Eco Friendly Product Guide

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.

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.

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.

For the fashion trendy fan of the sneaker, Autonomie Project has a lot of great products. One in particular is the Olive Green Low-top sneaker, which is made from organic cotton canvas and adheres to fair trade standards.

In addition, the rubber sole is produced from trees in the rainforest and is FSC-certified. Therefore, the rubber was tapped directly from the tree and comes from a well managed in said rainforest.

Do your part, and look into more of the projects available through The Autonomie Project. The sneakers are $54, which is a small price to pay considering you get style in return and a totally eco-friendly, green sneaker that you can tell all your friends about.

The wine bottle is commonly welcomed as a gift with open arms at many social events. I’m not going to lie to you, if I see you show up at my door for a dinner party and you’ve got the trusty wine bag in your hand it means you have come bearing gifts…and ultimately, found the key to my heart.

Nubius Organics sells these Vintage Sari Wine Bags by Kismet, which win on many levels: they meet fair trade standards, are recyclable, and reusable. Not to mention, all Kismet products are handmade with eco-friendly items (stuff that is recyclable, vintage, you name it). This means that you also get a unique product each time you purchase one.

Each bag is made from a vintage sari by hand, so you are guaranteed a unique wine bottle bag every time.

In addition, it’s reusable, so you can think up all sorts of clever uses for the bag after the bottle of wine is out. This is one gift people will be ok regifting.

So going for $9.50 each, you get a one-of-a-kind bag that holds a standard bottle of wine, and is good for the environment. I’ll toast to that!

EcoBag makes a lot of products that are eco-friendly. With a name like EcoBag, this should be no surprise. Not only are their products environmentally friendly, but they are manufactured according to fair trade and fair labor practices. You can’t go wrong with such a combination.

You can even buy the products straight from the EcoBag website. One cool bag in particular is the EcoBag Organic Cloth Sack, which is perfect for carrying small items, or even bringing back fruits and vegetables from the local farmer’s market!

If you are curious about some of the other products offered by the company, cruise around the EcoBag website. You might just be able to find that sweet tote you were looking for to use on your beach getaway.

This bag in particular varies in price, starting at $3.75 per bag. The more bags you buy at once, the cheaper the price per bag is…kind of a nice way to do business, really.

Fair Indigo hits a home run with their Organic Authentic Fit Jean. Not only are the jeans made from organic materials, but they also adhere to Fair Trade standards. Way to go, guys.

The straight, easy fit of these jeans will work for some, but depending on your style, these may be a little close to what some of us like to call “dad jeans.” However, not to be discouraged, if the style isn’t for you, you could always buy them for Dad on Father’s day, or even his birthday. This way, everyone wins.

There’s a wide array of stuff available at FairIndigo.com, so feel free to cruise on over there and give it a look. There are plenty of stylish, eco-friendly products that adhere to Fair Trade guidelines. Happy shopping!

These earth friendly jeans are also reasonably priced, at $69. The pop will be proud of this purchase!