Guest Post, How Green is Green Enough? Don’t fall victim to greenwashing

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** Guest Post….

It warms my heart every day to see news, blogs and products dedicated to green living pop up throughout the nation and, really, the world. As consumers become more eco-conscious, companies are taking notice and subsequently changing or adding to their product offerings to satisfy a new and growing demand for greener products.

The problem is, the average person has no idea what really makes a product green. This leaves them vulnerable to deceptive manufacturers who will change packaging to include a greener color scheme or add a few leaves or keywords like “natural” or “biodegradable.”

I consider myself to be fairly eco-savvy, yet I have fallen victim to greenwashing, the term for attempts to make a product or campaign look to be green when it really isn’t. I’ve bought “natural” beauty products, only to find out they contained chemicals that are known carcinogens.  And as a lover of home decorating and blogger at GreenYourDecor.com (http://www.GreenYourDecor.com), I’m always on the hunt for green furniture and other home decor products. What I often find is “bamboo” sheets that contain more traditional cotton than bamboo (traditional cotton farming is responsible for a great deal of the world’s soil pollution), or “eco-friendly” furniture that is made of cheaper MDF or engineered wood and will have to be replaced in a few years. 

There are several keys to being truly eco-savvy.

1. Don’t be fooled by products calling themselves natural. Look at the ingredients. Are there lots you can’t pronounce? Chances are they are chemicals.

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2. Know what organizations certify natural and organic products or product safety. Look for the logos above to verify that the products have met stringent inspections by internationally respected bodies.

3. Learn green terminology. What are VOCs? What is the difference between natural and organic?

It is great to see so many people making an effort to establish greener and, in turn, healthier, lifestyles. Just make sure your efforts are truly green, and not just greenwashed.

Jennae Petersen is a graphic designer, a lover of sustainable design, and chief blogger at GreenYourDecor.com

Guest Post- 5 Places You Should Take Your Child

 

Written by Suzi Istvan, founder of Green Mommy Guide and Green Living Editor for Posh Mama Online Magazine

 

Eco-conscious citizens aren’t born, they’re made! Here are 5 easy-to-get-to places that all kids should see to help them become environmentally aware- in an age appropriate and fun way, of course!

1)      A Farm

Short of the one owned by “Old McDonald” in the song, most kids in today’s society aren’t familiar with what a farm is like. And for all most city and suberb-dwelling tots know, food magically appears on the grocery store shelves, complete with packaging! Taking a mini-trip to a farm can shed light on where our food comes from and why a healthy world is essential. Seeing crops growing helps drive home the importance of healthy soil, which can open the door for an appropriate discussion about clean air and water. Making seasonal trips can be a blast; picking local strawberries in the summer, or pumpkins in the fall can turn an educational trip into a family tradition. (And, have your seen little kids standing in fields of tall corn? Talk about a cute photo op!) To find a farm near you, check out www.localharvest.org.

2)      A Landfill

You think I’m crazy now, huh? Who takes their kids to a dump? Well, the truth is that just as many kids don’t quite understand where their food comes from, most can’t comprehend where the trash goes after it disappears from the curb. Seeing a landfill helps kids to realize that there is no magical waste-removing fairy- and is a good reminder for adults, too. In fact, many elementary schools are including landfills on their list of field trips for this very reason. A quick note: make sure this isn’t a doom and gloom trip that fills kids with anxiety over the mounting trash- try to keep it as lighthearted as possible. The image itself will go a long way. Dirt-lovin’ guys (and girls!) will think this trip is pretty cool.

3)      The Zoo

Taking a new perspective can make this old standby a new experience! Let your little one be on the lookout for endangered species and talk about ways they can be helped. Many zoos provide lots of info on these topics, and seeing the animals in person creates more of an impact (and is much more fun) for kids than just seeing them on a TV screen. Find your closest zoo through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

4)      A Nature Trail

Pack up some snacks and your sustainable water bottles and hit the trail! Not only is hiking a fun family activity, but can also help to instill a respect for nature. Lead the kids in a game of “I Spy”, looking for animals’ homes as you walk through the woods. For bonus karma points, bring along a garbage bag to pick up any little that other, less eco-friendly hikers have left behind. Look for a trail at www.localhikes.com.

5)       Your Backyard

When all else fails, just head out back! Plant a garden or just lay out and watch the clouds pass by. Even the simplest outdoor activity can create conversation on conservation and how we can keep our amazing planet beautiful.

Eco Touch Interview and a Giveaway…

 

** Attention giveaway at the end of this post!!!

 What/Who is Eco Touch?

eco touch is Portsmouth, NH based company which manufactures a complete line of earth-friendly car care products including a Waterless Car Wash + Polish. The company launched in 2007 by myself and co-founder Anne Ruozzi. The idea originated when I studied abroad in Australia during college. Over there water restrictions have forced consumers and businesses to change their car washing habits. We introduced the first environmentally-friendly waterless car wash to market in April 2007. Since then we have been committed to bringing a complete line of earth-friendly and people-safe car cleaners to market.

Waterless? How is that possible AND eco friendly…please tell us more!

The Waterless Car Wash comes in a 22oz spray bottle and works by spraying the formula onto the car, one panel at a time, and wiping clean with microfiber cloths. There is no risk of scratching the car’s paint, the formula is highly concentrated with natural surfactants which effectively lift the dirt to the surface before wiping clean. So how’s it eco-friendly? It will save anywhere from 80 – 140 gallons of water as compared to at traditional hose + bucket wash. Secondly, there is no harmful run-off which would otherwise enter our waterway such as oils, soapy suds which may contain phosphates, brake dust, and other harmful contaminants. Last, the Eco Touch formula is a non-toxic, biodegradable blend of surfactants, solvents and polymers.

How is Eco Touch maintaining sustainability?

There are a few ways we are maintaining sustainability. First, Eco Touch is a Co-op America certified “green” business. We went through a rigorous approval process to be third-party validated for our business practices which include an in-house recycling program, donations to charity car washes, and educating our employees on how they can be more sustainable outside of the workplace.  Product-wise the company is continually refining the sourcing of our packaging and raw materials. As Eco Touch continues to grow and our environmental footprint increases, we are dedicating more resources to maintaining the least impact on the earth.

Car washing is generally more popular during the summer months and uses quite a bit of water…how does Eco Touch come into play?

Water restrictions are becoming a real issue here in the United States, especially in the West and Southeast. So, when it comes to car washing our Waterless Car Wash + Polish replaces the need for a hose and bucket wash. Our customers have found that they not only are saving a ton of water, but also the time it takes to wash the car is cut down. An average waterless wash takes about 15 minutes.

The growing ‘green’ cleaning movement has focused primarily on household cleaners for the past few years. Now, we are seeing consumers ask for products in other areas of their life which happens to include their cars. Eco Touch has been committed to providing the safest products for people and their families since day one. I think there is still a lot of skepticism amongst consumers as to how well our products will work compared to traditional auto car products. Efficacy is a major part of the product line. Our products work just as well, if not better than their conventional counterparts.

**I love what Eco Touch is doing and the care and quality they put into their products!  I wish more companies would follow in their footsteps- Thanks for helping save the planet Eco Touch!!!

Want to win a car care kit? Go to the eco touch and leave a comment here and tell me what your favorite product is! Enter by August 12, 2008- Winner will be announced on the 13th! Good luck~

Guest Post: Save the Planet…Breastfeed Your Babies!

As promised from July 27th – August 3rd- their will be a guest post!

Today’s guest post is from Stacy at Natural-Childbirth.net

 

 

I cannot even begin to imagine the waste created by all of the baby bottles, bottle brushes, bottle drying racks, bottle dishwasher caddies, disposable bottle liners, and the plethora of other infant feeding accessories out there.  Then, there are the boxes, tubs and cans that the formula comes in.  Add to that, the gasoline used to transport the materials needed to package and manufacture the formula, and take the formula to the store, and the electricity used to produce it.  Don’t forget the water used to prepare the bottles and wash them after each feeding, the power needed to heat them up, and the detergent used to sanitize them.  Then, of course there is the gasoline used to drive to the store to get the formula.  Multiply that by the millions of babies that are formula fed annually, and you have a lot of needless waste on your hands.

 

This does not even take into account the high cost of the formula itself ($28 for a weeks worth in my part of the country), the feeding gear, or the estimated $325-$450 extra per year spent by parents of formula fed infants on trips to the pediatrician for illnesses.

 

So what can you do to stop this waste?  Breastfeed, of course, and encourage other mothers to do the same.

 

Breastfeeding costs absolutely nothing.  There is nothing extra that you have to buy and there is nothing to sterilize or heat up.  Everything you need to give your baby the best start in life is already there.

 

Besides being free and very eco-friendly, breastfeeding also helps infants develop to their fullest potential.  It promotes secure attachment and the health of the infant through adulthood.  Breastfeeding boosts the immune system and forms a protective barrier in the stomach that keeps babies from getting sick.  Even when they do get sick, breastfed babies are able to shake the illness more quickly.  Breastfeeding has been proven to help prevent ear infections, asthma, allergies and SIDS, while you breastfeed, and it may prevent things like obesity and diabetes later in life.   Breastfed babies also have higher IQs than those who are formula fed, simply because the important brain-building chemicals found in human milk cannot be replicated by formula.

 

The best part, is that most women, barring those with certain medical conditions, can breastfeed.  Even those who work can breastfeed part-time, and pump milk during the day for their baby to eat.  (We will forgive the bottles you have to use.  We are sure you will recycle )

 

So do your part to save the planet.  Cut down on the waste created by formula feeding and help to produce a generation of healthy, happy, intelligent humans.  Breastfeed your baby!

 

There is just one last thing that I would like to share that inspired me as a woman, even though I had already breastfed my children.  This is a great video that shows that women and babies are made for breastfeeding.  It shows how a newborn baby, born naturally, is capable of finding its mother’s breast without any assistance.  They call it “The Breast Crawl.” It is truly amazing!  Watch here!

Winner of the Ecoleeko Giveaway

Hello,

I apologize for the delay in announcing the winner- but this is the first time I’m getting to check my site. Anyway, the winner is…. Doreen!!! Congrats! Hope you enjoy the Ecoleeko snail rattle. It’s so very cute. Thanks for entering and stick around because another giveaway is just around the corner.

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