Ditch the plastic

Has your plastic or paper grocery bags ever ripped while you were carrying them into your house? Or are you ever tired of having a thousand bags at your house but don't throw them way because you feel bad for creating more waste? Luckily there is a solution to those plastic bag dilemmas.

Why not eliminate the waste and look fashionable at the same time by using a grocery tote instead. Companies have now made grocery totes that are fun and stylish. Companies provide an array of styles and fabrics that just about anyone is going to enjoy. Some are even made out for organic materials for those who love organic products.

One reason why people should begin using some sort of cloth bag is because, "Only 1 to 3% of plastic bags end up getting recycled," according to reusablebags.com.

In addition to only one to three percent of plastic bags being recycled, recyclers find it a hassle to recycle the bag due to the low quality of the plastic used, according to reusablebags.com.

Last May IKEA began their 'bag the plastic bag program' where they began to charge their customers five cents for a plastic bag and encouraged them to purchase a big blue bag, according to CSRWire.

"All proceeds* from this 'program year' bag campaign will go to American Forests, the nation's oldest non-profit citizens conservation organization, to plant trees to restore forests and offset CO2 emissions," according to CSRWire.

The bag is plastic, but it is roomy and people are able to use it for multiple uses.

I found my EcoSac at Wild Oats. If you take your grocery totes to Wild Oats they give either 5 cents off your bill per bag or you can donate the five cents to charity. Although they only had one style, the did have several different colors to choose from. If you visit their website they have a variety of bags to chose from.

Other websites that sell totes are:

• The R. Nichols Shop, which are 100 percent recycled.
• Green Kit
• i'm organic
• EnviroSax
  

One crafty way to have fun with a tote is to crochet one yourself. While I was looking for totes online I found this site, Associated Content that shows readers how to crochet their own grocery tote.

And of course, if you must use a plastic bag remember to recycle. You can usually take them back to your grocery store for recycling.

Snuggling with Organic Cotton

This weekend was one of the most exciting weekends for me. I Finally moved into a one bedroom apartment on Saturday. Good-bye $300 electric bills! When I began decorating my bedroom I went to Target to buy new apartment items and found Organic bed sheets. Although they are a bit more expensive than regular cotton sheets, I found myself trapped in my bed with my sheets wrapped around me. They are extremely soft.
Buying organic is an easy way to help be earth-friendly. It may not always be the cheaper way for the wallet, it is the way to go for the environment.
When consumers support organic farmers they are supporting the land as well. According to Organic Trade Association, "organic farming can help reduce ground and surface water contamination, and can safeguard drinking water supplies."

The 100% Organic sheets sold at Target are made in an Institute for Marketecology (IMO) certified facility. IMO assures eco-friendly products by inspection and certification.

When cotton is grown it is sprayed approximately 40 times with pesticides whereas organic cotton does not have any synthetic produced pesticides used on them, according to ECOchoices. Another important detail is that organic sheets use dyes that are non-toxic and eco-friendly.

By choosing organic products consumers are reducing the exposure of chemicals they may end up in the air, food or water.

Next time you have to buy new sheets think about going organic. Its human and eco-friendly, the way things should be.

Stop the Water Waste

Water is one of the most valuable resources that we have on earth. Although 70 percent of the planet is covered in ocean, only one percent of the fresh water is available for human use, according to howstuffworks. Americans use a considerable amount of water compared to other countries.

According to Recycling and Waste Prevention, "The average North American consumes over 105 gallons of water a day compared to the average European’s consumption of almost 53 gallons. The average person living in sub-Saharan Africa consumes only 2.4 – 5.3 gallons per day."

This is an alarming disparity between the different countries. There are a few ways that people can help eliminate the waste of water in their homes.
One drip from a leaky faucet can waste almost 250 gallons of water, according to Nicor. That is 3,000 gallons of water in a year that is wasted down the drain.
Another waste of water is a leaky toilet. A leaking toilet can use 90,000 gallons of water in a month, according to treehugger.

Buying a new High-Efficiency toilet can eliminate some of the water waste in a home. High-efficiency toilets (HET) use less than 1.3 gallons per flush where the average toilet uses 1.6 gallons per flush. An average person flushes the toilet nearly 140,000 times, according to EPA. Installing a HET, can save 16,000 gallons per year for a family of four, according to Green Matters.


If you can't afford a new toilet there are devices that can reduce the amount of water used per flush. For an older toilet, take a unopened water bottle and place it in the tank. This will reduce the amount of water that is used. There are also displacement devices such as a toilet-tank dam will reduce the amount of water used per flush, according to Living Green.

By checking and making sure that you have no leaks in your house is going to save tons of water.

Low flow shower heads are another way that you can save water while showering. Low flow showerheads use less than 2.5 gallons per minute. "Shower water use can be reduced 50% with a low-flow showerhead, and can save up to 20,000 gallons of water per year," according to Living Green.

Low-flow showerhead with a shut-off valve are also better. They allows you to turn the water off and on instantly without having to readjust the water.

So look around the house to see how you can save some valuable water. Future generations will thank you.

Whats your Method

Once again this week I have tried a new product that is earth friendly. Method is dedicated to providing non-toxic environmentally friendly products. They have products ranging from non toxic floor cleaners and compostable sweeping cloths to laundry cleaner to aroma rings. However all these products sound interesting they aren't what I used this week. I used their hygiene products including body wash, bloq shaving cream, body bar and hand soap.


Method dedicates its products to being animal friendly as well. According to Method, "At method, we believe in guinea pigs never being used as guinea pigs. So we never tests on animals. Ever."

According to the Method website, In 2006 Eric Ryan and Adam Lowry (founders) were named PETA’s Persons of the Year, for their leadership in cruelty-free business practices.

Method is committed to living green with their various products. According to their FAQ page they ensure their products are biodegradable, non-toxic, and safe for river and marine life.

They also make sure that they are safe for people as well.

"While antibacterial cleaners are popular they often contain harsh chemicals that are dangerous around children. And, if used excessively they may actually promote the development of super bacteria that ordinary cleaners can't kill," According to Method.

I found Method to be more expensive than other products that I usually use, I find it really encouraging that a company is devoted to making a product that is earth and human friendly. In knowing that I don't mind spending a extra few dollars on it.


If you are interested in Method you can find it at your local Target or at the Method website.