Green Goblet

Date: January 28, 2008 | Category: Kitchen, The Home

If you want to enjoy your organic brew, like a member of King Arthur’s Court, you might want to get yourself a green goblet. Here’s why: fashioned from salvaged bottles of Grolsch beer, each one is cut, its edge ground and melted to create a smooth, sippable surface, the bottle flipped upside down and then transformed into a green chalice. This creative process uses 90% less energy than if the glass were melted down - as recycled glass usually is - making this a green glass to be reckoned with.

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Who Doesn’t Want a Romantic Beau

Date: January 27, 2008 | Category: Fashion, Women

One look at Beau Soleil’s spring line and you will see designer Anne Salvatore Epstein’s (formerly at Marc Jacobs) philosophy of “Simple. Modern. Organic.” reflected in her dresses. Epstein blends lightweight, flowy fabrics with edgy stud details to create easy, yet sexy, silhouettes that flatter all (almost all). These fabulous frocks are crafted by fair trade manufacturers, using only sustainable and eco-friendly fabrics that include bamboo, Tencel, and vegetable-dyed organic cotton, as well as recycled leather trims. Oh, and many of her creations cleverly feature removable, recycled leather straps that make cleaning a snap! We thought you’d like that. Style, sustainability, and function. How Ecofabulous!

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ecofabulous Lust List: A Romantic Gift Guide

Date: January 26, 2008 | Category: Beauty, Fashion, Food & Drink, Holiday & Gift, Intimates, Jewelry, Lifestyle

We’ve scoured the greatest sustainable and seductive gifts that are floating around in cyberspace, to bring you the most ecofabulous options available (across all budgets), and hope sparks will fly as you celebrate your passion. But amid all the shopping, don’t forget your mother…earth, that is.

Chocolates For Melting an Eco-Heart:

Cocoa Vino: Everyone should indulge in these lovely chocolates at some point, so why not now! These regional, sustainable and organic chocolates, made by artisanal perfection, are a simple but powerful way to show that someone special how much you care (about them and the earth). The ecofab favorite is the olive oil bonbon with hazelnut and sea salt - yum!
cocoavino.com

Theo Chocolate: Theo pioneered the organic chocolate movement, in 1994, and has been blossoming ever since. The award winning bars capture the flavors of the regions in which the beans are grown - like Madagascar and Venezuela - and are available at Whole Foods.
theochocolate.com

Eco-Flower Power:

That bouquet may be a fragrant way to show your love, but it’s also, most likely, the result of unacceptable labor practices in foreign countries, where people (mostly women) are poorly paid and exposed to huge amounts of dangerous pesticides and fungicides. Make sure your next floral token carries its ethical weight.

Organic Style: Our favorite flower buys come from Organic Style. Go for the tried and true - what says “I love you, deeply” better than a velvety rich bouquet of a dozen red roses? Maybe two dozen? Organic stems are always appreciated (especially when the Rosa Parks Foundation gets a little boost from your purchase). Since beauty is in the eye of the beholder, your beholder may prefer cosmopolitan lavender buds or the fresh-from-the-garden look of Aphrodite pink Roses. There are lots of colors and styles to choose from and all of their stems are Veriflora certified.

Or get really gifty and opt for a charity bouquet - in which 5% (10% in the case of the Rosa Rose) of the purchase price goes towards the organization paired with each made-to-order bouquet.

Or check out Local Harvest: find sources of local organics near you. localharvest.org

Conflict-Free Diamonds are a Green Girl’s Best Friend:

Jewelry is glamorous, however - from earth to finger - its making is not. The production of one gold ring is said to create 20 tons of mine waste! Additionally, the dirty business of where we get our rocks is getting difficult to ignore (hello Blood Diamond). Ensure the bauble on your lover’s finger (or anywhere else) will not support violence, human rights violations and environmental destruction by supporting ethical jewelers like the ones below.

Brilliant Earth: A shining example of earth-loving jewelry; they go beyond just pedaling beautiful jewels…they teach about diamond-related issues, offer gorgeous solutions and give back by supporting the Diamonds for Africa Fund. Their diamonds are exclusively mined in Canada, according to strict environmental laws, and - taking it a step further - they also use reclaimed precious metals (refined to be identical in quality to newly mined metals). And if you decide to choose Valentine’s Day to ask your significant other to share your life, or to just further celebrate your commitment to one another, Brilliant Earth is the chicest solution. If you’re just after a fancy find, a pair of diamond studs will do the trick. Brilliantearth.com

Linda Loudermilk: this faucet necklace, constructed from reclaimed silver, will drop a fashion hint about water (one worth making) - part of L.L.’s “Water is a Human Right” Collection.
lindaloudermilk.com

Verderocks: what designer Gwendolyn Davis has termed “nouveau vintage” employs only organic, vintage, recycled and “certifiably” sustainable materials. From condom cases to crowns, and all the jewelry in between, her stuff is contemporary with an antique twist that we just love, and we’re pretty sure so will YOUR queen… or king. verderocks.com

Verdier: handmade from components old and new, incorporating filigree, Lucite, glass and metals from the 1920s to the 1970s, these pieces are sure attract some eclectic tastes. Though the Brass Beetle pendant may not appear to be the most romantic of gestures, the right girl would be stoked to don it. If my son could afford it, he would love to make it my V-day gift (but I have a feeling I’m getting the collage card again). www.verdierjewlery.com

Toby Pomeroy: When genius jeweler Toby asked the largest gold manufacturer to source pure gold, derived entirely from reclaimed sources, they agreed! So he and his skilled team of artisans use their Midas touch to churn out timeless, refined treasures with their brilliant Eco-Gold.
tobypomeroy.com

For Your Knight in Shining Amour:

CotoLuxe: any man would be lucky to don these duos - the Antler Corozo and the Indian Head Nickel Links, made from fallen rack antler horns and antique Native American nickels (respectively), and backed with corozo wafer buttons, made from South American tagua nut. And they come in the perfect gift package - a wooden box made from sustainably-managed, Canadian forests.
20ltd.com

Citizen Eco Drive Watch: granted these watches are not made of recycled materials (which makes us unhappy) but they say goodbye to traditional batteries in favor of solar power. They come in a wide range of styles and colors, perfect for the man (or woman) in your life. citizenwatch.com

Apple iTunes Gift Certificate: we don’t have to tell you why downloading your tunes is more eco-friendly than accumulating a pile of disks. Feed a music addiction with amounts ranging from $10-$200. Maybe the recipient will use it to download some of your favorite love songs. That’s what we call a win-win.
store.apple.com

For Love That’s on the Rocks

If V-day drives you to drink, seek out a Veev “Valentini” or “Love on the Rocks”, which will be served at hotspots throughout LA, SF, San Diego and Miami. If you don’t live in one of these Veev-friendly cities, you can still order a bottle and make these organic, luscious libations at home.
melandrose.com

For Your Queen of Green

Vegan Queen: this red clutch comes from V.Q.’s collection of bags which are recyclable, non-toxic, organic, cruelty free, made in the USA and ooze “eco-luxury” from the core. Crafted with materials such as monogram-embossed 100% natural rubber, nickel-free zippers, PVC-free eco-polymers, organic cotton fleece lining and recycled crest medallions, it’s a hearty dose of goodness.
veganqueen.com

EO: You can never go wrong with an eco-relaxing bath collection from EO. Made from 100% Essential Oils, let your valentine soak in the luxury…this is also one I wouldn’t hesitate to pick up for myself!

eoproducts.com

For the Frisky Environmentalist:

Enamore: it’s a fun and flirtatious lingerie collection produced in the UK from the finest organic hemp, soy, cotton and hand-selected vintage fabrics. Hard to say who is going to enjoy this sexy, sustainable stuff more! enamore.co.uk

Urban Fox undies: recently launched, Urban Fox’s handmade, eco-friendly undie sets are soft, silky and oh-so-sexy. We got to feel them over at the Eco Gift Expo, in Santa Monica, and can attest to their luxuriousness!
urbanfoxeco.com

Eco-Boudoir: exquisitely sexy, this UK-based online boutique will take care of all of a sophisticated woman’s intimate apparel needs, while engaging in environmentally responsible business practices. Eco-luxury with a conscience - now that’s a gift.
eco-boudoir.com

Just Tell Me You Love Me:

Night Owl Paper Goods: these cute cards are made from sustainably-harvested yellow birch, and come in five holiday designs. We’re partial to the “owl love you forever” of course, but to make the message loud and clear, send out the four letter word.
nightowlpapergoods.com

Care2 e-cards: go the most environmentally-friendly route, and send out one of these e-cards, from Care2. You’ll be able to find one for anybody and everybody who deserves your acknowledgment this year. The ThumbHug2 card will warm any parent’s heart, believe us.
care2.com

World of Good Journal: a 100% wood-free journal made from recycled cotton waste, using a chemical free, handmade process in Rajasthan (thus supporting local economy). For the person who wants to capture their poetry, or the kid who needs a journal to pine over their childhood romances, these scribbles are where the heart is.
worldofgood.com

Beeswax Candle: Made from pure cinnamon essential oil and 100% natural beeswax, bring some light to your life. A little ambiance goes a long way, this little candle burns for 5 hours, and is non-toxic and non-allergenic. pristineplanet.com

Sweet Thoughts Journal: this cute, little handmade journal utilizes a box of chocolate sweathearts as its cover and contains approx. 40% acid-free, recycled pages (not the most impressive of percentages, but…). Who can resist the little adages of this quintessential V-Day candy? “Be mine.” “Kiss me.” Carry them around in your pocket with this mini note pad. dhlovelife.com

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Got A Green Dime You Can Spare?

Date: January 25, 2008 | Category: Lifestyle, Stores & Resources, Travel & Leisure

Magazines are a guilty pleasure, but catalogs are just a guilty annoyance, most of the time.
If someone told you it would be possible to cut your junk mail by 90% and then have ten trees planted on your behalf - all for the fair price of twenty bucks - wouldn’t you be a little more than tempted? At ecofabulous, we sure know about junk mail (whether it’s shipped or emailed), and we’re sick and tired of it. That’s why Green Dimes is so appealing. They immediately remove your household from dozens of lists (even the previous tenants’ names), eliminate only your unwanted catalogs and monitor your account monthly. As if that weren’t enough, they throw in the added bonus of planting trees in your name to remove even more CO2. It’s time to take control of your mailbox and residually benefit the planet.

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Innovate Or Die

Date: January 25, 2008 | Category: Events, Lifestyle, Media, Tech

Usually we report on contests before they happen, to give you the opportunity to engage, but in this case, a contest gleaned such inspired and inspiring results, we’re reporting on it after the fact. Specialized Bicycles Components partnered with Google to host the Innovate-Or-Die Contest (aptly named), in which contestants were asked to submit their Pedal-Powered Machine solutions for climate change. Over a hundred entries resulted and their videos were posted on YouTube, for your viewing pleasure. The time and energy that went into these innovations is just the kind of thinking that will enable us to redesign a safer world. To check out the impressive delivery, pedal over to the Innovate-Or-Die website.

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Chew on This Idea

Date: January 25, 2008 | Category: Pets, The Home

Holding the Eco Bone chew toy in hand, its incredible softness belies the notion that the materials come from hard plastic bottles. Indeed, West Paw Designs utilizes IntelliTex fabric and IntelliLoft stuffing, both primarily made from recycled soda pop bottles (at least 85%), to generate their stylish line of dog accessories - and in cute color combos, so it will keep your decor as happy as your pooch. While Fido may not know the difference between the sustainable Bumper Bed covered in organic cotton and its conventional counterpart - his health just might. Treating the earth better means caring for all its animals, too.

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Guiltless Gold

Date: January 24, 2008 | Category: Fashion, Jewelry

Toby (the genius jeweler) asked the nation’s largest gold supplier and refiner if they would provide him with pure gold derived entirely from reclaimed sources… and they agreed. Thus, Toby Pomeroy’s handcrafted Eco-Gold line was born. And he and his skilled team of artisans have been churning out timeless, refined and earth-friendly treasures ever since. I better make sure my husband reads the scoop today! Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. Note to all of our lovebirds: Be on the lookout for the Ecofabulous Lust List, our guide to some of the things we would most love to get… and give.

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Totally Tubular Lighting

Date: January 24, 2008 | Category: Green Building, Home Furnishings, The Home

From sun up to sun down, you could avoid ever having to flip a switch - that is if you invest in the daylighting technology of the Solatube. It’s quite the little marvel: it captures sunlight from the rooftop, redirects it down a reflective tube and naturally brightens interior spaces (even on cloudy days). Choose the appropriate hue of your light, add a diffuser for even distribution, go for the aesthetic that compliments your decor and then go for the easy install (no structural modifications needed). And beyond energy savings, the Solatube filters natural light into your spaces, something that has been shown to improve mental and physical well-being. Even if you’re cooped up indoors (like the Ecofab writers), the sun can still brighten your day and your mood.

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Let’s Break Flatbread Together

Date: January 24, 2008 | Category: Food & Drink, Lifestyle

Last week we posted about the new green pizza chain, Pizza Fusion. While we applaud the large-scale venture, a reader asked why we had overlooked the local, sustainable, organic, and nitrate & hormone-free pizzeria right in our very own backyard. Indeed we are aware of the splendor that is Mill Valley’s Small Shed Flatbread and - per your request - we now wish to pay them homage. From farm to flatbread, it would be an understatement to say you can taste the difference. Toppings are artfully arranged on the crispy dough and you can dine on your pie in a comfy, inviting atmosphere. The same reader who reminded us to mention this Marin staple also said, whenever he visits San Fran, he goes out of his way for Small Shed… maybe you should consider our little eatery when planning your next trip (even if it is just around the corner). Just an aside, we try to find things that are more ubiquitous and that all of our readers can enjoy, yet some local gems are worth sharing, especially when our readers are compelled to mention them.

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Teen Time - Feb 1st and 2nd

Date: January 23, 2008 | Category: Beauty, Events, Lifestyle, Teens for Safe Cosmetics

February 1st and 2nd, the Marin Art & Garden Center plays host to the 3rd Annual Teens for Safe Cosmetics Summit, bringing together amazing young women from across the nation and green industry leaders (such as Mark Shapiro, the author of Exposed, Josh Onysko, the founder of Pangea Organics and…well, myself - among many others!). The summit is sure to incite and inspire teens everywhere to create advocacy campaigns in their schools for our right to health and a beauty care industry that does not bestow upon us carcinogenic, toxic and harmful products. If you are or know a teen, relative of a teen or just a conscious cosmetic consumer, this is an event worth checking out (here). After all, who isn’t for safe skin care?!

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