Shopping
An App a Day…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/johanl/ / CC BY 2.0
I have a consumption confession. I’ve finally jumped onto the smart-phone bandwagon after years of firmly saying I didn’t need one, didn’t want one, wouldn’t use one. Well, I did need a new phone and I’ve got to admit, I’m pretty hooked. It really is a beautiful piece of tech. Soon I had stumbled my way into the app market.
Sure enough, there, mixed in sporadically with the far more popular but much less useful applications such as the light-saber sound effects and the dunkin’ donut finders, were a few green-living focused, environmentally friendly, eco-apps.
Here is a few examples of self described “eco-apps” that are currently found on the Android Market: › Continue reading
Reusable Shopping Bag Choices
Shopping bags have really come a long way. Baskets turned into paper grocery bags, which then gave way to disposable plastic bags, and now up next in the evolution of the shopping vessel is the stylish reusable tote bag. A lot of cities are beginning to tax disposable plastic bags in grocery stores, and rightly so in my opinion (just see my post on the Pacific plastic trash island to see why), and with pocket size replacements that can go anywhere, there really are no more excuses.
So lets get into it:
Flip and Tumble
Material: Ripstop Nylon
Size: The size of a peach folded, carries 2x the amount of a common plastic shopping bag. (12″ x 14″ x 5″)
Cost: $7-$12 depending on quantity
Why: The smallest and easiest to crunch down to fit into your purse or backpack
They have a wide palate of colors/prints, and the single long padded handle strap allows you to shoulder the bag. Also check out their produce bags.
Baggu Bag
Material: Ripstop Nylon
Size: Folds into a flat 5 “x 5″ pouch, carries 3x the amount of a common plastic shopping bag (15″ x 25″ x 6″)
Cost: $6.50-$8 depending on quantity
Why: Cheapest and highest capacity, but doesn’t fold as small
Wide range of sizes and colors, two wide loops for shoulder carrying. Also check out their high-capacity bags for less trips.
Envirosax
Material: Lightweight polyester, bamboo, linen and fine grade hemp
Size: Rolls into a 4″ x 1.5″ pouch, carries 2x the amount of a common plastic shopping bag (19.5″ x 16.5″ x 5″)
Cost: $7.50-$26 depending on quantity and material
Why: Wide range of materials as well as styles
Popular designs, graphics, colors and styles for children as well as diverse materials make Envirosax worth checking out.
Etsy Find:
Material: Recycled/Re-used T-shirt
Size: 16″ x 17 1/2″ with a 3″ gusset – roll up secured with an elastic band
Cost: $24 custom orders accepted
Why: Unique, no new materials used, great example of reuse.
Very cool look, fully lined and handcrafted. Etsy is going to have many one-off, custom and unique bags to select from.
Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Finds
Here are some of my recent favorite finds, reader suggestions and sustainable or eco-friendly finds. Enjoy!
Grain, a local (Seattle) design consultancy and studio has developed a really cool Eco-friendly DIY shower curtain. Based on their popular Ty recyclable shower curtain, the Ty D.I.Y. Edition includes a choice of blue, green or black permanent marker for your own personalized design.
Made from 100% High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), one of the most commonly recycled plastics, and nickel plated metal grommets, it is PVC (and smell) free.
A typical vinyl shower curtain contains 108 volatile organic compounds, is hard to keep clean, tears easily, and is not recyclable at the end of its life. Ty and Ty D.I.Y. Edition, on the other hand, are made from a spun-boned #2 plastic material, which unlike typical vinyl shower curtains, is PVC-free and doesn’t off-gas. Additionally, Ty and Ty D.I.Y. Edition are more durable and mildew resistant, while being machine washable and recyclable at the end of their useful life.
With endless potential, I found some inspiration from their local artist competition:
$33.00 from grain
Full Circle is a great place to find eco-friendly cleaning hardware. From fully biodegradable pot scrubbers, to brushes, natural cellulose sponges, loofas and more. Natural, biodegradable, sustainable, are all words I would associate with these products. No oil or plastic is used for these products
Using innovative materials such as Bonterra™, a plastic like substance made from from cellulose and starch from plants, paired with traditional materials like bamboo, you can be sure these products won’t be outlast your dishes.
› Continue reading
Eco-Friendly Underwear
Eco-chic clothing is popping up everywhere from small designers to large established companies, but what about that often overlooked bit of clothing that you first put on in the morning- the one piece that you wear everyday (well, hopefully everyday otherwise I don’t want to hear about it!) It sits close to the skin usually, so wouldn’t you want it to be of the most natural, non-toxic material possible? We explore some of the eco-friendly underwear and intimates so you know what’s what.
Designer: C-IN2
Material: Bamboo
Why they are Eco-Friendly: Bamboo is sustainable, biodegradable and produced without pesticides.
Why they are Cool: Very cool colors and cuts for men, and bamboo is naturally antimicrobial and a good option for those prone to skin allergies from chemical processing.
Cost: $20-$25
Designer: Enamore
Material: Organic silk and Soya jersey
Why they are Eco-Friendly: Enamore uses a minimum of 55 percent organic and recycled content and are colored using special Azo-free dyes.
Why they are Cool: These retro feel and romantic designs for women are both unique and eco-friendly.
Cost: $58-$110
Designer: Pact
Material: Organic Turkish Cotton
Why they are Eco-Friendly: Made from organic Turkish cotton, the production occurs 100 miles from the cotton farms reducing unneeded shipping. Packaging consists of a reusable cloth bag and compostable shipping bags.
Why they are Cool: Great colors and styles for men and women, plus 10% of Pact’s sales support one of 3 non-profits (826 National, ForestEthics and Oceana).
Cost: $22-$28 (mens and womens styles available)
Designer: Green Knickers
Material: Hemp, Bamboo, Fair Trade and Organic Cotton
Why they are Eco-Friendly: Made from eco-friendly and sustainable materials like hemp/silk blends, bamboo and organic fair trade cotton.
Why they are Cool: Activity specific cuts for men and women, and some designs feature heat sensitive non-toxic dyes (remember Hyper-color shirts?)
Cost: £10-£25
Designer: Chantelle
Material: Bamboo blend
Why they are Eco-Friendly:Womens bras, boyshorts and thongs, all crafted from a sustainable bamboo blend jersey without pesticides, and are biodegradable.
Why they are Cool:French intimate apparel brand is well know for it’s quality and fit.
Cost: $42-$80
Recycled Totes and Bags – UrthBags
I have always been intrigued by the many creative materials used for recycled content bags, especially things like juice boxes. I recently purchased a recycled fire hose bag which I have been delighted with, and I have several recycled cotton, plastic and vinyl bags for shopping and such, but UrthBags has taken the cake with their creative reuse and recycled materials.
With everything from bright and colorful recycled juice box clutches, to understated but exotic coconut & sea shell bags, UrthBags utilize just about anything that our society produces plenty of. Recycled Newspaper, Magazine, and Telephone Book Bags are formed into purses, messenger bags, tote bags, diaper bags and more.
They were kind enough to send me a juice box bag so I could get a closer look at the quality and composition of their products, and I must say it was impressive. They really take the reuse and recycling idea seriously as the bag was packaged and delivered in a re-used box (plus one for practicing what you preach!) The bag was woven together in a tight and sturdy pattern exploding with color. It had a feel similar to a vinyl or soft plastic, but did not appear ‘cheap’ or ‘flimsy’, rather the opposite- it was of exceptional quality. My girlfriend quickly snatched it from me to become her new traveling makeup bag.
Sustainable Wal-Mart? A Greening of Retail
Sounds like an oxymoron, especially to those who have long despised Wal-Mart and everything they stand for, but this leaf may be turning green.
Wal-Mart is soon to begin labeling the sustainability of their products and are even creating their own green index system that goes far beyond what most eco friendly retailers currently track. Not only will the items ‘carbon footprint’ be factored in, but also questions like:
“Did this T-shirt come from a cotton crop that was sprayed with pesticide? Was excessive packaging used to ship these diapers?”
This not only is a win for the eco-friendly community, its a industry game changer. Wal-Mart has had success with initiatives like this before.
“Because of Wal-Mart’s leadership in [only selling concentrated detergents], they were able to set a standard for the entire industry,” Mr. Len Sauers (vice president for global sustainability at Procter & Gamble) said. “That opened the door to allow it to progress very, very quickly”
One may also recall when Wal-Mart decided to start carrying organic produce, thereby increasing the volume of organic fruits and vegetables that were grown and lowering the costs to consumers.
To help legitimize the index, they have even brought some big-time environmental organizations onboard like the Environmental Defense Fund to help create the standards. Could this be true, a sustainable Wal-Mart in the making?
New on the Green Scene
I get quite a few emails a day from green companies and individuals recommending their favorite products and sites, however, I just don’t have the time write feature articles on all of them. With so much great stuff to share, I figured I would just type up a quick summary of each so everybody can still benefit.
Positively Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio has taken great strides to help turn this lakefront town into one of the nation’s greenest cities, from the environmentally friendly hotels to a number of restaurants who exclusively cook with locally-grown food. To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Cuyohoga River fire, Positively Cleveland has compiled a list of the 75 “green” things to love about Cleveland.
Forty years ago the Cuyahoga River caught on fire due to heavy pollution, but Cleveland has since turned this unfortunate incident into an opportunity by striving to make itself one of the nation’s greenest cities. After decades of hard work, Cleveland has grown to become a “green city on a blue lake.”
Gobble Green Vegan Food
Gobble Green is an online marketplace where you will find a diverse and frequently updated selection of healthy, pre-packaged vegan meals. Our food kits are packaged in environmentally friendly containers and shipped directly to your home.
Gobble Green is all about the protection of our environment, animal rights, and healthy eating. Gobble Green is right for anyone who is interested in leading a humane and environmentally responsible lifestyle. We are very proud of our menu and our message.
Buy Green
A great new green shopping resource, Buy Green even has its own green standards for the products it carries.
You will find eco friendly clothing, including bamboo clothing, green home environmental products including natural organic products and solar powered lights, just to name a few. Commercial buyers also have a wide selection of products from environmentally friendly bags for retailers to recycled paper products.
Eco Gold – The Impact of Gold Jewelry
With all the attention given to sustainable diamonds and blood diamonds, it kind of makes you wonder about other mined precious gems and metals. Gold is everywhere in our society, and has been a measure of wealth throughout time. Wars have been fought over it, lands discovered for it, cities founded on it, and people slaughtered because of it.
Does the value placed upon gold is due to its rarity and beauty justify its place in our society? Only as recently as 1971, when the gold standard was finally eliminated as the basis of US currency, have we let go- or have we? Gold surrounds us, knowing no cultural boundary, and is still the most recognized outward display of wealth, however, it is also the cause of much suffering in the world.
Gold is very similar to diamonds in worldwide exploitation of workers and damage to the environment. A study done by the environmental nonprofit WorldWatch Institute found that 80 percent of destructively mined gold is used in gold jewelry.
Recycled Fire Hose Gear
It’s amazing how many things we use out there that just get thrown away. Good thing there are creative and resourceful individuals who are willing to try to make products out of recycling just about anything.
Recycled sails and recycled inner tube bags are the hot ones right now, but I just found another unique niche, fire hoses.
Carrotmob Mobs Seattle for Sustainable Businesses
I am pretty excited about the first (of hopefully many) Carrotmob event at the Pike Place Place Brewery in Seattle, Washington. If you haven’t heard about Carrotmob, you should check out their website and get hooked into their sustainable consumer network.
Carrotmob organizes environmentally conscious individuals to reward businesses for being eco-friendly. One way they do this is to funnel large amounts of consumers to patronize a single business which has promised to become more sustainable. The means is negotiated beforehand by the Carrotmob team, which can range from upgrades to make a business more energy efficient, to converting over to renewable energy.
The first ever Carrotmob event in Seattle happens TODAY (sorry about the late notice) April 22, 2009 in tandem with a Seattle Greendrinks event at Pike Place Pub and Brewery.
Recycled Glass Wine and Beer Glassware
Windshields are making a comeback, and they are being recycled to invade everything from wine glasses to flower vases. This is a great thing given how many cars are disposed of each year, just think of all the automotive glass windows and windshields we can save.
Most of the recycled glass designs I have found are handmade in places throughout the world including Colombia, Guatemala, and exotic Portland, Oregon. Some are even produced in wind powered facilities, decreasing the environmental impacts of the manufacturing process.
Search
Recent Posts
Most Popular
See the latest in green power,
earth friendly energy.
Find Energy Efficient TVs,
Home Audio and Video
Electronics.
Save energy and time with
Format HTML; it will
indent HTML perfectly!
Planning a green wedding?
Look
up local wedding vendors
at One White Wedding.