Green Options

I am NOT a coffee addict.

Am not.

But I dare say I might become one.

I do enjoy a good cup of coffee, but caffeine sometimes makes me edgy.  Though I have managed to mostly avoid the lure of Starbucks, I have been known to indulge in a white chocolate mocha at Second Cup, or a French Vanilla at Tim Horton’s… and don’t get me started about Iced Cappucino in the summer!!

Then I read 5 Ways to Green Your Coffee and I got the itch.

So I bought myself a french press and some fresh-ground, organic, Fair Trade coffee.  And I just had to share a little about the company behind my coffee.

Still on a plant fiber kick, this week I’ve come back to cotton. It isn’t recycled this time but an honest to goodness 100% organic cotton. This lovely yarn from Estelle Yarns is certified organic and comes in wide range of sturdy colors.

Cloud Cotton is available in dyed and undyed. The dyed cotton ranges from bright spring greens to soothing blues. The undyed cotton is natural looking browns and neutrals.

Jacob Malthouse doesn’t have a plan to make a profit. His business, Big Room,Inc. has just released its first product, ecolabeling .org to address a need in the market, a need for some way to make sense out of all the labels making green claims… not to make money.

Spoken like a true social entrepreneur, I told Jacob when I spoke with him this week.

Ecolabeling.org addresses the challenge that many of us have: What do all of these certifications, seals of approval, standards and verifications actually mean. Is it truly green or is it just greenwashing? The independent database of over 300 labels (and growing) seeks to provide a one stop site for information on all types of green labels.

When I decided to start my own business, I knew that I wanted it to be green. Of course, my definition of green could be quite different from everyone else’s. There are varying shades of green, which makes it very difficult to quantify or define. Perhaps this is why there are so many different green certifications, seals, labels, and standards out there. With the dizzying array of options for green and sustainable certification available, it’s hard for a business owner to decide which certifier to use or if it’s even worth bothering at all.

Since I’m trying to start a graphic design studio, I started by searching for a green certification agency that specialized in creative services. It seems that many of the certifiers lack standards for service-based businesses, as most focus on products. The only design specific green “certification” that I found was the Design Can Change Pledge, a voluntary pledge for designers who commit to move towards sustainable practices. The site includes many ideas for going green as well as a great introduction to what sustainability in graphic design means, but doesn’t offer certification for green design businesses. As of yet, there’s no LEED for the graphic design industry.

Often one of the earlier decisions that eco-entrepreneurs make is whether or not to seek certification. Depending on your industry there are a variety of certifications. Those considered most meaningful and trustworthy (but, not always) include:

Energy Star -for appliances and electronics

USDA Organic Seal - for food and personal care items among others

Green Seal - for household cleaning products

Forest Stewardship Council - for wood and paper products

Fair Trade Mark – for a variety of products

Unfortunately there are also look-a-likes too, such as: Sustainable Forestry Initiative – developed by the timber industry. In fact many, if not most, large companies and trade groups have put together coalitions, certifications and labeling standards that appear to stamp products as, “green” when they perhaps only mean… trying to be green at best and greenwashing at worst.

Denim, jeans, dungarees - whatever you want to call them, those traditional indigo pants are an iconic part of American culture, like Chervolet trucks and apple pie. Finding the right pair of jeans is often a nightmare, especially for women, thanks to the variety of cuts and brands available.

We've all been schooled on the benefits of organic cotton, but eco-friendly denim is still often quite pricey, usually ranging from $150-350 a pair. Hailing from

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