With this year’s blissful wedding season well under way, you may find yourself in a similar position to many others with reuse and sustainability on the mind – yes, that is the dresses you laid out for this wedding season have reached their rotation max and are on route to retirement. And with buying [...]]]>

With this year’s blissful wedding season well under way, you may find yourself in a similar position to many others with reuse and sustainability on the mind – yes, that is the dresses you laid out for this wedding season have reached their rotation max and are on route to retirement. And with buying new wedding guest attire falling into the must category, why not keep on the sustainable path and check out uber chic, I want that, eco-friendly dresses? As per usual, I have pulled together a few fashionable, nice to the environment, wedding guest dress options.

Chinti and Parker Dress

The Chianti and Parker Dress makes my list due to 100 percent organic cotton content. But to assure its spot, this classy belted dress is simple and versatile. Dress it up with a classy pendant and earrings, for say, a wedding, or dress it down with your favorite flats and cardigan for your next office meeting.

Gina Michele Portrait of a Siren Dress

According to her Nimli profile, “Designer Gina Michele believes that fashion should be fun and wearable as well as socially responsible.”  This belief is backed up by her use of recycled, organic, and sustainable textiles, with all garments manufactured in New York. This is also why I pulled her Portrait of a Siren Dress into my wedding guest dress collection. Sustainable and handmade of natural materials always makes Izzit smile.

AngelRox Halter Wrap Dress

Made from 100 percent biodegradable rayon jersey, the AngelRox Halter Wrap Dress is a shoe in. And the AngelRox collection has a reputation for commitment to local suppliers and fair labor. Their philosophy of balancing out what they take from the Earth can also be echoed in this well-balanced wrap dress.

Image Credits: Net-A-Porter, Nimli

One of these options is starch-based plastics that are developed from renewable, biomass sources such as corn or potatoes. However, biodegradable, starch-based plastics only break down into smaller [...]]]> When environmental concerns and the demand for plastic products meet, sparks often fly. Companies everywhere are being forced by consumers to consider greener and more eco-friendly plastic options.

One of these options is starch-based plastics that are developed from renewable, biomass sources such as corn or potatoes. However, biodegradable, starch-based plastics only break down into smaller pieces which means that they will never totally disappear. Plus, starch-based plastics are affected by light and heat making them somewhat less idea for sturdy consumer products.

In light of these drawbacks, an innovative water bottle company has decided to explore another option. After much research and testing, the California-based BioGreen Bottles settled on their ideal combination:

Their BioGreen Bottles are made from low-density polyethylene (LDPE) along with a non-toxic, organic additive the company calls an ”EcoPure additive.” These components make BioGreen Bottles biodegradable, recyclable, BPA-free and FDA food safe. In addition, the bottles are not affected by heat or light and are, in fact, made of recycled materials themselves.

EcoPure

The EcoPure additive in the BioGreen bottles is organic, non-starch, non-toxic and eco-friendly. It functions by accelerating the biodegradation cycle that occurs in a typical landfill environment. This means that BioGreen bottles will not begin degrading until they are in an active microbial environment such as a landfill or compost. Once in one of these environments the process takes about one to five years.

After the decaying process, all that is left behind by EcoPure is biomass and biogas. Plus, the biomass can even then be used to enrich the soil to grow new plants, a win-win.

EcoPure supports the best of both worlds. Consumers can continue to enjoy the safety and convenience of plastic without leaving a mess behind for their grandchildren. While manufacturers can maintain their current manufacturing process by simply mixing EcoPure in with their primary resin much like a color.

BioGreen offers several eco-friendly water bottle options at great prices, all of which enjoy the benefits of this new greener plastic as well as being top-shelf dishwasher safe and made domestically in the United States.

Sport Bottles

These bike-ready BioGreen sport bottles offer a convenient duo-flow cap that is completely leak-proof. The wide-mouth opening makes these bottles easy to fill with liquids and ice.

These bottles are available in both a 20 ounce size and a 26 ounce size.

Hollywood Bottles

This stylish, 30 ounce Hollywood bottle sports a unique and beautiful shape, that is easy to hold while running or hiking. It comes in five colors and four designs.

Mini 14

Don’t underestimate this sidekick. The 14 ounce bottle is perfect for your kid’s lunch bag and backpack, with great eco-art designs to make learning about the environment fun.

Make sure that your bike or gym bag is properly equipped with some eco-hydration as you pump up your active lifestyle. If you find it lacking, an easy to squeeze BioGreen bottle might be just what you need.

Image credits: BioGreen Bottles.

Go green this St. Patrick’s Day! But why? The original color associated with St. Patrick was blue not green. Over the years though, the color green and its association with the holiday grew because the shamrock, a three-leaved plant, was used by St. Patrick to explain the Holy Trinity to Irish people. From the [...]]]>

Go green this St. Patrick’s Day! But why? The original color associated with St. Patrick was blue not green. Over the years though, the color green and its association with the holiday grew because the shamrock, a three-leaved plant, was used by St. Patrick to explain the Holy Trinity to Irish people. From the 17^th century on, the wearing and display of shamrocks have become a symbol for the day.  Interesting, right?

Well now that your history lesson is over for the day, it’s time to get down to business and find the perfect gear for your pets big appearance in this year’s St. Patty’s Day Parade. We wouldn’t want to leave any member of the family out now would we?

Always eager to jump out the door, let your dog celebrate in style with the Hemp Canvas Dog Collar Collection from The Good Dog Company. These fashionable adjustable collars and leashes are made of durable hemp canvas that will be sure to withstand whatever your playful pooch has in store for a day of shenanigans. If you’re still not convinced, these dog products are sustainable, biodegradable, naturally hypo-allergenic, anti-bacterial and odor absorbent! The eco-friendly Hemp Canvas Dog Collars won’t break your wallet either at $20 from sizes ranging from extra-large to small collar fits. Check out all of The Good Dog Company’s eco-friendly products on their site – earthdoggy.com

As electronic devices become smaller and more affordable, many people are finding themselves strapped to their cell phones, PDAs, MP3 players and other portable devices.  If you are joined at the hip with a gadget or two, chances are pretty good it takes all your internal energy just to remember to keep them [...]]]>

As electronic devices become smaller and more affordable, many people are finding themselves strapped to their cell phones, PDAs, MP3 players and other portable devices.  If you are joined at the hip with a gadget or two, chances are pretty good it takes all your internal energy just to remember to keep them all charged.  If you have a drawer full of cords and chargers, finding the right cord to go with the right device can be trying at best.  And when your cell phone is on its last leg with no electrical outlet in sight, then what?  These devices are supposed to make our lives easier and less complicated, aren’t they?

Noon Solar bags, created by the talented duo Jane Palmer and Marianne Fairbanks, are so much more than your average, run-of-the mill bag.  The 100 percent biodegradable bags are made out of organic, non-toxic materials.  The products are dyed by hand with sustainably harvested natural plant substances.  The leather products are free from heavy metal and are dyed with natural substances such as nuts and rhubarb.  These handcrafted bags are available in a variety of shapes, sizes, styles and colors for both men and women.

More than just a pretty face, the bags are so much more than being eco-friendly and functional.   Each Noon Solar bag is fitted with a thin, removable solar panel. The panel attaches to a lithium-ion battery pack which is tucked inside a zippered pocket on the inside of the bag.

Just plug those electronic devices into the battery pack and you are good to go!  No more cords or chargers to fiddle with. No more running all over to find an available electrical outlet!  Just imagine the possibilities. You’ll have your very own renewable energy in an attractive and functional bag.

Just face the solar panel towards the sun in the car, at work, on the train or plane and you are good to go, day or night.  Even in inclement weather, UV light still shines through and charges the battery pack.   You’ll need about six to eight hours to fully charge the battery on a sunny day while cloudy days will take a bit longer.   The panel is completely water and weather proof, so no worries if you get caught in the rain or snow.  Just think.  Now you have the perfect excuse to go out and buy another fabulous bag!

A user manual is included in the purchase or can be downloaded online.  Currently, Noon Solar bags do not charge laptop computers.