Archive for August, 2010
Kiss My Face is an all natural body care line made of organic products that ensure the best for you and Mother Earth. Kiss My Face proudly states their use of the purest ingredients, leaving no room for artificial colors, chemical additives, animal ingredients or the process of animal testing. For hair to feet— and everywhere in between— there is a Kiss My Face product to leave you sparkling and refreshed. For more information on the company and it’s products, store locations, coupons and online ordering, check out the Kiss My Face Web site. Treat yourself [and our planet] to a special treat and start using environmentally responsible beauty and body care products!
This month, the Producers Guild of America released the Green Production Guide, a website and resource to help make film production a little more sustainable. The guide includes tips for recycling props and other materials used on-site, an extensive list of vendors and companies offering green products and services, a carbon calculator, and many more resources for tracking and improving the use of energy and materials in producing films, TV shows, and new media projects.
From the website: “With seed funding and support provided by Disney, Fox, NBC Universal, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Warner Bros., the PGA, as part of its PGA Green Initiative, has developed this tool for the production and entertainment community to further its goal of integrating sustainable practices into its operations and reducing the environmental footprint within the production process.” Fun fact: past carbon-neutral productions include “Syriana”, “An Inconvenient Truth”, “The Day After Tomorrow” and “Sweet Land”. To be considered a carbon-neutral production, producers must calculate their total carbon footprint (all energy expended–transportation of actors and crew, electricity used on set, materials/labor to make props and costuming, etc.) and then offset that total footprint by doing things like planting trees and investing in clean energy.
Australia’s leading fashion brand, Cylk, collaborated with such luxury retailers as Henri Bendel and Fred Segal to prove to the world that high-end fashion can be eco-friendly. Started in 2006, Cylk initially made clothes composed of 100% silk. Now, they have an entire ready-to-wear collection made of luxury blends that include super fine bamboo, silk and modal. While bamboo is a more well-known fabric, modal is made from the cellulose of beech trees. The most unusual aspect of Cylk’s designs is their brilliant take on the current cut-out trend and fabric removal. This unique dress draws attention to the shoulders by removing fabric from the sleeves. Cylk has the perfect combination of eco-friendly and unique, designer fashion.
Cylk is the leader in seamless eco-chic bamboo fashion, and “combines high-end fashion with environmental awareness. With an aim to promote fair trade practices and discussion of sustainability issues, the Cylk philosophy is about caring for others, respecting nature, and working together to make the world a better place.” For more information regarding their environmental awareness philosophy and to view the whole collection, check out the Cylk Web site.
How does the economic environment affect green consumers? (A “green consumer” is simply someone who buys/uses green products and services). The Green Confidence Index is a resource that gauges green consumers’ views, buying habits, and more. From GreenBiz.com: “The Index measures Americans’ attitudes towards and confidence in how leaders and institutions are perceived to be addressing environmental issues, the adequacy of information available to them to make informed decisions, and their past and future purchases of green products.”  Interestingly, the monthly survey found that when participants were asked what company came to their minds when they thought of a “green” company, Walmart and Clorox beat out companies like Whole Foods and Seventh Generation. The current index number is 101.4, which is only a little higher than the baseline of 100, established in July 2009.
Aug
19
Sustainable Houses and HomesEver wonder what homes made out of reused/repurposed/recycled materials look like? . Take a look: Ever considered going off the grid? Building a small house with clay or and hay, powering it with renewable energy sources, growing your own food…this recent article from Salon is an interesting read about sustainable lifestyles off-the-grid in America. It’s also an interview with Nick Rosen, who wrote the book “Off The Grid: Inside the Movement for More Space, Less Government, and True Independence in Modern America”.
Aug
14
Baumraum TreehousesHave you seen the amazing (and green!) treehouses made by the German company Baumraum? If you ever built or fantasized about the perfect treehouse as a kid, take a look at these. They are installed with great care taken not to harm the trees they’re built on and around, and Baumraum has a wide selection of sustainable materials clients can choose from for the making of their treehouse.
From the website: “Baumraum is specialised in the planning and realisation of treehouses and other constructions in natural surroundings. We transform your individual ideas and wishes into ingenious and inspiring dwellings that combine versatility with craftsmanship of the highest quality and maximum safety standards. A major objective thereby is to handle the trees and their surroundings with the utmost care, ensuring their protection and preservation.”
We’re very excited to announce that we are opening our very first giveaway contest! If you’re interested in winning a FREE 2′ by 3′ Dark Brown bamboo rug, you have until next Friday, August 20th to post your favorite green tip or trick on our Facebook page’s Wall. To enter the contest, you must “like” our Facebook page in addition to posting your green tip/trick–we’re trying to reach 500 Likes, and will host a giveaway every week until we do! Also, we’re going to need at least 25 comments before we can pick a winner, so be sure to tell your friends.
We’ll pick our winner based on our favorite green tip or trick. What kinds of “tips or tricks” are we looking for? Anything that you’ve discovered makes living a green lifestyle easier day-to-day. This could include recycling tips, tips for saving electricity, water, or food, tricks for reusing or repurposing old junk laying around the house, etc.
Go here to learn more about our 2′ by 3′ bamboo rugs.
Aug
8
DIY Recycled Home DecorLooking for a little inspiration for spicing up your home? Take a look at Recyclart.org, which is a treasure trove of ideas and inspiration for creating your own recycled home decor items. It’s truly amazing how many forgotten items or things that our first impulse is to throw out can be made into unique, quirky, cute and beautiful decorations for the home.
DIY projects with recycled materials save money and energy, and, best of all, can be tailored exactly to the needs of your home and your vision.
If you missed the opportunity to use our previous coupon, don’t fret–we have a new one! Use the coupon code verdedecor at checkout to get 15% off of an order of $150 or more! Here are a few great products to inspire you:
Sustainable Wood Stools. This 23″ Double Twist stool is beautiful, elegant, compact–and eco-friendly! Our stools come in many shapes, sizes, and colors, so there are plenty of opportunities to incorporate one into your home.
Natural Wood Benches. Great for indoor or outdoor use, this natural teak wood bench is the perfect size for kids and adds an elegant touch to a patio, porch, hallway, or bathroom. It is finished with natural teak oils and needs very little maintenance.
End Tables are extremely versatile and come in many varieties. Ours are natural and made from extremely sustainable, fast-growing woods. This coupon is only available for a limited time, so don’t hesitate! Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or issues with using the coupon. Ever wonder how, exactly, solar energy works? Watch the video for a short but sweet explanation of how the sun’s light is transformed into electricity. |
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