DeFeet Aireator Socks

DeFeet Aireator socks are made in the USA using fibers from recycled plastic bottles

Made in North Carolina, DeFeet's Aireator socks are eco-friendly, comfortable and cool (both from a thermal and aesthetic standpoint). Almost 40% of the fibers in the socks apparently come from recycled plastic bottles.

Where to Buy:

You can find many styles of Aireator socks on DeFeet's website for $10 per pair.

Preserve Toothbrush with Mail Back Pack

Preserve toothbrush in Mail Back Pack

Creating a toothbrush with a handle made from recycled yogurt cups? Fantastic. Preserve has been doing that for years.

Designing Mail Back packaging for that toothbrush that doubles as a postage-paid return envelope so that the used toothbrush can be sent back to Preserve for recycling? Magnifico!


How to Buy: $2.99 for a single brush via Preserve's own website or $13 for a year's worth of toothbrushes delivered automatically (one every three months).


Disclaimer: Nothing to disclaim.

Heartland Harvest Garden + Neighborhood Fruit

Bee on chives by hddod

If you find yourself in or near Kansas City, make sure to visit the Powell Gardens in Kingsville, Missouri. Not only do the gardens offer beautiful landscaping and architecture, they also contain the marvelous 12-acre Heartland Harvest Garden consisting entirely of edible plants. It doesn't get much more eco-friendly than growing your own food, especially if you grow the food organically as Powell is attempting to do. You'll be sure to discover or rediscover beautiful and delicious plants to grow in your garden, balcony or other outdoor space. (Did you realize, for instance, that chives get beautiful - and edible - purple flowers?)

I was excited to recently discover a website called Neighborhood Fruit that helps you locate public fruit trees. Apparently some cities have recently started planting fruit trees so that their landscaping provides not just shade and beauty, but also food. Did you know that you can find public juneberry, mulberry, hawthorn and peach trees in New York City? (Yes, apparently hawthorn trees have edible berries.)

The site also tries to match people who have excess fruit on their private fruit trees with people who would like access to the fruit. The site does require registration, but it seems free to use. Make sure to read the FAQ to familiarize yourself with how it all works. Seems like a brilliant idea! (Not many private fruit tree owners seem to have registered their trees, however. The closest free neighborhood fruit I could find to Nashville, TN was in California!!)

If you'd like to grow your own edible shrubs, here's a great resource from Plants For a Future!

Welcome to the New 1GreenProduct.com! // PowerGenix Rechargeable NiZn Batteries

PowerGenix NiZn rechargeable batteries

Dear Readers,

Thank you for your patience while I tinkered under the hood of 1GreenProduct.com to produce what is hopefully a more beautiful and user-friendly experience.

To celebrate the relaunch of 1GreenProduct.com, I would like to introduce you to the PowerGenix NiZn (nickel zinc) rechargeable batteries.

Both rechargeable and recyclable, PowerGenix claims that its batteries will last longer than other rechargeable batteries, basically offering the same amount of power as traditional disposable alkaline batteries while reducing landfill waste.

PowerGenix has also produced a handy chart showing the relative benefits of its batteries over other rechargeable options. Basically PowerGenix claims its batteries are safer, more powerful and offer more power while recharging more quickly.

Where to Buy:

Amazon.com sells a 4-pack of the PowerGenix batteries with a 1-hour quick charger for $22.71.

Disclaimer - PowerGenix gave me a pack of batteries to review. Unfortunately, after receiving the batteries, I realized that I do not possess any suitable electronics that run off AA battery power, which is why this review does not include a hands-on testing component. Sorry about that. If I am able to test the batteries in the field at a later date, I will update this post to reflect my first-person experiences.

Scion Unveils 2011 iQ - Premium Micro-Subcompact

Generally 1GreenProduct.com only reviews products that are available for purchase already - preferably after we've been able to test the product first-hand.

But rules were made to be broken.

And that's why we'd like to contribute some advance buzz to the newly unveiled 2011 Scion iQ - projected to hit dealerships early next year. Just unveiled at the NY Auto Show, the iQ looks primed to add some serious style to micro-subcompact sector.

Just how small is the iQ. At 120 inches long, it's about one foot longer than the Smart fortwo, but a good two feet shorter than either the Yaris or the Mini Cooper.

In my experience, the Yaris and the Mini Cooper (especially the Cooper) were both fun to drive. The Smart fortwo, not so much. Does that mean that iQ will fall somewhere in the middle in terms of excitement and comfort, or will it blow its subcompact competitors out of the water?

Scion promises that through innovative technology (ultra-slim front seat backs!), you'll be able to fit three adults and a pet (presumably a small pet) into this car.

From an eco standpoint, Scion is gunning for an Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV-II) rating, plus combined mileage in the high 30s.

I'll be honest. I can't wait to test drive this thing. I love small cars for their maneuverability - and of course for the fact that they take up less room on the road and presumably require fewer raw materials in the manufacturing process. Plus the iQ just looks extraordinarily fun to drive. (Of course, the Smart looked fun to drive too and turned out to be painful, so looks can be deceiving...)

And let's hope that the tiny iQ doesn't come with an outsized price tag.

Stay tuned. The next few years should be pretty exciting when it comes to new Greener vehicles.