Daily Greenz #91

Alarmed
by all the recent news of pets falling ill with cancer and other illnesses
caused by toxins? Our loyal sidekicks
aren’t any more immune than we are to all the contaminants that pass through
our doors. Luckily, West Paw Designs
offers several relieving options for the eco-conscious pet shopper. Notably, their Bumper Bed is made entirely of
organic cotton and all their toys, such as the popular Eco Bone, are made
primarily from recycled plastic bottles. Called IntelliTex fabric and IntelliLoft stuffing, they comprise 85% of
the material that Fido will end up chewing on. Ensure a longer, healthier life for the pooch in your life by purchasing
in an Eco Nap for $27.90 or an Eco Bone for $9.50 at www.westpawdesign.com. Available in a variety of colors to suit your
pet’s personality.

Daily Greenz #90

In past years, Apple has received a bad rep for being every eco-consumer’s worst nightmare. In fact, Greenpeace ranked Apple as having the worst environmental record among 14 major electronic companies, based on its use of harmful chemicals and failure to implement a recycling program for its products.

In a recent effort to improve its public image, Apple has released the MacBook Air. Thin enough to fit into a manila envelope, it’s also one of the lightest laptops on the market, which means it takes less greenhouse gases to deliver to consumers. The improvements don’t stop there: the laptop’s case is made of aluminum, which is easily recyclable. In addition, there’s no PVC (polyvinyl chloride) or BFR (bromide) in this model, and Apple also refrained from using
mercury and arsenic in the Macbook Air’s LCD display and glass. Finally, they reduced the packaging for the
laptop by more than 50%, and it proudly displays the Energy-Star for energy efficiency.

Greenpeace gave it a nod for being considerably more eco-friendly, but has urged Apple to incorporate green practices for all its products. Available for $1,799 at www.apple.com.

Daily Greenz #89

Cell phones have long been a thorn in the flesh of environmentalists, who decry the 130 million cell phones that Americans throw out every year, creating 65,000 tons of trash, including toxic metals and other health hazards. Nokia has finally heard their cry and taken the lead to create eco-mobile products that are made of plant-based plastics and recycled steel, and use much less energy than their hazardous counterparts. They unveiled the 3110 Evolve at their world conference last year, which was a big hit with Greenpeace because it’s made of 50% recycled materials and totes an energy-efficient charger, which uses 94% less energy than Energy Star requirements and
automatically shuts off once the phone is fully charged. Click here to read more

Daily Greenz #88

Ecoist’s
unique bags are bound to be a conversation-starter. These funky, colorful designs are made from
repurposed candy wrappers, soda labels, and other food packages rescued from
manufacturers due to misprints or over-production. They’re made in Mexico and Peru  under fair-trade, sweatshop-free conditions, ensuring that your purchase
reduces landfill and sustains a community of local artisans.

We
love the Envelope clutch, which is made out of hand-folded candy wrappers and
is water-resistant. It comes in four
different colors and is available for $90 at www.ecoist.com. That’s not all: for every bag you purchase,
Ecoist will plant a tree to help reduce global warming. Working in conjunction with Trees for the
Future, they’ve planted countless trees in India, Uganda, Haiti, Mexico, and
the U.S.

Daily Greenz #87

The
staple in every wardrobe is the perfect pair of hip-hugging jeans – the kind
that makes our backsides look like we’ve been going to the gym every day this
month. So what could be better than
wearing a pair of organic jeans that
makes us look good in every way? Kate
Boutique, who’s committed to displaying designers that are simple yet edgy, offers
a pleasing array of designer jeans that can be worn on an errand run or an
evening out on the town.
The
bootcut pair by NFY is made from 100% organic cotton and fits like a
glove. Although it runs a little pricey
at $144, wear it for a long time to justify the cost and be happy in the
knowledge that 1% of all sales go to funding Heal the Ocean, a non-profit that
focuses on resolving the critical issue of nearshore pollution.  Get a pair or two at kateboutique.com.

Daily Greenz #86

We’ve
all woken up one morning to find ourselves confronted with an unsightly
pimple. What’s the best solution short
of caking on plain, ol’ concealer, which is bound to clog our pores even
more? Try the Body Shop’s Tea Tree Oil
Cover Stick, which contains natural antibacterial properties to purify
blemishes and soothe it back to health. Tea tree oil is extracted from the Melaleuca tree and also works great
on cuts and dandruff.

This
particular concealer also contains organic beeswax, which conditions the skin
and seals in moisture. The Body Shop, a
leader in eco-friendly cosmetics and skincare, also uses the profits from this
product to provide training to Aboriginal farmers for tea tree oil production. Zap away unwanted pimples for $8.00 at www.bodyshop.com.

Daily Greenz #85

In your New Year’s quest to frequent the gym more
this year, you’ve probably been looking for a little inspiration, a little
pick-me-up when your motivation starts to flag after a long day at the
office. Stella McCartney, a long-time
vegetarian who doesn’t use any leather or fur in her designs, speaks to the
heart of all bag-loving women with her new adidas bag, which doubles as a fashionable
gym tote for those of you who balk every time you look at your ugly duffel bag. It has plenty of pockets for all your gym
gear and a comfy over-the-shoulder strap for when things get heavy. Available for $225 at www.nordstrom.com.

Daily Greenz #84
Considering
that toilet paper is on friendly terms with our most intimate parts, we take
great umbrage at the fact that many so-called recycled toilet paper brands have
been soaked in bleach for a better sell. Fearing that the brownish-grey shade of chemical-free toilet paper will
be rejected by consumers, manufacturers use bleach and other toxic chemicals to
“decolor” their products, which then leaks into the water supply – essentially
negating any eco-friendly claims they’ve made.

Don’t
despair, however. Marcal’s Premium
Recycled 2-Ply is the one brand that passes with flying colors. Bleach-free and super-absorbent, this is one
toilet paper roll we’ll be bringing into the bathroom with us. Available at your local supermarket for
$1/roll.

Daily Greenz #83
Considering
that the average woman consumes one tube of lipstick a year (not just uses, but
actually ingests), it’s important to make sure that the lipstick you use is
100% organic. Why does the
one-lipstick-a-year statistic concern us so deeply? That’s because the majority of cosmetics on
the market contains at least one carcinogen (cancer-causing substance) that the
FDA isn’t required to regulate. In fact,
contrary to popular belief, federal law doesn’t prohibit the use of carcinogens
in cosmetics, so don’t assume that if it’s on the market, it can’t hurt you.
Take
the first step to protect yourself by checking to see how safe your lipstick is
on www.cosmeticdatabase.com. If you discover that it contains a hazardous
chemical or two, chuck it in the garbage and replace it with Colorganics
lipstick, which is made strictly from organic ingredients like hemp seed oil
and beeswax. Available in 32 shades for
$13.99 at www.purebodysolutions.com.

Daily Greenz #82

Eco-friendly giant Danny Seo has been making a big
splash with his Simply Green books, which cover everything from creating a
greener home to throwing festive parties that are sensitive to the environment and your wallet. His focus is, as his titles indicate,
simplicity, and his new 2008 “Do Just One Thing” calendar runs along the same
theme of simple actions you can take on a daily basis to make your life a
little greener this year. His 366 eco-tips
(leap year!) are clever and inexpensive, such as recycling the black tape from
your old videotapes as gift-wrapping ribbon or unplugging your cell phone
charger when it’s not in use. His last
tip even tells you how to recycle the whole calendar, so following all his tips
will ensure that the calendar pays for itself. Prop his calendar on your desk for $19.99 at www.amazon.com and recycle his tips by
sharing them with your coworkers.