Earth Friendly Shopping

From the NY Times

The Food and Drug Administration has raised its level of concern over the safety of bisphenol-A, or BPA, an industrial chemical found in baby bottles and the linings of canned goods and other consumer products. That is a welcome shift in attitude by an agency that seemed bent, during the Bush administration, on minimizing the potential for harm.

In August 2008, the Bush-era F.D.A. released a draft report asserting that the small amounts of BPA that leach into milk or food are not dangerous. One month later, the National Toxicology Program, an interagency assessment group, came to a less reassuring conclusion. It expressed “some concern” — midway between “negligible concern” and “serious concern” — about the potential effects on the brain, behavior and prostate in fetuses, infants and children. Now the F.D.A. has also expressed “some concern” about the same risks.

How harmful is BPA?  In truth no one knows for sure, but why would you want to take the risk?  Your best bet is to limit your exposure to BPA, and one way to do that is to use BPA Free Stainless Steel bottles from Klean Kanteen, and Stainless Steel Food Carriers from To-Go Ware.

I admit it.  I am really tough on wallets.  I carry around way too much stuff.  If Mrs. EFS  didn’t periodically go through my wallet and recycle all the random papers and junk in there, I would probably still have stuff in it from before we were married.

So my wallet is stuffed, and usually wears out quickly.

And that is one reason I really like this eco-friendly hemp wallet from JenZen.  They are made in the US from sustainably grown hemp fire.  These wallets are rugged, and have space to carry  all sorts of stuff.    The tri fold style is convenient, with room for credit cards, business cards and more.

JenZen Hemp Wallets are available in white, sand, and black at Kate’s Caring Gifts

At a press conference in Las Vegas on January 6th, Monster Cable announced the addition of two new PowerCenters to the GreenPower product line to be featured at CES 2010: the HDP 1850G and the HDP 1400G.  Both are designed to save energy by turning off power to home theater components when not in use, reducing wasted stand-by mode energy.

The HDP 1850G PowerCenter features GreenPower outlets that automatically shut off to reduce energy waste. Users simply plug theirHDTV into the main “Green Power Control Outlet” which then controls three other outlets for connection of additional entertainment components (DVD/Blu-ray™ player, A/V receiver, and more) When the HDTV is turned off, the other GreenPower outlets automatically shut down, eliminating the energy wasted by components when they’re not in use.

Additionally, both the HDP 1850G and 1400G include two outlets controlled by an included RF remote control.  So with the click of a button, you can instantly shut down the outlet/device of your choice.

For the full press release from Monster Cable and additional GreenPower images, please visit:http://www.monstercable.com/press/viewpress.asp?Article=212

And to access press releases and images for all new products, please visit the Monster at CES 2010 page:http://www.monstercable.com/events/ces2010/

Thanks, –

Entrepreneur Magazine gives some gift giving advice.  They start with a cautionary tale

Last December, Jennifer Finke, having thoroughly enjoyed working for a client, decided to send her a gift. Finke, 32, who owns JF Communications, a public relations and corporate writing firm in Denver, had a goal similar to any entrepreneur. She wanted to let her client know that it had been wonderful to work with her–and, of course, subtly hint that the door was wide open to work on any future projects.

So Finke mulled over a few traditional ideas before deciding on something new and fresh: a customized bobblehead. She sent an online toy company a photo of her client, and they made a bobblehead with the client’s head on it. The cost; about $100. A few weeks later, well after the gift had arrived, Finke hadn’t heard anything from her client. She e-mailed her to see if she had received the gift. The client replied with a curt, “Yes, thanks.”

And that was it. No gushing about what a creative, thoughtful gift it had been. The e-mail was the virtual equivalent of chirping crickets.

Overall, they give some good advice.   Our advice is to select an organic gourmet gift basket from Kate’s Caring Gifts.   We have a variety of sizes and price points, and a selection that will please almost everyone

This is something we have been waiting for.  We have been big fans of Klean Kanteen Stainless Steel water bottles for years.  To begin with, any reusable bottle cuts down on plastic usage and plastic waste,  and that is a good thing.   But even better, Klean Kanteens are made from the highest quality food grade stainless steel,  they are tested rigorously,  and Klean Kanteen regularly inspects the factories to ensure that workers are treated fairly.

Klean Kanteen water bottles have been great for water, juice,  and other cold drinks.  Combined with a Neogreene bottle tote, Klean Kanteen is  the perfect, earth friendly accessories

But-  what do we do about coffee?  Now there is an answer the Klean Kanteen Insulated wide mouth bottle.  Available in 12, 16 and 20 oz sizes with an optional Cafe Cap, these bootles are great for coffee,  soup,  or any other hot drink.

We think that they are a great way to go Earthfriendly in 2010

Organic chocolate tastes better, is better for you, and better for the planet.

Grinning planet lays out some of the pesticide residues allowed by the EPA and found in conventionally grown chocolate

For chocolate from cocoa beans imported into the US, the EPA allows various levels of pesticide residue to be present in the cocoa powder. Below are just a few of the pesticides that can legally contaminate non-organic chocolate, along with some of their health effects (based on animal studies).

• Methyl Bromide — prostate cancer, kidney and liver effects, neurological effects
• Pyrethrins — carcinogenicity, reproductive and developmental toxicity, neurotoxicity
• Hydrogen Cyanide — acute toxicity, thyroid effects, nerve degeneration
• Naled — central nervous system disruption; headaches, nausea and diarrhea
• Glyphosate — effects on digestive system tissue, genetic damage, effects on reproduction, carcinogenicity

Lindane—a pesticide best known for use as a treatment for head lice—is banned in the US for use on food crops but has been found to be a contaminant in some European chocolate.

Now, just because you pop any old chocolate treat in your mouth doesn’t mean you’re getting huge doses of pesticide poison. However, the US FDA’s Total Diet Study has found residues of multiple pesticides in many chocolate products. The Food & Drug Administration works to ensure that the level of pesticide residue is within the US EPA’s established tolerances, but for many of us, the real question is whether we want any pesticide residue at all in the chocolate.

The answer is clear to us.  Organic chocolate is the way to go.

We’re having a sale at Kate’s Caring Gifts.  20% off on a great selection of eco friendly stocking stuffers. Use discount coupon DECEMBER09 at checkout

Thanks to our friends at We Buy it Green.

Recently on the Green America Business Network discussion list,  the folks from We Buy it Green offered to post discount coupons from and GABN member.

We thought it was such a good idea. we asked if we could do it too.  They said yes, so here we go

20%  off People and Earth Friendly Gifts at Kate’s Caring Gifts.  Use code HOLIDAY09 at checkout.  Kate’s Caring Gifts has a wide selection of Organic Chocolate,  Kid Powered, Earth Friendly Toys, Organic Gourmet Gift Baskets, and Organic Spa Sets.

10% off with code “holiday” from Organic Grace

Nubius Organics would like to to offer a 15% discount with coupon code ECO15 or free shipping with orders of $50 or over with coupon code FS50 – we have lots of new products too.

Soylar Candles 100% Soy Wax candles, created with Solar Energy coupon code is HOLIDAY, a 10% discount on any order.  Expires 12/31/09.

I’ll try to add a few more soon

I like it

Here’s a new and interesting idea for a gift

You can learn more at http://www.treesforachange.com/index.html