18 January 2010

Photos: Living walls, smart homes at West Coast Green


NaturesCast makes furniture from twigs, bark, and dead shrubs. Displayed products using the biodegradable material included cases for laptops, mobile phones, eyeglasses, and jewelry. The idea, now from a German company, started during a community clean-up project in the Philippines 12 years ago

16 January 2010

Cebu furniture pieces impress Grammy stars

By Cris Evert Lato
Cebu Daily News

CEBU CITY, Philippines - After Cebuano designer Kenneth Cobonpue won accolades for his furniture designs and products in the international market, here comes another Cebuano, Pete Delantar, whose furniture pieces were showcased during the 50th annual Grammy Awards last month.

Delantar, president of Nature's Legacy Home and Garden, said his company’s eco-friendly product line, Naturescast, was presented at the Grammy Awards Talent Gift Lounge, a sideline attraction.

According to United States magazine Furniture Today, the lounge was used by show presenters and performers during rehearsals.

The lounge showcases furniture items from four members of the Sustainable Furniture Council of the US (SFC).

Nature's Legacy is the only Filipino member company of the SFC.

Products of the Naturescast brand are vases, chairs and tables. They are made of dry leaves, dead twigs and barks from the forests of Balamban, Compostela and Borbon towns in Cebu.

It was first introduced internationally last 2004 in Frankfurt, Germany.

Delantar said Oprah Winfrey's stylist Reggie Wells, Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, American singer Cyndi Lauper and Amy Lee, former band member of the group Evanescence were some of the celebrities who “sat on my chair” and “examined my products.”

Delantar said when he saw Bocelli, he immediately called the tenor “Señor Bocelli.” Hearing his name, Bocelli, turned to the direction of Delantar's voice and was guided by his wife.

“He felt my chair and said 'Grazie, grazie (Thank you).' We were covered by 40 editors and writers, celebrities, who checked out our items. These are things that we didn't plan,” he said.

Delantar left for the US in December 2007 to promote eco-friendly products of the company under the Naturescast brand name.

His wife, Cathy, said forest wastes such as leaves and twigs were shredded using a special machine and bonded together using an odorless water-based binder.

These materials are then used to make products such as vases, stools, tables and chairs among others.

Cathy said even before the concept of environment-friendly products became a worldwide fad, the company already implemented “responsible manufacturing processes,” which involve recycling and water retention practices among others.

With the Grammy exposure, the couple expects more foreign companies to recognize Cebu and Philippines as sources of innovative products.

“It tells them something different is going on in the Philippines. Once information is disseminated, we open a lot of possibilities,” they said.

Aside from export and manufacturing sectors, they said tourism and retail can enjoy a greater boost from the heightened attention of foreigners.

Naturescast items were also used as give-aways during the 80th Annual Academy Awards after partnering with American company, Distinctive Assets.

Delantar said companies can still earn from the US market despite worries from fellow exporters that exporting to America is non-profitable.

“It depends on the company what specific aspect of the US market they are focusing. In any market even if the economy is having some drawbacks, there are still areas that are growing,” he said.

Cathy, a human resource and corporate strategy officer, said the US market is still big for the company.

“Traditionally, the weakening of the US economy will somehow affect us because they (Americans) are still our number one trading partner but (it) depends on the market that you're serving and the kind of product that you're producing,” she said.

Aside from the US, the company's home furniture items and accessories are exported to Europe, Australia, Japan, United Kingdom, Canada and South America.

13 January 2010

Everything GREEN in Las Vegas


MAGIC’s ECollection also featured a handful of extremely creative exhibitors. Naturescast’s collection from household items to footwear and jewelry is so innovative that one would have to look twice before realizing that the company actually uses fallen twigs, dead shrubs and dry tree barks to make their items.

These forest debris collected from the Philippines are then grinded and shredded and then hand-bonded together with a water-based glue to before being formed by their designers. Company representative Peter Delantar also said that their production company continuously provides livelihood opportunities as well as housing projects for all their workers.

12 January 2010

EARTH DAY IN HOLLYWOOD presented by Distinctive Assets - Swag Goes Green


In celebration of Earth Day Distinctive Assets is presenting a gift bag full of eco-friendly gifts to co-conscious celebrities such as Cameron Diaz, Bradley Whitford, Jane Kaczmarek, Justin Timberlake, Bill Maher, Hugh Hefner, Jake Gyllenhaal, Barbra Streisand, Leonardo DiCaprio, Melissa Ethridge, Sheryl Crow, Orlando Bloom, Tobey Maguire, Drew Barrymore, Ellen DeGeneres, Kathy Griffin, Tyra Banks, Bette Midler, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, George Clooney, Sting, Teri Hatcher, Robert Redford, Alicia Silverstone, Ricky Martin and Kate Bosworth.


Distinctive Assets is doing its part to celebrate Earth Day and the stars who make a difference with “green gift baskets.” The end result is a match made in Hollywood.

This unique Gift Baskets (the “basket” is actually a tote bag from Ecototables as well as an in-home recycling bin) are being presented April 22, 2008 (
Earth Day) and include items from companies such as Brooks Sports, Irie Star Design Studio, River Bend Candle Company, Aqua Kriya Yoga, Sanani Coffee Company, Diva International, Mona Vie, Dragon Pearl Tea, Snarewear, NaturesCast, FEW, Jimmyland, Guardian Technologies, ImagiPLAY, Tammy Fender Holistic Skin Care, Naked Cotton, Paper Shouts, IKove, Water Sensations, Snack Alliance, Mattel, Aero-Tech Light Bulb Co., Doggy Tug!, Water Pik, Sea Gull Lighting Products, Shibue Couture, Tupperware, PureAyre, Lunapads International and many others.

Distinctive Assets goal is to introduce products that boast an eco-purpose to celebrity ambassadors in an effort to shine a light on products that everyone can (and should) start incorporating into their everyday lives.

Naturescast® (Boti bowl)

An eco-friendly vase Naturescast® is a multi-functional décor item for the home that can be used as a vase, planter, etc. Naturescast sustainable products are made using “jungle junk” including dry leaves, dead twigs and barks rescued from the Philippines’ jungle floor. The scraps are shredded through a special machine and bonded together using an odorless water based binder and shaped into unique and functional forms designed by local artists.