Turn post-consumer jars into useful, non-toxic drinking containers.
I got these EcoJarz drink tops for my mason jars and I love them. My stainless steel straws fit in them perfectly, although my glass straws don’t fit. They are great for when you’re on the go and great for kids, too. Check them out!
Snippet from the EcoJarz site: “The EcoJarz drink top is a new product that turns any standard mouth canning jar into a to-go mug, allowing you to up-cycle your glass jar into a completely customizable cup. There are hundreds of possibilities, which means that you can use the same lid for a child’s drink cup, a travel mug that fits your cup holder, or an extra-large jar for serious hydration. This affordable lid, which costs less than most water bottles, fits any standard mouth jar – including canning, salsa, spaghetti sauce, and mayonnaise jars.”
Green Valentine
As most holidays, Valentine’s Day is not so green. There is a lot of waste, consumerism, and hype. What are some ways to avoid this? By giving handmade, local, organic, Fair Trade, and eco-friendly gifts.
Choose organic local flowers & Fair Trade organic chocolates. Most flowers for Valentine’s Day are mainly grown in other countries that use harmful chemicals and pesticides. Who wants to bring that into their home? If you’d like to give chocolate, please choose Fair Trade organic chocolate. Most of those mainstream heart shaped boxes of chocolate, come from unethical child labor cocoa fields. If you want to give jewelry, then please choose sustainable jewelry, such as: Christy Robinson, Liza Shtromberg, and on Etsy.
Green Valentine’s Gift Ideas:
• Make your gifts. Be creative and have fun. The recipient will feel special to receive a custom made gift.
• Shop at local craft fairs for unique handmade goods.
• Shop vintage, antique stores, and flea markets
• Instead of giving a material object, try giving them an experience such as a class, event tickets, a membership, spa or massage.
• Cook a meal at home along with some eco-friendly, local, organic wine. Light some soy candles to set the mood.
• If you are planning to give your Valentine a card, please consider recycled cards or plantable seed paper cards. Although, the best form of holiday cards are always e-cards.
Have a green Valentine’s Day!
Have a Green Superbowl Party
How do you have a Superbowl party at home and stay green? Most people opt for the convenience of disposables, and may not want to use their “good” dishes for a party. A trip to the dollar store or discount store can really save you money and you can buy reusable items for future gatherings. Get some ceramic dishes, drinking glasses, cloth napkins, and bamboo or stainless steel serving utensils. You could also buy some kitchen towels and washcloths in place of paper towels to clean up any spills. If any of these items were to get ruined, then it isn’t a big deal. Here are a few tips:
• Use reusable dishes, utensils, napkins, etc…
• Pick up a box of empty jam/jelly Mason jars at the grocery store and use them as drinking glasses.
• Put out pitchers of water instead of individual plastic water bottles.
• Be sure to set up stations for recycling and composting.
• Ask guests to carpool or use public transportation.
• Try to serve healthy snacks. Shop at the farmers market in the morning to serve fresh, local, organic food.
These are just a few ideas. If use must use disposable items, then please buy biodegradable/compostable items. They are becoming more and more available, so keep an eye out for them. Go team!
10 Eco-Friendly, Alternative & DIY Christmas Trees
What is the best eco-friendly option for a Christmas tree? There are several debates between real or fake. Some say real potted trees are the best solution, because most artificial trees contain toxins. So, what if you are allergic to real trees, like me? What are the best solutions for an artificial tree? Here are some trees that I’ve found:
 PossibiliTree® |
 Matteria Eco-Certified Birch Tree |
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 DIY: Recycled Newspaper Trees |
 DIY: Frame Tree tutorial by CB2 blog |
eco-friendly surfboards
Sustainable surf: http://sustainablesurf.org/ Marko Foam: http://www.markofoamblanks.com/ Waste to Waves: http://wastetowaves.org/ envirosurfer: http://www.greensurfshop.com/
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I went to Hawaii a couple months ago and took my first surf lesson. It was fun, and I caught a few waves. I haven’t tried to surf since, and I’m unsure which products I would like to buy. I would have to get a new eco-friendly board or buy a used one. I also need to get an eco-friendly wetsuit. Surfboards are probably the least eco-friendly part of the sport, considering that their polyurethane foam cores, fiberglass wrapping and polyester or epoxy coatings are toxic and petroleum-based, and manufacturing new boards is generally energy-intensive. Sadly, eco-friendly boards are 2-3 times more expensive than the toxic foam boards out there. I did a post a while back about the Waste to Waves program. “Waste to Waves™ is a recycling program developed by nonprofit organization Sustainable Surf, that’s designed to turn waste materials into new, eco-friendlier surfing products. Partners for the initial launch campaign include Reef, SPY Optic, Marko Foam, Surfrider Foundation and Waste Management. This is an awesome program! I prefer not to spend a lot of money, especially for something I don’t know if I will continue to do on a regular basis. Although, I would rather get products that have a lower environmental impact. The search continues, and I will let you know which surfboard I decide to get. For now, I will probably just rent one until I get the hang of it. |
Planet Earth Eco-Friendly Luggage
Planet Earth Eco-Friendly Luggage is innovatively designed eco-friendly luggage, travel ware and eco-friendly backpacks inspired by the series Planet Earth on the Discovery Channel. The fabrics are made of low toxic low chemical polyester and nylon, recycled blended PET, sustainable cotton and bamboo.
I have one of the Planet Earth suitcases and I absolutely love it. The quality is superb and there is plenty of storage. If you’re looking for new luggage, check out Planet Earth luggage.
Eco-friendly Eyewear by ICU
Complete your summer outfit with a pair of eco-friendly sunglasses by ICU Eyewear. The “Sun Eco Collection” glasses are made from reclaimed plastic. ICU also has reading glasses made from reclaimed plastic, recycled metal and sustainable bamboo.
ICU Eyewear is committed to giving back. Every year, ICU Eyewear donates thousands of reading glasses to those in need, all over the world.
Their prices are extremely affordable, and there are many styles to choose from. I have a couple pair of sunglasses and the quality is superb. Check them out!
ttp://www.icueyewear.com/icu/sunglasses/sun-eco-collection
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Brelli: Eco-Friendly Umbrella
The Asian umbrella was the inspiration behind the design of the BRELLI. It was designed and engineered to be a beautiful, strong and quality umbrella! The BRELLI is not just another eco-umbrella, it maintains the highest level of integrity when it comes to protecting you and the planet.
It is not only the perfect clear rain umbrella, it is designed to be wind resistant to 40MPH. The canopy is made from 100% biodegradable plastic and the frame is made from sustainable renewable bamboo. Every BRELLI comes with its own custom cotton carrying case for easy handling and storage.
I have a small one, which works, but some people might feel it needs to be a little larger. The small seems great for a child. It is easy to open and comes with a nifty carrying case.
+ Made using bamboo, organic cotton, and a biodegradable biofilm
+ Super strong design – tested to sustain 40 mph winds
+ Great for rain or sun with UV A / B protection
+ Handmade in Thailand
+ 100% biodegradable umbrella
All Wild Co. Organic Baby Linens & Clothing
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I’ve found some many wonderful shops on etsy, and I would like to help promote them. Supporting small businesses is essential, as well as shopping local. Since shopping local can be challenging at times, it is good to know that there are wonderful alternatives out there like etsy.
This shop is called the Green Thread Shop. It features a line of organic baby linens and clothing called All Wild Co. These designs are unique, stylish, and fun.
“All Wild Co. creates organic baby linens and apparel. They take great care in producing each item – we hand-dye, hand-print and appliqué to create original designs. Only high quality organic fabrics are used, which are free from pesticides, water-based inks for printing and low-impact dyes for dyeing.”
http://www.etsy.com/shop/AllWildCo?ref=pr_shop_more
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Okabashi: Wear. Re-wear. Recycle.
I purchased my first pair of Okabashi flip flops and I absolutely love them! They are the most comfortable thongs that I’ve ever worn. I noticed the comfort immediately and I didn’t want to take them off. I can’t wear flats because I need a little bit of an arch and heel for my feet. The Okabashi Splash flip flops give me everything I need, plus they are eco-friendly.
Okabashi sandals and shoes are made in Buford, GA using a zero-waste production process. Their products are made of Microplast, which is comfortable, durable, washable, vegan-friendly, and 100% recyclable – a feature combination that is extremely rare in the footwear industry. Their designs are based on the studies of reflexology, support, and proper body alignment. Okabashi is dedicated to overall wellness, delivering shoes that are both good for you and good for the planet.
