Today, we’ll be launching the newest series of features in the evolution of Greenzer.com. Since our launch on Earth Day of this year, we’ve paid close attention to our users and the great feedback we’ve received. These new developments are the product of both public input and the innovations that we have had in the works for some time. We think they’ll add different perspectives to controversial green consumer issues and enrich the overall user experience. Greenzer is not just about shopping for green products, it’s about learning and sharing information and these features will provide a rich environment to do so.

The first in this series of developments is focused on enhancing one of Greenzer’s most popular features, the Green Face-Offs. Historically, the Face-Offs have matched green products up against their non-green counterparts to evaluate each product’s pros and cons from an environmental and practical standpoint. The objective is to demonstrate the environmental, health, safety and/or cost benefits of one product versus another. In all cases, we chose examples in which the green product was likely to be an easy choice.

In the new version of the Face-Offs we will continue to demonstrate green vs. non-green comparisons but will also be adding less obvious ones, like Method vs. Seventh Generation, or Organic cotton vs. Bamboo fiber. We’re curious to know what makes the scales tip for you so we’re choosing products that are more controversial and with more subtle differences. We want to help inform the debate on pressing green consumer questions. We’ll provide base information about the products and you can vote and defend your vote through our commenting boards. You’ll now have an easy-to-use function that enables you to chime in on the discussion and pose questions to the community. We’ll also be extending the Face-Off format to fuel discussions on non-product related green topics such as biodiesel vs. ethanol and local vs. organic.

This latest launch is just a small piece of what we’ve got cooking at Greenzer.com but we’re excited to take it public and share it with you. So what are you waiting for? You can register now and check it out. And as always, we love your feedback!

]]> http://www.greenzer.com/blog/769-greenzer-launches-user-participation-in-green-face-offs.html/feed http://www.greenzer.com/blog/759-re-run-diaper-bag-takes-a-little-ick-out-of-changing-time.html http://www.greenzer.com/blog/759-re-run-diaper-bag-takes-a-little-ick-out-of-changing-time.html#comments Thu, 04 Sep 2008 12:00:37 +0000 Chloe http://www.greenzer.com/blog/?p=759

To begin, let us clarify that there is nothing glamorous about diaper changing–Even the biggest baby lovers will attest that they could do without the stinky swap-outs. However, as long as there are babies, there will be diaper changes (hopefully with green diapers), and with more babies born in the late summer and early fall months than any other time of year, it’s definitely diaper season. So, while there may not be anything swanky about this stinky activity, you might as well make the most of out of its accessories, which no longer have to scream “diaper bag” and can actually look hip.

Available in chocolate brown and olive green, with a subtle botanical design on the front flap, the Re-Run Diaper Bag not only looks good, it works well: It can be worn as a shoulder bag, a messenger bag or thrown over a stroller handle, comes with a changing pad and wipe case, and features an iPod pocket with ear-bud pass through (we told you it was hip).

But what we like most about it is the fact that it’s made of recycled plastic bottle fabric–each diaper bag saves ten water bottles from clogging up landfills and eliminates the need for materials like PVC and Teflon. So, sure, diaper changes are no fun; but going green with your diaper changes and looking good while doing it may make you feel a little better about them.

Bringing a razor case with you on trips is one of those things that never crosses your mind…until you’re standing in the bathroom, an hour before departure, trying to figure out how to pack the blade in without slicing the contents of your toiletry kit or getting dirt clogged in the razor head. In that moment you’ll wish you had the Radius Recycled Plastic Razor Case ready to go.

The Radius recycled plastic razor case is a handy home for your razor when you’re headed anywhere you’re going to need a shave. Available in white, green and blue, the slim container will keep your blade sharp with a ribbed interior while keeping everything securely in place with a tab lock.

Fortunately, unlike a lot of travel convenience items, the Radius recycled plastic razor case makes life easier for you without adding to your impact on the earth: It’s 100% recyclable and can be rerouted for further use after you’re done with it (if you ever are).

Bikini season may be on its way out, but most of us aren’t packing up the razors just yet (if ever; shaving is one of the most popular hair removal options and continues to be popular year round), however, one thing you should consider giving the boot to are traditional shaving creams. To begin with, traditional shaving cream often means shaving cream in aerosol cans—which require liquefied petroleum gas as a propellant. It’s not as bad as the chlorofluorocarbons that used to do the job, but is still no treat for the environment. On the inside these shaving creams are often packed with dyes, artificial fragrances and a range of chemicals that are linked to health concerns.

Alba Mango Vanilla Moisturizing Cream Shave means no foam and no can, and is full of natural ingredients like moisturizing jojoba seed oil, soothing calendula and healing aloe. But this doesn’t just make for a greener shave—it makes for a better one. The mango vanilla moisturizing cream means less cuts and softer post-shaving skin, the translucent appearance means you can see what you’re doing and, in an economical perk, a little goes a long way (Alba Mango Vanilla Moisturizing Cream Shave often outlasts conventional shaving foams). The deliciously tropical scent even offers up prime circumstances for a little vacation daydream in the shower.

With massive crowds, fathoms of electricity-consuming equipment and a trail of waste left in the wake, music festivals have often been areas of environmental dismay. This summer, however, saw a surge in greening the scene; Rothbury Festival brought artists like Of Montreal and Snoop Dogg together while promoting sustainability and operating as near to zero-waste as possible; Lollapalooza utilized organic local foods, compostables and carbon offsets and even featured a Green Street where festival go-ers could learn take-home tips about green living.

As the festival season wraps up and you move your listening to your living room, do your part by making sure your sound system is great AND green. Look for an energy-star rating, enough player options (CD, MP3 and even cassette) to avoid having to buy more than one system and things like LED lighting—all features you can find in the Sharp SYS-G15000 Mini Hi-Fi System, without breaking the bank or taking up too much space. Sure, a green home stereo might not be as big a step as the biodiesel generators or Styrofoam ban of the Bumbershoot Festival, but it’s a start. Now if you could just get Pearl Jam to play your house party.

If you own a dog you may be looking ahead to fall (and the winter that always follows it too closely) and thinking the only thing you need to do is get an eco-friendly dog bed to keep your best friend warm. Shedding, you may be thinking, is what happens in the spring when your dog ditches its winter coat. Unfortunately, shedding is a problem both in the spring when a lighter coat needs to grow in, and in the fall when a longer coat needs to replace it (leaving the short coat all over your lovely beige carpet).

Regular brushing is always important, but Halo Dream Coat, a cold-pressed oil concoction, can also help with the problem. A powerful mix of oils like wheatgerm, garlic and cod liver provide essential fatty acids that most dogs miss out in their food. The Halo Dream Coat oils naturally aid in coat problems like shedding, itching, dandruff and dull coat. And they work just as well for feline friends.

Once fall rolls around and the dewy humidity disappears (just like those sun-inspired freckles on your nose), along comes the dryness of cooler temperatures and the redness and irritation of skin in transition. In turn, out comes the foundation to cover up dermis difficulties. But with long lists of chemical ingredients that have been shown to irritate skin (like phenoxyethanol)and be toxic for our nervous systems (as in the case of micronized titanium dioxide) and for our skin (cue the propylparabens), some cover-ups may hurt, not help and thus continue the cycle of irritated skin that you want to disguise.

NVEY Eco Moisturizing Liquid Foundation comes from an Australian brand that recently began offering truly organic make-up in the U.S. NVEY Eco Moisturizing Liquid Foundation offers chamomile, cucumber and calendula to soothe and moisturize your face (with a forgiving tint), while rose absolute comes to the rescue of dry and sensitive skin. Even the colors on the 6-shades in this NVEY line come from natural earth elements. Bottom line? NVEY Eco Moisturizing Liquid Foundation will help you put your best face forward…even in strong sun, drying snow and lashing wind.

Frequent teeth brushing gets pushed on us from an early age, with creepy cavity cartoons in books, on TV and at the dentist’s office trying to get us to the sink twice a day. But when you take a minute to think about the fact that you may be filling your mouth with ingredients like triclosan (a registered pesticide), parabens and artificial flavors when you brush, your mouth might suddenly feel less than clean.

Instead of putting a ban on brushing (which your loved ones would probably never appreciate), try swapping to a natural version, like the Nature’s Gate Organics raspberry mint whitening toothpaste. You’ll lose things like parabens, sulfates and colorants and gain things like antioxidant-boosting fig, anti-inflammatory licorice root and bamboo (to get your pearly whites a little whiter). Plus, the sophisticated packaging design of Nature’s Gate Organics raspberry mint whitening toothpaste is reason enough to give up the Crest. And the raspberry flavor, a far cry from the medicated mint of traditional options, should get you brushing twice a day…at least.

Wisteria Lane resident Nicolette Sheridan uses Mrs. Meyer’s products to keep her house clean and smelling fresh – she likes the line because their liquid products are all biodegradeable, and they “make her whole house smell incredible.”

The brand uses naturally derived ingredients from corn, sugar cane, coconut, and palm whenever possible – and stick to synthetics that have been proven safe when there’s no natural alternative. And we bet Nicolette’s golden retriever Oliver would be glad to know that the brand never tests on animals.

We were so excited to read about the Safe Toy bill passing in Senate last week – the new bill bans 6 phthalates, eliminates lead in toys for kids under 12, requires unbiased pre-market testing, and doubles the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s budget by 2014, among other things. Despite industry lobbyists’ protests, the House voted 423 to 1 and the Senate voted 89 to 3 – a definite step towards corporate accountability that will hopefully become more widespread in other industries.

But until all of those safer toys hit stores’ shelves, companies like Plan Toys, which we’ve written about in the past, provide educational, fun playthings free of preservatives, additives, or harmful paints. Plan Toys’ Dancing Alligator is a great option for toddlers – the pull toy helps develop gross motor skills, and the bright colors stimulate active minds.

Plus, the Dancing Alligator (like all of Plan Toys’ wooden toys) is made of replenishable rubberwood, and painted and stained with safe, nontoxic products. Even packaging is eco-friendly.