Green and Good Lookin'

The End

2007-11-18T12:51:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone!

Unfortunately, this is my last blog. Don't worry though -- green living is something that will be a future topic for The Cat Scan (which a whole new class of students will be tackling). While writing about green beauty and fashion I was overwhelmed with the amount of information and stories that were related to the topic, so this is definitely not the end of the discussion. For my readers, check out The Cat Scan, and stay tuned for next semester's class of students who will have new blogs formulated to enrich our communities minds on eco-friendly living.

To next semesters students:

The Cat Scan will be one of your favorite classes in the Journalism Department guaranteed! This class is as close as it gets to real-world reporting, and although it is demanding, it is a lot of fun! Class participation is where it counts, so do your part and you will be fine.

The topic of green living was great to work with, and I suspect you will enjoy writing about it as much as I did. Whether your into sports or beauty, it is very likely that there is something green related to it. That is why you will be given the assignment to develop personal blogs. Here you can focus on whatever you love and relate it to eco-friendly living. The possibilities are endless.

Finding stories to write about is easy with green living as a topic. There are so many websites that have plenty of information, like treehugger.com and ecomall.com, to help you generate ideas. Furthermore, green issues are happening everyday, so just keep up with your newspaper and talk to organizations about things going on in the community. Our class came up with more ideas than we could actually write about, so you will have no problem coming up with possible stories.

For those of you who are intimidated by the rumors you might have heard about the capstone classes, here is some advice:

1. The Cat Scan was more fun than hard!
2. grades are based on participation, so take a leadership role and you will be fine
3. if you don't do a leadership role, make sure you write a story once a week and you will receive a good grade
4. Come to class!
5. Be prepared to use all sorts of media like video, audio and more. We used everything and had to learn software that none of us had any experience with
6. Do not procrastinate with the projects! start them at least 2 weeks ahead of time. Working in groups is a lot better than working alone.

Overall, The Cat Scan is fun and will give each person the opportunity to publish their work. It is great for resumes, so take it seriously and write as if it were going into a real newspaper or website. Future employers will want to see your published works, so this is your first opportunity to impress people with your writing and videos.

Good luck and have a great year!

Lauren

Juice Beauty

2007-11-18T12:11:00.000-08:00

A new green product line called Juice Beauty is becoming the new rave for woman into organic beauty products. The line was developed by two women living in California who caught onto the new trend of living green and then decided to relate it to the beauty industry. That lead to the development of Juice Beauty, a completely organic line that is derived from juices made from all around the world.

Juice Beauty is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. Almost all of the products they sell are made out of organic juices found in our natural environment. The brand is also 95 percent organic certified, which is unheard of when it comes to skincare. Although the products are based on natural juices, other ingredients like aloe Vera, honey, botanicals, plant oils, and raw cane sugar from farms that specialize in organic farming are used.

So what made Juice Beauty use juice? The company says that juice derivatives are hugely effective in helping skin appear healthier, and feel better. They promote their products for those needing to help the look and feel of their skin, but also for those who want to do their part for the enviornment.

"Juice Beauty's pure organic ingredients are packed with age-defying potency...powerful antioxidants and polyphenols, essential vitamins, vital phytonutrients and age-defying hydroxy acids. And..for optimum age-defying results, Juice Beauty's antioxidant technology combines alpha-lipoic acid, coenzyme Q10, DMAE, peptides, fat soluble Vitamin C and essential fatty acids for healthy, radiant skin," according to the Juice Beauty website.

Companies like Sephora have seen the potential in organic beauty, and are promoting Juice Beauty as one of their best-selling environmentally safe products. You can browse Juice Beauty's complete line at Sephora.com. Right now, one of the lines best selling products is the Green Apple Antioxidant Moisturizer, $43. The Green Apple line has everything from face serums to body butter. One of my favorite's is the Green Apple starter kit, which is great as a gift or a introduction system to the brand.

If you want to try the line before you by it, go to your local Sephora. There they will have samples you can try and small samples you can take home. Beware though, the intoxicating smell of Green Apple might make you buy it on the spot!

Talk to you soon,

Lauren

Some new "green" designers to look out for

2007-11-10T09:21:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone!

Although a lot of your favorite brands have done things to become more "green", you should definitely keep an eye out for new and up and coming brands that have designed their labels on the foundation of eco-friendly fashion from the get go. There are plenty of designers out there needing recognition, and you can give them that by showing support in what they are doing for the enviornment.

Here are a couple:

SANS

Developed by designer Lika Volkova and Alessandro De Vito, SANS has penetrated the "green" market by using eco-friendly materials such as bamboo, tussah silk, and organic cotton and wool. SANS, meaning "without", was named just that for a reason. The brand is "without" pesticides and chemicals that are common to most other fashion lines and textiles. The brand also has a simplistic appeal for "classic" girls who don't want to follow the out-of-ordinary styles that we so often see on the runways.However, SANS has a new age appeal, combining simplistic colors and patterns with unique designs. The brand has received some major recognition from magazines and other designers for its appealing looks and do-good mentality. So where can you find SANS? Barney's New York is a carrier, and if you can get in right now, you might be able to grab one of the companies soy socks, which are on sale.. yes that would be socks made out of soy.

Linda Loudermilk

Linda Loudermilk, who is a "green" designer based out of Los Angeles, uses textiles that include bamboo wool, wood pulp, Ingeo, hemp, organic cotton fur, Sea Cell, reclaimed textiles, silk and Oeko-Tex fabrications. The designer, oddly enough, has also used human hair in her line.

The designer was honored in W magazine as one of the most innovative and smart designers of the year, she was featured on the Sundance channel for her unique approach on fashion, and was names the lifestyle designer for Lexus hybrid's. She has taken over the "green" market and is recognized as the industry's leader in eco-friendly fashion. She started the trend in 2002.

Click here to go to Zoom Zoom where you can watch Linda's runway show.

5 Easy Ways to Make Your Beauty Routine "Greener"

2007-10-30T20:41:00.000-07:00

Hello --

If you are like me, changing your beauty routine is like breaking a lifetime habit. In a world that is going "green", however, some of the beauty habits we women have are just going to have to change if we really want to do our part for the enviornment.

Let's face the facts:

A normal day-to-day beauty routine for some women can include blow drying, curling, soaps and suds, perfumes, bleaches, waxes, sprays, and the hundreds of other types of beauty enhancements. The good news is that all those products we use now have eco-friendly alternatives which have been some of this years biggest trends. Switching to organic beauty products and recycled packaging is definitely a step in the right direction, but there is still more you can do.

Below are five things you can do to revitalize your beauty habits so that they are "green". Don't worry, they are easy and will most likely help your budget!

1. Stop Blow Drying!

Every time you blow dry your hair you use tons of electricity. Instead of using heat to primp your tresses, roll your hair with Velcro rollers and let them air dry. This not only lessens the amount electricity you use, but it is 100 percent better for your hair. For the past month I have limited my blow drying to only one time a week. The results have been great and my hair looks healthier and still styles just as good with the use of rollers.

2. Dispose of your liquids in a safe way

All the chemicals that are used in self tanners, face washes, and foundations are extremely harmful to the enviornment. In in a story done by NBC's WOAI, they found a way to properly dispose of those types of liquids so that they don't end up in our natural enviornment. In their article, Tossing Old Medicines and Cosmetics May Hurt the Environment, they said emptying your liquids into cat litter is the best solution to the problem. After it absorbs into the litter, go ahead and toss it out.

3. Stop the long showers!

In the morning some of us linger in the shower as long as possible savoring the tranquil moments before our hectic day. As relaxing as it is, it is wasting water! Cut down on the water you use by brushing your teeth and washing your face while you shower, and try and keep the shower to 8 minutes or less. Even better, take a bath. You use a lot less water taking a bath than you do taking a shower, and you can lay in the tub as long as you want!

4. Buy Jumbo Size

There are multiple rows in our local stores filled with varieties of shampoos and conditioners. Making your hair routine "green" is easy now that you can buy biodegradable packaging and organic conditioners and shampoos. But let's face it, some of us don't want to change the products we already use, so why not just change how you use it. Instead of buying normal sized packaging, switch to the "family size" or "jumbo size". This will lessen the amount of times you have to buy the product, therefor reducing the amount of chemicals and packaging you are purchasing. You can also, buy products that have the conditioner and shampoo in one. It is an easy way to use the same stuff you love, but still reduce the amount you are using.

5. Use natural light when applying make-up

For some of us, our bathrooms are our only places of seclusion. We can shut ourselves off from the world only to enter the land of beauty. One thing you may not think about it the amount of lighting you use when your in your bathroom. Whether it is morning or night, many women use magnifying lamps or giants overhead lights to get the best light needed for the perfect makeup application. This is definitely one habit in your beauty routine you can easily change. Instead of locking yourself off in an electricity sucking bathroom, go to a room in your home that has great natural light. There you can avoid using electricity and also do a better job at making your make-up look natural. If you don't have another room, change the light bulbs in your bathroom to eco-friendly light bulbs. If you have some spare money, add a skylight or a window to your bathroom to create that natural light.

Hopefully these are some tips that won't throw your day-to-day routines into a beauty frenzy. Moving to a greener world is easy when we take small steps in the right direction, so use these five simple steps as a way to do the right thing! It may not seem like a lot, but when if more and more women make the change, it will definitely make a difference.

Talk to you soon,

Lauren

Back to M.A.C

2007-10-24T16:48:00.000-07:00

Hello!

If you're a M.A.C lover, like many makeup wearers are, don't throw away your old lipsticks and eye shadows!

You may already know, or you may not, but M.A.C cosmetics wants your old M.A.C containers back. According to Tucson M.A.C manager, Janelle Marquez, for the past ten years MAC has been recycling old containers to build new playgrounds in underprivileged areas.

" We will take everything back except for pencils, bags, and brushes," said Marquez. "We will send them into corporate where they melt them down and turn the old containers into playgrounds."

The recycling program is called "Back to M.A.C". All you need is 6 old M.A.C. containers, bring them into your local store, and you can get any lipstick of your choice for free (lipsticks cost $14).

If you bring your containers into a M.A.C counter at a department store, you can pick any lipstick you want. But, if your bring your containers into a M.A.C. store you can pick any lipstick, eye shadow, or blush that you want!

So far, the program has been a success, said Marquez.

"It has really given people an incentive to shop with us," she said.

Estee Lauder, which owns M.A.C, has really taken a step in the right direction when it comes to saving the environment. They also own Aveda which is known for its organic and natural products.

Right now Aveda is selling products like their reusable organic cotton tote bag which you can bring with you every time you shop. Their hair care products are also all-natural, which is better than buying all those other chemical-filled products out there.

"The Aveda Hair Color line contains up to 99% naturally derived formulas, resulting in longer lasting color that leaves the hair incredibly glossy and shiny."—David Adams,
Technical Artistic Director

Well, the list is started to get pretty long of all the beauty companies that provide Eco-friendly services. Until next time, do your part for the environment by recycling your old stuff, and buying the new "green" products out there!

Talk to you soon,

Lauren Browder

Home Remedies

2007-10-20T15:21:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!

Homemade beauty remedies are the new way to keep yourself beautiful without hurting the enviroment. It is usually cheaper and healthier for your body and there are so many recipes out there that use ingredients found right in your kitchen! Instead of going out and spending money on products that use harsh chemicals, stay home and look in your pantry for ingredients that can do the same thing without chemicals or the high price tag.

Treehugger.com named homemade beauty treatments as their "hard core" way to "go green" for women's personal care. At there website they provide a list of links to the best homemade remedies around.

There are also tons of books that provide advice on how to make your own products. Beauty by Rona Berg is a great example and it has a whole section on homemade ideas! The book focuses on skin treatments and shows what ingredients you should avoid if you have sensitive skin or if you are prone to acne. I bought the book to test out some of the ideas they gave, and here is my favorite recipe:

(hint: yogurt kills bacteria and helps soften the skin, according to Berg)

Curds and Clay

4 tablespoons clay
2 teaspoons plain yogurt
4 teaspoons water
2 drops tea tree or geranium oil
( or boil fresh thyme in water and replace the water above with 4 teaspoons thyme water)

1. mix ingredients to form a paste
2. apply to your face with clean fingers
3. leave on face for 15 minutes
4. rinse off with warm water

The recipe helped my skin look more radiant and feel softer. I had everything in my kitchen except for the tree tea oil, which cost me about $2.00 at the grocery store. (Hint: Tea Tree Oil is great for on the spot acne). It also only took me 5 minutes to make!

When making your own skin remedies, Berg says there are some major ingredients you should always avoid.

Photograph courtesy of Lotus Head

"They clog pores and can cause blackheads, pimples, or cosmetics-related acne," Blog said in her book.

Here is a list of the ingredients to always SAY NO to:

1. Cocoa Butter
2.Paraffin
3. Petrolatum
4. Mineral Oil
5.Coconut Oil
6. PABA
7. D&C red dyes
8.FD&C red dyes

Some good alternative to this bad ingredients are:

1. Plant oils (except coconut)
2.Kalaya oils
3.vegetable glycerin
4.caramel
5. iron oxide
6.beeswax
7.jojoba wax
8. titanium dioxide

Till' next time, have fun making some new homemade beauty products!

~Lauren~

Perfect Organics

2007-10-09T08:46:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,

This past weekend I was in Washington D.C. and attended the Green Festival put on by Global Exchange and Co-op America. There was over 300 vendors that came to educate the public on how to "live green" and it attracted hundreds of people from the surrounding areas. While I was making my way around the festival, I was amazed at the variety of ways people can live eco-friendly lives, and one of the most popular ways for females was "green" fashion and beauty.

There was a whole section of the festival dedicated to "green" fashion and beauty -- from clothing companies using only organic fabrics to plastic surgeons using all "green" technology in their buildings. I had no idea so many companies in the beauty industry had taken such a stand on helping the enviornment, but what better way then to provide products woman use everyday in a "green" alternative.

For example, the company Perfect Organics. is a company that provides organic T-shirts and beauty products sold at your local Whole Foods Market. The owner, Deborah Claire, said her goal was to have a company that provides more of a lifestyle for those that want to live "green". She started off with only skin products but has revolved the company into one that provides skin products, make-up, and clothing.

"Our mission is simple: to create wholesome organic, vegan, multi-use products unrivaled in perfection, purity and effectiveness for men, women, and children," it says on their website. "We know that what you put on your skin has to be perfect because it can be easily absorbed directly into your body –that’s why you will never find chemical additives, artificial ingredients, fillers or synthetic preservatives of any kind in Perfect Organics.™"

Claire says her most popular products right now are her "karma" organic t-shirt and her "Perfect Organics" classic t-shirt.

The company has also been featured on Wendy Reiger's segment, Going Green, for NBC 4 in Washington D.C. as a great place to buy "green" gifts.

Other company's like, the first organic medical spa owned by Honi Borden, are taking on the industry of "green" plastic surgery and beauty enhancements. Her company not only sells natural skin care called Ah Shayh, but she has built her company in a way that promotes natural beauty enhancements. She says this eliminates lots of chemicals and electricity that are normally used in the process, yet still providing the same results.

There is also a local Washington D.C. spa that is promoting "green" beauty. The Nusta Spa on L street, is the first spa in America to receive the leadership in energy and environmental design award for being a green building. Everything from the bamboo floors to the products they use are "green".

Basically, "green" beauty is not just a trend anymore. It is a lifestyle that people are determined to live. Allure magazine, for example, has just published a whole section in their October issue on how to change your beauty routines to better the enviornment. Some of the easiest ones that I plan on doing are:

1. Air drying my hair instead of blow-drying everyday

2. Asking my hair stylist to use recycled foils in my hair when I am getting a highlight

3. using natural light during the day to put my make-up on instead of staying in the bathroom and turning on the light.

4. Buy jumbo size shampoo and conditioner bottles instead of smaller ones so that I don't have to restock so often.

Let's be honest -- it doesn't get any simpler than that.

See you next week with more on Green beauty and fashion!

Lauren

Origins Going Green

2007-10-02T12:12:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!

As I have said in the past couple posts, hundreds of company's are beginning to redesign their products or product production processes in order to do their part for the environment. Like the company Cargo, Origins, a beauty company establish in 1990, has now made the movement towards "going green".

You have probably seen the store Origins in your local mall, as it is a huge chain company located all around the world. If you are into "green" beauty products, this is definitely the store for you. The company says they have made a commitment to the “preservation of earth, animal and environment.”

The first thing that makes Origins stand out in the "green" beauty industry is that as of July, they have converted to wind energy for all of their manufacturing facilities in the US. This is a huge environmentally friendly movement because by doing this they will "reduce nearly 4,280 metric tons of carbon dioxide from spewing into the atmosphere... help remove the equivalent of nearly 900 cars from the road... help to reduce the pollution caused by driving 10.5 million miles or benefit the environment by giving back the equivalent of planting 3,800 acres of trees," according to their website.

Image courtesy of Origins.com

According to the American Wind Energy Association, wind energy systems are used to transform kinetic energy from wind into mechanical or electrical energy. Wind is actually a form of solar energy, an therefor contains energy that can be used for pretty much anything. You may have seen the big wind converters on farms and rural areas, but now they are making their ways into homes, businesses and more. Check out the American Wind Energy Associations FAQ page for a more thorough explanation.

Origins decided to start using wind energy technologies after partnering up with Community Energy, a company founded in 1999. Community Energy, which is owned by IBERDROLA, has helped push the market for renewable energy sales, according Community Energy's website.

By partnering up with Community Energy, Origins has offset 100 percent of the electricity the company uses. As said on Community Energy's website, Origins is "preventing 4,300 tons of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere which would have otherwise been generated by fossil fuels."

Not only has Origins completely replaced the energy resources they use to manufacture their products, they have also come out with a new line that is completely organic.

Origins Organics, which will be out in stores this month, is a new line for hair, body, and skin that is certified by the USDA National Organic Program. Origins says the line is "formulated to help sustain the global health and well-being of our planet."

So far, Origins gets my award for "being the most environmentally friendly beauty company". But don't worry, there is plenty others out there I haven't discovered yet, and when I do I'll make sure to let you know!

Talk to you soon,

Lauren

PlantLove by Cargo

2007-09-24T12:55:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!

Let's get back to "green" make-up.

Most make-up brands out there are made from a variety of harsh products, and it's close to impossible to find make-up that is completely organic. However, there are new innovative products coming out that are as close as you're going to get to environmentally-friendly make-up.

Let me introduce you to the brand Cargo -- the only make-up brand to create a line of lipstick completely packaged in 100 percent organic tubes. The line is called PlantLove, and when I say organic, what I actually mean is that the tubes are made entirely from corn! Yes, the tube you roll the lipstick out of is technically made from food you eat! Cargo is the first make-up brand to do this, and so far their attempt to save the enviornment has been a success. Sephora, the well-known and very popular beauty boutique, has named the PlantLove line one of their best products of 2007 which you can read more about on their website, sephora.com.

What makes PlantLove so great is that it is so much more than just organic. The lipsticks also come in a box that when planted can grow wildflowers. Who would have thought! The box, as you can see in the picture, looks rugged and worn, but that is done purposely so that the wildflowers can grow from inside. My sister, Lindsy Browder, bought the cargo lip gloss and tested the company's claim that if you plant their box, you can grow flowers. And guess what, like they said, Lindsay had wildflowers sitting in a pot on her window in just a couple weeks.

Photograph taken by Lauren Browder

Aside from being packaged in plant growing cardboard, and tubed in plastic made of corn, what else could be so special about this lipstick? Well, the women who designed it are all famous! There are 15 different shades to choose from in the PlantLove line, and six of those shades were designed by celebrities Lindsay Lohan, Mariska Hargitay, Maria Menounos, Evangeline Lilly, Courtney Cox, and Sarah Chalke. The colors the celebrities picked are supposed to be the best shades to compliment their skin tones, which makes it easier for buyers to find one of the celebrity skin tones that best match them.

Hold on, I'm not done just yet raving about this lipstick.

Cargo Cosmetics is donating $2 from each purchase of the PlantLove line to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, according to their website. Not only does this lipstick support a healthy enviornment, but it also supports research for the health of our own society. This is the epitome of do-good make-up!

If you're living in Tucson like myself, there is only one place to buy Cargo's PlantLove.

Product by Maria Martin, 2905 E Skyline Dr. Suite 237 (520-615-1200), is a beauty boutique at La Encantada and is selling the lipsticks for $20 each. If you're anywhere else in the world, you can find the brand at Sephora stores, or order from Sephora.com.

If you decide to stop by Product at La Encantada, there are some other "green" beauty buys you should check out.

Mario Bedesku is an all-natural skin care line that fights aging, acne, and rosacea. Because it is all-natural, it is gentle on the skin and does not use harsh chemicals that normally dry out the skin, according to their website.

Ole Henrikson is another line that is organic and handmade. It has made a splash into Hollywood and is one of Products most popular lines.

Check out the sideshow below for pictures of Cargo's Plant Love, the boutique Product, and the lines Mario Bedesku and Ole Henrikson.

Departmental Organics

2007-09-16T10:35:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!

Department stores have jumped on the "green" band-wagon and are re-organizing their inventory to create a new "green" section! Whether you are shopping online or in stores, finding organic clothing and accessories is right at your fingertips now. The trend-starting department store, Nordstrom's, developed this recent marketing campaign to help push the newer organic trends, something that seems to be huge movement in the fashion industry. Organic clothing is the industries first-hand involvement in the "green" lifestyle many Americans have taken on.

At Nordstrom.com, buyers can at a click of a button receive a list of all the organic clothing and accessories the store sells. Nordstrom's organic inventory ranges from women's fashions, to baby clothes and accessories, to beauty products and men's fashion's. Click on the frame below to be taken to Nordstrom's organic web page.

Here in Nordstrom's "Organic Style" section of their department store, buyers can easily navigate through the array of "green" products. Like the rest of Nordstrom's website, you can search by price, style, department, size, or popularity. Some of the most popular environmentally friendly products the department store is offering are:

C&C Extra Long Sleeve Organic Cotton Tee, $65
Nordstrom Lingerie Organic Cotton Hipster Briefs, $10 each
Viridis Luxe Bamboo Twist Dress, $165
Lavanila Perfumes, $56

These products are just a small percentage of the total organic products available. Nordstrom's is simply leading the way for other department stores in there new availability of organic. Nordstrom's had even development their own organic brand. However, other department stores like Dillard's, Macy's and Nieman Marcus are also providing green-centered products.

Dillard's , Neiman Marcus, and Sak's Fifth Avenue for example carry the Majorica jewelry line which is entirely organic. Majorica, based in Barcelona, Spain, makes all-natural man-made pearls in contrast to common chemically cultured pearls, according to Majorica seller Karla's Jewelery in McAllen, Texas.

No matter what department store you have in your town, you will for sure be able to find something organic. With so many name-brands providing organic alternatives, it is near impossible to not carry them. Check out the department stores listed above for more information on their available "green" inventory.

On another note:

Like a promised before, I wanted to give a brief introduction to a furniture store providing recycled and all-natural furnishings. Although it may not be fashion and beauty related, interior decorations can be just as involved in the green lifestyle many people are converting to. If you are about to re-design your home, or beginning to build your first, here is a store that has high-end designs that are environmentally-friendly as well.

Arhaus Furniture is a new chain that focuses on either recycling or refurbishing old furniture into new "shabby-chic" styles. They are also building new furniture in a variety of eco-friendly ways.

For example, the company uses all recycled copper in their pieces, creating an appealing rustic look to their inventory. According to Arhaus, "the recycle copper pieces capture a moment in time when the natural beauty of Mother Earth meets the exceptional skill of the coppersmith to create an extraordinary work of art for your home."

The company also uses natural hand-made marble. This means the marble is hardly touched, and therefor unique to each furniture piece you buy.

The store not only uses natural products, but they also have invested into energy saving light bulbs in their stores, according to sales associate Cathrine Moline.

"We do everything from light bulbs to recycled paper in order to help the enviornment here. Our company slogan is 'furnishing a better world', and we try to do that in every way possible," she says.

Arhaus also carries the Hadley Line, which is their premier "green" sofa's. According to Moline, the Hadley Line uses an innovative tanning process in their leathers to reduce the amount of chemicals used.

No matter what you purchase at this store, Moline says Arhaus assure that it has in some way been created to support a healthy environment. So shop away without a worry! You can either order from their website, Arhaus.com, or you can call them at 1-866-4arhaus. Currently they have 28 locations, mostly on the east coast.

"Work Out, Play On"

2007-09-11T12:17:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!

Well as I promised, I've got some great information about Nike, the world-wide shoe and apparel company, and how they are doing their part to help our environment. Have you ever thought about what happens to your old clothes and shoes after you throw them away? Well before Nike stepped in, those shoes were just added into the 220 million tons of trash America accumulates each year. That has now come to an end. Nike is providing an outlet for those used shoes and is recycling them into basketball courts, tennis courts, playgrounds and more!

ReUse a Shoe is a program Nike developed in 1994 to recycle all brands of shoes into either new shoes or sport facilities. According to Nike, the materials used in tennis shoes, like rubber, can be used in so many ways that it is a waste not to take advantage of old, used tennis shoes.

Take a look at The YouTube video of ReUse a Shoe : ReUse a Shoe

Since the development of ReUse a Shoe, Nike has recycled 20 million pairs, according to their website. They have donated a significant amout of material for the development of sport surfaces and have branched out the recycling system to various other countries. The point is - people are really sending their old shoes in, and the ReUse a Shoe program has been a success!

Now cities are working in conjunction with Nike to help recycle rubber. For example "the City of Milwaukee has participated in the Nike Reuse-A-Shoe program since the summer of 2004," according to the cities public works website.

Nike has partnered up with hundreds of different recycling organizations. To get your city involved contact your community leaders to have the ReUse a Shoe program in your town.

For those of you who are looking for easy ways to "go green" this is one step in the right direction. It takes less then 10 minutes to participate in the ReUse a Shoe program. First take a look at the brief description of what you can and can not send in below:

WHAT KIND OF ATHLETIC SHOES CAN I SEND?

SEND IN ANY BRAND, ANY QUALITY, ANY AGE. ALL ATHLETIC SHOES WELCOME!

WHAT CAN I NOT SEND IN?

NO CLEATS, METALS OR SPIKES

SANDALS, PUMPS, HIGH-HEELS OF ANY SORT, OR NICE WALKING SHOES

DO NOT PUT YOUR SHOES IN BAGS OR TIE THE LACES TOGETHER.

Information taken from the City of Milwaukke's Public Works Website.

Now all you have to do is drop off the shoes. For many cities, there are already established drop-off locations. Click here for locations. Here in Arizona, the only drop off stations found from Nike.com are listed below:

Tempe South Police Substation
8201 S HARDY DR
TEMPE, AZ 85284

Phone:
480.350.8145
Drop-off times:
24 hrs.
Drop-off dates:
Permanent Location

This drop-off site is part of the City of Tempe shoe collection project.

---------------------------------

Arc Thrift Store
201 W SOUTHERN AVENUE, SUITE 39
TEMPE, Az 85282

Phone:
480-966-8536
Drop-off times:
9 a.m. - 5 p.m. M-Sat; 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Sun.
Drop-off dates:
Permanent Location

This drop-off site is part of the City of Tempe shoe collection project.

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Arizona State University Student Recreation Complex (SRC)
400 E APACHE BLVD
TEMPE, AZ 85281

Phone:
480.965.8900
Drop-off times:
6am - 11pm, M-F; 9am - 9pm, Sat.-Sun.
Drop-off dates:
Permanent Location

This drop-off site is part of the City of Tempe shoe collection project.

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Gentle Strength Cooperative
234 W UNIVERSITY DR
TEMPE, AZ 85281

Phone:
480.350.8145
Drop-off times:
24 hrs.
Drop-off dates:
Permanent Location

This drop-off site is part of the City of Tempe shoe collection project.

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Kiwanis Recreation Center
6111 S ALL-AMERICAN WY
TEMPE, AZ 85283

Phone:
480.350.8145
Drop-off times:
24 hrs.
Drop-off dates:
Permanent Location

This drop-off site is part of the City of Tempe shoe collection project.

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Tempe Public Library
3500 S RURAL RD
TEMPE, AZ 85282

Phone:
480.350.8145
Drop-off times:
24 hrs.
Drop-off dates:
Permanent Location

This drop-off site is part of the City of Tempe shoe collection project.

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University Presbyterian Church
139 EAST ALAMEDA DRIVE
TEMPE, AZ 85282

Phone:
480-350-8145
Drop-off times:
24 hrs.
Drop-off dates:
Permanent Location

This drop-off site is part of the City of Tempe shoe collection project.

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Westside Multigenerational Center
715 WEST 5TH STREET
TEMPE, AZ 85281

Phone:
480.350.8145
Drop-off times:
8 a.m. - 8 p.m., M-F; 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sat; 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Sun
Drop-off dates:
Permanent Location

This drop-off site is part of the City of Tempe shoe collection project.

Unfortunately the city of Tucson has not yet created a shoe collection project like the city of Tempe has done, however for those of you living in an area without a drop-off there is another option. You can package up your old shoes fallowing the diagram above and mail them to:

Nike Recycling Center
c/o Reuse-A-Shoe
26755 SW 95th Ave.
Wilsonville, OR 97070

Hope this was some usefull information for those of you wanting to "go green"!

Lauren

H and M and the Organic Cotton Exchange

2007-09-08T15:55:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!

This weekend I spent a day at H & M in Northern Virginia to learn about their new organic-cotton line. H & M, a hugely popular clothing chain throughout the world, has taken on the challenge of converting their stores into eco-friendly establishments. Now in every store there is a special organic cotton section where everything from full, bouncy dresses to soft causal shirts are made from chemical-free cotton. The new line has taken off! H & M sales associate Anthony Wilcox says "the line is selling really good" and that "the cotton is extremely soft, so people will buy multiples of the same shirt."

I personally purchased one of the casual organic-cotton tee's, and now I want to go back for more! The shirt is extremely comfortable and very trendy, and it makes me feel good when I wear it because i know I am helping the cause. Take a look at at the picture to the right to see me in my new enviormentally friendly T-shirt.

According to a press release on H & M's website, www.hm.com, the company decided to "go green" in 2004. The press release states that the company wanted to focus on their environmentally concerned customers, but wanted to also ensure the same high-style in the line. The organic cotton line is available for men, women, and children and has a wide selection of looks to choose from. look below for some pictures. Generally the costs of the organic cotton line are similar to the rest of the store ranging from $14.99 to $40 max.

In order to help promote the organic-cotton line, H & M partnered up with the Organic Cotton Exchange to help spread the word about eco-friendly clothing . Since they have done so, the company has increased the amount of organic cotton they use from 30 tons in 2006 to 1,100 tons in 2007! The press release states that H & M wants to "increase the demand of organically grown cotton to help the environment", and already they have increased their consumption by 1,070 tons in only one year.

Once I began digging for information about H & M, I had to learn more about the Organic Cotton Exchange; after all they are working together. The company is an organization with a mission to "catalyze market forces to deliver sustained environmental, economic and social benefits through expansion of organic fiber agriculture," according to their website. In other words, they want to get the ball rolling on organic cottons to help the enviorment and the overall health of people living in the farmring areas.

Currently, the majority of cotton the public wears is not organically grown. Organic cotton makes up for less than 15 percent of the grown cotton in the entire world, according to The Organic Cotton Exchange.This company wants to change that and promote the clothing industry to utilize more environmentally safe cotton. Their goal is to "increase the amount of certified organic land farmed for fiber production by 50 percent per year." If they do so, this will have a huge impact on our world. According to their website, The Organic Cotton Exchange plans on doing this by working with brands and retailers, like H and M, to promote the use of organic-cotton. They are also trying to help existing organic farms stay in business as well as build new ones.

To pound in our heads how important organic-cotton is, the Organic Cotton Exhange says that one single non-organic cotton T-shirt is made with the use of about 1/3 of a pound of pesticides and fertilizers. Now think about how many T-shirts there are in this world. Each time those chemicals and pesticides are used to make our clothing, they are absorbed into the soil hurting our planet and the health of the local people who live around the farms. The Organic Cotton Exchange says going organic is "beneficial to the enviorment; beneicial to the farmers; their families and their communities and gives added value for retailers."

After my visit with H & M, and my deeper look in to The Organic Cotton Exchange, I ran into even more stores providing eco-friendly products. Next week I will bring you information on Nike's new organic product line and venture into the land of "green" furniture. I know, I know... furniture is far off from make-up and fashion, but I couldn't help myself.

Talk to you soon!
Lauren

Need an organic T-shirt or all-natural lip gloss?

2007-09-02T16:29:00.001-07:00

Hi again!

Today I want to start talking about available eco-friendly products that are right here in our own neighborhood. Firstly, online shopping is probably the easiest way to find "green" fashion and beauty products. Today I came across a website that is completely focused on fashion with a purpose -- Threadsforthought.com
Threads for Thought is a company that makes searching for "green" and charitable fashion easy! The company has been featured in In Style magazine, US Weekly, and more. The online company provides links and information about other websites where you can order "green" and charity driven clothing. Also, they have their own online shopping mall! According to their website, "Threads for Thought uses 100 percent organic cotton and eco-friendly fabrics..." in all of their featured clothes. Most of the clothing sale proceeds go to various charities, so along with helping the environment, buyers can also be a humanitarians. Furthermore, Threads for Thought is partnered with the Natural Recourse Defense Council and the International Rescue Committee.
So aside from donating money to charities, why does Threads for Thought think organic clothing is so important? Well threadsforthought.com says that "6 pounds of harmful chemicals are added to each acre of cotton." The site continues to say that these chemicals are horrible for our Earth's soil and water, and the health of the farmers who grow them and the people who live near them. The company believes that if cotton farmers remove the chemicals they use and grow their cotton organically, they can help save the Earth's environment and the health of over 50 million people. Check out the site for more details on what they are doing to help the enviroment and/or to order your first "green" clothing article.

If you don't feel comfortable purchasing online, the store Urban Outfitters is selling Threads for Thought tee's. Above is a picture of the t-shirt available - it's cute and sends a good message!

If what your looking for is not clothing, but make-up products then Urban Outfitters still is your place to go. While your there check out their new all-natural lip gloss, Green by Nature. It comes in cherry mint flavor (my personal favorite) and peppermint. 1 percent of all the sales this company makes is donated to the natural environment, and at $6 a pop, it's well worth it. Also, the lip gloss is 95 percent natural -- don't worry, it works just as good as any other lip gloss I have tried.

Plenty of other stores are providing "green" clothing as well. American Apparel is orienting their entire company around helping the environment. They use recycled fabrics, organic t-shirts, and even run their factory off solar energy. Check out more about American Apparel at Amy's Strand's blog, Green Fashion and Beauty.

"Green" fashion is definitely a new trend people are getting into. Threads for Thought is just one of the many organizations out there focused on getting people into saving the planet, so stay tuned for more. And believe me, there will be PLENTY more.

Talk to you soon,
Lauren

Organic vs. Natural Beauty Products

2007-09-01T13:05:00.001-07:00

Hi!
Before I start bringing you products, I think it is important to cover the basic knowledge in buying "natural" and/or "organic" beauty products. Most importantly, natural and organic products are better for the environment, and in some cases better for your health. In an article by Samantha Hallock for Women's Golf magazine, it is proven that natural and organic are very different. Hallock qoutes Ellen Marmur, MD, chief of dermatology and cosmetic surgery at The Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, about the difference in the two:

Hallock writes, "'Organic' refers to a method of farming in which plants and botanicals are grown on land that is free of chemicals, fertilizers and pesticides. The USDA divides these products into three categories: "100% Organic," "Organic" (contains 95 percent organic ingredients) and "Made With Organic Ingredients" (contains at least 70 percent organic ingredients)...'Natural' means the product was created from botanical sources without additives or preservatives; the soil in which these plants are grown isn't taken into consideration. Natural products are not federally regulated, so they may contain synthetic ingredients."

Click here to read Hallock's article: Organic Vs. Natural

What this means is that "organic" products are government regulated, and "natural" products are not. However, plenty of natural beauty products are still very beneficial to our earth and our bodies. My next products I show you will fall under the category of "organic" or "natural", so it is important to know the difference before buying. Keep reading for popular products you can buy!

Talk to you soon,
Lauren

Let Me Introduce Myself

2007-08-21T19:33:00.001-07:00

Hello!

My name is Lauren Browder and I am a senior Journalism student at the University of Arizona. I am in my last semester at the university and for my final project I am participating in the online publication "The Cat Scan". This year our class decided to devote the entire online publication to a new trend that has been taking over our cities -- "Green Living".

Although there are so many topics on "green living" to talk about, I want to focus my own personal blog on the world of fashion and beauty. I know, I know -- your probably thinking "what does that have to do with living green?" Well everything! Eco-friendly cloths and organic beauty products are popping up in stores all over the country, and I want to help the planet-saving fashionista find them!

Eco-friendly fashion has become a trend even at the highest levels. Some of the worlds most renowned designers have taken on the challenge. For proof just check out Newsweek's article Green and Still Chic.
For the next couple weeks I am going to post blogs about new products, new trends, and hopeful ideas to help the planet -- and help your style. So next time you decide to go shopping, make sure to take a peek at my blog for the newest cloths and beauty products that do more than just make you look good!

Talk to you soon!

Your friend,
Lauren