frescopod
Single-use coffee pods may be a convenient way to get your morning caffeine, but the amount of plastic waste they create is cause for concern. (One estimate claims 29,000 of these pods end up in landfills every minute [PDF].) While you can opt for plastic, reusable models, they still don t tout the disposability of the single-use pods, which is part of the allure. But frescopod, founded by Yianni Mamtsaderis, is looking to change that by bringing the same convenience of a K-cup meaning single-use and disposable but in an eco-friendly way you won t feel guilty about.
Available now through Kickstarter, the frescopod is a device that assembles pods with biodegradable filters that are held together with a reusable stainless-steel ring. The filters can be thrown away or composted after each use, and the ring can be used again for your next cup. This minimizes clean-up and waste while still being simple to use. The beauty of it all is that you can brew your favorite coffee thro
Cuisinart/Amazon
Pretty much any activity can be made better by adding some ice cream. And if you re bored by the store-bought stuff and want to experiment with your own concoctions, you can score Cuisinart s 4.6-star-rated ice cream maker from Amazon for just $70, which is well over half off.
In as little as 25 minutes, this device makes two quarts of your favorite ice cream, sorbet, gelato, or frozen yogurt. Since it s all homemade, you ll know exactly what s going in it so you won t be left second-guessing if you have any food sensitivities or allergies. All you need to do is add the ingredients, turn the machine on, and the Cuisinart handles the rest.
Pela Case/Indiegogo
Composting is an excellent option for giving food waste a second life. Still, not everyone has the patience, space, or stomach to deal with all those rotting banana peels and apple cores, even if you love the potential benefits they provide. Pela, a company that makes eco-friendly phone cases, is cutting through the difficulties of composting at home with an easy-to-use, single-button machine called Lomi, which is now available to back on Indiegogo.
For the past three years, Pela s engineers have been testing the Lomi to make it simple for everyday users. You start by filling the chamber with vegetables, fruits, animal products, yard waste, and whatever else fits the bill. Then you just put the lid on and press the button on the front. You can choose which mode you want your Lomi to use depending on how fast you want the waste broken down and what kind of waste you re using. The machine will then quietly compost these scraps by using heat, abrasion, and oxygen.