class Product < ActiveRecord::Base

...

  # Sustainability Flags
  RECYCLED_BIT        = 1 << 0
  RECYCLEABLE_BIT      = 1 << 1
  BIODEGRADABLE_BIT   = 1 << 2
  LOCAL_BIT           = 1 << 3

  def recycled?
    (flags & RECYCLED_BIT) != 0
  end

  def recycled=(flag)
    if flag
      write_attribute("flags", flags | RECYCLED_BIT)
    else
      write_attribute("flags", flags & ~RECYCLED_BIT)
    end
  end

  def recyclable?
    (flags & RECYCLABLE_BIT) != 0
  end

  def recyclable=(flag)
    if flag
      write_attribute("flags", flags | RECYCLABLE_BIT)
    else
      write_attribute("flags", flags & ~RECYCLABLE_BIT)
    end
  end

  def biodegradable?
    (flags & BIODEGRADABLE_BIT) != 0
  end

  def biodegradable=(flag)
    if flag
      write_attribute("flags", flags | BIODEGRADABLE_BIT)
    else
      write_attribute("flags", flags & ~BIODEGRADABLE_BIT)
    end
  end

  def local?
    (flags & LOCAL_BIT) != 0
  end

  def local=(flag)
    if flag
      write_attribute("flags", flags | LOCAL_BIT)
    else
      write_attribute("flags", flags & ~LOCAL_BIT)
    end
  end

 ...

end