Thanks to a heads up from Weekly Phil, any ecofab finds of the future that need shipping are going to get slipped into one of these new eco-friendly courier bags from DHL. These babies are stronger, fully reusable and recyclable, and can degrade in two years (as oppossed to 1,000!) without leaching any of the toxins associated with conventional bags.
Florida mom and former surgeon, Bibi Rogers, discovered a reality that she wanted no part of, or at least wanted to drastically change, one day walking along the beach: the water was littered with plastic bags. Her idea was to create an easy way to reuse those plastic bags and help others do the same. She began stitching up bag carriers from old sails, vintage clothing, and organic materials she could find locally. 4U2ReUse sells a few different versions and they can be used as a convenient place to store plastic bags for reuse, or as doggie doo bag carriers (sold empty, of course). They are all designed to easily attach to handbags, backpacks, belt loops, or pet leashes, are made from fabulous fabrics and are delightfully portable. Dr. Rogers says: "By reusing, we reduce. And by reducing, we make the world a cleaner, safer place, one bag at a time." These also make great little change purses.
Many people, yes, even ecofabulous contributors, have been known to get their shower running, tend to other matters and then return to a steamy stream of gushing water - all the while two-and-a-half gallons of water per minute have been funneling down the drain. Our house has a d'mand system, but costing $500 and requiring professional installation it is an investment (one that renters might not be up for). The fact still remains that water heating is the 3rd largest energy expense in a typical American household (14% of the average utility bill), which is why I like the ShowerStart feature from Evolve. Evolve showerheads get the water warm and then go into "trickle mode" until you are ready for your rinse off. It has a low flow setting, which is another water-saving feature. I suddenly feel like I need a little spritz!
We're coveting this collection of 48 greeting cards that join heartwarming (though not trite) messages with clean, modern graphics. Conceived to be Positively Green (hence, the name), the cards and envelopes are printed domestically on 100% post-consumer recycled paper with soy based inks supported by wind-powered electricity. Even the metal displays they ship out to retailers (with minimal packaging) are recycled. The back of each card also gives an eco-educational blurb and 10% of profits go to organizations working to save the planet. No matter the occasion, you'll find the card that says the perfect thing with Positively Green. Here's your chance to get in the good graces of your recipient and Mother Earth...and since mother's day is just around the corner, you might want to consider your mom as well. To locate a store near you, click here.
If every household in the country eliminated just one roll of paper towels (70 sheets), more than a half million trees would be spared. The time has come to replace those one-time-use throwaway bad boys! And microfiber towels are hardly an eco-friendly alternative, considering their polyester/nylon makeup, a petrochemical combination that will end up sitting in a land fill (or the ocean) for an eternity. Enter: the EcoTowl. Made from biodegradable, all-natural viscose sourced from sustainable forests in Austria, the EcoTowl absorbs ten times its weight and is super durable and long-lasting (even after countless machine washings). Pacific Dry Goods, makers of the EcoTowl (and the EcoSponge) donates 5% of sales to support enviro-research at Save the Earth Foundation. Paper towels are so passe.
A simple way to create a relaxing space in your own house is to just slip on a robe and cozy up with a book, but pesticides are such a buzz kill. That's why we love the Nandina robe. A blend of certified organic cotton and plantation grown (read: sustainable) bamboo, Nandina’s fibers call to mind your favorite worn in tee. The materials are free of toxic substances, and, according to the company’s website, they often surpass the highest standards set by textile testers, Oeko-Tex. With a variety of products, you can stock your bathroom with bath towels, hand towels, mats, and washcloths. And since it's not very relaxing to have to iron, their goods are wrinkle free!
Ok, we all know that digital photography is certainly better for the environment than traditional film photography, but is there anything better? Well if you are thinking about a new digital camera for Mother's Day (or Earth Day, or whatever), check out this "ECO-Green" special edition of the new Nikon COOLPIX S52, available exclusively from Ritz Camera. This cool camera is more than just green in color...
Ritz has partnered with Carbonfund.org to offset 1.91 tons of carbon dioxide for each ECO-Green COOLPIX purchased. That number corresponds to the average American's monthly carbon footprint according to Carbonfund.org research. They've focused their offsets on reforestation with the goal of reducing nearly 40,000 tons of CO2 from the environment. We hope other merchants follow suit and link product promotions to environmental awareness.
The special edition ECO-Green COOLPIX will be available exclusively at Ritz Camera stores nationwide starting May 1, 2008 for an MSRP of $249.95. You can pre-order online with no tax and free shipping. Smile!
I got this scoop because my husband is a huge digital photo junkie and is on the board of Ritz Interactive.
Here at the ecofabulous office, we're often frustrated by the number of eco-products that arrive in boxes packed with styrofoam peanuts (though, happily we often we find out they've been reused). Nonetheless, these little foam culprits pack a toxic punch through the non-recyclable chemical compound, styrene, which has been linked to respiratory problems, central nervous system damage and cancer (not to mention how much space they take up in landfills). RecoCubes are an ingenious answer, made from recycled paper sludge, sugar, starches and B-12. When you're finished unpacking, you can either reuse them (my kids think that they are brilliant for art projects) or just toss them in your garden to become compost for your trees and plants. Not only are they non-toxic and will never end up in a landfill, RecoCubes actually give back. Talk about sending a message of love!
Lucky Earth may not be the only waterless car wash (see a past post here), but it may very well be the ecofabulous favorite. It's no secret that washing one's wheels the conventional way, whether in a drive-through or at home with a bucket and hose, uses copious amounts of water and contaminates waterways with toxic run-off. The way of the future clean car is simply spray and wipe. Most of us aren't off-roading (definitely wreaks havoc on the environment!), so an effective spritz may be the perfect way to keep your Prius (or whatever you drive) looking spiffy. Lucky for us, Lucky Earth does the job without harmful fumes or toxic residues (no VOCS, dyes, fragrances or parabens). Plus, the waterless wash can be used on interiors as well. Want to save on packaging? Pick up their Gallon Refill, good for up to 40 washes. And, for you cyclists (we love you), their new waterless Bike Wash will make a shining green example out of your two-wheeler, too.
The "eco-luxe note card collection" from Loop showcases intricate, hand-drawn doodles (of the sophisticated variety), domestically printed with soy-based inks on 40-100% post-consumer recycled paper (the rest from FSC-certified sources) that is processed chlorine free. The newest line, Doodlespark, comes from a mother-daughter art duo collaboration - the result of drawings mailed back and forth between the pair over months and sometimes years. It speaks to the intimacy of old school correspondence. And though I am a big believer in electronic communication, there is something to be said for penned sentiments. So the next time you have an important message to relay, think of sending it out on Loop. The company also purchases offsets, are members of 1% for the Planet and Co-op America, and donates a portion of their proceeds to other environ-orgs.
