Maybe you think I'm fussy because I don't want mass market cosmetics, because my preferred purveyor of all things soapy is LUSH. There is good reason for my insistence. For instance, LUSH is in the process of eliminating all palm oil from all of its products because the environmental and social impact of using it is enormous!
During a recent trip to Indonesia to explore the palm oil industry, we witnessed firsthand the grave impact it has on Asian rainforests, wildlife and indigenous people - massive deforestation, Indigenous peoples being forced from their homes and the orangutans being pushed to the brink of extinction.As our beliefs are at the heart of everything we do, we knew that we had to take action immediately and minimize our use of palm oil, (and hopefully save some rainforests along the way). The cosmetics industry uses approximately 6-7% of the world’s palm oil, and it’s a main ingredient in many soaps. Upon our return from Indonesia we rushed back to the LUSH labs and for almost a year worked in partnership with a leading UK soap-base manufacturer, Kay’s, to develop the world’s first commercially available palm-free soap base. Cracking this formula wasn’t easy, but after a lot of sweat we’ve finally got it right.
LUSH North America has now switched all of its soap production to this new palm-free base, and we are also using palm-free glycerin. Our end goal is to remove palm oil from all of our products, and we are currently investigating our surfactants which might be palm oil derived. Here at LUSH we understand that if the rainforests have any chance of surviving, retailers are going to have stop putting palm oil into their products.
As long as companies continue using palm oil, the Indonesian and Malaysian governments will allow the clearing and burning of rainforests to develop new plantations. Oil palm trees are so lucrative that governments and businesses only see dollar signs.
It seems to us that the only way to really tackle this problem is if palm oil becomes less popular. Because so many people want to use palm oil, it simply cannot be produced in a truly sustainable manner. Lush is hoping other business will move away from palm oil, which is why we are willing to share our expertise with anyone that wants to take similar steps. We are proud of our new formula for our palm-free soap base, which is why we want to share it with other soap manufactures. more...
See. I'm not fussy. I'm socially responsible. Do some research; maybe (hopefully) you'll want to make a similar stand with your money.
If you drink bottled water, you've probably drunk Fiji. Or wanted to. Even though it's shipped from the opposite end of the globe, even though it retails for nearly three times as much as your basic supermarket water, Fiji is now America's leading imported water, beating out Evian. It has spent millions pushing not only the seemingly life-changing properties of the product itself, but also the company's green cred and its charity work. Put all that together in an iconic bottle emblazoned with a cheerful hibiscus, and everybody, from the Obamas to Paris and Nicole to Diddy and Kimora, is seen sipping Fiji....
Nowhere in Fiji Water's glossy marketing materials will you find reference to the typhoid outbreaks that plague Fijians because of the island's faulty water supplies; the corporate entities that Fiji Water has—despite the owners' talk of financial transparency—set up in tax havens like the Cayman Islands and Luxembourg; or the fact that its signature bottle is made from Chinese plastic in a diesel-fueled plant and hauled thousands of miles to its ecoconscious consumers. And, of course, you won't find mention of the military junta for which Fiji Water is a major source of global recognition and legitimacy. (Gilmour has described the square bottles as "little ambassadors" for the poverty-stricken nation.)more...
Sam's Club is pretending that this polystyrene cup is green when the only green involved is the green the stockholders save on fuel since they're shipping such a light cup. 
Copyright(c) Colin Finlay 2008Colin Finlay, a former photocopy machine salesman turned world class photographer may represent the tip of the spear when it comes to the public consciousness of climate change. Even the Queen of England is a fan: He's about to be knighted for his efforts to bring the impact of climate change to the masses. Finlay has the rare ability to capture images that sear an indelible mark on the soul of those who view them; his gift is a human face to the crisis at hand....
We need to see the plight of humanity and those children and our downward spiral. I’m there to make a difference by chronicling the tragedy of their lives, which is translated into spaces like Doctors Without Borders and the International Medical Corps where they are being used to the utmost. My reason for being there is because of this little girl and the other people you see. It’s a sacrifice of myself so that others may see through my photographs. Again, I’m just a conduit, and I understand my purpose. I don’t belong there unless I have that sense of purpose, that’s where the strength comes from, seeing and helping people who have strength that I will never have....Read Treehugger's complete interview with Colin Finlay and see more of his extraordinarily profound and heartbreaking photographs on his website.
Originally, when I saw this new train design, I immediately thought it'd be the perfect train for Jesse. If this design could be implemented for our regular restaurants, the grocery store or the airport, Jesse would love it. However, upon further consideration and after reading about the "bus beheader"and his pocket full of face bits, perhaps we should all like this train best.
I've been drinking my kombucha daily since mid-May (thanks, Toves!) and have had almost no problems with heartburn. Its been great. Kombucha is pretty expensive and I have a hard time justifying the purchase (even though I've been buying it by the case and getting a discount) but its so good for my bod! Its chock full of active enzymes, amino acids, viable probiotics, antioxidants and polyphenols.
CAUTION: This post contains talk of lady parts and menses....the crucial process in the whole life cycle is the LDPE processing. Even though cellulose constitutes more weight percent of a pad, it doesn’t have so profound environmental impacts. It is due to high energy consumption of LDPE production and using oil as a raw material which is very valuable as an energy source. That is why the main impact from pads life cycle is fossil fuel use. Foresting and cellulose processing is much more environmentally friendly than plastic production. Most of the impacts come from raw materials processing and pads production; transportation also makes its inputs but not so large.We are rapidly switching from plastic to canvas bags because of the significantly positive impact on the environment. I know my change from disposable tampons to the reusable Diva Cup is overdue.
It is is made of 100% natural mineral salts, which are hypoallergenic, fragrance-free and paraben free. It is not tested on animals and is safe for the environment. Oh, and its AMAZING. I smell almost totally neutral and I love it.Oh, and its AMAZING. Go out right now for your own crystal. You can find it at many natural food stores and online.The Crystal deodorants are composed of mineral salts which form a topical layer on the skin, creating an environment impossible for bacteria to thrive. They eliminate the odor-causing bacteria and therefore prevent body odor.
How is that different from mainstream deodorants? Most deodorants mask body odor with a perfumed scent, contain alcohol to shrink pores, or aluminum chlorohydrate/aluminum zirconium. These compounds enter the pores and physically block or clog them to reduce the flow of perspiration. In essence, they inhibit the body's natural expulsion of toxins.
