See Riley of CG Kidz featured on Pottery Barn Teen this month!

http://www.pbteen.com/stylehouse/teen-of-the-month/

CynerGreen is proud to recognize the founder of its non-profit, CG Kidz, Riley Hoffer.

Women exposed to the chemical Bisphenol A (BPA) during pregnancy give birth to girls who exhibit unusually aggressive and hyperactive behaviors by age two. That’s the finding from a study by University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill that measured the BPA levels in the urine of 249 Ohio women at three stages—during pregnancy at 16 weeks and 26 weeks and following birth. When the children turned two, their behavior was evaluated using the Behavioral Assessment System for Children-2 (BASC-2).BPA is found in many common plastic items, from bottles to canned food lining to water pipes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some 93% of U.S. residents have detectable levels of BPA in their urine.

This study—published October 6, 2009, in Environmental Health Perspectives, was the first to look at the link between prenatal BPA exposure and childhood behavior. Early exposure to BPA during pregnancy looks like it may negatively impact the baby’s developing nervous system—and have a particularly behavior-altering impact on growing girls.

“Girls whose mothers had higher BPA exposure were more likely to act like boys than girls whose mothers had lower BPA levels, especially if the exposure was seen earlier in pregnancy,” said lead study author Joe Braun, a doctoral student in epidemiology at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. “Boys’ behavior did not seem to be affected, although there was some evidence of increased internalizing scores among BPA-exposed boys.”

The researchers do not know why boys seem so much less affected by exposure to the chemical.

November 2, 2009
Reported by Brita Belli, emagazine.com

SOURCES: Environmental News Network; UNC News

Riley was recently interviewed by Inspire Me Today and given the honor of a Child Luminary.  See her interview and read the profile here….

Way to Go Riley!

http://www.inspiremetoday.com/profile.php?id=458

September means back to school for most kids and teens.  This year, more than ever, it’s time to add social responsibility to your back to school checklist.   From eco-chic fashion to supplies to books, we’ve covered it all in this list of “must haves” while giving you tips on how to keep the 4 R’s in mind and yes, we said the FOUR R’s.

Eco Chic

Consider first, what you already have.  It is important to think green when it comes to the three R’s, Recycle, Reduce and Reuse.  And don’t forget, the 4^th R, remember. 

Recycle your clothing.  Take that older pair of jeans and transform them into something fabulous.  Or, if you must, when buying new, think about an organic or recycled purchase.  Consider Levi’s line of eco jeans (www.levi.com)  They are made from completely recycled denim.  A plus because the normal process of making denim is really harsh and hard on the environment.  You can also reuse your denim jeans and make shorts, sew them together to make a quilt or a purse or just repurpose them by adding paint, funky sequins or even write a poem on your jeans.  Lastly, get your friends together for a “Clothes Swap” Collect T-shirts, sweaters, jeans and even purses, grab your friends and make an Eco-Chic part of it, trading clothes, decorating old jackets and jeans.  If you have some leftover, make sure and donate them to a community charity in need.  There are many available.  Remember, don’t let anything go to waste.

Other places to find organic or recycled clothing:  www.walmart.com, www.target.com

 Green School Stuff

By now you’ve heard about how bad plastics are for you and the environment.  Show your support by eliminating the use of plastic water bottles from your life completely and choose a reusable bottle like the ones from CynerGreen www.cynergreen.com  They are made from 304 stainless steel and last a lifetime.  Also remember, it takes 700 years for one plastic water bottle to decompose in a landfill – do your part!

First, take a look at your school supplies from last year.  What can you reuse?  Redecorate binders with recycled paper, stickers or covers to make them last longer.  Recycled school supplies like pencils, notepads, journals, backpacks and lunch bags are also really easy to find this year.  From Wal-Mart to Staples and Green Line Paper Company.  (www.greenlinepaper.com)

Waste Free Lunches.  Plan to have a waste free lunch this year.  That means that you almost eliminate the need for trash in your lunch.  Take a reusable lunch sak, one that will last all year, your reusable water bottle, and containers that may be reused.  We recommend glass containers that seal.  Remember, never place plastic in a microwave.  It could leach BPA if heated (Bisphenol A), a harmful toxin known to leach from plastic.  Learn more about BPA at www.healthychild.org

Be a Eco-Bookworm!

I’ve reviewed some great fiction reads and informational reads with an environmental theme.  They are a must read for kids and teens.

• Down to Earth Guide to Global Warming, by Laurie David  (teen)
• Gaia Girls Series , by Lee Welles  (young teen and teen)
• Tracking Trash, by Loree Griffin Burns (3-5^th grade)
• Maximum Ride Series, by James Patterson (teen)

 This year make it a goal to become involved in your community and do your part.  Organize a school cleanup, help your recycling or green club at school and make it known you care.  Remember, every day should be earth day.

 by:  Riley H.   September 09

On September 18, Riley and CG Kidz visited Longfellow Elementary School in San Francisco.  Riley talked to the kids about what it means to be green and the even more important definition of environmental stewardship.  The message really resonated with the kids, who were in Kindergarten through 5th Grade.    Phyllis Matsuno, Principal of Longfellow said, “We greatly appreciate taking the time to come out and share your knowledge of sustaining the earth.  We feel so honored and privileged to be the first school in San Francisco to receive this wonderful, enormous gift!”.  The school is among the very first to become “Bottle Free™” in all of San Francisco. 

Riley and her foundation, CG Kidz, donated 650 stainless steel reusable water bottles to students and teachers at the school to assist them with their efforts and congratulate them for becoming a more green school.  In addition, during the celebration, Kelenia Olsen, Field Representative, Office Of Fiona Ma, Majority Whip, TWELFTH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT in San Francisco, presented Principal Matsuno with a certificate of appreciation for helping the city to be a cleaner, greener place. 

During the presentation, the kids (and most of the neighborhood!) could be heard chanting “No More Plastic!, No More Plastic!”, as they vowed to discontinue use of plastic water bottles.  They learned facts including how long it takes a bottle to decompose in a landfill and what plastic bottles are made of. 

CG Kidz is a non profit organization founded at age 11 by Riley Hoffer, recipient of a 2010 United States Green Building Industry Council  Youth Leader Award.  Riley visits schools across the country and shares her message of sustainabilty and environmental stewardship with kids in elementary and middle schools.  To learn more about CG Kidz school visits please visit www.cgkidz.com or email danelle@cynergreen.com to schedule yours.

www.cynergreen.com

501.605.0197

We thought it would be fun to share Riley’s video submission for an award she’s up for this year.  Enjoy and remember – get your kids involved!

www.youtube.com/cgkidz

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Danelle Hoffer, CynerGreen

                            Danelle@cynergreen.com

                            501.605.0197

Sustainability made Simple

for Hotels and Resorts

August 25, 2009   Simple, effective, visible green programs are among the easiest ways to send a message of corporate social responsibility.  CynerGreen, the leading authority on sustainable hydration solutions in the hospitality industry, has launched Bottle Free™ programs designed for hotels and resorts. 

Becoming a Bottle Free™ hotel or resort is simple.  By eliminating the purchase and distribution of plastic water bottles in retail areas, guest rooms, conference services, back of the house, and replacing them with a reusable solution, a hotel can become certified Bottle Free™. 

This year alone, over 73 billion beverage cans and plastic water bottles have been tossed into landfills and incinerated.  And, it should be noted that only 12-14% of plastic water bottles are ever recycled according to the National Recycling Coalition.

Danelle Hoffer, President and CEO of CynerGreen shared the importance of the significance of this important program to the industry.   “When a hotel chooses to become Bottle Free™, it is making a contribution to the environment as well as to the health and wellness of its guests and employees for years to come.  Plastic water bottles continue to be a source of concern because of the amount of waste generated each year.   Additionally, the public is becoming more informed and is questioning BPA content in plastics and other epoxy resin lined bottles.  Obtaining Bottle Free™ certification will compliment your current green efforts and take them to the next level. “

CynerGreen’s proprietary Bottle Free™ solutions, pave the way for hotels, cities, communities, organizations, events and schools to eliminate bottled water from their environment.  The company offers a complete line of hydration products and services including:  adult and children’s reusable, stainless steel water bottles, HealthyTap™ natural portable water filters, reusable shopping bags, high volume hydration stations and certification programs, all exclusively offered by the CynerGreen and tailored to the hospitality and meetings industry.

To learn more about Bottle Free™ programs for your hotel or resort, call 501.605.0197 or visit www.cynergreen.com 

CynerGreen, LLC

A pioneering company based in Little Rock, Arkansas that manufactures, markets and sells eco-friendly, reusable, stainless steel water bottles and hydration solutions. Founded by business partners Joe and Danelle Hoffer in 2007, CynerGreen (www.cynergreen.com) is a leading brand in the stainless steel bottle category with customers including QVC, Toys R Us, Microsoft, Staples, Marriott, American Express Publishing, Gaylord Hotels and Terra Resort Group.  Their non-profit, founded at age 11 by Riley Hoffer, educates kids in grades K-5 on the environment.  In 2008 and 2009, the foundation has donated 2000 water bottles to schools in need of environmental programming support. (www.cgkidz.com)

Thanks to Mamanista for a great review of our CG Kidz bottles and for her kudos to Riley for her environmental efforts. 

http://www.mamanista.com/2009/08/stainless-steel-bpa-free-water-bottles.html

Thanks to everyone who followed us on Twitter this morning @cynergreen and to everyone who helped us to sell out on our very first time on QVC. Watch soon for more info on upcoming sets!