Best of Inhabitots: Top 7 Eco-Friendly Dollhouses for Modern Kids

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:00:00 GMT

Photo credit: My Children's Gorilla This small-scale replica of Andrew Geller's iconic teepee-shaped house is a junior modernist's dream. Do your tots' architectural tastes run more Arne Jacobsen? Here's a doll-size replica of his 1928 villa in Charlottenlund, Denmark. The Modularean Eco House may be the smallest prefab home on this planet. These miniature digs are an ode to the Bauhaus movement. The Petit Flaneur Dollhouse is a sweet, handcrafted abode with French flair. Barbie's Dream House doesn't have anything on this renewable-energy-powered green home. If this flatpak cardboard dollhouse doesn't work for you, try the doll-castle, instead. Inhabitots is a website dedicated to green design for kids and babies. Written by a team of intrepid, design-conscious parents, we review eco-friendly, healthy, and sustainable toys, furniture, clothing, and gear. Follow us on Twitter @inhabitots and on Facebook.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Best of Inhabitat: The World's Tallest Green Buildings

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:28:57 GMT

Photo via Inhabitat Can you figure out which former world's tallest building lost its title to the Burj Dubai, but has now found a way to stay afloat in the battle of the superlatives by revamping itself as the world's tallest green building? The world's tallest treehouse is 10 floors and has spiral staircases, a sanctuary, a choir loft, a basketball court and a garden with wildflowers that spell out J-E-S-U-S all commissioned (according to its builder) by the man upstairs. Can you guess what it's named? Which city has the honor of being home to the tallest LEED certified building in the U.S.? Here's a hint - there was a very popular Tom Hanks movie in the 90s by the same name. You may think that building with wood is archaic, but the world's tallest wooden building is currently underway today in this nordic country known for their Viking ancestors. When completed, this dizzying vertical city near the Han River will be the tallest building in Asia and fall just short of being the tallest building in the world. Bummer. —Written by Yuka Yoneda Inhabitat is a weblog devoted to the future of design, tracking the innovations in technology, practices and materials that are pushing architecture and home design towards a smarter and more sustainable future. Follow us on Twitter @inhabitat or join us on Facebook.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Best of BlogHer: Green Thanksgiving, Baby Albatrosses, Energy Vampires

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:24:27 GMT

Photo credit: st0rmz Frugal holidays are green holidays: 5 easy ways to keep Thanksgiving frugal Baby albatrosses are dying as their parents unknowingly feed them our trash, and photographer Chris Jordan is documenting it in disturbing pictures. Cheap, easy, green: Keeping your electronics efficient cuts energy-suck and energy bills. It's time to get serious about turkey. This year, make your Thanksgiving bird local and sustainable. Got a do-good project? 10 tips for success online and offline. Walk, snap, win: Take great pics for a great cause in the People Powered Movement photo contest. BlogHer is the leading participatory news, entertainment and information network for women online. Follow us on Twitter (@Blogher), on Facebook, and at BlogHer.com.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Best of BlogHer: Hooray for Baking Soda, Cycle Chic, Healthy Chow

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:09:25 GMT

Photo credit: kafka4prez Baking soda to save money AND the planet! 22 ways to use this miracle stuff (oh, yeah, and you can bake with it, too). 5 easy ways to be cycle-chic on the supercheap. These 3 coffees are triple-certified fair trade -- and all of 'em support fun "extra" causes, from bird-friendliness to soccer balls to feminism. More decorations! More cookies! More presents! More shopping! Time to take a breath and plan 10 frugal, healthy meals for November. You're a locavore? Great! Your next mission: Take eating local out of your home kitchen and into the community. What to get the baby who has everything? Durable, green holiday gifts for the under-one set. BlogHer is the leading participatory news, entertainment and information network for women online. Follow us on Twitter (@Blogher), on Facebook, and at BlogHer.com.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Best of Ecouterre: 7 Unbelievably Cool, Green Wearable Tech

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:00:00 GMT

Photo credit: XS Labs This trio of human-powered dresses convert kinetic energy from movement into electricity. A solar-powered, vintage-inspired brooch might appear to be a design contradiction, but this subtle stunner is still a winner. Made from recycled cassette tape, these nondescript-looking ties can be "played" when you run a tape head over them. Clothes that generate heat from your sweat? Jimmy Carter would approve. Timbuk2's new solar-panel messenger bags are almost too cool for school, but they'll turn into a lantern at night if you need to hit the books after dark. Made from recycled soda bottles, Zegna's solar-powered jacket can power an iPod or cellphone without making you look like a dork. After harnessing power from the sun, the tiny LED bulbs on this photovoltaic-cell necklace light up like a string of pearls. Ecouterre is a website devoted to the future of clothing and textile design. We're dedicated to showcasing and supporting designers who not only contemplate cut, form, and drape, but also a garment's social and environmental impact, from the cultivation of its fibers to its use and disposal. Follow us on Twitter @ecouterre or join us on Facebook.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Best of BloghHer: Plastic Produce, Pet CPR, Ethical Beverages

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:09:49 GMT

Photo credit: s_fox Local! Organic! Seasonal! And...wrapped in plastic? Beth Terry wants to know why farmers markets still use so much plastic. Are you an animal lover? Britt is, and she's found 9 animal-centric blogs you should be reading. But...how much of an animal lover are you, really? Could you give a pet in distress mouth-to-snout or CPR? ClizBiz has a quick how to and a story of the remarkable rescue of a 100-year-old turtle. When Siel started blogging, if it was organic and fair trade, it was plain coffee. Now she's found 3 cool drinks with an eco-ethical mission. Alanna went on a voyage of discovery through the vegetarian cookbooks of the brilliant Deborah Madison. Here are her favorites. BlogHer is the leading participatory news, entertainment and information network for women online. Follow us on Twitter (@Blogher), on Facebook, and at BlogHer.com.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Best of Inhabitots: Top 7 Eco-Friendly Rocking Horses for Kids

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:00:00 GMT

Photo credit: Whatchawant True to its name, the Whatchawant is whatever your child wishes it to be. Can't decide between a rocking chair or a rocking horse? This traditional Baltic rocking chair horse does it all. If you're short on space, the Tori Foldable Rocking Horse can be packed away after your tot has ridden into the sunset--for the day, anyway. This rocking "Pizzly" bear keeps up with the climate-changing times by fusing grizzlies with their polar brethren. The aptly named Giddyup Rocking Stool uses actual reclaimed leather saddles for an authentic, home-on-the-range touch. Why should kids hog all the fun? Here's a rocking horse for the young at heart, if not in years. Plan Toys' Walking Elephant bucks the rocking-horse trend with a tiny, mobile pachyderm. Inhabitots is a website dedicated to green design for kids and babies. Written by a team of intrepid, design-conscious parents, we review eco-friendly, healthy, and sustainable toys, furniture, clothing, and gear. Follow us on Twitter @inhabitots and on Facebook.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Best of BlogHer: Locavores, Banana Masks, Shopping Your Closet

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:00:00 GMT

Photo credit: avixyz How do you ask your best friend where her food came from? Ever tried to become a family of locavores for a week? Bloggers share stories of helping loved ones to eat more locally. Natural, DIY moisturizing face mask recipes always seem to demand the sacrifice of a delicious avocado. Then I stumbled across one made from bananas. Perfect! I hate bananas! How to kill a turkey, forage for fresh clams, and get organic, local lunches in schools: three awesome experiments in green food. We keep hearing "shop your closet," but what does that mean, exactly? What to keep, what to toss, and how to create a smart, lower-impact and stylish shopping list this fall/winter: a step-by-step guide. As I prepare to move but not yet knowing where my next home will be, I'm thinking about what I will put into storage and what I will let go of. And I'm seriously contemplating a radical idea: giving it all up. All of it. Living with only what I need to keep to work, pay taxes and avoid public nudity charges. Imagine posting a wish list for veggies or getting paid in pears: veggie trading, produce exchanges, and other delicious ways to avoid wasting food. Climate Action Day on October 24 is the last chance to bring awareness before the final climate meeting in Copenhagen in late December. Here's what you can do. BlogHer is the leading participatory news, entertainment and information network for women online. Follow us on Twitter (@Blogher), on Facebook, and at BlogHer.com.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Best of Inhabitat: Solar Decathlon Edition

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:25:00 GMT

The 2009 Solar Decathlon, the biennial solar architecture competition held in Washington D.C., had us all abuzz last week. Here are some of our highlights: We have a winner! Team Germany's two-story solar-powered cube took home the gold--find out what made it tick. Appearances can be deceiving: The University of Illinois' Gable House, which won second prize, is anything but rustic. Judges praised California's Refract House not only for "breaking out of the box" but for successfully marrying interior and exterior spaces. Feeling chilly? Team Ontario's North House is designed to generate more energy than it consumes. Compared with the average $490,000 cost of the other entrants, Rice University's $140,000 ZEROW House is eminently affordable. Visit Inhabitat for our full coverage of the Solar Decathlon. Inhabitat is a weblog devoted to the future of design, tracking the innovations in technology, practices and materials that are pushing architecture and home design towards a smarter and more sustainable future. Follow us on Twitter @inhabitat or join us on Facebook.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Best of Ecouterre: 7 Eco-Fabrics That Could Change the Future of Fashion

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 08:00:00 GMT

Photo credit: Mark Aldane Tumang What does the use of cork fabric have to do protecting the Iberian Lynx? Plenty, it seems. The seaweed-derived SeaCell is said to promote a sense of well-being, but it also incited its own tempest in a teacup over its far-fetched claims. Big on bromeliads? Pina fabric, made from pineapple leaves, is one to watch. As soft as cashmere, Lenpur gets its silky hand from sustainably cultivated white fir wood. This Southeast Asian fabric doesn't monkey around--it's made from the cast-off stems and leaves of the banana tree. We're torn about this fishy leather. On the one hand, it uses a byproduct of the salmon-processing industry that would otherwise get landfilled. On the other, it's not exactly vegan-friendly. Could Tencel replace cotton one day? Or will its chemical-intensive production negate any benefits? Ecouterre is a website devoted to the future of clothing and textile design. We're dedicated to showcasing and supporting designers who not only contemplate cut, form, and drape, but also a garment's social and environmental impact, from the cultivation of its fibers to its use and disposal. Follow us on Twitter @ecouterre or join us on Facebook.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Best of BlogHer: Happy Cows, Blog Action Day, Vegan Month

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 07:00:51 GMT

Photo credit: law_keven Milk bottle labels picture happy cows on rustic farms with plenty of space to roam. Is that true? I took a trip to an organic dairy farm to visit the cows that produce my milk and the humans who package it. Last time I checked, over 5,000 bloggers from 126 countries are participating in Blog Action Day for Climate Change this Thursday. Here's what you can do. A whole year without buying a single piece of clothing. Could you commit to it? But that is one of the things I like best about the challenge to eat locally: Everyone has something they can enjoy because it's very local to their foodshed. Don't have the outdoor space to grow your own food? Yard sharing to the rescue. It's the Vegan Month of Food--aka Vegan MoFo! Find recipes and discover new vegan and vegan-friendly food blogs. BlogHer is the leading participatory news, entertainment and information network for women online. Follow us on Twitter (@Blogher), on Facebook, and at BlogHer.com. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Best of BlogHer: Beef Crisis, Photo Activism, Lawn Reform

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 09:30:33 GMT

Photo credit: Andrea Bakacs Another day, another ground-beef crisis. Should Obama prioritize food safety? Good photography can change the way we eat--at least, that's the idea behind photo activist Andrea Bakacs' work--and it's gently shifting the way I think about food. Does your house have a lawn? Follow the six basic practices of the Lawn Reform Coalition. Got a great cause, but don't know how to get people interested? BlogHer's series on using social media for your project kicks off with 10 questions to get you started on your path to do-gooding. First it was lead paint on toys, then toxins in baby bottles--now, the toxic playground may be a legitimate danger to kids' health. Could you limit yourself to food produced within 150 miles of your house for a whole month? Take stock with the fifth Eat Local Challenge. BlogHer is the leading participatory news, entertainment and information network for women online. Follow us on Twitter (@Blogher), on Facebook, and at BlogHer.com.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Best of Inhabitots: Top 7 Eco-Friendly Playhouses for Kids

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 08:00:00 GMT

Photo credit: Manuel Villa Part child's playhouse, part home-within-a-home getaway for harried parents, Manuel Villa's Habitable Polyhedron is like an escape pod from outer space. A sustainably constructed prefab modernist shed just for the kiddos? Yes, please! Fans of architect Ryan Grey Smith's Modern Shed will go gaga for this pint-size version for their Mini-Mes. This cardboard playhouse by Kidsonroof can be anything your child's imagination can muster. Plus, it comes with a band of adorable critter friends! Made with FSC-certified wood, this playhouse is like a psychedelic Hobbit-hole for the young 'uns. The award-winning Trad Play Fort has another sneakier purpose: To corral the preponderance of gear that comes with having children. Straight from a fairy tale, the Dreaming Spires Willow Playhouse both modern princesses and jousting knights (or modern knights and jousting princesses.) Inhabitots is a website dedicated to green design for kids and babies. Written by a team of intrepid, design-conscious parents, we review eco-friendly, healthy, and sustainable toys, furniture, clothing, and gear. Follow us on Twitter @inhabitots and on Facebook.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Best of BlogHer: Food Bloggers, Netflix For Clothes, Where Babies Come From

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:39:50 GMT

Photo credit: hammer51012 The most inspirational panel at last week's BlogHer Food conference was about food bloggers who are changing the world! Get inspired by some amazing social action, and find out how you can get involved. It's like Netflix, but for clothes! This green clothing-swap company figured how to let you go shopping--in other people's closets. If you haven't seen the awesome Change Starts at Home site, check it out: It's supporting some of the most kick-ass change makers we've ever met. Can buying conventional cotton support an eco-cause? Find out what this design company means by "pre-organic." "Babies come from WHERE?" How I prepared my daughter for her brother's natural, at-home birth. Hunger is a big, complex issue. It's a feminist, political, economic issue. It's a moral issue. So now that my awareness is raised, what do I do next? BlogHer is the leading participatory news, entertainment and information network for women online. Follow us on Twitter (@Blogher), on Facebook, and at BlogHer.com.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Best of BlogHer: Great American Apparel Diet, Hunger Challenge, Green Fashion Week

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 08:00:33 GMT

Photo credit: Rainforest Action Network Not shopping for clothes, for an entire year—would you, could you, try the Great American Apparel Diet? Of course, swapping clothes locally has zero carbon footprint. Instead of hitting the stores, try a Swap-o-Rama-Rama event (complete with DIY stations), instead. Tell your senators how much you love the climate and win some awesome prizes, too! Could you eat on $28 a week? Here's why food bloggers are taking the Hunger Challenge. What do New York Fashion Week, a sheep sanctuary in Britain, and destruction of the Indonesian rainforest have in common? The first-ever GreenShows. Eating garbage: Why I became a freegan last winter. Remember that Simpsons episode about Big Sugar? It's not looking like such a joke anymore... Dear Pig: An animal lover thanks the four-legged donor of her mother's heart valve transplant—and keeps the promise to give up meat after the operation. BlogHer is the leading participatory news, entertainment and information network for women online. Follow us on Twitter (@Blogher), on Facebook, and at BlogHer.com.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Best of BlogHer: Urban Fruit Gleaning, Radiohead, Bad Eggs

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 09:34:29 GMT

Photo credit: yogi How do you harvest homegrown produce for free when you live in the city? It's called urban fruit gleaning. Here's how to do it without breaking the rules. Everyone from Thom Yorke of Radiohead to former United Nations Secretary-General and Nobel Peace Prize winner Kofi Annan will be at the premiere of action-packed eco-documentary The Age of Stupid next week—and you can join them. The Ugly Omelet: The hard-cracked realities of the egg industry might shock you. How do we change this disturbing industry practice? Happy Whole Grains Month! Celebrate by cooking up some truly delectable bulgur. BlogHer is the leading participatory news, entertainment and information network for women online. Follow us on Twitter (@Blogher), on Facebook, and at BlogHer.com.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

5 Ugly Truths You May Not Know About the Beauty Industry

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:37:38 GMT

Photo credit: runran The $500 billion beauty industry is no stranger to the art of obfuscation. The sole purpose of cosmetics and personal-care products, after all, is to correct, conceal, and camouflage. So does it come as a surprise to anyone that there are a few sticking points certain parties would rather see glossed over? Peel away the glitz and glamor, says Stacy Malkan, co-founder of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and author of Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry, and you'll expose the toxic truths lurking beneath the beauty industry's seedy underbelly. Here, Malkan shares five of the biggies that the major beauty purveyors would rather keep under wraps. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Kiehl's to Launch Acai Damage-Repairing Organic Skincare Line

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 11:37:57 GMT

Photo credit: John Aquino If you haven't heard of acai by now, it's time to crawl out from under that rock you've been living under and wake up and smell the superfruit. Packed to the gunwales with wrinkle-zapping antioxidants, the oft-lauded Amazonian miracle berry is the star attraction of Kiehl's upcoming Acai Damage-Repairing Skincare Collection, a quartet of age and environmental-stress busters due on counters in a couple of weeks. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Best of BlogHer: Green Shoes, Green Swag, Green Parks

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 08:00:00 GMT

Photo credit: fotoosvanrobin They come in every color but they're still all green: Cute, comfy, eco-friendly shoes to walk the Earth in every day. What's a conference or convention without some schwag? The trick is to make those freebies socially responsible. Join the Canvolution! Find out how to preserve the local harvest and take control of your food supply (it's easier than you think). Biking to work is great if you live close enough, or your commute isn't too hilly, or you're not in business attire in the flush of summer. For the rest of us, that's where the electric bicycle comes in. Does home gardening cost too much? We take a closer look at the economics of growing your own. Psyched for Ken Burns' new documentary The National Parks: America's Best Idea later this month? Here's what you can do right now to help America's best idea. Dr. Brazen Hussy's ongoing bird research, orcas and ecotourism, urban wildlife, and one very large snapping turtle: the best animal-science bloggers out there. BlogHer is the leading participatory news, entertainment and information network for women online. Follow us on Twitter (@Blogher), on Facebook, and at BlogHer.com.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Men's Green Fashion Guide: Suits and Dress Jackets

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:34:10 GMT

Photo credit: quinnanya C'mon get snappy! If you're looking to clean up in a hurry, you can do worse than suiting up with a sharp-looking dress jacket (tie optional, pants highly recommended). Wool options abound, as do vintage and preloved togs, but if neither floats your proverbial boat, here are several sustainable, vegan-friendly suit and jacket options that are crisp and natty, not stuffy. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Patagonia to SIGG: We're Finished!

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 08:00:00 GMT

Photo credit: redjar The press release that fell into our inbox on Thursday left no room for interpretation: "Patagonia Terminates Relationship With SIGG Water Bottles," the headline screamed. Today, the ethical activewear label formally ceases all co-branding and co-marketing efforts with the beleaguered Swiss reusable-bottle company, as well as the sale of SIGG bottles in its stores, through its catalogs, and online. Breaking up, as they say, is hard to do.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

5 Calorie-Free Organic Chocolate Skincare Treats (You Won't Gain a Pound, We Promise!)

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 20:58:41 GMT

Photo credit: ginnerobot Chocolate may be soul food, but skin food? The concept isn't as far-fetched as you might think. Packed with a raft of wrinkle-battling antioxidants--twice as much as that in red wine and up to three times those found in green tea, according to a 2003 Cornell University study--the decadent dessert is said to boost complexions by fighting free-radical damage, as well as softening and conditioning your skin with its high concentration of cocoa butter. With a hefty dose of caffeine to bolster circulation, along with an intoxicating aroma that triggers the release of feel-good serotonin, chocolate may be more of a skin salve than its misbegotten rep as a blemish-inducer lets on. Before you can say "trend alert!" we found five skincare collections that worship at the altar of the humble cacao bean. And because your choice of chocolate matters, all of them use certified-organic cocoa, some of which is fair-trade-certified, as well. Talk about a guilt-free chocolate fix. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Gypsy 05 Apparel Brings Age of Aquarius to Hollywood

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 19:12:45 GMT

Photo credit: Gypsy 05 Shaking off eco duds' crunchy connotations (hemp, tie-dye, Birkies) hasn't been easy, even 40 years after Woodstock. But Gypsy 05 comes full circle with an aesthetic that's more hip than hippie, with billowing tie-dyed maxi dresses (which are not for the short of stature, we've learned), psychedelic peasant blouses, ombre mini-frocks, and color-burst sweater wraps.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Seeds of Silk Bracelets by Laura Lobdell Encourage Change, Growth

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 12:00:00 GMT

Photo credit: Laura Lobdell Time and patience, it's said, turn mulberry leaves into silk. For designer Laura Lobdell, whom we first met at Designers & Agents in May, this aphorism is physically manifested in her vividly hued hand-knotted silk bracelets, made by and to benefit disadvantaged young women in Cambodia. "Knotting the silk," says Lobdell, "is a light and healing meditation, which becomes part of the rehabilitation process for these remarkable women, along with the empowerment of earning her own livelihood. Each knot is like a seed." ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Men's Green Fashion Guide: Smart Casual Pants

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 19:25:19 GMT

Photo credit: Bonobos You have the shirt well in hand; now to pair it off with a snazzy pant. Choices abound for the trouser-bound because renewable fibers like merino wool and cashmere are commonplace, whether you favor pleated or flat, cuffed or uncuffed, slim-fit or wide-leg. Less widespread are light- to medium-weight slacks made from organic or sustainable fibers. As we mentioned before, buying preloved/vintage/secondhand is the most eco-friendly route, but if you must ring in the new, here are some low-impact options for the dapper-looking gent that translate easily from work to play and back again.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Eve Organics Eye Shadows Shimmer, Glow

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 15:59:24 GMT

Photo credit: Eve Organics As brain-melting temps begin to dip, sweater boxes start getting ransacked, and wardrobe whites get aired out for one last hurrah, the eyes have it for bolder, more provocative peepers, moving away from summery teals and ultramarines to ripened ochres, wines, and aubergines. Burgeoning beauty company Eve Organics, which launched in late 2007, has added a line of shimmery eye shadows to its mineral makeup collection, with 10 luminescent shades at less than $8 a pot. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Target Upcycles Its Billboards Into Anna Sui Bags, But Are They Green?

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:21:46 GMT

Photo credit: Target Local color will take on a whole new meaning this Friday when Target cuts a swathe through New York City's Times Square with six vinyl billboards going ga-ga for Gotham. Featuring the work of four New York artists (Laurie Rosenwald, Michael Anderson, Josh Goldstein, and Charles Wilkin), the towering paean to the city will sport iconic images such as the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, and the humble knish. Although the billboards will remain until Oct. 31, starting on Sept. 4, you can stake your claim on a one-of-a-kind tote--designed by no less than Anna Sui--refashioned from the erstwhile displays once they've been put out to pasture. While TreeHugger is loathe to knock recycling in any form, we have to ask: Can a solution be truly green when you set out to create the problem in the first place? More important, should you be crowing about it?... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Best of BlogHer: Whole Foods Healthcare, SIGG's BPA Scandal, Cute Cats

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 09:00:00 GMT

Photo credit: travelstar When the healthcare debate collides with the eco-foodie debate, which principle wins? Much ado about Whole Foods. Crunchy Domestic Goddess Amy Gates speaks out about BPA in her favorite water bottle in "The Big SIGG Letdown." Beth Terry of Fake Plastic Fish is doing everything humanly possible to cut plastic from her life. So why is she suddenly questioning if her actions are making any difference? 20 Green/Environmental YouTube Channels! Just because these eco-videos are an excellent resource, it doesn't mean they're lacking in cute cats... Hungry for justice? Learn how you can use a hunger challenge to fuel political activism and create social change. Battling NIMBY groups, answering difficult questions about habitat preservation, and of course tweeting your kilowatt use: Getting more people on board with renewable energy has its challenges. BlogHer is the leading participatory news, entertainment and information network for women online. Follow us on Twitter (@Blogher), on Facebook, and at BlogHer.com.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Lead Levels in Lipstick Much Higher Than Previously Reported, Says FDA

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:02:14 GMT

Photo credit: daniellerose It took two years, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has finally made good on its promise to conduct its own analysis of lead in lipstick. The results, suffice to say, ain't pretty. The FDA, which published its analysis in the July/August 2009 issue of the Journal of Cosmetic Science, found lead in all 20 of the lipsticks it tested, with levels ranging fro 0.01 parts per million (ppm) to 3.06ppm-more than four times the highest level of 0.65ppm reported in the groundbreaking 2007 study by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (CSC), which uncovered lead in more than 60 percent of 33 popular lipsticks. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Nothing New About Looptworks' Upcycled Activewear (And That's a Good Thing)

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 12:24:20 GMT

Photo credit: Looptworks "Waste not, want not" isn't just a mantra for Looptworks, a burgeoning online activewear and accessories company, it's an entire business plan. For founders Gary Peck, Scott Hamlin and Jim Stutts, releasing more YAOTs (Yet Another Organic T-shirt) into the wild doesn't make sense when a single factory, on average, dumps about 60,000 pounds of textile waste into the landfill every week. Looptworks takes cast-off, pre-consumer materials and repurposes them into limited-edition clothing and accessories. Officially launching on Sept. 9, the startup revolves around using what already exists, generating nothing new in the manufacturing of its products or in the running of its business. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Recent Posts by TreeHugger's Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA