Do you make new year's resolutions? Last year, I resolved to turn in by 11 pm every night, but pushed it to midnight (or later) more often than not.
This year, make a resolution you can keep by committing to make greener choices. We're making it even easier for you to find out which eco-friendly products deserve your time and support. Read more about it here >>
Will you make a new year's resolution for 2009? Why or why not?
Win $25! Join our Alternative Wrapping Paper Contest.
Most candles are made with paraffin wax, which is derived from petroleum. So, burning a sooty, paraffin candle is like having an diesel truck idling in your living room.
Soy candles provide a clean burning alternative because soy is plant based. Not only a renewable resource, soybean oil also burns longer than paraffin.
We tested and recommend two soy candles here >>
Do you burn paraffin candles? Why or why not?
The gift giving season has barely begun, and I already regret the amount of waste generated by our discarded gift wrap. According to the Green Guide, Americans threw away 78.5 million tons of packaging in 2007. Unfortunately, many wrapping papers are not recyclable because they are dyed, lack enough quality fibers for recycling, or contain metal, glitter, or plastic.
Calling all creative recyclers! I challenge you to wrap at least ONE gift using alternative materials and then to share your creativity by entering our Alternative Wrapping Paper Contest.
Contest Details
Email us a photo of your most creative, alternative gift wrap implementing reused or recyclable materials to info@ecosceneinc.com by Tuesday, December 30, 2008. Please include a brief description of your alternative wrapping materials.
We'll post photos of your submissions here, announce the winner by January 6, 2009, and mail the winner a $25 American Express gift card.
Readers, don't let me down! Earth 911 offers some great suggestions to get you thinking.
What are some other creative ideas for alternative wrapping paper?
We were excited to test Eco-Me's cat products kit, which promises flea and bug spray, litter freshener, and cat treats, along with a cat pillow. The idea is to help people make their own natural, non-toxic, chemical-free products. It looks like a sweet gift for a pet lover, but how did these cat products purrform? Read our review here >>
Do you blend your own household products? Is it better for the environment, or a waste of time?
Not all natural soaps perform equally. From scent strength and lasting power to exfoliating ability and price, natural bar soaps range from meek to marvelous. We tested and reviewed three natural bar soaps here >>
We love bars of natural soaps because they use far less packaging than pumps. How do you rate pumps versus bars?
We were dubious about the effectiveness of sugaring gel for delicate hair removal, but Shobha made a believer out of Aimee. Read her review here >>
Which do you think is better: waxing or sugaring?
Also check out the latest news on the rise of 'Eco-Beauty' Products like Shobha.
For this holiday season, we offer our Top 10 Eco-Friendly Gift Ideas of items we have tested and reviewed. They're also sustainable for your budget (under $100 each).
Read our Top 10 list here >>
What are your eco-friendly gift recommendations? Tell us here.
We are quoted in today's Chicago Tribune as being a resource for finding affordable green holiday gifts. Check out our Top 10 Eco-Friendly Gift Ideas for even more green holiday cheer.
We seem to have reached a crossroads: our automakers, our economy, and our environment have come to the intersection of "Help" and "Crisis". How do we get traffic flowing again and avoid a fatal accident? The answer is that the “US Auto Industry” needs to become the “US Transportation Industry” by building more than just cars and making cars that burn more than just gasoline.
Michael Moore said it best: “Congress must do what Franklin Roosevelt did when he was faced with a crisis (and ordered the auto industry to stop building cars and instead build tanks and planes): The Big 3 are, from this point forward, to build only cars that are not primarily dependent on oil and, more importantly, to build trains, buses, subways, and light rail (a corresponding public works project across the country will build the rail lines and tracks). This will not only save jobs, but create millions of new ones.”
Sounds good, but what can we do? (#1) Start with using the public transportation options available where you live; visit sites like Hopstop and Google Maps that provide public transit “driving directions” that take the guesswork out of navigating the system. Figuring out a new city’s subway is not only empowering, as we recently discovered at the D.C. Green festival, it’s cheaper than cabs and better for the environment. (#2) Find a way to decrease your dependence of individualized transportation by joining a car sharing service. (#3) Visit Obama's new website, Environmentalists for Obama, where you can read his Energy and Environment Plan.
