Guest Editor: Mary Lemmer - Conscious Clothing

What are your clothes made of? Who made them? Inputs of clothing production have significant effects on the physical and social environment.

Take a look at the cotton industry. Insecticides used in conventional cotton production are the most hazardous pesticide to human health, causing behavioral changes, increased cancer risk, and even death. Cotton’s second best selling insecticide, Aldicarb, can kill a man with just one drop absorbed through the skin! Who knew wearing cotton could be so dangerous!

Not only is human health impacted, but fertilizers used in conventional cotton production harm the environment. Nitrogen synthetic fertilizers cause leaching and runoff and emit gases that contribute 300 times more to global warming than CO2. Given that it takes about 1/3 pound of synthetic fertilizers to grow one pound of raw cotton, and it takes that pound of cotton to make one t-shirt, producing clothing made with conventional cotton has a detrimental impact on the environment!

Chemicals end up on our skin and in our air, but they also end up in our food! Since the pesticide ridden cottonseed hull is a secondary crop sold as a food commodity, up to 65% of cotton production ends up in our food chain, either directly through food oil or indirectly through milk and meat of animals. Yuck!

After cotton is grown it needs to be processed into fibers to make clothing. During the conversion of cotton into conventional clothing, hazardous materials are added to the product, resulting in large amounts of toxic wastewater that deplete oxygen out of the water and disrupt aquatic ecosystems.

Don’t forget to consider the workers who make clothing. Common in the apparel industry, sweatshop labor entails unethical treatment of workers, long hours, and low pay in substandard conditions.

Alternatively, organic farming methods use natural fertilizers, which reduce both pollution and harmful emissions. Standards prohibit the use of chemicals in organic cotton processing, making organic clothing a safer and cleaner alternative to conventional clothing.

Where did I learn about this? As a summer intern at Maggie’s Organics (www.maggiesorganics.com) I am learning the benefits of organic and fair trade clothing. At Maggie’s our mission is to produce and provide comfortable, durable, affordable and beautiful articles of apparel and accessories made from materials that restore, sustain and enhance the resources, including human, from which they are made. Maggie’s has been selling organic fibers for 16 years, making baby clothes, socks, shirts, lounge wear, and more! We are committed to socially responsible business practices, developing ongoing relationships with partners to develop environmentally sustainable practices.

In short, I advise you check out organic and fair trade clothing alternatives:

• Look for organic cotton on the label
• Check out where the clothing was made. Made in the U.S. is a good indicator that no sweatshop labor was used. If made outside the U.S. make sure the company uses a fair labor model.

Wearing organic and fair trade clothing feels better inside and out! Your health and the environment will thank you

Guest Editor: Courtney Webster – Why the Internet is an Innovation – and our Best Resource for Going Green

For an invention that has been around for less than a century, the Internet has quickly risen to be one of the most innovative developments of the 20th century. Most businesses have their own websites, most adults have their own email addresses, and even most children have their own computers.

Whether we like it or not, the Internet has become an integral part of our lives, and its prevalence can be used to our advantage. Instead of going to the store, you can shop online, and instead of picking up the phone, you can shoot someone an email, all with the click of a few buttons. With all the convenience the Internet provides, you’d be hard pressed to come up with even more reasons why we should reap its benefits.

But I have at least one more reason to add to the list, not just saving us time, but helping save the planet. As an entirely online resource, the Internet can be used to share information across the world, without ever having to waste natural resources. Online bank statements reduce corporate mailings, while websites like www.photobucket.com allow us to share our pictures without making eco-costly prints. When shopping online, using credit cards and online order confirmation, we save the paper and ink that would other wise be used to print cash and receipts, and without making the trip to the store, we’re reducing our carbon footprint in the process.

So with the prevalence of the Internet, it was only a matter of time before someone came up with an entirely Internet based company, almost completely eliminating any environmental impact. Enter businesses like Nvohk (pronounced “invoke”), the first eco-friendly clothing company managed entirely online! And this company can do one better, providing a chance to become part of a team working not only to manage their own clothing line, but also for the greater good of the planet, with 10% of the proceeds going to an eco-friendly charity of the members’ choice!

With the prevalence of the Internet, and newly formed Internet-based companies like Nvohk, we can make a significant impact on the environment right from our own homes. As an advocate for going green, whether it’s driving a hybrid car, or switching to more energy efficient light bulbs, I’m always looking for ways to lower my impact on the environment. And as more and more companies like Nvohk are going entirely online, I’m finding it much easier to reduce my impact, and get my fashion fix at the same time.

About Nvohk: Recruiting since December 2007, Nvohk now boasts over 2,800 Members worldwide, and the company will officially launch its site this June. The cost of membership is just $50, and using sustainable materials like bamboo, and allowing its members to take the drivers seat in all major business decisions, Nvohk is prepared to bring their eco-conscious viewpoint to the fashion industry. Benefits of membership include a limited edition Nvohk co-founder t-shirt designed by Robb Havassy, an exclusive member sticker, and a “plant-a-tree” seed pack. For more information, or to become a member, please visit www.projectnvohk.com.

Guest Editor: Gerry Hogan - Using Green to Go Green…

“What’s a nice Irish girl like you doing in a place like this?” might well be the opening line for conversation with me. Twenty-seven years of calling the Sonoran Desert home has me convinced that you can transplant, but you can’t take the green out of the girl. The new green that is.

Recently I downsized from a large house. The search for a two-bedroom house in the foothills of the Catalina Mountains, in Tucson, Arizona, offered few choices. With three weeks to go before handing over my previous home I settled on the smallest and ugliest house on the list. Unloved, lacking in any exterior charm whatsoever, the house had the elements that I was looking for. Namely: small; spectacular views of the mountains; a neighborhood where dog and I could walk in the desert, and, a rarity in these parts, a twenty minute walk to a grocery store, several restaurants and coffee shops. Furthermore, improvements are scheduled for the main artery road to include sidewalks, bike path and noise reduction road surfacing.

The house is brick construction, circa 1983 and a structural inspection, pronounced it “sound”. Built into a hillside with garage below, the steps leading up the front door enforce daily cardio.

Living in the desert affords a blissful climate for eight months out of the year and blast furnace heat June through September. Anything you do to limit direct effects of the Sun’s heat is a bonus. This house has south facing wall of French doors….a conduit for the sun …opening onto a back yard area that housed a shabby, plaster coated pool, and enough concrete on which to drill (even grill) a regiment. Not a blade of grass or leaf marred its jarring horribleness!

My first task was to create shade. I did my homework and located a company that made aluminium trellises. One product, touted to look like aged redwood, exceeded expectations. We covered the entire back yard (excluding the pool) with a trellis, 14 ft. high and affording 60 percent shade pattern. I did research on using recycled aluminium but it was not available. Deep awnings now shade the remaining windows on the south side of the house. The pool was resurfaced with a black “Pebbletec’ to retain heat. The aging pool heater and chlorine filtering system went to the dump and I put in a salt filtering system. The concrete surface was coated with a spray -on product “Kooldeck” in a soft terra cotta and softened the concrete. Next came pots and vines. On the east side I put in mature wisteria, which have already reached trellis height and are forming a green wall. To climb the columns I chose an orange trumpet vine and a jasmine…both frost hardy and evergreen. The result is a sala fresca, an outdoor room that is cool, inviting and shady. By this time next year, the vines and wisteria will cover the entire “roof” area. The direct sun into the great room has been eliminated and despite recent 100F plus temperatures, the interior house temperature has not risen above 84F. Compare that to the October morning when I first saw the house and the thermostat showed an interior temperature of 97F.

The front of the house beautification involved carving out a portion of the hillside. The dirt was carted round back to form a “mesa” behind the pool wall on which I planted native Mesquite and Palo Verde trees. A small area was walled in for a front garden; the Irish in me surfaced and I do have a bed sheet sized lawn. I have planted grape vines and a fig tree, creating green surfaces on exposed walls to offset bricks retaining heat from the sun. A tiny side yard off my study has become a vegetable garden and with the help of a large shade umbrella, tomatoes, onions, herbs and other vegetables are thriving and my study is a cool, pleasant spot. Along the perimeter of the property I have planted citrus trees.

Now I can hear the voices : “what about water…she’s created an oasis”. Everything is on a drip system that is carefully monitored to give exactly the amount of water needed. My exterior trees make use of grey water from the washing machine and creating catchment wells around their trunks prevents run-off. Native trees are not watered; I have built dry river beds to carry monsoon rain run off into basins; plantings outside the walls on the west side are the beneficiaries of pool back flow. Plans are in place to monitor rain run-off this coming monsoon season and, based on that pattern, to install a water -harvesting holding tank in the obsolete underground septic tank.

My point is that a girl can have her green in the desert and remain green. So many voices clamor that green demands sacrifice. My contention is that green demands knowing your property and applying common sense management. I made one self-indulgent concession this year…I planted a bed of annual flowers to tide me over whilst the native perennials and treasured roses (brought from the old house) got their toes in the earth. This coming fall that bed will be home to vegetables.

Gerry Hogan has lived in the USA for 43 years. Her primary career was in the manufacture of instruments for observing the surface of the Sun. Her retirement career is the publication of an on-line magazine for women www.connectionsforwomen.com

Guest Editor: Claire Watt-Smith - Recycling: What you can do…

There has been ample news in the press over these past few weeks about the effects of recycling and the benefits that it has on the environment.

However, all this being said, it is important to think about the necessities of all this extra packaging. I once read an article not that long ago about a lady who was asked to give up plastic for a week. She found this incredibly difficult and indeed with a family, it proved even tougher! With all good intentions she tried her hardest to avoid purchasing items which were encased in plastic wrapping. As a result, she bought:

• Loose fruit and vegetables from her local market (using brown paper bags as opposed to the plastic ones that are provided in supermarkets)
• Tinned goods which could then be recycled
• Meat and fish from the butchers and fishmongers
• Long life milk (which she soon found was cheating as the flip-lid is plastic)
• She had to avoid jam jars as the lids are plastic
• She made her own bread as the packaging in bought bread is not biodegradable

All in all, it was a very challenging experience and one which I think we should all try and emulate. It may be difficult to buy a tooth brush as it comes in plastic packaging, DVDs as they have plastic film around them and margarine as it comes in a plastic container. However, all is not lost! Despite the local councils in the UK still being stringent on collecting plastic in the recycling collections, it is possible to at least reduce your consumption of plastic and to re-use any plastic containers where possible. Unfortunately in the UK we consume over 100 tonnes of plastic every year, increasing five fold since the 1950’s. At present, only 7% of plastic in the UK is recycled, with the rest going to landfills. How can we reduce our usage of plastic, glass, paper and recycle more? Here are a few ideas:

Support your local specialist shops and buy only what you need over the counter. The quality of the meat and fish is much better and it does not come in unnecessary plastic!

Reject unnecessary plastic packaging such as small plastic bags in the supermarket for fruit and vegetables. Instead, where possible, pop to the local market and pick up your fresh apples there.

Use recycled paper for your printer where possible, and don’t forget to print double sided!

Recycle pots and tubs where possible. Ice cream tubs and bath salt holders, jam jars etc can all easily be re-used for storing all sorts!

Buy from the milkman - If you are fortunate enough to still have a milkman, use him! Get your milk and orange juice delivered and recycle the glass bottles!

Make sure you keep a couple of plastic bags on you so that if you pop to the shops on a whim you do not need to take a new one from them to carry your purchases.

Re-fill your water bottle so that you do not need to buy another when you are out. In addition, at work, take your own mug and glass so that you do not use the plastic ones that are often available at the vending machines.

Choose eco-friendly websites who take recycling and looking after the environment seriously. For example, at BoBelle www.bobelle.co.uk we gift wrap items in acid free tissue paper (which of course can be re-used and is un-bleached), we send items in 100% recyclable packaging which is filled with biodegradable filler.

Recycling is not always easy and unfortunately in our country recycling is not as readily available as it should be. However, often writing to companies expressing your concern about their packaging, or indeed refusing to buy from companies who do not take their ethical stance seriously can be beneficial. There are plenty of fabulous companies out there who supply wonderful products which are environmentally friendly and readily-available. Checking out directories is a good way as they often have unbiased opinions and plenty of companies to choose from.

Claire Watt-Smith
CEO BoBelle
www.bobelle.co.uk
cws@bobelle.co.uk

Guest Editor: Elaine Dutton - Why Craft is for Keeps…(and naturally eco..)

Nearly all of us have an object at home whose sentimental value far outweighs its worth in cold hard cash. And despite what some may say, savouring your precious object doesn’t make you a ‘Gollum’, and I think it is a really valuable characteristic; one that will help us all to make the most of what we have, and keep it that way for the future.

Most of us are already questioning how our lifestyle impacts on the planet; in particular our consumption of resources such as fossil fuels, food, clothing and household goods. I propose that one of the best ways to reduce our rate of consumption (particularly of personal and household goods) is to invest in objects of quality that last, that we can keep, and that we can share with others.

Having worked in the craft sector for 4 years now, opening Pure Design, an eco-design gallery earlier this year, I regularly visit craft fairs to scout for new eco-design talent. This week I met Amy, a maker who has set up an alternative luxury knitwear brand called ‘Keep & Share’. Her mission is to create a sustainable ‘slow fashion’ label, which seeks to reverse the effects of throwaway fashion by creating ‘best friend’ pieces that will transcend short-lived trends and age gracefully. I thought this was right on the money.

And the great news is, there are many more makers and designers who have a very similar outlook to Amy. Susiemaroon, a Scottish eco-designer takes leather otherwise destined for landfill and creates chic floor hides and cushions. An Alleweireldt from Oxx uses old floppy disks, vinyl records and lollipops she has hoarded over the years to create cutting edge jewellery. What many describe as a labour of love (41% of UK earned less than £10,000 in 2002) drives these artists to create unique and beautiful pieces of design that we can buy and admire every day. Craft also satiates our desire to collect, with individual pieces acting as souvenirs or memories of a person, place or time.

AND as craft is small scale production, designers are able to keep tabs on exactly what goes into their ‘product’. They can source greener, sustainable materials, often using locally sourced, found or reclaimed materials. They can control production techniques, using non-toxic dyes and chemicals. And with so many artists working from home – they can keep their own carbon footprint right down. Weaver, Angela Morley talks about her passion for nature and natural materials in BBC’s Made in England

With these positive eco aspects to craft, and not forgetting the fact that craft can suit all budgets, shouldn’t we all need to take a little more time to measure the true worth of products before we pay out? And with all the economists telling us we need to watch our spending, I think craft for keeps could be a very sound investment…

Elaine set up Pure Design, a social enterprise and online eco-design gallery in October 2007. Its mission is to promote sustainable design and designers in the UK. Pure Design does this largely by providing a platform from which designers can show and sell their work, and encourages exchange of eco-design knowledge between established and emerging eco-design talent. To find out more visit our Pure Design website. www.puredesigncompany.co.uk

Guest Editor: Trish Smith - Green Thrift Store Shopping Tips

Instead of spending your paycheck on an expensive new outfit or gadget, how about saving some cash and helping out the environment by shopping at a thrift store.

Thrift store shopping is just another form of recycling and regulating CO2 emissions. Not only do you get to reuse a unique or vintage item, but you also stop factories from making more items and creating pollution, and that greatly reduces your carbon footprint.

Make the Most of Your Experience
If you’ve never been to a thrift store, then you may not know what you’re getting yourself into. Most thrift stores are disorganized and crowded, which may overwhelm shoppers and cause them to turn away in disbelief.
But if you’re willing to take some time to poke around the store and ask employees questions, then you may find that special something you’ve always been looking for.

Here are some tips to follow when thrift store shopping:

Go Through Your Personal Belongings
First, decide which items you are willing to donate. People don’t realize how much waste is created from items that were thrown away but could have been reused. You’ll not only make some extra space in your home for your newly bought thrift store items, but you’ll also provide someone with a reusable item. Once you have a bag of donations, then you can see what needs to be replaced.

Make a List
Know ahead of time what you’re looking for so you won’t be scrambling to remember amidst a sea of shoppers. If you’re getting something for someone else, like clothes, write down their sizes. (To reduce paper waste, write this down on a scrap sheet of paper that has already been used).

Choose a Location
Look up the locations of the thrift stores so you don’t get lost trying to find them. There are usually Salvation Army and Goodwill stores in most cities, so they should be easy to locate. (The best thing about these two organizations is that they give their proceeds to humanitarian efforts.)

Bring Cash
Even though almost every store in the world accepts credit cards, there are many thrift stores that only accept cash. So go to the ATM or borrow some cash from a friend before you head out to go shopping.

Transportation
If you live close enough to a store and the weather is nice, you can walk or bike to it. That will save you gas money, reduce CO2 emissions and save you time from trying to find a parking spot. But if you have to drive, know exactly how to get there so you don’t waste gas driving around.

At the Store
When you’re searching for items, think green.

• If you don’t find the perfect shirt you’re looking for but you find a few that have certain elements you like, look for ways you can recycle the elements. You can find cool fabric from one item to add to another, or you can make something completely original from a mix of fabrics. And if something isn’t exactly your size, it can be easily altered and hemmed.
• Try not to choose items that need to be dry-cleaned. Dry cleaners often use perchlorethylene (PERC), which is a man-made substance that can damage the central nervous system, liver and kidneys. You can read more about the dangers of dry cleaning here.
• Don’t buy things you’ll never use. That means don’t buy something just because it’s super cheap and you think it’s too great of a deal to pass up. Buying a stack of books you’ll never read, some pots you’ll never cook with or a record you’ll never listen to will only wind up in a landfill later, and then you’ll just be contributing to our land pollution problem.

Also, don’t forget to check for price tags and correct sizes. Sometimes a price tag is missing or the clothing item doesn’t have a size label, so ask an employee if you need help. The more that you get to know the employees, the more you’ll be aware of cool sales or future shipments.

Back at Home
After you’ve returned from the thrift store, you need to wash any clothing that you purchased. If there are tough stains on the clothes you can use a mixture of water and baking soda to get them out. You can also add a ½ cup of vinegar in the wash cycle to help kill bacteria and other germs on the clothing.

You can find a whole list of homemade cleaning products here.

Thrift store shopping can be a fun, green experience for everyone. Finding cool items that can be recycled will not only help the environment, but they might just help you brighten up your eco-lifestyle.

About the Author:
Trish Smith is a copywriter for Green Student U, a blog-style site that introduces today’s students to a wide variety of global environmental issues by recognizing college campus green initiatives and personal success stories, as well as how the world is being shaped by environmental reform

Guest Editor: Ellie La Trobe-Bateman - The future of the Carbon Offset

Currently carbon offsetting is justified by three main factors that have obvious uncertainties around them;

1) Guilt –Individuals or businesses may feel guilty about continuing to pollute. It is an emotion though, and difficult to predict.

2) Taking action on Climate Change - The evidence that offsetting can help combat climate change is reliant on the carbon footprint estimates and project compensation estimates being accurate. Estimates can never be accurate as they are built on a set of assumptions. There are assumptions for the amount of carbon produced as well as for the amount that it has been reduced.

3) A business requirement – part of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) objectives - this is likely to be short lived. Businesses are fickle; and as quickly as it arose it could be dismissed.

In addition there has been a large amount of off-putting press regarding offsetting projects that have either been having negative impacts to the local community or environments or failing to make their claimed carbon reductions. The ‘Which’ report (1) on carbon offsetting noted the great deal of variation in the market and the confusion present for consumers. This confusion and wariness that currently exists makes the future of carbon offsetting unpredictable.

The Future
Carbon offsetting organisations need to show all that they are credible, and are running worthwhile projects that would otherwise not be able to go ahead (i.e. are additional) and are reducing carbon dioxide emissions. The future of carbon offsetting is not in the development of standards to ensure that a project reduces an exact amount of carbon dioxide. It is impossible to get to that level of accuracy for any project regardless of the verification standard used; there are too many unknowns; too many assumptions have to be made. What is needed is a standard for projects that reduce carbon emissions, by doing more than this, for example by helping communities in other ways that would not receive finance any other way.

Take fuel efficient or renewable energy stove programmes in developing countries as an example of such a community benefiting project. Each stove with help to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 1 – 3 tonnes per year that they are in use, it will also reduce the household’s income spent on fuel wood, improve the household’s health by reducing smoke and burns incidents, reduce local deforestation, enhance biodiversity, and increase time available to women and children for other activities. This programme helps communities to develop and reduce their dependence / future dependence on fossil fuels. The potential is huge, but the funding is not available to enable such programmes to assist the poorest. Carbon finance could be such a way.

Knowing the exact amount of carbon dioxide reduce by a stove programme is a challenge and dependent on making extrapolations from a sample of the population. It could be suggested that it would be better to measure project effectiveness by simply counting the number of stoves distributed, since this is a directly verifiable measure. It would also be more cost effective, and time efficient. This is not only applicable to stove projects, but many other energy efficient and renewable energy community projects too,

Carbon Offsetting should no longer be seen as a way to enable businesses and individuals to pollute; but should be a way of empowering them to help other communities reduce carbon, and be kept connected to that project that they are funding. There is a future to offsetting, but it may need to take a slight change in direction to retain integrity and to reduce the confusion for everyone.

(1) Source: Which.com, (2008)

Ellie La Trobe-Bateman is the Managing Director of Blue Ventures Carbon Offset (BVCO), a not for profit carbon offset organisation. BVCO is a small organisation that has been in operation since 2007. They have recently launched a ‘sponsor a stove’ campaign; promoting compensating your carbon footprint. Ellie’s background is in Environmental Change and Management – taking the MSC from Oxford University, and has an ongoing involvement in environmental consultancy.

Ask Lola the eco-dog

A slobbering advice column written by a dog for eco-minded dogs & their owners

Dear Lola: Finally, its summer again! Time to hike, run, and play with Buster at the park or on the trail. Are their any eco-friendly options out there to pick up that squishy stuff?
Sincerely, CONSIDERATE DOGWALKER

DEAR CONSIDERATE DOGWALKER: First, let me give you a big paw on the back for picking up after Buster. Like many dogs, a walk to the park, around the neighborhood and on the trail makes my day, but sometimes nature calls (no, not the howling of the wild). Whether it’s in the brushes, on the sidewalk, near a hydrant (a dogs version of the port-a-potty), or on a neighbor’s lawn it is important to do the right thing and pick up. Because no one likes the reminder of what your dog ate for dinner last night. Not to mention, it’s a dog owner no-no to leave piles behind, so beware you can be charged a heavy fine for not picking up. So be courteous of those joggers, law-abiding dog walking citizens, neighbors, and speed walkers out there because no one likes to step in dog poo.

I know many people opt to use an empty grocery bag, just please keep in mind these take 100’s of years to break down. Possibly clogging the throats of poor innocent earthworms and dung beetles. Luckily, there are eco-friendly alternatives out there. The two I recommend and use are Skooperbox & Spike Brand Business Bags. Trust me, the earthworms and dung beetles will thank you for it.

The Skooperbox is made from 100% recycled paper, hooks conveniently onto your leash, just scoop and toss. So say good-bye to that squishy feeling, and hello to no more grabbing because with the handy scooper your hand never has to touch that mess again. Best of all it is 100% biodegradable and breaks down in 30 days.

Spike Brand Business Bags are made from corn, are strong, compostable and biodegrade without a trace in 45 days.

So go ahead, enjoy the walk! Now every business trip you make with Buster can help make for a cleaner planet & a cleaner conscience.

Barkingly yours,
Lola the eco-dog

You can find this and other eco-friendly products at www.pawlux.com. Paw Luxury specializes in selling earth friendly products. We offer quality products that are stylish, durable, all natural, organic, holistic, sustainable, biodegradable, fair trade, and Made in the USA. Our motto is “healthy dog, healthy earth, and happier life”.

If you have a question or need advice from Lola the eco- dog on ways you & your dog can go green just email her at asklola@pawlux.com. Lola the eco-dog is here to help!

Green Chic Book Review by Guest Editor Julie Coleman

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It is very easy reading, its thought provoking and offers fun, realistic and practical tips to make changes and re-think your lifestyle. The book is a neat pocket size and has a nice feel to it, it explains why it is in book form and advises the reader of where the materials have come from to produce it.

The first chapter ‘Green Glossary’ is written for the layman, which is great. We all hear green terminology and don’t always understand what they mean, this chapter provides a quick, concise explanation of each, for everyone to understand, without blinding them with science.

I particularly like the information in chapter two, it breaks down all the statistics and makes them relevant to everyday life. One of my favourites is ‘dry time’ which makes perfect sense. Leave your hair to dry naturally and then finalise it, not only does it save energy but is better for your hair. Many of the sub chapters were of a similar nature and I found them very easy to put into practice. Another favourite which I have tried is the ‘cool wash’ which is to cold wash your laundry. To my surprise this works! And now I am converted.

The book doesn’t go overboard and lecture, it just says it how it is and leaves you and your conscious to decide whether to make changes.

There is a theme that runs through the book which is basically not to buy into commercialism, don’t spend on unnecessary items and be confident enough to revamp and design yourself and your home without compromising style.

‘Green women don’t get fat’ – what a quote, its so true, even without eating organic, just to eat local produce and fresh fruit and vegetables, take a walk instead of the car will keep you in check. Its not difficult and it makes perfect sense, true of many of the tips in this book.

Favourite quote ‘Buy only what you truly need or love’. There are many other topics and quotes but if I quote them all it wont be worth you reading the book!

For me the book was like having a conversation with a friend, easy and comfortable, sharing experiences and knowledge without any pressure to take forward any of the topics discussed, but as with advice from a friend you will find yourself taking it on board and making changes.

‘Green Chic: Saving the Earth in Style’ by Christie Matheson

Guest Editor: Trish Smith - 10 Ways to Make Your Work Area Green

Enjoying an eco-lifestyle means living greener in all areas of your life. You may be taking environmentally friendly steps at home, but are you also doing it at work?

People spend almost 90% of their lives indoors, and for those people who work inside that equates to about 40 or more hours at your desk, office or cubicle. Whether you’re a student interning at a major corporation, a marketing associate making phone calls all day or an office assistant handling paperwork, you’re going to spend a majority of your time in one place all day.

So don’t you want your work space to be eco-friendly and energy efficient? It can be if you make some simple changes in your life.

1. Computer Conservation
For many people with desk jobs the computer is absolutely necessary to get things done. It is estimated that people waste over $1 billion in electricity every year just in computer use! To help conserve energy for your computer you can:

• Invest in an energy-saving computer, monitor and printer
• Switch to energy-saving settings
• Turn off your computer whenever you’re not using it
• Set it to sleep mode when you are away for short periods of time

2. Paperless is More
Do you really have to print out every email and handout? You can reduce paper waste by going paperless wherever possible. You can try to:

• Keep copies of important emails, files, manuals and more on your computer
• Don’t get any extra catalogues or magazines mailed to your office
• Get your check directly deposited instead of a waiting for a hard copy
• Send company updates through email instead of on paper
• Review any documents online instead of printing them out

3. Prioritize Your Paper Use
If you do use paper on a daily basis then you can make eco-friendly paper choices. Here are some things you can do:

• Buy recycled and chlorine-free paper
• Try paper made from organic products like bamboo, cotton or hemp
• Print on both sides of the paper
• Shred old paper to use as packing material
• Save and reuse old boxes
• Use old sheets of paper for scrap paper or note-taking

4. Recycle
There are many things in your office that you can recycle. If you don’t have a recycling station at work, start one on your own! You can get a few bins and post recycling guidelines above them. Some of them may include recycling:

• Paper products like copy paper, envelopes, magazines, etc.
• Cardboard boxes from shipped supplies
• Soda cans and plastic bottles
• Aluminum foil
• Plastic bags
• Ink cartridges

5. The Power of the Printer
The printer is one of the most used office items. Every day it cranks out tons of important faxes, emails and other documents. Here are some ways you make your printer use greener:

• Try not to print in color
• Use a printer that does double-sided copying
• Print in draft mode
• Use old paper with extra space to print small documents
• Recycle ink and toner cartridges

6. Air You Can Bare
It’s already bad enough that you have to worry about air pollution every time you walk outside, but it’s also a big priority when you work inside. Here are some ways that you can maintain a healthy air flow in your office:

• Use non-toxic cleaning products
• Open your windows to increase air flow
• Don’t smoke in or near the office
• Never bring any type of aerosol can to work
• Use an air purifier to get rid of contaminants

7. Travel with Care
The first part of your work day starts with you getting to work, and for many people that means driving. Cars emit tons of carbon dioxide gases into the air, contributing to global warming. Here are some things you can do for a green ride:

• Join a ride share group
• Take the train, bus or subway
• Ride a bike or walk if you live close enough
• Invest in a green car like a hybrid
• Reduce your travel by working from home whenever possible

8. Green Your Desk…Literally
Get a plant and place it on or near your desk. Or, even better, buy plants for all of your neighbors. They will not only see this as a friendly gesture, but they’ll also have cleaner air to breathe! Plants absorb indoor air pollution and increase the flow of oxygen, so get a green accessory to compliment your desk!

9. Food For Thought
Everyone looks forward to their lunch break. If you manage to save money by not going out to eat every day then you probably pack your lunch. You can follow these lunch tips to have healthier eating habits:

• Pack your lunch in a reusable lunch bag or box
• If you bring your lunch in a paper or plastic bag, reuse or recycle them
• Use plastic containers and silverware that can be washed and used again
• Switch to organic food and drinks
• Drink from the fountain or a water filtration system instead of brining water bottles
• Recycle your soda cans, bottles and aluminum foil
• Use a washable napkin instead of paper towels
• Walk to a lunch eatery if you forgot to pack it

10. Spread the Word
The best way to stay involved in the green scene at work is to get others involved. Share your practices and wisdom with your boss and coworkers. You can do this by:

• Encouraging the office to join or start a recycling program
• Purchasing company carbon credits
• Buying eco-friendly office products
• Setting up a carpool calendar
• Getting everyone to pack their lunch and eat together

Your work environment has a great impact on your personal and professional happiness and your emotional stability. If you enjoy how greening your life makes you feel, then there’s no better place to keep the tradition alive than at work!

About the Author:
Trish Smith is a copywriter for Green Student U, a blog-style site that introduces today’s students to a wide variety of global environmental issues by recognizing college campus green initiatives and personal success stories, as well as how the world is being shaped by environmental reform.