The Following Article originally appeared in the International Herald Tribune on September 19th 2012 and in the NY Times online.
Wednesday
Sustainable Super Yachts
Monday
Eco.Luxury.Style Magazine - The Documentary Film Issue - Autumn 2012
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Sunday
Greening Beauty Gift Giving In The Age of Organic
The challenge of holiday gift giving is a. to be unique and b. to be not so unique that your gifts go unappreciated.
For the ladies (and men!) on your list this holiday season 2012, organic beauty products are some of the best choices because they not only fulfill everyday needs and are useful products that most of us ritually use, they are also the healthier version of those personal care products we tend to use every day.
Marie Veronique Organics falls squarely into this product category of Good For Your Skin and Good For The Planet, Too. Marie Nadeau is a former chemistry teacher based in Berkeley, California who decided to create a simple skin care product line-beauty regime with the help of her physicist daughter, Dr. Jay Nadeau. As a mature woman going into this business venture, Marie’s emphasis was on anti-aging through the use of intelligent sunscreens and skincare ...”the most important being safe and effective sunscreens made with intelligent ingredients.”
Just what are “intelligent ingredients” you may be wondering? Well, for the MVOrganics Moisturizing Face Screen / Everyday Sheer Coverage which protects against UVA rays with its non-nano zinc oxide, think red raspberry for healing and moisturizing, sea buckthorn and emu oils for their anti-premature aging reinforcements all topped off with a rich dose of anti-oxidants.
The sheer tinted coverage comes in SPF30 and SPF20 (with green tea and coffee berry extract) and both are hits over at the EWG. Tip: only those with porcelain skin tones can get away with wearing the Everyday Sheer Coverage SPF30; the SPF20 is good for most other skin tones. In fact, the product offers such complete skin tone even-ing coverage that when it was first marketed as simply a sunscreen, ladies started wearing it out in the evening as a light foundation and loving the matte effect it gives to the facial skin.
Not to miss - and this goes for you guys, as well - are the MVOrganics Anti-Aging mist and Anti-Aging Oil+. The mist is slightly fragrant with hints of geranium essence while the Anti-aging Oil that you gently massage into your neck, chest and face while the skin is still moist contains over 20 different kinds of oils like kiwi seed oil, meadowfoam oil and tamanu oil which results in a soothing essence reminiscent of that last great Swedish massage you had.
Packaging for the products is recyclable and the ingredients are all bio-degradable. “We don’t use toxins, petroleum-based products, nanoparticles, or anything else that’s potentially harmful,” states the founder, Marie Veronique. Check their website for prices and more product information.
Tuesday
Neal's Yard Remedies Makeup
by Paige Donner
Neal's Yard Remedies, the UK-based natural remedies, skincare, bodycare and now makeup line, feels that the Tree is a perfect symbol of beauty: The roots represent our health/inner beauty, and the outer blossomings of gorgeous leaves, fruits and flowers are symbols of our outward beauty. That's the logic behind their logo.
So when they moved into developing their makeup line, after several years of careful thought and reflection, they knew that mineral makeup was the direction to go in. However, based as they are on holistic and organic remedies masquerading as personal care products and skincare, they wanted nothing to do with the common additives found in many of the mineral-based makeups on store shelves today. One good example is talc and talcum powder. Believe it or not, many "mineral" makeup lines today use these as fillers to round out their color-based mineral makeup lines. But never NYR!
White Tea (Powder)
So what NYR did before ever launching their makeup line in any of their 42 U.K. stores (70 boutiques worldwide) was to do a fair bit of research focused around white tea and white tea powder.
"Color That Cares"
Many of us know white tea as the super anti-oxidant we can sip, but what NYR lab researchers found was that white tea, ground up as a powder and used topically on the skin, also makes for a superb anti-oxidant ingredient and free-radical protector for the skin. So when you apply any of the Neal's Yard Remedies mineral makeup, on face, eyes, cheeks and lips, you are actually doing your skin a favor by giving it a good dose coating of anti-oxidant and free-radical fighting White Tea.
Autumn's new shades are gorgeous gem colors such as plum, royal blue, blue bell and silver birch. When you add just a smidgen of water to your makeup brush, the mineral color makeup for your eyes, for example, goes on wet and stays on all day long. What's more, these mineral makeups in rich and flattering pigments are the first makeup line to be Soil Association Certified.
On The Horizon: Soon to be launched - by end of 2012 in the U.K - is their new range of lipsticks in a range of luscious shades. And for 2013 they promise to have come out with a jaw-dropping, eye-popping fully-functioning, organic based mascara. For U.S. customers, NYR lipsticks will be available by early 2013.
Never Tested on Animals, Fair Trade, Natural, Organic - Neal's Yard Remedies
Friday
Hollande Sets Ambitious CO2 Emissions Reductions Goals For France And EU
His most ambitious statement issued is his recommendation to cut CO2 emissions by 40% by 2030 and 60% by 2040 at the European Union level. Current EU targets are 20% reduction of 1990 levels by 2020.
Hollande stated that he would like to see more global dialogue on environmental issues, citing the lack of a renewed agreement on climate goals reached internationally so far makes this an urgent and important matter. The Kyoto Protocol expires at the end of this year so climate talks are expected to once again take priority at the upcoming November Doha COP 18 conference. According to the Paris-based International Energy Agency, CO2 emissions rose by 3.2% last year to 31.6 billion tons, spurred by increases from China.
More initiatives he announced/ launched:
- New tenders for solar and offshore wind power by end of 2012.
- Closing of Fessenheim's Nuclear Power Plant by end of 2016.
- Rejected applications for shale gas exploration.
- Cut France's nuclear power from 75% to 50% by 2025.
Thursday
We Love Lovea!
by Paige Donner
Pomegranate and rice oil? To bring out the shine and preserve the rich color in your color-treated hair? Yes and it's brand new by the French beauty line, Lovea, who specially formulates a complete organic line for us Natural Beauties.
La Grenade - Leave-In Hair Shine Conditioner
Tannins, polyphenols and vitamin C, all nutrients found abundantly in a simple little red pomegranate, work to enhance the health and shine of your colored hair. Spray it on damp or dry, style, leave it in (Yes, don't rinse!) and your hair will have healthy shiny bounce all day long.
How the spray in color-enhancing conditioner works: the tannins from the pomegranate afix to the keratin of the hair shaft, thus preserving color. The organic rice oil intensely nourishes the hair follicles resulting in healthy, shiny, lustrous hair. And the two combined together make a formidable foe against UV rays which also helps to preserve the soft silky shine of your hair color. It's light enough, too, to use every day. Couple it with the Pomegranate Shampoo, fortified with aloe vera, to boost your beautiful results.
Dead Sea Salt Scrub
Also new from Lovea Bio is their Dead Sea sourced salt scrub. Crystals of rock salt from this mythic source known throughout the ages by Mediterranean beauties as a source for health and beauty rituals, are embedded in a generous mountain of almond, jojoba, sesame and argan oils which leave your skin nourished more than skin deep. The scrub works to purify and invigorate the skin grace a' its rich Dead Sea Salt calcium deposits; Its potassium re-balances and hydrates.
Truly a luxurious spa treatment in a jar, the Dead Sea Salt Scrub, 98% natural and sourced from this Biblical beauty oasis perched between Israel and Jordan, will leave your skin feeling soft, hydrated, pampered after regular use. The almond oil softens the skin, especially the delicate areas, sesame oil is rich in Vitamin E, jojoba helps to restructure the skin and argan oil protects and nourishes.
We love these two new products from Lovea Bio for skin and hair, to help repair and replenish, especially after a summer of sun, surf and sand!
Recycle, Reuse, Rejoice!
Tuesday
EKOCYCLE
“With the EKOCYCLE brand, I’m on a mission to educate and inspire consumers around the globe to seek out more sustainable lifestyle choices that will ultimately play a part in the movement toward a world with zero waste,” said global musical artist and producer, will.i.am.
“By making products that contain recycled materials more attractive to both businesses and consumers, everyone can do their part to keep the cycle going to turn discarded waste into cool, new items. The Coca-Cola Company shares this vision and together working with local communities worldwide we will showcase the greater value of recycling, as well as selecting products that feature recycled materials.”
“The EKOCYCLE brand initiative is a platform that aligns with our vision of zero waste and our focus on sustainability,” said Bea Perez, vice president and chief sustainability officer, The Coca-Cola Company.
Consumers can purchase Beats by Dr. Dre® headphones beginning fall of 2012. Other EKOCYCLE products, including New Era® hats, will be available early 2013.
To learn more about the EKOCYCLE brand initiative visit EKOCYCLE.com.
Thursday
Eco.Luxury.Style - Men's Sustainable Fashion Issue Out Now
Eco.Luxury.Style - Men's Sustainable Fashion Issue
- click on Current Issue for dropdown Table of Contents menu
Recycle, Reuse, Rejoice!
The Hulk Mark Ruffalo Hosts Party for Renewable Energy in Africa
by Nadine Weil
[This guest post is by Nadine Weil, Founder Heart of Green.
All photos are by Drew Altizer]
The eco-glitterati came together on Thursday evening June 21 to bask in the glow of Empowered By Light’s second annual Light Up The Night party, a sold out affair in San Francisco. Fresh off his movie premiere of “The Avengers,” Oscar-nominated actor
Mark Ruffalo flexed his celebrity muscle and co-hosted the party held at Roe to bring
renewable energy to rural Zambia.
A beloved advocate for the environment, Ruffalo told the cheering crowd that it is time
to move beyond fossil fuels and harness the power of sunlight. “I support Empowered
by Light because they are bringing light and renewable energy to those who don’t yet
have it. They are teaching whole nations that we don’t need fossil fuels to be modern,”
exclaimed Ruffalo. The actor is a green superhero (The Hulk) not just on the big screen
but also in real life, where he has a solar array on his New York home and spends many
weekends battling the practice of natural gas drilling or “fracking.”
Guests at the party enjoyed organic bites from Roe and sipped on eco-friendly cocktails
from VeeV Acai Spirit, sustainable varietals from eco.love Wines, and organic yerba
mate beer from MateVeza. VIP partygoers received gifts of stylish Lifefactory glass
bottles and RunRunRun bags made, coincidentally, from recycled water bottles.
Empowered By Light was founded last year by Marco Krapels, Moira Hanes and
Gianluca Signorelli to improve lives through clean, renewable technology. With their
Solar: Zambia project, they are delivering thousands of solar-powered LED lights and
cell phone charger kits to rural African families and schools.
A recent trip to Zambia in May showed that the LED lights are not only eliminating
the hazards and pollution of open-flame kerosene lamps but also helping the children
improve their performance in school. The Ministry of Education in Zambia informed
Empowered by Light that school children using the organization’s lights improved their
test scores by as much as 236 percent.
“During our last deployment, we saw first-hand the incredible impact our lights are
having,” said Krapels. “It’s richly rewarding to think that tonight, 8,000 children in rural
Zambia are reading because of our efforts, where previously they would have been in
total darkness.”
Krapels also announced the organization’s plans, in partnership with Suntech America,
to install a sun-powered, micro grid system for Sioma High School in Zambia.
As a highlight of the event, Andrew Birch, the dashing CEO of solar company
Sungevity, presented Empowered By Light with a $40,000 donation to support the new
grid. “There is a universal need for electricity but a fundamental lack of access,” said
Birch. “Empowered by Light is making a difference in rural Zambia, and we are proud to
be making a difference with them.”
The festivities were sponsored by environmental heavyweights Rabobank, Clif Bar,
Suntech, Lemnis Lighting, Heart of Green, and SHFT. Overall, it was a blockbuster,
star-studded evening where guests left feeling on cloud nine about their ability to make
the world a lighter and greener place. For more scoop on the organization, please visit
Recycle, Reuse, Rejoice!
Friday
A-List Celebrities With Green Businesses
by Eliza Morgan
Not all celebrities are about Hollywood glamour, fast cars, and making money only. In fact, some of the most successful celebrities are about quite the opposite: saving the environment. Celebrities who have been in the business for some time are now opting to use their influence to create environmental programs and business solutions. Here is a sampling of some of the world’s most famous people today, working to create a better world for tomorrow through business:
Kevin Costner was the perfect personal defender in Bodyguard, and now he is defending the planet as well. His environmental protection business Ocean Therapy Solutions has spent over fifteen years designing a new centrifuge that can clean up about 2,000 barrels of oil out of seawater every day. After the BP oil spill, the company used Ocean Therapy Solutions to clean much of the coastal spill.
While Cameron may be known for her goofy roles in some of the most beloved modern
comedies, this funny girl sees nothing to joke about when it comes to environmental
preservation. She has recently launched a new show on MTV, Trippin, where she heads around the world to experience first-hand some of the most dire environmental needs.
Best known for her roles in The Notebook and Mean Girls Rachel McAdams is one of the top talents in young Hollywood. She is also an avid environmentalist who prefers to unplug, ride her bike, and recycle everything possible. She has also started her own site Green is Sexy to show others how to do the same.
Willie Nelson is not only a legendary country singer, he has also always had a fondness for the open road. It’s no surprise that he co-founded a biodiesel fuel company that produces a soybean and vegetable fuel named Bio Willie in an effort to reduce the United States’ dependence of foreign oil and minimize the threat to the environment. The fuel is currently sold by Earth Biodiesel Inc.
Daryl Hannah is a beauty icon and talented actress who is also very environmentally active. She owns her own online store Love Life Goods where she sells sustainable, recycled and organic lifestyle products. From beauty treats, to clothing, to composters, this site covers it.
Ed Begley, Jr. has been a longtime A-list celeb and many people know he has also been a longtime proponent of environmentally friendly lifestyles. Once he rejected a limo to drive him to the Academy Awards, preferring to show up right on time on his bicycle. He currently owns a company that manufactures and sells a line of green cleaning products, Begley’s Best. They are made from completely natural, but effective, ingredients and are guaranteed to be non-harmful for the environment, for animals, and for humans.
This guest post is by Eliza Morgan, a full time freelance writer and blogger. She specializes in writing about business credit cards and other business related topics.
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