in our lives. Students have also ensured that organic food in being sold at various cafeterias in colleges as one way of providing healthy food. They want to do away with unhealthy food that will eventually lead to unhealthy living styles and do something about diseases like high blood, diabetes pressure and obesity. Websites have been created by students to promote the go green initiates, relevant information has also been provided as a way of ensuring students has the right information in the process of maintaining a green environment.

Technology has brought with it advancement and they are being used in each and every way of going green in schools. Social media, such as facebook also provide a fast growing network of student who has the same interests of promoting go green strategies in colleges. They create groups where they invite other students and promote these green initiatives in colleges. The students are dynamic people and have great ideas. The youth possess great potential in almost everything, thus they organize talent and fashion shows in colleges aiming at promoting go green campaign in schools. They ensure that the dressing code will be green to match the events color and also crown the beauties as miss environment or Miss Green. These campaigns go along well with other academic events, therefore apart from promoting green environment they also emphasize the need to have good education in college. Another way of ensuring that students go green is the provision of recycle bins in college. They are necessary as they help in ensuring that lo litter will be left unattended to in the school compound. Students also have these litter bins in their rooms to ensure that they disposal of waste is done in a good way. In this regard, those items that can be recycled need to be kept separately from those that cannot be recycled. Items such as electronics do not need to be thrown away in just a normal way, but instead, they should be taken to a recycler center. Things that cannot be recycled should not be processed as they continue to health hazards. Students should ensure that they buy items that can be recycled.

In this regard, they should use good canvas bags for shopping instead of using other polythene bags which put environment in danger and the health of people. Students, and especially girls, like carrying water as they attend one lecture to the other. They should ensure that they have refillable bottles which will contribute to attaining green environment. This means that you are not obliged to purchase bottled packed water as you can easily refill one bottle. The level of pollution will also go down and education will be promoted in the long run. When it comes to cleaning, students should know that it is directly related to education and environment. They should therefore use detergents which are biodegradable and which are home made. Cleaning products which are homemade have in time been known to be environment friendly than the other manufactured products. Education should also help students to know that they are supposed to cut down on their water usage. Taking short showers can help save many gallons of water, which can be used elsewhere in maintaining a green environment. Air fresheners as well should be substituted by using plants which emit oxygen and will go a long way in ensuring clean and fresh air. Lastly, students should always eat well, thus they should meet the recommended balanced diet as one way of making sure that, as the college is going green they will also not be left behind in attaining good health.

Written by SuperiorPapers.com.

Product Review: SIGG Water Bottle

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I've seen SIGG aluminum water bottles for years with their neat and sleek designs, but I didn't know about the company or their product. I was fortunate recently to receive information from SIGG about their products and their company.

For over 100 years, SIGG has utilized Swiss precision to design and build products that make life easier and a little more enjoyable. SIGG is a brand of optimism and hope, of forward thinking and positive action.

From the SIGG website:

• We make bottles to the highest standards of Swiss quality and craftsmanship.
• We make bottles that are ecologically sound, reusable and ultimately, easily recycled.
• We make bottles that are as fashionable as they are functional.
• The future we see is green and clean, sleek and stylish.

I was lucky enough to receive a water bottle from SIGG to review. It was perfect timing since in the last month I've started my new life as a runner. My new SIGG water bottle had become very useful. You know you have to keep hydrated and this water bottle helps me one liter at a time. On top of all of the other drinks I have every day I have my SIGG water bottle with me to make sure I have one to two liters of water a day. It is also king of the 3R's: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. I would recommend a SIGG water bottle to everyone.

SIGG bottles have no leaching and are BPA free.

SIGG's 2012 Collection offers a countless array of savvy designs for the entire family. With over 100 bottles, you're guaranteed to find one that suits you. SIGG's are completely eco-friendly, BPA and phthalate free. The collection can be seen in its entirety at mysigg.com.

All SIGG bottles are 100% recyclable and contribute significantly to reducing the global carbon footprint. Every year, SIGG launches a new design collection of SIGG bottles, two of which have found their way into the permanent exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City.

Guest Post: 5 Reasons Why You Should Drink Black Tea Instead of Soft Drinks

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It has the stigma of being the “old people’s drink”. The very thought of black tea would, in the past, conjure up images of senior citizens and Chinese restaurants, or stuffy Englishmen with their cream and scones. But now, with the health-focused mindset of the current generation, black tea—along with its fellow teas green and white—is emerging as a phenomenon of its own—a fresh, revived alternative to the soft drink-dominated world of choice beverages.

Black tea is harvested from the Camellia sinensis plant. It has a dark color (hence the distinction black tea) that comes from the process of fully fermenting the tea leaves prior to drying. This fermentation also gives the tea a bolder flavor compared to green and white tea. Depending on where the plant is harvested, black tea can have many varieties—sweet, spicy, flowery, you name it. It’s not just served hot, but is also great cold. This makes black tea a drink as versatile and delicious as any soft drink.

In addition to its great taste, black tea is very good for the body. Black tea contains antioxidants that can prevent diseases coming from free radicals. Antioxidants compounds in black tea can fight inflammation, promote a stronger immune system, and even help to prevent cancer by killing corrupted cells.

Drinking black tea can also lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Studies have shown that those who drank black tea have lower LDL (bad cholesterol) levels, and showed that their blood vessels were expanded, thus functioning more effectively and preventing blockage.

Soft drinks are loaded with sugar and add to the risk of developing disease. On the other hand, black tea can prevent diabetes. It contains certain components that have the ability to slow down the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream, preventing the onset of the condition. For those who already have diabetes, these components help to reduce glucose levels, keeping the condition from worsening and lowering the risk of getting cataracts in old age.

Sugar also causes most of the dental problems we encounter, and with the added acidic elements, consumption of soft drinks can lead to weakened teeth and tooth decay. However, black tea also contains fluoride, which strengthens the tooth enamel and prevents tooth decay. You can keep your dentist happy, and continue to enjoy a great-tasting drink.

And black tea doesn't stop at your teeth—it makes your waistline happy as well. Regular consumption of black tea can also result in a faster metabolism, increasing the body’s ability to burn fat and making it a great choice for those watching their weight. Soft drinks, on the other hand, add calories from the syrups and sugars that make up its list of ingredients and ruin that great figure.

Black tea is no longer limited to your grandparents, or as an accessory to Chinese food, or even as an expensive British tradition. It is a dynamic, light, and delicious beverage that’s just as perfect for the modern person, the young person, the guy on the go. In these hot days, there are many cold drinks out there we want to reach out for. Why just go for taste and refreshment? Go for the option of taste, nutrition, and refreshment and live the healthy life.

Author bio:
Alexis Thompson is a former Mountain Backpacker and a 26 year old mother of 2 daughters, Sophie and Rhian. She is into almost all types of Music especially The Fray and Hillsong. She also has a passion in Singing and Scrap Booking. Follow her escapades on her Twitter.

Guest Post: How to Go Green On Your Next Vacation

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It can be tricky trying to maintain your green values when you travel, especially if you need to fly somewhere, as the levels of greenhouse gas emissions which come from an aeroplane are enormous. However, with a little forward thinking it is possible to travel with a slightly clearer conscience. There are a few tips to help you go green on your next vacation.

Unplug at home

Remember to unplug all of your electrical appliances before you leave the house. If you forget to do this, you are wasting money and energy which is not a good start to your environmentally friendly trip.

Every KM counts

Wherever possible try to book a vacation which is a little nearer to home so that you can travel by bus, train or car. If this is not an option then make an attempt to only take a direct flight with no connections as this will save on emissions. Make sure that you have researched online so that your accommodation is within walking distance to all of the main sight seeing attractions or the beach. This will alleviate the need to hire a car or take taxis.

Choose the bus

When you get off the plane, go to the information desk and ask about a bus service which will transport you to your final destination. If all passengers did this, then there would be no need for thousands of taxi cabs on the road. As more people can fit into a bus, there would be fewer vehicles on the road and therefore far less harmful gases in the atmosphere.

Economy every time

You should always choose to travel economy class when you fly, rather than business or first class. It may be much more comfortable in the higher class compartments but they house far fewer passengers. Because economy class has less leg room, the plane can accommodate more passengers. This equates to fewer emissions per passenger.

Off-set your emissions

For a small cost, passengers can offset their carbon usage. For around $15 per ton of carbon dioxide, travellers can reduce their personal emissions. This money is used to invest in carbon reducing projects such as wind farms and solar power buildings as well as growing new trees. This may help you feel a little less guilty when you are flying.

Keep up your good home habits

Once you have reached your resort or hotel, try and go green throughout your stay by switching lights off when not in use and only using the air conditioning if you really must. If you are only staying for two or three nights then you should place a 'do not disturb' sign on your door to stop the maid from coming in to your room. This will reduce unnecessary laundering of sheets and towels and so will save on energy and water.

Only fly when necessary

Try and minimise the amount of flights you take by combining necessary trips with a holiday. For example if you were planning to visit family, use that as your vacation. This will save money and reduce your carbon emissions. You could always take a local holiday later on which you could travel to by train or bus. Ideally you should only take one flight every year.

Borrow equipment

If you are planning a camping trip, ask friends and family if they would be willing to lend you things like tents, sleeping bags and cooking stoves rather than buying brand new equipment. You should in turn always offer to loan your holiday essentials such as travel adaptors, travel hair driers and mosquito repellents as well as luggage. There is no harm whatsoever in using other peoples belongings when you travel.

When you are away on vacation you do tend to eat out quite often as you are there to have a break from cooking. Try and do some research before you go away and note down local restaurants which only cook meals from locally sourced food. At least then you can be safe in the knowledge that you are supporting their local farms.

To ensure that you will reduce your carbon footprint when you travel, try and plan ahead and research all of the relevant details such as bus services from the airport, the proximity of the main attractions to your hotel and whether you will get the option to purchase carbon offsets in order to reduce your emissions.

About the author
Mike Sorensen is a structural engineer and master cabinet maker and the author of www.AcousticFields.com/blog audio blog. He provides tips for soundproofing using environmentally friendly sound production methods and generally tries to do good by mother Earth.

The Green Deal UK – a summary [sponsored]

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With target dates for decreases in carbon emissions getting ever closer, countries are rolling out energy efficiency plans with increasing regularity and one such example is the UK where it is planned that the Green Deal will commence later this year.

Built around the provision of low interest loans with a value of up to £10,000, the programme offers UK homeowners and businesses the opportunity to improve the energy efficiency of their buildings without the outlay of one lump sum. Instead, the necessary improvements will be made to a building with the money provided by a Green Deal lender and subsequent repayments being recouped via energy bill savings over the next 20 years.

In order for the programme to be financially attractive, a ‘Golden Rule’ has been put in place which will theoretically ensure that home owners do not pay back more than they are saving. However, the validity of this promise has been criticised and some experts have warned that an upfront payment from home owners may be required for this balance to be achieved.

As the term ‘Energy Efficiency’ is such a loaded and wide-reaching term, it’s not particularly easy to nail down exactly what home improvements are potentially covered by the scheme. Indeed, there is some disagreement on the eligibility of technology such as solar panels and wind turbines as official wording has been fairly vague to date. That said, there are a number of key areas that will definitely be covered by the loans and these include:

• Insulation; including most common forms such as wall, roof, floor and loft.
• Heating; such as boiler replacements, under floor heating and heat pump installation.
• Lighting; including improved fittings and controls.
• Double glazing; both windows and doors.

It is thought that final clarification on what will be covered within the Green Deal will be provided closer to the launch date in October.

With the first Green Deal providers announced (including well known companies such as British Gas, Carillion and E.ON) it is hoped that the first work will begin in October 2012. However, there are underlying fears that it won’t be until 2013 that the scheme is properly rolled out throughout the UK. Additionally, the Green Deal for business premises has been suspended for the moment due to additional complexities with commercial properties.

If you live in the UK, own your home and would like to take advantage of the Green Deal, the bad news is that you cannot yet register your interest in the scheme. The best you can do is keep an eye on the news or websites such as Jablite.co.uk for further announcements. With just five months to go until the projected launch, it’s expected (and hoped) that there will be firmer details available in the very near future!

Product Review: World's Best Cat Litter

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The World’s Best Cat Litter is a company that was "founded on more than sound science. It was founded on a love for cats - indeed all pets - a respect for our communities and a responsibility to our planet". They are proud of their eco-friendly products which are pet, people and planet friendly. The cat litter they make is the only made from whole-kernel corn. This means there are no harmful clays, chemicals or perfumes added.

They gave me and my cat a bag of their clumping formula cat litter to try out. When I first opened the bag I immediately noticed that "Wow, it really is made from whole-kernel corn". It did take my cat a little while to get used to this new cat litter. I still had another tray with her old litter she used and she gradually starting using the World's Best Cat Litter. The litter has a softer texture which also does not produce any dust when used. Once my cat starting using it I immediately noticed it does an awesome job on odors. It also clumps very well and scoops very easily. I would recommend this cat litter to anyone. Those with a cat of course.

Each bag of the World's Bets Cat Litter offers 6 benefits:

OUTSTANDING ODOR CONTROL - World's Best Cat Litter™ is the only litter made from whole-kernel corn. That means it has a naturally super-absorbent structure that keeps nasty odors and smells inside the litter.

QUICK CLUMPING - World's Best Cat Litter™ traps the liquid and limits the wetness from seeping, sinking to the bottom or sticking to the sides of the box.

EASY SCOOPING - With its patented formula and quick-clumping abilities, World's Best Cat Litter™ is easy to scoop. Cleanup is a breeze!

LONG LASTING - Quick clumping keeps the rest of the litter dry. As a result, one 7-lb. bag of World's Best Cat Litter™ may last one cat more than 30 days. That saves you time and money!

PET AND PEOPLE FRIENDLY - Because World's Best Cat Litter™ is made from all-natural ingredients—with no added chemicals—it's safe for cats. And unlike clay litters, there's no silica dust for you or your cat to breathe.

PLANET FRIENDLY - World's Best Cat Litter™ isn't made from mined, drilled, or artificially made ingredients. It's milled from renewable whole-kernel corn.

I've seen the World's Best Cat Litter sold in many stores in my area. So it shouldn't be difficult to find the cat litter near you. I plan to continue on using it. I know if I was a cat it is what I would want under me when I'm doing my business. Try the World's Best Cat Litter, another eco-friendly product. You and your cat will be glad you did.