Iceland is Hot

Date: November 30, 2007 | Category: Lifestyle, Travel & Leisure

Each summer I go to Iceland with an amazing group of the world’s top Cradle-to-Cradle thinkers, and I think this oft-overlooked country deserves some serious props (and not just for the northern lights). A landscape that once was littered with smoke from the burning of coal is now pristine - since Iceland has turned to cleaner sources of energy. In 2006 .1% of their electricity came from fossil fuels! Over 70% of of their total energy comes from renewable sources and over 99% of all electricity is either geothermic or hydroelectric in origin. Iceland is a world leader in alternative energy sources and is a shining example (literally) of its advantages. To learn more, click here. Better get there while Vatnajokull is still Europe’s largest ice cap.

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Burt’s is the Bees Knees

Date: November 30, 2007 | Category: Beauty, Body Care

Within the last month, the organic cosmetic company, Burt’s Bees, was sold to Clorox for $925 million dollars, cash. With projected sales to surpass $170m in 2007, this eco-company founded in 1984 in Maine easily gained attention from the heavy hitters, and eventually Clorox picked them up. Clorox CEO Donald Knauss said, “This acquisition allows us to enter a growing market that’s consistent with consumer megatrends.” Besides being an eco-company that solely uses natural ingredients, invests in alternative energy, and has a sustainable mission, Burt’s makes awesome products like their Lip Shimmer line. This is their classic lip balm, replete with tingling post-application sensations and healing powers, and bonus - a tinted color. Ecofabulous tends to like our organic champagnes so it is no surprise that we can’t get enough of Burt’s “Champagne” hue.

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ecofabulous Gift Guide

Date: November 29, 2007 | Category: Holiday & Gift, Lifestyle

So the holidays have met their end. But that doesn’t mean you’re not interested in what the most ecofabulous gifts on the market are, right? What with all the birthdays, anniversaries and other gift-worthy events, we’re resolving to keep you abreast of the best green gifts around. And even if you don’t have something coming up, a little gift for yourself is sometimes in order.

For Her Eco-Chic Birthday:

Soulstice Nail Polishes - this collection of lacquers manages to leave all those chemicals behind, yet rivals its toxic counterpart in performance. click here for more

Ecoist Handbag - one-of-a-kind handbags made from repurposed candy wrappers that are intricately woven and handmade (you wouldn’t know they’re candy wrappers if we didn’t tell you). Not only do they keep trash out of landfills, they’re absolutely adorable. click here for more
Ashley Watson Purse - if you’re a recycling enthusiast, you will be utterly impressed with what this Canadian designer can do with an array of throwback, thrift-store bought leather jackets. Ashley transforms them into stylish bags any girl would love to drape over their shoulder. click here for more
Sex and the City Reusable Dry Cleaning Bag - who knew a dry-cleaning bag could be so cool - or cool at all? This one doubles as a laundry bag and is made from organic cotton with the words of Carrie Bradshaw printed on it. Hence, the cool. Perfect for the fashionista who’s looking to nix plastic from their lives. click here for more

Juice Beauty Body Brilliance Collection - who wouldn’t love the gift of organics this holiday season - that is for their winterly-battered skin. With a cleanser, peel and moisturizer - plus a bamboo body buffer, they’ll be singing smooth in no time with this gift set. click here for more

Tashodi Gift Set - if you’re wracking your brain over the perfect gift for the globally-conscious, self-indulgent someone in your life, I strongly suggest you check out Tashodi’s gift sets. They’re luxuriously unique, fair trade and organic products come in biodegradable cellophane and recycled packaging. click here for more

Brunton’s Solar Roll - got a techie nomad on your list? They’ll love this portable solar panel that rolls up for easy travel. Charge and power devices from the far reaches of the globe and do away with the need to lug around heavy, toxic batteries. click here for more
Citizen Eco Drive Watch - granted these watches are not made of recycled materials, but they say goodbye to traditional batteries in favor of some solar power love. They come in a wide range of styles and colors, perfect for the man in your life. click here for more

Comet Skateboard - the guys over at COMET skateboards will tell you they’re all about a head rush, but you’re not going to get one sniffing their boards. That’s because they use low-VOC coatings and water-based paints in tandem with sustainably harvested materials such as bamboo, fsc-certified maple veneer, vert-lam poplar and hickory cores. click here for more

Great for the Eco-Active:
Divine Yoga Mat - no PVC here; this yoga mat is all natural rubber. It’s extra thick and long for those who want a super comfy yoga mat. Perfect to show the yogi in your life that you truly care about their behind. click here for more
Stirlen Chi Mat Cleaners - believe me, no yogi wants a funky mat. Throw your vinyasa practicing friend an extra considerate gift of one or all of these effective, nontoxic and biodegradable cleaners. They’ll appreciate it in the long run. click here for more
Yoga Block from Natural Fitness - made from rapidly-renewable bamboo, an eco-friendly alternative to the foam yoga blocks you’ve used for triangle poses in the past. It’s smooth, sleek and durable, perfect for any yogi looking to green their practice. click here for more

Sigg Water Bottles - plastic is out; durable, long-lasting and stylized, recycled aluminum is in (they have a non-toxic coating). Members of 1% for the planet, Sigg donates 1% of their profits to environmental organizations. click here for more

Brighten Up The Little Ones’ Birthdays With These:

Magic Noodles - kids will definitely find these biodegradable, cornstarch little doodads to be a blast. Wet them slightly and they become building blocks that you can do nearly anything with. When you’re done, you can keep your creation or put it under hot water and watch it disappear. click here for more

Owl Kids’ Backpack - if you’ve got a little nature lover in the family, they will love this shaggy owl kids’ backpack and likely won’t get bored of him any time soon. Made from natural wool treated with vegetable-based dyes, kids can cuddle this cute present without having to come into contact with pesticides or lead or even plastic of any sort. click here for more
Soyphia Goat, Soysilk Pal - made using the waste product from the manufacturing of Tofu, Soysilk. This cuddly buddy is non-toxic, completely biodegradable and is more sanitary than cotton toys. What’s not to love! click here for more
Speesees Lamb Jacket - 100% organic Sherpa cotton and certified eco-friendly manufacture, nothing nasty will run off on your little lamb (or someone else’s). For mother’s everywhere who love the environment and want their kids to look adorable. click here for more

For a Housewarming That’s Cool:

Pure Necessities Soy Candle - these 100% soy candles smell good enough to eat… so watch out. And they have great throw; they’ll scent an entire room. Pure Necessities has proved that using solely aromatherapy oils as fragrance, you can achieve depth and variety. click here for more

Antarctica Coffee Table Book - Sebastian Copeland’s photographs capture the powerful juxtaposition of Antarctica’s breathtaking beauty with its decay due to climate change. Photography buffs will find Copeland’s book irresistible. There are contributions from Mikhael Gorbachev, Leonardo DiCaprio, Orlando Bloom - among others. click here for more

Low Bowls from Bambu - hand-coiled with organically-grown bamboo, using a non-toxic water-based adhesive, a natural lacquer (derived from the cashew nut tree) and a food-safe polyurethane, these are sure to put a smile on the recipient’s face. All nine colors are rich, so it should be easy to find a hue that compliments any family member’s decor. click here for more
Shaklee Get Clean Starter Kit - this is a complete and sleek kit to get neophytes going on the path to cleaning without hazardous chemicals - and because it is so good, it is sure to keep them there! Besides the fact that the new packaging is widely appealing, all of the extremely effective products are free from phosphates, nitrates, borates and dyes. click here for more
Something Wicked Candles - who doesn’t love a good candle? And this one’s good in more than one way. Soy wax, hemp wicks and post-consumer recycled glass containers that can be used as drinking glasses when the candle’s life is over. Burn baby burn. click here for more

Showing The Love:

Chocolate Truffle Gift Box - blending 70% organic, single-origin Costa Rican chocolate with hormone-free fresh cream, the chocolatier adds organic raspberries, orange zest, espresso beans and chocolate nibs to create a rich, complex truffle collection that also happens to be visually alluring. Perfect for a host or any chocolate lover (so basically a safe bet for anyone). click here for more

Architecture for Humanity “Own this Day” - a program that helps AFH do the amazing things they do. Purchase a day of their efforts on behalf of a loved one to help them provide their sustainable services to the underprivledged around the world. click here for more

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Save More Green

Date: November 29, 2007 | Category: Holiday & Gift, Lifestyle

Do you or someone on your gift-giving list reside in San Francisco, Marin or the Peninsula? If so, you are in eco-luck. Green Zebra has just come out with their 2008 guide with “local savings for sustainable living.” Each guide features upwards of 250 businesses offering savings to Green Zebra patrons (think an evolved Entertainment Guide). From organic restaurants to green pest control to online savings on eco-friendly products and so much more, you could potentially save over $10,000 - and it’s only a $25 investment ($10 of each book you buy and mention ecofabulous will go to Global Green). I’m thinking the Green Zebra Guide is a perfect way to get my friends and family in the eco-know when it comes to their respective towns, plus even environmentalists want to save a little dosh.

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Tipi Anyone?

Date: November 28, 2007 | Category: Green Building, The Home

My friend Daryl lives in a tipi. Yes, a tipi. No, they are not merely an historical artifact. In fact, tipis are durable, provide warmth in the winter, keep dry during heavy rains and stay cool in the dead of summer. Not bad when considering HVAC costs (on both your pocket and the environment). And they’re relatively mobile, originally intended to aid a nomadic lifestyle on the plains. Plus, they’re not as small as you might imagine. Daryl’s has a 24′ diameter, and of course it’s beautifully decorated. And now she’s offering you the opportunity to join her through her site dhlovelife, where she sells them for $2,892. As someone who’s been perusing the residential market again, I’m almost tempted, though I don’t think it will ultimately be the way I will go. Tipis no doubt encapsulate simple living, and may not fall under the banner of what most people consider fabulous. That said, the tipi is weighing in on the eco side with some impressive numbers - as to be worthy of an ecofab shout out, don’t you think? And Daryl deserves a little props for truly walking the talk!

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Preserve Your Leftovers…and the Earth

Date: November 28, 2007 | Category: Kitchen, The Home

You might recognize the Preserve line from Recycline’s popular toothbrushes made from 100% recycled #5 polypropylene. Well, they dabble in more than just oral care, their latest and greatest being Preserve Kitchen initially being sold exclusively at Whole Foods Market. Borne of a unique partnership with Connecticut-based Evo Design firm (whose headquarters are in a reclaimed sewage treatment plant), the shapes take their cues from nature; can you make-out the apple inspiration behind those cute food storage containers? Aside from the recycled plastic, they’ve added a new material to their repertoire: cutting boards made from Paperstone, a 100% post-consumer recycled paper product that is certified by both the Forest Stewardship Council and the RainForest Alliance. All the products are dishwasher safe and made in the USA. If you’re into organic and local fare, supplementing your green gastronomical desires with this eye-popping kitchenware may be right up your alley.

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Organic Cotton Adds Up

Date: November 27, 2007 | Category: Events, Lifestyle

While we don’t advocate frivolous buys, organic or not, we do love to find fun ways to go green. WE ADD UP has launched a global count of people committed to helping stop climate change - right on its t-shirts; so if you or someone on your holiday gift list could really use a new one, consider these. This campaign has a strong message that definitely corresponds with how we feel here at ecofabulous; every tiny effort matters, because collectively, WE ADD UP. To spread this gospel, you can order a personalized shirt that has your number on it, and as more and more people join the efforts, so the numbers will rise. First you choose one of twenty icons to be printed on your shirt that demonstrates one thing you do to make a difference: carpool, eat less meat, organic, unplug, solar, shower together (we find this one particularly appealing), etc. Or if it turns out you’re so dedicated that you encompass the entire lot, you can get a shirt with all the icons. When you commit to greener practices, your number is hand printed on your tee representing your place in the sequential global count. Of course, these are 100% organic cotton - grown, woven and sewn in the U.S. with fair labor practices. 10% of the profits are donated to environmental groups, including one of our favorites, The Earth Island Institute. The more often you opt for organic over conventional cotton, the greater the message to industry. These shirts have a double-whammy of purpose, and it’ll be fun to see how high the number climbs.

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Eco-Paste and Wall to Wall Good Taste

Date: November 26, 2007 | Category: Green Building, The Home

Since wallpaper’s advent, it has often been
made from entirely or at least coated in that nasty polyvinyl chloride (PVC) we so often denounce for its health and environmental woes. So, look for wallpapers
like those offered from Mod Green Pod that leave vinyl at the wayside
in respect for the tradition and artistry of handmade wallpapers (with
water-based, non-toxic inks of course) - though there’s nothing traditional about their bold designs. Yes, Mod Green Pod is the hip eco-design house bringing us organic cotton fabric that decorators are donning on everything from chairs to curtains (Christina Hurvis even created a couture dress out of it). And when it comes to wallpapering, vinyl isn’t the only culprit that can degrade Indoor Air Quality. The pungent smell that comes from nearly every adhesive is most likely emitting a slew of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Whether you’re putting it up yourself or have hired someone to do so, you can concoct your own DIY paste that, rumor, has it, is the best eco-glue on the block. Check out the recipe from Care2. But we’ll keep you posted if a good alternative hits the market (hint: good business idea).

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Eco-Baroque Bling

Date: November 26, 2007 | Category: Accessories, Fashion

If you’re of the philosophy that less is more, then this one isn’t for you, but if you like a little eco-bling it is time to get Subversive. New York designer, Justin Giunta, is making good on his city’s historical status as the jewelry capital of the world by unearthing vintage materials that he fashions into opulent one-of-a-kind, baroque pieces. On his luxurious romp through the history of jeweled opulence, Justin surfaces with conceptual collections that blend the past with the present. If you thought you’d never see the words “baroque” and “eco-friendly” in the same sentence, check out Subversive Jewelry and be convinced otherwise. Sold across the map at Barneys, Giunta gives jewelry depth through reclamation and reconstruction. If you’re going to make a statement, it might as well be an ecofabulous one!

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Decorating A More Sustainable Tree

Date: November 26, 2007 | Category: Holiday & Gift, Lifestyle

Decorating a Christmas tree or Hanukkah bush can be one of the most enjoyable things about the holidays. Isn’t it ironic that a tree, the emblem of sustainability, can actually a major polluter (think trucks and incinerators) and contributor to the massive amounts of waste that jam our landfills this time of year? And I wouldn’t say the answer to this conundrum is to buy a fake tree, as they’re usually made from our caricinogenic, endocirne-disrupting foe, PVC. That said, if you plan to use it year after year… after year, the benefits of conservation might outweigh the cons. Your best option is to find a local, organic, family-run tree farm: you can get a potted tree that you can use year after year. You’ll be surprised how resilient these perrenials can be. Simply move it into your backyard and come December, slide it inside for the festivities. Or, if you don’t want to go the planted route, cutting down a tree isn’t as uneco as one might expect. In fact, as soon as you chop, the farm will plant two or three seedlings in its place, reigniting the cycle. As the tree matures, usually 5-7 years, it provides habitat for wildlife and oxygenates the air. The most important part then becomes the disposal of the tree. So what should you do? Recycle of course. Trees can be ground up into wood chips, which can be used to mulch gardens or parks or prevent erosion at a local watershed. You can go to the Earth911 website, type in your zip code and find the nearest place that’ll put your Christmas cheer to work. If you’re a San Franciscan, the SF Environment is offering a program where they’ll drop off a living tree at your house and then pick it up after the holidays and re-plant it in a foliage-deprived neighborhood, making the process as eco and easy as can be (for $150).

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