The Motorola MOTO W233 Renew is Motorola’s first green cell phone. Yes, it is green in color, but also quite eco-friendly. The Renew is claimed to be the first certified carbon free cell phone on the market. Through on an alliance with Carbonfund.org, Motorola is able to offset the amount of carbon required to manufacturer, distribute, and operate the phone. 

In addition, the phone comes with a pre-paid postage envelope for you to recycle your old cell phone, and contains 100% recycled housing. All packaging is made out of recycled material, including the user’s guide. The battery is free of hazardous materials, has a longer life to require less charging, and the charger has less of a phantom effect. For more information on what Motorola has done to make this phone “greener,” check out their ECO FACTS.

We are excited to see some changes are being made in the cell phone industry, considering how many cell phones are sold, and how often people replace thier perfectly functioning cell phones with new ones. In addition, several cell phone giants are greening their cell phones by using more recycled materials and even solar panels on their phones. Companies such as those in the computer industry are even using the method of carbon offsetting for their computers such as Fujitsu in Japan.

If you can’t find a LEED certified or eco-concious hotel where you will be vacationing, or these places are simply just too pricey, Marriott is offering a great alternative by parterning with Spirit To Preserve. Marriott offers its guests a program in which they can offset their carbon emissions during their stay for $1 a day ($10 minimum donation will offset 10 nights of stay). Your carbon offset donation, along with the 2 million dollars already donated by Marriott, will help preserve the State of Amazonas in Brazil. By supporting these rain forests, Marriott is helping by preserving the health of our environment and preventing climate change. These rain forests help to release more oxygen into the atmosphere and keep carbon dioxide out. 

Out of the 1000 Marriott hotels around the world, 275 are ENERGY STAR certified by the USDA. Marriott had the first hotel in the US that was LEED certified, and they are continuing to LEED certify new hotels. Check out Marriott’s Rewards Program to save up for free nights at any of their hotels worldwide.

For more ways to make your vacation greener check out this article about Eco-Tourism. Travel green!

It seems that eco-tourism is becoming the latest and greatest traveling fad in the news, and we can’t argue that. There are packages out there that provide eco-vacations across the globe in which you can be almost 100% eco-friendly, while also providing for a sustainable future at your travel destinations with programs that help save the ocean or national parks. The question is, however: how do we make eco-traveling a part of every future vacation? more…