Amanda's blog

New parents are anxious to provide the very best of everything for their new addition.  From health care, nutrition and pediatric care to the clothing and diapers they wear; today's discriminating family is looking to dress junior in green baby clothing and accessories.

For some time now, individual states like Florida and California have offered a green lodging certification for hotels, inns and B&B's.  However, recent rumors have been floating about in the industry about a U.S. federal certification which will be administered by the Environmental Protection Agency.  Likening it to the ubiquitous and prestigious "Energy Star" designation on household appliances, the EPA’s seal of approval will mean the highest standards of green, eco-friendly lodging.
 

Despite the fact that most people understand how important it is to recycle, it is surprising how many homes and businesses still do not make the effort.  What is it that keeps people from taking advantage of local green recycling programs?
 
For one thing, many people are confused about what can be recycled.  Different communities may only allow you to recycle certain things and you have to check with your city to get specifics on your particular recycling program; however the following is a list of the most commonly recycled items around the U.S.:

Companies have used promotional items for years—everything from the omnipresent cotton t-shirt to key chains, golf balls, and water bottles emblazoned with the company’s name and logo.  While some will debate the effectiveness of this marketing tool, it is certainly not going away any time soon.  But if you’re the type of business owner who is as concerned about the environment as you are your bottom line, you may want to consider using a eco-friendly bags, organic cotton t-shirts, or any other number of sustainable items to promote your business.

Just because you’re not in a position to buy a fancy new hybrid or an electric car doesn’t mean that you can’t practice green driving with the car you already own.  In fact, there are plenty of ways that you can improve your diving habits to reduce your own personal impact on the environment.  Here are five easy ways that anyone can use for greener driving:

As we become more conscious about the environment, we look for better ways to make the products that we use on a daily basis.  The keyword is "sustainability.”  Are our products made from materials that can be replaced?  Is the creation of our products diminishing important natural resources?  Can our products be reused or will they sit forever in a landfill, breaking down into toxic waste?  This month as we celebrated earth day, cork and other renewable resources are getting more press than ever.

The future of the planet depends on our ability to teach our children from infancy about nurturing the earth.  It is never too early to help kids begin to develop their consciousness. In fact, young children seem to understand intuitively how valuable our natural world is.  But eco friendly toys make learning about the environment even more fun; and now there are more options than ever before.

If the past year has taught us anything its that we can no longer afford to be a "bottom line" society.  Simply focusing on profits and allowing unchecked capitalism to dictate how society is run leads only to catastrophe.  while most of us probably had a hunch this was true, it wasn't until the market came crashing down; corruption at high levels of business and politics were drug into the light; and our plant started to deteriorate before our eyes that it really had an impact on us. 

People who care about the planet are not willing to put their ethics on hold when they go on vacation.  This has created an entirely new market which is rapidly expanding here in the U.S. and abroad:  Green Travel.  Also known as eco-travel and eco-tourism, it basically involves alternatives to traditional modes of transportation; lodging that is low-impact and sustainable; and visiting locations where you can appreciate the natural world with much less development than a typical resort vacation.