Eco Friendly Product Guide

Your computer, scanner, copier, printer, telephone…you have seen them before, all plugged into the power strip underneath the desk. It’s not uncommon to see a half dozen things plugged into one power strip. While some may not think twice about this sort of thing, the eco-freindly consumer sees it as an enormous waste of energy and resources.

However, there is an answer to the power strip problem. BITS Limited has created a wide variety of Power Strips that are energy saving, and really a cool idea. The strips range in price, from $18-$50, depending on your power needs.

The idea is this: the strip takes energy from one device and stores it, to power your other devices as well. Thus, it’s able to conserve more energy and make it an excellent choice for the energy-concious consumer who is also busy with work and is on the computer frequently. It’s perfect for the busy telecommuter or office woker who spends a lot of time at his/her desk.

You’re going to be working anyway. Might as well save some energy while you’re doing it.

Preserve is just on fire with their eco-friendly products. For the business-savy individual to even the guy/gal who just likes a good close shave now and then, Preserve has manufactured the Triple Razor.

This razor in particular has a handle that is made from recycled plastic, and is (as you would guess) 100% fully recyclable. Blades are easily interchangeable, and the handle itself works with a variety of blades, including Personna Acti-Flex, and Gillette Sensor. Of course, you could always buy the replacement blades straight from Preserve as well…rewarding them for making such an eco-friendly product.

The Razor comes in a 4-pack for $7.25 a piece. Check out the Preserve website for other products offered as well.

The messenger bag has really become a stylish way to carry stuff around. While being a guy and carrying one may subject you to various “murse” comments (combine “man” and “purse” and you get…murse), they still thrive for their functionality and somewhat hipster image.

So, Fleurville has decided to take the messenger bag one step higher, with their Re-Run Messenger Bag. The bag is totally eco-friendly, and each one is made from ten 600 ml plastic water bottles. There are a variety of colors and patterns to choose from, so both male and female can take advantage of the situation.

Not only is the bag environmentally compatable, but it has a variety of features, including external pockets, earbud pass-thru, a fleece lined Mp3 player/sunglass pocket, and it is PVC-free and Teflon-free. All of these features, and a totally green bag for just $75.

So go ahead and check it out. Keep some of those plastic bottles out of a landfill and enjoy the convenience of a great messenger bag while doing so.

Soy protein – not only good for the body, but apparently it can also be used to make T-shirts. This shirt, available through Good Steward Naturals, is made from the following specifications: 55% Organic cotton, 40% soy protein, and 5% Spandex.

A nice bonus to the shirt is that it was made under fair labor standards, and all of these shirts come audited by a full time employee. The fabrics are organically grown in a Chinese Co-op.

Eco-friendly, good for the environment, and created under fair labor standards, this shirt is a steal at $39. It’s definitely a way to show you care, even if you want to be subtle about it. However, going to such great lengths is completely admirable, and having a shirt of this nature should be a must in everyone’s closet.

Let’s be honest, when it comes to environmentally friendly products, “bamboo” is a word that shows up quite often. When you think about it, this makes sense…it grows fast, and is easily renewable. It looks nice, and you don’t have to settle for a lackluster product. It’s super strong, and there are lots of stylish things made from bamboo.

Enter the Spring Chair, created by the folks over at Modern Bamboo. This mod chair comes in a cherry, ebony, or natural finish and is available from Vivavi.com for $690 (add $20 if you desire the cherry or ebony finish). It’s sleek, looks really cool, and would be an excellent addition to that home or apartment you have just growing with eco-friendly products.

If you like the style of the Spring Chair, there are many more stylish things to be found on the Modern Bamboo Website. Feel free to stop by and take a look, you might find many other items to your liking.

Recycled bottles are made into a wide array of things. Somehow, it’s consistently amazing how recycled plastic can be turned into everyday household items, or even fashionable decorative pieces. Gaiam has a Turkish Pattern Reversible All-Weather Floor Mat that is made entirely from old soda bottles.

The mat prices out at $89, but what a cool addition to your home. Not only does it look really cool, but you can use it indoors, outdoors, and it’s easy to clean…just spray it with a hose and your rug is back to normal. This would have solved a lot of problems for The Dude.

It’s green. It’s eco-friendly. It can really tie a room together.

Millions of Americans suffer from foot pain each year. Each foot in the human body contains 26 bones, 33 joints and 100 tendons, muscles and ligaments. Millions of nerve endings are found in the foot, making it a focus for an entire field of study for doctors and health care practitioners. To make matters worse, most of us wear terrible shoes which contort our feet into strange positions and place unnatural pressure on them. This can lead to foot diseases such as bunions, fallen arches and hammer toes; and it can also develop into agonizing back and hip pain over time.

A lot of people don’t have a choice about being on their feet. Whether they work in retail, landscaping, teaching—any job that requires them to be on their feet for the majority of the day—it is important that they maintain good foot health for the long run (no pun intended).

For people who need some extra pampering, consider the Eco Mule Slipper from the green goods company, Gaiam. This luxurious slipper is not only good for the body and soul, but it’s easy on the environment as well. Made from cozy organic cotton and hemp, your feet will rest easy knowing their new home is pesticide free. The interior foot bed is CFC-free, and it has a skid-resistant, weatherproof sole which means you can wear it outside to grab the newspaper.

The gentle, neutral color of the organic fabric make it suitable for both men and women, but keep in mind that the sizes on this slipper run small. If you know someone who works hard all day, consider treating them to a pair of these comfy slippers as a gift. As they float along through the house with their feet gently encased in eco-friendly cotton and hemp, they’ll thank you for taking care of them—and the planet.  $48 at Gaiam.com.

Lets Go Green is always on the game when it comes to eco-friendly products, recyclables, and conservation. Therefore, it is no surprise that they offer a variety of Household Water Saving Products for the consumer.

There are a few products in particular worth mentioning. For starters, there is the 5-minute shower coach, which costs $4.49. The shower coach is a fun way to teach the kids to learn how to conserve water when showering, and to start eliminating the half hour shower waste of water. Also available is the Toilet Tank Bank, which helps the consumer save almost a full gallon with every flush of the toilet.

Water may be one of the most abundant resources on the planet, but helping conserve it is good for the bill, good for the environment, and better for all of us as humans in the long run.

Do your part, and look into some of these water saving products offered.

Wolf-Gordon makes the “Organics” biodegradable wall coverings collection. This is a really neat idea. They take Kenaf grass and then combine it with a non-chemical polyester (made from all natural, biodegradable ingredients). In addition, any backing ingredients are made from recycled paper, and you have to apply the wall coverings with a biodegradable adhesive.

Nice. The Wolf-Gordon EarthSafe collection is “environmentally sensitive,” and according to the website is important to the commitment of “expanding and improving our ‘green’ product offering in an ongoing manner.”

Eco-friendly, and it will look great on your wall. The coverings typically go for about $13.85 per yard. A nice thing to think about next time you are redecorating a room in the house.