Eco Friendly Product Guide

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.

The bath towel is a necessity, there’s no escaping it. When you get older and your college days consisting of “oh no, i haven’t done laundry, well…i guess I’ll just dry off with this shirt” are over, you find yourself making sure a)the laundry is always done and b)the house is always stocked with towels.

As you gain more awareness of the need for eco-friendly products, you may be pleased to find that you can combine the love of a soft towel with your love of the earth. From Viva Terra, these Hand-loomed Organic Cotton Towels are a perfect balance of comfort and environmentally friendly products.

These towels are made without the following: heavy metal dyes, chlorine bleach, synthetic finishing agents. That’s right, just hand loomed and soft organic cotton in place of any non-natural fabrics or dyes you may find in other towels. As far as pricing is concerned, the Bath towels are $39, the hand towels are $16 and the wash cloths are $7. Go organic. It’s good for you, great for the earth.

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.

During the spring and summer, mosquitos and other insects can be somewhat of a nuisance. That’s when people start bringing out the bug spray. Of course, there are some wonderful environmentally friendly solutions to insect repellent.

Buzz Away insect repellent products are DEET free and are all natural products. They are chemical free, and do an excellent job repelling insects from mosquitos to files, to even ticks and gnats!

Check out the list of products available from Buzz Away. You can send yourself or your family out into the elements, and still retain protection…just in a chemical free, all natural way.

The prices of the different insect repellent products vary, depending on what you are looking for. For example, a 4 oz. spray bottle of Buzz Away Extreme insect repellent goes for $8.09, and a 20 hour Buzz Away Cintronella Candle will typically cost $6.89.

The French are no strangers to style and fashion. So when you combine a french designer with some organic cotton, you end up with a knockout pair of jeans…not to mention ones that you can feel great about wearing as well.

Dyed with real indigo, this dark wash “Martingala” jean has a signature “M” embroidered on the back pockets that have a buttoned flap, much like the non-organic True Religion jeans we’re used to seeing here in the States.

If you are looking for designer and eco-friendly jeans, this is a surefire bet. Might as well look good while trying to save the world at the same time.

Available through the people over at The Oko Box, the Organic Martingala Jeans are certainly not cheap, they run about $145 a pair. However, if you are a fan of designer clothing, this price isn’t too off the radar. You can also shop at the designer’s website, http://www.machja.com. Keep in mind the prices on machja.com are all in European currency, not American.

Household cleaning products. You think of them, and automatically, you think of a lot of chemicals…definitely not “all natural” and “made with plant based ingredients.”

Luckily, with the recent trend of green and eco-friendly products on the rise, Ecover.com has stepped up to meeting the challenge of environmentally safe, all natural cleaning supplies.

From the floor soap, which is made from plant ingredients and features quick and complete biodegradability, to the Laundry Wash, (which is also from plant based ingredients, is color safe, safe for your skin, and is completely biodegradable), there are a vast array of cleaning products for your home. Another advantage? No animal testing.

Check out the list of products on their site, and upgrade your cleaning products to ones that are environmentally sound.

Check out their where to buy section for a list of retailers.

Parents are constantly concerned about their children, especially when they are just babies. There is always the question of which products are safe to use, which chemicals can harm the skin of a baby…the list can go on and on, and any parent will tell you it is an issue of great concern.

These shampoos are perfect for sensitive skins, and the all natural ingredients are ideal for your baby. New Born Mom has a wide array of natural and organic shampoos that are perfect for baby skin. Soaps such as the Angel Baby Shampoo and Wash will cost $13.95 a bottle and are made from all natural ingredients. Other products, such as the Baby Fresh Shampoo and Wash will cost a little bit more ($40 per bottle), but are made with wheat protein, oat ammino acid, lavender and roman and german chamomile.

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.

I can remember the Simple Shoe Company starting out when I was a kid. We were skaters, and it seemed like a great idea to have another skate shoe on the market. Since then, the Simple Shoe Company has stepped up it’s game considerably. They have come out with the Green Toe Shoe Line, which is very eco-friendly and is a perfect way to keep your wardrobe stylish, while still doing something good for the environment.

One shoe in particular that comes to mind is the Men’s Toemorrow. This stylish shoe is made from washed organic cotton and linen uppers, has bamboo linings, uses water based chemicals, has 100% post consumer recycled paper pulp foot forms, and jute shoe laces!

Lots of information is available on the website relating to Simple’s commitment to creating eco-friendly, green products. Have a look around, chances are there is a shoe that will be exactly what you are looking for.

The shoes are $90 a pair, and come in a variety of colors.

There are other styles offered by simple as well, for both Women and Men.

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!