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.

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.

I have many, many fond memories of playing Monopoly with my family as a child.  An interactive board game where no matter how old you are, you have your own money and control your own destiny!  It was both educational and fun–and something I have carried on with my own family now.

My family, however, has a new board game to integrate into game night:  Earthopoly!

Based on the same principle as Monopoly, the board is divided into different sections of  planet earth which players attempt –not to own– but to care for and maintain.

The board, all the pieces and even the shrinkwrap are made from earth-friendly materials including recycled pulp and vegetable-based inks.  Kids will learn about valuable recycling and environmental protection tips as they earn the chances to protect their own section of the planet.

Available online from ecozenboutique.com for $24.99.

Everything in your home should be a work of art — even your nightlight!  This beautiful, recycled glass nightlight is made from green Perrier and cobalt blue Skyy Vodka bottles.  As the light shines through, it casts shadows and gentle, colored light to the room. This is a great gift idea for any new homeowner!

Each unique nightlight is packaged in an individually stamped box with recycled shredded paper and an original poem by the artist.  You can purchase the Water and Sky nightlight on SweetOrganicsandNaturals.com for $38.

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.

Fire & Light is known for it’s vast array of dinnerware, glassware, and other assorted products geared towards entertaining your guests. Since the start of the company in 1995, Fire and Light has manufactured products with over 91% recycled glass, turning it into raw material.

The glassware made through Fire & Light is aesthetically pleasing to the eye, and provides the eco-friendly consumer with a nice piece of mind when entertaining guests. Having unique dinnerware and household accessories is one thing, but serving drinks in an eco-friendly tumbler made of recycled glass is what we like to call entertainment on a clear conscience.

You can buy the glass tumbler set through such retailers as Greenfeet.com, starting at $22.95. You can check out the variety of products available through Fire & Light’s website.

Here’s a neat idea: how about a Solar Powered Laptop Bag? Available through ETS ENERGY, the Voltaic Generator is the first solar bag on the market with enough power to charge your laptop!

The solar panel on the bag generates up to 17 watts of power, and comes with a battery pack. In addition, other devices can connect to the bag via USB or car chargers. In keeping with the eco-friendly nature of the bag, the fabrics are all made from recycled soda bottles…so not only are you saving batteries and power, but you are keeping those plastic bottles out of landfills, where they take close to 1000 years to decompose!

Keep in mind the bag isn’t cheap, it will set you back $599. However, when you think of it, it’s really a small price to pay in the long run. You will be cutting your energy costs in half and doing something really good for the environment.

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.

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.