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Antique and Vintage site Rubylane.com is the New Green

Hybrid cars, energy saving light bulbs, and recycling bins have become household weapons to save the environment. Now antique, vintage and artisan website, Rubylane.com, is doing its part to help combat the erosion of the planet.

Using Earth Day as a launching pad to introduce its formal "Ruby Lane Advantage: Ruby is the New Green," Rubylane.com has long been a friend of the environment.

"We have always been very conscious about our impact on the environment and felt it was time to increase the depth of our commitment and encourage others to use green business practices," says Tom Johnson, Founder and President and CEO of Rubylane.com.

"The Ruby Lane Advantage: Ruby is the New Green," helps our shops and customers understand how we are changing our daily consumption practices by using energy efficient computers, lighting, and properly recycling electronics," explains Johnson. "We are using technology as an opportunity to do more with less - less paper, reduced commuting and business travel, even less office space. In fact, our virtual company structure enables 90% of our staff to work from home. Though not a requirement, those who do not work from home take public transit to get to our offices. This means fewer cars on the road, reduced energy consumption and emissions."

By sheer definition, Internet companies tend to abuse the environment less. So how does an online mall with employees in five different countries, and thousands of shops, further reduce its carbon footprint?

According to Johnson, antique, vintage and artisan items are green. Ruby Lane champions these items as a means to reduce production emissions, which adversely affects the health of the planet. Ruby Lane plans to increase awareness by working with its shops to not only use green business practices, but to support nonprofits championing environmental causes.

"It's no secret that the health of our planet is on everyone's mind these days. As a business, we feel a responsibility to operate in the most environmentally friendly manner possible," says Johnson. "Plus, it is just good business. Natural resources are precious and if we conserve today, we can help ensure that resources will be available in the future at reasonable costs. And customers are demanding that a company's products and services be more conscious of the environment."

But it's more than just good business practices. Ruby Lane feels that by speaking up about its commitment to the environment will inspire those with whom it does business. And it's working. "Many of our shops have begun to use recycled shipping materials, and that is so important," says Johnson. "It saves the shop owner packaging costs and reduces landfill waste."

Ruby Lane strives to make a positive impact in the reduction of emissions, waste and energy consumption. Learn more about The Ruby Lane Advantage: Ruby is the New Green by going to http://www.rubylane.com/court/rlgreen.html.

About Ruby Lane
In 1998, founder Tom Johnson combined his passion for collecting with enterprise technological know-how to create Ruby Lane, the world's premier online shopping destination for antiques & art, vintage collectibles,, and jewelry. Named after his mother, Ruby, and bringing together more than 2,000 individually-owned shops offering unique items from around the world, Ruby Lane offers more than 360,000 items in inventory ranging from antique furniture to depression glass, fine china, vintage jewelry, heirloom linens, books, stamps, paintings, sculpture, hand-blown glass, ceramics, and more. For more information please visit www.rubylane.com and the Ruby Lane blog at http://blog.rubylane.com.