Ebay Takes Top OLGA Award in UK

I've found another reason to go shopping today. EBay, the massive virtual flea market—where one can find anything from a used car stereo to a Pyrex casserole dish—has won first place in the OnLine Green Retail Awards(OLGA). The OLGA Awards honor online merchants that do business in the UK, with a ceremony that takes place in London. OLGA's organizer said the way eBay facilitates trade could be "seen as the ultimate in recycling". EBay provides a marketplace for users from around the world to auction new and used goods. eBayers can also sell goods by opening an online store on the companies website. In addition to creating income opportunities, eBay helps users put stuff that they don't want into the hands of happy new owners. EBay's business model relies on the principle of re-use, a rarity in today's consumer economy. The grand scale of the site makes conveniences like buyers insurance and automated payment options possible. Ebay embodies a modern day matrimony of technology and green consumerism. Speaking of sustainable shopping, I gotta go, I have a pair of almost new designer jeans to bid on.

Squeaky Green

When childhood friends Adam Lowry and Eric Ryan founded Method, a line of nicely packaged environmentally friendly cleaning products, they duo sought to detoxify American homes, one product at a time. Noe Lowry and Ryan are at again, this time with a book that takes their mission one step further. In Squeaky Green, they give tips on how to curb chemical build up around the house, and some of their suggestions will surprise you. For example did you know that not making your bed and leaving an adjacent window open gives your sheets and mattresses a chance to air out some of chemicals and pesticides that lurk inside of them? Who would've known. The book is broken down into convenient sections that cover all areas of the home, and it also highlights trouble spots. There are tips for shoppers on a budget, as well as highlights explaining the importance of recycling. Squeaky Green is one stop shop for anyone looking to clean up the nasty toxins around their home, and a perfect housewarming gift to boot.

Check 'em out at www.methodhome.com

Are you Beauty Products Polluting Your Body?

Our skin is the largest organ in your bodies. Skin protects from us harmful UV rays and environmental pollutants. Our skin serves as a barrier against nasty viruses and bacteria that can make us sick. Skin protects our muscles, bones, nerves, blood vessels and everything else inside our bodies. Yet many of us who sware by organic produce and whole foods, are quick to slather our bodies in chemical laden soaps and lotions. Think about it this way, using a body product that contains harmful chemicals to nourish your skin is the equivalent of eating a big mac for good nutrition. With that said, converting to an organic beauty regimen takes a little knowledge and a lot label sleuthing.

A good rule of thumb is that if a product has too many ingredients you cannot pronounce, be wary. In addition here are some common ingredients to avoid:

Sodioum Lauryl Sulfate or SLS: Found in Shampoo’s face wash, and engine cleaner. It is an expensive and corrosive cleanser. Prolonged use and exposure can lead to skin irritation and damage.

Petroleum and Mineral Oils are cheap fillers that clogs pores, and are often synthetically manufactured.

Urea, aka Imidazolidinyl Urea, Diazolidinyl Urea, Germall II and Germall 115. Used as preservatives to prevent bacterial growth although it is ineffective against fungi. Germall 115 may release formaldehyde, something you probably don't wan't on your skin. Urea is also known to cause contact dermatitis.

My Top Beauty Product Picks

Alba TerraGloss. This lip gloss comes in awesome colors for every skin tone and it glides on silky smooth cause it's made with Shea butter and beeswax. And, Alba Terra Lip Gloss is free of artificial colors, petrolatum, mineral oil, phthalates or parabens. My favorite color is Garnet. Retails for $5.99.

Weleda Almond Intensive Facial Cream for dry or sensitive skin. This rich moisture cream can be worn day or night and it’s super concentrated so you only need a dab. Almond oil is the main ingredient, which moisturizes fabulously and doesn't clog pores. Almond oil also helps even out complexions and it’s great for under eye circles. The lactic acid in the cream gently exfoliates to reveal a glowing complexion. Cleopatra is rumored to have bathed in curdled milk to reap lactic acids anti-aging benefits. And, did I mention all Weleda products are biodynamic! Retails for $15-$20.

ShiKai Shampoos have a low ph and are soap-free. The product uses natural shikai extracts as a cleansing agent along with moisturizing ingredients like aloe and panthenol. Retails for $6.99.

Organic Grape Seed Oil. I use this as an all-over moisturizer and I even put it in my hair. It’s much cheaper then expensive body lotions and my skin, which can get really dry, has been soft and luminous since I substituted my lotion with this light oil. Grapeseed oil absorbs easily into the skin, and it’s best used right the shower when your skin is still damp. Grape seed oil contains proanthocyanidins, which are very potent antioxidants that have the ability to fight free radicals and sun damage. You can pick up a bottle that will last you months at the grocery store for around five bucks—less then the costs of a good bottle of lotion.

California Leads the Nation as the First State to Adopt Green Building Codes

The California Building Standard Commission has established a mandatory set of Green Building Codes. By 2010 all new Construction in California must abide by these rules. The standards take effect in 180 days, but adherence will be optional until the 2010 deadline. A PDF version of the press release can be found at the State's Consumer Services Agency website. Lawmakers said they set the deadline to 2010 to give companies time to adopt to the new requirements. The new standards target energy efficiency, diversion of waste from landfills, and the use of environmentally friendly materials, among other things. Check out this greenbiz article for a more detailed look at the issue.

Drum Roll Please...Oakland, California Named Fourth Greenest City in the Country

Oakland, California, the city where I was born and where I happily reside has somewhat of bad rep. And while it's true that you can never be too street saavy in this town, it's not all cops, robbers and gang bangers. Oakland has troves of redeeming qualities that outweigh the bad—did I mention that hot new wine bar that just opened down the street from my house! One quality that really makes Oakland unique, is a strong comittment to the environment. We have a green nail shop, ton's of recycle depots, hydrogen fuel cell buses, thrift shops, sustainable art collectives, a green travel company, a green hair salon, and I can count the number of people on one hand, whom I know who don't recycle. This is city where you won't have to look very far for a jug of organic milk, or a quiet trail to climb. This year, Popular Science Magazine named Oakland the 4th greenest city in the country. Criteria included the number of people who rely on public transit, the number of LEED buildings, and renewable energy sources. San Francisco topped Oakland at number 2, and Berkeley trailed close behind at number 7. Go Bay Area!

For a look on how this lists relates to green career opportunities check out Carol McClelland's sustainablog article.

Green Nail Bar Opens in Oakland

Ngyuen Yuen left a high paying job as a chemist to open a Green Nail Bar in Oakland. The new business has lucrative prospects, but Ngyuen's reasons for opening the shop were more personal then anything else. Two of her sister-in-laws, both nail technicians, fell ill from constant exposure to the chemicals involved in doing acrylic nails; one of them lost her 8 1/2 month old unborn baby. That's when Ngyuen took it upon herself to do some research about the products used in nail salons. She found that one of the largest distributors of nail care products uses formaldehyde, toluene and dibutyl phthalate, chemicals so dangerous that they are banned in Europe. After learning this disturbing info, Nguyen set out to open Isabllea Nail Bar, a tranquil spa where only non-harmful products are used. In addition to providing a service that is safe from harmful chemicals, Ngyuen also takes special measures to ensure that her equipment is always sterile. She even designed her own foot tubs that flush out water—most shops just recirculate it—to lessen the risk of a nasty infection. So far Ngyuen's work as an industry pioneer has paid off, she told the Oakland Tribune that many of her customers who come from Berkeley are asking when she will open a shop in the neighboring city. Nguyen says others have asked if she plans to start her own line of products.

Isabella Nail Bar is located at 1962 Mountain Blvd. in the Montclair District of Oakland, CA. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Call 510-339-0100 or visit their webiste at www.isabellanailbar.com/ for more info.

Forbes Autos Releases Dirty Driving List

In the market for a new car? You might want to check out ForbesAutos.com Top Ten Lists before making your selection. The website lists the top 10 polluters among new vehicles, and surprisingly the much criticized Hummer did not make #1. The site also offers roundups like: Green Speed Demons: Top Fastest Hybrid's on Sale Now, and Ten New Green Car Technologies—for those who want to stay current on green auto innovations. The site is a great resource for anyone looking to save a few bucks at the pump or make their driving habits more eco-friendly.According to Forbes Autos, the Mercedes E320 BlueTec, with it's clean diesel technology, is the most fuel efficient Luxury Car. One of these will set you back about $62,000.

Green This Vodka

It’s not hard to find organic wine, lot’s of wineries are greening there ways. You may recall my post on how Boony Doon, my favorite winemaker scaled down production to become biodynamic. Nowadays, consumers have lots of options when shopping for eco-friendly wine. And while earth-friendly viticulture is in full bloom, liquor of the organic variety is much harder to come by. That’s why I was excited to learn that Square One Vodka, an artesenal start-up in Northern California is bottling up scores of ultra-premium certified organic vodka, created through an exclusive certified organic fermentation process. Square One Vodka is made from certified organic rye, which is processed using only organic, non-genetically modified yeast and nutrients. Everything that goes into making Square One Vodka is natural, and the result is delicious. Since it’s peculiarly angular bottles first hit the shelves, Square One has grown to become the industry leader of organic spirits by providing a product that not only taste great, but is also good for the planet. I’ll drink to that!

Earth Friendly Cosmo Recipe (you can make this from scratch! I substituted homemade simple syrup in place of the triple sec because organic mixers are hard to come by.)

2 Parts Square One Vodka
1 Part Simple Syrup (made from 1/2 and 1/2 solution of Organic Sugar and Hot Water)
Juice from half a lime
Splash of Organic Cranberry Juice
Optional: a Splash of organic OJ, a drop of Organic Orange Extract

Shake. Strain. Serve. Enjoy!

Cars to Display Global Warming Stickers in '09

Car shoppers in California will no longer have to guess how much pollution the shiny new vehicle their eying will emit. Starting next year, a California law will require all new cars to display a global warming score, ranking it against other vehicles made in the same year. The scoring system takes into account emissions made directly by the vehicle, as well as emissions created refining the fuel on which the vehicle runs. The cleanest burning cars will receive a top score of 10, with 1 being the lowest possible rank. The labels will be displayed next to the already-required smog ranking stickers.

This new law is the first of it’s kind in the US, but New York plans to follow suit and implement similar requirements by 2010. California scores will be available on the state’s DriveClean website.

Hopefully the new law will serve as an incentive for car manufacturers to clean up their act, as consumer demand for earth-friendly products peaks.

For more info on the issue check out this greenbiz article...

Green Barbeque Round-Up

Speaking of Hot Dogs...

In the spirit of the 4th of July I've picked my brain and trolled around blog sphere for easy ways to have an earth friendly holiday.

Sharon Troy of Eat. Drink. Better. has some excellent tips on how to minimize your carbon footprint when firing up the grill. She suggests using a propane grill instead of charcoal, or purchasing cleaner burning coals like the one's available here at www.greenyour.com.

Paul Smith of Ecopreneurtist recommends ecoflame products. They make a non-toxic lighter fluid and a warming gel from sugar cane.

I suggest planning ahead and buying your fruits and veggies from the farmers market, or stores that offer locally grown produce.

Follow the same philosophy with your meat and stick to the free range organic locally farmed varieties. If your stumped for options, Nieman Ranch has great steaks and Aidells sells 3 kinds of certified organic and 10 types of antibiotic-free, all-natural sausages.

Happy Grilling!

Hot dogs and dirty dishes

With the 4th upon us, thoughts of hot dogs and flags and lemonade are running in my head.

After a long day at work, I am faced with stuffing the dishwasher with a large load of dishes.

Then blamo! it hits me. It has been a long standing joke that the number of hot dogs never seem to match up with the number of buns. And it is no joke that my dishes never seem to fit into the washer just right.

How about someone come up with a great little marketing effort between a dishwasher manufacturers and a dish ware company. Or dish ware companies could outsource specialized racks that you could by after market or pick as an accessory.

Just a thought. And a late night one at that.

Have a save and green Independence day.