Category: Products

Can't get enough of the Guff

Oh, my poor aching wallet. Guffly prides itself as providing "good stuff for good living," and they aren't foolin'!

Detroit-based Guffly features ecofriendly products and fair trade lifestyle goods like home, pet, clothing, office, and personal accessories. They are comitted to targeting fashion while respecting the environment.

As you browse their items, you wil notice each item is labeled with a button (such as "recycled," "fair trade," "biodegradable," "energy," etc...) to represent its contribution to carbon footprint reduction.

Sign up for the Daily Guff Newsletter. A note will grace your inbox, alerting you to the eco-friendly deal of the day. If you're not interested in the day's offering, shop the Top Guffs, a collection of Daily Guff offerings at a reduced rate.

In between clicks, check out their blog, which gives detailed information about the Daily Guff and the company that produces that specific item.

Look no further than Guffly for those hard-to-shop-for: Cuff links made from recycled Lego pieces and Scrabble tiles, business card cases made from circuit board pieces, totes woven with seats belts and lovely pendant necklaces made from broken plate pieces are all at your disposal.

Category: Products

Local company plays it Green Safe

I always find the most helpful reading materials while waiting on carryout at Mudgie's Deli in Corktown. Greg Mudge's countertop has introduced me to tour de troit, Grown in Detroit and The Greening of Detroit among others. The latest of lunchtime lessons: Michigan Green Safe Products.

Based in Detroit, Michigan Green Safe Products carries Earth-friendly alternatives to the traditional petro-based atrocities. According to my friendly flier, here's a breakdown of products. I found this particularly fascinating!

PLA "Corn:" Cold cups, lids, straws, souffle cups, deli/food containers, cutlery, hot/soup cups and sushi containers

BAGASSE "Sugar cane:" Plates, bowls, to-go clamshells and compartment containers

POTATO STARCH: Cutlery, forks, spoons and knives

PAPER "Recycled": Coffee grips, paper towel, napkins, toilet paper, facial tissue, can liners, stir sticks, ecoflame, "green" sterno, "green" cleaning supplies, shopping bags and produce bags.

My favorite miscellanous item? "Biodegradable Dog Poop Bags"!

It occurs to me that many of these items cater to the food service industry. But think about Michigan Green Safe Products when you plan that fabulous Chinese New Year party or a co-worker's birthday bash. The amount of non-biodegradable waste produced by a simple soiree is just brutal!

Shop online for a full range of very reasonably-priced products or buy local. Select Green Safe Products are sold at Plum Market locations in Bloomfield and Ann Arbor.

So, I am thanking Greg for whipping up the most taste-tastic Ivey sandwich yet AND for again making an education out of my 10-minute lunch break!

Category: Products

Entrepreneur makes green by going green

Tina Paul has heard people say going green doesn't pay. She begs to differ. She owns advisiondetroit.com, an advertising company that uses recycled materials to create promotional items. Everything from bags to pens to stationary can be made from items normally discarded. "It is all about selecting the right item," she said. "It is not true that you can't make money going green. You can go green and live rich." Paul sold two varieties of bags during this past weekend's Green Street Fair in Plymouth. One was made of organic cotton and stated: "My bag is better than your bag. (It's organic)." The other was made entirely of recycled plastic bottles and read: "In my past life ... I was a plastic bottle." Paul said the cost of purchasing recycled materials has fallen to the point that pens made from non-recycled plastic cost about the same as those made from recycled material, she said. "The difference in cost might be one cent," she said of pens. "It used to cost double to use recycled materials. Not any more."

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Category: Products

Greenwashing the good clean way

I felt a little dirty from my last blog, so I thought I would write about some all-natural soaps to "greenwash" the bad corporate vibes away.

I usually use glycerin soaps, as they moisturize without striping the skin of natural oils as many commercial soaps do. Glycerin is a humectant, meaning it attracts moisture to your skin. Commercial soap makers don't use them so they can then try to sell you products to moisturize your skin. Get it?!

Recently, I tried four soaps by a small company called Barely Native, which makes all-natural, organic soaps that use glycerin, are cruelty free and do not use parabens! The soaps came to me hand-packed with sheaths made of recycled, discontinued wallpaper. I was told by the owner, Brian Hooks, that "the purpose was twofold, first to provide a nice and water resistant wrapper and second to spur the imagination to reuse adequate materials in other manners." I like that idea, good way to reduce, reuse and recycle.

I tried 'Lemongrass Tea' first and the smell was intoxicating and very refreshing. I use lemongrass essential oil for my daily skin care, so it was a treat to have in the shower for my whole body. Next, I tried the 'Caribbean Spice,' which had a real strong clove scent, another essential oil I use often in my dental care. This soap has a bit of a grit to it that caught me off guard, so I did not use it for daily use. But, it felt great on my skin after a good workout at the gym. Then, I tried 'Forest Tonic.' It smelled like junipers but didn't really do anything for me except make me crave a gin and tonic! What can I say? The smell of junipers does that to me! The last one was 'Thyme Garde,' the only actual green one. I used this one as hand soap and it did lather a bit and the smell stayed with you for some time after.

All of the soaps from Barely Native are certified by the USDA National Organic Program and, beyond being a wonderful source of aromatherapy, they left me feeling squeaky clean without any of the guilt of greenwashing !

Category: Products

A step in the right direction

Ladies, listen up. Send those clear plastic light-up platforms packing -- there's a new heel in town!

Gussy up your gams with sustainable footwear designed with comfort, style AND Mother Earth in mind.

Many companies are offering trendy alternatives using scrap wood to make heels, wedges and platforms, opting for PVC- and leather-free fabrics like organic cotton and hemp, and using water-based glues in assembly.

Check out Form & Fauna, Charmone, olsen Haus and mohop brand shoes. Have your credit card handy; you will not be able to surf away from these sites without a purchase! And if the man in your life is feeling envious of your green feet, mouse over to Simple, where he can score a pair vegan-friendly sneaks made of recycled car tires! Now those are environmental footprints worth leaving!

Category: Products

Consumer Reports offers 'green' reviews and resources

Looking to switch laundry detergent? Confused about which fish are more eco-friendly to eat? Wondering what to do with your old cell phones and mp3 players? There's one spot on the Web that can help you find those answers.

Consumer Reports has a site dedicated to helping you make greener product choices. Beyond the regular product reviews, CR Greener Choices also has areas to help you decipher eco-claims on labels, calculate energy usage, and decide what to do with your old electonics.

Bookmark the site and, if you're like me, you'll find it a welcome oasis in a sea of information about being greener.

Category: Products

Fabric Sweeper fails pledge to be greener

Recently I read a review on a new product called the Fabric Sweeper by Pledge. The concept is great: You roll the sweeper across upholstery and it picks up pet hair and it traps it into a little compartment. Here is where the concept falls apart: when it's full, you throw it away!

Where is "away"? There is no away! If I could open it, empty it out and reuse it I'd love it! Instead, this new product will add tons of waste to our landfills.

It even says on the Web site, "Do not wash or rinse rollers. Do not try to empty or disassemble disposable sweeper." Why? Because the company wants you to throw it away and buy more. The sweeper is not recyclable either!

On a product review page, someone wrote "pop out one of the little grey sweeper things part way, scoop out the ball of fur from inside, pop the grey sweeper back in and you're good to go!! I know, not what the company WANTS me to do, but it WORKS!!!" Might be worth a try if you get the sweeper for free.

No Green Star from me, not environmentally friendly!

I say don't bother to give Pledge your money. Instead, buy products that are reusable like the Four Paws Magic Coast Hair Remover or Simple Solution® Cat Hair and Lint Remover. These products remove hair from furniture, carpets, drapes, clothing and pet beds and you can use them to dust your house. They are easily washed with soap and water so you can use them hundreds of times. Tell that to Pledge!

Category: Products

Turning blue collar jobs green

My family has traditionally been very blue collar, not white, not pink, but blue. Yet many of those jobs no longer exist or are quickly disappearing. Now we hear this buzz about green collar jobs? But what are they?

Simply put, it is labor that produces environmentally friendly products and services. Think of it this way: You build an gas guzzling SUV - that's a blue-collar job. You build a hybrid vehicle, even if it's an SUV - that's a green-collar job. So the hope is that blue can turn green!

The United Steelworkers Union (largest private sector manufacturing union) is proving just that as it has joined forces with the Sierra Club to create the Blue-Green Alliance to "pursue a joint public policy agenda under the banner of Good Jobs, A Clean Environment, and A Safer World."

Green-collar jobs also help to sustain the American middle class and help many out of poverty. The Green Jobs Act of 2007 (H.R. 2847) introduced by Reps. Hilda Solis, D-Calif., and John Tierney, D-Mass., authorizes up to $125 million in funding to establish national and state job-training programs, administered by the U.S. Department of Labor, to help address job shortages that are impairing growth in green industries, such as energy-efficient buildings and construction, renewable electric power, energy-efficient vehicles and biofuels development. It targets a broad range of populations for eligibility, but has a special focus on creating " green pathways out of poverty .

These examples demonstrate that creating a clean-energy economy geared toward the U.S. workforce could potentially reach the goal of "3 million new green-collar jobs" that stimulate "$1.4 trillion in new GDP."

"Manufacturing and Green Jobs" under the the Obama-Biden plan also has a goal of including a federal workforce training program "creating 5 million new green jobs: over 10 years to advance the next generation of biofuels and fuel infrastructure, accelerate the commercialization of plug-in hybrids, promote development of commercial scale renewable energy, invest in low emissions coal plants, and begin transition to a new digital electricity grid."

A little closer to home is the branch of the Apollo Alliance whose mission is to "reduce our nation's dependence on foreign oil, cut the carbon emissions that are destabilizing our climate, and expand opportunities for American businesses and workers." In Michigan, this organization is in partnership with the Ecology Center in Ann Arbor. Together they plan to help create quality jobs and a cleaner, more secure energy future for Michigan.

As my nephew enters his second semester in college on the path to engineering, I truly hope his courses are green-minded and consciously aware so that he will be part of the next generation working toward a sustainable future for all of us.

Category: Products

Green Resolutions for 2009!

Green Living Ideas is a website dedicated to exactly that. Providing ideas on how to live in such a way as to be more aware of environmental sustainability of every aspect of your life. The site even offers podcasts on a wide variety of topics that you can listen on demand through itunes.

For the New Year they have come up with a list of " 9 Green Resolutions for 2009 "

I am going to see how many of these I can incorporate into my life that I don't already do and I am up for the challenge!

1-Vow to eat an entirely local meal at least once a week.

This one will be interesting to do but not nearly as difficult as I think it will be as I already shop at Eastern Market and local grocers and I just joined the Detroit Zen Center's ' Living Zen Organics' food program which include local produce as well as fair-trade products.

2-Boycott at least one non-green product all year. Make it something that you like and would purchase if it were more eco-friendly. Write to the company that manufactures this product and tell them why you now choose not to buy it.

Oh this one won't be a problem for me as I already write letters to company's that I like their products or I suggest ways to improve them from a consumer point of view. Now I just have to pick my first boycotted product of the year and write a note. I will post one when I get a response! Hmm, now what to boycott!

3-Give up using paper napkins, paper towels, or both. Buy a few sets of decorative organic cloth napkins. Clean up spills with old towels cut into smaller squares and then toss them into the laundry.

Now this one is going to be very difficult for me I can tell already. I actually have industrial paper napkin dispensers in my home; one in the kitchen and another in the bathroom. But I like a challenge and the idea of cutting up old towels is a good one and I can stitch up some napkins on my sewing machine. Will report back in this one, wish me luck!

4-Change to low-energy light bulbs.

Done, did this a few years ago, even though I admit I am not a big fan of the light coverage they provide or the color.

5-Cut down on the power that your electronic devices use by plugging them into power strips you can conveniently switch off when you're not using them.

Oh I do this one too! They say "Five Percent of U.S. Electricity Wasted By "Vampire" Electronics"

6-Don't drive when you can walk. Take time to appreciate the glimpse of beauty and vibrant life that the natural world offers. Savor the moments spent away from the rushed hustle and bustle tempo of our schedule-oriented world.

I try to walk when possible and lucky for me I live in Hamtramck which is pretty walk-able so I can go to the market and bakery the post office, the city building to pay my tickets when I forget to feed the meter because I am out and about!

7-Turn off the faucet while you're brushing your teeth. Also take shorter showers or turn off the water while you're soaping up.

Turning off the water to brush your teeth is a no brainer, and I take pretty quick showers as it is, but to turn off the water while I am showering that may not happen I already multitask by conditioning my hair then soaping so I don't waste water.

8-Buy less stuff and really give thought before you buy something. Sometimes it helps to leave the store and think clearheadedly about whether or not you truly need the item(s).

Uh hello? In this economy! Besides I already consider packaging when I buy stuff, excess packaging is just not necessary, but it is always good to be reminded! I have blogged about this before but it's worth it to bring up the short video by Annie Leonard, " "The Story of Stuff"" as it helps put consumption in perspective.

9-Pledge to actually remember to bring your own grocery bags when you go shopping. Hang a prominent reminder (maybe a picture of a tree stump!) from your rear view mirror to help you remember to grab your bags when you get out of the car. Don't hesitate to run back to your car if you find you've forgotten them again. Have someone hold your place in the check-out line and take advantage of the opportunity to burn some calories.

I actually just this month finally used up all of my store plastic bags as garbage bags and will dutifully try to remember to use the nylon bags I have had for over a year now that I never seem to leave in the car after I actually do use them. But now I have like 5 bags for just this purpose and should have not excuse as I start 2009!

Wish me luck!

Category: Products

Product review: Deodorant

After reading "Exposed: The Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Products and What's at Stake for American Power," I decided to find out more about common products by looking them up in the Skin Deep cosmetics safety database and trying out alternatives.

First up on the list is deodorant, whose common ingredients have been linked to questions about breast cancer risk. The prevailing thought is that these substances, in the levels used in deodorant on grocery store shelves, are safe for human use. But, safety questions arise when you consider the cumulative amount of exposure over time, in combination with other products.

I had been using Dove Ultimate Clear, Sensitive Skin, which worked great and scored 3 on a scale of 1-10 in the Skin Deep database, a moderate safety hazard. The alternatives I tried include:

Tom's of Maine Natural Long-Lasting Care Deodorant Stick in Apricot. The most similar product rated - the same deodorant in lavendar - scored 2, a low safety hazard. Wow. This deodorant raised only slightly fewer concerns than Dove, but its performance was WAY worse. Maybe it was just my body chemistry, but it seemed like this product made me smell WORSE rather than better.

-- Next up was Jason Natural Cosmetics Naturally Fresh Unscented Stick for Women, which scored 1, a low safety hazard. This deodorant rated even better than Tom's in the database, but its performance was just as bad.

-- Finally, I tried Naturally Fresh Deodorant Crystal Spray Mist, which rated 0, the lowest safety hazard. This product got the best safety rating and worked well enough that I won't be a social outcast if I keep using it. It was also the least expensive, though its economy is hard to compare since the others come in stick form and this one is a liquid. Rather than the traditional list of unpronounceable, undecipherable ingredients, the spray is made from: "Aqua (Purified Water), Natural Mineral Salts (Potassium Alum)."

Have you tried these products or can you recommend others? Leave a comment and share your experience!