PlanetEye

Boston has always had a reputation of being an eco-conscious city.  Boston residents practice environmentally friendly habits like using public transportation. Solar-powered compact trash cans dots the city. And many hotels and restaurants are US Green Building Council LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified.

This weekend (March 28 to March 30) the Down: 2: Earth  (D2E) exposition at the Hynes Convention Center showcases sustainable living, energy-efficient and earth-friendly items.  Exhibitors ranged from renewable energy goods, green building material suppliers, transportation businesses, food companies and even green fashion alternatives.

Who doesn’t like free stuff? There are lots of samples given out by many of the sponsoring companies-Glee Gum, Trader Joe’s, and Ben & Jerry’s. There was a lot of buzz around the Zipcar (car sharing service) exhibit.  Some of the more interesting participants include Wormjava plant fertilizer made from earthworm castings, Papers to Pearls jewelry crafted from recycled paper beads made by women in Ugandan refugee camps, and Preserve brand’s bright and coolly designed toothbrushes and razors made from recycled plastic yogurt containers. Part trade fair and part education forum, D2E is a fun eco-friendly event for adults and kids.