Eco Cleaners that are Truly "ECO"

We can all do are part to help our air quality and let's hope you start in our own home. Below are some eco-friendly alternatives to you everyday cleaners. The Mint Window Cleaner by Method Home is amazing! AND did you know that conventional glass cleaners can contain potentially nerve-damaging chemicals like butyl cellosolve and ammonia??? I know - scary, huh!

Method Mint Window Cleaner try instead of Windex.
Earth Friendly Furniture Polish never usePledge again.
Caldrea Powdered Scrub no more need for Ajax.
Seventh Generation Chlorine-Free Bleach is the new bleach.
Mrs. Meyer's Countertop Cleaner use it just like 409.
Safe Home Products SH-Mop better than your old Swiffer mop.
Starfiber Miracle Cloth use them just like your old Lysol Wipes.

Girl Put Your Records On!

Recycled LP Coasters

LP Coasters are each created from an original record, which has been trimmed to frame the label with a thin ring of black vinyl. Each coaster is double-sided (as were records) and laminated to protect the labels from moisture and to prevent scuffs on furniture. Coaster sets are comprised of six assorted vintage record labels and packed in a clear round box. Assorted labels only (sorry, no choice of artist or genre). 4" dia. Made in USA.

Price: $19.95

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YOU can make a difference!

Thanks to globalization our world is becoming smaller and it is more apparent how intertwined actions and habits of ALL people are playing out on our planet. Most people don't think it really helps if they recycle, consume less energy, or become an advocate for their planet because they feel as though it is just them (1 person) doing it. Honestly, one single person is the key! Every great idea started with 1 person. Everyone must put aside the feeling of being the only one doing it and simply do all they can to reduce their carbon footprint, energy consumption, global impact, and before you know it, the actions of all humanity combined will create a dramatic and tangible change in the green movement of the planet. What are you waiting for? Get started today!

How much greener are soy inks?

Q. What’s so great about soy-based ink? I didn’t even know regular ink was bad for the environment. –Aimee, Tulsa OK

A. Soy-based inks do have a smaller environmental impact than do traditional, petroleum-based inks, says Sevim Erhan, PhD, a Department of Agriculture chemist who researched soy ink as part of the USDA’s attempt to address a soybean surplus in the 1980s and 90s. Manufacturing traditional ink is a pretty dirty business—it produces a lot of pollutants called volatile organic compounds, or VOC’s. Soy ink produces a lot less. Plus, when it comes time to recycle, paper printed with soy ink is a lot easier to de-ink, and anything that makes recycling less energy-intensive and more cost effective is a good thing.

It’s worth noting, though, that most inks out there labeled with the “SoySeal” do have at least some petroleum-based oil in them, and that the actual soy content in some types might be as little as 6 or 7 percent, according to the labeling standards set up by the American Soybean Council. Newspapers can actually be easily be printed with a high soybean oil content ink; 90 percent of US papers choose it—probably not because they’re particularly environmentally-conscious, but because it’s a practical, affordable option for them. Greeting cards, wrapping paper, and posters also lend themselves to soy-ink-printing. We’ve even heard tell of soy-based tattoos. Magazine printing, on the other hand, is less soy-friendly. Since the magazine-compatible soy inks on the market today contain pretty high percentages of petroleum, Plenty has elected to forgo soy ink for our print magazine for the time being. We use soy-ink for all of our office stuff, though!

But a good general rule of thumb is to choose soy-based inks over petroleum-base ones, whenever possible. Fewer VOC’s will wind up in the atmosphere, and you’ll be helping to make it easier to recycle paper.

Reposted from: http://www.plentymag.com/ask/2008/09/soy_ink.php

Eco-inquiries, conundrums, snafus? Write to askplenty@plentymag.com.

MORE INFO:

Greening Your Printing: Getting Started

Greening Your Printing: The Wrap-Up

Greening Your Printing: Inks

Organic Shirts by Blue Canoe

Get dressed once and go thought the day. Blue Canoe. Simply designed, organically grown cotton clothing with an effortless sense of style. Never leave your comfort zone.

Swirl Tee S244
The colorful swirls on our first graphic tee were artist designed especially for Blue Canoe. Printed on our ever-popular tissue tee. Lightweight 90/10 organic cotton/spandex. Latex free. Available in 3 colors (black, cornflower, and palm).

Price $39

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Organic Shoes - yay hooray!

Simple 'Cushee' Flip Flops

Simple uses sustainable textiles such as recycled plastics, organic cotton, cork, hemp, jute, bamboo, recycled tires and inner tubes, natural rubber crepe, latex and felted wool to make their shoes.

In addition, they respect internationally recognized human rights and environmental standards and place them at the core of their business practices.

* Hemp webbing uppers

* Wavy EVA topsole

* EVA midsole

* Recycled rubber outsole for durability

* This shoe contains no animal byproducts or even regular animal products ¦ vegan and veggie friendly.

* Uses water-based cements

* Colors: Sand with Blush or Chocolate with Adriatic Blue

* Ships in a biodegradable bag - dig it, bury it, buh-bye

* 100% post consumer paper pulp foot forms

* Available in whole sizes only ¦ If between sizes go 1/2 size up.

Price $25.00

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just ordered a Dell Mini!

I just ordered a Dell Mini in jade-green. I can take my blogging home with me now :) I can not wait to get it. I will blog about it once I get it. It is scheduled to ship June 16th. Not really sure why it will take that long but I am really excited for it to get here.

Includes: Inspiron 910 Intel Atom processor N270, 1.6GHz, 533Mhz512K L2 Cache, JADE GREEN Color with Gloss Finish, GB DDR2 SDRAM,1 DIMM, 8.9 inch Wide Screen WSVGA TLLCD, Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 950, 16GB Solid State Drive (mini-card Module/PATA), Genuine Windows XP Home Edition, Dell Video Chat, Dell Support Center Software 32 Bit 2.0, You have chosen a Windows XP System, Box.net online backup and filesharing 1.0, Windows Live Search,Multiple User Interface, ADOBE READER 9.0 MULTI- LANGUAGE, Base LCD Assembly, Wireless 802.11g Mini Card, Integrated 1.3M Pixel Webcam, Dell WebCam Central, Norton Internet Security 30-Day, Multi-Language, 32WHr 4-cell Battery, No ISP requested, Microsoft Works 9.0, English For Inspiron, Dell Hardware Warranty Plus Onsite Service, Initial Year, At Home Service, 24x7 TechnicalSupport, Initial Year, Soft Contracts - Banctec, 1 Year Limited Warranty, No Warranty, Year 2 and 3, Warranty Support,Initial Year, Standard On-Site Installation Declined, S and P Drop-in-Box Marcom forDHS Notebooks, Non-WWAN Base in Green

Recycled Candy-Wrapper Purse

This adorably chic shoulder bag has it all - spacious interior, colorful exterior, and functional shoulder strap to bring you from day to night. An essential for any Ecoist - Don't leave home without it. Made by Ecoist.


• Made from recycled newspapers coated with cellophane.

• Strong, sturdy, and water resistant.

• Plastic shoulder strap

• Zip close. Self-lined.

• 10L x 5H x 1.5W (inches)

Price $48
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Organic Wine?

There is no better way to relax and unwind than with a glass of wine. I know it's my favorite way

to de-stress after a busy day. And now you can go green with your wine! Trader Joes carries organic Chardonnay. I already loved Trader Joes and if I lived closer to one would probably go every day, but as for now I'm happy with every few months. When I go, I buy products by the case, including wine :o) As for the taste, well, it's not my favorite (I like the sweet red wines best), but it's organic so I feel good drinking it.

Say NO to bubble wrap & YES to GreenWrap!

Staples has a new 'green' line for packing called CareMail. i love GreenWrap - it's a plastic-free Bubble Wrap made of recylcled paper! This is a plastic free substitute to bubble cushioning. A 26' long roll is available at Staples for $11.99.

FREE quirky blog designs

Get a FREE blog page (yes, truly free)! or if you are in the mood for a quirky blog design of your own, i have the perfect company to do the work for you. Quirky Bird designs your blog around YOU! i promise, staci, the owner and head designer is phenomenal when it comes to knowing just what design fits your personality and style. she is talented, intelligent, and just quirky enough to get it all done for you. she is the 'whole package' you've been looking for. oh, and did i mention she also designs amazing ecommerce websites?

-> visit quirky bird for a custom blog design here.

personalized pacifiers - oh my!

MyPacifier personalized pacifiers are quickly becoming the choice of Hollywood stars! Most any style of pacifier is avaiable and are made of the highest quality. You can personalize them with any name or text you desire. Your text is permanently imprinted. These make a wonderful gift at only $15 for a set of three (3)!

buy them at: http://www.mypacifier.com/

Amenity Design Duvets & Pillows.

modern organic living

I love the idea of sleeping 'organically'. LA design duo Nicole Chiala and Kristina de Corpo design eco-friendly objects of high quality that reflect the warmth and beauty of nature. They have some very chic designs!! This has gorgeous color & design. It's given my bedroom a whole new feel. Too pretty to want to eat in bed :)

buy it here: http://www.amenityhome.com/

FREE 5 PAGE WEBSITE DESIGN

Yes, i know, hard to believe isn't it? Actually, I have worked with Marcia with another site she has and she is wonderful. Check her out at: FREE 5 PAGE WEBSITE DESIGN

Maddison Avenue: eco friendly soy candles

It should be important to all homeowners to burn only non-toxic soy candles in their home. With everyone all the hype of being environmentally conscious, soy candles are the way to go. MACC soy candles are clean burning and eco friendly. We have been burning Maddison Avenue soy candles for many years. They are nothing short of amazing!

Maddison Avenue has a HUGE list of fragrances! Something like 160 different aromas. That's the hard part. Which scent to buy.?.?

I am burning their 10oz Travel Tin Soy Candle in my office right now. The scent is Pomegranate Passion. It is fruity and lovely. I also love their Pink Grapefruit, Hazelnut Latte, Lemon Chiffon, and Lemongrass Bergamot. Theie fragranced soy candles smell true to there name. None have had that fake/cheap smell to them. I even enjoy smelling them on my desk before they are lit. It calms me for the day and brings a smile to my face.

I was very impressed with the quality of their soy candles. Their Travel Tin Soy Candle comes in three convenient sizes - 2 oz, 4 oz and 10 oz.

My favorite style container is the Spa Tumbler Soy Candles. They are beautiful and go with all room deco styles. All three of my kids love the scents of these candles in their homes too.

These soy candles are hand poured in Illinois and made with pure soybean wax and lead free wicks. Each soy candle is hand poured and hand labeled.

I am a huge fan of these all natural, biodegradable soy candles from Maddison Avenue. They contain absolutely NO toxic materials and are perfect for any home. I love their clean simplicity and true aromas. There is not one candle that was sent to me that I don't think is out of this world. What a classy company that cares about Mother Earth!