In every Google search, I find ten more Web sites that prove to me that green is in and repurposing is all the rage. So I’m making a pledge: from this day forward, I’m going to use my conscience as my guide and my mouse as my means, and will only shop at these sites, where green is good lovin’ for Mother Earth.
Gaiam
Gaiam, the granddaddy of environmental merchandise, started in Boulder, Colorado in 1988 when “green” was still just a color. It walked uphill both ways to get its lot of goods out into the marketplace, and combines house wares and apparel with its never-ending line of yoga gear and wellness DVDs.
CafePresse
I prefer bags that that send a statement (like my World Food Programme Feed Bag). With CafePresse bags, I educate others at the grocery with facts like, “twelve million barrels of oil go to producing plastic bags each year,” while I search for the greenest bunch of broccoli.
Saffron Rouge
Tripping the world for the best organic beauty products—now that’s a reality show I’d sit and watch … or star in! That’s what Saffron Rouge does to find their mineral make-up, organic baby products, and skin care lines with raw and natural ingredients. Dr. Saulius Anthony Alkaitis’ line of skin care says, “If you can’t eat it, don’t put it on your skin,” and the site offers 150 free samples to choose from before checkout, because gratuitous gifts make for the best shopping.
Etsy
At Etsy, I think globally and shop locally. I type in my city to view handmade items local artists want to sell, or I can search items by clicking on a color wheel, use their gift guides, or “pounce” on items leftover from artist sales. Etsy empowers me in every purchase, explaining that when I “purchase from a small-scale independent artist or crafter, [I] strike a small blow to the forces of mass production.”
White Apricot
White Apricot cast a net, found all the green individuals and companies designing goods on the planet, and displays the best for me. Organized by Fashion, Beauty, and Lifestyle, the site introduced a biodegradable umbrella that made me homesick for monsoon afternoons in Bangkok. They even offer coupons good for purchases through any of their Lifestyle retailers.
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