Two Prominent 'Eco'Mags Go Under, Thanks to Economy

Plenty Magazine and Domino have seen their final days due to the current economy. Both magazines covered environmental news and living green.

“In making the announcement, company president/CEO Chuck Townsend said the decision was purely based on the softened economy, which has already claimed a handful of other shelter books. This year through February, Domino’s ad pages tumbled 51 percent to 22 percent, per the Mediaweek Monitor. Launched in 2005, the title achieved a rate base of 800,000. But observers have said that in addition to the hard-hit housing market, the title had some difficulty explaining its positioning in the marketplace.”

We pray that once the economy becomes stable and once again thrives that Plenty and Domino will come back in full force.

Inspired by Design, Comforted by Nature

Are you trying to find more eco-friendly, green-style boutiques to shop at? Well look no further because Beklina is a boutique "inspired by design and comforted by nature."

The boutique is a three-woman family-run operation and we at Edelbio love that. They believe clothing and design can be precious, radical, nurturing, healing and wonderful.

You can find a wide selection and a variety of Earth-friendly women's attire, accessories, and even a few home decor items are offered at Beklina. Lina Loudermilk dresses and Mociun tops are just a few things they have in stock.

ShopLeap at Grasshopper 510

In Chicago there is a boutique that is "eco-concious without a hint of hippie." Have a look for yourself! Grasshopper 510 may not sound like a trendy eco-boutique, but it is indeed.

The name was chosen because grasshoppers symbolize prosperity, wisdom, as well as a leap of faith. The 510 at the end represents the wavelength measurement in nanometers for the color green. The name suggests an environmental movement without being obvious.

They will soon offer online shopping so until then you'll have to make a special trip to Chicago to check them out.

Ashley Watson recyled leather bags, Earthworks Products for Bath & Body, Toby Pomeroy recycled jewelry, and children's gifts from Lilipad Studio and Little Lark, are just a few of the products offered at Grasshopper 510.

Inspiring Woman: Joanna Yarrow

Joanna Yarrow is an eco-entrepreneur, TV presenter, green-lifestyle specialist and also the founder of sustainability company Beyond Green. We've mentioned her briefly before, because she wrote a book on how to be more green.

She lives in a lovely Victorian house in north London with her family, dog - and lots of worms. She admits her biggest hobby is composting, hence the many worms she lives with.

She made the point that it use to be difficult to buy nice things with a good eco-philosophy. However, she has shown that there are now better alternatives. People are able to purchase cushions made of organic alpaca, they can recycle and reuse objects in the house, and they can do it all with good credentials and feel genuinely good about it.

She says that, "Small adaptations to your lifestyle can make such a huge difference." She set up a service to assist people with a green agenda, providing audits, guidance and suppliers' contacts. The service "Bespoke Green"www.beyondgreen.co.uk

Green Glossary

I know I'm not the only one out there who isn't fully aware of all the words used in a very 'green' conversation. I try to to keep up with the events, but sometimes the green vocabulary will have me lost. I've found that The Green Glossary, provided by Life Goggles, is really helpful. It may sound silly, but it is an easy go to source to get environmental terms explained.

For example, how many of you know what blackwater is? I personally thought it was mud, but according to The Green Glossary, its the waste water generated by toilets.

There are many more terms with layman terms explanations. If you can find it you can ask for an explanation and if you know a word and don't see it you can add to their list.

Did You Know? Reading Grows Trees

Eco-Libris makes reading fun again by offering everyone the opportunity to plant one tree for every book they read.

Attempting to alleviate the publishing industry's need to cut down trees for their paper supply, this website offers a solution. It suggests that "Every book you read was once a tree. Now you can plant a tree for every book you read."

"About 20 million trees are cut down annually for virgin paper used for the production of books sold in the U.S. alone. That’s definitely a problem - trees are one of the most valuable natural resources we have. They literally form the foundations of many natural systems and provide us with numerous benefits (carbon dioxide absorption, soil and water conservation, avalanche control, desertification prevention to name a few)."

The organization allows every individual to chose how many trees they want to donate and Eco-Libris plants them globally in developing countries where their presence will be beneficial to both the local communities and the environment.

Every tree costs only one dollar balance out the books that you read. And for every dollar, you will receive a sticker to place on your books...for bragging rights of course. As well as to encourage and motivate your friends to do the same.

Bookworms unite and make a difference!

Green Event Planning

It's officially summer and with summer comes the endless parties. Perhaps you're having a few parties of your own and well would rather have someone else do all the work while you relax. Sound unbelievable?

Well it might be, but check out Green Events, they offer help with eco-friendly party favors, organic beverages, sustainable decor, green transportation, green venue recommendations and more.

You'll be able to throw the est parties of the summer and not feel guilty about them at all.

Sophie Young's g=9.8 Organic Line Brings Sexy Back

Want to get even more intimate with organic fashion? Sophie Young, a French designer has developed a new line of eco-friendly lingerie and loungewear called g=9.8.

The clothing is manufactured from a fiber originating in the branches of white pine, and for every pine that is used for production, a new one is planted in its place.

The line is "naturally sensual" and produced locally in France. It is sold there primarily, but is slowly making its way into a few retailers in the U.S., Canada, and other parts of Europe.

Young's mission was to create a line of underwear that was respectful of eco-principles, such as minimizing the water consumption in the industrial production, eco-packaging, waste recycling and eco-marketing.

Leave it to the French to make green go sexy.

TOPSHOP Loves Rubbish

Do you have a pair of old jeans that you aren't using anymore? Donate them to TOPSHOP. Topshop has created a variety of eco and fair trade collaborations for several years now. 

Their most recent project with the help of recycling aficionados, Rubbish Magazine, is going to show you that there’s more to going green than simply recycling newspapers and your old jeans. Topshop Wants Your Rubbish week lets you get your hands dirty with a week of reusing and recycling activities.

Fiji Water is Green n' Clean

Fiji water claims that every drop is green. They have promised to remain negative with carbon, save the rainforest, reduce their packaging, and help recycle. You can read up on their progress on their carbon footprint, becoming carbon negative, and their recycling efforts at fijigreen.com.

While you're checking up on their progress be sure to check out the latest news on their site as well as their blog.

The Top 100 World's Most Ethical Companies

What do Aveda, S.C. Johnson and Son, and Whirlpool all have in common? They're all US consumer products companies that have been chosen as highly ethical. Note: Unilever (Netherlands) and Henkel AG (Germany) were also on the list.

Ethisphere released its June 2008 ranking of the world's 100 most ethical companies, and anyone who has ever poked a curious nose into the topic of business ethics should check it out. 

A few notes on the criteria:

1. Corporations that responded to a crisis with "real action" - as opposed to a PR campaign to cover up the mess - got extra points.
2. Products that clearly don't benefit the public's best interest pulled down a company's ranking.
3. Lawsuit particulars - even those that didn't hit the big media outlets - were taken into consideration.
4. Ultimately, companies that use "ethical leadership" and "purposeful method" were included in the list.

Tokyo-based global cosmetics company Kao (maker of Biore, Jergens, and John Frieda, among others) was the only one of its kind included in the list; executive vice president Shunichi Nakagawa chalks it up to their 120-year old code of ethics that governs all employees, even today. He cites 'integrity' to be their deepest value.

Spring Cleaning meets Spring Design

Now that you've finished all the spring cleaning we think it's time you do some spring re-designing and home furnishing.

Vivavi (vee-va-vee) offers modern style, eco-friendly furniture and home furnishings. Vivavi’s companion resource, Modern Green Living, enables consumers to find newly built green residences and green home professionals throughout the United States and Canada. Vivavi is also a member of 1% for the Planet, an alliance of socially and environmentally responsible businesses that donate 1% of all sales to environmental organizations.

The furnishings have a modern elegance about them and would make any home fashionable.

David Babaii & Kate Hudson Aid the Wild

David Babaii is the man behind many of the natural, unique, free-flowing, and full of un-tamed spirits hairstyles that the celebrities are sporting today. Vogue has named him "the King of Curl" and he has become a celebrity in his own right with a few of his celebrity clients being Angelina Jolie, Scarlett Johansson, and Sarah Jessica Parker.

He has joined forces with Wild Aid to use his expertise in the fields of hair care and beauty, to help conserve wildlife. With this project he's partnered up with none other than Kate Hudson. She has been nominated for an Academy Award and has also won a Golden Globe Award. She is proud to bring the first line of hair care products that support animal rights activism to the world's attention.

In their latest Ad campaign, Kate Hudson is posing with wild lion cubs and a fierce cheetah. The tagline is "Tested on Kate. Not on Animals."

First Eco Browser That Benefits The Planet Now Available

Netscape has created a new web browser that benefits the planet through web surfing. The original version, Flock, has been around for some time and is based on Mozilla Firefox with a Yahoo search engine. This browser has it's advantages in that it takes all of your social networking sites and organizes them under one roof. The new green-themed option, aptly named Flock Eco, comes preloaded with the top green content on the web — with 10% of proceeds going to an eco-charity of the user’s choice.

From the release: “Environmental topics have become increasingly relevant to a global audience, and the Web is the best source for depth and breadth of content,” said Shawn Hardin, CEO of Flock. “Flock’s Eco-Edition provides an excellent way for those that care about the environment to remain connected to the best sources of environmental topics and to easily share their discoveries with others that they connect to online. We’re excited to see what happens when we mix Flock, People, and Passion together.”

Disney's New Film Label - all about Nature

Disneynature is The Walt Disney Studios' label dedicated to working with leading filmmakers to produce one cutting-edge theatrical releases each year celebrating the wonders of the world in which we live.

They have recently released a trailer for Earth, which they plan on debuting on Earth Day of next year! Patrick Stewart narrates the film as the story of the lives of three “animal families” unfold as they cross the globe — or just do cool things — like polar bear snow angels.

A 'Simple' Do-It-Yourself

Simple is commited to producing shoes that are 100% sustainable. They strongly believe that 'HOW [they] make their shoes is just as important as WHY they make [their] shoes.' They have 'eco-sneaks' for women, men and children, as well as various styles of bags.

Stitch-It is a do-it-yourself shoe! Here we have the video for you so that you can follow the steps to making yourself or a friend a pair. If you want more DIY projects check out the 'overdue' video, featuring a how-to on making your own bag.

Elephant Pharm Scooter Raffle

You may already be familiar with the infamous green pharmacy and retailer: Elephant Pharm. Originating in Berkeley, CA, they have spread throughout the bay area and are reputed for their customer service and emphasis on health, wellness, and education.

They carry a wide selection of products that support a healthy lifestyle from herbal remedies to organic products to yoga gear to books. They also are one of the major pharmacies that offer free clinics and classes to educate individuals on healthy living.

AND in the spirit of everything going green, Elephant Pharm is currently raffling off a Zapino Electric Scooter (a $3195 value!) by summertime. All you have to do is sign up for Elephant & Friends, their frequent buyer's program, at any Elephant Pharm in April 2008. You'll automatically be registered for the free scooter drawing!

The scooter is the perfect vehicle to get around town as it is able to reach speeds of about 30 mph, so you can keep up with city traffic without contributing to city pollution. So hurry up and get your entry in so that you can do your part for the environment...before it's too late!

Banana Republic Goes Green

Banana Republic has hopped on the green wagon in honor of Earth Day this year. They have announced their commitment to "greening" their stores, packaging, and products.

Their stores have all been renovated with energy-saving halogen light bulbs and are trying to use recyclable paper products; they have ultimately reached an energy savings of 41%. Furthermore, the store has recently unveiled a line of Summer 2008 clothing created with completely organic cotton and other sustainable fibers.

And to take the theme just another step further, Banana Republic has decided to donate 1% of all their sales that take place during Earth Week - up to $100,000 - to conserving green city spaces. "This Earth Week initiative is the first step towards Banana Republic's 1 million dollar commitment to The Trust for Public Land. This initiative will strengthen efforts to create new parks and playgrounds for American cities," the company states.

That's an excuse for a shopping spree.

More Green, This Time on TV

Just about everything is going green. It was just a matter of time till TV went more green too! The Sundance Channel will be premiering "the GREEN" - a regularly scheduled programming destination dedicated entirely to the environment. They are also offering eco-tips, green guide, and a greenzine! Join their eco-community and check out their blog.

If you'd much rather watch something than read something, I would recommend checking out all of the eco-videos that they have online - the first of which is called Big Ideas for a Small Planet.

Power to the People: Consumers Demand Sustainably Sourced Goods

From Cosmetics Design:

The consumer quest for truly natural and organic personal care products is having a knock- on effect on manufacturers, pushing the boundaries involved in ethical and sustainable production.

What does this mean exactly?

1. That the processes behind the manufacturing of the products are "green" (i.e., made using power from renewable energy, creating minimal waste) ultimately ensuring that the carbon footprint is kept to a minimum. --Example: British retailer Boots is working to develop natural ingredients from algae grown from the waste and heat of its power station in Nottingham. (Wait...is this ironic?)
2. That the farming techniques for the ingredients are monitored so that there is no threat to the plant or the environment. --About a month ago, a new way to produce solvent-free scented chemicals by using reducing agent sodium borohydride was discovered by scientists at the University of Genova. (Love those Italians!)

The customer is always right, they say, and in this case, it is consumer demands that are driving changes in the industry. Don't stop...demanding. It's a long Journey.

Have You Seen What Else is Green Lately?

Target has created a green section online and in their stores. The section is strictly for natural beauty products. Next time you visit Target be sure to take notice of the new aisle and shelves made just for the natural products.

Nordstrom also has an online 'Organic Style' and 'Organic & Natural' to shop from. The Organic Style isn't just for women; they have categories and items for juniors, men, and kids - and even a home category. Organic & Natural carries various beauty and skin care products.

And have you seen Sephora lately? They're advertising that you can be as natural as you want to be. American Apparel, as we've mentioned before carries organic clothing for men, women, children, and babies. With their vintage eye wear they are, in a sense, recycling, so feel free to pick up a pair or two and not feel guilty about it at all! You're helping recycle some old fashions...

"I Believe" in Credo Mobile

Credo Mobile - It isn't exactly the most elegant sounding mobile company, but it has a mission unlike all the rest. They believe in justice, equality, a cleaner greener environment, a woman's right to choose, and elections where every vote counts.

But who are they? And what are they all about?

They are all about supporting the causes that are important to people, claiming that every time someone makes a call with them and their plans, 1% of the charges are automatically given to various groups. These groups include Planned Parenthood, Rainforest Action Network, Human Rights Watch, and many more.

They are a phone company, but are definitely in the business of giving back. They have already donated $60 million to several progressive nonprofits and all without a single extra cost to their customers!