The EcoChic

Are you an online shop-a-holic?  Why not help the environment next time you decide to shop online.  There are tons of sites just like this already out there…but not that benefit the environment.  ClickGreener will donate 51% of their referral fee from the purchases made when you click to a vendor from their website to a non-profit partner for the environment.  Right now their non-profit partners include World Wildlife Federation – Canada, Carbonfund.org, Canadian Wildlife Federation and Tree Canada.  Obviously the founder is probably in Canada.  It’s a great idea, I wonder if there are any other websites like this that will benefit other non-profit organizations.  I’m adding ClickGreener as one of my favorites next time I decide to do some online shopping. 

Now I’m not a loyal Wal-Mart shopper, we usually prefer our local Target store.  However, I had to pick up a few things today and it was closer to my location.  I have heard many stories about how Wal-Mart is really trying to make a name for themselves in the greening of their operations but I never really read up on it.  During my visit today I noticed something that impressed me.  I had to get some frozen waffles (that my son loves so much) and while I was walking down the frozen food aisle it happened, the lights in the displays came on as I passed by and went back off as I passed.  At first I thought there was something wrong then I started thinking about the environment.  These displays are actually on motion sensor lighting so they don’t waste electricity if no one is in the aisle.  Now I know that’s only one small step but if you go to the Wal-Mart website there is more.  It seems like they really are taking the initiative to become a more environmentally friendly store and lessen their overall impact.  Who knows…I might start shopping there more often.

Ok, so I know I’ve lost my mind now.  A good pal of mine was shopping for new bed linens the other day and I have to share this with her and others.  Bed, Bath & Beyond is now selling bedding made from Bamboo!  So what’s the big deal about bamboo you might ask. 

Did you know that bamboo is actually a grass that can grow up to 3 feet a day?  It is an extremely rapidly renewable resource; which is why it’s showing up in flooring too.  I did a little research and here are some extra reasons to choose bamboo over cotton for your next linen purchase:

• Normally grown pesticide and chemical free; the ultimate organic growing conditions,
• Sheets are all natural,
• Hypoallergenic,
• Bacteria resistant,
• Softer than cotton; and
• Same drape as silk.

My husband and I have been planning on getting new bed linens soon; especially with the new hole that turned up after the last wash cycle.  I know where I’ll be looking first.  Let me know if you’ve tried bamboo, I’d love to hear your experience.

One of the first places you can begin to make environmentally responsible decisions is when making purchases.  Whether you are purchasing items for home or buisness these tips still apply.  The first thing you want to think about is the packaging of the product; ideally you want to buy the item with the least amount of extra packaging.  The next thing you can look at is its recycled content.  For example; most paper products are available with recycled content.  Post-consumer recycled content means that the materials were recycled from us, the consumer, and not from a manufacturing industry.  So the higher the post-consumer recycled content the better.  The federal government uses a minumum of 30% post-consumer recycled paper office products.  Set a similar standard for yourself.  Paper products are available with up to 100% post-consumer content.  Another good practice it to purchase an item that can be used more than once.  If you are purchasing paper towels for your home consider buying a few hand towels instead.  You may have to wash them often but you are not generating more waste for the landfills.  The same is true with most disposable products that are out there.  The final consideration when making purchases would be recycling or disposal options.  Can the item be composted or recycled instead of throwing it in your household garbage.  Consider your local recycling options; for instance my city doesn’t have curb-side recycling and we have to drop it off at a recycling center down the road.  The nearest recycling center doesn’t take glass but they do take aluminum and plastic.  So when making my purchases I would rather buy things packaged in aluminum or plastic instead of glass since I can recycle them easier.  For more tips on buying green products you can visit the Earth911 shopping page.