Oh yeah, you read the subject of this post correctly … shopping, eek. The holiday gift season usually begins the day after Thanksgiving, a day which I intentionally avoid doing any buying. This year, shops and merchants are breaking out the good stuff (and the good deals) right after Halloween to try and help jump-start the economy again.
If having a gift-free holiday is not something your family would go for, why not get them something sustainable? Just by looking through the eco-links collection on my website, one can easily see that there are cornucopia of green stores to choose from. For the next two months, I'll be featuring some of the freshest shopping destinations the world wide web has to offer, helping you get to the bottom of that twice-checked list faster than ever.
Trying to decide who to feature in my first Green Shopping Spotlight was a darn tough decision, but the answer came to me in a snap, or an e-mail as it were. Two days ago, I got a delightful message from Jennifer, half of the two-woman team that started Max and Zane, the other half being April. I'd never heard of the online outlet before so I quickly clicked on over to see what the scoop was, and boy (or girl, haha) was I in for a treat!
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Editor's note: This month, GNMParents writer Tiffany Washko explores diapering options for green parents. We swap original content with GNMParents on the first Monday of every month, so make sure to head over there to check out Jennifer's contribution to them.
For many green moms and dads the decision about how to diaper their baby does not come so easy. We all know disposable diapers are bad with a capital "B," but the other options just seem so archaic and inconvenient.
But it's not as bad as you may think. There are some pretty appealing diapering alternatives nowadays. If you want to lighten your environmental footprint by avoiding those landfill-filling, disposable diapers, then two options you might consider are cloth diapers or gDiapers.
]]>Greenloop is one woman's creative endeavor in market based environmental activism. The mission is simple: Green Life. Green Style. At Greenloop, the alignment of style and sustainability, of aesthetics and ethics, provide all of us with the opportunity to look good, feel good, and do good. All of the goods at Greenloop are made by conscientious companies who are committed to environmental stewardship and social responsibility. Greenloop is committed to supporting the development of environmentally responsible, renewable energy and to stopping global warming. To this end, we purchase Green Tags for each order placed making each shopping experience even greener.
Featuring one of the widest variety of green fashion and beauty collections, Greenloop has been a key factor in the progress and availability of the sustainable lifestyle. A proud member of Co-op America and 1% For The Planet, Greenloop carries a wide variety of brands, all of which feature one or more of the following eco-friendly elements:
]]>"Whether you buy organic fruits and veggies, drive a hybrid car, or teach kids to recycle, our products are another way to celebrate your way of living. Little Green Star is about inspiring kids to learn about the world around us and to develop their own ideas on ways to care for the earth," says the company's website, where you can peruse and purchase items from their entire collection. Though the graphics are simple, they are also adorable, featuring statements like "My dad recycles more than your dad," "Water pollution makes me crabby," "Future geologist," "Growing up green," and a number of others. ]]>
Parents want the best for their kids, so buying items with organic cotton is the minimum for most. As environmentalists of all different shades of green, being proud and outspoken about what you believe in becomes second nature. In a matter of weeks, babies show their own unique personalities, and their surroundings (clothing included) should reflect that. London-based brand Hug, well known for their womens wear, recently re-released their unique children's line called Little Green Radicals. Available for babies and toddlers, all items are made from organic, certified Fair Trade, and sweatshop-free cotton in Egypt and India. Also noted on the brand's website: all prints "have been produced using the most ecological water based inks available."
While basic items like bibs, t-shirts, playsuits, denim are available, they are beyond boring. Graphics featuring phrases like "panda-monium," "I recycle my tantrums," "I only eat organic turnips," and "give peas a chance" come in vibrant shades of red, pink, blue, green, and yellow. Prices range from £5-£28 (roughly $10-$55) and items are available on the company's website. I did some searching and have not yet found an online store in the States that sells the line, so unfortunately, items would still have to be shipped from the UK.
Seattle-based Earth Organic Baby Basics was started by Kate McIntosh Quinn, a former Hollywood stylist, in 2005. Quinn focuses on organic cotton clothing that cares for the earth while still being stylish. As the line began to expand past baby clothes to include older kids, and soon women, the name of the brand was changed to Kate Quinn Organics in July 2006. Now offering clothing for newborns to 6 year-olds, all of the colors in Kate Quinn's line are inspired by specific elements of nature, which is reflected in their names, such as sunshine, peacock, and green apple. "I wanted to create a line that encompassed all the wishes and dreams of new parents: the softest, most natural materials to surround your baby, the highest quality design and construction, and most importantly, the hope of a cleaner, kinder earth," says Kate Quinn on the company's website.
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Like many indigenous peoples, the Sami of Scandinavia have a deeply rooted respect and connect to nature. Keeping a harmonic balance between humans, plants, and animals is the root of their culture, and has been so for thousands of years. From these values, BonnieSiefers established luxurious and affordable eco-clothing line Jonäno in 2005. In their native language, jonäno means "everybody healthy," symbolizing the company's dedication to sustainable fibers and fair trade practices.]]>Our mission is to maintain the essential nature of life by providing exceptional apparel that promotes healthy lifestyles while preserving the environment for future generations. We recognize the need to balance quality and eco-conscious living. This is why our company designs and manufactures stylish organic clothing using certified organic or eco-friendly fabrics and sources according to Fair Trade standards.
Since we announced free wind credits for tip suggestions last week, the tips have been rolling in. Today we'd like to focus on a tip suggested by John of Santa Barbara:]]>
What is the organic cotton market like in Singapore? Quite sparse, according to Belle & Dean. Founded by two savvy Brits, this brand offers no-nonsense clothing for men, women, and babies. After leaving London in 2005, Dean and Issy started B&D, even with their lack of business experience. Not only are they dedicated to using organic cotton for all of their items, their foreign factories all run on strict fair trade principles and seek to benefit the local community of which they are a part . "We take responsibility. We don’t like to turn a blind eye on things. Our clothes are not made by children or in unfair working conditions. Sure, we might pay a little more but it’s what we believe in and it’s what we want to do. And it’s not just in the factory either. The good thing about organic farming our way is that the farmers and pickers are not exposed to harmful chemicals in the field."
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The concept of consumer conservation has been debated to death; we all know that spending money won't solve all of the world's problems. However, do not discount the power of a dollar and how every penny you spend can and should go to companies and organizations that are doing more than just selling sustainable goods. "I think perhaps the most unique thing about our business is that it was envisioned, designed, and created specifically to solve a social and environmental need," says Mike Korchinsky, Founder and CEO of Wildlife Works. Recently launching the brand in the UK with a unique website, Wildlife Works has been a success here in the States since Mike started the San Francisco-based brand in 2001.
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