THERMOS® Hotter, Cooler, Fresher Thinking

For some reason that I have yet to figure out, wine companies seem to be making allot of smart moves towards organic and sustainable business. Besides the obvious benefits of this, it boggles my mind why other industries are not hopping on board at the rate wine companies are. Anyways, it seems those wine companies are at it again by incorporating a Facebook application to help force them to go green.

The Facebook application is cutely named “Green My Vino” and is run by a company called Village Green. I know, sounds sketchy already, but after doing a little digging into other sites and Village Green’s site, it seems pretty legit! Heres how the application on Facebook works: Green My Vino makes it possible for Facebook users to force environmental change in business. The application enables Facebook users to give each other free online gifts worth One Minute, Five Minutes, and Ten Minutes of renewable energy. Each free gift adds Minutes towards a goal. Once the goal is met, a participating winery will commit to power its entire operations with renewable energy through Village Green. An additional winery will convert its power to renewable energy each time Facebook participants meet the next goal. The wineries that have singed on to this application and idea are… (with more to come)

Iron Horse Vineyards 10,000 minutes
Girard Winery 17,000 minutes
Windsor Vineyards 30,000 minutes
Windsor Sonoma 45,000 minutes

You can learn all about the Facebook application here to answer any of your questions. You can also click here to more about Village Green as a company and how they make this whole process work with a video and slide show. I have already added this application to my Facebook page and our Ecologicliving Facebook page. So feel free to look me up or join our page and help spread the Green Vino and make these companies convert to renewable energy.

Keep it Green,

Paul

It’s Monday, your tired from the weekend, and work is the last place you want to be right now! Now it may be Monday but do you still have to look your best for that crazy Monday meeting? Well I didn’t have to be, but for you busy business women out there I may have a company/product that is great for the summer, great for the skin, and is all organic.

In a previous post we passed on the list of the Top 10 Eco-friendly Beauty Products according to the W Network. Today I am talking about Ruby Red Organic skin care products. From elegantly handmade biodegradable packaging right through to ethically-sourced 100% organic ingredients including pure essential oils inspired by aromatherapy, Ruby Red range works to naturally nourish, totally protect and perfectly pamper skin while also being positive for the planet. Some of the notable aspects of Ruby Red are: not tested on animals, no chemicals, and handmade. Just to name a few.

Based out of UK, but available for online orders, Ruby Red seems to be the real deal. Their hearts are in the right place and they are using the right ingredients and methods. So if you doing some late sumer shopping, mabey consider placing an order with Ruby Red. Click here for Ruby Red’s site and click here to learn more about the company.

Keep it Green,

Paul

I’m not sure if you remember those hilarious radio ads where the title finishing line was “Too bad IKEA doesn’t sell friends”. Doesn’t due it much justice I guess you kinda had to hear it, but those who did know what I’m talking about! Anyways, I always preach the role that major chains and companies have to play in order to get the green ball rolling. Well it seems IKEA might be making a small step in the right direction.

Now I’m not saying this is for sure and that you will be able to buy your solar panels at IKEA in the next couple of months, but there is a possibility it is coming soon. IKEA has announced it plans to invest $77 million into its GreenTech energy fund, a fund that goes towards figuring out how to produce affordable solar panels, efficiency meters, and energy efficient lighting – things that are around, but not necessarily common, and definitely not cheap. Click here to learn all the details.

So its not for sure or “written in stone” that IKEA is going to be selling cheap and affordable solar panels that can be put together, like everything from IKEA, with an Allen key. However, they are making progress and thats what counts. Also if anyone out there is able to find the IKEA radio Ad that I am talking about, it would be greatly appreciated. I have yet to find it.

Keep it Green,

Paul

I’m not sure what the weather has been like this summer where you live, but in Ontario Canada we have set rainfall records. If the rain wasn’t bad enough the mosquitoes and black flys that come with it have made living outdoors uncomfortable at times to say the least. Up until recently I have avoided at all cost the use of traditional insect repelents because of chemical ingredients that are harmful to my health, the environment and loved ones around me. However I recently came acroos a safe alternative that will hopefully reduce my bug bites from a weekend at the lake. The company is called EcoSMART Organic Insecticides, they manufacter eco-friendly bug repellents that are made of biotanical oils that do not harm your personal health or the environment. I have not had the pleasure of testing this product yet but will definetily do so the first oppertunity I get!!

For more information about EcoSMART and the products they offer I would highly recommend checking out their web site at www.ecosmart.com/household

Keep it Green

Paul

It’s a common fear or concern among many people in many countries, is what we are being told/see really what it is? A common example of this is the news. Is what’s being reported actually the full story? Or are we being given an altered and interpreted view? They same thought can be applied to organically certified food, and is it actually organic?

Now I am not trying to add to the suspicion that organic isn’t really organic. The vast majority of products that claim to be organic are and the companies/farmers are playing by the rules. However, when a company/farmer does not play by those rules, it needs to be known and we as the consumer have to make them pay the price. The company will get the message if we choose not to buy that product, and they will have to submit to play by the rules.

The USDA just announced Monday it was putting 15 out of 30 federally accredited organic certifiers they audited on probation, allowing them 12 months to make corrections or lose their accreditation. At the heart of the audit for several certifiers were imported foods and ingredients from other countries, including China.

So not just U.S. companies are at fault here, and you can learn all the details here, but its important that this be resolved quickly and efficiently. People need to trust that they are receiving certified organic goods or change will take that much longer. Clearly organic is not the be all end all, but its a stepping stone.

Keep it Green,

Paul