2010 January | Green Living

H&M Goes Green & Gorgeous

hmgarden 159x300 H&M Goes Green & Gorgeous Here’s a bit of good H&M news after the recent scandal about the fashion retailer trashing old clothing. Their new “Garden” collection launching in March is 100% sustainable — each item is made using organic and recycled materials or with recycled PET bottles or textile waste.

We love the romantic, bright pieces — feminine, practical and gorgeous. Plus, with most items in the $15 – $25 range and none higher than $60, the eco-friendly line is also good for our wallets!

Check out some of our favorite pieces from the collection hitting stores and online this Spring:

Is Plastic Making Us Fat?

girldrinkingplasticbottle 300x211 Is Plastic Making Us Fat? Researchers think they may have found a link between chemicals used in plastic, toys and makeup and the rise in obesity in the U.S. In addition to diet and exercise, exposure to chemicals called obesogens – specifically during critical stages of development — may predispose us to being heavier and can make it harder to lose weight as adults.

Obesogens — like bisphenol-A (aka BPA) and phthalates — may also explain why we all know people who eat whatever they want and remain thin while others gain weight even if they watch their diets carefully.

Obesogens may also affect metabolism and how quickly hunger is satisfied. Jerrold Heindel of National Institute of Environmental Sciences (NIEHS) says timing of exposure is an important factor. Research indicates that development stages –in utero and through puberty) is the most sensitive period.

Gloss Find: Vaska-High Performance Green Detergent

Vaska is an eco-friendly laundry care line that’s perfect for people with sensitive skin and parents who are concerned about detergent and their kids. Vaska uses only plant-based ingredients and its formula contains no petroleum, carcinogens, or other harmful chemicals and their herbatergent carries the EPA-approved Design for the Environment (DfE) seal.

And, it works really well! Vaska’s high performance formula works so well that the San Francisco Giants use it to wash their uniforms, the San Francisco production of Wicked uses it for their costumes (it’s the only formula that can get off the witch’s green face makeup!), and Royal Laundry, the largest commercial laundry plant on the West Coast, uses it to wash linens for 150 hotels in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Vaska Herbatergent – Learn more and find retailers at VaskaHome.com

Gloss How-To: Start A Garden

This year, how about a resolution that’s great for you and your family and the earth? If you don’t have one already, resolve to start your first garden this year.

5 Green Habits for 2010

greentips 300x225 5 Green Habits for 2010 What are the coolest new habits to adopt for 2010? Here are five of them — remember it takes 30 days of practice for a new habit to stick. Every single person can manage all 5 of these easy, feel-good habits. I know that many of them seem obvious and we’ve heard them again and again…blah blah blah. But honestly, with kids screaming, dog needing to be walked, ph0ne ringing and Blackberry vibrating – the brain, or my brain, has a hard time keeping track of a few of the most basic eco-friendly actions I could be taking.

How often to you get to the checkout and realize that all of your reusable bags are in the trunk of your car or stuffed behind the laundry room door? I have every intention to bring my travel mug with me on a daily basis, but rather too often find myself craving a hot drink and realizing that the mug is .. I dunno -somewhere. I want to be an activist too, as I absolutely know that e-activism is one of the most powerful actions I can take. I spend hours a day twittering around on my laptop, but do I sign a daily petition (all of 30 seconds,) ? – the answer is a hideous No! So this year, I’m committing to post-it noting (the recycled ones of course,) these easy green habits on my fridge, as a gentle reminder to get a grip and walk the walk.

1. Get outside into nature every single day: Even if you live in a city, carve out at least ten minutes a day to get outside and make a connection with at least something in the natural world. Walk, run, or jump for joy as an alternative to going to the mall.

2. Always carry a travel mug with your home-brewed organic coffee/tea in it. It’s totally uncool to be seen schlepping around with an enormous coffee shop paper cup – so invest in a couple of travel mugs and be the change.

3. Get at least 5 Chico Bags and keep them permanently in your purse. The Gorgeously Green Chico bag is the official it bag for 2010, and the only way you’ll ever remember them for every single shopping trip, is to put them back in your purse when you’ve unloaded your groceries.

4. Say no to plastic water bottles period. If you get offered one, say no thanks! You can’t have too many reusable water bottles. Buy one for every member of your family.

5. A Petition-a-day keeps stress at bay: the surest way to stop fretting and stressing, is to spring into action. If you have eco-anxiety, simply log onto Greenpeace or NRDC and take 30 seconds to sign a petition. You have a voice – use it.

About the Author

Sophie Uliano is a passionate environmentalist who has developed an earth-friendly lifestyle that appeals to women who don’t want to compromise their glamour and style. She is the New York Times Best Selling author of “Gorgeously Green”, “The Gorgeously Green Diet,” and the soon to be released “Do It Gorgeously.”

Read more amazing tips from Sophie at GorgeouslyGreen.com