Green by Design

Recycled Jewelry

2008-09-30T09:08:00.001-07:00

Check out this truly a one of a kind piece. It is actually made with an old vinyl wallpaper. The designer cut out the beautiful embossed parts of the paper. Beautiful freshwater pearls connect the pieces. Even though the necklace is essentially made of paper it is pretty durable. The perfect piece for a party or event. $54.00 by Recycled Jewelry.

Sublet Clothing Eco Apparel

2008-04-21T17:41:00.000-07:00

Sublet Clothing is a eco apparel line based here in New York. Each piece of clothing is made with sustainable materials including bamboo and organic cotton. Check out these adorable pieces I found on their website.

Eco Friendly Packaging

2008-04-21T17:39:00.000-07:00

In honor of earth day I have been looking around for eco friendly packaging. I came upon this packaging for Sennheiser CX 300 ear phones. The packaging is made from cardboard and is 100% recyclable - no nasty plastic clam shell to clog up land fills.

Need a environmentally friendly packaging designer? Click here

Solar Lanterns

2008-02-03T09:13:00.000-08:00

These Japanese-inspired solar-powered lanterns can be hung from a trellis or tree to provide outdoor mood lighting. Yellow LED lights are encased in paper-like, weatherproofed nylon and automatically switch on at night. Available in two sizes $69 and $24. Available at Gaiam.

Catalog Choice

2008-01-25T11:15:00.000-08:00

8 million tons of trees are used each year to produce catalogs. Catalogchoice.org is a free service that helps you unsubscribe to unwanted catalogs. Sign up today and save some trees!

De La Luna Designs

2008-01-13T15:10:00.000-08:00

Virginia Ayala is the sole creator of De La Luna Designs. She combines her graphic illustrations with vintage handbags and clothing to create new works of art. Her influences are the moon, butterflies, plants and animals.

EcoSneaks by Simple

2008-01-01T18:09:00.000-08:00

Simple is devoted to making environmentally friendly footwear. Their latest project is the EcoSneaks line. The women's style shown here is the Satire. The Satire is made of leather, organic cotton canvas and the bottom is made of recycled tires. (I think they could have skipped the leather but love the recycled tire part.)

Recycled Aluminum Vase

2007-12-19T19:50:00.000-08:00

These beautiful birch bark replica vases are constructed from recycled aluminum. There are also holes on the sides of the vase to insert cut leaves or branches for a more creative display. Available at VivaTerra Medium $110 and Large $169.

House Warming - Organic Square One Vodka

2007-12-15T17:04:00.001-08:00

Has your holiday seasons has been filled with many social get togethers? Why not take this opportunity to spread your green cheer with Organic Square One Vodka. Not only is the vodka made with the puriest ingredients but the label is also eco-friendly and printed on paper made from bamboo, bagasse and cotton, all sustainably grown and renewable fiber sources.

Joya Candles

2007-12-15T16:32:00.000-08:00

These Joya candles are sleek and stylish. The Perfume in Porcelain collection comes in the following scents: Himalayan goji berries, fresh blue lotus & grass, quince & heliotrope, orange blossom & pale musk. Most candles are made of petroleum based paraffin but Joya candles are made from essential oils, soy, and beeswax - all natural and renewable resources.

Eco Gift - Bamboo Fleece

2007-12-08T10:38:00.000-08:00

This adorable soft fleece jacket is by Kelly B. It is not only modern and stylish, it is made out of bamboo. So for the Fashionista on your list this would make a great gift. Available $150 at Hip & Zen.

Eco Friendly Wooden Cards

2007-12-06T16:36:00.000-08:00

These eco-friendly cards are made with sustainably harvested yellow birch. With cute graphics and writable surface they make for a fun gift. Available at Night Owl Paper Goods $24 set of 6.

Bamboo Chairs

2007-12-04T17:23:00.000-08:00

These bamboo chairs are sleek and stylish. And the best thing about them is they are made from bamboo instead of wood. Bamboo yields more material than wood
and is harvested in seven years versus ten to fifty years for woods. Available at Green and More $689.00

Muji Opens SOHO Store

2007-11-26T18:08:00.000-08:00

Japanes eco-design company MUJI has opened a U.S. store in our very own Soho New York. Lucky us! The store opened on November 24th and although I haven't been yet I am dying to go. I will let you know how it is.

Eco Shopping - Vintage Lamps

2007-11-26T17:50:00.000-08:00

These beautiful lamps are vintage. Buying vintage is one of the best ways to shop environmentally friendly as well as a good way to find things that are unique. These lamp bases are vintage with new light cream shades which are made of organic fabrics. The price tag $2400 at Modify, but I have found things just as stylish at my local antique market.

Eco Gift - Sigg Water Bottles

2007-11-26T07:47:00.000-08:00

At my office it really makes me upset how many people consume water from disposable water bottles. My boss keeps a whole stash of them in her closet. I can't imagine how much waste and pollution this is producing. I am thinking of giving these as holiday gifts to my co-workers. These SIGG water bottles make a great gift, especially for those non-environmentalists out there still using disposable water bottles.

Succulent Wreath from Viva Terra

2007-11-14T05:31:00.000-08:00

This gorgeous living wreath includes five groups of green-gray, burgundy and silver succulents. The eco-plants included are water-saving crassia, lichen and other unique yet compatible varieties that thrive with minimal watering every six to eight weeks. 13"D. Available at Viva Terra.

Virgin Atlantic to Invest in Biofuel

2007-10-30T18:21:00.000-07:00

Virgin Airlines CEO, Richard Branson, has announced that his company will begin producing bio-fuels, and that he is going to test them on one of his own 747s (without any passengers) as jet engine fuel. While I like the idea of this it also seems a little scary.

Branson said his company will produce their own bio-fuel for use in buses, trains and cars and he has pledged to spend any profit he makes on Virgin Atlantic for the next ten years on fighting global warming.

Source: Treehugger.com

Organic Cotton Bedding

2007-10-22T18:22:00.000-07:00

The latest of Gaiam's Collection Naturale bedding features a 220 thread count that feels as soft and luxurious as bedding with twice the thread count. The graphic print is an allium flower. The bedding collection is produced by an Italian manufacturer who has the highest standards in environmental production and quality. Prices $24 - $199.

Zesta Jug from Eco Centric

2007-10-11T20:23:00.000-07:00

This beautiful pitcher is made from 100% recycled glass. That's right people all of those recycled bottles are being put to good use. This pitcher is perfect for water and other beverages and would make an amazing eco-friendly house-warming or wedding gift. (Hint-hint). £50 at Eco Centric.

Mi Spa Natural Lotions

2007-10-11T19:55:00.000-07:00

Mi Spa makes a line of rice-based Asian influenced skincare products. The collection of beauty products is hand-crafted and uses natural ingredients. The Mi Spa skin-softening daily moisturizing lotion is great and can be used on the hands, body and feet. It is 100%Paraben Free, which means it has all plant base ingredients, with no chemical preservatives. We really love the Juk scented lotion. It smells so refreshing!

Volkswagen Hybrids - Finally!

2007-10-05T10:43:00.000-07:00

Volkswagen has long been known for their fuel efficient, economic cars. So why is it that almost every other car manufacturer has released a hybrid car and Volkswagen has not? Well VW is making up for lost time, they have recently announced that every upcoming VW model is scheduled to have a hybrid option, with some models hybrid-ready as early as next year. Applause!

When to Buy Organic?

2007-09-24T18:24:00.000-07:00

Although it is always best to buy organic produce in my book here is a list of the top 12 MOST contaminated fruits and vegetables:

1. Peaches
2. Apples
3. Sweet Bell Peppers
4. Celery
5. Nectarines
6. Strawberries
7. Cherries
8. Lettuce
9. Grapes (imported)
10. Pears
11. Spinach
12. Potatoes

And here is a list of those that contain the LOWEST in pesticide residue:
1. Onions
2. Avocado
3. Sweet Corn (frozen)
4. Pineapples
5. Mango
6. Sweet Peas (frozen)
7. Asparagus
8. Kiwi
9. Bananas
10. Cabbage
11. Broccoli
12. Eggplant

Source; visit for more information: Gaiam Community

Tsi-La Organic Fragrances

2007-09-23T11:28:00.001-07:00

Model Annie Morton and her sister-in-law Natalie Szapowalo have created a line of natural fragrances without synthetics or preservatives called Tsi-La Organics. The perfumes are made of essential oils, plant botanicals, and organic ingredients. They come in beautiful glass bottles which are handpainted.

Designer Canvas Bags

2007-09-18T08:47:00.000-07:00

Accessories designer Anya Hindmarch designed this bag "This is not a plastic bag". The bag has been extremely popular. Wholefoods (NYC) sold a limited edition of Hindmarch's bags for $15 for which people stood in line overnight. And while the Hindmarch bag craze seems a bit ridiculous, the fact that her bags have drawn so much attention to the plastic bag issue is amazing. Another canvas bag company Minus has created these fun fruit bags (and you don't even have to wait in line for one).

Park Vogel

2007-09-12T20:02:00.000-07:00

These super soft and cozy knits by Park Vogel are made by an environment friendly Swiss cotton by one of the few textile mills in the world which implement recycling and energy saving programs to reduce emissions and pollutants in compliance with strict European standards.

Spork by Light My Fire

2007-08-26T12:39:00.000-07:00

This 3 in one Spork by Light Might Fire contains a serrated knife blade, fork and spoon all in one. Not only is it practical it is also sleekly designed by Scandinavian designer Joachim Nordwall. It's comes in a variety of color and is dishwasher safe. So pop one into your lunch bag and re-use it over and over instead of the wasteful disposable utensils.

Reclaimed Wood Frames

2007-08-19T14:10:00.000-07:00

These frames are handmade from reclaimed boat wood in Buenes Aires. Each frame is one of a kind. Colors and textures differ from frame to frame. Available at Brooklyn based 3R Living.

Eco Furniture at Vivavi

2007-08-16T16:55:00.000-07:00

I recently came across this website in a magazine article. Vivavi.com is an eco-friendly furniture and home design center based in Brooklyn, New York. In addition to having a fabulous selection of furniture they also have a list of "green" contractors, designers and living spaces. One of my favorite finds is this indoor/outdoor spoon chair made of Liana vines -
virtually a weed.

Eco Matrix Storage System

2007-08-13T15:14:00.000-07:00

These stackable storage cubes are made from hand-woven sustainable Acacia trees. Each unit is sold seperately so you can customize your storage space and the wine cube holds 12 bottles of wine. Available at Gaiam.

Eco Packaging by Sidel

2007-07-09T17:01:00.000-07:00

A new bottle created by French packaging manufacturer Sidel offers an alternative to traditional plastic bottles. A regular plastic half-litre water bottle weighs 13 – 16 grams. Sidel's NoBottle weighs just 9.9 grams. Water is the largest beverage market by volume with 160 billion litres consumed in 2006. A waste reduction of 20-30% per bottle adds up. Now I would just recommend buying a refillable water bottle but when in a bind at least this bottle is more eco-friendly than what is currently available on the market. The NoBottle will be officially introduced at K 2007, an international trade fair in October.

Pangea Organics: EcoCentric Bodycare

2007-06-27T09:15:00.000-07:00

Pangea Organics is a plant-based product line offering a wide selection including a skin care line, as well as soaps, lotions and oils. Not only are the ingredients of Pangea good for you their product boxes are made using a Zero Waste process with 100% post-consumer paper and organic seeds.

Serpentine Solar Shuttle London

2007-06-15T06:48:00.000-07:00

The solar shuttle operates on the Serpentine Lake in London's Hyde Park. While it only moves at four miles per hour it is completely silent. It is powered only by solar power. Not only is the Serpentine Solar Shuttle an accomplishment technologically it is also amazing astetically. It can carry up to 42 passengers and can even run on cloudy days. (photo by Floto and Warner)

V2 Wallpaper

2007-06-05T11:37:00.000-07:00

V2 3D Wallpaper adds color and texture to any room. You can create your own patterns and works of art with these multi color tiles and apply them permanently or temporarily. They are made from 100% post and pre-consumer waste paper. Available at Earthtech.

Biodegradable Milk Jugs

2007-05-30T18:20:00.000-07:00

Greenbottle is a biodegradable milk bottle manufactured in Britain. The two-part bottles are composed of a outer manufactured from recycled cardboard, which is lined with an inner sleeve of corn starch biodegradable plastic. The plastic liner keeps the cardboard from becoming soggy, while the cardboard makes it easy to carry and pour. Once the bottle is empty, the inner sleeve can be pulled out and will decompose in a landfill within six weeks. The cardboard outer can be put out for recycling with other paper.

Although Greenbottle is not yet available in the U.S.A. hopefully a savy investor will bring it here soon. hint-hint.

Eco Stationary by Mirage Paper Co.

2007-05-29T17:59:00.000-07:00

EcoJot is a collection of journals, notebooks and sketchbooks designed by Mirage Paper Co. Not only does the collection contain a creative array of patterns and colors the content is 100% post consumer. And the designs are painted using vegetable based ink. For retail locations and to view the extensive collection of designs visit EcoJot.

iWood Style Sunglasses

2007-05-29T17:29:00.000-07:00

iWood ecodesign wooden sunglasses are designed using eco-friendly bamboo frames instead of plastic. They are expertly crafted. Retail $350 at Greenloop.

Recycled Paper Vase by Gazette

2007-05-20T08:24:00.000-07:00

These beautifully crafted vases and bowls by Gazette
are constructed from Recycled newspaper. (Wow!) Available for purchase at Hip and Zen $19-$58.

Greenopia: The Urban Dweller's Guide to Green Living

2007-04-26T06:58:00.000-07:00

It is often hard to find service providers that offer environmentally
friendly options. But alas there is Greenopia: The Urban Dweller's Guide to Green Living ($13). This handy little book lists
800-plus earth friendly retailers including; dry cleaners, restaurants,
pet supplies, building materials and much more. Unfortunately, the
guide is only available forLos Angeles and San Francisco but many more city guides are in the works so stay tuned.

Spoontulas: Bamboo Spoons

2007-04-24T20:13:00.000-07:00

This design combines a spoon and a spatula for a versatile kitchen utensil. These Spoontulas are made with 100% organically-grown bamboo and natural food-safe wood oil. Available at Branch.

Cisco Brothers: Sustainable Furniture Design

2007-04-21T20:23:00.000-07:00

Cisco Brothers moved exclusively to FSC certified wood in our upholstered furniture line. They also only use water based glues, and wash our fabrics with environmentally friendly detergents. Cisco Brothers now offers what they refer to as InsideGreen™, a sustainable method of construction available on three hundred styles of furniture.

Food & Wine's Grow for Good

2007-04-17T20:00:00.000-07:00

Food & Wine Magazine has recently launched Grow for Good, a campaign to raise $1 million to benefit Farm to Table. Farm to Table supports local farmers and provide access to locally- and sustainably-grown food. Why is locally grown food important? Our food travels on average 2,000 miles from the farm to our plate, causing a toll on the environment and industrial farms oftern use chemicals to grow food also detrimental to the environment and our health. You can visit Food & Wines website to check out the money raising thermometer.

Christine J. Brandt Jewelry

2007-04-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

This amazing jewelry line by Christine J. Brandt is anything but ordinary. The line is earthy, yet there is something other-worldly about it. Fashioned from ethically mined crystals and farmed (rather than logged) wood.

Ikea: Bag the Plastic Bag

2007-04-15T12:53:00.000-07:00

IKEA has begun reducing waste with their "Bag the Plastic Bag" campaign.IKEA goal is to reduce plastic bags usage by 50% - from 70 million to 35 million in the first year. Beginning March 15th IKEA will charge 5 cents for every "throw-away" plastic bag. All proceeds from the first year of this program will be donated to American Forests, the nation's oldest non-profit conservation organization, to plant trees and offset CO2 emissions.

WHY? The amount of plastic shopping bags that we all use once and toss is overwhelming.
- The average family of 4 accumulates 1460 plastic shopping bags a year
- 100 billion are given away each year in the US
- Plus it can take up to 1000 years for a plastic bag to break down in the environment.

IKEA offers an alternative to "throw-away" plastic bags - the IKEA Blue Bag for 59 cents. One of these bags can replace hundreds of "throw-away" plastic bags.

Modern Organic Products - MOP

2007-04-15T12:14:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite hair care product lines. Using organic ingredients such as lemongrass, pear, peppermint and basil. They are not only good for the environment but they smell wonderful. Visit Modern Organic Products for more info. Now if they would just do something about that plastic container. How about Refills?

Organic Cotton Bedding Viva Terra

2007-04-15T11:45:00.000-07:00

Discover this beautiful organic cotton bedding at Viva Terra. Sleep peacefully knowing this material is not sprayed with pesticides and therefore won't contribute to pollution of oceans and streams. Furthermore, Gandhi Ashram woman master this demanding textile craft in workshops sponsored by the League of Artisans. By creating sustainable livelihoods for these underprivileged artisans, the League improves their economic and living conditions.

Eco Friendly Moving Supplies

2007-04-12T14:09:00.000-07:00

Moving supplies such as boxes, bubble wrap and other packaging materials pile up in land fills long after you have moved. EarthFriendlyMoving offers an eco-friendly moving supplies alternative.

EarthFriendlyMoving's RecoPacks are made from recycled plastic and come in five sizes. Customers simply rent the RecoPacks for just “a buck a box a week" which is even less than traditional boxes/packaging can cost.EarthFriendlyMoving delivers them and picks them up in their bio-fueled trucks.

EarthFriendlyMoving currently operates in Long Beach and Orange County, with plans to expand their reach through more of Southern California in 2007. The company hopes to go nationwide within the next few years.

The oMop by Method

2007-04-08T13:03:00.000-07:00

I have to say I am slightly obsessed with Method. Not only do they create revolutionary environmentally friendly cleaning products they do it with such sophisticated style that those still buying from Proctor & Gamble are truely left in the dust. The new omop system is brilliant. Not only is the surface cleaner non toxic but the mop attachment can be washed in the laundry and re-used and the dusting sheets are biodegradable!

Levis Eco Jeans

2007-04-07T17:16:00.000-07:00

Mega retailer Levi Strauss has launched a new line of called Levi's Eco. This line of jeanswear is made of 100% organic cotton. Why buy organic clothing? Cotton is one of the most sprayed crops. By buying clothes labels organic you are helping the environment by reducing the amount of pesticides that are used and ultimately dumped into streams, rivers and the ocean.

World Changing: A User's Guide for the 21st Century

2007-04-01T15:02:00.000-07:00

This eco-friendly book contains information about what we can do right now to create an environmentally and economically sustainable future. The book is divided into sections on Stuff, Shelter, Cities, Community, Business, Politics and Planet. Available at Amazon.

Cargo PaintLove Lipstick

2007-04-01T14:07:00.000-07:00

The Canadian based company Cargo has introduced a line of lipsticks, PaintLove. The lipstick is made of of corn, a renewable resource. The best part is the outer carton is made of flower paper embedded with real flower seeds. So you can plant the packaging and wild flowers will grow.

Solar Cell Phone Charger

2007-04-01T13:27:00.000-07:00

The Soldius1 Solar charger operates solely from the energy of the sun. So set it near your window and save valuable energy. You can charge your ipod, cell phone Blackberry and PDA with it. Available for $109.00 at EarthTech.

San Francisco to Ban Plastic Shopping Bags

2007-03-29T06:56:00.000-07:00

San Francisco's Board of Supervisors has approved ground-breaking legislation to ban plastic bags at supermarkets and pharmacies.This is the first law of its kind in any city in the United States. An estimated 180 million plastic bags are distributed to shoppers each year in San Francisco. Plastic bags are hard to recycle and easily blow into trees and waterways, where they are blamed for killing marine life. They also occupy much-needed landfill space. This new legislation passed 10-1 in the first of two votes. Supermarkets and pharmacies will also have the option of using compostable bags made of corn starch or bags made of recyclable paper. San Francisco will join a number of countries, such as Ireland, that already have outlawed plastic bags or have levied a tax on them. Final passage of the legislation is expected at the board's next scheduled meeting, and the mayor is expected to sign it. Mirkarimi's legislation is one in a string of environmentally sensitive measures -- others include outlawing Styrofoam food containers and encouraging clean-fuel construction vehicles at city job sites.
Blumenfeld said it takes 430,000 gallons of oil to manufacture 100 million bags. Compostable bags can be recycled in the city's green garbage bins and will make it more convenient for residents to recycle food scraps, he said.

Statistiscs:180 million - The number of plastic shopping bags distributed in San Francisco each year.
Cost: 2 to 3 cents / Amount each bag costs markets, compared with anywhere from 5 to 10 cents for a biodegradable bag.
Worldwide: 4 trillion to 5 trillion /Number of nondegradable plastic bags used worldwide annually.
430,000 gallons: Amount of oil needed to produce 100 million nondegradable plastic bags.
Source: S.F. Department of the Environment; Worldwatch Institute

Information provided by the San Francisco Chronicle: For more information visit sfgate.com