Written on
January 29, 2009 by
SusanC
Alright, so it’s the dead of winter and the majority of us are stuck indoors peering out our windows at gray skies and dirty snow. The warm glow sparked in our hearts from those early chilly days that ushered fresh and pristine winter wonderlands to our front doors is long gone, and we can’t help but begin to feel a little glum on the inside. More than even just a dreary attitude, though, I think it is safe to say that I’m not the only one suffering from a stuffy nose and dry skin.
With this in mind I have decided that it is the perfect time for a little pampering… the green way!
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Written on
January 26, 2009 by
SusanC
Congratulations! to sito, commenter #112. You are the winner of our EcoStore USA giveaway!
Thanks to everyone for participating, and remember to check out Ecostore USA’s great line of eco-friendly products for your home and beauty needs.
Also be sure to check out Anne’s great post below, laden with tips on how to stay warm (and green!) during these winter months.
Happy! Monday, all.
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Written on
January 19, 2009 by
SusanC
Why is it that beauty products are seldom packaged in recyclable containers?
Even when their containers are plastic, they seldom have recognizable recycling symbols on them. Sometimes they have what I assume are European symbols on them.
Did you know that this symbol:
The German ‘Green Dot’, has no environmental significance at all? It only means that the manufacturer has paid a fee towards the packaging recovery system in Germany.
Is the beauty industry too upmarket to put the little triangle on the bottom of their packaging? Do they think their little packages would make the symbol too tiny to read?
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Written on
January 12, 2009 by
SusanC
What better way to start the second full week of the new year than with a great review and giveaway for some helpful green home and beauty products?
This review and giveaway comes courtesy of Ecostore USA, whose eco-friendly, plant-based household cleaning products are as effective as the leading supermarket brands, and their body and baby care products are gentle on your skin, natural, and non-toxic.
From Ecostore’s website:
All of our products are made from plant and mineral-based ingredients, free of toxic chemicals that bring people closer to nature with non-toxic, environmentally safe solutions that also help to reduce our carbon footprint.
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Written on
January 2, 2009 by
SusanC
Here are 5 posts from elsewhere that had us thinking this week, to help start your new year off a bit greener. Happy! 2009.
Monday CNN ran an article discussing the business and potential profit (both economically and for the planet) of sustainable farming and green industry. Here’s an excerpt from the article, though the full length version is definitely worth a read:
But a complex mix of push and pull factors are making environmental business practices increasingly attractive to investors and with that, some say, providing fresh hope for a planet in trouble.
Not only are the emerging markets for alternative power booming — and corporate efficiency initiatives looking more attractive — as fossil fuel prices rise, but many companies are also increasingly aware that there are real costs associated with doing nothing.
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If you have been paying attention to the news reports on buying safe toys this holiday season, you’ve probably heard about phthalates.
Pronounced tha-lates (or sometimes thay-lates), this group of chemicals has been shown to disrupt hormones in laboratory animals. Fetal exposure to phthalates has also been linked to reproductive diseases later in life in baby girls. Fetal exposure has also been associated with decreased ano-genital distance in baby boys, leading the lead researcher to charge phthalates with causing the “feminization” of baby boys (this research has been challenged by other scientists).
A recent study found occupational exposure to hairspray by pregnant hairdressers and others doubled their risk of having baby boys born with the genital defect hypospadias (where the opening for the urinary tract is not located at the tip of the penis).
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Written on
November 28, 2008 by
SusanC
This week’s Recycled Note Of The Week comes from My Good Greetings, whose beautifully designed custom photo cards, invitations and stationary are printed on 100% recycled, carbon neutral paper which is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certified.
My Good Greetings uses 100% digital short-run presses which significantly reduce paperwaste and emit 90% less Volatile Organic Compounds. What does that mean, exactly?
It means that when you send a unique and creative Good Greetings card, not only will the card be well received, you will know that you’ve made another good choice for the global environment.
In addition to their customizable cards for all occasions, My Good Greetings.com also recently announced a new line of Earth Baby Announcements, and I’m verily loving the simple green-centric designs:
Announce your baby in Eco-Friendly style with our exclusive designs from Earth Baby Announcements.
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After my son’s first surgery in January, I stepped back and took a good long look at all facets of my life, which resulted in an epiphany of sorts. Days later I quit my job and started my own eco-friendly business to devote more time to my kids.
Once I walked away from the rat race my creativity soared and I started to invest more time researching how to be more environmentally conscious. I took the next step. And then another, and another, until I was making as many improvements in our daily lives as I was to our home.
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Autumn brings the best and the worst in the same season. Long before the official beginning of fall, I am ready for the sweaters and the jeans. Reborn with the crisp morning air as I wake up, I long to snuggle into my warm comfy sheets at night. By far I am more peaceful (than usual) this time of year.
However, as the cooler temps bring me pleasure, they also bring me pain. I have seasonal allergies that irritate my sinuses when the leaves start to die and the mold count climbs. In the past, I have relied on prescription nasal decongestants to get me through.
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Written on
October 7, 2008 by
SusanC
The bathroom is often regarded as a sanctuary of the family home: a place to unwind in a hot shower, pamper oneself with a spa treatment, or simply take care of business in relative privacy. Unfortunately, however, the average American bathroom has become a haven of chemical exposure, housing a variety of personal care products that may be harmful to your health.
Just how toxic is your bathroom? To date, 89% of the 10,500 ingredients used in personal care products have not been evaluated for safety by the FDA, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (an in-house panel appointed by the cosmetics industry), or anyone else.
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