Question: Can you http://www.practicallygreen.com/actions/recycle-aluminum-cans-and-other-metals#mce_temp_url#? I return the deposit soda cans, when I remember, but I am not sure if they can also be mixed in with tuna cans. Confused!

Answer: Absolutely! And here’s why it’s well worth remembering to do it every time!

Hint: the 20 PG points tell you this is no mere throwaway action! Cough.

re3.org has a superb gallery of images. Thank you, N.C. Division of Pollution Prevention & Environmental Assistance

Learn More

• Earth 911.com: Metal Recycling 101
• CleanAir.org: Waste And Recycling Facts
• Bookmark This Site: GrassRoots Recycling Network
• National Geographic: Energy To Recycle Glass Bottles Vs. Aluminum Cans Vs. Plastic
• EPA.gov: WasteWise Program–Environmental Factoids

A couple of weeks ago the ladies here at Practically Green were fortunate enough to receive a generous package from Goodebox. Here is a little bio on Goodebox:

Goodebox is a members only service providing trial sized healthy, eco-sensitive, innovative & effective beauty and personal care products, along with occasional samples of natural & organic health and wellness products.  Each month, members receive 6-7 (occasionally more) trial sized healthy beauty & personal care products. Members also receive exclusive discounts, giveaways, sneak peeks at upcoming products, practical tips and more.  It’s a gift to yourself, or someone else, that arrives on the doorstep every month…a little surprise to look forward to.

What we individually received!

We received products from….

Stark Skincare uses 100% all-natural ingredients to create products made specifically for city life.

Josie Maran realized there was something missing in the world of makeup. So she came up with a line of luxurious products that were pure, gentle, nontoxic, eco-friendly–and sophisticated.

Clairvoyant takes great care to find natural & organic ingredients the purest and most powerful plants to put into their products.

Alima Pure is a makeup line that is completely safe, 100% pure mineral pigment. It is cruelty-free & sets rigorous standards for safety when making their products.

From Alima Pure we got a Bronzer and a Luminous Shimmer Blush. From Clairvoyant we got a fantastic Depuffing Cucumber & Cranberry Eye Gel & Balancing Rosehip Oil & Hibiscus Serum. Stark sent us a Green Tea Detox Clay Mask & a Grapefruit Cleanse & Hydrate Balm. Lastly, from Josie Maran we got Bear Naked Argan Makeup Removing Wipes.

So why should you switch to more eco-friendly make up? Well for many reasons! Many make up products, like blush, contain or are contaminated with asbestos fibers, which poses risks for respiratory toxicity and cancer. Natural products don’t tend to have them (this goes for the Alima Pure blush we received). Also, one caveat is loose mineral powders, which come in both natural and conventional versions. These usually contain mica and/or titanium dioxide, both of which may harm or scar lungs if inhaled over time, though most studies are based on industrial worker exposure. If this concerns you, apply in a well-ventilated room, or stick to natural cream blushes or pressed powders.

Here are some great product reviews by our very own PG ladies!

Sarah:

LOVE the Clairvoyant products. The depuffing cucumber cranberry eye gel is sublime and maybe it’s the power of suggestion or the fresh cucumber scent, but I think my eyes are depuffed. Also ecstatic about the rose hip oil and hibiscus serum. What great combinations! I would like to know more about how they formulate these concoctions. I was not crazy about the two powders because they don’t come with brushes! Stark: grapefruit balm is a bit hard… might soften up in warmer weather and then be easier to use. The detox clay mask — this powder is all over the place in my bathroom. Am I supposed to mix it with something?

Kelsey:

Clairvoyant ones are the best! I’ve been using the cucumber eye gel and rose hip serum pretty much every day. I love the rose hip scent especially and my skin feels softer. The grapefruit balm smells great but I’m not really sure what to do with it. I’ve used it a few times to smooth some baby-hair fly aways but can’t think of how else to use it…maybe as lip balm? Cuticle soother?

Rebecca:

I have to say I am bit obsessed with the blush–love it! And yes, a mess to test, but my brush fits in pretty nicely and gives the perfect all-natural blush for my skin tone.

Liana:

I loved the Clairvoyant products best.  I’m out of the moisturizer and I want more!  The eye gel has been pretty nice too. I also liked the blush and bronzer, but they were difficult to spread evenly… but perhaps that’s just because of the little jars they came in. I haven’t used the balm or the face masque at all.  Not sure how to use the balm since it can do everything but polish your boots.  And the face masque isn’t creamy enough to spread on the face.

Linda:

I like the Clairvoyant products. However I must admit as a “buy the basics and don’t buy again for a year” kind of gal, I actually don’t know what the grapefruit is supposed to do. Maybe they could describe the benefit of serum better. The clay mask: the consistency and way it went on was fine but it made my face feel so tight it was uncomfortable. The wipes are nice and gentle. Good for the gym bag. It’s fun to have an assortment of healthy things to try!

Overall, I think the majority of people absolutely loved the Clairvoyant products, in fact, I loved it too (wish they had given us more). Remember, if you are ever unsure about the safety of a product (personal care or not) you can always use great websites like GoodGuide to help guide you. They score products on a scale of 1-10, so go ahead and see what is in your home! In fact, when looking up scores for the certain brands I found that Alima Pure was an average of 6. If you go onto our website and search for make up in our actions page, you can click suggested products where great recommendations are listed!

Nikita Sahgal, PG Intern

Choosing Safe Seafood

Our friends at Food52 have a wonderful point of view on cooking, food, stocking ingredients, and feeding family and friends. We recommend their site, and if you are into food (which, why wouldn’t you be!) we predict you’ll become obsessed with it. Today we excerpt from Nicholas Day’s post on Sardines, a perfect complement to our PG action Choose safe seafood.

The Sardine that Saved Dinner

….Sardines have saved us more often than I can count: they have saved snack; they have saved dinner. Isaiah, the preschooler in our house, adores them and he isn’t precocious. A taste for sardines is easy to acquire and never lost. Oily fish—fishy fish—are a classic case of culinary imprinting: a person who grows up eating fatty fish is not a person who grows up to order tilapia.

Sardines are a harried parent’s solace. You never have to worry about sustainability: the only sustainability problem is that you are eating too few sardines. You never have to worry about mercury: there are no cans of low-mercury sardines for the simple reason that there are no cans of high-mercury sardines. Sardines are the only snack to which you can keep saying yes. If Oliver Twist had only asked for more sardines, the whole novel would have been different.

Photo: Food52.com

For recipes, click to Food52.

Psyched to learn more about what you are eating? Click here for Practically Green’s playlist of 48 Food actions.

And, for a handy app that sorts safe from fishy, download the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch app, which includes info sorted by region, fish, and restaurants. There’s even a safe sushi guide!

In the world of smart and efficient changes, one step leads to another, and another. You might decide to Recycle old batteries today, then Send your sweetie an eco-friendly gift, and next week you’ll commit to Turning off the tap when it doesn’t need to be flowing. Before you know it, you might be installing energy-efficient windows—or explaining to your landlord or boss why it’s a great idea! Without even realizing it, soon you’re wondering what happens to your trash, and you might decide to recycle more.

On and on it goes, good good good: Instead of tossing the pretty tissue paper that packages your new shirt, you save it to use for gift wrap. Before you know it, you’re checking see if that shirt is made of organic cotton or not. Maybe you’ll even hang it out to dry on a sunny day, instead of using your rattly old electric dryer!

Ta Da! You have taken charge!! You have a game plan: you know what you want to do, you know how to do it, and you understand why it’s worth the bother. You’re hooked on taking eco-friendly actions — and you are making a measurable difference.

Practically Green makes all of this super easy.

Anyone can join Practically Green for free: sign up at PracticallyGreen.com.

You’re instantly part of a user group. Click to see what everyone else is doing: How much water has your Group saved this month? Last month? All time? How many pounds of waste? At home vs. at work? Here’s what your Group Impact dashboard looks like:

Your group's impact across categories of savings. Toggle between this month, last month, and all time.

What are the most popular goals in your Group?

Deep-dive into specific actions: why is eating vegetarian one day a week so hugely impactful? Why would I want to avoid strawberries that are not organic? Browse hundreds of ideas on Practically Green. You’re bound to find one you want to do today.

A growing number of companies are using customized versions of Practically Green to engage their workers, customers, and fans on sustainability. The results are stupendous—and motivating.

Clients like Kendall Jackson use Practically Green to motivate and inspire employees. From a recent KJ blog post:

Here are a few ways you can work on the social aspect of sustainability from our friends at Practically Green. Their website lets you determine your environmental performance and figure out ways to increase your green score while using social media to make it fun.

If your organization would like to know more about Practically Green—and if you’d like to know how it’s working for others—please email us at bizdev [at] practicallygreen [dot] com or give us a call: 617-531-8970.

Take a few minutes today and make a smart change! Or two! What’s next on your plan?

Tempted to install solar panels on your building or home? You’ll be joining a wave of adopters:

“Installers, often working through big-box chains like Home Depot or Lowe’s, are taking advantage of hefty tax breaks, creative financing techniques and a glut of cheap, Chinese-made panels to make solar power accessible to the mass market for the first time,” The New York Times reports. “The number of residential and commercial installations more than doubled over the last two years to 213,957, according to Greentech Media, a research firm.”

The latest solar shingles from Atlantis Energy System's Sunslates, seen on This Old House. Photo: Copper and Slate

A Roof Diagnostics crew installing panels in Holmdel, N.J. Creative financing has set off a boom in solar installations. Mark Steiner, The New York Times

Learn More

• Solar power that sticks to the roof
• Solar Energy Basics for your Home

The O word: with the CDC’s projection this week that 42% of Americans will be obese by 2030, the spotlight is on solutions — especially for children. Here are FOUR of our Practically Green favorites:

1) Choose organic or natural snacks

Parents will appreciate that this certified organic snack mix is big on taste and void of artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. Kids will approve of bunny-shaped pretzels & crackers.

Conventional packaged snack foods tend to contain transfats, high fructose corn syrup (this is sometimes now called corn sugar), artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives, plus pesticide residue and genetically modified ingredients. Juice, like soda, can contain artificial colors and flavors, plus preservatives and sweeteners including HFCS. The link between junky snack food and obesity is clear. A growing number of medical practitioners have expressed concern about artificial sweeteners. And studies have revealed a traceable link between artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, and a range of attention and behavior disorders in children, including ADHD, hyperactivity, allergies, asthma, and migraines.

Green Mountain Gringo products are all natural, no preservatives, gluten-free, nothing genetically modified: dip these into organic salsa!

2) Buy organic or natural chips regularly

Making chips at home isn’t exactly easy. Packaged organic or even all-natural chips can offer you and your family great taste and quality without the transfats (partially hydrogenated oils), artificial flavors, preservatives, and high fructose corn syrup. When it comes to USDA organic certified chips, it also means the corn, corn oil, potatoes, and soy oil found in pretty much all packaged foods won’t be genetically modified. Read labels especially when buying a bag of chips or other snack foods marketed as “natural.” This word isn’t third party certified and can be very misleading. If you see long, complicated words you cannot understand let alone pronounce, leave them on the store shelf.

You cannot go wrong with Late July Organic Snacks, available at your supermarket or via Amazon. This family-owned company is run by the daughter of Cape Cod chips founder! All products are certified USDA organic

3) Buy organic or natural snack bars regularly

Kashi® Chewy Granola Bars: Cherry Dark Chocolate were recommended by a PG user. They have no partially hydrogenated oils or high fructose corn syrup. They are made from a blend of seven whole grains & sesame, roasted nuts, sun-dried fruit, honey. These are not certified organic.

Snack bars and cereal bars are convenient, there’s no denying that. They can also be a healthier alternative to other treats, but not always. Conventional packaged snack bars tend to contain high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives, plus pesticide residue and genetically modified ingredients. None of that sounds very appetizing, even if you’re on the go.

An organic snack bar, on the other hand, isn’t permitted to contain any of that, and any fruit used in the bar will also be organically grown. A “natural” or “all-natural” bar will probably not contain the artificial ingredients (colors, flavors, preservatives), but no one is third party certifying that to be true. Also it will likely still contain genetically modified soy or corn derivatives or oils, plus conventionally grown then dried fruit. Read the labels and choose organic if it’s an option for the biggest health and environmental impact.

Note: Kashi, owned by Kelloggs, has recently been skewered for using GMO (genetically modified organisms in its cereal. Click here for Kashi’s position.

4) Eat organic fruits and vegetables and check the Dirty Dozen list to make priorities!

The Dirty Dozen list is the 12 conventionally grown fruits and vegetables that have the highest pesticide levels—even after peeling and washing. The Environmental Working Group says that by avoiding the Dirty Dozen—or eating organic versions of them—consumers can reduce their pesticide exposure by almost 80 percent. They update the list yearly, basing it on tests for pesticides on produce collected by the USDA and the FDA. Apples, celery, and strawberries top the 2011 list.

Go to EWG.org for the full list and updates

Learn More

• OrganicItsWorthIt.org: Kid-Friendly Dishes
• NatureMoms.com: Healthy Organic Snack Ideas For Kids
• Parenting.com: 22 Healthy Kids Snacks
• FoodFit.com: Healthy After-School Snacks

• ReadBreathe.com: Make Your Own Organic Potato Chips
• PracticallyGreen.com: 3 Practical Ways To Green Your Superbowl Party

• Whole Grain Gourmet: Make Your Own Multigrain Energy Bars
• Mayo Clinic: Organic Foods — Are They safer? More Nutritious?
• PracticallyGreen.com: 10 Practically Green Steps To Improve Health

No central record of Mother’s Day bouquets exists, but it’s safe to say that many if not most of American mothers will get flowers on Sunday. Here’s why it is worth taking a bit of extra green thought when you order flowers for Mom.

Why This is Green

Recommended: OrganicBouquet.com Send Mom eco-friendly certified blooms: "these roses were grown with respect for farm workers & the Earth! Includes two-dozen long-stem roses"

Giving flowers is such a lovely gesture, and receiving them is the best. But you may be offering–or getting–more than natural beauty and sweet scents. According to Planet Green, 79 percent of cut flowers found in the United States come from Ecuador or Columbia and are grown with 12 different potentially hazardous pesticides. Some of these have been banned in the U.S., or used in amounts that exceed our regulations.

One of the many problems with pesticides is that they don’t stay put. The chemicals workers spray on flower farms contaminate them, the soil, and our groundwater. Through evaporation, they end up in the atmosphere and travel, scattering near and far as rain or snow. Pesticides also become part of the food chain when animals eat the sprayed plants.

Even the handy foam blocks many florists use for arrangements are toxic; it’s a non-biodegradable petroleum byproduct that offgasses formaldehyde when soaked in water.

Unlike conventional florists, organic florists sell flowers that have been grown according to strict standards that prohibit the use of harmful synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Better for the farmers, you, and the earth.

Be your own organic florist! 100 percent certified organic, open-pollinated flower seeds from Seeds of Change: sunflower, marigold, zinnia, cosmos, poppies & harder to find heirloom varieties

How To

Good news: most organic bouquets aren’t more expensive than non-organic ones. They tend to last longer, too. Supporting organic florists encourages more growers to convert to organic and sustainable practices.

If you can’t pick your own unsprayed wildflowers, buying locally grown organic flowers is as green as it gets. Plants are nice, too. You can find either at farmers’ markets, farm stands, or via www.LocalHarvest.org/organic-flowers.jsp.

Learn More

• PracticallyGreen.com: 3 Simple Ways To Green Your Valentine’s Day
• TheFlowerExpert.com: Organic Flowers
• Care2.com: Why Buy Organic Flowers
• EcoSalon.com: The 5 Best Organic Florists
• PlanetGreen.com: Why Are Cut Flowers Such An Eco-Demon?
• Organic Consumers Association: Why Buy Organic Flowers

Today we focus on Shopping locally. The current Shop Your Values Week (May 3-10) in NYC  is booming as we write, with 217 businesses and 2409 pledges; if you are in New York or know someone who can take part, have a look! Do you have a business that would like to participate? Sign up! Here in Boston, we are happily spoiled by the weekly SoWa open market: opening day 2012 was Sunday May 6th!

It's all part of the SoWa scene.... check SoWaOpenMarket.com if you're in Boston on a Sunday

Why This is Green

Buying local doesn’t just apply to food. It can also mean supporting local businesses, some of whom specialize in sourcing products from the local community as well or are more responsive to requests for eco-friendly products and services.

The primary benefit of local stores is strengthening the local economy as the financial benefit of ownership and administrative roles stay in the community rather than going to global owners. However, there can also be environmental benefits ranging from being able to walk or bike to them instead of driving, a lower footprint due to smaller parking lots and often using existing infrastructure rather than clearing land for a new store. In addition, the product selection may also tilt more towards locally sourced products lowering the overall transportation footprint.

In Oakland, CA? Stop by Bittersweet Cafe for the best-ever coffee, cocoa, and homemade treats, not to mention take the pulse on any culturati/literati/occupy action in the neighborhood.

There certainly are mass retail stores that have made considerable strides and commitments to sustainability. If they’re what happen to be near your home and have eco-friendly products, it does not make environmental sense to drive out of your way to a smaller non-chain shop.

How To

Check out the offerings at the stores closest to your home and your office. You might be pleasantly surprised that everything you need is in walking distance.

Get to know the people behind the counters and the managers. If you don’t see what you want, ask for it.

Learn More

• Grist.org: Could Chain Stores Actually Be Good For The Environment?
• Treehugger.com: Greenopia Ranks Greenest Big Box Retailers
• Business Week: Debate Room — Let’s Shop Mom And Pop

We’ve been following New York Times coverage of the climate debate in a series called “Temperature Rising,” by Justin Gillis. Gillis won the 2012 Oakes award for Distinguished Environmental Journalism from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism for his ongoing reports. We are riveted to readers’ responses as well.

Here’s a fascinating question posed by one of them:

Let’s say you had a fire in your house.

It is your most important possession, and you feel that it is irreplaceable. You want to find out what caused the fire, so you hire 100 expert fire investigators to investigate and report to you.

Ninety-seven of them tell you virtually the same thing: the fire was caused by faulty wiring, and if you don’t invest in upgrading the wiring you will almost certainly have another fire — and the next one could destroy your house.

Three of the experts tell you that you don’t have to do anything, and you shouldn’t worry about it at all. What would you do?

(A Letter to the Editor, The New York Times, May 5, 2012)

It’s normal to feel a little overwhelmed as the reality of climate change sinks in. Reactions range from depression (What can one person possibly do to help) to anger (Why don’t governments and big influential corporations mandate smart efficient clean change).

Here at Practically Green we like to be, well, practical. Instead of giving up, or complaining all the time, we want to take constructive smart steps to improve health, reduce waste, and maximize efficiencies across all areas of living, across all venues: home, work, travel, when we’re out and about. Everywhere. And we want to know WHY each action matters. This is our definition of sustainability.

We have noticed that as people become engaged in reducing their personal carbon footprint, they naturally begin to question practices and products beyond their home life.

More and more, we begin to ask questions like, Does the air conditioning really have to be blasting in this store/post office/reception area? Could this restaurant set up a composting plan for kitchen scraps? Where’s the recycling bin in this airport lounge? Why is that hotel’s lawn sprinkler on when we just had a torrential downpour? How could I make my commute more efficient?

We have created a database of nearly 500 next steps to consider, organized across four categories: Health, Water, Energy, Stuff. You can create goals, check off actions you’ve already completed, recommend products—and you can share all of this with your friends and colleagues. PG offers suggestions that will be particularly relevant to you, given your input and activity around the site. As you rack up points, you earn badges and get rewards and recognition from the community via News Feed and notifications. A user connects all of this via Groups, Facebook, Twitter—and voila! The journey is fun instead of a chore.

If you’re interested, please join up! If you know someone who is involved in Sustainability, please share Practically Green with them. Increasingly, we are building customized platforms for companies and organizations who want an easy, interactive, and positively engrossing way to engage employees on corporate sustainability goals. We’d be delighted to tell you more!

It’s International Compost Week! Time to Celebrate! Thank you, U.S. Composting Council, for awaring us of this global event!

At Practically Green we have 3 composting actions:

Compost Yard Waste

Compost When Traveling

Compost Kitchen Food Waste

A model for the USA and beyond: Bootstrap Compost is Greater Boston's only year-round residential & commercial food scrap pickup service.

Why This is Green

Food scraps make up 7 percent of household waste, on average. Some (but not all) can be composted. It’s nothing short of miraculous to literally watch your garbage bag deflate–as if on a diet–simply because you compost scraps rather than send them to a landfill. Food is biodegradable (well maybe Twinkies aren’t), but in order for it to break down in a landfill, it needs access to a basic combination of air, water, light, microbes, and enzymes. Unfortunately these aren’t readily available in an overstuffed landfill. As kitchen scraps struggle to break down in non-optimal conditions, they create methane, a greenhouse gas at least 20 times more heat-absorbent than CO2.

It’s far better to collect the scraps and turn them into valuable humus for houseplants and gardens.

How To

What you want to compost will affect the kind of system you’ll set up. For veggie scraps, eggshells, coffee grounds, and other uncooked food, a simple system will do. If you want to compost meat, fish, or cooked food, you’ll need a hot composter, bokashi system, or worm bin.

You can make your own composter or buy one at a garden center or online.

Urbanites can compost! You don’t need a yard. Worm bins tuck into most corners with no smell or mess. There are also automatic composters ideal for apartment dwellers.

A fantastic no-fuss option is compost drop-off. Increasingly–especially in urban areas–there are community drop off points and even municipal pick up. Check with your farmers’ market or community garden for local details.

Learn More

• Practically Green: How To Avoid Mountains Of Holiday Garbage
• Practically Green: Composting Guide For Girls Who Don’t Like Worms
• YouTube: How A Bokashi System Works
• YouTube: How To Worm Farm Compost
• Earth 911: Composting While Cooking — A Guide For The Kitchen
• EPA.gov: Basic Information — Composting

We recommend checking Kickstarter to be aware of new inventions and projects — and to support them. 999Bottles is a new favorite. We caught up with designer Fernd van Englelen of Artefact, in Seattle, and he told us the reusable water bottle stemmed from his passionate personal disgust at how many resources are used and abused via single-use plastic water bottles.

Yes, this is Fernd van Engelen. But he isn't always being smacked in the head... he's a product designer

“I wanted to take on the disposable water bottle, as a designer. I wanted to try to communicate this in a way that helps us understand the impact. So I got a glass bottle and used it for my water. Every time I refilled it, I put a hash mark on the side with a black sharpie. After a while, you can begin to see what a difference you’re making. That drives change. ”

We hope you’ll join us in support of the 999Bottle, and assuming it achieves its funding goal, we’ll be thrilled to consider it in the recommended products section of this action!

Why This is Green

Oh, where to start. Let’s go with a few facts:

Waste: More than 40 billion single use plastic water bottles will be sold this year in the United States alone (some organizations say this figure is higher), and more than 80 percent of those will end up being littered or trashed, not recycled. Which is why we have a plastic garbage patch the size of Texas in the ocean.

Goodbyn bottles rule on fun colors (and no BPA, of course)

Fish, ginkgo leaves: just two of the wonderful designs on EarthLust stainless-steel water bottles — pretty enough for any dinner table

Energy: Those bottles require over 17 million barrels of oil for manufacturing alone. That’s enough petroleum to power 620,000 automobiles a year. This doesn’t include the energy it takes to transport bottled water to consumers, or bottles made from natural gas.

Health: Ironically bottled water isn’t nearly as regulated as tap water. And certain plastics leach bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine disruptor, into liquids.

Money: Bottled water costs up to 1900 times more than tap.

Whether you are motivated by waste reduction, saving energy, personal health, saving money, or all of the above, switching to a reusable water bottle makes a considerable difference.

Learn More

• ScienceNews.org: Metal Water Bottles May Leach BPA
• NRDC.org: Bottled Water Executive Summary
• Pacific Institute: Bottled Water And Energy Fact Sheet
• EWG.org: Bottled Water Scorecard
• Greenpeace.org: The Trash Vortex
• U.S. Energy Information Administration: Use Of Gasoline Explained
• ContainerRecycling.org: Land Full Of Bottles
• Earth911.com: Facts About Plastic Bottles

If you’re a dog-owner in Mexico, you might have access to a startlingly innovative way to dispose of Fido’s poop:

For every “deposit” made in a specially sanctioned receptacle, the surrounding area will get free Wi-Fi, paving the road to the information superhighway with poop…. To encourage down owners to pick up the business, the Wi-Fi will be administered in timed increments based upon the amount of poop collected. The more poop, the longer free Wi-Fi time will be provided. The whole campaign is executed in a tongue-in-cheek witty fashion, but the incentive is both real, and enticing for park goers wishing to get online while relaxing in the sun. What’s more, the program helps clean up the parks that these very park goers will log online from.

This campaign is produced by Terra WiFi and DDB. To read more & see the video: Mexican Parks Trade Free Wi-Fi Access for Dog Poop | Inhabitat

We want Terra/DDB containers in the United States, please! Meantime, here’s how to dispose of pet waste in an eco-friendly way.

Emily waits for her owner to take her for a walk

Why This is Green

If you don’t live in the country, you’re likely picking up after your pet. There’s nothing particularly green about pet waste (and if there is, you might want to visit the vet). Using plastic bags—even reused ones—and throwing them out adds considerable un-biodegradable burden to landfills, even if your baggie is sold as biodegradable. In order for those to break down, there needs to be air, water, light, and enzymes, none of which is readily available in an overstuffed landfill.

Eddie of Cambridge Canine

Composting seems like the earth friendliest option, but putting pathogen-filled animal waste on a home pile is just asking for disease, especially if you use the results on a vegetable garden. Instead, set up a separate poop-only compost. Or: flush.

Flushing is simple if you’re just scooping out of a cat litter (which the EPA suggests but the NRDC frowns on as it can contaminate water), but it’s not overly practical if you’re out walking and have to carry poop back to a toilet (in a reusable container).

All of this may make you want to just leave it where it falls. Try not to; it will wash into local waterways when it rains.

Learn More

• Go Green: Eco-Friendly Pet Options
• ThisGreenLife: Animal Feces Disposal
• NRDC.org: Pets And Their Poop
• Care2.com: DIY Dog Doody Composter
• Care2.com: The Straight Poop On Dog Poop Green Style That Is
• PracticallyGreen.com: How To Dispose Of Dog Waste In An Eco-Friendly Way

User-recommended product: Flush Puppies "Each unit comes with a dispenser (attaches to almost any leash) with one roll already inside & one extra refill roll. Each roll contains 10 Flush Puppies"

Also recommended: BioBag certified pet waste bags... "the first certified compostable 'plastic' pooper bag in the world"

The fastest-growing sector in US organic sales is the meat, fish & poultry category. Up 13 percent last year, according to a new report from the Organic Trade Association. Double-digit growth in a sluggish economy. Why? Simply put, we think more and more people are waking up to a preference for non-altered, real food, thanks to efforts by Robyn O’Brien, Laurie David, Chef Ann Cooper, Alice Waters, Mark Bittman, Eric Schlosser, Michael Pollan, Marion Nestle, our own Alexandra Zissu — and a host of other influential, healthy-real-food advocates.

At Practically Green, we organize organic food and beverages into dozens of actions. For example:

Buy organic or natural snack bars regularly

Buy organic chicken regularly

Buy organic milk regularly.

Let’s zoom in on Buy organic beef regularly.

Tips: we always have a stash of Applegate Farms organic burgers in the fridge; and EatingWell has lots of droolicious recipes.

Why This is Green

USDA organic standards can be confusing. Basically, certified organic animals must be raised under conditions that allow freedom of movement and access to the outdoors. Animals must be fed 100 percent organic feed produced without the use of pesticides, insecticides, or genetic engineering, and it has to be free from sewage sludge and animal derived proteins. (When cattle eat scraps of cattle is when mad cow disease becomes a concern.) No antibiotics or added hormones are allowed. In 2010, the USDA revised their rules regarding access to pasture for organic livestock operations because there were too many loopholes. Additionally, certified organic meat must be processed according to strict standards—no irradiation is allowed, for example. All in all organic is a system that is better for the animals and for the environment.

The cattle at Treaty Rock Farm in Rhode Island supply local chefs with premium grass-fed beef

Keep in mind that organic farms can be large operations, and that certified organic beef isn’t necessarily 100 percent grass-fed. If you’re interested in eating meat from an animal that has never been fed any grain, you’re better off with local pastured beef from a farmers’ market or a specialty butcher shop. Grass-fed-beef-o-philes believe it’s the healthiest, most eco-friendly, and humane choice around.

Learn More

• The Environmental Working Group’s Meat Eater’s Guide
• Care2.com: Top 10 Eco-Friendly Reasons To Buy Organic Meat And Dairy
• Practically Green: Can I Eat Meat And Still Be Green?
• Grist.org: USDA Inspector General–Meat Supply Routinely Tainted With Harmful Residues
• Organic Food Directory: Organic Red Meat Production

The Oranic Trade Association created this juicy infographic to illustrate their report's findings

When it comes to gifts, we like a shiny new toy or sharp outfit as much as the next, but being Practically Green encourages us to be thoughtful about these things. The number one rule is still: will your person love the gift; closely followed by does this gift in any way compromise health, efficiency, or the environment? To the rescue: special curated websites such as Uncommon Goods, where you can vote for new items to be added to the inventory; and Hipcycle ,where you can shop by upcycled material —  fabric, glass, chopsticks, railroad parts and so on (please see screenshot at the end of this post).

"If Lance Armstrong and Liberace hired a decorator together, this is what you would get." Hipcycle bike sprocket candelabra

Vintage Roller Skate Bookends handmade in Michigan, 6 lbs. each, on Uncommon Goods

Also browse chi-chi boutiques such as Priscilla Woolworth’s, and not-so-curated bazaars like eBay and Etsy. (Zoom in on EcoEtsy for a committed and creative band of 300+ crafters with homemade items you’ll click for.) We’ve recently heard about a high-end longboard fabricator who uses leftovers to make cutting boards, butcher blocks “and whatever else.”

Endorphin choker necklace by molecular muse, made-to-order, sterling silver, on Etsy

Not your ordinary skateboards: 46" LONGboards made of reclaimed wood by Bill Erickson

Erickson uses leftover wood to make cutting boards & butcher blocks to order

Now don’t get carried away! Remember: honestly ask yourself if the birthday boy or bride-to-be really wants a bicycle pedal sprocket candelabra, or a tote bag made of reclaimed fire hoses or retired yacht sails. And if they do, go for it!

Our picky friend Daune swears by these bags from Again and Again. They accept used sails, should you have any around!

If you have a book lover on your list, consider a first edition.

Why This is Green

We all want the gifts we give to be meaningful and appreciated. Time to add eco-friendly to that mix. What’s better than giving or getting something that contributes to a healthier, greener planet for all? Whether the person you’re shopping for is a committed environmentalist or your present will be the first time they’ve had the opportunity to try something green they wouldn’t have considered on their own, it’s sure to be a conversation starter.

Here are three egg costs from Priscilla Woolworth's shop—we cannot possibly choose just one & use them as finger puppets when they aren't in the centerpiece of the kitchen table!

Plaque stitch belt made of reclaimed fire hose; promise this will not break easily! 50% of Elvis & Kresse's profits go to charity

Eco-friendly gifts also make fantastic party favors. If you’re looking for a small thing to offer to guests at a wedding or big birthday, try something as simple as a CFL light bulb. Talk about making an impact—suddenly a few hundred people will give one a whirl in the next few months when they inevitably need to change an incandescent.

Kids will play all afternoon on this recycled tire swing from NapaStyle

Friends & clients will appreciate a case of eco-friendly wine; the Wine Bottega in Boston's North End offers a monthly Farm to Glass delivery; ask your local vintner for such an arrangement!

Learn More

• PracticallyGreen.com: Eco-Friendly Gifts Bring Meaning & Joy To Giver And Recipient! Amazing Guide From Inlu’s Founder
• CDC.gov: Save Energy And Resources This Holiday Season
• The New York Times: EBay Highlights Conservation As A Benefit Of Buying Used

Recommended Products

• World of Good
• Uncommon Goods
• Cate & Levi Collection
• BeJeweledNH Jewelry

Do you have a suggestion? Email Nikita: info@practicallygreen.com

Hipcycle's recycled materials sorter: choose the waste, then choose the product!

Everyone’s catching on: it’s not smart to be eating chemical preservatives and ingredients if you can possibly help it. Organic food sales are up nearly 10% this year according to the Organic Trade Association’s new report. There’s plenty of room for growth: only 4.2% of American food sales are organic.

Search the Practically Green actions database for the word “ORGANIC” and you will retrieve 132 suggestions of what to do. Pick from Give an eco-friendly gift (5 points); Eat at a local, sustainable restaurant when traveling (10 points); Switch to organic or at least natural deli meat (10 points); Buy organic fruits and vegetables for the Dirty Dozen. That last one is worth 50 points, which tells you it packs impact. Here’s why the Dirty Dozen it is such an important action, and how to be all over it:

Why This is Green

The Dirty Dozen is a catchy name the Environmental Working Group has given the twelve conventionally grown fruits and vegetables that have the highest pesticide levels—even after peeling and washing. The EWG says that by avoiding the Dirty Dozen—or eating organic versions of them—consumers can reduce their pesticide exposure by almost 80 percent. They update the list yearly, basing it on tests for pesticides on produce collected by the USDA and the FDA.

Hearty Kale Salad gets stars from EatingWell users — make it with organic kale & you have a winner!

Pesticide exposure has been linked in various studies to cancer, nervous system damage, and reproductive issues. Pesticides have been shown to cross the placenta during pregnancy. A study from the University of Washington (Seattle) found that preschoolers fed conventional diets had six times the level of certain pesticides in their urine as those who ate organic foods. Another report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention detected twice the level of some pesticides in the urine of children as in that of adults. Minimizing exposure is a smart precautionary measure.

In 2011 the list included apples, celery, strawberries, peaches, spinach, nectarines (imported), grapes (imported), sweet bell peppers, potatoes, blueberries (domestic), lettuce, and kale/collard greens.

How To

Stick the Dirty Dozen in your wallet to refer to when shopping.

It can be challenging, both logistically and financially, to only eat organic food. Happily, organic produce is increasingly available at grocery stores, natural food markets, and farmers’ markets.

Inexpensive ways to stock up on organic produce include buying a CSA farm share, joining a food co-op, reducing the amount of packaged food you eat, and growing your own.

Use organic ingredients for this nom-nom dish from @Foodily (photo by Kim Smith Miller)

Learn More

• Practically Green: Taking Responsibility, Nourishing Hope–53 Experts Give Advice On Healthy, Green And Sustainable Lifestyle Choices
• Practically Green: Organic Food Rules! Review The Dirty Dozen
• Food News: EWG’s Shopper’s Guide To Pesticides
• About.com: Top 12 Fruits And Vegetables You Should Buy Organic
• EPA: Human Health Issues–Pesticides
• Oprah: Is Organic Food Worth The Price?

Recommended Products

• Earthbound Farms
• Wild Harvest Organic
• Local Harvest: Farmers’ Markets

Are we missing something? Suggest a Product or an Action: Email Nikita on info@practicallygreen.com)

P.S. check back soon, because Alexandra Zissu and her content/science team are adding more actions as fast as they can to keep up with user suggestions!

New action today!! (thanks to a fabulous customer): Join Your Office Green Team

Why This is Green

If you want to go green beyond your own home, consider joining your office’s Green Team. What this team does depends largely on your employer and office management. It’s usually a few eco-interested colleagues who create a sustainability committee. Sometimes the Green Team is management-founded and run. Either way, it’s up to good things.

Whether your office has an informal or a highly organized group, it should be fairly easy to join the ranks once you express interest. Topics any Green Team may want to address include energy audits, revamping the break room or kitchen (adding things like reusable mugs and silverware as well as organic coffee), switching to plant based industrial cleaners and hand soaps, increasing recycling, tackling any environmental health issues regarding the physical plant (including renovations and materials), and even sustainable education. Getting employees from many different departments involved is ideal.

It’s one of the very few actions on Practically Green that hits all four categories: Health, Water, Energy, and Stuff:

How To

If your office already has a Green Team, join in! If there isn’t one, try founding one. There are many great resources on how to go about starting a committee online.

Reach out to management, close colleagues, and even local environmental organizations to help define what your Green Team’s mission is. And then get to work!

Even in an already eco-friendly environment, there’s always plenty to do–from purchasing policies to commuting to waste-free lunch initiatives.

Learn More

• NaturallySavvy.com: Start A Green Committee At Your Office
• NBCuni.com: Green Is Universal–Starting A Green Committee At Your Company
• EnergyStar.gov: Green Team Checklist

Practically Green intern & shoe aficionado Nikita Sahgal

I’m not going to lie, shoes are my forte and I can safely say that I own way too many of them. Last time I checked I had approximately over 20 pairs of heels, 10 flats, and 5 pairs of flip flops (I think thats a CONSERVATIVE guesstimation). Yes, I’m a shoe hoarder but I’m also quite well versed in the shoe world.

Here at Practically Green, there is a wonderful action that allows you to add 30 points to your quiz score.

As a fanatic, I find it necessary to bust the myth that eco-friendly shoes MUST be ugly because not all environmentally conscious footwear has to be. Here’s the proof (don’t worry men, there is stuff in here for you too).

Shoes are resource intensive to produce. Most contain harmful glues and synthetic, petroleum-derived materials, ranging from polyurethane to PVC. These can all pollute the air during production.

When it comes to leather, tanning creates pollution as well as toxic waste. Tanneries can use harmful substances such as formaldehyde, hexavalent chromium, and cyanide-based dyes. And the animals the skins come from are rarely raised sustainably or humanely. Other skins may come from exotic and even endangered species.

Great dress shoe for men by Olsen Haus.

Olsen Haus 100% pure vegan kids shoes! So cute and so eco-friendly!

Every women should have a staple black pump in their closet. Goes with EVERYTHING and is 100% pure vegan by Olsen Haus.

At the end of their useful life, most footwear isn’t recycled or disposed of properly. Most wind up in landfills where they take years to decompose. This being said, how do you purchase ec0-friendly shoes? Practically Green has some great product tips on our shoe action that are user recommended and are thoroughly researched by our awesome team.

Women's Earthkeepers® by Timberland. Perfect shoe for the summer and this line is guaranteed to only use one bottle and a half of water to manufacture!

Men's Earthkeepers® by Timberland features trendy men's shoes as well. Every girl likes a guy in a nice pair of eco-friendly loafers!

What constitutes an eco-friendly shoe varies widely. Vegan and/or vegetarian shoes have lower eco-impact because they’re not made from leather. They tend to be made of biodegradable (canvas, hemp, and even organic cotton) and/or recycled materials (PVC, rubber). Though PVC is widely referred to in environmental circles as the poison plastic, reusing it keeps more out of landfills and less from being manufactured.

Natural latex shoes aren’t petroleum derived. They are made from rubber trees that are tapped—not cut down–to make the rubber. Pretty eco.

Wedges are in this season and Olsen Haus provides us with a 100% vegan free alternative to trendy funky shoes!

If you prefer leather, seek out shoes from manufacturers (touting) using eco-friendlier processes like vegetable tanning, which is slightly less toxic than (the alternative) conventional methods. These shoes generally can be recycled at the end of their life. Always ask questions when shopping.

I must admit, I think I’ve smashed the myth to pieces with this post. At the end of the day, there are so many brands that are vegan or eco-friendly, just make sure you do the right research to make sure they really do practice what they preach.

My goal: have half the shoes in my closet be eco-friendly, a hard but not impossible task.

Other featured eco-friendly shoes on PG are: New Balance newSKY Sneakers, Aigle Boots, and Birkenstock

Some recommendations by our followers on Twitter: Beyond Skin, Cri de Coeur, BoBo London, & Po-Zu.

JoJo - Pink faux suede made from recycled PET which is beautifully soft & durable.

Po-Zu. Vegetarian sneaker made with beeswax canvas and cork. Combines water-resistancy with exceptional cushioning.

Bobo London. Made from eco-friendly recycled Meflex.

Clio Ankle Strap Wedge. Eco-PU and patent vegan leather upper 4” Reclaimed Wood Wedge with 1” platform Cruelty free and hand crafted in Los Angeles

S  A  V  E      T  H  E      D  A  T  E  !!

Please Join Us

to chat about

All the small things we can all do

to make a big positive impact on the environment

Wednesday, April 25 from 9 to 10 pm EST

Follow @GreenisUni  @PracticallyGrn

Use hashtag #OneSmallAct

Special Guests TBA

Follow these NBC Universal celebs who offer eco tips in the app!

@joshuagates @nickofferman @BravoAndy @PadmaLakshmi @MyTrainerBob @MeaghanRath @MariaBartiromo @AnnCurry @AlecBaldwin @bwilliams @Bieberfeaver006 @Ali_Sweeney @anjelica_huston

and @jessicaalba

on the new

One Small Act mobile app

powered by Practically Green!

Get the OneSmallAct app on your mobile device: http://app.greenisuniversal.com

Moderator: Elise Jones of @Mommybites

BRING YOUR IDEAS AND YOUR TWEETS!

RSVP and questions: Nikita@practicallygreen.com

Special Guests (a list in progress!!):

@Earth911 @EcoWoolworth @PeopleTowels @KJWines @BirchBox

@Weleda @ecoetsy @EDFBiz @ENERGYSTAR @Goodebox @goodbyn

@EILEENFISHER @Bennuworld @gazelle_com @GreenAirProject

@MomsCAF @LisaBorden @MaryRockwell @TomsofMaine @Cuddledown

@erinschrode @TaigaCompany @TiffanysToyBox @LessCancer @ApplegateFarms

@EcoDentistry @Honest @sierra_magazine @ecokarenlee @TheSecrtLife

@Opower @hipcycle @BOSgreendrinks @coutureplanet @kleankanteen

@AlmostTruth @GreenSchoolsAll @CityScienceOrg @FlexJobs

@celebrategreen @latejulyorganics @georgiapower @tataharper

@paigewolf @Healthy_Child

Why This is Green

Trees and bushes are aesthetically pleasing, beneficial to the environment, and certain varieties even produce food. Depending on where you plant a tree or bush, you may even reap some home energy benefits. Trees and larger bushes can provide shade during the warmer months of the year and can reduce wind chills during cooler seasons.

Recommended by a PG user: Hydrangea Endless Summer from White Flower Farm

Trees and bushes also purify the air, taking in carbon dioxide. How much depends on the size and kind of tree. This improves air quality in the vicinity of the tree and reduces overall carbon in the atmosphere. It’s enough to make anyone want to be a treehugger!

The Newport, RI, Tree Society has a Specimen Tree Planting Program that other arboretums emulate... find out if there's one in your vicinity!

How To

To reap the benefits, plant a tree or a bush that will answer your specific needs. Do you want lemons or apples? Do you want a shade tree for your south-facing windows? Or are you just looking to beautify? Answering these questions will influence what kind of tree you buy and where you’ll plant it.

If you need help finding the perfect tree for your home, you can consult with a landscaper, or you can DIY research. The links below should help.

Recommended Products

• Seeds of Change
• The Sibley Guide to Trees
• GrowOrganic Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply
• White Flower Farm Endless Summer Hydrangea

• Bookmark This Site: Garden-Guys.com
• PracticallyGreen.com: Plant A Tree Or Bush On Memorial Day!
• EnergySavers.gov: Landscape Shading
• TreesAreGood.com: Tree Care Information
• TreePeople.org: How To Plant A Tree
• Tree-Planting.com: Planting A Tree, A Step-By-Step Guide

National Arbor Day takes place on April 27 this year... how about a cherry tree? These ones were a gift from the mayor of Tokyo to Washington in 1912! Check arborday.org

Our friends at Kendall-Jackson have been enjoying Practically Green, which is fabulous! We hope to be field-tripping to one or all 14 of their sustainably oriented wineries ASAP, and until then we watch their CEO on Undercover Boss and savor this California vista with a nice glass of KJ cabernet sauvignon:

Kendall Jackson's back yard

Robert Boller is the VP of Sustainability, and we thought you’d like this excerpt from his Earth Day blog post:

We’ve been learning a lot about water conservation and it’s paying off for the environment and our bottom line. We’ve got some tips on saving water and money from our friends at Practically Green. Their website lets you determine your environmental performance and figure out ways to increase your green score while using social media to make it fun.

Turn off the faucet while you brush your teeth
Difficulty: Anyone can do it!

A standard faucet can use about 2 to 3 gallons of water per minute. So, turn the water off until you need to rinse and save 20 to 30 gallons of water per person per week. For a family of four that’s over 6,000 gallons of water each year. That is considerable savings—both for water and your wallet. At least 36 states are expecting water shortages in the next five years. So even if you live in a place where it rains a lot, there might be a water shortage.

Install a low-flow faucet
Difficulty: A little D.I.Y.

Low-flow faucets work by mixing air with the water coming out of the faucet, reducing water use by almost 50% without compromising pressure. Having low-flow faucets can translate into big savings—thousands of gallons of water and dollars each year.

You may already have low-flow aerators installed. Check the tip of your faucets to see if there are flow rates imprinted on the sides. If you don’t see any numbers, peek inside to see if your faucets have threading. If yes, you’ll be able to easily install aerators. If no, you might want to replace the faucet or faucets entirely.

To install or replace an aerator, you need to know the size. Either bring your old one to a hardware store or look it up online on your faucet manufacturer’s website. For maximum water savings, you want aerators rated at 2.75 gallons per minute (GPM) or below. Installation can be done by hand or with pliers, plus some pipe tape. When in doubt, seek help from a professional plumber.

Upgrade to a dual-flush toilet

Difficulty: Might need a professional, but it’s worth it!

A family of four can consume 400 gallons of water per day, 30 percent of which is flushed down the toilet. By installing a dual-flush toilet, you can choose how much water is used per flush, depending on whether you’re disposing solid or liquid waste. Like a standard toilet, a solid flush uses 1.6 gallons; but a liquid flush only uses 0.8 gallons, so the majority of flushes use 50% less water.

DIY dual-flush adapter kits are great for upgrading an existing toilet, instead of purchasing a new one, but make sure it’s compatible with your existing toilet. Different brands will have different installation instructions, but all involve adding the kit to the inside of your tank.

Consult a plumber for help selecting and installing a new dual-flush toilet and make sure you choose one that works with your existing toilet plumbing and space.

About Robert: Raised in a suburb of New York City, Robert’s family embraced the European tradition of introducing wine with water at an early age. He went to school in London and at Syracuse University where he ran a liquor store and passed the time by reading the store’s wine books. In 1989 he was a commercial photographer in NYC when he came to California on vacation — he was hooked. He got into the wine business and has spent the last 20 years in a broad spectrum of positions split evenly between operations, marketing and sales. The last eight years at Kendall-Jackson include roles as vice president of marketing, production and now sustainability.

Find out more about Kendall-Jackson’s Sustainability initiatives, subscribe to their blog, follow them on Twitter @kjwines, and check them out on Facebook!