Eco Green Tips

photo credit: quinn.anya

According to National Sleep Foundation, nearly 75% of Americans have troubles sleeping well, which considering the fact that an average person spend a third of their life in bed (sleeping or otherwise…), it poses a huge problem. There are probably many factors contributing to the lack of good sleep, such as noise, improper mattress, light and air pollution etc, but perhaps starting with a good pillow that won’t cause allergies or sinusitis is a step in the right direction bringing you closer to this desired rest.

Of course, the optimal choice is the organic cotton, but these are still not readily available on the market. Your next best thing is “green” cotton, which is conventionally grown but not chemically treated.

Here are some new materials used for making pillows these days:

•  Buckwheat—pillows made from buckwheat are body-conforming, which allows your head to rest in a natural position relieving tension. Moreover, they let the air circulate, which will keep you cool during sleep and are pest-resistant making them an excellent choice for people with dust-mite allergies. Environmentally, this crop is a very good choice since it’s a pesticide-free plant requiring very little fertilizers and it’s also a natural weed killer since nothing can grow underneath it.
• Wool—resistant to mold spores, mildew and dust-mites, since it dries very quickly. Choose wool products that are not chemically treated and possess “Pure Grow Wool” label as it means that the sheep the wool comes from were humanely raised on a pesticide-free land.
• Kapok—pillows filled with kapok (fibers of seed pods of the tropical plant kapok that grows in South America, Indonesia, Africa and parts of Asia) offer a non-allergenic substitute to down pillows.
• Natural latex—made from rubber trees and even though not as widely available as other natural materials, it provides the same support as polyurethane.

Tips for shopping:

• Avoid pillows made with mixture of natural and synthetic latex.
• Ask your retailer about their buckwheat-hull suppliers. It’s really important that the hull has been clean properly since the dust residue is known to cause severe allergies.
• Instead of paying for the ready-made pillow, which tends to be quite expensive, you can buy the natural materials and fill the pillow case yourself.
• Invest in a washable, removable organic pillow case, which will prolong the life of your natural pillow. It will block the dust mites as well.

Now, that you have the new and improved sheet set and the fantastic-for-your-health pillows, I do hope you will find the longed for good-night sleep…

Mother’s Day is only a few days away and most of you have probable already taken care of the gifts. But for those of us that always seem to put it off till the last possible minute here are some ides that are not only good for Mother Earth but for your precious Mom as well:

• Cosmetics—go for glass containers instead of plastic. An increasing number of companies now opt for this kind of packaging as more eco-friendly. Moreover, there are more cosmetics on the markets containing organic ingredients, which is always a good choice.
• Wine—in itself it is always a good choice. Who doesn’t like wine? But when it’s organic, you simply can’t go wrong. To store this fantastic eco-friendly wine buy your mother a wine rack made from recycled wine barrels.
•  Organic Bath Robe—made from bamboo (yes, you read correctly!), it’s flush and soft and it will make your Mom feel oh-so-good in it….
•  Bath soaks—every woman appreciates a good bath soak so go organic, e.g. Headthrob Bath Soak with cinnamon and lemongrass essential oils from Von Natural.
• Flowers—instead of sending her cut flowers, go for ones that she can grow herself or replace flowers with a little herb garden. The options are unlimited…

So happy Mother’s Day everyone!

photo credit: defrost.ca

We spend a third of our lives in bed so it would only be natural to want to sleep in the most eco- and health-friendly bedding, especially if you’ve already taken steps to make your life, house and perhaps a place of work more environmentally sound.

Your first choice would most likely be organic sheets, which are becoming increasingly popular and widely available on the market. If, however, you cannot find organic sheets, the next best choice is “green” or “untreated” cotton, which is usually grown conventionally and pressed without using chemicals, such as dyes or bleaches. For those of us who cannot afford organic cotton (it still tends to be on the expensive side), a good choice is a 100% cotton blend, even though not most eco-friendly. Stay away from sheets treated with permanent press or stain-resistant finishes.

Tips on what to look for:

•  Materials—organic cotton (grown without pesticides or synthetic fertilizers), bamboo fiber (grows a lot faster than any other plant, naturally pest-resistant, but look for cloth mechanically, not chemically, processed), hemp and linen (grow quickly and require few pesticides and insecticides, sheets are durable but unfortunately they are only sold online and imported from Europe)
• Dyes—look for dyes that are either heavy-metal-free or vegetable-based (“SKAL-certified” products are heavy-metal free). Also check the naturally color grown cotton (unfortunately comes only in browns, beiges and greens), which does not fade as quickly.
• Chlorine-free bleaching—both conventional and organic cotton are still most likely bleached after harvesting. This process releases cancer causing dioxins into the atmosphere so try to choose sheets that are unbleached or at least chlorine-free bleached.
• Chemical-free finishes—opt for unfinished sheets or chemical free since some finishes, e.g. to prevent stain or wrinkles, release formaldehyde into the air.
• Thread count—number of threads per square inch of fabric. The higher the number, the softer the sheets, however the fabrics with higher thread count numbers are also less durable. Lower count sheets also tend to be warmer. Here are some examples of the most common thread counts available on the market:

1. Egyptian cotton—thread count of 200-400, softest and most durable, made of 100% cotton
2. Pima cotton—thread count of 200-300, similar to Egyptian cotton but grown in the US
3. Percale—thread counts of 180-200, made either of either 100% cotton or cotton/polyester blends
4. Muslin—lowest thread counts (less than 160) and usually made of 70% polyester and 30% cotton, least durable.

Now that you have the basic information regarding the greener sheets, you shouldn’t loose your sleep worrying about your health and the planet’s well-being. So sleep well between your new sheets…

Mother’s Day is fast approaching, as well as the wedding season, and we are yet again left searching for a perfect gift. Jewelry always seems to be a god choice but eco- and people-friendly jewelry probably is not easily available at your local store. So what can you do to get this amazing gift and stay environmentally friendly at the same time?

Well, there are a few choices, and here are some tips on shopping and what to look for:

•  Pearls— be it cultured or farmed, these seem to be pretty eco-friendly, and they have been used to clean water and reduce heavy metal pollution. Way to go…!
•  Look for recycled metals—gold, silver, platinum or titanium can be reused and made into brand new pieces of jewelry. Most jewelers should accept your old gold or silver pieces and use them to create a new one. Sometimes they even create unique designs, chosen specifically for a particular customer.
•  Antique or vintage pieces—this type of jewelry is definitely your most ecological choice since no new materials need to be mined to create them.
• Buy from reputable retailers—when buying new gemstones or precious metals, make sure you do it through a retailer that can attest to their origins. Ask for a “Certificate of Origin”.
• Buy pre-owned jewelry or family heirlooms—you can find them in the vintage stores, antique shops or auction houses.

Ecologically friendly jewelry does not have to be expensive. An increasing number of jewelers are creating fashionable, extravagant or distinctive pieces that won’t cost you a fortune. All you have to do is simply make more conscious choices and perhaps ask questions from time to time…

Enjoy the hunt and hope you’ll find some amazing eco-friendly pieces where you least expect them.