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Contrary to popular belief, us consumers have a lot to say in terms of what companies manufacture and don’t manufacture. If we all stopped buying the poisonous cleaners that are churned out year after year, and start buying more earth friendly cleaners and products, those guys in their fancy chairs and lofty offices are going to have no choice but to get with the program.

Obviously there are some things we need that are not the most eco-friendly, but more and more green options are available and it’s our job to snap them up to send a message to the money grubbers that we care about the world and we want it to live and continue to support life a little longer.

But how can we tell which “green” products aren’t toxic to the planet?

If you live in Canada I wrote a similar piece about their Environmental Choice Eco-Logo and how that makes healthy household cleaners, detergents and the like. The list below takes things one step further.

It’s going to help you make the purchases that are better for the environment. Any product that has 2 or less checks on the list are a good choice, those that have more checks, not so much:

ONE- Is the item made using recycled materials?

TWO- Does it have recyclable packaging or is it made from it?

THREE- Is it made within 150 kilometres of where you live?

FOUR- On the packaging or bottle do you see a logo from a major environmental program, such as the Environmental Choice or Energy Star logo, or that of the Forest Stewardship Council or the Marine Stewardship Council?

FIVE- Is the product durable and able to be reused?

SIX- If there is anything left after use is it compostable or recyclable?

SEVEN- Does it do the work of several products? (eg. all purpose cleaners cuts the need to have so many bottles of cleaners around the house. Less use less waste)

EIGHT- Are replacement parts available so you can maintain the product without having to buy a new one?

NINE- Was the product manufactured using a renewable energy source? (eg. solar, wind or sustainable hydro)

TEN- Are the materials those that can be sustainably grown and harvested? (eg. bamboo is better than wood)

ELEVEN- Is the product free of toxic and/or harmful materials? (eg. volatile organic compounds (VOCs), formaldehyde, heavy metals, antibacterial chemicals or phosphates –lots of soap has phosphates)

Print out this handy check list and keep it in your purse or wallet and use it the next time you go shopping. It’s a fast and easy way for you to determine with household (and beyond) products are eco-friendly and actually not harmful to the planet.

These pretty flower rings make wonderful gifts for those closest to you. They are part of a fantastic tradition that goes way back. In fact, Indonesian artisans traded colorful beads with Europe as far back as the Roman Empire, and in the years since, the island’s unique beadwork has only gotten better and more unique.

Each of the fun bead rings have been inspired by Java’s tropical flora as well as by their exquisitely beaded formal sarongs. It is with these in mind and with considerable skill that the artisans create these world renowned floral beaded rings.

The Javanese Flora Beaded Rings come in sets of ten stretchy, sequined rings in every color in the rainbow. There’s literally a different ring for every day and every mood. You may even want to think about giving some of them to those you love and keeping the rest for yourself. Sharing is always fun, especially when it’s something neat like these National Geographic rings.

Every stretch ring in the collection has been hand beaded in Indonesia so not only are you getting gorgeous and comfortable jewelry, you also get to help the artisans of Indonesia.

If you want to buy beautiful things for your home and your life and you want to give back to the world at the same time, then you want to shop for Au Lac Designs.

They are a fair trade organization that works out of Vietnam to help Vietnamese craftsmen bring their small businesses to life. This helps to create sustainable development for the rural poor of that country.

Don’t underestimate the good you can do with one simple purchase, you have the power to change people’s lives! It’s a powerful thing and when you think about it, everyone wins, you get great handbags and home decor and they get to improve their country and take care of their families. I love it!

If you would like to shop for Au Lac Designs you can visit Gaiam, and while you’re there check out their other fair trade products too. Each and every item gives back and gives you one more thing to smile about. Get out there and change lives today!

You’d be surprised at just how many brands there are out their that are getting involved in sustainable fashion. All it takes is a little research to find brands like this eco friendly handbag one that’ll provide you with gorgeous goods fit for the most over the top fashionistas.

Belinda and Mark David-Tooze are the brains behind Envirosax and to show you just how much they care about the earth take a look at what they plan to do this Earth Day 2008: they plan to spend the whole day planting rainforest trees with their kids. These will be planted right there on their own 10-acre property in the Currumbin Valley of south-east Queensland.

And the thing is, this isn’t something new to them. They have been spending time sweating and having fun while they plant their own little rainforest on their property for years now!

Envirosax and Belinda and Mark (and kids!) are the kind of eco friendly fashion brand and people I can really believe in. This kind of dedication and fashion sense is inspiring, I hope other designers are taking note of their success with plans to do their own line of sustainable fashion. That said, it’ll be hard for them to beat the Envirosax eco friendly handbags.

Save 10% off $75, 15% off $100 and 20% off $125 on any of Gaiam’s Eco Friendly, Sustainable Living products

I literally stumbled onto a couple of amazing finds online–the Exclusively Green Market and Gaiam– some time ago and since I’m going to be featuring so many of their products over the coming months I figured I might as well as introduce you to these environmentally conscious sites to you now.

What I love about the Gaiam is that all of their offerings are helpful and practical while remaining safe for the environment. They make you feel good while inspiring a piece of nature in your everyday life. And the designs are all so original and fabulous you’re going to be like me and want to own them all. They’ve even managed to bring items like exercise machines to you without damaging the earth. Pretty great right?

The earth friendly energy saving home automation products at SmartHome are awesome and futuristic. Blows my mind. It’s like the Jetsons over there only better.

To put it simply both of these earth friendly sites are all about making you feel good on both the spiritual and and physical levels. You can literally bring nature right into your home when you shop for eco concious products at these fabulously decadent stores.

I invite you to take a good look at the lovely nature inspired and environmentally friendly products on these websites, Gaiam especially is a gorgeous shop that you are going to want to spend hours online in their shop, that I can guarantee.

Littlearth is one of my new favorite brands. They make the most original and insanely cool recycled purses and other fashion accessories and they do it all using recycled license plates, rubber and bottle caps. They are the epitome of earth friendly manufacturing, I love it!

They have been working on these amazing recycled purses and other products (like bottle cap belts for example) for 15 years and only now are they really getting noticed the way they deserve.

Their name and wow factor has made it’s way from the US to other parts of the world like Australia, Germany, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. But not all of them have access to the great Littlearth line of handbags and accessories. The call for recycling in all areas of life is growing fast. Finally!

They are really into the NFL, you can get some pretty insane NFL gifts (and NHL) at this store. If you know anyone who loves football then this is where to shop for them. It was only recently that LittleEarth got the lucrative NFL con­tract and this is going to allow them to make all of their accessories with the 32 NFL teams as their themes.

I think Littlearth is on the cutting edge on fashion and earth friendly purses and other accessories. And the products are affordable as well starting at only $14 for something that is really going to get peoples attention and get them talking about what they can do for the environment too.

Buy a recycled purse for yourself or your favorite eco friendly nut, you will both feel good about it!

You can get some [tag]amazing graduate gifts[/tag] and plenty of items for dad at Gaiam. Here are sales you can take advantage of while showing others how great [tag]eco friendly living[/tag] can be:

Shop Gaiam’s Father’s Day gift guide. Receive Free Shipping on any order over $49. Use code AFDAD. Expires 6.21.09.

Celebrate Graduation with Gaiam’s sustainable living, organic apparel and fitness gift ideas! Receive Free Shipping on any order over $49. Use code AFGRAD. Expires 6.15.09.

Check out the summer savings on Gaiam.com with [tag]Free Shipping[/tag] on any order over $49. Use code AFSUMMER. Expires 6.15.09.

Free Shipping on Any Order Over $49. Use Code AFSHP4. Expires 4.30.09.

Organic [tag]cotton towels[/tag] are on sale at Gaiam and they are super soft and absorbent. I hate towels that don’t soak up water when you get out of the shower, you know ones that seem to have some kind of weird coating? Well, these don’t have that, they are all natural and positively glorious. You just can’t beat good cotton towels.

Save up to 70% at Gaiam’s outlet sale!

If you need new towels are just want to switch to [tag]organic cotton towels[/tag] then now is the time to get them, they sell out quickly, that’s how popular they are. Once you try them you will never go back. Oh and as an added bonus for choosing these organic cotton towels over the chemically treated ones at other stores, you will save a bundle. [tag]Gaiam[/tag] is always having fantastic sales, all year round.

Gaiam has a new sale that is great because it is all about saving gas. Considering how driving all over town ruins the environment AND costs a fortune these days I think this is the perfect time for a sale like this one.

You can get all natural, organic items at Gaiam. They sell everything these and it all rocks. So check it out during this save gas sale and stock up. It’s all part of living greener and I love it!

20% off Gaiam’s Exclusive Organic Cotton Knit Sheets. Sale ends 7.31.08.

[tag]Organic cotton sheets[/tag] are all natural and super soft. I personally like to have sheets I know come from organic, natural sources and these are fantastic. I bought some for myself–though they weren’t on sale then darnit!–and loved them so much I got some for my mom as a gift.

I have always like cotton sheets because they breathe the way other fabrics don’t but I found these particular [tag]organic sheets[/tag] even better than others I have owned. They are just made better somehow.

Of course a lot of people just buy then for the [tag]organic cotton knit[/tag] factor but now that I’ve tried then I would buy then for the comfort factor, the fact that they’re organic sheets comes second now!

And right now you even get $10 off purchases $50 or more. Use coupon AFJN. Expires 8.01.08