Green Options

Testing the New Equinox Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle
GM’s new Equinox hydrogen fuel cell electric cars are on the road. Well, one hundred of them are, and you can apply to become a test driver for three months.

The Chevy Equinox Fuel Cell has been honored with the Green Car Journal’s Green Car Vision Award, the first time the magazine has recognized a limited-production vehicle for its forward-thinking technologies. “Project Driveway” is the first large-scale market test of fuel cell vehicles with real drivers.

A Chat with the Inspired (and Inspiring) Women Behind Robbie Adrian Luxury Organics
Recently I had a chance to chat with Susan Doris and Robbie Mahlman, co-founders of Robbie Adrian Luxury Organic baby blankets. Their company takes 100% organic, machine-washable baby blankets to a whole new level of gorgeous style and soft texture, and Halle Berry, Jennifer Lopez and Christina Aguilera are just a few of their celebrity customers. These forward-thinking entrepreneurs make sure every detail of their business is as green and sustainable as possible, and all their products completely made in the USA.

These women are also moms who are raising families and running an ethical business in a highly competitive field. They took a moment from their busy day to answer a few questions:

1. Your blankets are unique in that they combine organic, sustainable design with colorful style. Why do you think it’s taken so long for organic manufacturers to move beyond beige?

When I decided to move to Southern California, well-meaning friends worried about my fair complexion. “I’ll just be known as ‘the girl with the hat,’” I replied breezily, while thinking to myself “…and the long sleeves, and the bandana around my neck.” And while I’ve been very successful at keeping my skin protected from the sun, I never imagined how freaking dry it is out here. Really dry. Desert dry.

I’m happy to report I’ve found a new oil that helps soothe and heal my dry and irritated skin: organic neem oil. Of course, it’s not new to everyone in India, where it’s been used in the Ayurvedic tradition for thousands of years. All parts of the neem tree (seeds, leaves, flowers, and bark) are used for preparing many different medical preparations, including anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral, and sedative.

…and Calls In Sore Tomorrow
Helmet? Check. Water bottle? Got it. Metro bus pass when we poop out halfway to work? You bet your aching glutes. Today’s the day many Californians bike the walk and not just talk the talk. It’s Bike to Work Week 2008, and boy, do we need it.

In its thirteenth year, California’s Bike to Work Week officially encourages bicycling as the best form of transportation to decrease [...]

Bamboo-Fabric Tees That Make Everybody Happy
When Kathryn Haydn-Hays read a story six years ago about forced child labor in foreign sweatshops, she realized that she didn’t know where her clothes really came from. “I really understood, for the first time, that nearly everything we purchase has a direct effect on people around the world, whether it’s an environmental or socio-economic impact,” says Haydn-Hays.

So she made it her life’s work to raise awareness and create more conscientious consumers. She started Affirm-Aware.org, a website which sells bamboo and organic cotton fabric tee-shirts, soy candles, organic reusable totes, and lovely unique jewelry — all created by 100% sweatshop-free labor.

But Kathyrn wanted to go a step further. She wanted to print affirmations on the tee-shirts so that the wearer would benefit from reading it every time he or she looked in the mirror, so she printed reverse images of the affirmations and called them “AffirmaTees.” (The “Duet” line has the affirmation both forwards and backwards, for those that want to spread the happy thoughts in both directions.) The site also features an “Affirmation Cafe” which has tips for meditation and positive thinking.

Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home is the new book that helps every parent “de-tox” their home and make a safer, greener environment for their children. It’s filled with simple steps and easy solutions you can implement in your home now. This guide covers all areas including indoors and outdoors, cleaning products, toys, and clothes, as well as cleaner air and water. There is even a chapter about [...]

There’s a great new book on the shelves by award-winning author Renée Loux: Easy Green Living. Loux, who penned Living Cuisine and the Gourmand Award-winning The Balanced Plate, is a celebrated raw foods chef and host of the TV show “Easy Being Green.”

In her new book, Loux applies her whole-foods philosophy to our homes, gardens, and beauty routines, including lots of “5 Step” lists which make it easy to implement changes easily. [...]

The “green” cleaning products on the market are great, but they can be pricey. You know you should mix all your own house cleaning solutions, but it can be a hassle, and who knows if you’re using the right ingredients in the proper amounts? Finally, we found an easy way to make all the healthy “green” home cleaning products you need, all in one handy kit.

With the Eco-Me Home Kit, you provide the [...]

Everyone agrees breast milk is best for your baby. If you do bottle feed, you probably know that glass bottles are regarded as the most ecologically sound and healthful choice. But they are heavy, unwieldy, and can be easily chipped or broken. That leaves plastic.

There is strong evidence to suggest that bisphenol A (BPA), which is used to make polycarbonate plastic, can leach into the baby’s drink and mimic estrogen, which in turn can disrupt a baby’s developing endocrine system. Just last week, the FDA decided to (finally) re-evaluate their position on whether or not BPA is safe (though they weakly stopped short of recommending people stop using plastic bottles made with BPA). Canada just recently proposed designating BPA a toxic substance, banning products made with BPA altogether.

Enter Adiri baby bottles, which have received several design awards lately, as well as high praise of mothers everywhere. “We are enjoying our popularity with moms as well as with the medical community,” said Sarah Eisner, Adiri’s Director of Sales and Marketing. “We started out with safe materials. From there we introduced a revolutionary new breast-like design that is wowing folks across the country.”

While her uncle’s Presidential record on the environment has been a scandalous disaster, fashion model Lauren Bush has created a 100% organic cotton and sustainable burlap bag — and an accompanying humanitarian initiative — exclusively for Whole Foods, launching today.

For $29.99, you can purchase Lauren’s “Feed 100″ bag: a lightweight, white, cotton tote that collapses easily into its rectangular burlap zippered pouch. The bag is created in facilities which ensure fair treatment of workers, [...]