Eco Friendly Product Guide

Gold and silver mining is notoriously unethical and destructive to the planet.  Mining precious metals has caused both environmental and social problems galore.  According to the watchdog website No Dirty Gold, the following are some of the tragic impacts that mining gold (and other metals and gems) can have:

Environmental Impacts:
Poisoned Waters
Solid Waste
Polluted Air
Threatened Natural Areas

Community Impacts:
Endangered Communities
Disadvantaged Women
Violated Human Rights
Toll on Indigenous Peoples

Worker Impacts:
A Dangerous Profession
Undermined Workers’ Rights

Economic Impacts:
Economic and Financial Toll

But many people love jewelry and are eager to find ways that they can still enjoy the glamour of gold and silver without sacrificing their ethics.  One way is to buy jewelry made of recycled gold and silver.  That is, rather than buying newly mined metals, jewlery makers and taking existing jewelry and recreating it into something new.

This ultra modern Pebble Ring from Gretchen & Grace is a great example.  Made from silver and overlayed in recycled 14 karat gold, it is adjustable for sizes 6-8.  Its 1960′s inspired design is perfect for any lady who wants to show off her green moxie.  At just $42 it is an affordable and beautiful gift idea.

One of the best things about the green movement is that it is inspiring people to think in different ways and innovate.  Take, for example, this eco plastic belt made in India.  The company that makes them has patented a process for converted those nasty polythene plastic bags into handmade recycled plastic that can be used in the construction of all kinds of things.  It is water-resistant, stain-resistant, and attractive.

Even better is that the eco plastic belt is made in an ethical factory which provides gainful, fair-wage employement to impoverished individuals in India.  You look far more fashionable when your outfits are comprised of items that are not made from other people’s misery.

Buy this adorable eco plastic belt online at Karma Market for $25.00.

If you’re anything like me, coffee is not just a luxury. It is an absolute necessity that you must have before you can actually function each day. Coffee has grown in popularity in the past decade. Even the Average Joe has developed a sophisticated coffee palette and the corner coffee shop usually has several blends to please their customers.

But without a doubt, the best coffee is organically grown. What is “organic coffee?” According to the Organic Trade Association:

Organic coffee is grown using methods and materials that have a low impact on the environment. Organic production systems replenish and maintain soil fertility, reduce the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers, and build biologically diverse agriculture. Third-party certification organizations verify that organic farmers abide by the law.

In order for coffee to be certified and sold as organic in the United States, it must be produced in accordance with U.S. standards for organic production and certified by an agency accredited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. U.S. requirements for organic coffee production include farming without synthetic pesticides or other prohibited substances for three years and a sustainable crop rotation plan to prevent erosion, the depletion of soil nutrients, and control for pests.

So the value of organic coffee lies in much more than just its rich, delicious taste.  It is also an important step toward keeping the environment and the communities in which it is grown healthy.

For an excellent sampling of high-quality organic coffee, give Organic Gorilla a try.  This delicious, mellow blend is 100% organic and naturally decaffeinated using the Swiss water process.  This particular coffee comes in the whole bean form so that you can grind it yourself and experience the freshly released flavor that is unlike anything else.

Treat yourself to a pound of Organic Gorilla Coffee from Kate’s Caring Gifts for just $9.99.

Have you had a chance to wear Bamboo yet?  Soft as silk and made from one of the most sustainable fibers on earth, bamboo is now being made into everything from hand towels to haute couture.  This EcoSkin dress is an excellent use of bamboo for a spring/summer ensemble.  Perfect for an afternoon event it combines sumptuous fabric with beautiful blue and white hues.  It is made in the U.S., which means high-quality, ethical workmanship and careful design.  You can purchase the EcoSkin Sassafrass dress in a range of sizes from Gretchen & Grace for $172.

The oak barrels from wine making are often only used once or twice, which means hundreds of them each year are discarded.  Innovative green folk have been finding ways to upcycle the wood and use it to make all kinds of wonderful products, including these handsome cuff links.

The rich, wine-stained wood is inset in genuine sterling silver for a classic look.  Whether the man in your life is a greenie or wine lover–or both–this is a perfect gift suitable for any special occasion. Available from Eco-Artware.com for $130.

Sure, you know that reusable shopping bags are great for the environment.  But they are also becoming a major fashion statement.  All kinds of artists and designers have taken to creating hot new styles which have become a status symbol among the shopping elite.

A perfect example are these Spring in New York bags from RuMe.  Inspired by the most prestigious New York locations, the set of three comes with one each of the blue “Hamptons”, green “Greenwich” and orange “5th Avenue” bags.  Additional features include:

• individual bag size 15.5” x 15.5” x 4”
• handles are 11.5” long
• three bags roll up to 6” x 2” x 3”
• each bag holds more than 50lbs*
• water resistant/machine washable
• double stitched seams
• square sides and bottom
• made in a South Korean Fair Trade Factory

You can get this chic (and green) set of reusable Spring in New York bags on the RuMe website for $29.85, or buy them individually for $9.95 each.

The tricky thing about this product is that it has not been fully developed, it has no price tag (though you can expect a big one when finally one day in the far distant future, if ever, these cars roll off the production line) and you cannot even order one.

The best you can do is go to the Fly the Road website, choose your model (see above) and “pre-register”. By choosing the model, exterior and interior colors and saying what you will be using it for, you are sort of telling the developers (who are heavily funded by venture capital and partnered with businesses of similar ilk) what the market wants. If the market is comprised of people who fill in online forms for cookie California startups, that is.

If you are interested in looking at a vehicle that combines all the disadvantages of motor cycles, small cars and fighter jets with a notion of saving the planet, then the Venture One (prototype under construction is your dream vehicle.

My only question is, does it fly by night?

I have never given sponges the consideration they deserve. I suppose, though, that sponges (the type that sway about on the floor of the ocean) have as much right to life as anyone.

Also I had failed (until hearing about Twistclean) to consider that the billions of sponges manufactured artificially every year might lead to unwanted piles of spongy waste with a detrimental impact on the environment.

That was the reason that the people at Twistclean decided to reinvent the sponge. Now you can get a range of household sponges that keep your house clean as well as your conscience. The materials they use are 98% biodegradable, plus they do their absolute to best to use all the raw material they take into the factory.

You can look at the Twistclean website for a list of suppliers. Unfortunately you cannot buy online and the website gives no indication of the prices of these little suck-ups — but if you are seriously into purchasing non-damaging household materials then Twistclean sponges may be the answer for you.

Designer Sara Kirsner has come up with Doie Designs, an eco-friendly bamboo collection that is incredibly stylish and comfortable. According to her Website, each piece of clothing is made from a combination of bamboo jersey, and 100% silk trim.

One stylish item in particular is from the Harusame Collection. The Harusame Empire Cami is very sleek and form fitting, and is an excellent addition to any woman’s wardrobe. This typically runs for $62, but has recently been on sale for $43. Either way or, it’s quite the deal for something this stylish. You can also order directly off of DoieDesings.com, making it your one stop for stylish, eco-friendly clothing.

Browse from a number of Kirsner’s collections. There’s a lot of really nice clothing on the website, and it all holds true to Kirsner’s mission statement.

Recyclables, recyclables, recyclables. This word cannot be stressed enough when concerning a “green” or “eco-friendly” style of living. The guys and gals over at LetsGoGreen.biz understand this on a large scale. As one would hope, all of the products available through the site are Eco-Friendly.

An easy find, and something that we may just take for granted every day is facial tissue. On the site, one can find a large variety of recycled facial tissues, ranging from $2.09 for 10 packs of pocket tissue to $1.59 for a box of 85 recycled facial tissues.

Especially during the cold and flu season, tissues can be used in rampant numbers. It only makes sense to seek ones out that are made from recycled paper. You can even put one in that cube of yours in the office. You will help do your part to protect the environment, and you can stress this level of conservation to your co-workers as well.

Of course, the paper doesn’t just stop at facial tissues…paper towels, toilet paper, napkins, and even copy paper are available through the site. Have a look around, and start getting your home or office on the track to going green.