WHAT IS THIS PRODUCT?
Stasher bags are my favorite way to remove plastic baggies from my daily routine. These bags come in a variety of sizes and are made of silicone making them “endlessly reusable,” according to the Stasher website. I own a variety of sizes including the snack (9.9 fluid ounces) and sandwich bags (15 fluid ounces or a standard sandwich) as well as the stand-up bag and two pocket bags. I frequently use the sandwich bag to pack my lunch and the snack bags to bring a few snacks with me for my day.
Why is making the switch important?
Making the switch to reusables, in this case, is very simple, plastic baggies are not recyclable and have a tendency to end up in our lakes and oceans creating microplastics. Reducing microplastics helps reduce the plastic in our water which in turn helps protect our planet. Not to mention that these bags save us money making the switch even better.
How much work is this product?
This product does not require much maintenance, just the occasional wash in between uses. I do not wash each bag every day because most of the time I am packing similar food. If the bags get particularly dirty during the week I will hand wash them or stick them in the dishwasher. I have found that washing the bags I take dry snacks in weekly works fine.
Silicone is an environmentally friendly product because it can be recycled although it is often difficult to find a facility that offers this service. If you want to recycle your product but do not have anywhere to do so locally you can look into the services TerraCycle, a company that recycles everything, offers. Stasher offers a repurposing program and you can learn more about that on their website if you ever find yourself with a damaged bag. Will this product save me money?
Before I discovered reusable bags I was using up to five plastic baggies a day and by doing this I was literally throwing my money away. There is a wide range of plastic baggies to choose from but the bags I previously used for sandwiches cost $2.65 for 40 bags. The sandwich size Stasher bags cost $12 if you purchase just one. This means that for me the cost of one sandwich Stasher bag was the equivalent of about 200 baggies and each bag I used after that was just money I was throwing away. The amount of money you save will vary based on the products you were using previously and the new bag you purchase. I own a few of the bags I use for my lunch so it will take me longer to recoup that money but it is very convenient to have three or four bags on hand when I need them for other things.
What’s the verdict?
Maintenance Score: 1
Since dishes are already a part of our daily lives, this product does not create a lot of work on a day to day basis. Most of the time the bags do not need to be washed every single day and can be reused a few times before washing. Initial Investment Score: 3 This product does require a small initial investment of the cost of about four and a half times more than a box of plastic baggies, in the case of the sandwich size. One individual bag is $12 so starting to use this product is not impossible for most. Money-Saving Score: 1 This product can easily save you money. It would take approximately ten months of lunches to recoup the money from one sandwich Stasher bag. Every lunch after that would be a savings of a few dollars a month.
Where can I buy this?
You can buy Stasher bags on the website stasherbag.com or at other retailers such as packagefreeshop.com or bedbathandbeyond.com. Each retailer has different colors to choose from as well as different coupons and promotions you can utilize to save money when purchasing this product.
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Today’s post is from my sister, Lindsey Zulkosky, who wrote my first guest post after receiving the Blueland Clean Essentials Kit from me for her birthday. This post is coming out one day after Blueland released its two newest products, powdered dish soap and plastic-free dishwasher tabs. What is this product?Blueland is a low waste alternative to traditional cleaning products. The kit includes three reusable cleaning bottles, one reusable hand soap bottle, and four tablets. The tablets are color-coded to coincide with their respective bottle: multi-surface, glass + mirror, bathroom, and the hand soap. You simply fill the water to the line on the bottle, place the cleaning tab into the bottle, and wait for it to dissolve. It takes about an hour to let the tabs fully dissolve before you can begin to clean with the products, and does not produce the harsh smell typical with many cleaning products. Instead, there is a refreshing scent that makes cleaning more enjoyable. The hand soap does not lather as heavily as other soaps typically do, but that does not diminish the ability to clean your hands with this product. How much work is this product?There is minimal work to set up your cleaning supplies, just about as much work as pouring yourself a glass of water. All you have to do is fill the bottle with water and add the tab to create your Blueland cleaning sprays. I did run into some issues with one of my spray bottles a few weeks after initially creating the spray, unfortunately, the bottle cracked and the solution leaked out. Blueland’s customer service team was very helpful throughout the process and sent me a new bottle and tab to replace the product I lost and paid to ship the old one back to their facility so it could be responsibly recycled. Will this product save me money?The starter kit costs $39 and each replacement tab is $2. I previously purchased cleaning supplies from the dollar store and each bottle averaged $4. In order to break even and start saving money, I calculated that I will need to go through four bottles of each of the three cleaning supplies. The first bottle costs about $10 and with each additional refill at $2 the fourth bottle brings the total cost to $16. My previous cleaning supplies would also cost $16 for four bottles so on the 5th bottle I will begin to save $2 a bottle. What’s the verdict?Maintenance Score: 2 I rated this two out of five, you have to dissolve the tablets and that takes about 1 hour to dissolve completely. It is easy to put together, will save you money, and does not emit any overwhelming chemical scents. Initial Investment Score: 3 This got a three because the starter kit cost $39 and that is a fair sum to get started using this product. This is not a ridiculous amount of money but it is a little more than double what it would cost to get two of every conventional product in the store. Money-Saving Score: 2 I rated this a two out of five because it takes a bit of time before you start actually saving money. I spent on average $4 per bottle of cleaning supplies and it will take four bottles to break even before I start saving money on the 5th bottle. This does depend on how much you clean. Luckily I received the kit as a gift and will start saving money right away with the tablets. Where can I buy this?The starter kit is available on the Blueland website. You can find the refill tabs here and read more about their mission to reduce plastic waste and the widespread use of toxic cleaning chemicals here. You can follow Blueland on Facebook at @liveblueland, and @blueland on Instagram and Twitter. You can also keep up with the Founder and CEO of Blueland, Sarah Paiji Yoo, on Instagram to learn more about her attempt to remove single-use plastics from her home. Why is making the switch important?Every bottle of cleaning supplies you buy is another plastic bottle wasted. While using this product, you will reuse the bottles and decrease your plastic waste. The paper that the tabs come in is compostable and recyclable so that you can choose the best way to dispose of the small piece of waste for you!
This blog post differs from my usual format of a weekly product review in light of the current events happening in our country. As a result of the death of George Floyd, protests have started all over the country and extended across the world in a show of solidarity with United States activists. As a white person, I want to continue to be the best ally I can to all people of color and I especially want to lift the voices of black environmentalists and business owners. It is important that we all challenge the current status quo and do what we can to benefit black Americans and all others who are treated less than justly in our country. Ron Finley is a black man working to empower people to plant their own food in an effort to end food deserts in South Central Los Angeles. It is incredibly important to the overall health of a community to have access to fresh fruits and vegetables and Finley is someone taking some important steps to help make that possible. The sustainability movement requires both time and personal monetary investment. Many people that live in communities with limited resources are located in food deserts and do not have access to conventional grocery stores. A food desert is defined by Food Empowerment Project as, “geographic areas where residents’ access to affordable, healthy food options (especially fresh fruits and vegetables) is restricted or nonexistent due to the absence of grocery stores within convenient traveling distance.” This endeavor started as an act of defiance when he was given a citation for gardening without a permit when he started gardening the “parkways” or the small strip of land between his house and the road. He became an integral part of changing that regulation and is now inspiring generations of children to get involved in growing their own food. In his widely viewed Ted Talk, he calls himself the Gansta Gardener and says, “If kids grow kale kids eat kale, if they grow tomatoes they eat tomatoes.” He continues on to explain to the crowd that a lot of kids will eat whatever is put in front of them because no one explains how food affects the mind and the body. He has been inspiring people in his communities for years and has been featured in many publications and a documentary called “Can You Dig This.” He now runs The Ron Finley Project where he says he “is realizing his vision for community gardening and rejuvenation.” He is empowering large groups of people to grow their own food with his famous quote “growing your own food is like printing your own money.” This project is growing as he plans to build a garden called “HQ” in South Central LA to create jobs and serve as “a self-sufficient ecosystem of gardening, education, cooking, business learning and management” for the community.” If you want to help bring this project to life you can donate on his website, http://ronfinley.com/ or purchase his merchandise at https://rfp.bigcartel.com/. You can watch Can You Dig This on Amazon Prime or most major streaming services. If you want to follow this community activist on social media you can find him on Facebook @ronfinleyproject, Instagram @ronfinleyhq and Twitter @RonFinleyHQ. What is this product?
Collapsible straws are a newer product we have seen in the last few years as people have moved towards cutting plastic from their lifestyles. There are many designs of these straws but they all come in a small case that you can keep on your keychain so that you always have it with you. Most of these straws come with a small brush or squeegee to keep it clean on the go.
How much work is this product?
My sister and I originally purchased straws made from silicone with four metal pieces on the outside that snap the straw together from Amazon. We had to get rid of them because they started to grow some black mildew and the silicone started to crack. After this happened I started to watch reviews of this brand of straw, Final Straw, where I learned that you have to keep the straw bent in a glass to let the moisture drain after washing it. This seems like a lot of work with little return so I looked into straws that would not come with this problem. I came across the silicone only straws that were designed to bend and do not have the metal that will cause the mildew to grow in the straw.
Will this product save me money?
No, this product will not save you money. The movement to ban or refuse plastic straws has gained momentum during the last few years and if that is something you want to participate in then a collapsible straw is the way to go.
What’s the verdict?
Maintenance Score: 3
This straw requires very little maintenance as you only have to clean it with the squeegee and a little soap and water. The reason it got a 3 rather than a lower score is because using this product creates work that previously wasn’t there when using disposable plastic straws. Initial Investment Score: 3 This was awarded an initial investment score of three because there are a variety of options on Amazon and across various websites. The one that I have only cost a few dollars after I split the set with my sister but the case was not made with recycled plastic like the more expensive Final Straw. There are also options with metal cases but I have not tried those products as I am happy with my current purchase and do not want to buy more than I need. Money-Saving Score: 5 Reusable straws receive a high score because it will never save you money however they were never designed to save you money. This is a product to purchase if you want to reduce your plastic waste, no matter the cost. Where can I buy this?
You can buy the original Final Straw with the post-consumer recycled plastic on FinalStraw.com. You can buy a silicone only straw on Amazon.com and a metal only straw with a metal case on Amazon.com.
Why is making the switch important?
I firmly believe that every little bit counts when it comes to saving the planet. You can reduce your plastic waste by simply refusing the plastic straw when you can but if you want or need to use a straw a reusable option is a great idea. I am pleased with my silicone only straw because it is the easiest to clean but I know the plastic case is a drawback to most. You can always choose to invest in a more expensive straw with a case made from recycled plastic or metal.
What is this product?Bite Toothpaste Bits are an alternative to traditional tube toothpaste. These bits are solid pieces of “toothpaste” that you bite down on and use a wet toothbrush to activate into a foam just like your old toothpaste. The first order of bits will come in a recyclable glass jar with a metal lid and further refills of this product will come in a compostable bag. The product comes shipped in a corrugated cardboard box, which is accepted in curbside recycling where I live, and sealed with paper, not plastic, tape. This is an upgrade from most plastic tubes because they are not recyclable. According to recyclenow.com, “these tubes are often made of different types of plastics, as well as containing a metal layer. In general, they are not recyclable, although there have been breakthroughs including by Colgate and TerraCycle offer a recycling scheme for oral care products.” How much work is this product?This product does require a small change in routine and will add about a minute to your daily teeth care practice. You also need to remember to refill your jar every month or every four months depending on the size you purchase. Bite offers an automatic subscription to make this a ‘set it and forget it’ process. As for the actual product, the bits are easy to use but they do need to be chewed up evenly to not waste the product. I also find it uncomfortable to have larger pieces unchewed before I start brushing. Will this product save me money?No, this product will not save you money, instead, this is a more expensive alternative to conventional oral care products. However, it’s a great environmentally friendly swap if you can afford to spend about $100 a year on toothpaste. If this is out of your price range, there are some more affordable options on the market that I will be reviewing as I try them. Hopefully, this product will become more affordable for everyone as more people start to mix eco-friendly products into their lifestyles. While I do appreciate the environmental sustainability of the bits, these are not a financially sustainable product for me and I will be researching other options to switch to in the future. What’s the verdict?Maintenance Score: 2 This got a two because I wrote about above you do need to refill the jar and change your oral care routine slightly to use this product. This does not require a huge shift in your daily routine but does require some work, which is why it did not get the lowest score. Initial Investment Score: 5 This got the highest score because a four-month supply retails at $30 a jar making this product much more expensive than conventional toothpaste. Money-Saving Score: 5 This product is even harder to continue to use as it has no real potential to save you money and requires a real monetary commitment to use. This is just a reminder that switching to environmentally conscious products is a privilege in many cases. Where can I buy this?This product is only sold through Bite’s website which can be found here. You can read more about the contents of the product, their packaging, and their shipping methods here. Why is making the switch important?Conventional toothpaste tubes are made of plastic, which adds to the plastic pollution already plaguing our planet. This switch is easy to make and helps to reduce the plastic in our landfills and oceans with each glass jar purchased. I will be continuing to research alternatives to plastic toothpaste tubes to make sure that there is a financially affordable option represented on this blog in the future.
What is this product?
A bamboo toothbrush is one of the easiest zero waste swaps you can make in your journey to reduce your waste. This product is made out of a compostable bamboo handle and depending on the brand the bristles will be made of various products. The toothbrush I have is from Brush with Bamboo and they now offer a 100% plant-based toothbrush. You can read more about the composition of their castor oil bristles on their FAQ page. In previous versions of the toothbrush, the bristles were made out of nylon and need to be removed and recycled or sent to landfill if nylon recycling is not offered near you.
Whatâs the verdict?
A quick reminder: this is where I will be writing a short summary and give each product I review a score out of 5 in the three categories. A product will receive a score out of 5 in three categories: the amount of additional work, the amount of additional investment, and the amount it may save you long term. The lower the score, the better the product does in that category.
Maintenance Score: 1
There is no maintenance required for this toothbrush. I read that it is better to use an open-air toothbrush holder so I did purchase a metal holder before I started using this brush. I try to wipe down the toothbrush after every use to keep the grime from accumulating on the toothbrush holder. Initial Investment Score: 1 This product does not require a large sum of money to start using if you purchase a single brush. Money-Saving Score: 2 This product received a 2 because it is almost a complete wash but could be a few dollars more a year depending on what toothbrush you used previously. Where can I buy this?
I purchased my Brush with Bamboo toothbrush from Package Free Shop for $4.50 because they offer the option to purchase a single toothbrush. Both Package Free Shop and Brush with Bamboo offer subscription services for bamboo toothbrushes. You can also check out the toothbrush section at your local grocery or box store for a bamboo toothbrush, I have been seeing them start to pop up on shelves near me.
Why is making the switch important?
This is not only an easy switch but it is important because in many places toothbrushes are not recyclable and end up going straight to the landfill. Reducing plastic waste is a major way we can all help to be more eco-friendly.
Clearly by Marliii is the refreshing new single that will pull us through this unprecedented time of quarantine and social distancing. Marliii’s distinctive style stands out in the current age of pop music as she mixes familiar beats with a modern sound to create a style that draws you in and keeps you there. Her music combines R&B and jazz and everything in-between to create a song that is uniquely Marliii. I have known Marliii as Marli Delaney for the last four years during our time at Hofstra Univerity where we were Alpha Epsilon Phi sisters and both on the board of WRHU, our college radio station. Marli, true to form, was the station’s Music Director, whereas I worked as the Program Director of Talk. I enjoyed listening to Marli DJ events that we had at school and her WRHU show, Marli’s Mashup Mania, where she created her own musical mashups. The release of Clearly is timely in the age of a global pandemic. The track grasps concepts about nature and connection as the entire planet faces serious upheaval in our day-to-day lives, work environment, and ability to connect with others. Getting into nature has quickly become one of the few safe activities for so many of us to enjoy and so we are all getting time to connect with nature in a way that we might not have done before. This song serves as a great reminder that in this time of social distancing we can still enjoy the company of our loved ones, we just need to get a little creative Marliii has been working on her music for the last decade in New York City and has a strong understanding of sound mixing and production as evidenced by her latest music. Marliii hopes to change the industry by becoming one of the few female mix engineers. She is a strong female artist taking the lead to create a more inclusive market and a space for non-male producers. 👇 Click on any of the images below to find marli's music 👇It has been exciting to watch Marliii take this next step into her music career after watching her grow as a musician and leader during our years at Hofstra. I highly recommend you check out Marliii’s newest track, Clearly, for an easy-listen, well-produced, and enjoyable song. You can find Marliii on any major streaming platform.
What is this product?Wool Dryer Balls are one of the easiest zero waste switches I have made; they are made out of wool and are used to replace single-use dryer sheets. This product reduces drying time by helping to move the clothes around in the dryer and helps to soften clothes without the chemicals in a traditional dryer sheet. Wool is a natural fabric and compostable, which means at the end of its life it won’t create additional waste in a landfill. How much work is this product?This product creates little to no extra work when doing your laundry instead of throwing used dryer sheets in the trash after a single use, you can put the dryer balls right back in the dryer ready for your next load. Most wool dryer balls come unscented but if you prefer a scent, you can use a few drops of any essential oil on them. Just make sure to allow a few hours for the oil to soak in and dry before use. If your wool dryer balls are causing a build-up of static electricity there is an easy fix: reduce your dryer time. If you want to take it one step further you can add a metal safety pin directly to your wool dryer ball or to a sock you will keep with your dryer balls. The metal in the pin will help to reduce the build-up of static electricity in your clothes. Will this product save me money?Three wool dryer balls should last up to 1,000 loads of laundry and only need to be replaced when they start to unravel. The wool dryer balls I have from Mighty Nest cost $17 and the ones my mom has from Norwex cost $30. I am not sure why there is such a price discrepancy but even if you choose to purchase the more expensive dryer balls you will save money over time. The cost of a 70 count box of dryer sheets at our local store is $5.75 making 1,000 loads of laundry cost $82. What’s the verdict?A quick reminder: this is where I will be writing a short summary and give each product I review a score out of 5 in the three categories. A product will receive a score out of 5 in three categories: the amount of additional work, the amount of additional investment, and the amount it may save you long term. The lower the score, the better the product does in that category. Maintenance Score: 1 This product requires no additional work. All you have to do is pluck the balls out of your clothes and stick them back in the dryer for next time. Initial Investment Score: 2 This product received a lower score for the initial investment because the wool dryer balls cost about double the cost of a box of dryer sheets. However, the initial cost is not so outrageous that it is impossible to start using the product. Money-Saving Score: 1 Wool dryer balls received the lowest score for money-saving because if you make the switch, you can save around $65 per 1,000 loads of laundry. This figure could vary for individuals depending on how long your dryer balls last past the 1,000 load mark and the amount you were spending on dryer sheets before you switched. Overall, this product has the ability to save you some money, which makes it an economical switch. Where can I buy this?I purchased this product on Mighty Nest and my mom bought hers from Norwex and there are vegan alternatives available such as these plastic puffer fish balls. Why is making the switch important?This switch is easy to do and helps the planet by reducing the number of single-use products we send to landfill. This is probably the easiest switch to make because there is almost no maintenance to the product and it keeps the chemicals in dryer sheets out of your laundry room. Did you know that, according to Mighty Nest, dryer sheets emit up to 8 hazardous air pollutants? The air in your home will thank you for making this switch!
What is this product?
Bee’s Wrap is an easy to use, versatile product, that can be used to replace plastic wrap and even plastic baggies. The product is made out of organic cotton, beeswax, organic jojoba oil, and tree resin and can be formed to any food or bowl using the warmth of your hands. The wraps have worked well for me in the three months I have been using them and keep my produce fresh. But if you don’t trust my judgment you can ask my grandma who texted me recently to let me know that Bee’s Wrap we got her for Christmas is “THE best lettuce keeper!”
I frequently use the wraps to cover produce. Right now the large wrap (13" x 14") is holding a head of lettuce, the medium wrap (10" x 11") is holding half an onion and I am using the small wrap (7" x 8") to cover the end of a cut cucumber. I also used the small wrap to carry little snacks to work that didn’t fit in my other reusable lunch products. (I’ll post more about some of the other products I use in the coming weeks!) How much work is this product?
This product requires little maintenance; the wraps need to be cleaned and allowed to air dry after use. It is important to remember that these should never come in contact with heat and that includes hot water. When I first started using the wraps I would wash them with lukewarm water and I think that may have reduced the overall stickiness of the wrap. The Bee’s Wrap website says, “Bee's Wrap lasts for up to a year with proper care and regular usage.”
The Bees Wax Wrap Co. in the UK is a different company that sells a similar product to what I have. They suggest that you refresh the wraps in the oven or with an iron to increase the longevity of the product. When my wraps start to lose their stickiness I am going to try this procedure to try and increase the shelf life of the product.
I also saw that Nancy Birtwhistle, winner of the fifth season of The Great British Baking Show, makes her own wax wraps at a fraction of the cost. I am going to try out her method and add more beeswax when my wraps truly reach the end of their lives in order to make a more economical purchase and save money long term.
Will this product save me money?
A huge part of my decision to remove single-use products from my life comes from my desire to also save money. It is very important to me that the changes I make are good for the planet and my wallet. This product retails for $18 and lasts for a year with proper care but it can last longer with slightly more upkeep and the additional cost of the beeswax pellets, which can be found on Amazon.
I estimated how much plastic wrap this product could replace based on my mom’s estimated usage, but please remember this could be more or less depending on your lifestyle. We guessed that before Bee’s Wrap we could have gone through about four rolls of plastic wrap a year. The cost of 100 square feet of Saran Wrap at our local store is $2.50 a roll making the total cost $10 a year. This product could end up costing more if you decide to consistently discard them and purchase new instead of adding additional wax. Overall, the cost here could be a toss-up and dependant on your desire to do additional upkeep to the product. If you decide to add more beeswax to your preexisting wraps then you will be set for years to come and this will be a very economical purchase. If you decide to toss the wraps after they lose their stickiness you could be losing a few dollars a year depending on your previous plastic wrap consumption and how long you made your wraps last. If you do eventually decide to discard them remember they are compostable according to the Bee’s Wrap sustainability page.
What’s the verdict?
I will be writing a short summary of each product review at the end of each post to have a quick take away of my thoughts on the product. Here I will rank the products on the additional work they require, the initial investment cost, and the ability to save money long term. A product will receive a lower score out of five if there is little additional work, if there is a smaller additional investment and if it has the ability to save money long term. In other words, a lower score will be positive for the product but a higher score does not necessarily disqualify it as a useful product that you can integrate into your life.
Maintenance Score: 1
Why it got this score: I gave this product a low score on maintenance because washing dishes is already a part of our daily routine. The only place where there is additional effort required is changing the water temperature to make sure that you do not melt the wraps, otherwise, I would have ranked it lower at zero. Initial Investment Score: 3 Why it got this score: This product does require a small initial investment but it is not set at a completely inaccessible price point. Money-Saving Score: 3 I gave Bee’s Wrap a middle of the road score on its ability to save you money because it is up to the user. You can refresh the wrap in the oven with or without adding additional wax to increase the shelf life but this does create more maintenance. At the end of the day, it is up to the user how much they want to spend on replacing this product to remove thin plastics from their lifestyle. Where can I buy this?
I purchased the three-pack in the honeycomb print from Mighty Nest. The honeycomb print regularly sells for $18.00 but as a member, I did get a small discount. You can also buy the wraps directly from the Bee’s Wrap website.
Why is making the switch important?
lightweight bags can be blown away into trees or waterways harming wildlife and water sources. The best way to stop the negative impacts of thin plastics is to refuse them outright rather than risk them ending up in a waterway breaking down into potentially harmful microplastics.
Welcome to my blog! This has been a project I have talked about starting for a while but I haven't had time until now. I have been passionate about the environment for as long as I can remember but I've always felt a sense of anxiety around the massive amounts of change we need to do as a collective human race. Discovering the zero waste movement really helped to change my perspective, because it is something that everyone can take a part in and create substantive change as an individual.
I know this movement is very daunting for someone who is looking to make small changes in their life and that is where this blog can help. I know from personal experience that making changes that benefit the planet require an initial investment of both time and money, which can be very stressful. The most difficult part for me was getting started because I had to accept that this was not an all or nothing commitment to never make trash, but a commitment to change my life in small but meaningful ways. It is ok to start small and do what is in your means because otherwise it is easy to burn out and quit. I am starting to replace beauty and kitchen products with eco-friendly alternatives to create a more sustainable lifestyle, which is why I am calling this blog "Low Waste Living." It is important to remember that most of us will never achieve a truly zero waste lifestyle but we can make small changes that have an impact. I have been documenting my efforts on my Instagram story and I will continue to do so, but decided to create this blog to have a more permanent record of all of the products I have tested, and remind everyone that it's better to do something rather than nothing.
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