Verterra Sustainable Disposable Dinnerware Plates

I know it sounds like a complete oxymoron, but these picnic plates are both disposable and truly sustainable. Best when composted (as things don’t biodegrade in a landfill) to be truly sustainable cradle to cradle compliant, these sturdy plates are as much at home on your fancy dining room table as they are in the backyard. They feel as if …

How Long Does it Take to Biodegrade?

I talk a lot about biodegradable items, biodegradable soaps, and even biodegradable diaper services, but what does ‘biodegrade’ even mean? In our effort to keep from burying ourselves in trash and waste since we are still very much a ‘disposable’ society, how can we reduce our impacts (other than the obvious re-use of materials?) By making everything biodegradable! Bio-degradation happens …

Eco Friendly Laundry Detergent – Vaska

I have been interested in the different eco friendly laundry detergents out there for awhile now, mostly- what separates them? Are some better than other for the environment, are some better at cleaning? I set out to find out. I have been using Second Generation and Method laundry detergent for some time now, and from time to time I will …

Pacific Plastic Trash Island

A very troubling recent find in our ocean was a huge ‘island’ of trash twice the size of Texas and more than 30 feet deep. Just imagine a 3 story Wal-Mart sprawling from the Mexico border up from California and Arizona, through Nevada, Idaho and the whole west coast (including Oregon and Washington) and you have and idea what I’m …

Mail Green – CareMail GreenWrap Eco Friendly Shipping Packaging

I am a big fan of re-use (as is evident by my last post on bottled water and soda) and have always reused boxes, packing peanuts and bubblewrap for my shipping needs, but what happens when you run out? I usually just head down to my condo’s recycling room and pull out some boxes from the cardboard bin – but …

Green Water Bottles and Now The PlantBottle Soda Bottle

With beverage companies becoming much more aware of their ‘carbon’ footprint, and in a race to be the ‘most green’ many companies are in a hurry to green up their bottles. While Arrowhead Spring water has had the claim that they have the ‘greenest’ water bottle among bottled water companies with their Ecoshape bottles, the soda companies are now getting …

Biodegradable Natural Sponges

Another Green Festival find were sponges. This may sound odd, but how many of you think of sponges when going green? Well I have two types of sponges to introduce you to, one is a skincare sponge for your body, the other is a natural scrubber sponge for your dishes and household. Skin and beauty products were well represented at …

Eco Friendly Interior Painting – Green Up Your Redecorating and Remodeling

So you want to paint a few walls in your house, but are wondering how to do it in the most green environmentally friendly way. Interior Decorating can cause a lot of waste and produce harmful vapors, but you can reduce these by examining your options a little closer. Take the simple task of painting a wall, you need a …

Seven Great Biodegradable Items You Should Know About

Biodegradable items are great for our environment. They break down and replenish the earth. Biodegradation is the process of biological conversion of materials into CO2, H2O and minerals. According to tests based on international standards (OECD), to be called readily biodegradable an ingredient must biodegrade 60% or more within a 28 day period. The only drawback is that most items …

Green Funerals and Eco Burials – A Renewal to the Earth

I had a discussion with my father awhile back about death and funeral arrangements. He surprised me with with a unique green burial unlike anything I had heard of before. I always imagined going out in a blaze of glory, similar to a Viking chieftains funeral; floated out to sea on a wooden boat and set ablaze. Not necessarily the …