Green Options » Reviews

Fun Shopping for Green Office Supplies

Lucille Chi — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:12:55 +0000

“an office products industry where human and ecological health are the sole byproducts of operation. To this end we help consumers align values with action by providing a full selection of sustainable office products at great prices.”

TheGreenOffice.com is dedicated to modeling the best-practices of sustainability and here are several steps they’ve taken in the name of

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Designer Mariouche Turns Controversial Fur Green

Delia Montgomery — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 03:59:40 +0000

Time for fall/winter fashions and when it comes to staying warm in freezing temperatures, the eco-minded public feels left in the cold by more than the weather. There aren’t many choices beyond synthetics. So what’s the solution?

The answer lies in one’s moral perspective on what constitutes a sustainably made garment. Some find it strange when a petroleum-based synthetic is praised while natural materials like fur and wool are condemned.

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Fab Find :: On-The-Go Pampering Made To Order!

Stancie Wilson — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:18:55 +0000

Have I mentioned I’m a lip balm addict??? Yes, I do confess. I have more lip balms than I can count on two hands, but you won’t find me recommending every lip product on the planet. Because frankly, I do have my standards. They must not be greasy, disappear in a few minutes or be filled to the brim (or at all) with any petrochem nasties, artificial color or flavor.

But this is not a balm or gloss, it’s a lip conditioner perfect when in need of a little (or a lot) on-the-go pampering! When you’re in a suit or a cocktail dress, do you really want to be seen pulling out your ninety-nine cents tube of (hopefully not petroletum filled) lip balm? I didn’t think so. Why?

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Travel Green - The Kimpton’s Hotel Palomar

Courtney Carlisle — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:25:16 +0000

Not only is the new Kimpton hotel in Los Angeles exceptionally stylish, but it’s also very eco-chic from the in-room recycling to the locally and organic sourced ingredients at the restaurant.

Immediately upon arriving, I was greeted by lovely hotel staff serving complimentary local organic wines at the Kimpton’s standard happy hour in the very comfortable lobby.

Kimpton hotels recently received the California Environmental Protection Agency’s highest ecological honor, the Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award, which is given to businesses that focus on preserving the state’s resources.

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Famous Footwear Evolution: Cool Shoes Made of 100% Recyclable “Plastic”

Lucille Chi — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 18:19:04 +0000

This is the story of Melissa, the sexiest Brazilian plastic shoemaker, that makes 100% recyclable “plastic” eco-footwear with all their brilliant shoes made with MELFLEX (mono-material which can be dissassembled and recycled). To understand the history of the organization, and how it transformed, check out the about page which explains the evolution of the company from the eighties, nineties, to now, becoming all recyclable.

They explain more about their manufacturing processes from their factory direct:

What is MELFLEX?
For years now, the biggest challenge has been to develop a material which could be easily molded to the foot, providing superior comfort in relation to other products currently on the market. This formula was developed in MELISSA’s laboratories. The result is a composition called MELFLEX. This material has characteristics which provide improved elasticity, impermeability and resistance. Its formula contains products which are hypoallergenic and 100% safe to your health.
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Simply Gorgeous and Sexy Organic Fall Fashion Looks by Habitude

Lucille Chi — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 21:34:36 +0000

From Habitude’s About page:

We’re a design-oriented company with a strong belief in protecting and respecting the earth’s natural resources through all of our business and personal choices. Our aim is to offer sustainability AND style to the eco-conscious consumer.

Habitude founder, Laura Chapuis states: “By 2005, I’d been working in the fashion industry eight years and I was finding it less and less meaningful. So, after 10 years studying and working in New York, I packed up and moved south to Texas.” When she landed in Texas and learned that most of the organic cotton grown in this country is grown there, it felt like serendipity. She said, “like finally, here was the time and the place to do what I’d always wanted to do . . .” In addition, Laura mentions her fondness of the Gandhi quote “be the change you wish to see in the world.”

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Organic Fragrance Mists :: A Bottle Of Olfactory Bliss.

Emma Pezzack — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:58:25 +0000

Made with sustainably farmed ingredients grown exlusively in Hawaii, these Malie Organic Aroma Mists are to-die-for. The scents are all steam-distilled directly from indigenous plants and flowers to produce a hydrosol that is the very essence of the source. Plumeria smells exactly like burying your face in a franjipani bloom; the coconut is fresh; the vanilla is local and indigenous; mango nectar smells juicy and freshly peeled; Koke’e is straight out of the rain forest. Because the mists don’t contain any of the chemical binders that make the scent last a long time on your skin, you do have to spray more often. Small price to pay if you think about it for not spritzing yourself with endocrine disruptors and petrochemicals. Designed for use around the home, for freshening linens, and you. The best thing about them? You can spray liberally and often … DELICIOUS.

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Organic Flower Power

Delia Montgomery — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 19:54:14 +0000

Early 2007 Organic Bouquet CEO Gerald Prolman predicted that by Valentine’s Day 2012, the U.S. market for environmentally-friendly flowers will exceed $100 million, as Americans spent $230 billion each year on environmentally responsible purchases. In 2005 the U.S. organic market was estimated to be worth $14.6 billion in annual sales, growing at approximately 17% per year. Clearly, this is not a passing fad as organic flowers are now the fastest growing sector of the non-food organic market.

Organic Bouquet, based in San Rafael, California, was successfully launched nationwide in August 2002. The business originated with the goal to establish the national market for organic flowers. But cofounder Prolman said it was hard convincing growers to convert. However thankfully, the pursuits of combined commitments, charitable fund-raising partnerships, and determination resulted in a reliable certified organic distribution system.

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AIA Launches “GreenStep” Video Series

Dawn Killough — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 16:51:50 +0000

The American Institute of Architects recently launched its “GreenStep” online video series. The series presents short episodes on several green building topics. It is meant for those planning new buildings or the renovation of existing buildings, and shows how architects can help clients address their green concerns.

The schedule for the release of the videos is as follows:

Greenstep 1: Water Conservation - already posted.
Greenstep 2: Smart Controls - already posted.
Greenstep 3: Radiant Heating and Cooling - already posted.
Greenstep 4: Vegetation for Sun Control - already posted.
Greenstep 5: The Whole Building Approach - September 2
Greenstep 6: Green Tags - September 15
Greenstep 7: Energy Modeling - September 29
Greenstep 8: Green Roofs - October 13
Greenstep 9: Daylighting - October 27
Greenstep 10: Choosing Green Materials - November 10
Greenstep 11: Carbon Offsets - November 24
Greenstep 12: Deconstruction - December 8

Links to the videos can be found at http://www.aia.org/walkthewalk/.

News Alert :: Glycols Go Green And Ecocert Certified!

Emma Pezzack — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 20:21:41 +0000

Propylene and butylene glycol are two of the worst toxic ingredients quietly slipped into almost all of our conventional beauty products. God knows how they ever got there in the first place! Well, actually I have several opinions on that subject but another time… Just so you know, these petrochemicals are used for things like anti-freeze (in your car battery), polyurethane (plastics) and as an emollient in your moisturizer, lipstick, foundation, etc… you get the picture.

THIS IS A BIG DEAL… In collaboration with Lyle Bioproducts, DuPont have just released a new corn-sugar based glycol alternative to the petrochemical by-product currently used for cosmetics. Certified natural by French certification body Ecocert, this quantifies the ingredient has 95% natural and 10% organic composition. As well, the production of this new ingredient known as Zemea (presumably after the generic name for corn which is zea mays), leads to a 50% drop in greenhouse gas emissions as well as a 40% reduction in the use of petroleum.

One day at a time, one step at a time … what an amazing leap forward for the whole beauty industry.

Get In Touch With Your Inner Glamazon!

Emma Pezzack — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:12:40 +0000

The girls over at Organic Beauty View have just previewed the official launch of the latest makeup collection from Aveda. Shown here are three hot new looks from the Uruku Makeup Collection. New formulas, new shades and all 100% color from the earth. Aveda has collaborated with the Yawanawa people in the Amazon to organically & sustainably grow urukum and annatto - two rich color pigments used by the tribes for faces, eyes and lips. With a product lineup that includes sheer moisturizing lipsticks, long-wearing crease resistant eye colors, cheek & lip glow, eye & lip liners there are no excuses for not rocking your inner organic glamazon! Get the look now.

Image credit: Aveda Website - Uruku Collection

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Green Diva’s Guide to Fresh Style: Bottles 2 Bags

Megan McWilliams — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 18:12:09 +0000

Product Review: Act2 GreenSmart’s Bottles 2 Bags - Bright Green Laptop Sidebag

I really do like almost all the products I get samples of, but occasionally I get one that exceeds my expectations. This bag is one of them.

I’m not sure what I expected exactly, but from the image, I thought I would get a stiff, green shoulder/side bag that’s greatest quality would be that it is made from recycled plastic bottles (rPET).

As is often the case, a lot happens (at least in my world, no doubt for the rest of the world too) between the initial communications about a review and a sample being sent out and the actual receiving of the sample. That and the fact that my memory is a little shifty sometimes creates a really fun package opening celebration. My family will ask, “Mom, what is it?” And I honestly, usually don’t know, although if I look carefully at most labels, I can figure it out, but I restrain myself, because I love the mystery of not knowing as I marvel at some of the great and not-so-great green packaging people are coming up with these days.

Okay, that was a long setup, sorry . . . when this package came in yesterday, I pretended not to know what it was to enhance the thrill a bit, but when I opened up the recycled paper package, my daughter and I both squealed with delight. First of all the green color on this bag is much better in person. When I liberated it from the packaging, I was struck by how surprisingly soft and pliable the fabric was.

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Lingerie Party

Lucille Chi — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 05:00:19 +0000

MAS Holdings, Sri Lanka’s biggest apparel company, has a new lingerie factory backed by Marks & Spencer (M&S), who is one of their best clients. The undergarment factory uses 40% less energy than a factory of the same size and the electricity is from renewable sources like 10% from on-site solar panels and the other 90% from hydro-power plant energy. MAS is reported to be the world’s first carbon-neutral clothes factory.
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Can Your Jewelry Save the Earth? Ours Can! Part II

Talancia Shelvin — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 21:26:53 +0000

I know many people (including myself) think the United Nations recognized “world’s worst humanitarian crisis” occurring in Darfur is far greater than their contributions. We’ve all seen the devastation featured on the nightly news, newspaper articles and television commercials. And wanted to do something but didn’t know where to start. Well, Relief Beads, a grassroots campaign, is giving us an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of more than 2.5 million refugees that were tragically separated from their families because of genocide , violence and disease.

They are selling handcrafted, original bracelets made from sand in Ghana, Africa to further support the humanitarian efforts of Relief International, an independent, non-profit organization providing necessary medical care, counseling and educational courses to thousands of women and children in Darfur. Relief International’s programs are essential to the recovery of this war-torn country.

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How to Avoid the Card and Wrap Trap

Delia Montgomery — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 05:55:32 +0000

What is a card or wrap trap? A waste of resources that eventually cost more than money! Most people spend special occasion and holiday funds on ultimate trash when they buy conventional cards, gift wrapping paper and ribbon. Such items are rarely recycled and cause an excessive landfill burden, especially during December.

Perhaps you’ve noticed gift and holiday supplies proudly claiming recycled, post-consumer, chlorine-free, or tree-free? Sounds nice, but are you confused? Most consumers are when trying to decipher it all. Frustrations peak when claims are misleading.

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Green Fashion Spotlight on Mainstream Brands like Banana Republic, Nike, and H&M Organics

Lucille Chi — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 20:18:58 +0000

Many mainstream brands with savvy designers are releasing environmentally conscious organic lines for fall. Displayed above from left to right:

H&M’s expanded their organic collection, which includes shirts (like this light purple horse sketch top shown first), scarves, jackets and pants for women, men, and children. A preview of the fall designs may be viewed in the Green Daily gallery.

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Earth to Musicians: STING’s Amazing Rainforest Foundation

Lucille Chi — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 06:43:57 +0000

More than two decades ago, rock star Sting, and his wife, Trudie Styler, created The Rainforest Foundation and over the last 20 years it has expanded and diversified. There is the New York-based Rainforest Foundation Fund, backed by Sting, which provides funding for three branches - Rainforest Foundation US, Rainforest Foundation Norway, Rainforest Foundation UK (together they directly support projects in more than 20 countries that protect tropical rainforests and the people that live there)…

Every year an area of rainforest the size of England and Wales is cut down. This leaves local people homeless, drives animals and plants to extinction and releases more CO2 emissions (which cause climate change), than all of the world’s planes, trains and automobiles. Tropical deforestation is an issue that affects us all. ~The Rainforest Foundation

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Cindy Crawford and Her Goal to Help Teach America About Water Consumption

Lucille Chi — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 21:34:44 +0000

Supermodel and mom Cindy Crawford is reducing the number of plastic water bottles that end up in landfills.

Cindy teamed up with PUR Water Filtration Systems, and designed a limited edition reusable water bottle bearing the slogan “Thirsty for Change“, with all proceeds going to help decrease water related diseases in developing countries. She aims to teach America about water consumption, and by doing so, hopes to impact the world…

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Eco Fashion World

Lucille Chi — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 05:38:07 +0000

Check out the new Eco Fashion World site. EFW knows, “just like the first industrial revolution started in the fashion industry, so will the second that leads us to sustainability.” —Cradle to Cradle, Michael Braungart and William McDonough. EFW realizes that we are all linked, from “New York to New Delhi, Paris to Pakistan, Brazil to Bangladesh, Vancouver to Vietnam, by the very strings of our garments.”

The Eco Fashion World glossary is an exemplary resource! Take a look. The site is filled with inspiring green styles, expert advice and brilliant budding blogs.“Get the scoop on sustainable style, browse our unique and quickly expanding eco fashion guide and get inspired by the true visionaries in our magazine.” Shown here on the cover is a Lelia Hafzi gown design.

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Sexy Green Menswear Hot Out of New York City

Lucille Chi — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 00:39:00 +0000

Mottainai is a line of menswear that embraces organic denims, all natural vegetable dyes, korozo nut buttons, organic Italian cotton shirting fabrics, organic cotton knits, and small-scale production in Brooklyn and Manhattan.

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