Buy a bag – help a village

We have all heard of a little retail therapy to lift our spirits. What if your next purchase helped a woman a continent away at the same time? Here is a behind the scenes video of some of the women making recycled newspaper handbags in the Philippines.

Yesterday’s news becomes today’s must have accessory

These women are able to generate income which means that their children are now able to attend school instead of going to work which in turn helps eliminate child labor. At the same time they are recycling materials that would end up in a landfill.

Here are a few of the finished products

So next time you are in need of a shopping fix, consider a product that is fair trade. You will be helping yourself and a few others at the same time.

Your purse is so yesterday

Why thank you! They must be talking about my recycled paper wristlet from Engage Green.

Engage Green takes yesterday’s papers and turns them into eco-chic wristlets, totes and coin purses with vibrant colors and designs. The fabric is created by taking narrow strips of paper and twisting them to create strength. At the same time, yarn is used to weave the fabric. The amazing colors are made with animal free dyes so the collection is also vegan.

A few of the benefits from using recycled paper are –
* Saves 60% to 70% of the energy used in the manufacturing process compared to using virgin pulp.
* Uses up to 55% less water that virgin pulp, and helps preserve our forests.
* Reduces air emissions by 74% compared to virgin pulp manufacturing.

Designer Leoner Mendoza, an award winning artist whose work is part of the Art Museum of the Americas permanent collection in Washington DC, is the creative mind behind Engage Green. Their products represent a consistent commitment to protecting our Earth’s natural resources.

Find your zen in style – recycled yoga bags

I find that I am always more motivated to go to the gym when I have a new outfit to wear or bag to take with me. My new Yogoco recycled yoga mat bag has been just the trick to push me towards more pilates classes. Amazingly, 70% of this bag is made from the discarded scraps of the t-shirt manufacturing process.

Scraps from the T-shirt making process are collected, sorted by color and blended. This significantly reduces incinerator and landfill use. The cotton fibers require no new dying, saving on water while adding no new pollutants. Furthermore, as no new cotton is grown, there is no land use, no water intensive irrigation and no fertilizers or pesticides used.

The resulting cotton-like fabric has an organic feel and is used as the fabric in the large mat section of the Yogoco recycled yoga mat bag, as well as much of the towel section and piping.

These beautiful bags come in six different designs with vibrant colors and patterns putting you in the mood to find your inner peace and your toes. Take a look at the entire Yogoco recycled yoga mat bag collection - see you on the mat!

Make a stand against big oil – at home

We are all sick about the situation in the Gulf. If you can’t trade in your SUV for a Prius or you aren’t able to carpool to work or take mass transit, here are a few changes that everyone can make at home to cut down on our oil consumption.

Change your household cleaning products and personal care products to non-petroleum based alternatives. I am amazed at how much petroleum is in the products that we use in our homes everyday. Here are a few examples:

* Liquid laundry detergent – If every household switched one 100 oz. bottle to a non-petroleum based detergent we would save 466,000 barrels of oil.

* Trash bags – If every household replaced one package of 20 count drawsting trash bags with recycled trash bags we would save 39,000 barrels of oil -courtesy of Seventh Generation

After you change your cleaning products, take a look at your bathroom counter.

* Switch to natural lip balms. Name-brand balms are made from petroleum products, which harm the environment during production

* Using lotions made from natural plant-based ingredients, they are helathier for your skin and keeps non-renewable resources out of your medicine cabinet

Check out the Good Guide to see how your favorite brands rate and find some great alternatives. Remember that small steps make a big difference!