We’ve been trained to look for bamboo on the label when we’re trying to buy eco-friendly clothing, but it’s no secret that the textile has a downside. It’s not easy to get stalks of the hardy plant (technically a grass) to switch from coarse wood to soft fabric and sometimes the process that takes it there can make it as un-environmentally friendly as any other conventional textile. In fact, the chemical treatment that bamboo undergoes to get from forest to t-shirt is sometimes so extreme that the Federal Trade Commission has started cracking down on companies who label their items as made from bamboo fiber because by the time they reach a fabric stage, there’s very little of the original bamboo left.

Confused? It’s understandable; after all, the FTC is basically charging companies with false advertising for listing their bamboo clothing as made from bamboo. What the government watchdog wants, however, is for the companies to begin labeling bamboo items as rayon made from bamboo instead of 100% bamboo fiber, which is a different thing altogether (and usually distinguishable by its rougher feel). Click here to read more

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After the opening weekend of Julie & Julia, the whole world seems to be obsessed with the art of French cooking. Want to get in on the action, but want to do it the eco-friendly way? Start greening over your kitchen with an eco-friendly cutting board built for pros, because after all, before every beautiful Beef Borgignonne and crowd-pleasing Cassoulet comes chopping and dicing.

Swissmar’s Bamboo Crumb Catching Cutting Board is a sustainable solution since it’s fashioned from the quick-growing bamboo plant. And when you slice baguettes to serve alongside your French masterpieces, you can do it with the Wenger Grand Maitre Bread Knife that’s included and slips perfectly into the board for storage. If your guests watch you in the kitchen, you’ll wow them with your ability to keep crumbs off the floor.

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When you walk into the spa, you probably instantly feel more relaxed as a fabulous sense of stress relief takes over your body. Now what if you could bring that same serenity into your own home? A few simple touches can turn your bathroom into an eco-friendly spa…or sort of.

Start by making your tub a little more inviting with a Bamboo Bath Tub Caddy. Made from fast-growing, sustainable bamboo, the caddy will hold your bathing goodies. Stock it with relaxing, essential oil-scented bath salts in eucalyptus (the scent you usually smell first when you walk into a spa) or lavender another fragrance known to bring your mentality to a calmer state. Toss in an organic bar of soap. And top it all off with a good book to read while you soak.

Continue to set the mood in the room with other eco spa-like touches. Have a comfy robe waiting for you post treatment, or bath, like Dream Sacks cozy robe made from sustainable soy fabric. Click here to read more

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Sometimes eco products can drain your wallet, but this little item is budget-friendly, too. Raw Bags Bamboo Wallet is 100% green and 100% affordable at $12. As the name suggests, the wallet is crafted out of stained bamboo sticks and lined inside with cotton. Beth Warner, the founder and designer of Raw Bags, creates her line in a studio in New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood. So her bags are made in the US, which means a lower carbon cost for shipping. Her entire line is made from raw textiles and natural materials including bamboo, rattan and raw leather.

At 5″ X 2″ it’s perfectly sized to hold folded bills, change and a couple of credit cards or IDs. Toss it into your over-sized handbag or reusable shopping tote. Next up for Warner? Click here to read more

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The statement necklace has been the finishing touch for fashion, but why not top off your look with a statement ring? This turquoise and bamboo cocktail ring appropriately named Imagine, is over-sized, chunky and will grab everyone’s attention. Slip it on with a long summer dress or use it to dress up something as simple as jeans and a tee.

When you wear it, expect it to be a conversation starter. Luckily this ring has a great sustainable story to tell. It’s designed by Warren and Robbin a duo that spent years sailing in the Caribbean designing and selling jewelry. Currently, they’re living in Bali, but their jewelry design inspirations come from the materials and artisans they find when they travel.

This ring is made by hand a features a large piece of black bamboo, a quick-growing and sustainable material. Click here to read more

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