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Flaunt It! Monday: Marcal Small Steps

(In compliance with the new FTC Guildlines, please note that this is a sponsored post.  I was given these products to test and review free of charge.  However, I was not paid for the review and the opinions are my own.)

In honor of America Recycles Day we celebrate a company that make recycling a part of our everyday lives!

Small Steps™ by Marcal® brand products focuses squarely on the company’s green heritage. For over five at-home-productsdecades, Marcal has been saving trees and reducing landfill by making its paper products from recycled paper. Marcal uses paper collected from curbs in residential neighborhoods in cities and towns across America; from the small blue baskets in office buildings, unwanted junk mail, and waste from printers; all in an effort to do something good… to produce something that people need.
Marcal is an integral part of the northern New Jersey community. The company uses recyclables from more than 600 municipalities from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York and New England. The company is one of the largest employers in New Jersey, employing over 900 people.

This company had a true passion in recycling way before it was the cool thing to do. Yes, since 1950 they have been using paper waste, not trees to bring paper products into our home. After all is “Your Ass Worth A Million Trees A Year?”

So, Marcal sent me some of their Small Steps products to try out.  Now any of my readers that have been with me a while know that I try not to use paper at all, if possible.  One thing I almost never buy is paper towels, I use my Skoy Cloths and washable rags. So, when I received this shipment which included several rolls of paper towels who would know how perfect the timing would be!

I’m not going to get into too much detail in this post, but I will be guest posting about my family’s experience of living without water for many weeks on another blog soon.  Anyway – this was one point in my life when I probably tripled my waste since washing dishes, clothes, the house etc had to be done waterless or at the kindness of neighbors and friends. So, having these “responsibly – disposable” products were a true blessing!

The paper towels helped me keep the house clean as possible with cleaners, they were not linty and held up nicely. Granted they’re not the bleached white, fluffy soft, almost cloth-like paper towels that many people might use, but as far as I’m concerned… if you want cloth-like… use cloth!

My family got to try out the Small Steps toilet paper as well.  This is one area I’m stuck buying paper for life.  No getting around it… at least none I’m willing to try! So, why not at least try to buy a little more responsibly and use TP made from recycled paper instead of virgin forests? Right? Sure it may take a little getting used to – again it lacks the bleach and fluff many of us… this time including myself, are used to. There were no complains from the family, it served it’s purpose. What else can I ask for?

I would definitely use Marcals Small Steps in my attempt to green up my act.  There’s no reason not to! Take a look around at the paper products you are using in your home, can you make a positive change for the environment by switching to Small Steps?

Marcal is hooking up one of my readers with a great package of their Small Steps products: Dinner Napkins, 180ct Napkin Drawstring Bag, Upright-80ct Facial Tissues, 144ct Facial, Single Roll Giant Towel, 1,000ct Bath, 4 ct bath 1000 ct, 3 roll Regular towel! Do as many of the below as you wish and leave a separate comment for each one:

  • Comment here on what Marcal product would help you make a green step – or something you learned from their informative site.
  • Blog about this giveaway and link back to this post.
  • Follow Marcal Small Steps on Twitter.
  • Tweet this giveaway
  • Stumble this giveaway
  • Use other forms of social networking to spread the word about this giveaway.
  • Tried a Small Steps product before? Let us know what you think.
  • Subscribe to my feed to stay up to date with the latest from Eco-Office Gals.

The deadline for entering is Wednesday 11/18/09 at 8pm EST at which time one winner will be randomly chosen.  Please don’t forget to leave a separate entry and any entries that show obvious laziness i.e. a simple “Thanks for the great giveaway” will not be published therefore not counted. It’s just not fair for the people that do know how to follow simple directions. US residents only. Thanks!

Here are your random numbers:

108

Timestamp: 2009-11-19 16:00:17 UTC

Congrats Jessica!

About Jen

Jennifer Smith provides Green Virtual Assistant Services to grow small businesses paperless and sustainable providing various e-services. Her passion is customizing StudioPress Themes for WordPress for her awesome clients. View her portfolio here.

Comments

  18. brian e. says

    Thanks for the giveaway… “Marcal uses no chlorine bleach, dyes, or fragrances in their paper products…they are hypoallergenic.”

  21. brian e. says

    Thanks for the giveaway… “Marcal uses no chlorine bleach, dyes, or fragrances in their paper products…they are hypoallergenic.”

  28. Jessica says

    The product that would make a difference in my home is Paper Towels. They seem to get used up so quickly. I would love another alternative product.

  30. Jessica says

    The product that would make a difference in my home is Paper Towels. They seem to get used up so quickly. I would love another alternative product.

  33. Lily Kwan says

    I learned that Marcal Paper Products LLC, the proud makers of new Small Steps by Marcal brand products has been saving trees and the wildlife it supports, since 1950.

  34. Anonymous says

    I learned that Marcal Paper Products LLC, the proud makers of new Small Steps by Marcal brand products has been saving trees and the wildlife it supports, since 1950.

  35. JC says

    Technorati Favorites@tcarolinep

    Thank you for your Favorites Submission
    Thank you for using Technorati Favorites! Technorati is collecting Favorites information as usual, however not currently displaying them in the site. Your submission was just saved. We are working on an upgraded Favorites system we think you’ll like much better than the previous system. When we roll it out in the near future, all your previous favorite submissions will again be available to you. Thank you for your patience!

  37. JC says

    Technorati Favorites@tcarolinep

    Thank you for your Favorites Submission
    Thank you for using Technorati Favorites! Technorati is collecting Favorites information as usual, however not currently displaying them in the site. Your submission was just saved. We are working on an upgraded Favorites system we think you’ll like much better than the previous system. When we roll it out in the near future, all your previous favorite submissions will again be available to you. Thank you for your patience!

  43. JC says

    I’ve tried Small Steps napkin just once, liked it. Quality is good, the best part is it’s a green product .

  44. JC says

    I’ve tried Small Steps napkin just once, liked it. Quality is good, the best part is it’s a green product .

  73. Emily R. says

    The Marcel TP would help us go green because even if even though we aren’t wasteful with TP, we go through a lot of it!

    mscoffee77(AT)juno(DOT)com

  74. Emily R. says

    The Marcel TP would help us go green because even if even though we aren’t wasteful with TP, we go through a lot of it!

    mscoffee77(AT)juno(DOT)com

  75. christina singer says

    I would think the paper towels would make the biggest green impact in our home. We use way too many. thanks for the giveaway

  76. christina singer says

    I would think the paper towels would make the biggest green impact in our home. We use way too many. thanks for the giveaway

  83. Deborah R says

    I’m suffering with what I think is “just” a cold, but I’m going thru facial tissues at an alarming rate. Hubby’s going to pick more up later – I’m going to ask him to look for Marcal Small Steps. I think it’d cheer me up a little to know I’m still being as responsible as I can!

  84. Anonymous says

    I’m suffering with what I think is “just” a cold, but I’m going thru facial tissues at an alarming rate. Hubby’s going to pick more up later – I’m going to ask him to look for Marcal Small Steps. I think it’d cheer me up a little to know I’m still being as responsible as I can!

  85. Susan Smith says

    I learned that Marcal Small Steps products are hypoallergenic, virtually lint free, and whitened without chlorine bleaching

  86. Susan Smith says

    I learned that Marcal Small Steps products are hypoallergenic, virtually lint free, and whitened without chlorine bleaching

  99. Veronica Garrett says

    Thw Single Roll Giant Towel-Actually all of these Marcal products would help me go green. I would love to replace all of the name brand paper products I use too much of I buy because of advertising. Mr Whipple is cute but not very environmentally friendly.

  100. Veronica Garrett says

    Thw Single Roll Giant Towel-Actually all of these Marcal products would help me go green. I would love to replace all of the name brand paper products I use too much of I buy because of advertising. Mr Whipple is cute but not very environmentally friendly.

  107. Lindsay says

    I’ve tried the Marcal napkins before my friends office used them. I was surprised at the fact that I couldn’t tell the difference between them and “normal” napkins. I would have thought they would be really rough or thin but they were nice.

  108. Lindsay says

    I’ve tried the Marcal napkins before my friends office used them. I was surprised at the fact that I couldn’t tell the difference between them and “normal” napkins. I would have thought they would be really rough or thin but they were nice.

  115. Lindsay says

    I think the paper towels would definitely help me to go green. We use a lot of paper towels in our house and I would be excited to try out “green” ones.

  116. Lindsay says

    I think the paper towels would definitely help me to go green. We use a lot of paper towels in our house and I would be excited to try out “green” ones.

  133. Storm says

    We use a lot of paper towels here – totally guilty. I’d like to try their paper towels to help make me a little greener!

    (I hope my love of buying things second hand helps cancel out my paper towel use! At least I use cloth napkins most of the time?)
    .-= Storm´s last blog ..Giveaway: Anti Monkey Butt Powder =-.

  134. Storm says

    We use a lot of paper towels here – totally guilty. I’d like to try their paper towels to help make me a little greener!

    (I hope my love of buying things second hand helps cancel out my paper towel use! At least I use cloth napkins most of the time?)
    .-= Storm´s last blog ..Giveaway: Anti Monkey Butt Powder =-.

  137. Fionen says

    Dugg
    username: Fionen

    fionen_ftw AT fionen DOT com
    .-= Fionen´s last blog ..Hilarious Clips from SNL =-.

  138. Fionen says

    Dugg
    username: Fionen

    fionen_ftw AT fionen DOT com
    .-= Fionen´s last blog ..Hilarious Clips from SNL =-.

  139. Fionen says

    I subscribe via Google Reader.
    fionen_ftw AT fionen DOT com
    .-= Fionen´s last blog ..Hilarious Clips from SNL =-.

  140. Fionen says

    I subscribe via Google Reader.
    fionen_ftw AT fionen DOT com
    .-= Fionen´s last blog ..Hilarious Clips from SNL =-.

  141. Fionen says

    Stumbled
    username: Fionen

    fionen_ftw AT fionen DOT com
    .-= Fionen´s last blog ..Hilarious Clips from SNL =-.

  142. Fionen says

    Stumbled
    username: Fionen

    fionen_ftw AT fionen DOT com
    .-= Fionen´s last blog ..Hilarious Clips from SNL =-.

  143. Bambi M says

    I learned that none of their products use chlorine, dyes or fragrances, so they’re all hypoallergenic!

  145. Bambi M says

    I learned that none of their products use chlorine, dyes or fragrances, so they’re all hypoallergenic!

  149. Fionen says

    I blow my nose a lot so the facial tissue would help me be more green.

    fionen_ftw AT fionen DOT com
    .-= Fionen´s last blog .. =-.

  150. Fionen says

    I blow my nose a lot so the facial tissue would help me be more green.

    fionen_ftw AT fionen DOT com
    .-= Fionen´s last blog .. =-.

  165. Sherry E. says

    I learned that by changing just one package of regular paper products with a package of Small Steps by Marcal brand you can help us save one million trees!

  167. Sherry E. says

    I learned that by changing just one package of regular paper products with a package of Small Steps by Marcal brand you can help us save one million trees!

  169. Kristen O. says

    I think that either the toliet paper or the facial tissue would help me the most. I would love to buy green tp, but it’s so expensive!!!

  170. Kristen O. says

    I think that either the toliet paper or the facial tissue would help me the most. I would love to buy green tp, but it’s so expensive!!!

  175. Jenny Gibbons says

    I learned that their 100% recycled products are hypoallergenic. That would be a big blessing for us, as my husband has a number of allergies.

  176. Jenny Gibbons says

    I learned that their 100% recycled products are hypoallergenic. That would be a big blessing for us, as my husband has a number of allergies.

  177. Nancy Meece says

    I learned that Marcal Small Steps products are hypoallergenic, virtually lint free, and whitened without chlorine bleaching.
    that’s always a good thing.

  178. Nancy Meece says

    I learned that Marcal Small Steps products are hypoallergenic, virtually lint free, and whitened without chlorine bleaching.
    that’s always a good thing.

  179. Joannie says

    I learned that Marcel Paper Towels are hypoallergenic which is great for the allergies in our family. Also it’s almost lint-free which also should help our allergies.

  180. Joannie says

    I learned that Marcel Paper Towels are hypoallergenic which is great for the allergies in our family. Also it’s almost lint-free which also should help our allergies.

  185. Sandy says

    I would love to try any of their green products. I think it’s great that this company is solely focused on green products and saving this wonderful earth of ours. I use reusable shopping bags almost exclusively now and am making the switch from bottled to tap water so am on my way to gravitating towards saving the earth myself.

    Thank you for this informative article!

  186. Sandy says

    I would love to try any of their green products. I think it’s great that this company is solely focused on green products and saving this wonderful earth of ours. I use reusable shopping bags almost exclusively now and am making the switch from bottled to tap water so am on my way to gravitating towards saving the earth myself.

    Thank you for this informative article!

  187. MelodicMom says

    I have the Marcel Small Steps toilet paper at home. It works fine and I’m happy to know that it’s greener than other brands.
    .-= MelodicMom´s last blog ..Starting A Sleep Schedule For A 4 Month Old Baby =-.

  188. MelodicMom says

    I have the Marcel Small Steps toilet paper at home. It works fine and I’m happy to know that it’s greener than other brands.
    .-= MelodicMom´s last blog ..Starting A Sleep Schedule For A 4 Month Old Baby =-.

  193. MelodicMom says

    I follow Marcel Small Steps on twitter as MelodicMom
    .-= MelodicMom´s last blog ..Starting A Sleep Schedule For A 4 Month Old Baby =-.

  194. MelodicMom says

    I follow Marcel Small Steps on twitter as MelodicMom
    .-= MelodicMom´s last blog ..Starting A Sleep Schedule For A 4 Month Old Baby =-.

  195. MelodicMom says

    The paper towels would help the most because I use a lot of them.
    .-= MelodicMom´s last blog ..Starting A Sleep Schedule For A 4 Month Old Baby =-.

  196. MelodicMom says

    The paper towels would help the most because I use a lot of them.
    .-= MelodicMom´s last blog ..Starting A Sleep Schedule For A 4 Month Old Baby =-.

  197. Carol G says

    Paper towels, facial tissue and toilet paper would be the things they make that I would possibly use the most.

  198. Carol G says

    Paper towels, facial tissue and toilet paper would be the things they make that I would possibly use the most.

  201. Denise B. says

    We use a lot of their paper towels and toilet paper. They put out coupons constantly, and we combine those with sale prices.

  202. Denise B. says

    We use a lot of their paper towels and toilet paper. They put out coupons constantly, and we combine those with sale prices.

  209. Christie says

    I learned that Marcal Small Steps products are hypoallergenic, virtually lint free, and whitened without chlorine bleaching.

    The napkins would be most useful to me.

  210. Anonymous says

    I learned that Marcal Small Steps products are hypoallergenic, virtually lint free, and whitened without chlorine bleaching.

    The napkins would be most useful to me.

  219. Vickie Riddle says

    Marcal processes more than 200,000 tons of recyclable paper each year and produces over 12 million cases of (green) paper products annually.

  220. Vickie Riddle says

    Marcal processes more than 200,000 tons of recyclable paper each year and produces over 12 million cases of (green) paper products annually.

  221. Pamela S says

    I have been trying REALLY hard to change from disposable paper towels to reusables, but admit to sometimes cheating. This would at least make me feel less guilty when I cheat. thanks.

  222. Pamela S says

    I have been trying REALLY hard to change from disposable paper towels to reusables, but admit to sometimes cheating. This would at least make me feel less guilty when I cheat. thanks.

  235. Angela J says

    The paper towels would be nice, I can’t seem to keep from having them around, so “green” ones would help

  236. Angela J says

    The paper towels would be nice, I can’t seem to keep from having them around, so “green” ones would help