Big Green Purse

Environmental S.O.S. For Water-Soluble, Biodegradable Bottle Caps

OK, all you entrepreneurs, scientists, techno-twits, and geeks - let alone captains of industry who are looking for a way to make an honest-to-goodness difference. Take another look at these photos of baby birds that are dying because they're eating plastic bottle caps.

Yes, we need to phase out plastic bottles, and the sooner the better.

But in the meantime, can't all you wizards come up with a bottle cap that will protect its contents securely but once discarded, degrade in a very short period of time?

You've gotta be able to do it. Talk to the folks at Frito-Lay, who have figured out how to package their snack packs in plant-based, biodegradable bags. In fact, why don't we urge Frito's parent company, Pepsi, to take the lead?  Start here.

The Environmental Tragedy of Plastic

It's easy to overlook the environmental impact of plastic when it's so convenient to just throw it away. But as these photos by photographer Chris Johnson shows, there's no "away." A lot of what we think we've safely disposed of ends up in a huge, toxic "garbage patch" swirling millions of miles away in the Pacific Ocean. The plastic is mistaken for food by adult birds who unwittingly feed it to their babies -- and kill them.

We're spending way too much time debating "whether" we should rid our culture of plastics.

We should. 

Now.

NOTE: These photographs of albatross chicks were made just a few weeks ago on Midway Atoll, a tiny stretch of sand and coral near the middle of the North Pacific. Says Chris Johnson, "On this diet of human trash, every year tens of thousands of albatross chicks die on Midway from starvation, toxicity, and choking.

"To document this phenomenon as faithfully as possible, not a single piece of plastic in any of these photographs was moved, placed, manipulated, arranged, or altered in any way.

"These images depict the actual stomach contents of baby birds in one of the world's most remote marine sanctuaries, more than 2000 miles from the nearest continent."

Take a look at the rest of Chris' photos, then take stock of how much plastic you use. Do you see how many bottle caps are in the birds' stomachs? If you're still drinking water, soda and juice from plastic bottles, isn't it time, at the very least, to switch to reusable water bottles and drinks in cans? Get more suggestions to live life plastic-free at FakePlasticFish.

Organic Vodka & "Green" Gin

If wines and beers aren't your drinks of choice, check out eco-friendly companies like Altitude Spirits in Thornton, Colorado which produces its Vodka 14 (pictured left) using organic corn and rye, along with Rocky Mountain spring water.

Other options?

 Rain Organics Vodka

Square One Organic Vodka 

Sunshine Vodka 

Shadow Spirits Organic Vodka

Maison Jomere's Organic Vodka and Juniper Green London Dry Gin

LOFT Organic Liqueurs (first certified organic liqueur in the U.S.)

4Copas USA produces certified organic tequila made from pure agave. 

Have a favorite that we've missed? Let us know.

And if you need ideas for a perfectly organic -- if somewhat unusual -- concoction, don't miss Organic-Shaken-Stirred: Hip Highballs, Modern Martinis, and Other Totally Green Cocktails.

Sure, it's made from grapes. But does that make wine eco-friendly?

Not unless those grapes are grown organically; and if they're grown locally, even better (Ideal Bite claims that "a local wine always trumps an organic one if it's shipped from far away." In fact, they report that the average wine shipment adds over 3 million pounds of CO2 emissions into the air - that's like 994 round-trip flights from France to Napa!)  

Here's specifically what to look for when shopping for organic or eco-friendly wine:

"USDA-certified organic" means that the wine was produced without herbicides and pesticides and with no added sulfites, preservatives that help wine maintain its color and taste but that can cause serious allergic reactions and headaches in susceptible people. (Sulfites occur naturally, so no wine is sulfite free.)

"Made from organically grown grapes" means grapes were grown without pesticides or chemicals; some sulfites may have been added as a preservative. If you're allergic, read the label carefully.

"Sustainable" may indicate the vineyard practices pesticide-free viticulture, using sheep to suppress weeds and owls to kill rodents. However, "sustainable" is not as meaningful as "organic" unless it is backed up by independent third-party certification.

"Biodynamic" practices rely on viticulture techniques that build healthy soil and keep the vineyard in tune with the cycles of the sun, moon, and planets. When certified by the Demeter Association, it's safe to assume the vineyard met standards for biodynamic production.

Whether you're having a party or just want to enjoy wine with dinner, these organic brands are worth a taste:

Benziger (biodynamic-California; shown in picture above)

Ca'del Solo (biodynamic-California)

Cullen (organic-Western Australia)

Emiliana (organic-Chile)

Four Gates (organic, kosher-California)

Frey Vineyards (organic-California)

Frog's Leap (organic-California)

Grgich Hills (biodynamic-California)

Santa Julia (organic-Argentina)

Sobon Estate (organic-California)

Yarden Chardonnay (organic, kosher-Golan Heights)

But don't forget to look locally first. All 50 states produce wine.

Want more options? Visit  Trade Organic Wine.

Our guide to green party planning guide will help, too.

Enjoy!

Organic Beer Tastes Good!

If you've been waiting for organics to add some bounce to the beers you drink, wait no longer. Many micro-breweries and even some of the major beer bottlers have jumped on the environmental bandwagon, giving you lots of eco-friendly choices in pubs, restaurants, and local liquor stores (which is where I recently found an organic beer infused with organic, fair trade coffee -- I kid you not).

Organic beer is made the same way any beer is made, but under USDA standards at least 95 percent of its ingredients - usually barley and hops- must be grown without pesticides. Greenopia recently used a comprehensive set of criteria to rate the environmental impact of 15 of the largest breweries in the world. New Belgium Brewery, which sources its packaging locally and uses only organic ingredients, received the highest rating. Eel River was a close second, thanks not only to the organic ingredients they use in their beer but also the biogas they use to run their company.

Large breweries aside, local entrepreneurs are getting into this environmental act, too, bottling smaller batches of tasty, eco-focused lagers and ales. Next time you're sitting at the bar of the local brew pub, ask what they have on bottle or tap that Mother Nature herself would want to drink.

Will the organics trend continue? New Belgium's media relations director Bryan Simpson thinks so. "There is a greater appreciation among consumers for the way things are produced. Conscientious consumers care as much about how something is made-and by whom-as they are concerned with what is in the bottle, box or bag." 

Here are a few other organic beers to look for:

Butte Creek Brewing Co. (Chico, California)

Peak Organic Brewing Co. (Burlington, Massachusetts)

Stone Mill Pale Ale (pictured, from Anheuser-Busch via Crooked Creek Brewing Co.)

Wild Hop Lager (Anheuser-Busch via Green Valley Brewing Co.)

Wolaver's Organic Ale (Middlebury, Vermont)

Do me a favor: Do a taste test on these or others you find, then report back here. I'd love to know what's got the "yum" factor and what should be left on the shelf.

And for you DIY-ers out there, this kit shows you how to brew your own organically at home. Let me know how that goes if you give it a try.

Make Your Own "Green" Halloween Face Paint

Now that lead has been found in Halloween face paint, the search is on for safer ways to decorate dimples and illuminate eyes. One thing is clear: ONLY face paint of cosmetic grade should be used. Fortunately, many options exist:

Snazaroo’s 50 colors are water-based, made with materials that meet health and safety standards set both by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Union, and carry a ‘child safety" toy rating. Need sparkle, brushes, sponges or stencils so you don’t turn your princess into a pea pod? Snazaroo sells it all. 

Lyra Face Paint Pencils are non-toxic and dermatologically tested to maximize safety. Manufactured according to European Standards and certified by the Art and Craft Materials Institute, they come in a set of six easy-to-apply colors (white, yellow, red, blue, green and black).

Pink Quartz Minerals (featured in photo) is a vegan mineral makeup manufacturer that also offers non-toxic, mineral-based Halloween makeup in a wide variety of colors.

If you have any doubts about a product you’re considering, check the ingredients against the data base maintained by Environmental Working Group.

Of course, you can always buy organically-based, paraben- and phthalate-free cosmetics in your grocery or department store. You can even make your own. Here’s a recipe from...

Top Ten Reasons to Take Climate Change Seriously

Still on the fence about whether climate change matters to you? Here are ten reasons why it should:

1. Poison Ivy.  Poison ivy leaves have gotten bigger and their toxic oils more potent because the plants are thriving in hotter conditions. As climate change increases, it will be easier to get poison ivy and harder to get rid of the rash once it occurs.

2. Asthma. In a hotter environment, plants produce more pollen, which makes it more difficult for people with asthma and other respiratory problems to breathe. If you have trouble breathing now, catching your breath in the future could be a real challenge if the planet continues to warm. 

3. Malaria and Dengue Fever. These deadly illnesses, once restricted to the tropics, are creeping into northern latitudes as disease-bearing mosquitoes migrate north into increasingly warm regions. In this country, states like Florida and Texas are on alert.

4. Drought. As rain patterns change, many unexpected cities -- like Atlanta! -- find themselves running out of water. Climate change has jeopardized one of our most basic rights - being able to quench our thirst with a cool drink of H20. 

5. Starvation. People in less developed countries are starving as their agricultural systems shrivel up due to lack of rain. We feel the effects in this country, maybe not in starvation, but certainly in food shortages that result from extreme climate events.

6. Polar Bears. As arctic ice melts, polar bears are losing the habitat they need to reproduce. They're not the only species endangered by climate change. Here are more.

7. Hurricanes. Just two words: Hurricane Katrina. Need I say more?

8. Money. It is costing the global economy trillions of dollars to "fix" the problems caused by climate change. You'll feel the impact on higher taxes that need to be charged to cover these costs as well as in higher prices on the consumer goods you buy.

9. National Security.  A nation that faces drought, starvation, hurricane damage, food shortages, and a variety of human health problems is at risk for civil unrest and international instability. Don't like the idea of going to war? Support global efforts to control climate change.

10. Our Kids. Virtually every generation since the beginning of time has left the world better off for the generations that followed. Will we be able to same the same thing about our generation? Not if we leave behind a severely altered global climate that weakens the natural systems upon which all life depends.

Control Climate Change to Protect the Environment

If we have any hope of protecting the environment and ourselves, we must get climate change under control. The nations of the world are meeting in Copenhagen in December to try to hammer out international agreements to reduce the greenhouse gases that have caused the world's temperatures to soar, endangering the systems upon which all life depends.

But news reports are discouraging: already, headlines are announcing that major policy shifts are unlikely. We need commitments from every country, but especially the U.S., to reduce our dependence on the fossil fuels whose burning is warming the globe. The worldwide demonstrations tomorrow can show our "leaders" that it's time to follow the will of concerned citizens everywhere, and unite behind concrete plans not simply to slow climate change, but to stop it.

This morning, I received the following letter from Bill McKibben, the founder of tomorrow's International Day of Climate Action. I reprint it here in the hopes you'll participate.

Dear Friend,

Saturday's the day -- October 24, the International Day of Climate Action. So join the nearest 350 actionknowing you'll be part of something big.

Very big, in fact. This campaign has gone viral--there will be over four thousand events taking place simultaneously in over 175 nations. As far as we can tell, you'll be part of the single most widespread day of political action about any issue that our planet has ever seen...

There are too many incredible events to list in one place, but here are some of the highlights:

• In Cambodia, citizens from across the country will gather at the famous Angkor Wat to take a giant 350 action photo.
• In Hungary, hundreds of bathers will jump into the public baths in Budapest and do a 350 synchronized swimming performance.
• In the United States, 350 people will dance to Michael Jackson's Thriller in Seattle -- because if we don't stop global warming, we might as well be undead.

When you're out there marching or rallying, biking or kite-flying, singing or taking part in whatever is going on in your community, take a minute and try to imagine all the other people doing the same kind of things all around the world--every one taking the same basic scientific fact and driving it into the public consciousness.

350 is the most important number in the world--scientists have told us that it's the most carbon dioxide we can have in the atmosphere, and now we're making sure everyone knows...

Onwards,

Bill McKibben

It's Blog Action Day - So Get a Move On!

In honor of Blog Action Day, I'm getting off my duff and doing a few things to protect the environment and my family that I've been meaning to do for a while now: 

* I signed up to attend a climate change rally in Washington, D.C. on October 24, Climate Action Day. Want to do the same? Visit 350.org for details.

* I wrote a letter to Wal-Mart encouraging the company to involve consumers in the new initiative it's launched to establish sustainability standards for manufacturers and vendors it does business with. It matters, because as Wal-Mart goes, so goes the world. Learn more here - and get the link so you can write a letter yourself.

*  I donated to Alaska Wilderness League, a highly effective non-profit organization working to prevent oil drilling in America's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. They need your money. Can you donate, too?

* I'm tweeting all day about the need to act now to reduce climate change. If I'm not following you, let me know at www.twitter.com/dianemaceachern and www.twitter.com/biggreenpurse.

What are you doing to take action and make a difference? Let us know!

We Need Meaningful Standards to Protect the Planet -- and Us, too.

We've all seen the product claims that SOUND like they mean environmental protection. But do they?

* Products labeled "natural" may contain some biological ingredients, but they may also include synthetic dyes and fragrances.

* "Hypoallergenic" has no medical meaning. The word was invented by advertisers who used it in a cosmetics campaign in 1953.  Says the Food and Drug Administation, "There are no federal standards or definitions that govern the use of the term hypoallergenic. [It] means whatever a particular company wants it to mean."

* "Biodegradable" should mean that, when a product is exposed to air, moisture, bacteria, or other organisms, it will break down and return to its natural state within a reasonably short time. However, no government entity verifies the accuracy of a biodegradable claim; the term is often used simply to provide a marketing edge to a product that otherwise has no real environmental attributes.

* "Free range" implies that a meat or poultry product, including eggs, comes from an animal that was raised in the open air or was free to roam. But a vendor can give his livestock as little as five minutes of fresh air and still make the claim. Free range...or free rein to greenwash you, the concerned ecoshopper?

* "Fragrance-free" suggests a product has no natural perceptible smell; however, synthetic ingredients may have been added to mask odors -- and the dangerous phthalates that create them.

What's the point of this litany?

Currently, no government standards define specific "eco" terms like the ones above. Companies are free to use these words to gain a marketing advantage regardless of their accuracy. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) prohibits deceptive advertising and has issued guidelines encouraging manufacturers to substantiate environmental claims, but the agency rarely enforces its own rules.

This is a problem because consumers who want to protect themselves and the environment are increasingly reading product labels -- and walking away confused. Should they buy the "green" cleaner -- even though the label also says "Warning - Hazardous" because it actually contains toxic chemicals that can irritate the lungs or eyes?  Lipstick promises to make you beautiful. Should you use it, even though it  may contain lead? And what's with those "fuel efficient" hybrids that get less than 20 mpg?

How much easier these choices would be if products were required to meet meaningful standards set by independent third parties, a point Mary Hunt over at In Women We Trust has been arguing for years, and a point being made again this month by the members of the Green Moms Carnival, which Mary is also hosting.

You could avoid most greenwashing traps and label ambiguities if companies adopted comprehensive standards guaranteeing that their products were fully "sustainable" - that they protected public health and the environment throughout their entire commercial "life cycle." That includes the extraction of raw materials through their manufacture and use to final disposal or reuse in a new product.

Ideally, such standards would be set at the federal level. But if you've been watching the health care debate, you know how tough passing new regulations can be. That's why there's so much interest in Wal-Mart's recent jump into the sustainability arena. The retail giant is planning to develop a sustainability index against which it will judge the vendors that supply products to its stores.  Want to do business with Wal-Mart? You'll have to be able to vault over their bar.

How high that bar turns out to be remains to be seen.  Given Wal-Mart's role as the world's retail superpower, the higher we can convince them to set the bar, the better off we'll all be.

To that end -- and in honor of Blog Action Day -- now would be a good time to contact Wal-Mart and urge the company to set the most meaningful environmental standards possible.