If you’re in the market for new footwear, why not try environmentally friendly shoes. From sneakers, to flats, to heels, there’s likely to be one that’s just right for your liking. You don’t need to give up style and comfort in order to become a friend of the Earth.

When people hear the term “environmentally friendly shoes,” the first things that enter their minds are Birkenstocks or moccasins. This should not be the case, because modern eco-friendly shoes don’t sacrifice style for their lower carbon footprint.

Environmentally-friendly shoes are made of organic or recycled materials. Their linings can be made from bamboo or recycled yarn. The outer layer of the shoe may be made from hemp, organic bamboo, or any other sustainable material. Their soles are often recycled from old tires, while their laces can be made from recycled plastic.

There are several companies that manufacture environmentally-friendly shoes. These companies make a conscious effort to decrease their carbon footprint with regards to their operations, including their processing, manufacturing, and shipping activities. Even big companies are restructuring their processing methods in order to conserve energy – thus decreasing their carbon emissions.

Consumers should be well informed and should read the labels to find out whether the pair of shoes they’re considering buying are environmentally friendly. Some labels contain information about the total environmental impact of the pair. Some manufacturers have a rating system with regards to the carbon footprint a pair has. If the product is said to be organic, then it should have an USDA label. This certifies that the product was made from materials grown and was processed without any chemicals. The health of the ecosystem where the sources of materials were grown will also be considered.

Fair trade is another matter which people should consider when buying shoes. Farmers are among the worst treated professionals in the world. “Fair trade” means good working conditions, fair wages, and reasonable treatment of the environment. Fair trade also gives farmers the freedom to choose whom to trade their goods with. And with fair trade, toxic pesticides and GMOs are out of the question.

Most environment-friendly shoe manufacturers use minimal and biodegradable packaging, to keep their carbon footprint low. Some companies also donate a portion of their profits to organizations that help the environment.

You can go online and do your research to find out where you can buy green footwear. Some retail stores have entire “green lines” because of the demand for such products. Buying and using environmentally-friendly shoes is one easy way to help care for our planet.

This post was first published on The Green Bean Blog. To continue reading, please visit Environmentally Friendly Shoes is a post from:

Toenails are such frequent targets of fungal infection, that this ailment is among the most common in the world. Because the fungus is more likely to grow in dark and damp places, feet and toenails are particularly susceptible.

Vinegar is often the home remedy most readily available to address this problem.

Vinegar contains natural properties that can both stave off and help cure toenail fungus. Many people choose this remedy over harsh chemicals or synthetic medicines.

Because both apple cider and white vinegar can aid in the eradication of fungal infections in the nail beds, either is acceptable for use as a home remedy. Not only is this remedy very cheap, but it is also among the most effective available.

Because vinegar is a safe, non-invasive treatment for toenail fungus, you don’t need any special training to apply it yourself.

Here is a basic outline of a common home remedy:

• Create a solution of one part vinegar and one part water.
• Soak your feet in this solution at least once daily, for 30 minutes, as well as alternate between cold and hot baths.
• Additionally, many people recommend that a person take three of these baths per day, at regular intervals.
• Because it causes a pH imbalance in the skin, toenail fungus can make skin more alkaline and thereby cause irritation of the cuticles and tissues.
• Toenail fungus should be treated immediately, since the infection can manifest itself as both itchiness and pain in the affected area.

The acidic properties of vinegar restore the pH balance of the skin, which allows the integumentary system to relieve the itchiness associated with the infection.

Many vinegar options are available today, which are relatively inexpensive at local groceries and markets. These include rice, malt, fruit, coconut, cane, balsamic, and apple cider varieties of vinegar.

The inflammation and pain that fungal infections cause has been shown to be reduced by the application of apple cider vinegar.  Hydrogen peroxide can also kill bacteria and viruses, when used in conjunction with a regular vinegar application.

An alternative to soaking your feet in a bath is to directly apply the vinegar on the base of the toenail, at least twice a day.  Just make sure that the vinegar will stay in place long enough to get the desired result.

A maximum of two drops of vinegar is suggested, for the remedy to be effective.

Toenail fungus can be effectively treated with vinegar. If you get infected, look to your kitchen cupboard first, for this simple but efficient solution for fungal problems.

Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. If you are ill you should consult a medical doctor.

This post was first published on The Green Bean Blog. To continue reading, please visit Will Vinegar Treat Toenail Fungus? is a post from:

Ten Simple Steps to Greener Living

As awareness of the civilization’s impact on the environment increases, people are becoming more willing than ever before, to accept clean lifestyles. But some aren’t exactly sure where to begin.

One doesn’t have to start out with leaps and bounds.  Installing a full solar power system on one’s home or switching to a hybrid car would be great. But large steps require planning and financing.  Small steps can be taken right now.

In some cases, your choices might depend on several factors: where you live, the natural resources available to you, your lifestyle, and others. Therefore there is probably no “one-size-fits-all” solution to going green (or at least, greener).

But there are many simple things you can do to live a greener life, through your day-to-day activities, and most of these apply to just about anyone.

1. Learn more about sustainable living

This is the first and most important step in going green. You should read up on the subject of environmentalism, and how your personal carbon footprint can affect global pollution levels. There are plenty of resources available online, and you can visit your local library for books on related topics.

2. Save energy

The most effective way to cut down on your carbon emissions is to conserve on energy in your home. Install energy-efficient appliances and light bulbs, turn off the lights when they aren’t in use, ensure your house is properly insulated and windows are properly sealed, and keep your energy consumption to a minimum. You will save energy and money at the same time.

3. Conserve water

Every drop of tap water you use consumes energy – for transport, filtering, and purification. It might just be water, but a lot of fossil fuel is consumed in processing it. In some places, water itself is scarce. You can turn the tap off while brushing your teeth, switch to more efficient washers and dryers, and collect rain water for use in your garden.

4. Use less fuel for transport

If a hybrid car is not an option at the moment, you can take other steps; walking or biking to work, or whenever you have to travel a short distance. If your work place is too far for a daily bicycle commute, consider using mass transit. You can carpool with a friend or coworker if that works. For long trips, consider the fuel efficiency of your different options.

5. Eat greener food

Eating is one thing everyone has in common. But did you know that eating the type of food can make an impact in the environment? The food industry contributes substantial carbon emissions in the process of shipping their products around the world. When you eat seasonal, local, and organic food, you help to conserve the environment – as well as improve your own health.

6. Buy smart

Instead of buying brand new wooden furniture for your home, you can search for good used furniture online, or even visit garage sales to find what you’re looking for. Think before making a purchase, no matter how big or small it is. Buying grocery items in bulk can save money and conserve on energy and packing materials. Also, be sure to buy high-quality products that will last for a long time and not just wind up in a landfill a year from now.

7. Shop Online

Shopping online is another good way to conserve on fuel. When you receive a purchase by post, the amount of fuel used to ship that purchase is no where near the amount of fuel you would have used to drive to a store and buy it offline. Furthermore, you can also save a considerable amount of time and money by shopping online, and many online stores offer free shipping.

8. Proper waste management

Years ago, many considered waste management to be the main environmental issue of concern. As long as you reduced, reused, and recycled, you were a friend of the environment. Things are not that simple these days, but waste conservation is still a big part of living green. It takes a lot of energy to process and dispose of waste, whether it’s recycled or dumped in a landfill. So conserving on waste is important, even if you do recycle. You should also compost your biodegradable waste materials.

9. Wear the right clothing

Your choice of clothing can make a big impact on the environment. One of the most heavily sprayed crops across the globe is cotton. Chemicals which are used as insecticides harm the environment, and harm people’s health. Fortunately, there are other alternative fabrics available in the market; such as organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, and flax. Try to find and purchase clothing that uses these natural and nontoxic materials. Wearing such clothing is also better for your health.

10. Avoid toxins and chemicals

If you look carefully at many of the products you use every day, such as cleaning and personal care products, you might be quite surprised at the harmful chemicals they are made from. Use products made from natural and nontoxic ingredients.

They aren’t hard to find – even Amazon has an entire section dedicated to green products. This section is called Amazon Green and it includes many household, personal care, home improvement, office, clothing, and grocery items. By shopping at Amazon Green you can find nontoxic and environmentally friendly products more easily, while also saving money and conserving resources by doing your shopping online.

This post was first published on The Green Bean Blog. To continue reading, please visit How to Go Green in Your Day-to-Day Life is a post from:

- a guest post by Zachary Slovin

Get ready Washington, the babies are coming (and they are angry!).  Thousands of babies are crawling towards D.C. to "say no" to toxic chemicals found in our homes.

The Million Baby Crawl is an online effort by Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families (SCHF) coalition, Autism Society of America, Breast Cancer Fund, the American Association of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Seventh Generation (a leading brand of non-toxic and environmentally safe household and personal care products).

Creating a baby on the site takes only seconds and they’re trying to reach a goal of 1 million "crawlers" before January 2010.

Creating a crawler is essentially signing an online petition aimed at overhauling the outdated Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has no real authority over the TSCA and in the past 33 years, has required testing on just 200 of the more than 80,000 chemical compounds developed for products used in the homes.

So make a crawler, tell everyone you know, and help create some safe barriers between us and the toxic chemicals in our homes.

To find out more, please visit:

Million Baby Crawl

This post was first published on The Green Bean Blog. To continue reading, please visit The Million Baby Crawl – for Nontoxic Homes is a post from:

What’s round like an orange, textured like a porcupine and green like a lime? It’s the green wash ball. This ball works by bouncing around natural ceramics inside the ball that raise the ph level of the water. This process is much like how traditional detergent works but instead of friction they use chemicals to raise the ph level. Also the texturing on the ball helps loosen dirt and at the same time softens clothes without the use of chemical fabric softeners.

To use, simply place ball in washer without detergent or fabric softener and wash as usual. The green ball can be used 7 times per week and then refreshed by place in the sun for 1 hour. Following this pattern of use will give you enough cleaning power to last 1,000 washes or 3 years worth of laundry. The green ball safeguards clothes, activates water’s natural cleaning power, eliminates odors, cleans with an antibacterial effect, removes dirt without chemical detergents and avoids allergic reactions to clothing detergents and fabric softeners. The green ball is safe for septic tanks and in the production of gray water. Also with college starting the green ball is an easy way for students to do their laundry with one simple ball. So the next time you’re in the detergent aisle think about trying the green wash ball.

Also, while laundry is on your mind think about the art of clothes drying. While fall is quickly approaching, the art of hanging your clothes on the line to dry is liberating and nostalgic. One can hang clothes on the line and enjoy the sun and breeze of the day. This enjoyment continues when the clothes are taken down in their crispness and the scent lingers in your closet and drawers. But if you cannot hang your clothes out or, have allergies, using a dryer to dry your clothes is your only option. However, you can save money, soften your clothes naturally, and save time by using dryer balls. These balls placed as pairs in your dryer beats one’s clothes to soften and speed up drying time.

So even the art of doing laundry can be green. Green wash balls reduce the use of plastic, cut down on unplanned trips to the store when you run out unexpectedly and soften one’s clothes by the tumbling of the ball in the washer much like what has been done for centuries with beating clothes on rocks. The green wash ball can also be used in the refrigerator to help keep fruits and vegetables fresh. The final task on laundry day is drying and it can be the most enjoyable. Mother Earth has provided the most wonderful dryer for clothes, the outdoors. But if you cannot take advantage of Mother Earth’s dryer the dryer balls in the dryer are the next best thing. While this act uses energy the beating of the ball softens clothes, cuts drying time which saves energy and if nothing else creates rhythmic music that spices up a mundane task.

This post was first published on The Green Bean Blog. To continue reading, please visit Laundry Day: Try Green Wash Ball is a post from:

I, personally, love to clean. I love the look of a sparkling kitchen and a tidy bathroom. However, I am not as fond of the toxic smell of chemicals, which is usually a side effect of having a clean home. So, I was thrilled when I finally tried Method’s line of soaps, surface cleaners and detergents. They are ‘people against dirty’ (read, people after my own heart) and they stand for great design, sustainability, safety and good-smelling cleaning products.

Method offsets their carbon from all of their employees’ commutes and the energy it takes to run their office buildings. They also offset the energy consumed by the manufacture of products through renewable energy credits. They work to reduce their energy consumption from making, shipping and using their products. One of the ways they can do this is by manufacturing concentrated soaps and detergents. Oftentimes, soap contains a large percent of water, but Method makes more concentrated products which allow less packaging materials and less weight. This results in fewer carbon emissions during the shipping and distribution of products.

In terms of safety, Method has followed the ideas of Michael Braungart, co-author of Cradle to Cradle, in using completely natural, biodegradable and harmless ingredients in their products. They were recognized at the ‘champions’ level of Safer Detergents Stewardship Initiative, as part of the EPA’s Design for the Environment program. The program works to reduce chemical risk and improve energy efficiency to be better for both people and the planet. The EPA now has 1,034 products and counting as part of this program, which have eliminated more than 270 million pounds of harmful chemicals. Method currently has 50 products in compliance with the DfE program.

Method also prominently displays their ingredient lists on their website, breaking each product down ingredient by ingredient. You can feel good about knowing exactly what’s in every product you use. The people at Method work with Michael’s Braungart’s team at the Environmental Protection and Encouragement Agency (EPEA) to carefully consider every material that goes into their final products, and to make sure that the products won’t pollute any of our water systems with harmful chemicals.

Method makes Cradle to Cradle certified products, which is a huge achievement in itself, but they also became endorsed as a Cradle to Cradle company recently, which means that they are environmentally sustainable not only in their products, but in all aspects of their business.

Eric Ryan and Adam Lowry, the founders of Method, have also figured out how to capture the market (and my gratitude) with their sleek designs. I no longer feel the need to stuff cleaning products under the sink or put them in non-descript containers; my dish soap stands proudly out on the counter. The bottles are 100% recycled plastic and Method uses labels that won’t jam up recycling systems. And did I mention they are pretty?

I knew I loved Method’s products the moment I read the bottles and discovered scents like ‘pink grapefruit, cucumber, ginger yuzu’ among others. Thankfully, we finally have another choice for scents in the cleaning aisle besides lemon.

Method has revolutionized a market which has historically been seen as environmentally unsound. They have made effective cleaning products that can be washed down drain without the subsequent environmental guilt pains. They have made it so we can take off the rubber gloves, and we can keep our cleaning products on display. Above all, they have set a standard of sustainability.

This post was first published on The Green Bean Blog. To continue reading, please visit Clean and Green: Method’s Home and Personal Care Products is a post from:

I, personally, love to clean. I love the look of a sparkling kitchen and a tidy bathroom. However, I am not as fond of the toxic smell of chemicals, which is usually a side effect of having a clean home. So, I was thrilled when I finally tried Method’s line of soaps, surface cleaners and detergents. They are ‘people against dirty’ (read, people after my own heart) and they stand for great design, sustainability, safety and good-smelling cleaning products.

Method offsets their carbon from all of their employees’ commutes and the energy it takes to run their office buildings. They also offset the energy consumed by the manufacturer of products through renewable energy credits. They work to reduce their energy consumption from making, shipping and using their products. One of the ways they can do this is by manufacturing concentrated soaps and detergents. Oftentimes, soap contains a large percent of water, but Method makes more concentrated products which allow less packaging materials and less weight. This results in fewer carbon emissions during the shipping and distribution of products.

In terms of safety, Method has followed the ideas of Michael Braungart, co-author of Cradle to Cradle, in using completely natural, biodegradable and harmless ingredients in their products. They were recognized at the ‘champions’ level of Safer Detergents Stewardship Initiative, as part of the EPA’s Design for the Environment program. The program works to reduce chemical risk and improve energy efficiency to be better for both people and the planet. The EPA now has 1,034 products and counting as part of this program, which have eliminated more than 270 million pounds of harmful chemicals. Method currently has 50 products in compliance with the DfE program.

Method also prominently displays their ingredient lists on their website, breaking each product down ingredient by ingredient. You can feel good about knowing exactly what’s in every product you use. The people at Method work with Michael Braungart’s team at the Environmental Protection and Encouragement Agency (EPEA) to carefully consider every material that goes into their final products, and to make sure that the products won’t pollute any of our water systems with harmful chemicals.

Method makes Cradle to Cradle certified products, which is a huge achievement in itself. They also became endorsed as a Cradle to Cradle company recently, which means that they are environmentally sustainable not only in their products, but in all aspects of their business.

Eric Ryan and Adam Lowry, the founders of Method, have also figured out how to capture the market (and my gratitude) with their sleek designs. I no longer feel the need to stuff cleaning products under the sink or put them in non-descript containers; my dish soap stands proudly out on the counter. The bottles are 100% recycled plastic and Method uses labels that won’t jam up recycling systems. And did I mention they are pretty?

I knew I loved Method’s products the moment I read the bottles and discovered scents like ‘pink grapefruit, cucumber, ginger yuzu’ among others. Thankfully, we finally have another choice for scents in the cleaning aisle besides lemon.

Method has revolutionized a market which has historically been seen as environmentally unsound. They have made effective cleaning products that can be washed down the drain without the subsequent environmental guilt pains. They have made it so we can take off the rubber gloves and keep our cleaning products on display. Above all, they have set a standard of sustainability.

This post was first published on The Green Bean Blog. To continue reading, please visit Clean and Green : Method’s Home and Personal Care Products is a post from:

As many of you know, homemade cleaning supplies are often the greenest cleaning supplies. Such is the case with homemade window cleaner solution. Making your own window cleaning solution not only reduces the negative impact of the packaging, shipping, and hazardous chemicals of traditional cleaners, but it also saves you a little cash.

A simple mix of 2-4 common, around-the-house, and most importantly, non-toxic items and a reusable glass spray bottle or recycled plastic spray bottle (try to use something you already have, rather than buying anything new) are all you need for the perfect window cleaning solution.

I’ve gathered together the best recipes I’ve found. Just put all the ingredients in a spray bottle and shake it up. Experiment with them until you find a mix you like. If you are like me and find even dish detergent a little less natural than you’d like, I recommend recipes #4 or #8.

Homemade Window Cleaner Recipes

Recipe #1

2 cups water
½ t mild dish detergent
3T vinegar

Recipe #2

2 TBSP cornstarch
1/2 cup household ammonia
1/2 cup white vinegar
1 gallon warm water

Recipe #3

1 cup water
1 tablespoon vinegar
1 cup rubbing alcohol

Recipe #4

1 gallon warm water
1/2 cup white vinegar

Recipe #5

1 gallon water
1/4 cup vinegar
1 tsp dish detergent (liquid)

Recipe #6

1 gallon water
2 TBS lemon juice
1/4 cup vinegar
squirt liquid dish detergent

Recipe #7

4-5 cups water
2 cups rubbing alcohol
1/2 cup ammonia
1 tsp dish detergent (liquid)

Recipe #8

3T Ammonia
1T vinegar
3 cups water

Window Cleaning Tools

Another important aspect of green window cleaning is the tools you use. Believe it or not, windows can, and should, be cleaned without paper towels because paper towels always means unnecessary waste. All you really need to clean your windows is a squeegee and old newspapers or reusable lint-free towels.

Just spray on your homemade cleaner, wipe it off with the squeegee, and clean up the excess spots with newspaper or towels. It’s that simple.

I know it is not a big step towards saving the environment, but it is a little thing to lessen your impact.

This post was first published on The Green Bean Blog. To continue reading, please visit Green Window Cleaner: Homemade Window Cleaning Solution is the Best Alternative is a post from:

Good news! Tom’s of Maine has now added a 24-hour, long-lasting deodorant in recycled/recyclable packaging to their line. They have sold all-natural deodorant free of aluminum, parabens and PG for decades, but now Tom’s commitment to sustainability extends even to the packaging.

To begin with, the plastic is made of 40-70% recycled materials from industrial waste sources. And the whole container is made from one type of plastic, polypropylene, so that the shell, cap, and screw can be recycled together. Most other deodorant containers make the shell cap and screw of different plastics, making recycling the products very difficult. As it is made of fully recyclable number 5 plastic, it is a little more difficult to recycle in some areas.

Gimme 5 Drop Off Bins

However, the Gimme 5 program allows you to drop the container at your local Whole Foods or to mail it in for recycling. So the packaging goes easily from recycled to fully recyclable.

The deodorant itself, like all Tom’s of Maine deodorants, is 100% natural, vegetable-based, never tested on animals, and proven to stop the growth of odor-causing bacteria. However, this last fact has been a bit dispute. As the deodorant does not contain the aluminum used by other deodorants to inhibit sweating, it makes no claims to being an anti-perspirant, but more than one person has complained that it isn’t much of a deodorant either. However, for around $3.99, it is definitely worth a try, especially when you know it won’t cost the environment much either.

Those of you aware of the toxic chemicals and additives in most personal care products were probably already aware of Tom’s of Maine. They have been making all natural personal care products for almost 40 years and have demonstrated a commitment to social responsibility and environmental sustainability all along the way. Visit their site to see the full line of products and the full lists of ingredients, which specify both the purpose and source of those ingredients.

This post was first published on The Green Bean Blog. To continue reading, please visit Tom’s of Maine Long-Lasting Deodorant: All Natural and Recyclable is a post from:

Before you put on your make-up in the morning, consider this: A woman may ingest around 4 pounds of lipstick over the course of her life. Skin is one of the most absorbent surfaces on the body, and the average woman slathers on product after product to achieve younger looking, more radiant skin without thinking about the ingredients.

The cosmetics industry, worth about $50 billion dollars, is among the least-regulated in terms of examining health effects, controlling the addition of chemicals, and labeling products correctly for consumer information. Not to mention, about 89% of all cosmetic ingredients have not been tested for safety by any public institution that can be held accountable. As the FDA explains on their website, “Cosmetic products and ingredients are not subject to FDA premarket approval authority.”

So who is responsible for ensuring only good things end up on your skin? The short answer: You.

So instead of running out and trying the face cream du jour, why not try some of these simple and natural solutions for clean, clear, and smooth skin?

Try At-Home Spa Solutions

There are many ways to make an exfoliating scrub made from ingredients you probably already have lying around the house. This recipe comes from our friends at Planetgreen :
1/4 cup of brown sugar
1/2 cup of olive oil
1/2 cup of chopped strawberries
1 tsp of vanilla
1 shot of rum
It sounds more like the ingredients for a delicious cocktail (maybe leaving out the olive oil), but in fact, it is an effective exfoliating recipe that will remove dead skin cells to reveal softer, suppler skin.

Or when you’re cleaning up after breakfast, you might be throwing away (or hopefully composting!) your coffee grinds. Take an extra minute to give yourself a quick exfoliating hand scrub. Take about a tablespoon of coffee grinds and put them in the palm of your hand, adding a little bit of hand soap. Rub the grinds and the soap with a little bit of water, scrubbing your hands, then rinse. Your hands will feel noticeably softer.

Spend a Day at the Beach

It sounds good doesn’t it? In fact, playing in the surf and sand can actually be good for your skin if you’re wearing the appropriate sunscreen. The sand will slough off dead skin cells, and the minerals in the saltwater will help cleanse and renew your skin. The sun, in appropriate doses can also be good for your skin as it can absorb the vitamin D needed.

Apply Sunscreen

Wearing a good sunscreen is critical to your skin’s overall health and radiance. The Environmental Working Group has done research to provide us with information about sunscreens on the market and which are safe and which provide the greatest protection. They say that “3 out of 5 brand name sunscreens either don’t protect skin from sun damage or contain hazardous chemicals – or both.” So, make sure that your sunscreen has made their list of the best products both for sun and chemical exposure. It is also critical to wear a daily moisturizer that contains some sun protection. All those 10 minute trips outside add up and can have detrimental effects on your skin, so make sure to protect your skin daily, as well as on those day-long trips to the beach.

Drink Plenty of Water

One of the best things you can do for your overall health is to drink enough water. The extent to which water can help your skin look better has been debated for awhile, but the truth is that water flushes away harmful toxins from your body. If you’re not getting enough water, these toxins may be released through your skin which can cause clogged pores. So making sure that you are staying hydrated, and in addition to more beautiful skin, you will have more energy and be healthier!

If you want healthy-looking skin, the main idea is to keep it simple. Avoid using too many products, and keep it as natural as possible. Look for organic products with short ingredient lists, and do your research to stay away from as many chemicals as possible. When you are buying cosmetics, see if the company has signed The Compact for Safe Cosmetics, a pledge to produce safer, less toxic products and to be more transparent about their products’ health.

Healthier skin can be fun – head to the beach, take a walk with a friend, try making inexpensive at-home spa treatments, and keep your beauty routine green.

This post was first published on The Green Bean Blog. To continue reading, please visit Natural Solutions for Beautiful Skin is a post from: