TerraSkin? XP is a combination of 80% stone (calcium carbonate) with a 20% PE (polyethylene) non-toxic resin to create a strong, sustainable substrate. The Calcium Carbonate comes from construction waste material; such as, marble, limestone and chalk scraps which are ground down to a fine powder. The PE is post-industrial recycled and acts as the binder for the Calcium Carbonate. TerraSkin? XP outperforms traditional paper with its moisture and tear-resistance.

TerraSkin? XP delivers environmental and printing advantages over pulp papers, printable plastics and synthetic papers.

????No Deforestation Not a single tree is used in the production of TerraSkin? XP.
????No Water – The production of TerraSkin? XP requires no water
????No Bleach – TerraSkin? XP is naturally bright white; therefore, requires no bleach or other bleaching agents during manufacturing
????Durable – TerraSkin? XP is moisture, oil, and tear-resistant.
????Reduction in Ink Costs – TerraSkin? XP is fiber free reducing ink coverage needed by 20-30%
????Degradation – TerraSkin? XP will degrade back to its source – the powder of stone – when left out in nature for approximately six to nine months. The product releases no toxic materials, and the paper can be safely incinerated. The inorganic mineral and residues can be reused, though no recycling facilities yet exist in the United States.
????Cradle-to-Cradle Silver Certified – Cradle to Cradle Certification provides a company with a means to tangibly, credibly measure achievement in environmentally-intelligent design and helps customers purchase and specify products that are pursuing a broader definition of quality. This means using environmentally safe and healthy materials; design for material re-utilization, such as recycling or composting; the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency; efficient use of water, and maximum water quality associated with production; and instituting strategies for social responsibility.

In conjunction with TerraSkin? XP, Xcel exhibited EcoMedia Banner and the Visual Magnetics? Graphic System, by Visual Magnetics?.

Visual Magnetics? Graphic System combines a patented, magnetic receptive media, MagnaMedia with its InvisiLock? magnet to create easily changeable graphics. The MagnaMedia print substrates include VM-POLYeight, VM-POLYfive, VM-POLYmatte, VM-POLYgloss, VM-SYNpaper and VM-Chalkboard. Visual Magnetics? introduced its new VM POLYpeel. VM POLYpeel is 3-mil, magnetic receptive polyester with a re-positionable, micro-sphere adhesive.

EcoMedia Blockout Banner is a line of non-pvc films designed for large-format printers utilizing UV-cured inks. EcoMedia products are designed and formulated to be environmentally responsible without compromising quality, performance or functionality. The products are constructed from a co-polymer blend that is both recyclable and degradable. EcoMedia 15-mil Blockout delivers high-performance with 2-sided printability, outdoor strength and stability making it the perfect cost-effective, PVC free banner.

About Xcel Products, Inc.:

Xcel Products, Inc. is the leading manufacturer and custom converter of innovative printable media solutions for the P-O-P and P-O-S markets worldwide. A one stop resource, Xcel Products, Inc. is uniquely qualified to serve all of your printable media needs. From manufacturer to product developer to authorized sales agent we can easily manufacture and/or design the solutions you are looking for. Xcel Products aspires to be synonymous with service excellence. In every aspect of our operationcustomer care, sales, accounting, production and shipping – Xcels goal is to exceed customers expectations.

Xcel Products, Inc. developed TerraSkin? XP as a proprietary product and is in exclusive collaboration with TerraSkin?, a division of Design & Source Productions, Inc. Xcel Products, Inc., in exclusive collaboration with Visual Magnetics, LP, develops, converts, markets and sells the Visual Magnetics? Graphic System worldwide. Xcel Products, Inc. is the Exclusive Manufacturer and Converter for EcoMedia products.

All images, registered trademarks and trademarks are property of their respective owners.

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EnviroCitizen.org, the internets largest eco-friendly superstore, wants you to give and receive green, eco-friendly Holiday cheer this year. Their product offerings span the gamut from solar and other alternative energy items, personal products for the entire family, thousands of household items, lawn and garden supplies, pond supplies, eco-friendly bags, gift wrap, appliances, furniture, baby care, camping and RV supplies, educational kits and projects and much, much more. All of the items at EnviroCitizen.org are absolutely green and environmentally friendly.

The eco-friendly elves at EnviroCitizen.org have been very busy putting together their selection of thousands of environmentally friendly Holiday gift ideas. So, whether you need to stuff a stocking or give a gift, EnviroCitizen.org needs to be on your list this Holiday Season. So, pull up a keyboard and get ready to be wowed by a truly eco-friendly Holiday shopping experience.

Here is just a sampling of the great eco-friendly gift ideas from EnviroCitizen.org arranged in 10 different idea categories:

1.????Eco-friendly Educational Kits

The best way to preserve the environment in the future is by educating our children about the importance of protecting the environment. Help them understand the importance of alternative energies with these awesome, easy to build-and-use educational kits. Your children will have fun while challenging themselves like never before. Here are just two great ideas:

????Fuel Cell X7 Hydrogen Powered Car Kit This kit is a great introduction to fuel cell technology! Discover energy conversion and how electrolysis of water can be used to store electricity. It is also a great visual demonstration of the molar ratios of hydrogen and oxygen in water!
????Thames & Kosmos Solar Fuel Cell Car Experiment Kit – A Car that Runs off of Water! This kit is a great way of demonstrating energy conversion, and how electrolysis of water can be used to store solar power. Electrolysis is also a great visual demonstration of the molar ratios of hydrogen and oxygen in water

2.????Eco-friendly Gifts for the Kids

What child doesnt like a good toy and what child doesnt like a good surprise. Well get ready to show your children a toy that is probably unlike anything they have ever seen! Try a solar powered toy! Consider these two kid-friendly ideas:

????Mini Solar Robot Kit – Solar Sonic F1 Racer Kit – These super solar F1 race car kits are the coolest way to teach kids about solar energy. Easy to build with only 8 plastic parts, building these solar kits brings self-confidence and educates at the same time!
????Mini Solar Robot Kit – Happy Hopping Frog A great and challenging solar educational kit! The Happy Hopping Frog keeps hopping along as long as there is sun.

3.????Eco-friendly gifts for Baby

We are always concerned with a babys safety and health. Some toys out there have compromised quality and fall apart easily making them dangerous. There have also been many recalls with lead toys and lead colorings in toys. Stop your worrying now and make sure your child is playing with safe, high quality organic toys! Here are a few ideas to consider:

????Organic Toys – Teething Bear These organic knit teethers are safe and natural. The organic knit material is durable and massages your child’s gums as they chew. They are made with certified organic and natural cotton
????Organic Toys – Chicken Rattle – These little chicken rattles are the cutest out there! Your child will love to shake them around and you will love that they are safe and natural! They are made out of soft organic and natural cotton.
????Weleda – Baby Starter Kit -The Weleda Baby Starter Kit has everything you need to keep your baby clean, protected, soft, nurtured and happy from head to toe. Its a carefully formulated selection of calendula products ideal for the care of the delicate skin of your baby, child and your own sensitive adult skin.

4.????Eco-friendly gifts for your Pets

Treat your pets like kings and queens this holiday season with the ultimate eco-friendly pet spa products. Here are a few of EnviroCitizen.orgs favorite ideas:

????Happy Tails Spa – Flea The Scene (7.6oz) – All natural Flea the Scene is a 3-in-1 spray that will take the sting out of flea season while soothing and protecting your canine companion.
????Happy Tails Spa – Healthy Skin Shiny Coat (1oz) – Healthy Skin Shiny Coat is an all natural detoxifier that works with your dog’s liver, kidneys and lymphatic system to eliminate toxins from the system.
????Happy Tails Spa – Bubbles ‘n Beads (9oz) All natural shampoo contains exclusive micro-beads packed with conditioning vitamins. They penetrate the coat, burst against the skin, delivering their nutrients right where theyre needed; at the follicle. The result is a healthier, shinier more lustrous coat.

5.????Eco-friendly personal care products for Him

All-natural never looked so good. The ultimate all natural personal care products for men will have him looking exceptional this holiday season. Here are a just a few terrific ideas:

????Burt’s Bees – Men’s Natural Grooming – Wake him up with a naturally clean refreshing scent. This collection of men’s grooming necessities is the perfect gift for guys on the go–and even comes with its own travel bag, so they can take it with them.
????Burt’s Bees – Natural Skin Care for Men Aftershave – This all-natural lotion calms, moisturizes and shields dry, rough skin. It contains a mix of sunflower and coconut oils to moisturize, while aloe and vitamin E soothe, for skin that looks and feels its natural best.
????Burt’s Bees – Natural Skin Care for Men Bar Soap – Get an intense clean with this energizing and purifying soap that washes away dirt and odor, leaving your skin refreshed. Lemon, Orange and Petitgrain oils cleanse skin while Rosemary extract and Fir oil revive and invigorate for skin that looks, feels and smells its natural best.
????Burt’s Bees – Natural Skin Care for Men Travel Kit – Look and feel your natural best wherever you go with skin care formulas sized for travel. Take them with you to cleanse, moisturize, shave and invigorate your skin with natural botanicals including Sunflower, Coconut, Cyprus and Fir oils, Aloe and Vitamin E.

6.????Eco-Friendly Bags

Shell love the trendy styling of the many eco-friendly bags in EnviroCitizen.orgs vast selection. Here are a few great ideas:

????Alchemy Goods – Ad Bag (Red) – Alchemy Goods took these ad banners that would have been discarded and used them to make the perfect gym bag or gear tote!
????Blue Q – Free Hugs Coin Purse – This Free Hugs Coin Purse is made with 95% recycled post consumer material.
????Alchemy Goods – Ad Bag (Sky Blue) – Constructed from super strong recycled vinyl mesh, the Alchemy Goods Ad Bag is both strong and light. The material was printed on and then lashed to the sides of buildings all over Seattle to promote various products.

7.????Eco-friendly gifts for the Gardener in the family

Gardening is the great American pastime. The Gardener in your life loves the great outdoors and loves the environment. Be sure to give the gift of green to your Green Thumb this Holiday Season. Here are some great ideas from amongst the vast Lawn and Garden category at EnviroCitizen.org:

????Juliana Basic 300 Greenhouse This is one of the best and ideal greenhouse products for the first time buyer or the buyer with limited space.
????Sunmar Garden Composter The Summer Garden Composter is excellent for composting kitchen scraps and a few cut up garden trimmings.
????EZ Leaf Hauler – Works like a giant dustpan for leaves and grass! The EZ Leaf Hauler is designed specifically to make moving large piles of leaves easier.

8.????Eco-friendly gifts

Today at Greenbuild 2010 in Chicago, VAST Enterprises, LLC announced that Firestone Building Products Company, LLC (FSBP) has selected VAST as its exclusive manufacturer of Firestone SkyPaver Composite Roof Pavers. FSBP is a global leader in commercial roofing systems and materials. VAST is the material science research and manufacturing company that invented composite masonry as a green alternative to clay brick and concrete pavers.

SkyPaver is an interlocking roof paver system manufactured in VAST’s advanced composite material that is an engineered blend of 90 to 95 percent recycled car tires and plastic containers. Each SkyPaver unit consists of a 16×16-inch installation grid with eight composite pavers, which are 4×8 inches each. SkyPaver weighs only 6.23 pounds per square foot (one-third the weight of concrete pavers). Interlocked grids establish an integrated surface installed directly on a horizontal drainage mat.

“The market for green roofs grew by more than 15 percent in 2009, and an estimated 10 million square feet of green roofs are now installed annually. In addition, more projects are incorporating flat roofs into the usable space of buildings,” said Riaz Hasan, accessories marketing manager, Firestone Building Products Company, LLC. “VAST’s technology provides a green paving solution for roofs that surpasses any other available today.”

“In the U.S. and worldwide, Firestone Building Products is renowned for its excellence in commercial roofing materials, superior service to developers and contractors, and unbeatable warranty program,” said Andy Vander Woude, chief executive officer, VAST Enterprises. “As the manufacturer of SkyPavers, VAST is positioned to take part in the growth of the market.”

Firestone SkyPaver Composite Roof Pavers offer significant advantages for flat roof applications, including green, vegetative roofs and habitable roof spaces:

Design Flexibility, Refined Aesthetics: SkyPavers are ideal for new or re-roof projects to create rooftop decks, patios, terraces, or walkways and provide a complementary roof access enhancement for the Firestone SkyScape Vegetative Roofing System. Available in five brilliant colors, UV-treated SkyPavers bring the classic, refined look and design versatility of pavers up onto rooftops. Color and pattern design combinations are unlimited.

Incomparable Product Performance: One-third the weight of concrete pavers, SkyPavers contribute minimally to roof loads; yet they are strong enough to handle any live load, including point loads. SkyPavers are engineered to meet or exceed ASTM standards for compressive and flexural strength, water absorption and resistance to freeze-thaw cycles, weathering, and friction.

Installation Efficiency for Professional Contractors: SkyPavers are packaged 180 units per pallet, and each pallet covers more than 320 square feet. Because composite pavers are one-third the weight of concrete pavers, each pallet weighs only 2,000 pounds. With their weight advantage, SkyPavers require fewer crane lifts up to rooftops and are easier for installers to handle on rooftops. No pedestal system is required. VAST’s patented grid system installs right on top of roof membrane systems with drainage mats and ensures straight lines and a level layout. The expert installers in Firestone’s worldwide network of licensed roofing contractors are able to complete installation faster with SkyPaver.

Better for the Environment, Socially Responsible: There is no better choice for green building and sustainable development projects than SkyPavers. VAST’s eco-friendly composite material is engineered with 90 to 95 percent post-consumer recycled rubber and plastics. Every 25,000 square-foot installation of Firestone SkyPaver Composite Roof Pavers can divert approximately 12,500 tires and 375,000 plastic containers from landfills in the U.S.

The VAST manufacturing process begins with post-consumer recycled rubber and plastics, uses no water and requires much less energy and releases much less carbon dioxide than manufacturing comparably sized concrete pavers. With virtually no cracking or breakage in shipping or during installation, there is no waste. Cradle-to-cradle green, SkyPavers can contribute to projects earning more LEED? credits than any other roof pavement material.

Firestone Building Products and VAST Enterprises are exhibiting at Greenbuild 2010, the world’s largest exhibition devoted to green building, at McCormick Place West in Chicago, Ill., November 16-18, 2010. Firestone Building Products is at booth #533. VAST Enterprises is at booth #2094. SkyPavers are on display at both locations. Company executives are available to the media for interviews.

Firestone Building Products Company, LLC

Firestone Building Products Company, LLC (FSBP) is a global leader in quality commercial roofing and is committed to protecting the environment through its products, programs and practices. FSBP manufactures EPDM, TPO, metal and green roofing systems, polyiso insulation, and accessories for the commercial roofing industry. In addition to superior roofing products, FSBP offers installation expertise and product support through roofing solutions and technical services departments and an international network of roofing contractors, distributors and field sales representatives. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., FSBP is a subsidiary of Firestone Diversified Products, LLC. Visit the FSBP Web site at http://www.firestonebpco.com.

VAST Enterprises, LLC

VAST applies its patented technology to transform recycled materials into a new resource for green building: composite masonry. VAST composite products — including landscape pavers, permeable pavers for stormwater management, deck pavers and thin brick — offer an engineered alternative to molded concrete and clay brick. VAST meets the most demanding requirements for aesthetics, durability, sustainability and installation efficiency. Award-winning VAST Pavers deliver rich colors, superior slip resistance and unbeatable strength at one-third the weight of concrete pavers. VAST can contribute to qualification for more LEED? credits than any other paver. Today, every 5,000-square foot VAST landscape installation keeps 2,500 scrap automobile tires and 75,000 plastic containers out of U.S. landfills. Tomorrow? The Future is VAST. Learn more at http://www.vastpavers.com. Then call (612) 234-8958.

LEED? (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is registered trademark of the U.S. Green Building Council.

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When an outdoor gear manufacturer developed a new concept for manufacturing ice substitutes and handling scrap plastic, it needed several special conveyor systems to bring it to fruition. After using traditional conveyors for years, engineers at the facility wanted conveyors that were adaptable to other projects because they felt that using conveyors designed for other tasks compromised the success of the operation.

After some research, the company decided that DynaCon modular conveyors were best for the new concept.

Genuine modular conveyors are custom conveyor systems that use standard components to configure and reconfigure complete systems by removing, inserting or exchanging modules that are available in lengths as short as 6″ permitting incremental changes.

They wanted to be sure that the plastic would not form to the conveyors as can sometimes happen with other conveyors when you put them under molding machines, says Jill Batka, President of Muskegon, MI-based Dynamic Conveyor Corp., that produces DynaCon conveyor systems for the plastics, packaging, automotive and medical industries.

A representative from the company took a small conveyor sample to the plant, installed it with the engineers and poured hot plastic on it, proving it was not be a problem.

Almost immediately after receiving the conveyor systems, the flexibility of DynaCon conveyors systems became evident. Since this was an entirely new concept, engineers had found a way to make it more efficient, which eliminated the need for one of the six conveyors. With another type of conveyor, the outdoor gear manufacturer would have paid for something that was not usable, but with the reconfigurable conveyor technology, engineers could adapt the conveyor for use in another area.

With a few minor changes and a couple of additional components, the original flat modular conveyor converted into a custom z-style conveyor with a 45-degree angle at minimal cost.

Standard DynaCon conveyor system packages include all straight, incline, decline, and radius turn modules as well as drive flights, retaining walls, and legs.

A variety of primary accessory modules such as metal detection, box filling, cooling tunnels, separators, and water bath tanks for cooling products used with the reconfigurable conveyor technology can be added to create systems that are more progressive.

Since the outdoor gear manufacturers facility takes scrap from the molding process and conveys it to a grinding unit and then back into the system, DynaCon suggested the inclusion of a metal detection module to prevent metal being reintroduced into molding machines.

They told us that when shavings enter the machinery, a significant tear down of the equipment to rid the machine of the metal would take an entire day, and the unit has already paid for itself more than once, says Batka.

Now that the company has seen how well the conveyors adapt to their process it is looking to add flow through belt with a cooling fan to cool to further increase efficiency.

To learn more about Dynamic Conveyor Corps quick ship program for conveyor systems, next business day parts replacement, 5-year guarantee, or for more information about reconfigurable conveyor technology, visit http://www.dynamicconveyor.com or contact the company at 5980 Grand Haven Road, Muskegon, MI 49441; phone (800) 640-6850; fax (231) 798-9583.

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For the second year in a row, VAST Enterprises went home from Greenbuild with an ED+C Readers’ Choice Award for Best Exterior Product/Design. Winners were announced in Chicago on November 16, 2010 at Greenbuild, the world’s largest exhibition devoted to green building. Last year, VAST Composite Landscape Pavers took the prize; this year, VAST Composite Permeable Pavers.

VAST Enterprises is the materials science research and manufacturing company that invented composite masonry as an eco-friendly alternative to clay brick and concrete pavers. The Readers’ Choice Awards is an annual online contest sponsored by Environmental Design + Construction (ED+C) and Sustainable Facility magazines.

“VAST continues to win awards because green building professionals and technology experts alike understand the significance of VAST’s scientific breakthrough,” said Mark Moe, co-founder and chief operating officer, Entrepreneurs Management Group (EMG), Woodside, Calif. “VAST has engineered the world’s first composite that combines recycled rubber and plastics to create a composite material that offers the strength, durability, natural appearance, and design versatility to replace molded concrete and traditional brick.”

With its patented composite materials technology and high-tech manufacturing process, VAST has re-invented the permeable paver. VAST Composite Permeable Pavers reduce rain runoff into storm drains and decrease stormwater pollutants by infiltrating rainwater into the soil. The pavers have a tested infiltration rate of more than 450 inches per hour (4.9 gallons per square foot per minute) when installed with aggregate conforming to ASTM D448 No. 8. To ensure that the pavers can be installed according to ADA Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities (ADAAG) # 302.3, VAST manufactures them with spacer lugs engineered to maintain a precise 0.275-inch space between pavers.

“VAST Composite Permeable Pavers, like all VAST composite masonry products, are made in our engineered composite material that is a proprietary blend of up to 95 percent recycled car tires and plastic containers,” said Andy Vander Woude, chief executive officer, VAST Enterprises, LLC. “All our paver products are cradle-to-cradle green and enable green building projects to earn LEED? certification credits easier than any other paving material.”

“The VAST production process requires 94 percent less energy and releases 89 percent less carbon dioxide than concrete product manufacture,” said Steve Smith, chief technology officer, VAST Enterprises, LLC. “Our process does not emit mercury or generate any volatile organic compounds. With VAST, there’s no scrap, no waste, and our products are 100 percent recyclable.”

“VAST engineers its pavers so that they’re not only green but superior to the products they replace. Their solution features their installation grid system. When VAST pavers are inserted into the grids, they are spaced and aligned correctly. And VAST pavers are one-third the weight of concrete pavers,” said Phil Rausch, lead estimator and hardscape specialist, K&D Landscape Management, Rockdale, IL. “When we used VAST for the greenhouse project at Joliet Junior College, we learned for ourselves that the lighter weight and grids reduce installation time.”

In addition to VAST Composite Permeable Pavers, VAST composite masonry products include VAST Composite Landscape Pavers, VAST Composite Deck Pavers, and VAST Composite Thin Brick. VAST Enterprises also manufactures Firestone SkyPaver Composite Roof Pavers for Firestone Building Products Company, LLC (FSBP).

VAST Enterprises, LLC

VAST applies its patented technology to transform recycled materials into a new resource for green building: composite masonry. VAST composite products — including landscape pavers, permeable pavers for stormwater management, deck pavers and thin brick — offer an engineered alternative to molded concrete and clay brick. VAST meets the most demanding requirements for aesthetics, durability, sustainability and installation efficiency. Award-winning VAST pavers deliver rich colors, superior slip resistance and unbeatable strength at one-third the weight of concrete pavers. VAST can contribute to more LEED? credits than any other paver. Today, every 5,000-square foot VAST landscape installation keeps 2,500 scrap automobile tires and 75,000 plastic containers out of U.S. landfills. Tomorrow? The Future is VAST. Learn more at http://www.vastpavers.com. Then call (612) 234-8958.

LEED? (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is registered trademark of the U.S. Green Building Council.

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Half of the nearly 171 million dogs and cats in the US are now overweight. The pet industry is helping combat the pet obesity epidemic by developing innovative and effective exercise and weight loss products. Once again the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) is proud to announce its annual Top Pet Fitness and Weight Loss Products for 2010. If youre looking to give your pet a healthy gift this holiday season, consider these offerings.

Harnesses and Leashes

Exercise is critical to keeping your pet fit and healthy, states Dr. Ernie Ward, Founder and President of the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention and lead product researcher. A comfortable leash and harness system is a must for exercising with your dog.

Canicross Belt Canadog

What is canicross, you ask? Our testers were scratching their heads at first, too. Imagine trail running while being pulled by your dog and youre pretty close. While canicross has been popular in Europe for the past 20 years, our dog testers lack of familiarity with the sport didnt deter them from loving this walking belt. observes Dr. Ward. The fact that you leash up your dog (or dogs) to the waist belt keeps your hands free for a wide variety of exercises and or sports. comments Melissa Morrison, trainer with Fur Fitness in Upland, California. The belt comes complete with a snug bottle holder and a pouch perfect for a cell phone, keys, and or sanitary bags. An optional collapsible water bowl is recommended for longer treks. Morrison sums it up, This is a product that could change someones life. It makes one want out of their sedentary lifestyle and get outside to be active with your companion.

Website: http://www.canadog.ca/product;cat,14;item,22;Belts-Canicross-Belt#

Tru-Fit Smart Harness – Kurgo

Were always on the lookout for everyday accessories that have multiple uses. This is a not only a great walking harness for your dog, but also a car restraint device. notes Dr. Ward. Testers liked that they could easily slip on the harness and attach it to their existing seatbelts for a quick trip to the park.

Website: http://www.kurgostore.com/products/Tru%252dFit-Smart-Harness.html

Wacky WalkR

The Wacky Walkr is a bonafide eye-catcher; with its bright colors and unique blend of standard, sturdy leash material that seamlessly connects to the more prominent wacky or stretchy part of this connector. says Melissa Morrison. The wacky Morrison is referring to is a length of rubber tubing that stretches if/when your dog pulls on the leash. Id much rather people teach their dog to walk without pulling; however, squirrels happen. This leash is great for taking the stress out of those occasional lunges. responds Ward.

Website: https://wackywalkr.websitesource.net/#????

Toys

Play is an important part of keeping pets physically and mentally healthy, emphasizes Ward. While there is no substitute for one-on-one interaction, weve found some toys that can ramp up the fun for everyone.

Wood Chuck with Orbee-Tuff RecycleBall Planet Dog

This year we were looking for environmentally-conscious products, reveals tester Joanne Shumbo. As the proud mama of two active rescues, this is exactly the type of toy we were looking for. Throw after throw, the all-natural chucker allowed even the most petite dog owner to throw a ball long distances. The wood chuck is made of durable bamboo and reused cork scraps while the ball is made from regrinded rubber that normally would be discarded.

Website: http://www.planetdog.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=10980000

Go get it! Petmate

Weve tested many ball launchers. What makes this product innovative is that it collapses for easy storage. explains Dr. Ward. The 24 Go get it! uses regular tennis balls and shrinks to less than 10 for easy carrying. Ive got one stowed in my glove box for impromptu fetch sessions. says Ward.

Website: http://www.petmate.com/go-get-it

Sway FroliCat

Cat owners never tire of watching cats bat things around, jokes Joanne Shumbo. This new toy does just that and only that. Made by the same folks that brought us Dr. Wards favorite cat exercise device of 2009, Sway promises to provide hours of essential play for your cat. I like the simplicity and the fact that my own cats couldnt get enough of it. says Ward. I dont think it will replace my Bolt, but it has quickly become one of our familys favorite cat toys.

Website: http://www.frolicat.com/

Dog Casino Nina Ottosson

Weve got to confess: we have a crush on Nina Ottosson products. Maybe its the sleek lines, Euro-chic styling or the fact theyre so smart whatever it is we cant seem to get enough of it. This year were crushing on the Dog Casino. Basically a really cool food puzzle, your dog must dislodge several removable bones and then open hidden doors to hit the treat jackpot. As your dog learns how to beat the house, you can increase the difficulty. My dog Sandy is still on the easiest setting, discloses Dr. Ward. Were guessing she just isnt a very good gambler.

Website: http://www.companyofanimals.co.uk/products/toys-and-games/nina-ottosson-games/nina-ottosson-interactive-plastic-toy-dog-casino

My Agility Set (Toy) Oscar Newman Luxury Pet Couture

This is one toy too cute to ignore. Imagine a real grown-up dog agility set made out of tiny, soft pastel-colored poles and tunnels. If youre the owner of a toy breed that needs to get active, this is just what your stylist ordered. What I like about this toy breed agility set is that it allows you to exercise them without ever touching, dare I say it, dirt. jokes Dr. Ward. Commence making You Tube videos.

Website: http://www.oscarnewman.com/apparel/toys/agility.htm#

Technology Products

I am a techie-geek-exercise enthusiast. states Dr. Ernie Ward. Each year I love trying out the cool gadgets and figuring out what helps people and pets get fit together.

Dog-e-Minder

Wow. Thats what everyone said after seeing this product. gushes Dr. Ward. With our busy schedules, work and dogs, were always mixing up medications, feeding and no one ever knows if the dogs got walked. shares tester Julie Mullins. Wonder no more; the Dog-e-Minder is a small device that looks like a dog tag but does a whole lot more. When you walk, feed or give your pets meds simply press the corresponding button and it records it. To see when you last walked your dog, press the button and the device displays it. Until we have the Dog Translator Collar from the movie UP, this is as close as were going to get. remarks Ward.

Website: http://www.dogeminder.com/

SpotLight GPS Pet Locator

Every dog owners greatest fear is losing their pet. observes Mullins. This is one way to reduce that worry. Weighing less than 3 ounces, the small box attaches to your dogs collar. The GPS uses satellites and a cell-phone connection to help locate your dog. This device is so smart it texts and emails you when the rechargeable battery is low. comments Ward. You can set up safe zones and be alerted if your dog leaves those areas. You can track your dogs location online to retrieve them should they escape. The device also boasts an LED beacon that can be activated to help you see your lost dog in the dark. While not cheap, the peace-of-mind the SpotLight provides is priceless.

Website: http://www.spotlightgps.com/spotlight-gps-pet-locator.aspx

Eyenimal

Ever imagine what it looks like to eat kibble from a dish? How clean is the inside of that litter box, anyway? These and other answers to silly questions can be found by using this itsy-bitsy video camera that your pet wears on it

Nice Rack is going green! In an effort to be a more eco-friendly surf rack company, Nice Rack is now making surfboard wall racks using 100% recycled plastic. The goal is to reduce the environmental impact of manufacturing surf racks by using recycled materials.

Nice Rack made the switch to recycled plastic earlier this year. Recycled plastic is actually less expensive than Virgin (non-recycled) materials. This made it a no-brainer to make the switch. Its a win-win solution, we save money on materials while helping to reduce our impact on the environment, says Nice Rack Owner, Michael H. Russell.

The recycled plastic actually comes from the runners or scrap pieces left over from the production process of injection-molded items. Rather, than just throw out these plastic pieces as waste, they are collected and re-processed into re-usable plastic resin pellets. We purchase these resin pellets from a Recycled Plastics vendor to use for the production of our surfboard racks.

While some manufacturers question the durability of recycled plastic, Nice Rack has found only a marginal difference in strength when used as surfboard racks. Weve tested the holding capacity. While the recycled parts are not indestructible, they work sufficiently well as a storage rack for surfboards up to 9 ft. in length. The difference was not significant enough to notice and we figure our customers would much prefer Eco-friendly surf racks anyway.

Surfer, Shaper, and Engineer Darryl Matsui founded Nice Rack in 2005 in San Diego, California. Michael H. Russell, a San Diego Native with a passion for all things surf related, currently operates Nice Rack. Our mission is to provide reliable eco-friendly surfboard storage racks at an affordable price. Nice Rack is made in the U.S.A.

Originally designed as a surfboard storage rack, Nice Rack can also be used to store snowboards, wakeboards, and kite boards as well.

We have experienced incredible growth in the last year. I look forward to expanding our marketing campaigns reach to accommodate for the growing demand from action-sports enthusiasts.

For more information please visit the website: thenicerack.com or become a fan at http://www.facebook.com/thenicerack.

To become a dealer, please contact:

Michael H. Russell

Phone: 866-929-7225

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Construction industry accolades keep coming for VAST Composite Permeable Pavers. On November 16, 2010 at Greenbuild, Environmental Design + Construction (ED+C) and Sustainable Facility magazines announced that VAST Composite Permeable Pavers were voted Best Exterior Product in the annual Readers’ Choice Awards . Now the December 2010 issue of BUILDERNews is out with the editors’ annual Best Product picks. They selected VAST Composite Permeable Pavers for Mixed-use/Multifamily projects based on the pavers’ durability, innovation and sustainability.

The editors of BUILDERNews praised the performance and weight advantage of VAST Composite Permeable Pavers and highlighted VAST’s installation grid as a unique innovation. “The VAST pavers weigh eight pounds per square foot (versus about 30 pounds per square foot for concrete permeable pavers), making VAST less energy-intensive and less costly to transport, easier to work with on job sites, and great for use in flat and green roof applications,” said John Chilson, editor-in-chief. “But we really liked the patented grid system because it saves time and reduces the amount of labor required for paver installation.”

“VAST installation grids are laid out on a sub-base prepared just as it is for conventional landscape or permeable pavers,” explained Steve Smith, chief technology officer, VAST Enterprises, LLC. “When VAST pavers are inserted into the grids, they are automatically spaced and aligned correctly for excellent results.”

VAST Enterprises is the materials science research and manufacturing company that invented and patented composite masonry: the world’s first and only rubber-plastic composite that offers the strength, durability, natural appearance, and design versatility to replace molded concrete and traditional clay brick in hardscape and landscape applications. BuilderNews is a national building trade publication with a monthly circulation of 80,000 and monthly readership of 307,000 — including builders, contractors, developers, suppliers, and construction product specifiers in high-growth residential and multifamily homebuilding markets.

VAST Composite Permeable Pavers infiltrate rainwater into the soil to reduce rain runoff into storm drains and decrease stormwater pollution. The pavers have a tested infiltration rate of more than 450 inches per hour (4.9 gallons per square foot per minute) when installed with aggregate conforming to ASTM D448 No. 8.

Like all VAST composite masonry products, the permeable pavers are manufactured in VAST’s engineered composite material, a proprietary blend of up to 95 percent recycled car tires and plastic containers. The VAST production process requires 94 percent less energy and releases 89 percent less carbon dioxide than concrete product manufacture.

“We engineer our composite masonry products to be more than green. We design them outperform the products they replace,” said Andy Vander Woude, chief executive officer, VAST Enterprises, LLC. “That’s why VAST continues to win awards from construction industry professionals and experts in materials science technology.”

VAST Enterprises won the Minnesota Cup as the most innovative start-up company in Minnesota in September 2006. Since then VAST has continued to win awards, including:

First Place, Mid-Am Innovation Showcase, Mid-America Horticultural Trade Show, January 2009

Top 10 Green Building Products, EcoHome Editors’ Choice Awards, August 2009

Minnesota High-Tech Association Tekne Awards: Cleantech Award and Innovative Collaboration of the Year Award, October 2009

Best Exterior Product (VAST Composite Landscape Pavers), Environmental Design + Construction Readers’ Choice Awards, November 2009

Environmental Stewardship Award, Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE), February 2010

Honorable Mention, Innovative Green Design Awards, New York House magazine, July 2010

Best Exterior Product (VAST Composite Permeable Pavers), Environmental Design + Construction Readers’ Choice Awards, November 2010

Best Products of 2010, Mixed-use/Multifamily (VAST Composite Permeable Pavers), BUILDERNews, December 2010

VAST Enterprises, LLC

VAST applies its patented technology to transform recycled materials into a new resource for green building: composite masonry. VAST composite products — including landscape pavers, permeable pavers for stormwater management, deck pavers and thin brick — offer an engineered alternative to molded concrete and clay brick. VAST meets the most demanding requirements for aesthetics, durability, sustainability and installation efficiency. Award-winning VAST pavers deliver rich colors, superior slip resistance and unbeatable strength at one-third the weight of concrete pavers. VAST can contribute to more LEED? credits than any other paver. Today, every 5,000-square foot VAST landscape installation keeps 2,500 scrap automobile tires and 75,000 plastic containers out of U.S. landfills. Tomorrow? The Future is VAST. Learn more at http://www.vastpavers.com. Then call (612) 234-8958.

LEED? (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is registered trademark of the U.S. Green Building Council.

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