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Green dishwashing detergents put to the test

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — Phosphates help everyday cleaners get the dirt out, but when they reach fresh water, they can be harmful to fish and plant life. More than a dozen new laws sharply limit phosphorus in dishwashing detergents. Consumer Reports and 7 On Your Side are now testing the greener cleaners and Michael Finney says they see big improvements:

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Better World Books touring with music festival this summer

Better World Books, an online bookseller founded by three Notre Dame students in 2002, is that rare enterprise: a business with a triple-bottom-line structure, committed to not only profits but social and environmental awareness. The company was recently selected to participate in the Lilith Fair, a 36-city music festival featuring the work of female artists like Cat Power and Sheryl Crow. Along with several other socially-conscious groups, Better World Books will feature booths on the concert grounds.

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Silk skirts from vintage saris unite women from all walks of life

Who’d have thought that silk skirts could change lives? Marianne Tyrrell suspected they could. A life coach and former delegate to the UN World Summit on Sustainable Development, she’s always known that when women feel visually transformed they often feel mentally changed. Add to that the knowledge that, by looking and feeling good, they are creating jobs for other women across the globe.  Then add that they’re helping the environment — and saving gorgeous vintage silks from certain doom.

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Consumer Reports picks best water filters to replace bottled water

There’s good news for consumers when it comes to clean drinking water.  Consumer Reports says water filter manufacturers are producing products that effectively remove impurities, not just improve taste and appearance. Filters costing as little as $30 can provide cleaner, better-tasting water, according to the consumer magazine’s latest water filter tests. Consumer Reports tested 38 carafe, faucet, countertop, reverse osmosis, and undersink water filters. The results appear in the May issue and online.

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Target placing recycling stations in all stores

Target has launched permanent community recycling stations in all 1,740 stores to kick-off a month-long celebration of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. The celebration also includes the launch of an online eco-boutique where guests can find eco-friendly products and learn more about the company’s commitment to the environment, a month-long sweepstakes and a reusable bag giveaway.

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Lincoln introduces MKZ sedan as its first hybrid

From Green Right Now Reports

Ford Motor Company’s Lincoln division today introduced its first hybrid, the 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, a premium midsize car that the company says will be the most fuel-efficient luxury sedan in America.

The car was debuted today at the New York International Auto Show. Lincoln said its hybrid is expected to deliver at least 41 miles per gallon in the city when it goes on sale this fall. That would top its nearest competitor, the 2010 Lexus HS 250h, by 6 mpg.

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eBay opens green shopping hub

From Green Right Now Reports

eBay, that giant online garage sale, announced today that it will offer a new green shopping hub.

The hub will help shoppers identify products that are green by virtue of being vintage or used; made of sustainable materials or designed to save energy.

The new shopping hub was formed as a response to eBay’s “Green Team” shoppers who’ve taken a pledge to be green. This online community, which eBay says is about 150,000 strong, has “committed to making greener lifestyle choices.”

Concurrently, eBay is partnering with Team Earth, a coalition of NGOs and private sector companies, to protect rainforests. For the first 250,000 people who pledge to reuse on eBay through its “Green Team Challenge” the company will protect an acre of rainforest in their name.

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Green stores spring forth, from New Jersey to California

By Barbara Kessler

Everyone knows you can’t shop your way to green. A true greenie is always looking for ways to reduce and reuse. That line of thinking generally doesn’t propel you to the mall, at least not often.

But (you knew there was a but…) eco-conscious consumers still have needs. Their motivations are just different. They look to buy lower impact, organic products from like-minded companies and retailers. They want fairly produced goods to create a less-toxic home environment, with healthful food, that supports sustainable practices.

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Green Goods: Desert Essence Organics debuts new hand washes

By Barbara Kessler

The last time I picked up some “natural” hand soap, I got burned. It turned out to be natural in only the most nominal way. It had a couple of herbal ingredients, but these were far outnumbered by a fleet of synthetic preservatives and unpronounceable components that included parabens.

Solutions have been coming. Many health conscious cosmetic companies are offering new, non-toxic hand soaps (see this list at Skin Deep) for those of us getting away from discredited antibacterial formulas and other unnecessary additives.

Desert Essence is among the latest to step up with a purer line of hand washes. The company’s new Organics hand washes that are moisturizing and free of parabens, sodium lauryl/laureth sulfates, phthalates, artificial fragrances or colors, silicones, EDTA, glycol or petroleum based ingredients.

The new hand washes come in four varieties: Grapefruit, Lavender, Coconut and Vanilla Chai. Each is affiliated with an outcome, with Lavender being calming and Grapefruit energizing, and so on.

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LG monitor first to earn new UL Environment certification

From Green Right Now Reports

An LG monitor will be the first to carry the new UL Environment Sustainable Product Certification mark, a green leaf encircling the familiar “UL” initials.

UL Environment, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Underwriters Laboratories, announced today that LG Electronics is the first company to earn UL Environment’s Sustainable Product Certification for high tech equipment. LG’s new 23-inch class E2350VLED LCD computer monitor, which will be introduced later this week at the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, is the first product to complete UL Environment’s independent, third-party certification for meeting the IEEE 1680 environmental performance benchmark for consumer electronics.

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