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The 2012 Ecofabulous Guide to Green Resolutions

Contributed By: Heidi Atwal

New Year, new you, new eco-groove: resolve to evolve and live an even more conscious life in 2012. There are a slew of ways you can green your daily routine, from adopting healthier organic eating habits to opting for compostable wares in your home to toting around non-disposable utensils. We’ve rounded up some easy ways for you to make positive lifestyle shifts that are good for you and great for the Earth.

	Commit to Reduce, Repair, Reuse, Recycle and Re-imagine your attire by signing up to be a partner in eBay and Patagonia’s Common Threads Initiative. The admirable campaign allows you to buy and sell high quality, used Patagonia wares and join the crusade to lessen environmental impact via conscious shopping.
	Get rewarded for recycling by earning points for your efforts that you can cash in for rewards, brand discounts, and store deals by signing up with Recycle Bank. Everyone wins!
	Dispose of disposable towels and take a “hands-on approach to going green” with PeopleTowels (starting at $6.99), the on-the-go alternative to the paper version.
	The Keepin’ Fresh Kids™ stainless steel collection by Innobaby offers a variety of snazzy food storage solutions for young ones that are a better alternative to paper sack lunch packs. Each bottle and bento box is printed with an adorable design and equipped with airtight silicone seal lids that preserve nutrients and freshness.

	Rather than using the plastic utensils restaurants provide, tote around the cute and chic recycled plastic/bamboo sets by To-Go Ware (starting at $12.95). The toolkits will help you reduce your ecological footprint when you dine out.
	If you do dispose, make it biodegradable. WASARA’s complete party kit ($44.00) is a must for hosts and hostesses; it comes complete with bamboo utensils, planet-friendly plates, and BioBags for cleanup—all of which are compostable.
	Cultivate lasting healthy eating habits by experimenting with raw cuisine. Chef Matthew Kenney’s Everyday Raw and Entertaining in the Raw are two inspirational cookbooks brimming with a bounty of fresh and flavorful recipes for a low environmental impact diet. Watch this TED talk and learn how committing to a weekday veg lifestyle is good for you and the planet.
	When you’re on the run, snack right with Two Moms in the Raw. This line of organic treats include a Cacao Chia Bar and delicious Almond Butter Cacao Truffles so palate pleasing you’ll feel like you’re indulging, sans the empty calories and partially-hydrogenated ingredients. (Prices vary.)
	Pack healthy lunches for your kids and fill their stainless steel PlanetBox totes with delicious and wholesome snacks from Revolution Foods that they’ll happily gobble down. Squeezable fruit and veggie smoothies and Jammy Sammy sandwich bars made with 100% whole grains are just as fun to eat as they are good for your little ones. (Prices vary.)
	Green your tote-ables: opt for organic cotton packs and enviro-gear to go in them. Check out our comprehensive guide on school eco-essentials for a full scoop of suggestions.
	Keep your fitness routine “on pointe” with Blake Brody In-Studio Footwear ($115.00), made of recycled/regenerating materials that ward off germs and strengthen poses during yoga and pilates sessions.
	Share your resources and knowledge with Architecture for Humanity by participating in the Open Architecture Network, a collaborative dedicated to exchanging expertise to improve the built environment.
	Get inspired to tackle that ever-expanding To-Do List with these Action Diaries ($8.00), whose 100% FSC-recycled pages are emblazoned with “go-get-’em” messages for making positive changes in your life and in the world.