Green Daily

Theme Week: Chemical free pet treats

Sea Stachura — 2008-05-11T09:00:00 00:00

Every week we pick a theme to explore in more depth, and this week that theme is eco-friendly pets. To read all our posts related to this theme, click here.

I once bought a bag of cat food that touted its all-natural, all-organic ingredients. It had raisins and bananas and other items I had never seen in a list of ingredients for cat food. My cats refused to eat it. And I thank them for it.

Cats and raisins don't agree. Raisins cause kidney damage in cats, though at the time I didn't know it.

Advertisements told me my boys would love Greenies. You may recall the 2006 news stories of dogs dying from indigestible Greenies. The cat treats are supposedly very different. Nonetheless, my cats refuse to eat them.

So I've done a little digging for natural pet treats. I can't testify that these treats will clean your dog's teeth or that your cat will even want to eat them. I can't promise anything. You could stick with tins of tuna or sardines, but be careful of the mercury.

This is what I found:

Only Natural Pet Store sells its own variety of cat and dog treats. They include Poultry Crispies, oven-baked chicken crackers. The chicken is cage-free organic.
Whole Life Pet Products sell freeze dried meat treats. Cod, lamb, venison, salmon, chicken and beef. The treats are made with just one ingredient, the meat or fish, it's human grade food made from free range animals.
Sojourner's Farm features a wide range of natural dog treats, including the doggie fortune cookie. Most of the treats are wheat and corn free. Chicken pot pie and blueberry cobbler are a couple of the flavors.
Cherbey's All Natural Pet Treats are for cats and dogs. The only difference is the size of the treat. A couple of chefs make these free-range, antibiotic-free tilapia jerky treats.

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Oh lord, won't you buy me a Neuton lawn mower?

Kelly Leahy — 2008-05-09T11:44:00 00:00

Filed under: Home, Shopping Guide

My yard is too small to even be measured as a fraction of an acre. My city lot is 30' by 150' and there is only grass in the back. I do have a lawnmower and it's one of those lovely gas powered monsters desperate for a tune up. It takes an hour to mow the law because it stalls all the time and admittedly, we let the grass grow too high.

But this isn't what turned me on to electric mowers, it was that according to the Environmental Protection Agency, a push mower emits as much hourly pollution as 11 cars; E-LEV-EN.

Enter the Neuton battery powered lawn mower. I'm salivating just thinking of it.
I must admit that initially I wanted a Neuton for the following completely superficial reasons:

It looks really cool.
They have a newt as their logo.
They are manufactured in Vermont, where I hail from.

But then I started reading reviews and more information about the product and realized that it is exactly what I need for my small lot.

The Neuton is battery operated which means that unlike other electric mowers, there is no cord. The only maintenance that it requires is a fully charged battery and some annual blade sharpening. A new battery will eventually be required after a few years of service. There are no spark plugs, air filters, or hazardous liquids.

The Neuton can mow for up to an hour on a single charge which is enough time for me to mow my lawn, that of my neighbor and still have enough charge for the next week. It is also much quieter than a conventional gas mower which means that when I yell directions at my husband as he mows, he can't say that he didn't hear me.

So what's holding me back? The price tag. I'd have to start my own mowing service just to save up for one. The mowers come in two sizes and two prices: $399 and $499. It's not completely unreasonable but slightly higher than what I'm comfortable with for an impulse purchase. There is a sale going on, however, and prices have dipped $20 and shipping is free so that might be enough to push me over the edge.

In the meantime, I'll be channeling Janis Joplin.

[via: Wallet Pop]

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Get mom a greeting card without the attached eco-guilt

Ellen Slattery — 2008-05-09T10:30:00 00:00

Filed under: Home, Shopping Guide

Like getting greeting cards, but don't like the waste they generate?

ReProduct has come up with a solution. It's easy:

Buy a card and sent it to a worthy recipient (you can choose from pre-made cards, or custom-design your own)
Once the lucky recipient receives the card, enjoys the sentiment (and removes the cash, if applicable), they simply drop it in a mailbox (it comes with an prepaid envelope)
The card is sent to Shaw Industries, where it is combined with tons of others and used to make carpet tiles

...pretty cool, eh? Mom will appreciate your sentiments as well as your attention to the environment. Go grab one quickly - there are special Mother's Day design options for your perusal.

re [feelgood style]

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For mom: Climate change chocolate

Jonathon Morgan — 2008-05-08T14:43:00 00:00

Filed under: Food, Shopping Guide

As you're preparing to throw together a last-minute gift idea for Mother's Day (again) this year, consider the following: I bet, right now, your mom is thinking to herself, "Sure, it's nice that the kids remember every year, but really, I wish we could all spend a little more time thinking about how our actions affect the planet."

So true, right?

Good news, now can kill two birds with one stone. The Climate Change Chocolate bar will not only satisfy mom's sweet tooth, but will also buy 133 lbs of carbon offsets -- the average daily use of one American.

Then you can burn her a CD of your favorite mom-friendly music and send her an e-card instead of picking something out at the store -- not because you're lazy, but because you love your mother, and she loves Mother Earth. Aww. Cute.

Gallery: 10 Green gifts for Mom

[via Alternative Consumer]

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More ways to love your compact fluorescent

Sea Stachura — 2008-05-08T11:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Gadgets and Tech, Home, Shopping Guide

If you bought your CFL from someplace like Ikea's $1 bin, you might be regretting it. In fact, you may hate every moment you have to spend reading or watching tv or scanning Green Daily by the light of that antiseptic light bulb.

I have two solutions for you. One option is to get a new type of bulb. There are several out there that put out better light--not to pick on Ikea. Your second option is to burn through your long-lived pack with a Lunet light cover. I'll start there.

These are basically plastic covers that fit into your ceiling fixture. Four styles are available: frosted, Roman, antique glass and Art Deco. Of course, if the offending bulb happens to be in a lamp, I've got no Lunet light cover to help you. You could perhaps design your own and market it at home expos as Lunet has done.

Or, you could put that bulb into your recessed light fixture, add the cover then purchase different CFLs. Last year Popular Mechanics ran a lab test for the best compact fluorescent. Researchers found that all the CFLs they tested beat the Sylvan Double Life Soft White. That is, the quality, color and brightness of the light as well as the life of the bulbs were better. N:Vision tested the best, and the MaxLite Micro Max wasn't great for reading but it offered color like,"the sun at the beach." How can you go wrong with that?

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Green shopping guide released for NYC

Eugene Sandhu — 2008-05-07T16:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Shopping Guide

Just in time for my trip to NYC, the folks at Greenopia have come up with a New York City handbook. These useful little green consumer guides point out the earth-friendliest ways to shop the city. San Fran and L.A. have their own handbooks and more cities will eventually get covered.

So you're thinking, "what's so special about another green guide?". Well this isn't just a list of companies that pay to get on a directory. These little books (printed on chlorine-free, recycled paper, of course) have been compiled by actual researchers wandering New York streets.

You'll get details on everything from tree-free party invitations to silk made from free-range silkworms (which I didn't even know existed). To reduce carbon emissions, researchers even took bicycles and public transportation to research the greenest offerings in the city.

I know where to get organic ice cream where I live, but this guide will point out the fair trade coffee and locally-produced goodies I should try in between museum visits. Getting some fancy, planet-friendly threads will be way easier with Greenopia's list of eco sample sales and shoe stores that offer animal cruelty-free foot wear.
The guide, which can be purchased through the Greenopia web site, will set you back $17.95 which is more than I would usually pay for a green guide (yeah, I'm eco-conscious and cheap). But even without the physical handbook, the Greenopia web site is pretty comprehensive and offers a business search, complete with the same rating system contained in the handbook (eco-friendly services are rated from one to four green leaves).

I'll probably get the Greenopia's physical guide before I pack. It may be the easiest way to get some locally produced, cruelty-free bacon and eggs for the inevitable hang-over. Hey, it's not all museums and Law and Order tours.

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Zero Waste Mother's Day Gifts

Sea Stachura — 2008-05-07T13:32:00 00:00

Filed under: Shopping Guide, Green Giving

In case you are hiding under a rock, the New Christmas Season is here: The Mother's Day/Father's Day/Grandparents' Day/Fourth of July Season. The abbreviated name is MoFaGrap Day. It sounds horrible, I know. To avoid the awfulness of this name, treat each holiday separately and start them right with Zero Waste Gifts.

For mom, options abound. May I suggest used books? Some people like gifts shiny and wrapped in shrink wrap. But the gifts you'll find at the used book store may include rare collectibles, out of print items and new releases in near mint condition. My mother devotes her spare time to flowers. I found three flower books in great condition, two of which were sadly out of print.

Speaking of flowers,you can still put together a package of native plants grown locally. Go for the already potted route, or get a bunch of small plants ready to go in the garden.

Gallery: 10 Amazing facts about moms in nature

The service industry, that ever growing portion of our economy, can be quite useful when it comes to Zero Waste gifts. Massages, haircuts and dog walking services are all great gifts that waste very little.

If it's a home good you're looking for, take a look at antique shops and architectural salvage sites and shops. You'll likely find something unique and won't create new waste.

Home cooked meals and baked goods are local, personal and near zero waste.

But let's say your mom really wants makeup, golf clubs, a new crock pot or remote car starting kit. And she really, really wants it. Really. Your best bet is to look for products that are durable, come with as little packaging as possible and were made (relatively) locally. Also, consider wrapping your goods in brown paper you decorate yourself or shipped in reused peanuts.

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Bamboo To-Go!

Laura Malesich — 2008-05-07T12:37:00 00:00

Filed under: Food, Shopping Guide, Travel and Vacation

I hate it when I go to a take-out restaurant or I'm grabbing a bite in the airport (where I seem to be frequently these days) and I have nothing else to use but plastic silverware. Fortunately, while reading FitYoga magazine today I came across something portable and most likely airport friendly. To-Go Ware Bamboo Utensil set includes a fork, knife, spoon, and chopsticks for your eating pleasure without the guilt over the waste of plastic. It comes in a fold-and-wrap cotton holder which is handmade by a women's cooperative on the Thai-Burma border. There are some other great reusable products from To-Go Ware, featured in the gallery below, which makes eating on the run much more green!

Gallery: To-Go Ware

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College hunks haul your junk

Jonathon Morgan — 2008-05-06T08:02:00 00:00

Filed under: Shopping Guide

Can you guess the 10 hottest eco-hunks?

Sure, at first it might sound like a suspect ad from your paper's personal section, but in fact this entrepreneurial effort is the brainchild of Omar Soliman -- who, as a college senior, dreamed up a business model that was both highly profitable and good for the planet. That idea earned him a $10,000 grant from the Leigh Rothschild Entrepreneurship Competition, and quickly became College Hunks Hauling Junk -- a junk removal service that employs "the friendliest and most trustworthy junk haulers in the industry. Law students, medical students, undergraduates, and athletes have joined the College Junk Team to earn money and gain valuable business experience."

Since then the company has been featured on local news, in the Washington Post, and even on Oprah -- quickly growing from a small business started by a few college buddies into a national franchise.

But the most exciting part of the College Hunks model is that, after they've taken your stuff, they find a way to recycle or reuse as much of it as possible. On average, this means that 60% of the stuff the company hauls out of your garage, attic or basements is kept out of landfills.

So, got some crap you need to get rid of? Give the College Hunks a call.

[via Keetsa]

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Recycle your jewelry and get back at your ex in one fell swoop

Ellen Slattery — 2008-05-05T17:22:00 00:00

Filed under: Fashion, Shopping Guide, Green Blog Tour

So, to be fair, the site "Ex-Boyfriend Jewelry" should simply be "Ex Jewelry," 'cause it's not just boyfriends that shower their mates with jewelry.

Name aside, though, the site is a pretty smart idea - its slogan is "you don't want it, he can't have it back." Instead of burning that topaz necklace, tossing it in the trash can or hurling it onto the highway, make some money off that sucker (the necklace, not the ex) and help the environment in the process.

You can hawk everything from bracelets to earrings, but my favorite is the "Gifts that should have been jewelry" category, filled with bags, wallets, perfume, and even a few wedding dresses from some bitter sisters whose beaus ditched them before they could don the virginal white gowns.

The end result? Fellow bitter sistah gets rid of her burdensome reminder of a failed relationship, and you get a gently-used piece of bling. Win-win.

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Freeze your dog's poop...which is somehow good for the environment

Jonathon Morgan — 2008-05-05T16:43:00 00:00

Filed under: Shopping Guide

Easily the crappiest part about owning a dog is picking up its feces. And it's the worst when you're on a walk, or at the park, and have to pick up freshly-made deposits -- because let's be honest: warm poop is totally gross. So, to solve that problem, one company figured it'd be fun to freeze that sh-t.

Enter POOP-FREEZE, "a specially formulated aerosol freeze spray that, upon contact, forms a frosty film on dog poop (or cat poop) to harden the surface for easy pick-up."

While sort-of novel, let's be honest: this product is completely pointless, a waste of resources, and only encourages people to chuck their pet's frozen crap into landfills (along with the cans, presumably, once they've been sapped of their poop-freezing powers). Yet, for some reason POOP-FREEZE is being marketed as "environmentally friendly."

Please don't think, for a second, that you're doing the environment any good by purchasing a product that covers doggie do-do in a thin sheet of ice. If you're worried about side effects your pet's crap is having on the planet, you'd be better off looking into ways those deposits can be recycled or returned to the earth. However, if you're bored, I highly recommend the testimonials page on the company website, which includes gems like: "One of my chores that I love to hate is picking up our beloved Buddy's poop. POOP-FREEZE changed that - it's [sic] makes this chore fun [my emphasis]."

For more on companies that are making stuff up to confuse you, the eco-conscious consumer, check out the Six Sins of Greenwashing.

[via Treehugger]

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The (Flip Flop) Recycling Company

Kelly Leahy — 2008-05-05T16:30:00 00:00

Filed under: Fashion, Shopping Guide, Activism

Yesterday, while thinking of ways to reuse flip-flops, I found an interesting video online of Kenyans turning used flip-flops into toys, jewelry and sculptures. UniquEco Designs takes the thousands of used flip flops that wash up on Africa's shores and turns them into art. The products are then put up for sale which does two things; eliminates the need to dispose of all of that garbage and provides the artisans of East Africa with a steady income. What a great company!

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Top 10 green gift ideas for Mom

Ellen Slattery — 2008-05-05T08:46:00 00:00

Filed under: Shopping Guide, Tips

Yep, Mom. You know - the woman in your life who dishes out advice, lets you cry on her shoulder, and doesn't ask for anything in return (well, except maybe that you call her once in awhile).

It's time to make her day. But before you go running out and ordering some huge, overpriced bouquet-and-chocolates deal, think: does mom really need this? Does the environment really need this? C'mon, mom knows you spent about .5 seconds last year whipping out your credit card on Amazon and getting that chocolate/flower monstrosity shipped to her apartment in Boca.

Wouldn't she rather have something that you spent a little time on? (You know it's true). Devoid of creativity? No prob. Check out our gallery for some green ideas. Both moms (yours and the earth's) will thank you.

Gallery: 10 Green gifts for Mom

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Method baby wash now with marshmallows!

Kelly Leahy — 2008-05-04T08:31:00 00:00

Filed under: Kids and Parenting, Shopping Guide

Yesterday I reviewed Method Kid shampoo and today I'd like to give a review of Method Baby wash as well. Method baby squeaky green hair + body wash is one of the newest additions to Method's growing line of cleaners. With growing concerns about the toxins that I put on my baby's skin, I was drawn to the phthalate-free promise on the bottle.

The two main ingredients listed on the face of the packaging are rice milk and mallow (as in marsh mallow, one of the original ingredients in my favorite puffed confection). Both are mild enough for baby and beneficial to the skin.

Again, the packaging is eye-catching. It features a removable "cap" that acts as a cup for rinsing baby and I love the pump dispenser for perfect one-hand action. My only complaint is that the cap is a bit superfluous as I already have a dozen plastic cups in the tub.

The soap itself has a mild scent and keeps my baby clean -- not that babies get terribly dirty anyway. I'm definitely a fan and would buy it again.

In addition to the soap, the Method Baby line also includes a lotion and diaper cream.

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Method kid shampoo leaves 'em clean and toxin free

Kelly Leahy — 2008-05-03T12:36:00 00:00

Filed under: Kids and Parenting, Shopping Guide

I more conscious now of what soap and shampoo I keep around for the kids. I try to fight my ~~cheap~~ frugal ways and buy healthier options, even if it hurts. During my last trip to target I two small $9 bottles of baby shampoo and conditioner in my basket when I came across Method Kid Squeeky Green 3-in-1 Shampoo in Fuzzy Peach scent for the pleasing price of $6.99.

The shampoo, conditioner and body wash promised no "numbing agents," parabens, or phthalates. The solution looked like a winner so I threw it into my cart. I use quite a few Method products and it's a brand that I trust. I found all of the ingredients listed online and at the very least, the packaging was fun (I'm a sucker for packaging, what can I say?).

Method Kid shampoo was also a winner in practice. My two and a half year old just now has enough hair to require conditioner but fights every time water gets poured over her head so I like the fact that one bottle does double duty. The fact that it triples as a body wash is an added bonus.

I did find that the scent was a bit strong but remember, I had been using Dr. Bronner's unscented baby soap so any fragrance was going to throw me off. A more thorough rinsing was required than before but that's normal with any conditioner. This product also comes in Crisp Apple scent.

All in all, I am very pleased with this product due to its availability (I can't always make it to specialty shops to buy soap), list of ingredients, and friendly face.

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Unsure of where to buy good local products?

Ellen Slattery — 2008-05-01T16:30:00 00:00

Filed under: Shopping Guide, Green Blog Tour

Locallectual.com is here to help. Simply register a user profile, and then tell the site that you want a specific type of product in a certain radius from your zip code. The system does the work for you, and tells you if there's any of those specific businesses or products in your area.

The site is still pretty new, and even 100 miles from my zip code, no results showed up, but I'll give it some time (the site's organizers are marketing it as a "wiki" site, so they rely upon users to submit local business info). You can also review the products and businesses.

There are also "member communities" and a forum/message board, which might even prove more helpful at this point than the search feature.

Right now, I think I'll stick to my city's Craigslist page and Freecycle, but it's nice to know that there's another site out there promoting local buying.

via [thealternativeconsumer]

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Recycle your CFLs at ACE Hardware

Kelly Leahy — 2008-05-01T13:39:00 00:00

Filed under: Home, Local, News, Shopping Guide

Despite how long ACE Hardware has been supplying the nation's neighborhoods with building supplies, competition with the home improvement giants is fierce. ACE has struck a deal with the Department of Environmental Services that may thin it from the herd. ACE will now accept your compact fluorescent lamps at any of its locations nationwide for recycling. Broken bulbs will also be accepted as long as they are sealed in a plastic bag.

CFLs should not be thrown out with your regular household trash due to a small amount of mercury in the bulbs that can contaminate soil or expose workers to dangerous levels.

This is great news for me since I have an ACE Hardware store within walking distance from my house. I also think that this is a step in the right direction and soon we will see more retailers accepting CFLs for recycling.

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A couch fit for Wednesday Addams

Ellen Slattery — 2008-04-30T16:29:00 00:00

Filed under: Home, Shopping Guide

Got an old 18-gauge steel coffin lying around? Give it to the people at Coffincouches, and put your mind at rest that your coffin will have a comfortable second life.

Label it really eco-friendly or really morbid (or a little of both), the company collected steel coffins from Southern California funeral homes that couldn't use them because of "slight cosmetic inconsistencies" ('cause I'm sure the people in them really care that the paint is chipped). Anyway, the coffins are reconfigured into perfectly good, albeit creepy, couches.

Check out the various models here: you can go with simple black, electric blue, or a modest cow print.

via [freshome]

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Fancy a wasteful picnic?

Ellen Slattery — 2008-04-25T10:04:00 00:00

Filed under: Home, Shopping Guide

Every once in awhile - okay, fine, every two minutes - I come across a product that's so wasteful, I just have to share it with our readers. But because this would get a little redundant, I try to save my product griping for special occasions...like this.

Have y'all seen this? Snap-a-Party? It's plastic utensils and dinnerware that you snap out of plastic molding. Several things:

-Why is it 12 dollars?
-What are you supposed to do with the plastic molding after you snap out the set? Toss it?
-Why don't you just use real plates, or pick up some biodegradable picnicware?

Okay, rant over for now. Thanks everyone - that was really cathartic.

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Reusable bags get high-fashion treatment

Eugene Sandhu — 2008-04-23T13:37:00 00:00

Filed under: Fashion, Shopping Guide

If you like to shop for the finer foods in life, but can't imagine putting those pretty organic fruits in an increasingly unfashionable plastic bag, then you'll be happy to hear that design house Gracen has introduced four high-end, reusable shopping bag designs.

Gracen, a new design house that specializes in things eco-chic, has created four original designs for those of us that want to reduce plastic waste but want to do it in style. The line, launched this past Earth Day, is being sold from $54 a set (pricey, but hey, you get two bags per set and when can you really put a price on style?). Made from 100% cotton canvas, the collapsible bags are currently available online and will be available in retail stores later this year.

When I asked Nicole Yates, President of Gracen, what she felt could be done to make reusable bags more mainstream, she said, "I feel that retailers play a large role here. If they make more reusable bag options convenient and available people will rise to the occasion and choose an alternative. Stores that 'reward' customers who bring their own bags (with discounts) are also an incentive. It makes people feel even better about doing their part."Nicole sees an end to plastic bags in North America, saying, "There is a very strong momentum and awareness of how small changes in daily habits can have a large effect on our environment. Local governments, retailers and individuals are really taking an interest in this particular area and awareness has really grown. With more exciting options like Gracen available on the market, adding to the 'utilitarian sack' bags, I think it will catch on even more rapidly."

By now we all know the benefits of opting out of disposable, landfill-clogging plastic. But on the function and style side of things, reusable bags are easier to use and look way cooler than those flimsy plastic bags that kill your fingers and clutter the cupboard under your sink.

While most of us have not reached the level of plastic bag-shunning the Irish have (yet!), having more and more reusable bags coming out for different markets, in different price ranges, and in different styles can only help make reusable bags the norm for more of us. Well, that, and banning or taxing plastic bags in more places.

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