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.

Blog Talk Radio - Vapur, Radley London, Anvil Eco, YogaFit, ECOS, Skoy, GlacialLight and Sylvania

Tune in Wednesday March 17th at 8 p.m. Central Time (9 p.m. Eastern, 6 p.m. Pacific) to the 1GreenProduct.com show on Blog Talk Radio for reviews of these eco-friendly products.

(If you're unable to listen to the show live, you can always download it later and listen to it at your convenience.)

Have questions or comments about other products we've reviewed in the past? Call in to the show (347-945-6594) and share your thoughts!

Vapur 16-ounce Reusable Water Bottle ($8.95 via Amazon)

YoGen Mobile Charger ($49.99 via YoGen website)

Radley London Umbrellas and Totes made from post-consumer PET plastic bottles and other recycled materials.  ($50 for umbrellas, $35 for totes). Note that only the Nostalgia and Beside the Seaside styles within the Umbrella collection are made using recycled materials.

Sylvania Ultra LED high performance series 8-watt bulb ($29.98 via Lowes.com)

Floodlight-style LED GlacialLight (GL-BR30, $44.95 via C. Crane Company)

ECOS Laundry Detergent ($46 for 4-pack of 100-ounce bottles via Amazon.com)

YogaFit jacket made from 70% bamboo ($25.99 via YogaFit website) Correct link and image posted on 3/24.

Skoy Cloth 100% biodegradable cleaning cloth ($5.99 for a 4-pack)

Anvil Knitwear Eco (available for direct purchase here) collection including AnvilRecycled T-shirt ($10) made from 69% recycled cotton...

....AnvilSustainable T-shirt ($12) made from recycled PET plastic bottles and transitional cotton (grown on farms that are striving to obtain organic certification)...

....AnvilSustainable fleece sweatshirts ($37) made from a blend of organic cotton and recycled plastic bottles...

...and AnvilOrganic T-shirts ($12) made from 100% certified organic cotton

To hear reviews of all these products, discuss any past reviews on 1GreenProduct.com or talk about whatever eco-friendly products you've got on your mind, remember to tune in Wednesday March 17th at 8 p.m. Central Time (9 p.m. Eastern, 6 p.m. Pacific) to the1GreenProduct.com show on Blog Talk Radio.

Disclaimer - All of the companies mentioned above sent me free samples of their products for testing purposes.

Update - Did you miss the live Blog Talk Radio broadcast? You can still hear the show at your convenience by clicking the button below...

Listen to Aaron Dalton

Revenge Is... Organic and Recycled T-Shirts

This woman appears to be calmly plotting her eco-revenge...

What do you get when you mix eco-friendly organic cotton with recycled PET fiber spun from plastic bottles?

Thanks to Revenge Is...®, you get some seriously soft and comfy t-shirts for men ($32), women ($32) and tots ($21).

Buy a blank shirt to keep your vengeful eco cred undercover, or go for a bold graphic design like my fave, the Earth Day t-shirt.

Usually I would resist spending more than $30 on a t-shirt, but I have to say that the quality and softness of these shirts - plus their eco-friendly materials of course - makes them appealing. I also respect the fact that they are made in the USA and seem built to survive numerous trips through the wash-dry cycle.

For more info on the eco-friendly shipping and manufacturing steps that Revenge Is... has taken for its shirts, check out this page.

With all due respect to George Herbert, English clergyman, who apparently originated the expression "Living well is the best revenge," I think we need to update that sentiment to 21st Century standards and note that living Green may be an even better revenge.

Where to buy:

Get your revenge online via the Revenge Is... website.

Disclosure - Revenge Is... gave me a t-shirt to review.

Ivee Bamboo Clothing

Sydney Bamboo Terry Pants in Grey available at IveeStyle.com

Why do I like bamboo?

According to multiple sources (1,2,3), bamboo is -

• Ultrarenewable, one of the fastest-growing plants in the world
• Good at preventing soil erosion
• Easily dyed, with minimal water requirements
• Very hardy, able to survive both drought and flood conditions
• Able to grow with little water
• 100% biodegradable
• Naturally antibacterial

But while much bamboo clothing may be eco-friendly, it's not automatically stylish.

Fortunately, Ivee clothing has used those soft, comfy, body-flattering bamboo threads in its hip, sexy yoga designs to create some mighty appealing pants, tunics, tees and hoodies.

One word of advice for shoppers - these clothes really do hug your curves!

My wife didn't mind the snugness on her pair of Sydney Bamboo Pants ($110). In fact, she found them so comfortable that they moved into regular rotation as one of her favorite pants to wear for lounging around the house. She reported that quality was top-notch and the pants made it through a couple of washes in our industrial-strength apartment building washers and dryers looking good as new.

Kayla bamboo/cotton/spandex tunic available at IveeStyle.com

Meanwhile, I didn't get a chance to check out the Kayla Tunic ($110) or Trinity Terry Hoodie ($112) in person, but the photos look like they'll give anyone some sweet Matrix / Blade Runner ultramodern style.

Our only qualms - The price tags might make it hard to build an entire Ivee wardrobe. I understand that high-priced items sometimes seem intrinsically more desirable, but couldn't Ivee have made its separates a little more affordable, particularly given the fact that they're made in China (a country not exactly known for its exorbitant labor costs).

Where to Buy:

You can order items from Ivee's bamboo clothing line directly through the IveeStyle.com website.

Offline, you can find Ivee clothes at selected retailers including the Sports Club LA (Boston, NYC, San Francisco), Salon Magrit (Palm Beach, FL), O2 Aspen, Dailey Method (West Coast) and Pacific Athletic Club (San Francisco and San Diego).

Disclosure - Ivee gave me a pair of pants to review.

New Balance 070 Eco-Preferred Sneakers

070 Eco-Preferred Sneakers from New Balance (photo via New Balance website)

I'm not a huge sneaker-wearer, but I dig the New Balance 070 Eco-Preferred shoes.

Maybe it's because "070" is a numerical anagram for "007"...

Or maybe because 070 is one of the eco-friendliest sneaker options this side of Proxima Centauri.

The laces, webbing, rand, quarter, tongue and saddle apparently incorporate recycled polyester.

Meanwhile, New Balance says it has reduced the amount of solvents used in other synthetic parts of the shoe.

New Balance even used rice husks as a filler to reduce the amount of rubber in the outsole of the 070 Eco-Preferred shoes. You have to admire New Balance its smart use of a material that would otherwise be considered a waste byproduct of rice cultivation. And in a sort of karmic bonus, an article on Sierra Trading Post's blog suggests that rice husks may actually give a shoe better grip and traction on wet surfaces.

Water-based adhesives are used to join the upper and the sole unit, and New Balance says no paper stuffing or paper wrapping are used in packaging the 070. I can vouch for the fact that the pair of 070 shoes New Balance sent me for testing and inspection had no paper wrapping, though they did contain some sort of cardboard-like insert (presumably recycled and certainly recyclable) to keep the shoe from getting totally squashed or deformed in transit. The outer shoebox naturally is also recycled and recyclable.

070 Eco-Preferred shoes from New Balance (photo via New Balance website)

So the 070 shoes are Green, but are they comfy?

In two words - You betcha.

The uppers are incredibly light and breathable, while the sole is still solid, supportive and grippy.

I can see why other eco-bloggers (Brian Clark Howard at The Daily Green, Shea Gunther at Mother Nature Network) have also praised the 070 shoes.

Note that these 070 shoes should under no circumstances be confused with That 70's Show, since one is a pair of eco-friendly sneakers and the other is a sitcom starring Twitterer Ashton Kutcher.

I'd call the New Balance 070's design 'funky', but New Balance terms it 'efficient' - saying all the parts are designed to fit together like a puzzle and minimize waste.

The only piece of this puzzle that I'm missing -- How come the 070 shoes are made in China but still carry an $80 price tag? I don't mind paying $80 for a pair of sneakers - especially eco-friendly ones - but I'd really rather not pay $80 if I suspect the worker in question is getting paid a pittance.

But seriously, I know that Boston-based New Balance makes some of its styles in the USA. In fact, it's probably the only major athletic shoe manufacturer that hasn't totally abandoned its US factories. So if US workers are good enough to make ordinary sneakers, why not give them a chance to make eco-friendly sneakers?

Where to Buy:

Purchase online from New Balance - $79.99 for both men's and women's 070 shoes.

FYI, New Balance offers both free shipping (on orders over $50) and free returns through its Web Express online store.

Alternatively, purchase offline through a local New Balance retailer.

cmarchuska eco-friendly fashion

Women's mseries t-shirt from cmarchuska 

Sometimes the simplest things are the best.

I like how Christine Marchuska put a little twist on basic styles with her eco-friendly cmarchuska clothing line to make them a little quirky and interesting, but still versatile and wearable.

For example, the cmarchuska mseries t-shirts have little epaulettes on the shoulder to set them apart from the zillions of other t-shirts out there.  The slim styling on the shirt is comfortable, but very fitted and flattering.

In terms of material, the short-sleeve mseries t-shirts use a 50/50 mix of organic cotton and modal, both of which are considered excellent eco-friendly fabric choices. The long-sleeve women's mseries shirt is made from 100% organic cotton.

Organic cotton is always great, but I have to admit I like the organic cotton/modal blend. The shirt came through my apartment building's industrial washer/dryer circle looking like new. Plus, there's something about the smoothness and softness of modal that makes it feel a bit different and special --just like those spiffy epaulettes. ;-)

FYI, much of the cmarchuska line is made right in New York City's Garment District, but the mseries t-shirts are made in China.

Where to Buy:

You can buy mseries t-shirts ($30-60) and other cmarchuska fashions direct through the designer's website. Some of the t-shirts are plain, while others carry the words "Vivons Vert" - French for "Let's live green!"

prAna Clothing

We have to give major props to prAna for doing a fantastic job of making practically its entire line of women's clothing eco-friendly.

You've got the Women's Chakara collection made from Chakara(TM) fabric, a brand new type of recycled polyester fabric that prAna claims involves less than a quarter of the CO2 production of other processing methods. Chakara fabrics also contain a dollop of Spandex, allowing the clothes to keep their shape for a long time.

Thanks to the Women's Organic collection, ladies can choose from an array of versatile tops and pants (including denim capri, $70), many with 98% - 100% organic cotton content.

The Women's Mahdia collection also uses organic cotton, this time tie-dyed using an eco-sensitive hands-on process with low-impact dyes and steam-set colors (minimizing water usage). The intricate patterns and the 90% organic cotton content make this collection a winner.

prAna may have focused most of its eco-attention on Greening its womenswear collection, but men aren't left completely out of the picture. Check out the casual, breezy and flexible Men's Sutra pant ($64) made mostly from a light but sturdy combination of hemp and recycled PET.

Where to buy:

Order directly through prAna's website (ladies tops from around $28, pants from around $65) or via other etailers like Amazon.com.

Prefer to try on before you buy? prAna's Dealer Locator page can help you find stores worldwide that carry prAna products.

Ex Officio Clothing

Long known for making durable, lightweight and practical travel clothing, ExOfficio now offers a wide variety of eco-friendly options for Men and Women.

In particular, ExOfficio seems enamored with the benefits of using soy fibers in its clothing.

That's right, soy isn't just good for you when consumed as tofu or edamame, it's also good for the planet when spun into apparel. Durable, super-soft and machine-washable, soy can sometimes take the place of wool garments that would require chemical-intensive dry cleaning or tedious hand-washing.

The process of making soy clothing uses the leftover products from tofu production, so it's really a waste reduction effort. And apparently the chemicals used in turning soy plants into clothing fibers can be reused again and again.

ExOfficio has numerous lines of soy-based clothing. Take this cute cap-sleeve women's Soytopia shirt ($40) that uses a blend of 56% organic cotton, 37% soy and a smidgen of spandex.

A bit less soy (15%) works its way into the Dualformance line of long-sleeve tee shirts for both men and women ($37.91).

In addition to soy, ExOfficio is also incorporating a significant amount of recycled polyester into its clothing. Both men and women can enjoy the snug comfort of the Migrator line that uses 64% recycled polyester ($52.91).

What sets ExOfficio apart from other eco-friendly clothing lines? Price seem moderate, quality seems quite good and we like the little touches that show thoughtfulness. For example, the Men's Migrator 1/4-zip shirt has a handy little zippered pocket on the sleeve, a small piece of fabric to protect the throat when the chest zipper is pulled all the way up, and thumb loops at the cuffs to prevent the sleeves from bunching up when you pull on a jacket.

We also like the cute floral hood liner on the women's Migrator hoody.

On the other hand, we do wish that some ExOfficio's eco-friendly pieces were made closer to home (less transport-related pollution), rather in Vietnam or China.

We also have mixed feelings about some of the treatments that ExOfficio gives even their eco-friendly clothing. For example, our Migrator tops came with notes that the fabric had been treated with AEGIS Microbe Shield (R), an EPA registered antimicrobial technology. On the one hand, if AEGIS does its job of protecting against "odor, staining and deterioration caused by bacteria, fungus and other microorganisms", that could mean that you'll need to wash and even replace the shirt less frequently, which is good for the environment.

On the other hand, we tend to frown on clothes that have been chemically treated.

Back to the first hand, the Microbe Shield website does a convincing job of explaining that the antimicrobial treatment does not contain heavy metals, will not be absorbed by humans or other animals and uses a violent-sounding physical method (stabbing/electrocution) to rupture and destroy microorganisms. AEGIS also asserts that studies have not shown any adaptation by microorganisms to Microbe Shield, indicating that the use of the product will not lead to the development of superbacteria.

Where to buy:

You can order both men's and women's eco-friendly ExOfficio clothing directly through the company's website.

Alternatively, you can find a couple hundred items of ExOfficio clothing online via Amazon.com.

If you live in Seattle or fly through JFK airport, you can stop into a physical brick-and-mortar ExOfficio store.

Otherwise, click on the Dealer Locator link on the left side of the About Us page and enter your address to find a retailer near you that carries ExOfficio products.

Tidbits - Hilton Arc de Triomphe, Scandle, Earth Essentials Room Mists, Vespa S-50, Vectrix VX-1, Zipcar, Pizza Fusion, Preserve Gimme 5 and More!

Here are some eco-friendly product and destination Tidbits that caught our eye this month:

• Ah springtime in Paris! If you're visiting the City of Light, why not opt for an eco-friendly hotel. We've heard that the Hilton Arc de Triomphe is a leading participant in Hilton's We Care European Environmental Programme that emphasizes water efficiency, energy efficiency and waste reduction. The hotel may be functionally sensible, but it's also quite stylish. When we stayed at the Hilton Arc de Triomphe last September, we found that the hotel has a slinky, jazzy Art Deco feeling reminiscent of a 1930s ocean liner. If you're a member of Hilton's HHonor program (or if you've got the dough), try to swing an upgrade to the executive level where you'll have access to a super tasty morning-to-night buffet in the top-floor lounge. Kudos to the hotel for providing some relaxing green space via its lush, tropical and beautifully landscaped Andalusian courtyard.

• Looking for clothing that's comfortable, stylish, classy and organic? Sounds like a tall order, but actually Stonewear Designs has you covered on all counts with its Spring 2009 collection. A member of the Organic Exchange (a nonprofit working to promote organic agriculture), Stonewear Designs offers a range of comfy and flattering tops and pants perfect for yoga, jogging or just lounging around the house. The Stonewear website doesn't have a separate section for organic clothes, but if you browse the site, you'll notice that several stylish items including the Twister Top and Echo Sleeveless Top contain 90% organic cotton content.

• Like candles? Like body oil? Get the best of both worlds with The Scandle(R) Body Candle. As the candle melts, it produces a warm massage oil. It sounds a little painful, but actually feels quite relaxing. Scandle says all its candles are made with 100% natural ingredients like soy butter, shea butter, jojoba, vitmin E and essential oils. The 10-ounce candle ($24.95-$25.95 MSRP) comes packaged in a re-usable ceramic container. You can then purchase additional candles on their own at www.abodycandle.com and insert them into the container. The travel size 4-ounce candle ($12.95 MSRP) comes in a metal tin made from recycled materials. FYI, Scandle says its petroleum-free candles use a 100% cotton wick. Purchase Scandle online or search for a store near you.

• It's nice to see eco-friendly products make their way further into mainstream stores. The most recent evidence of this trend: CVS has begun selling its own brand of Earth Essentials(TM) Aromatic Room Mists. Packaged in recyclable 7-ounce aluminum cans, the room mist uses a non-aerosol spray to disperse essential oils. The mist itself is apparently non-toxic, fully biodegradable and has not been tested on animals. The mists are available in CVS stores nationwide and at CVS.com for $3.99. Interestingly, I've been reading lately how essential oils have excellent antimicrobial properties, which suggests that using essential oils to freshen the air could kill nasty bacteria and viruses at the same time... (Here's another related story on the potent power of peppermint essential oil from Discovery.com...)

• Did you shiver through last winter? Or are you looking for a way to lower your cooling bill this winter? Maybe more home insulation could save you money and make your home more eco-friendly by cutting down on the energy required to heat and cool your house. Johns Manville claims to be ahead of the curve in completely removing formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, from its fiberglass attic insulation. Johns Manville also says that it uses the highest percentage of post-consumer recycled glass (20% percent) among all fiberglass insulation makers. Click on the Where to Buy link on Johns Manville's homeowner website to find a contractor near you who carries Johns Manville insulation.

• Alternative eco-friendly and chic transportation option #1 - The Vespa S-50 (MSRP $3,199). Introduced late last year, this scooter offers classic Italian styling, top speed of 39 mph and sips gasoline at 85-90 mpg. Available now at a Vespa Dealer near you.

• Alternative eco-friendly and chic transportation option #2 - The 100% electric 2009 Vectrix VX-1 (MSRP $10,495). An update of the first Vectrix scooter introduced in late 2007, the 2009 VX-1 is highway-legal with a top speed of 62 mph and an approximate range of 35-55 miles. Since Vectrix scooters burn no gasoline, they're much better for the environment than vehicles with internal combustion engines. If the price seems a little steep, look out for the VX-2 (30 mph top speed, 40-50 mile range, MSRP $5,195) scheduled to arrive in Vectrix dealerships by this coming June.

• Alternative eco-friendly transportation option #3 - Scooters aren't ideal for carrying huge loads (although they can manage in a pinch, apparently).
  If you only need a car occasionally, why endure the enviromental waste and expense of owning your own vehicle when you can share a fleet of cars with a bunch of other folks in the same situation. That's the premise behind various car-sharing services including Zipcar, U Car Share, Mint (NYC only) and Connect by Hertz. Save money on parking, gasoline (generally included in the car-sharing hourly rates), insurance, maintenance and more while still having access to a car when you need it most.

• Pizza Fusion is a chain of pizza restaurants with locations in 13 states using organic ingredients in its pizzas, delivering pizzas in hybrid vehicles, offsetting 100% of its energy use with renewable energy certificates, serving food in containers made from corn starch, providing utensils made from potatoes and generally adhering to a lengthy and extremely impressive list of environmentally-friendly practices. How about the taste? It generally gets good reviews on sites like Yelp, particularly from folks who like the vegan and gluten-free options.

• Looking for a way to recycle #5 polypropylene plastic (used in many containers for yogurt, cottage cheese and other dairy products)? Many municipal recycling programs do not accept #5 plastics. That's why Preserve, Organic Valley and Stonyfield Farm have teamed up with Whole Foods to let customers drop off #5 plastics in "Gimme 5" bins at a growing list of Whole Foods stores. Preserve then recycles the plastics into a wide array of kitchen and bath products -- some of which we have previously reviewed here on 1GreenProduct.com.

• There are lots of hip (and often expensive) organic cotton shirts out there, but sometimes you just want a basic long-sleeve organic cotton t-shirt. For those occasions, Macys delivers in spades with its Field Gear Organic Long Sleeve Tee (MSRP $39.50, but we've seen the sale price fluctuate between $9.99 and $14.99). Given the sale price, we found the shirt is surprisingly comfy and well made. The cotton had a substantial, almost sueded feel and even a couple of grommets under the arms for ventilation.

• Men looking for white organic cotton underwear have an option with the Calvin Klein Naturals collection available in boxer brief, trunk and classic brief styles. (Note - The underwear is technically available in black and willow colors too, but when we tried ordering some black briefs from Amazon.com, we received the white underwear by mistake. When we returned the product and tried again, we got the white underwear the second time too. That's why we think you can have any color you want, as long as it's white.)

• Not satisfied with the expert eco-friendly reviews here at 1GreenProduct.com? You can get loads of reviews from consumers like yourself at Buzzillions.com, a site where verified purchasers write reviews about products they've bought. Buzzillions has lots of non eco-friendly products, of course, but they've also got sections on Energy Star products, products made with recycled materials (more than 300 reviews on the Keen Ventura Canvas shoe!) and organic products. Don't be surprised if a given product, like that popular Keen shoe mentioned above, shows up in more than one category. FYI, Buzzillions said they would monitor this blog and would be happy to get comments/feedback on how 1GreenProduct.com readers like their site. This is your soapbox! Feel free to speak out.

• Should every business strive to be a Green business? In the sense that being Green means reducing waste and figuring out how to improve efficiency, the answer is probably Yes. If you're a small business owner looking for some practical ideas on making your business more eco-friendly in the hopes of saving some money, improving customer loyalty, boosting employee motivation and having a lighter impact on the planet, you might glean some useful information from Daniel Sitarz's new book, Greening Your Business. (FYI, publisher EarthPress says it prints on 100% recycled post-consumer waste paper using soy-based inks and offsets its carbon emissions with the purchase of wind-energy credits used to subsidize the construction of wind turbines on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation in South Dakota.)

My Earth Too! Pajamas

We spend a significant portion of our lives in bed.

(Some of us wish we could actually hibernate and spend months in bed, but that's another story...)

But even the sleep deprived among us spend a good chunk of each day between the sheets.

Hopefully those sheets are made from something eco-friendly like these JC Penney organic cotton sheets that we reviewed last year.

But even if your sheets are made from organic cotton, you don't really want to sleep in cotton pajamas made from crops that were treated with synthetic pesticides, herbicides and fungicides, do you?

We certainly don't. That's why we were so happy to find these cute 100% organic cotton sleepshirts and pajamas from My Earth Too! (on sale now for just $13-16 each). Since organic fashion is often priced for the affluent, we really appreciate the fact that My Earth Too! has made organic sleepwear that can fit within almost anyone's budget.

Apparently, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of all My Earth Too! sleepwear gets donated to the Chuckie Goodnight Foundation For The Environment, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing environmental education for children and preserving green space.

Unfortunately, these organic PJs are currently available only in women's sizes and styles.

Men want organic sleepwear options too! We're hoping that My Earth Too! expands their offerings or that some other fashion companies will step into the breach so that we can drift off to the Land of Nod in organic comfort.

Where to buy:

You can find My Earth Too! sleepwear through Kohls.com and offline at select Kohl's locations in the West and Northeast.

Envirosax and Rebagz Review

For those of you who already have a reusable shopping bag, you know one of the biggest challenges is remembering to take it with you to the store.

(Another challenge is washing the bag after you use it to carry home fish from the seafood counter...)

That's one reason we like the bag selection from Envirosax. Available in a mind-boggling selection of styles and colors, the bags in Envirosax Graphics Series weigh just 1.4 ounces each and are designed to carry to 44 lbs. (That's a lot of tomatoes - or whatever other groceries you need to carry home...).

As you might expect from a bag that's so light, the Envirosax bags can also be folded into an extremely small bundle and then secured with the integrated snap strap (sort of like the closure mechanism on a portable umbrella). Since they're made out of polyester, the Envirosax Graphics bags are waterproof with reinforced seams for durability.

We have to admit that the idea of buying polyester bags does give us pause since polyester is basically a petroleum-based plastic, but an Envirosax rep that we spoke with gave us a persuasive explanation of polyester's benefits - light, waterproof, compressable, durable, etc.

The point is that Envirosax Graphics bags should ideally last for years and allow you to skip hundreds or maybe thousands of disposable plastic bags, thus abrogating the need for the petroleum products that would have made those disposable bags and keeping the disposable bags out of the wastestream. Durability and longevity should be important considerations in the mind of any Green shopper trying to move beyond disposable consumer culture.

If you'd rather buy a bag made out of natural materials, Envirosax can accommodate you with its Organic Series of bags made from bamboo, linen or hemp.

(By the way, did you know that linen came from the stem of the flax plant? I had no idea.)

Be warned that the Organic Series bags are not quite as compressable, but they do come with a handy little carry sac. They also weigh a tiny bit more (2.14 ounces) and are designed to carry only 22 lbs.

Which bag is best for you? The Graphics bags are so tiny and light that they can be slipped into a pocket or purse as part of an everyday routine. I have a feeling that the waterproof quality and durability of the Graphics bags also gives them an advantage.

On the other hand, the biodegradability and natural cultivation of the bamboo Organics bags makes them appealing too. Well, whichever one you choose, you'll know that you're making an eco-friendlier choice than using and disposing of dozens or hundreds of throwaway plastic bags.

FYI, Australia-based Envirosax supports several charities, including the Surfrider Foundation that seeks to protect oceans and beaches.

* * * *

Meanwhile, on the fashion front, we're pleased to highlight a beautiful series of Rebagz totes produced by a progressive company called Half the Sky Designs (R).

Rebagz makes handbags, totes, messenger bags and more in the Philippines from two types of recycled materials - woven juice packs (like the Nahui Ollin products we featured last year) and rice sacks.

The juice packs are cool, but since we'd seen that before, we were honestly most excited about the use of rice sacks. We love companies that figure out a way to take something that would ordinarily become trash and turn it into treasure.

Back on the question of durability, the rice sacks material seems incredibly tough -- after all, these rice sacks once had to safely hold 50-100 lbs worth of rice! You don't have to worry about spilling something on these bags either because you can just clean them with a damp sponge.

Build quality on the Rebagz Magnolia Clinchy Tote ($95) we sampled seems excellent, with super sturdy handles, solid stitching, smooth zippers and several nice pockets on the inside. We have every confidence that this bag would last one heck of a long time. Plus, the beautiful image on the outside is a surefire conversation starter.

The designs on the bags are so beautiful that we had a hard time choosing our favorite among the Magnolia, the Lion, Golden Fortune or the limited edition Stallion.

Just as beautiful is the fact that Half the Sky Designs says it is "committed to working only with people who are paid and treated fairly." Founder M

arty Stevens-Heebner personally visits the company's manufacturing facilities in the Philippines, where the company asserts that workers are paid "a really decent wage".

Where to buy:

Order the Envirosax of your choice from the company's website. Choose from bags in the Graphics Series ($8.50 each or a 5-pack for $37.95) or Organic Series ($24.95 each). Activate eco-thinking in young whippersnappers with the suitably silly (but still light and sturdy) Kids Series ($8.50).

You can order Rebagz directly through the company's own online store. You'll find bags made from artistic rice sacks in various categories including laptop carriers ($145), wallets ($45), runaway backpack ($75), messenger bags ($72) and cinchy totes ($95).

Prefer to try before you buy? Use the Store Locator to find a Rebagz retailer near you in the U.S., Canada, Costa Rica or Panama.

Embrace Only Love

Actions based in love result in love.

That's the heartwarming message behind the new Embrace Only Love eco-friendly clothing line.

Embrace Only Love makes its graphic t-shirts and hoodies out of materials such as hemp, bamboo and organic cotton -- and does a nice job explaining the eco-benefits of each type of fabric.

Founder Kheng Chow got the idea to start Embrace Only Love after completing a ten-day silent meditation course, so it's no surprise she's decided to donate 7% of all profits toward helping others attend free Vipassana meditation courses.

We had a chance to review two products first-hand. The men's organic cotton t-shirt is light and comfy, well-made and nicely fitted. We liked the design and the "Find Your Center" message ($26.90). (Would our center be our belly button?)

We also had a chance to check out a women's limited-edition "Attain Peace Through Balance" long-sleeve hooded t-shirt made from ecoKashmere - 70% Bamboo, 25% Organic Cotton and 5% Lycra ($36.90). The shirt really is nice and versatile - light, warm, stylish, durable, machine-washable and so forth. (Frankly, we'd prefer not to see any of the synthetic lycra in the product. Sure, it adds a bit of sexy clinginess and helps the garment keep its shape, but we'd rather have an all-natural shirt...)

The hemp t-shirts - like this "Respect Your Place in Nature" version - are made of a 55% hemp, 45% organic cotton blend. We didn't get a chance to try one of these in person, but based on our experience with a similar mix of fabrics in a Royal Robbins shirt, we're confident that the hemp and organic cotton blend will deliver a nice mix of strength (hemp) and softness (organic cotton).

One thing that's interesting about Embrace Only Love is that the company tries to make its sourcing a bit transparent. So you can learn on the website that the hemp/organic cotton t-shirts are supplied by Hemp Traders. The ecoKashmere(R) products (not just the women's hoodies, but also the men's long-sleeve t-shirts) come from Jonano. Continental Clothing Company makes organic cotton t-shirts for men and women.

We're not sure if the transparency is good for Embrace Only Love's brand strength, but we like the fact that the company has apparently partnered with some really nice ethical and high-quality suppliers.

Of course, the suppliers only provide the 'canvas'. Embrace Only Love comes up with the designs and the messages, and then turns to Spreadshirt.com to hand-print its shirts using water-based inks.

Where to buy:

Order your clothing directly through Embrace Only Love's website. Since fabric content varies for each item of clothing, be sure to check carefully to make sure you're getting organic cotton, bamboo, hemp or whatever else you want. Be aware that the totes do not seem to be made from organic material.