Green Your Screen: The Top 6 Eco-Friendly PCs
By Jenna Kirkman
Filed Under Conscious Commerce, News & Reviews | 2 Comments
Right now you are most likely staring at lead, mercury, cadmium, barium, beryllium, polyvinyl chloride, and brominated flame retardants. No, the toxic waste disposal company did not just dump a barrel of chemicals on your desk – these dangerous toxins can be found right inside your precious personal computer.
- Computer screens commonly contain lead, which can cause brain, nervous system, blood, and reproductive problems
- LCD screens and wiring boards, are often made with mercury, with prolonged exposure leading to brain and kidney damage
- Circuit boards usually contain brominated flame retardants (BFR) which have been linked to learning and memory impairment
- Inexpensive plastics like polyvinyl chloride (PVC) are manufactured using a vinyl chloride monomer (VCM), a known carcinogen
Initiatives such as “one laptop per child” and the attraction of saving on gas by working from home has encouraged the increased production of computers. Coupled with the fact that the average PC has a life cycle so short that most are outdated within a few years, means an exponential increase in electronic waste (e-waste) in landfills, and toxins seeping into our ecosystems. Though some companies have recycling programs to reduce e-waste, millions of PCs are still disposed of irresponsibly. Sadly, an estimated 50-80 percent of e-waste from the United States is shipped overseas to China and India, where low income communities are paid to take these toxic chemicals off American hands.
Continue reading Green Your Screen: The Top 6 Eco-Friendly PCs…
Posted on August 11, 2008 |
On The Flip Side: An Eco Review Of A Hot Summer Shoe
By Jillian Polaski
Filed Under Conscious Commerce | 1 Comment
Let’s focus for a moment on our feet. It’s summer; a time when our toes can finally be set free without fear of frost-bite, yet since humans are not evolved enough to bear-it-all without protecting our precious peds, we seem to have devised a solution: the ultimate foot wear for the bohemian, the hazardous when running too fast, fun for the sprinkler but not mowing the lawn, sole that embodies the definition of laid-back style: flip flop sandal.
Like everything else in my life, lately I’ve been wondering how eco-friendly my favorite style of shoe actually is. We have evidence that the Ancient Egyptians were sporting flip flops way back in 4,000 BC, and you can bet that the woven papyrus and palm leaves they were made of were not doing any damage to the natural environment. On an equally sustainable parallel, the Masai in Africa traditionally made sandals out of rawhide, rice straw was used in China and Japan, the leaves of the sisal plant in South America, and the indigenous peoples of Mexico sourced fibers from the yucca plant. So, understandably, when I see a pair in the store, I can’t help but think of how ethically sourced the rubber is, or what young hands may have applied the toxic glue responsible for holding the plastic thong to the plastic platform.
I was on a mission: choose three eco-conscious brands and put them to the ultimate test: can a flip-flop be comfortable, responsibly made and environmentally conscious? Let’s see…
Continue reading On The Flip Side: An Eco Review Of A Hot Summer Shoe…
Posted on August 8, 2008 |
BALLE: Creating A Community-Based Global Economy
By Jenna Kirkman
Filed Under Conscious Commerce | 2 Comments
After reading last month’s article on food miles, it is clear that the corporate centralization of global food supply means ‘efficient’ mass production that works against all standards of environmental responsibility and health. Without an alternative, eating a fresh, healthy diet would be a hard fought battle, yet thankfully, the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) has a firm grasp on the issue.
BALLE is a network that inter-connects sustainable businesses throughout the world. The businesses involved share a common desire to reduce energy use, produce less waste, support localized economies, and explore new green opportunities including fair trade, fair wages, and healthy work environments for an integrated, sustainable economy.
This inspiring idea came from Judy Wicks, an entrepreneur who opened White Dog Café in the first floor of her Philadelphia home back in 1983. Constantly surrounded by her customers, she began to realize the importance of creating a community-based educational forum on the issues of food and health. Listening to what people deemed most important about ecological conscious commerce, she re-designed her menu to create what is now one of the most eco-friendly eateries in the country. White Dog sources all its food from local organic producers, uses wind and solar power, composts to reduce solid waste, and recycles any leftover fryer grease into biodiesel.
Judy then decided that the world needed more than just her cafe to make a difference. She met Laury Hammel, another local entrepreneur who shared her passion for creating a more localized foundation for business and, in 2001, they co-founded BALLE. Now, seven years later, the business alliance consists of 60 local business networks including more than 15,000 entrepreneurs throughout North America.
Continue reading BALLE: Creating A Community-Based Global Economy…
Posted on August 4, 2008 |
Don’t Tango With The Funk: Choose Natural Deodorant
By Jillian Polaski
Filed Under Conscious Commerce, News & Reviews | 2 Comments
Sweating is a natural part of life. It’s our body’s way of maintaining its optimum temperature. The problem is, as we all know, that sometimes along with sweat, comes a not-so-sexy odor. Over the years, people have used perfumes, powders, oils, and antiperspirants to mediate their personal aromas. Body odor is caused from bacteria interacting with our sweat, and many people these days use roll-on or stick deodorants to fend off the funk.
Sadly, many conventional deodorants neutralize your body odor with some pretty toxic chemicals. Aluminum is a common but somewhat questionable ingredient found in many conventional antiperspirants. It’s been linked to both breast cancer and Alzheimer’s disease, and the mining of it pollutes ecosystems and requires massive amounts of energy. Formaldehyde is a nasty chemical most commonly associated with the embalming process, but also found in our deodorants in the form of preservatives. There’s also propylene glycol, originally developed as an antifreeze and used in paint, dog food, floor wax, and our deodorant. If you want to feel super fresh, but also want to be kind to your body and the environment, check out these natural choices…
Continue reading Don’t Tango With The Funk: Choose Natural Deodorant…
Posted on July 29, 2008 |
Good As Gold: Alkemie Jewelry Transforms An Industry
By Jenn Breckenridge
Filed Under Conscious Commerce, Sustainable Style | 11 Comments
Baubles, bands, and beads have been crafted, bartered, sold, and stolen for thousands of years. The oldest jewelry ever discovered was a collection of mollusk shell beads from South Africa dating back more than 75,000 years. As it turns out, self-adornment is virtually as old as the human race. The word “jewelry” comes from the Latin word jocale, meaning “plaything.” And though we may think of these trinkets as lighthearted and amorous “playthings,” the negative impact from jewelry production has become surprisingly colossal in more recent years.
Jewelry designers Ashley Lowengrub and Dara Gerson were appalled to discover the disastrous effects of open pit mining, a common method of gold extraction. Open pit mining first razes the virgin forest of an area, then systematically strips the land, layer by layer, in search of suspected gold. The mined earth is broken into small pieces, then treated with cyanide and sulphuric acid to separate gold from rock. Like black magic, this process transforms a pristine natural habitat into a barren wasteland of toxic waste dumps and chemical cesspools.
Once they understood the massive impact their work could potentially have, Dara and Ashley were compelled to change their own relationships with the precious metal and gem industry. They launched Alkemie Jewelry in January of this year, transforming bullet casings collected from shooting ranges into positively enchanting art nouveau pieces. Alkemie is already sold in chic boutiques from Fred Segal to ABC Home, to cutting edge e-tailers like eConscious Market and ShopBop. The couple has recently expanded to include sterling, gold, nickel, and copper in their recycled metal blends, and makes most of their collection to order.
Continue reading Good As Gold: Alkemie Jewelry Transforms An Industry…
Posted on July 28, 2008 |
Get The Dirt On Hand Soap
By Jillian Polaski
Filed Under Conscious Commerce, News & Reviews | Leave a Comment
Mothers, doctors, chefs, and hardcore germaphobes-listen up. You like clean hands, yes? With all the options on the market today from hand sanitizer to antibacterial soaps, you’d think that this society would have the cleanest hands in history. Not so. Many of today’s soaps contain some very unhealthy chemicals and surprising animal byproducts.
Soaps are produced by combining a fat source with an alkali, and unless the package specifically states that the product contains no animal ingredients, chances are good that the fat source in your soap is pig fat. Yum. In addition, the chemicals found in soaps penetrate our skin and can cause hormonal disruptions and even cancer. After the soap makes it down the drain, it ends up in our drinking water. Triclosan, the main antibacterial ingredient in many hand soaps, has been found in many streams and rivers and can disrupt thyroid hormone function in bullfrogs. When was the last time a bullfrog did you wrong? Exactly. So what’s the best option for getting your digits squeaky clean, while not wronging any innocent forest creatures or yourself? Steer clear of the antibacterial variety and purchase an all natural version that uses vegetable rather than animal fats as its base, and that doesn’t include any petrochemicals. Here’s our favorite hand soap finds…
Amlavi Hand and Body Wash
Amlavi’s mission is to build a collection of all natural bath products that maintain a connection to the earth, air, and waterways surrounding us. They’ve accomplished that through both their products and their practices (they offer bike-to-work incentives for employees, use recycled office supplies, and use compostable or plantable materials in their product packaging, among other things). Their hand and body washes are superb. They produce three aromatic blends, citrus, sandalwood, and floral. Each blend contains between eight and twelve very pronouncable ingredients in a base of coconut, avocado, sesame, or olive oil. There are no petrochemicals, no animal byproducts, no phthalates and no parabens.
This soap is a little bit less gelatinous than a more traditional, chemical-filled hand soap, but it feels smooth and silky, doesn’t dry out your hands, and smells natural and delicious.
MSRP: $15.95/bottle
Continue reading Get The Dirt On Hand Soap…
Posted on July 22, 2008 |
Eco Toothbrush Review
By Jillian Polaski
Filed Under Conscious Commerce, News & Reviews | 2 Comments
Dentists recommend that you change your toothbrush every three months, so four times a year is apparently the minimum. If you brush hard and the bristles of your brush get all mashed down (you know what I’m talking about guys), you need to toss that brush out even sooner. Tons of toothbrushes in our bathroom wastebaskets means tons of toothbrushes in our landfills and oceans. All this discarded dental care amounts to 50 million pounds worth of waste every single year. And that’s just the brush itself. What about all the plastic and paper packaging, plus the poisons that go into the conventional plastic toothbrushes? Lucky for us, there are companies out there who care not only about our oral hygiene, but also about our health and the planet. Check out the lowdown on the most eco toothbrushes around.
Continue reading Eco Toothbrush Review…
Posted on July 15, 2008 |
Can Wal-Mart Trade Fair?
By Anne O'Loughlin
Filed Under Conscious Commerce | 1 Comment
Wal-Mart is a word that typically conjures up images of bulldozed forests making way for big box retail, swarming shoppers, low cost & low quality products, CEO’s with fat paychecks, and sweatshops in China. Its bad reputation has inspired mass protests, websites devoted to outlining its wrongdoings (such as WIPE, short for Wal-Mart Is Pure Evil), and popular documentary films like Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Prices. Though with increasing consumer demand for products that make positive environmental and social impacts, even Wal-Mart is making an effort to conserve waste, promote sustainability, and support Fair Trade.
On April 1st, as part of its “Earth Month” initiatives, Wal-Mart released a detailed press release about their plan to launch six new coffees under their Sam’s Choice brand that would include organic, Fair Trade certified, and Rainforest Alliance certified blends. A Fair Trade certification requires certain environmental, social and economical requirements to be met and, most importantly, the producer group to receive a fair price with a set minimum. The Rainforest Alliance certification program also carries heavy requirements that target longterm sustainability and environmental health. The coffees will be roasted by Cafe Bom Dia, a Brazilian Fair Trade cooperative that is one of the first roasters to become Carbon Neutral. Continue reading Can Wal-Mart Trade Fair?…
Posted on July 3, 2008 |
Greenify Your Fourth Of July
By Jillian Polaski
Filed Under Conscious Commerce, Green Living | 1 Comment
Fourth of July is upon us once again. Who doesn’t like getting together with friends and family, firing up the old grill, enjoying some BBQ, and watching the fireworks after the sun goes down? Picnics, parties, beer to drink, games to be played…good times.
Maybe you’d even like the Fourth Of July reverie, along with that three-day weekend, to last forever. Well, sadly much of the plastic dishware and decorations from the July 4th will do just that…in a landfill. Bummer. Since foregoing your annual patriotic grillfest is simply not an option, here are some easy things that you can do this Fourth of July to lessen your impact on America The Beautiful. Continue reading Greenify Your Fourth Of July…
Posted on July 1, 2008 |
Green Screen
By Tommy Rosen
Filed Under Conscious Commerce | Leave a Comment
Not a single day has gone by in the last eighteen months when I did not struggle to come up with the words to describe the current global movement to address humanity’s biggest concerns, both social and environmental. The main problem is that the green business sector has not been successful at setting widely accepted definitions and standards for what it actually means to be “green,” “eco,” or “sustainable.” This has led to debate and controversy as governments, companies, organizations and individuals try to figure out what industry practices are truly sustainable. Continue reading Green Screen…
Posted on June 24, 2008 |
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eCo Times reports the latest on sustainable lifestyle choices and the new green economy. This online magazine brings you the best in cutting edge green media, organic and Fair Trade product reviews, and insights into viable planetary solutions.
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