The focus on this planets future has never been more immediate. A recent poll conducted shows that Canadians are more concerned about the environment then they are about the economy. This focus is encouraging but it is time to take action by implementing "green" alternatives to provide a better future for our children and our society.

An immediate solution to our struggling economy has been the vast amount of funds directed towards infrastructure projects to stimulate the economy. City planners, architects, and engineers should embrace this opportunity and "get a grip" on the new "green" technologies available that offer excellent alternatives to conventional products.

One such alternative is manufactured by a Canadian owned company called Champagne Edition in their eco-flex® brand. Alan Champagne, founder and CEO of Champagne Edition Inc. comments on his "CleanTech" brand. "What makes the eco-flex® products so unique is that they are manufactured from recycled Canadian car tires. These products provide the best of both worlds in that they benefit the cities and municipalities with a cost effective alternative for multiaccess walk ways and that they benefit the environment by removing scrap tires from landfill sites while significantly reducing the carbon footprint which can be created by infrastructure projects."

Benefits to the cities and municipalities are plenty. The modularity of these patented interlocking rubber tiles provide a continuous return on investment. Unlike asphalt or concrete these tiles can be quickly removed and then replaced for instant access to underground utilities or to correct inconsistencies in the base due to frost heave or to gain access to urban forests thus saving the trees.

Made from recycled rubber eco-flex® products provide a comfortable, sure footed surface for pedestrians and will not crack creating trip hazards. If someone was to fall down the landing could be much more forgiving than on conventional products. Annual liablity claims to cities due to trips and falls on side walks and walk ways can seriously affect budgets. The eco-flex® tiles also provide a "stamped concrete" look that is more decorative and complementary to the surrounding landscape but at a fraction of the cost.

Benefits to the environment are significant. eco-flex® products are currently responsible for removing close to 6 million tires annually from landfill sites. With the demand for these products on the rise this reduction could eliminate the age old problem of tire waste forever.

Reducing our carbon foot print from all angles is a necessity. The implementation of eco-flex® into infrastructure products does just that. The Research Council of Canada conducted a study that states there are 100,000 kilometers of concrete side walk in Canada and 20,000 kilometers of those sidewalks are in dyer need of repair.

One kilometer of concrete side walk produces 410 tons of carbon footprint so if the 20,000 Km of sidewalks were replaced with concrete that would produce approx. 8,200,000 tons of carbon waste. The eco-walk™ recycled rubber side walk by eco-flex® would reduce Canada’s carbon waste amount by approx. 80% or 6,560,000 tons. That is a number not to be ignored!

In Canada there are 3840 communities, if each of those communities were to implement only .25 of a kilometer of Eco-Walk recycled rubber side walks each year rather than concrete that alone would reduce Canada's carbon emissions by 314,880 tons each year.

Municipalities are not the only ones that can benefit from the “Clean Tech” products. The Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games being held in Vancouver, BC are poised to become the "greenest" Games ever and eco-flex® captured the eye of the City of Vancouver and the environmental concern of Mr. Roy Yen from Live Nation Canada, Producer of LiveCity Vancouver. Hosted by the City of Vancouver LiveCity Vancouver includes two dynamic celebration sites in downtown Vancouver that will be open to the public for fun family entertainment, activities and more - all free of charge - during the 2010 Winter Games.

Mr. Yen was seeking a "green" and practical alternative as the footing for the 100,000 sq.ft. LiveCity Yaletown site at David Lam Park that will welcome almost a million spectators during the 2010 Winter Games. After reviewing the benefits of the Eco-Flex products the City of Vancouver chose the fully interlocking large format recycled tiles as a temporary base for LiveCity Yaletown to support not only the vast pedestrian traffic but that of trucks and construction equipment required to erect the on site pavilions and stage facilities. After the 2010 Winter Games the product can easily be removed and incorporated into city infrastructure projects.

Many Canadian cities across Canada such as Mississauga, Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Welland, Barrie, London, Thunder Bay, along with many states in the U.S.A. and countries abroad have already began to implement the eco-flex® recycled rubber products in their infrastructure projects to assist their shrinking budgets, provide a better alternative for their citizens, and most importantly to assist in the reduction of their city's carbon footprint.