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Lovely Lokta is naturally died paper made from the Daphne or Lokta bushes that grow in the Himalayan mountains. And it IS lovely . . . but it also is made quite sustainably - no trees were harmed in the production of this paper!

Here’s what makes it so groovy and green:

Lokta paper is handmade and sun dried, so there are no machines or chemicals involved;

The bush grows quickly and actually needs agressive pruning or it would die, but the bush also helps stabalize the soil and protect rural Nepalese villages from mudslides during the monsoon season;

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As a former publisher of a regional sustainable living magazine and as a perennial editor, writer and content producer, I get a lot of products to review. This is definitely one of my favorite parts of what I do. Not that they are all winners, but honestly most of what I’ve gotten has been truly interesting and largely useful.One of the cleverest new products to hit my doorstep lately is a new concept called ReProduct from a company called C2C, a cradle-to-cradle design company.

Re-Usable greeting cards?

When I first heard about the idea, I mistakenly thought it involved erasable ink and a new envelope. Wrong. I’m not as stupid as I sound, but this was not an easy concept to grasp initially, but now that I’ve seen the cards and read a little more about the process (if you’re anything like me, reading directions isn’t always the first thing I do), I’m pretty excited about the whole thing.

The cards in the pic here were designed by singer/songwriter John Mayer for ReProduct! So, not only is he hot, he’s talented in more ways than just the tunes AND he clearly cares about creating a more sustainable way of being.

Back to the cards and how it works . . . it’s a little like Netflix, and if you love movies and haven’t tried it yet - DO IT!!! The idea of mailing movies back and forth seems cumbersome and awkward or something, but they make it so easy, that once you try it, you are sold.

ReProduct has taken the idea of making re-mailing very simple and easy and applied it to the all-American custom of sending greeting cards. By the way, the cards are beautiful. First of all, the cards are made from healthy, non-toxic materials that minimize chemical waste in the manufacturing process and if folks follow this new concept, they don’t end up in landfills - or at least not for a VERY long time.

Here’s how it works:

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For years I’ve loved supporting organizations helping endangered species, not only as an art activist, but also by trying these delicious chocolate bars for a cause. Now they have these adorable peanutbutter chocolate giraffe gift  totes and they are so cute plus good for the environment.

The chocolate bar company lives by the phrase Reverence for Life, believing all life on earth is important and worthy of our respect, care and love. This Reverence for Life ethic is at the heart of all their business practices.  All ingredients are 100% ethically traded. And the lucious chocolate and colorful images inspire increased awareness of species currently listed as endangered  and threatened on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s List.  This brilliant chocolate company also seeks to “inspire proactive conservation for animals confronting universal struggles such as habitat encroachment, poaching, and pollution.  Our products aim to honor all flora and fauna that share this planet.  All are invaluable…and sadly, all are vulnerable. Join us in taking care of one another and our Earth.  It’s time.”

Tune in. Turn on. Drop off! starts this week as the GREEN on Sundance Channel  helps promote a series of t-shirt recycling events by joining forces with Barneys New York and Loomstate.

The catch is for participants to drop off old t-shirts at all Barneys’ locations nationwide and Loomstate will then re-style the tops for a limited edition collection for Barneys Holiday 2008. Clearly the retailer is gearing up early for their smashing green holiday guide.

 Starting today, those interested in donating will receive a 20% discount on Loomstate for Barneys Green , and the promotion will go on for the next two weeks. Project proceeds go to 1% for the planet. Read the rest of this entry »

Since my wedding is coming up in two weeks, I’ve been doing some exploring into all the trendy “green wedding” options. It’s amazing how awareness has grown in the past few years! Unfortunately, having a completely green wedding can often double the already expensive costs. But if every couple made even two or three decisions based solely on environmental concerns, the planet would be as happy the newlyweds.

When planning your own wedding, consider integrating even one or two of these ideas:

Skip the disposable cameras, and ask friends to bring digital cameras. Before the wedding, set up an account on sites such as Photobucket.com or Snapfish.com, and email the login and password to your friends. After the wedding, everyone can upload the photos they took to the account, and you’ll have an instant album of candids that everyone can enjoy. And if you want to have prints, you’ll be able to print only those pictures you really want.

Besides wearing a pre-owned gown (remember, a good tailor can make an poofy 80’s gown into a stylin’ 21st century dazzler), think about using heirloom jewelry for the engagement ring and wedding bands. If you must have new, matching bands, be sure to ask the jeweler about reclaimed, recycled, ecologically responsible gold.

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Previously, on FGS we talked about the possible choices for ladies to buy organic intimates. Which who knows? May just move you to a luxe-lingerie dance party tonight. Right now Grist has a great article out on greening the underwear drawer and it includes briefs for men. As a resource they feature Red Dog eco sport. Looks like a good choice for the guys! The styles are simple and all organic, and they have a solid mission:

Red Dog products are made in Turkey from SKAL certified organic cotton (exclusive of trim). Low impact, eco-friendly dyes were used to achieve product color. RDS encourages organic farming and eco-friendly, sustainable living. By providing farmers with tools to improve their skills, and thus the quality of their cotton, we hope to increase their opportunities for self-sufficiency and sustainability. We only work with manufacturers that believe in our principles. All workers must be paid a living wage and no unfair labor practices or unsafe working conditions can exist. Your support enables us to educate consumers on the benefits of recycling and renewing the earth’s natural resources.

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New fiber blends promise to make the future of lingerie natural, and organic. Sleepwear, undies, teddies, slips and chemises add wonderful accents to our intimate drawer and most importantly they make us feel beautiful inside and out!  InStyle online now features the “Stars Go Green” and showcase this pink teddy plucked from a star’s wardrobe. New earth friendly intimate lingerie is one of the best places to start greening the spring undie drawer. Natural intimates in fabrics made of organic cotton, soy, hemp and other organic materials are better for your skin and peace of mind. Brilliant new develpoments in soysilk, hempsilk, organic blends with stretch and soft comfort are all on the horizon. Future textile developments promise a sunset of beautiful skin kissing undergarments that make you feel good all day and into dreamtime.   Read the rest of this entry »

Do you love gifting as much as I do? Well, it has never felt better with magical tree-free greetings.

Production of Tree-Free paper uses less water, no chlorine or harmful chemicals, & requires less energy. Tree-Free uses paper from sustainably harvested sources like kenaf, sugar cane, and bamboo, as well as from post-consumer recycled paper. The gift cards are so charming. The envelopes are as beautiful as the joy inside! Read the rest of this entry »