An online oasis for natural face and body products, B-cause (or beautywithacause.com) provides healthy and affordable cosmetics for a woman’s beauty regimen while doing its part for beauty in society as well, with 10% of all proceeds going towards breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and scleroderma research. You’ll find mineral makeup, facial cleansers, toners, and moisturizers, as well as hair care, fluoride-free toothpaste, and a few products for men, too. Every product offered on the site meets the self-imposed standards of Beauty With a Cause for safe, natural ingredients, affordability, operating ethics, and animal kindness.

In her own search for truly natural beauty products, owner Julie Ann Price found a way to not just effect change in the world of cosmetics, but to do it with style. “Beauty is a measure of how much women love themselves,” says Price. “B-cause wants to be a trusted resource for women where they can shop for effective skin care and vibrant cosmetics knowing that the owner is as concerned as they are that the products are both beautiful and safe. I use what I sell and I believe in my products.”

Currently the FDA lacks stringent guidelines for natural beauty products. If only 1% of the ingredients used in a product are organic, the product can have an “organic” label. B-cause has an “Ingredients to Avoid” list and it’s a little frightening to see how many of these ingredients appear in products that are probably on most bathroom shelves.

While the FDA knows that many of these are known carcinogins, they claim the amounts are so small that the risk is negligible. As Julie Ann Price points out: “The average woman uses daily on her face a moisturizer, foundation, eye shadow, blush, mascara, eye liner, loose or pressed powder, lip liner, lipstick, cleanser, eye makeup remover and toner. That’s thirteen potentially dangerous products and we have not even considered what women use on their body, hair and nails. Multiply that by a lifetime of usage and you have enormous exposure to significant amounts of dangerous chemicals. Still think you’re safe?”

B-cause makes it easy and affordable to switch to safer, all natural products. Plus they offer lots of samples for sale so you can try different products and see colors up close before purchasing the regular sizes.

The mineral makeup line includes eye and blush powders, eye liners, mascara, foundation, concealer, lipstick and gloss. The beautiful eye powders are available in 18 different colors from the earthy Terracotta to the shimmery pastel pink Duchess (retail $5.99). The vivid color palette is not only a tribute to beauty, but also to fierce and fabulous women everywhere. Many of the products are named after women who have battled breast cancer, ovarian cancer and scleroderma valiantly or whom epitomize their product namesake in their lives. All of these women are forever immortalized in a fun and meaningful way through Beauty With A Cause. “I wanted to recognize and honor these women whose struggles should not go unnoticed,” says Price.

Now there’s more reason than ever to switch to beauty products that are contribute to your health, the environment, and some very worthy causes. Get started at B-cause!

You eat organically and locally and sustainably. You clean your home with vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda. So why are you still using makeup, moisturizer, and shampoo that contains known carcinogenic chemicals?

Your skin is your body’s largest organ, and its critical jobs include keeping moisture in, excreting waste, regulating body temperature, compensating for the harsh UV sun rays, and creating vitamin D. And think of its powerful connection with the mind and body — you blush when shy, perspire when nervous, and inexplicably, those little hairs on the back of your neck stand straight up when you realize you’re not alone in a dark room.

Especially during these harsh summer months, you owe it to your skin to read every label and understand every ingredient of every product you use on it. And now, going organic and natural has never been easier — or more luxurious.

Futurenatural.com is the place for “responsible hedonism.” A new Sephora for the savvy organic and natural consumer, Futurenatural offers the best organic skin and hair care, makeup, fragrances, and body-loving basics. Owner/”natural beauty junkie”/writer (and former Australian farmer girl) Emma Pezzack has searched the world for organic/natural cosmetics and goodies that are as effective as they are lush. They are also fair-trade and environmentally conscious.

“You can get something that works as well as Estee Lauder, for example, but is 100% organic,” states Pezzack. “All the products we sell are sustainably harvested, consider the environment, and contribute not only to the health of the consumer but the health of the planet.” What’s not to love?!

Futurenatural.com has chosen the brands they sell very carefully, and will soon include some exciting new brand additions such as L’Occitane, ThisWorks, Alaska Glacial Mud Co., Bamford, Stella McCartney, Patyka, Shobha, Jurlique and more. They list full ingredients for each of the products they sell. Don’t recognize what a certain ingredient is?

Check their thorough glossary, which describes what each ingredient is in nice, plain English. “Our passionate endeavor is to only represent brands that have no petroleum derivatives, no parabens, no synthetic colors or fragrances, dibutyl pthalate, sodium lauryl sulphate, formaldehyde, or any other known harmful ingredients, and absolutely none of the products are tested on animals. Really, simply, what you’ll find here is the best organic, biodynamic, natural, wild-harvested and artisan brands in the world,” says Pezzack.

Futurenatural’s motto is “Live well. Do Good. Look Gorgeous.” Sounds good to me. Get started at Futurenatural.com!

Picnic in green style this summer with eco-friendly biodegradable plates & bowls, and compostable utensils and cups from Let’s Go Green. Made from sugarcane fibers, these bowls and plates are 100% biodegradable, but sturdy enough for your sloppiest Joes. Their 16- and 20-oz. plastic cups are made from corn, and their PSM (plastic starch material), compost-certified utensils will naturally decompose back to organic elements. Let’s Go Green also offers 100% recycled lunch and dinner napkins, recycled without chlorine bleaching.

Save big when you buy their Picnic Sampler, which includes 50 each of knives, forks, spoons, and 9″ plates — all for only $19.99.

Let’s Go Green has dozens of wonderful products for every room in your home. In fact, a great housewarming gift is one of their Green Home Starter Kits…. Each Green Home Starter Kit is designed depending on how many bathrooms you have in your house, and includes lightbulbs, a water-saving showerhead, sandwich bags, trash bags, wood cleaner, sponges, all purpose cleaner, paper towels, dish detergent, bath tissue, a tote bag, and much more.

If your company, school, church, non-profit, or community group is looking for a great way to raise money, consider the popular and innovative green fundraising program from Let’s Go Green. It not only raises money for organizations, it raises awareness about how each of us can make a difference in the environment with every single household purchase we make.

EverybodyGreen.com expands their celebrity-favorite “go! Green” line of eco-chic accessories with the addition of the highly anticipated new summer style: the SeedBead Necklace.

The necklaces are each three strands of beads made from cornstarch-based resin, and feature two 41 inch rows and one 36 inch row of 4mm “GreenBeads.” Each necklace sells for $18.00, and comes in a choice of five rich color combinations.

“We trust that our go! Green collection will demonstrate to consumers that it is fun and fashionable to choose green. It is imperative that people start to see every choice as an opportunity to help the environment, by choosing eco-friendly, fair trade, and sustainable,” comments Keith Berman, Director. “We are thankful that our green accessories have been so successful in raising awareness of eco-friendly alternatives and green practices.”

The entire go! Green collection is made from naturally derived, eco-friendly materials including nickel-free and lead-free cornstarch-based resin Greenbeads and organic hemp. EverybodyGreen.com donates proceeds from each sale to a selection of non-profit organizations, including Oceana, Earth Resource Foundation, The Clean Water Fund, and Heal The Bay. Learn more about the go! Green collection here.

There are lots of reason to want to live in Japan, but being able to lease the new Toyota Fuel-Cell Hybrid sometime this year is now high on my list. Later in 2008, Toyota will release their new FCHV-adv model, which reportedly has a maximum cruising range is 516 miles (compared with 205 miles for Toyota’s previous fuel cell vehicle). This improved model uses both the hydrogen-powered fuel cell and an electric motor, and has improved performance partially due to better braking efficiency.

Also, Toyota claims they’ve managed to outsmart one of the challenges of using a fuel-cell auto: low temperatures. The FCHV-adv model can start and run in temperatures as low as -22 degrees Farenheit.

Toyota spokeswoman Kayo Doi announced that pricing and other details weren’t available, and overseas plans are still undecided. But the sooner these cars hit the road — anywhere in the world — the better for the whole planet.

Check out our Cleantechnica post about this new Toyota model here.

“Hellboy II” Gets a TerraPass

The 2008 Los Angeles Film Festival announced that it is implementing numerous changes to produce an eco-friendly, “green” Festival this year, as part of a company-wide greening initiative by Film Independent – the non-profit filmmakers organization that produces the Los Angeles Film Festival, as well as the Spirit Awards.

The Festival has partnered with NBC-Universal, which is a green company, on both Opening Night (Thursday, June 19) and Closing Night (Sunday, June 29) of the Festival. The Opening Night premiere of Universal Pictures’ “Wanted” (starring Angelina Jolie), as well as the Closing Night premiere of Universal Pictures’ “Hellboy II: The Golden Army,” will be produced in an eco-friendly fashion.

Changes being made for the overall Festival will impact everything including the use of bio-diesel fueled generators and the recycling of all paper, wood, glass and plastic used at the Festival. Printed materials will be produced on recycled paper using eco-friendly inks, and catering will use organically-grown produce purchased from local farms within a 150-mile radius of Los Angeles. In addition, all carbon emissions created by the production of the 2008 LA Film Festival will be offset by TerraPass, which funds clean energy and carbon reduction projects, including wind power, farm power, and landfill gas capture.

Green Honors to Alba

Congrats to Prius-driving celebrity and new mother Jessica Alba, who just gave birth to a girl named “Honor” this past weekend. In an interview in February, Jessica said she was excited about doing some “green” nesting, doing eco-friendly renovations to her house, recycling, as well as re-furbishing old furniture.

BAM! Emeril Goes Green in July

Celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse is coming to Planet Green for a new original series entitled Emeril Green, which will be shot on location at Whole Foods Market and will launch in July. He’ll be kicking it up one organic, locally-grown notch at a time. (Maybe while he’s there he’ll be able to ask the Whole Foods folks why so few of their cut flowers are organic, or even pesticides-free?) Planet Green, which just launched last week, is Discovery Communications’ global, cross-company initiative “with a commitment to document, preserve and celebrate the planet,” including the first-ever 24-hour eco-lifestyle television network.

And, of course, Ed Begley Jr.

You can’t mention celebrities and “green” in the same post without plugging HGTV star Ed Begleys Jr.’s book Living Like Ed: A Guide to the Eco-Friendly Life. This guide (available new on Amazon for about $12) really is highly entertaining as well as informative — I mean, this is a guy who has been “walking the ‘green’ walk” for over 30 years. Who’d have thought celebrities like Leonardo di Caprio would be jumping on Ed Begley Jr.’s bandwagon?!

Recently I had a chance to ask a few questions of Kim Nadel, NCIDQ certified interior designer, LEED Accredited Professional, and co-founder of the Brooklyn-based NICHE environmentally smart design group. Kim is currently on the MFA faculty of the New York School of Interior Design teaching Green Design, and co-authored The Green Pages: The Contract Designer’s Guide to Environmentally Responsible Materials and Products.

Kim was chosen by Hospitality Design magazine as one of the top 20 leaders in the industry to influence design in a positive direction. She has enjoyed lecturing throughout the country to designers and architects on green living since 1995 and her work has been published in a variety of publications including Interiors and Natural Home and Garden. Kim’s broad knowledge allows her to work within a diverse range of creative projects that promote green living and inspire others to create in a sustainable way. Presently Kim is incorporating the principles of Vastu into her work, and her designs are featured in Kathleen Cox’s Vastu book Space Matters.

What is the single most important thing individuals can do (in terms of interior decorating) to improve the feng shui or vastu of their home, if budget is a primary concern?

Kim: I would say the most basic things to do are one, to clear out the clutter, and two, to make sure everything is in working order. One particular area to work on is the entry area — it is so important because it is instrumental in determining how people perceive you, and also what you yourself experience as you enter your own personal space. It is important to clear the clutter there and have appropriate storage (a place for keys, etc.). I usually place a mirror at the entry.

I asked my Feng Shui consultant, Sanna Plaskon, to elaborate on one thing people can do in terms of interior decoration. “In terms of budgetary concerns, everything begins and ends in the bedroom because we spend most of our sleeping hours there - this is where we go to relax and recharge. Furniture placement is very important - where the bed is positioned is critical. “It is best to keep the electronics, such as the TV, in a storage cabinet to resist that visual pull,” advises Sanna.

What can individuals can do (in terms of interior decorating) to reduce the environmental impact of their home, if budget is a primary concern?

* Try energy-efficient lightbulbs and mix the different light sources in each room.
* Purchase used furniture, i.e. antiques, and/ or purchase local furnishings to decorate your space.
* Reduce your environmental impact by purchasing local products which minimizes packaging and freight pollution.
* Existing furniture can be updated by either refinishing, repainting, applying another material, like wallpaper, or adding interesting hardware.
* Purchase pieces that are multi-functional are longer lasting because they can be moved around to different rooms, like my coffee table with scoop, which acts as a seat or bench, or a coffee table, or both!

What are the biggest challenges you face when a residential client approaches you for help in “green” decorating?

When a client approaches me for green design, I already have a receptive client. They are ‘envies’ themselves and are open to new ideas. It’s all about having that change in consciousness — having that inner lens with which to make priorities that make sense simultaneously for the individual and the planet.

I would say that the biggest challenge is finding a contractor that understands and has the knowledge to implement a green renovation. Here’s a simple example — one client had hired a contractor, (BK - “before Kim!”), to plaster her walls in her living room, and since the contractor didn’t seal off the doors and openings to the other spaces, a large amount of plaster dust permeated a thin layer throughout her entire house!

You’ve been a pioneer in the burgeoning “green” design industry, consulting for homes, businesses, hospitals, and spas. As awareness grows, how do you see the market changing in the next few years?

It is easier to locate eco-friendly materials, fabrics, etc to work with now as opposed to five years ago. Because of the green buzz, I have found that almost all companies have at least one earth-friendly line (or are working toward a green line in the near future), because they realize they will be behind in this competitive market.

Yet, I have never found green products to be more expensive across the board, except for building products, which are inexpensive to start with. For example, plywood is so cheap, but wouldn’t you spend twice as much to purchase a more environmentally-sound product? For example, formaldehyde-free plywood vs. toxic plywood, or waste-wood plywood vs. luan mahogany plywood from exploited rainforest land? Although I focus on green products, and I continue to do research to help companies to re-green their products, I think we are still 10 years away from a true public awareness or a real general population eagerness for things like Anna Sova’s chem-free paints, earth-friendly carpets, solar panels, etc.

Also, it is important to do your research, or have others help you navigate…I have been tracking materials for 15 years, and I can decipher between the line of green-washing and legitimate progress.

You’ve started your own line of furniture, which has been featured in the book “Space Matters.” What’s up next for you, design-wise?

I recently launched a new look to the furniture line with the introduction of new finishes. I wanted to experiment with an eco-friendly concrete because the material can be molded to create the curves and scoops, so I searched for an eco-friendly material that is lightweight and has a high concentration of recycled content, and found this newly conceived version in Colorado.

It’s 30% lighter than conventional concrete. What is so fabulous about this material is that it does not contain portland cement - the main ingredient that is the cause of most of the CO2 emissions in the design/build industry, rather, it is ceramic based. I also wanted the versatility of an indoor-outdoor line, and the concrete is perfect for outdoors and beautiful enough to go indoor applications. Now, I am working on a soft line of furniture (upholstered) that is green, with lasting value, that can be disassembled and recycled, and can be also be placed indoors or outdoors. I am always dragging my chaises outside for parties…

As a designer, there is a dichotomy for me, which is: do we need more stuff to be created in the world… don’t we have enough furniture to work with? Yet I have a desire to create and to create useful products with lasting qualities and value.

Read more about Kim Nadel and her line of eco-friendly furniture here.

By now, most of us have heard about the high-octane health benefits of acai berries, cultivated exclusively and naturally (without pesticides or chemicals) from the Amazon rainforest. Called by some* to be the “most nutritionally dense” berries, these little jewels apparently have more antioxidants than blueberries and more heart-healthy anthocyanins than red wine. They’re also rich with protein, dietary fiber, with high levels of Omega-3, Omega-6, and Omega-9 fatty acids. Plus, they’ll reduce the prices at the gas pump. (Okay, I’m not certain about that last part….)

But the trick is getting the acai berry pulp as close to the source as possible, and without being over-processed (which depletes the nutritional value considerably). Raw acai is the only sure way to get all the benefits of the berry, and unless you’re planning a trip to Brazil anytime soon, that can be tricky. Even though I’m very mindful of “food miles” and eat locally grown foods almost exclusively, I was eager and curious to try raw acai pulp that is processed as little as is safely possible. Enter Amazonfrutas….

Amazonfrutas is a company which works closely with carefully selected Brazilian co-ops — local growers who harvest and sell acai in strict accordance with the governmental regulations. Workers pick, clean, de-seed, freeze and ship the berries within 24 hours. The frozen pulp can be thawed to make smoothies, mixed with granola and yogurt, and blended into the healthiest cocktails you’ve ever tasted.

They sell both AcaiRaw and AcaiTwist, which has added evaporated cane juice as a natural sweetener. For one week, I tried AcaiTwist in a daily smoothie (with an organic banana, freshly squeezed organic orange juice, a few organic strawberries, and ice from purified water) and honestly felt a higher level of energy all morning, and a clearer focus throughout the day. Power of suggestion? Perhaps. But I know for sure it tasted delicious. (And of course, that made me feel better about splashing some AcaiTwist in a glass of prosecco at happy hour.)

It sure isn’t “eating locally,” but the fair-trade acai industry has reportedly helped the honest Amazon economy, and whether or not the berries are the cure-all or not, they are certainly rich in taste. Take a closer look at this high-octane superfood, and you might find yourself adding it to your diet for the flavor, not just the proposed health benefits.

*Read articles about the nutritionally beneficial claims of the acai berry from Dr. Nicholas Perricone on Oprah (he calls it his “#1 Superfood”), The University of Florida, and The Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry.

Give some character to your outdoor area this summer, in an affordable and eco-friendly way. Here are some tips:

* An old, scratched up bundt pan makes a fun planter that fits around the center of your picnic table umbrella. With a hammer and nail, punch a couple of drainage holes on the bottom. Decorate the outside of the pan with metal paints, markers, or old scraps of wallpaper. Plant a few colorful blooming annuals and drop your umbrella down the center of the planter (and the table), and you’ve got an inexpensive centerpiece that doesn’t take up any room on the table.

* Old, bent, mismatched silverware and some fishing line comes together to make a unique wind chime. If you have a drill, you can drill holes in the handles of each piece of silverware and hang them at different lengths (but close enough to knock together) from a branch or awning rail. If you don’t have a drill, use pliers to bend the spoons and forks so that you can tie them up with the fishing line. Try adding an old silver ladle, twisted pickle fork, and a holloware butter knife for a variety of chimes!

* Collect chipped and broken dishes or pottery from friends and create a new mosaic tabletop for a patio table. If you don’t have enough broken pieces to cover the tabletop, you could create a mosaic tray using a wooden tray frame, to carry dishes from the patio to the kitchen, or create your own pavers. You can use food coloring to tint the cement you use around the broken pieces to add color and design. For more specific details, click here.

* Instead of buying expensive shade sails or awnings to help diffuse the hot summer sun, create your own! Simply buy yardage of ripstop outdoor fabric from your local fabric or outdoor supply store, cut into the desired triangular shape, attach grommets to each corner, and secure tightly with rope or cabled wire to trees or posts in your yard. Sew simple cushions with the leftover fabric to coordinate. To learn more, click here.

* Kids will love helping to make a bird feeder from an old milk carton. Wash a clean milk carton and cut a square hole in the side big enough for a bird to jump in and out. For a perch, glue a couple of popsicle sticks into a slot under the opening. Use more popsicle sticks to build a “roof” on the house, and color with non-toxic paints or markers. Pour some millet, sunflower seed, and crushed peanuts inside. Hang from a branch near your window so you can watch the birds snack.

Take a minute to look around your house, and you’ll probably find other ideas for taking things you already have and using them outdoors in a new way. Let us know what you find!

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.

If you live or work in metropolitan New York City; Washington, D.C.; or southern California, you may be eligible to test-drive an Equinox Fuel Cell vehicle. You must be at least 21 years of age, a U.S. citizen and have a valid driver’s license. If you qualify, General Motors will provide the fuel, maintenance, insurance, OnStar service and a support team for a three month period. You drive what appears to be a very cool car, and give your feedback.

Visit www.chevrolet.com/fuelcell/checkzipcode for more about “Project Driveway,” and check out this informative and interesting short video made by a current test driver.

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?

Traditionally organic products have been marketed to consumers very tuned to organic products and wanting the “natural” look and all the natural features. With more awareness about the environment recently, it has helped organic products to go more “mainstream.” Our reason for starting Robbie Adrian luxury organics is our conviction (as both moms and designers) that more traditional parents would buy organic if more color and style were added! Parents want natural products for their babies, but also want products that are cute and stylish — so Robbie Adrian blankets offer both.

2. Price is always a family concern. Besides your blankets (of course!) which items do you think parents should really invest in?

Well, our company is about providing parents choices and offering “baby steps” to being green. We encourage parents to become informed and make choices that are right for their family. Products that are closest to their baby, especially to infants, such as blankets, cribs, mattresses should perhaps get the most scrutiny, which would also include shampoos, lotions etc. It’s sometimes not possible to go natural everywhere, and that’s okay — every little step a parent makes toward healthier products for their baby and planet is a good thing!

3. Many of us are slowly incorporating eco-friendly and sustainable products and habits into our family’s lives. What are the most recent switches you’ve made in your respective households?

Susan Doris: It’s amazing the things we have learned working with organic products - it has made a big change in some of our own habits! My husband just bought a Toyota Hybrid, and because of my research about other blanket fibers, polyester and conventional cotton, we have tried not to purchase so much of those fibers for our family, as they are so hard on the environment. I also won’t let my kids heat up food in plastic baggies or bowls any more! I also learned that Teflon is a product that stays around forever, and has been recommended to the EPA to be upgraded to a “likely” human carcinogen - so as much as I hate scrubbing scrambled eggs off a non stick pan - I’m trying!!

Robbie Mahlman: My husband and I purchased terrapasses for our vehicles to offset the carbon use on both. Also we purchased cloth towels to diminish paper towel use, no longer use insecticides in our yard, and use natural methods rather than broad spectrum spraying. We purchased a front loader washer and dryer, we try to purchase organic produce and milk whenever possible, we use canvas bags when we go to store, or we “just say no” to bags whenever possible, and carry in what we can. We no longer purchase water in individual water bottles, and we also walk to school! We figure every little bit helps!

For a detailed GreenOptions review of Robbie Adrian Luxury Organic blankets, check out Jennifer Lance’s great post here. For more Robbie Adrian blanket styles, colors, and details, visit robbieadrian.com.

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.

Organix-South is a small natural products company in rural Florida which creates therapeutic skin care and herbal remedies. Their wild-crafted TheraNeem Oil is perfect for soothing itchy or irritated skin with essential fatty acids and natural antioxidants. You can use it directly on the skin, or add a few drops to your favorite skin care products (or even shampoo). There’s also an Herbal Outdoor Spray that repels mosquitoes naturally (with its unique blend of neem and other essential oils), TheraNeem Oil Soap, TheraNeem Lip balm, even TheraNeem Pet Shampoo!

Now I’m still referred to as “that girl with the hat,” but no longer “that itchy, splotchy girl with the hat.” That’s progress.

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 traffic congestion and improve air quality (and unofficially, to reduce obesity and try to stick it to the big oil companies). Thousands of cyclists are expected to participate statewide, and several cities are providing bike-friendly pit stops with snacks, maps, and discount coupons. In Los Angeles, bicyclists can already ride for free (all year long) on any Metro bus or light rail as long as they have their bike or helmet with them. (I do wonder about riders who just carry their helmets onto the bus or train, picturing their Schwinn in a twisted heap on the side of Sunset Boulevard.)

For more info, check out californiabikecommute.com.

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.

The all-natural (and super-comfy) tees have become a hit with Hollywood fashionistas, who probably appreciate the colorful butterfly designs as well as the more meditative message. And the company’s delicious-smelling candles have affirmations for Peace, Love, Prosperity, and Unity, each with a different combination of essential oils.

Affirm Aware works as hard on their philanthropic drive as they do on the integrity of their product line. Kathyrn donates no less than 10% of sales to various like-minded organizations, and her site features “Action Campaigns” where you can easily and directly engage in helping critical situations around the world. Haydn-Hays states, “If one person thinks differently about what they purchase, or begins to foster a more harmonious world because of the affirmations they use in their everyday life, my job is done.”

Contributions from environmental science and public-health experts such as Dr. Phil Landrigan, Dr. Harvey Karp and Dr. Alan Greene (as well as from celebrity parents such as Meryl Streep, Sheryl Crow, Gwenyth Paltrow, Tom Hanks, and Kate Hudson) make for a variety of insightful information.

The 336-page, hardcover book is available on Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com. For more info, check out healthychild.org/book.

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. Without being condescending or preachy, Loux conveys her philosophy about what it really means to live a “green” life, and how each little change we make contributes to a higher quality of life in every aspect. It’s inspiring as well as instructive.

The 416-page book is available at Amazon.com and you can read more from (and about) Renee Loux at her website, reneeloux.com.

With the Eco-Me Home Kit, you provide the white vinegar, baking soda, olive oil, and water, and you’ve got everything you need to make an all-purpose cleaner, a wood polish cleanser, and a scrub cleanser, too — at a fraction of the cost of most store-bought non-toxic cleaners.

The Eco-Me Home Kit contains:
2 spray bottles for mixing spray cleaner and polish
1 jar for mixing scrub cleanser
1 natural bristle scrub brush
1 handy mixer
1 microfiber cleaning cloth
1 bottle Eco-Me Home Cleaning Essential Oil
1 natural fiber storage bag
Easy to follow instructions on how to mix ingredients (right from your own kitchen).

The essential oil contains tea tree, lemongrass, rosemary, and lavender pure plant oils, and helps purge surfaces of mold, mildew, grime, and water stains (plus it smells great!). The kit is available at eZoetic.com for $26.00, and you’ll also find an Eco-Me Baby Kit, Eco-Me Cat Kit, and Eco-Me Dog Kit there, too. Now it’s easier than ever to “green-it-yourself!”

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.”

The Natural Nurser Ultimate Baby Bottle, with its revolutionary, unique, and highly effective design, are made with uniquely-designed soft polycarbonate-free and bisphenol-A free materials. The nipple is designed to mimic a mother’s breast, and the “Petal vent” helps avoid the dreaded colic. The unique design just won the 2008 Medical Design Excellence Award, as well as the 2008 Red Dot Design Award.

Adiri bottles are available are Right Start, Whole Foods, Babies “R” Us, One Step Ahead, and soon at BabyCenter.com.

Find out more at Adiri.com, and learn more about polycarbonate concerns and the FDA.

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, livable wages, paid overtimes, safe and clean working environments, benefits, and vacation time.

Best of all, each bag purchased provides 100 nutritious meals for hungry children in the U.N. World Food Program, a program which feeds 88 million people in 78 countries around the world. According to a press release from FEED Projects, hunger and malnutrition kill more people than AIDS, malaria, and TB combined. In fact, every five seconds a child dies because he or she is hungry.

Starting today, you can spend $29.99, get an environmentally-friendly bag, feed 100 school kids, and get all those free samples at Whole Foods, too? That’s what I call “feel good style.”

What we do know for sure is that computer companies have to start designing with more environmental concern and foresight.

Good news: Dell has sponsored a “green” design competition, and we get to choose the winner. As part of their “ReGeneration” program, Dell invited design students and individuals “to create a broad range of design concepts and innovations for technology products that demonstrate refreshed approaches and responsible solutions for green computing technologies.”

The five finalists’ designs run the gamut from “Lawnpc,” which creates all the power it needs to operate, to “Sense,” an in-store scanning system that tells you everything about a product’s sustainability and green quotient by its bar code. Take a look, cast your vote (before May 7), and find out more about Dell’s “ReGeneration” aspirations.

Let’s hope Dell puts their considerable power behind even more green solutions when creating their next computing solutions.