Eco-Herb Planter

Candles always make a great gift. Dani candles are a combination of 100% soy wax with proprietary essential oils that are pure and nontoxic. Soy wax also lasts longer than conventional wax. (danibath.com, $16)

Bamboo Serving Set

You hear the question almost every time you go to the market: Paper or plastic? But both of those options might soon be against the law in Florida.

A new report from Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection calls for retail bag regulation.  Citing environmental concerns, their goal is to get more people to bring reusable bags when they go shopping. The DEP’s draft report calls for a gradual phase-out of single-use bags like paper and plastic. A public education campaign would start next year.

By July of 2011, each paper or plastic bag would cost a nickel. By 2012, the charge doubles to a dime. In July of 2013, it goes to 15-cents and then to 25-cents in 2014. By 2015, the report calls for a statewide ban on single-use bags. One Whole Foods in Naples isn’t waiting for a government regulation. Last year, they enacted a company-wide policy to stop giving out plastic bags.

“It’s a huge waste to use all the plastic bags they use. When you go through the grocery lines, they put one thing in the plastic bag and then the next bag so you end up having like 50 plastic bags,” said Naples resident Victoria Watts.

Surveys show fewer than five-percent of plastic bags are ever recycled. This proposal is not unique to Florida. Already, 28 states have regulations enacted or proposals at the local or state level.  And the ban on bags is in no way final. The DEP has until February to present their report to Florida lawmakers.

McDonald’s is a fast food chain with contradictions. The restaurant ships in food from all over the world on carbon-intensive planes and trucks, while simultaneously installing electric vehicle plug-in stations at a “green” branch of the chain. PETA accuses McDonald’s of treating animals cruelly while the company brags about using sustainably-farmed meat. So which is it? Is McDonald’s green, or not?

Whether or not you like fast food, there’s no denying the fact that McDonald’s a huge business.  The company operates 31,000 stores with yearly sales of over $23 billion. Much like Wal-Mart, McDonald’s is working on an environmental scorecard for its suppliers that will most likely give high-scorers first dibs on supplying products for the chain. Fortunately, McDonald’s is already working on phasing out the worst suppliers- the company supports a moratorium on soya suppliers to prevent harmful environmental practices in the Amazon.

McDonald’s is also beginning to explore sustainability in individual locations. The chain’s first self-proclaimed “green” restaurant, located in Chicago, is LEED Gold-certified, while a North Carolina location features ChargePoint electric vehicle charging stations. And in Brazil, Chile, and Argentina, 270 McDonald’s restaurants deliver used oil to be converted into biodiesel. These are all considerable efforts, but do they make enough of a difference?

The company still has a lot of work to do in improving its packaging. Most McDonald’s packaging is paper-based and can be composted, but thus far, McDonald’s hasn’t found biodegradable materials that don’t warp or retain heat.

With PETA accusing McDonald’s of cutting chickens’ throats while they are still conscious and soaking them in tanks of scalding hot water, the chain has yet to convince environmental activists that it is kind to animals.  It’s simple: there is no way not to engage in animal cruelty when you are running a franchise that peddles in cheap meat.

Of course, McDonald’s can never truly claim to be green as long as it sells meat products- the average Holstein cow produces up to 180 kilos of methane each year. Ultimately, cows produce 18% of all greenhouse gas emissions, and the meat industry is one of the leading contributers to climate change.

And we hardly need to point out that fast food is harmful to human health as well as the environment. With the obesity epidemic skyrocketing in America, the last thing we need is more fast food. Processed fat in McDonald’s fast food causes endothelial dysfunction- essentially circulatory dysfunction- for up to five hours after  being eaten. (Check out the film Super Size Me for more proof.)

So… Is it green?

Not really. The Chicago green building pilot project (and the nine other green building projects in the works) indicate that McDonald’s is considering the implementation of a widespread building efficiency effort, but the chain has no plans that we know of to source local or organic food (with the exception of organic coffee and milk). And we seriously doubt that McDonalds will ever stop selling its classic meat patties. Since McDonald’s is a fast food chain, all the green buildings in the world won’t cancel out the company’s inherently unsustainable nature. Still, we hope that McDonalds’ planned supply chain sustainability scorecard leads to widespread changes among fast food suppliers.

Tucker and company will travel the country on the Greenhound, a bus converted to run off pure and recycled vegetable oil. On the journey will be two youth who have severe and immediate health issues related to their diet and lifestyle. These youth are at a crucial crossroads where they must change their lifestyle or risk a dramatic decrease in their health and quality of life. Along the way, the travelers will meet some of the biggest personalities in hip hop, all of whom are long-time vegetarians and vegans, including Saul Williams, Justin Bua, Persia White, Stic Man and KRS One.

Shyan Selah, hip hop artist, outreach activist and founder of Brave New World, Inc., who is not only a friend of Tucker’s, but he will also be producing the original soundtrack for the film. Selah says the project found him with open arms.

“I’m honored to be part of this project. You start seeing many forces coming together as a one mind structure in contributing to the importance of health. Because of sickness and the outrageous numbers of diabetes and other diseases, when Keith approached me about the vegan and vegetarian movement, it struck me as something of interest” explains Selah, who notes that he has always followed a progressive path of eating healthy.

Selah contends that as consumers, we fall short on our eating habits when we struggle with the demands of our relationships at work, at home and family settings. But, even with a full traveling itinerary and life on the go, his purpose is clear: you need to make time to eat healthy in order to be healthy.

Scientific studies have linked attention deficit disorder, depression, Alzheimer’s, obesity in all ages, schizophrenia and violent behavior to the food we consume, particularly junk food that is absent of vitamins and the minerals found in manufactured diets.

Being tapped to lend his support to this project, Selah says, makes him feels energized because of the communities the project will target first. “The initial process to begin Green Dinners is to give inner-city kids and parents their first vegetarian meals. The event here in Seattle was a great introduction of how this documentary and the movement of eating healthy will inspire many others to change their internal carbon footprint. All of a sudden you see these kids getting overwhelmed with information and getting the right message.”

The event in Seattle hit a profound high note with speakers who are concerned about the foods we digest. Among the attendees was Keynote Speaker Dr. Che Joplin, who serves as the Chief Executive Director of Health of King County. The chiropractic doctor and co-author of I Am Hip Hop, I Am Health spoke on the importance of connecting health issues with hip hop as a cultural force for positive change.

Another speaker, Ngozi Oleru, who is the Division Director for DPH – Environmental Health Services Division (EHD) in King County, provided startling statistics about how the region or community you live in – wherever it is in the world – dictates the diseases you might inherit.

“Ngozi startled everyone with her perspectives,” Selah says. “She stood up there and said, ‘You can tell me what neighborhood you’re from and I can tell you what diseases you’re going to get and approximately when you’re going to die.’ Her statistics were that valid, where she can pull from that analysis and give you that information. This was incredible for me to hear. So, right after she finished, I got up on the mic and told these kids, that’s an amazing thing, that someone can have the nerve to get up here and tell you this information.”

The concept of going green is, in and of itself, an examination of not only consuming food, but also understanding the entire quality of life. The secrets being revealed behind the Green Dinners is if there is a roadmap on how peace can be obtained, where do you begin? The event sparked a lot of conversations. Most attendees voiced it begins at home, how we communicate with each other and how we educate ourselves to make proper and constructive healthy decisions everyday.

“I think a project like this really isn’t about choice, but rather our need to stomp out our addictions to many things. If I’ve been buying Skittles and soda for the past 10 years, I’m probably not going to purchase green tea. I don’t know of any kids today who would walk in to a 7-11 to grab a protein bar and green tea. It’s good that the choices are there, but you don’t see the marketing for that.”

From cell phones and computers to bicycle helmets and hospital IV bags, plastic has molded society in many ways that make life both easier and safer. But the synthetic material has also left harmful imprints on the environment and perhaps human health, according to a new compilation of articles authored by scientists from around the world. More than 60 scientists contributed to the new report, which aims to present the first comprehensive review of the impact of plastics on the environment and human health, and offer possible solutions.

As the scrutiny of the environmental toll of plastic increases, so has its usage, the scientists reported. Since its mass production began in the 1940s, plastic’s wide range of unique properties has propelled it to an essential status in society. Next year, more than 300 million tons will be produced worldwide. The amount of plastic manufactured in the first ten years of this century will approach the total produced in the entire last century, according to the report.

Evidence is mounting that the chemical building blocks that make plastics so versatile are the same components that might harm people and the environment. And its production and disposal contribute to an array of environmental problems, too. For example:

• Chemicals added to plastics are absorbed by human bodies. Some of these compounds have been found to alter hormones or have other potential human health effects.
• Plastic debris, laced with chemicals and often ingested by marine animals, can injure or poison wildlife.
• Floating plastic waste, which can survive for thousands of years in water, serves as mini transportation devices for invasive species, disrupting habitats.
• Plastic buried deep in landfills can leach harmful chemicals that spread into groundwater.
• Around 4 percent of world oil production is used as a feedstock to make plastics, and a similar amount is consumed as energy in the process.

People are exposed to chemicals from plastic multiple times per day through the air, dust, water, food and use of consumer products. For example, phthalates are used as plasticizers in the manufacture of vinyl flooring and wall coverings, food packaging and medical devices. Eight out of every ten babies, and nearly all adults, have measurable levels of phthalates in their bodies.

In addition, bisphenol A (BPA), found in polycarbonate bottles and the linings of food and beverage cans, can leach into food and drinks. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 93 percent of people had detectable levels of BPA in their urine. The report noted that the high exposure of premature infants in neonatal intensive care units to both BPA and phthalates is of “great concern.”

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers or PBDEs, which are flame-retardants added to polyurethane foam furniture cushions, mattresses, carpet pads and automobile seats, also are widespread. The plastics industry maintains that its products are safe after decades of testing. But some of these chemicals have been shown to affect reproduction and development in animal studies, according to the report. Some studies also have linked these chemicals with adverse effects in people, including reproductive abnormalities.

Shanna Swan, director of the University of Rochester’s Center for Reproductive Epidemiology, conducted studies that found an association between pregnant women’s exposure to phthalates and altered genital development in their baby boys. Also, people with the highest exposure to BPA have an increased rate of heart disease and diabetes, according to one recent study. Animal tests studies of PBDEs have revealed the potential for damaging the developing brain and the reproductive system. Yet the effects on human health remain largely unknown. To help shed more light on the issue, the report recommends more sophisticated human studies.

Plastic’s problems extend beyond the human body, according to the report. More than one-third of all plastic is disposable packaging like bottles and bags, many of which end up littering the environment. Although the image of a bird tangled in a plastic necklace is by now burned into the public’s eye, ingestion of plastic fragments is much more common. Once inside, plastic can pack a one-two punch by both clogging an animal’s stomach and poisoning it with chemicals that have concentrated in the plastic. Some chemicals are then transferred to the food web when animals eat them.

More than 180 species of animals have been documented to ingest plastic debris, including birds, fish, turtles and marine mammals, according to the report. Unfortunately, collecting data on plasticizers’ impacts on wildlife suffers the same pitfalls as studying human health. Still, there is already evidence that chemicals associated plastics might harm wildlife. For example, laboratory studies have shown that phthalates and BPA affect reproduction in all studied animal groups and impair development in crustaceans and amphibians.

Traveling from coast to coast, plastic can endure for thousands of years due to the reduced UV exposure and lower temperatures of aquatic habitats. Plastic also serves as a floating transportation device that allows alien species to hitchhike to unfamiliar parts of the world, threatening biodiversity. Global warming further aids the process by making previously inhospitable areas like the Arctic livable for invasive species, which can be detrimental to local species. For example, plastic items are commonly colonized by barnacles, tubeworms and algae. Along the shore of Adelaide Island, west of the Antarctic Peninsula, ten species of invertebrates were found attached to plastic strapping that was littering the ice.

Plastic is so resilient that even burying it deep within the earth doesn’t keep it from impacting the environments. Currently it accounts for approximately 10 percent of generated waste, most of which is landfilled. But, as the report notes, placing plastics in a landfill may simply be storing a problem for the future, as plastic’s chemicals often sink into nearby land, contaminating groundwater. In addition, production of plastics is a major user of fossil fuels. Eight percent of world oil production goes to manufacturing plastics.

As plastics grow in volume at a rate of about nine percent each year, the authors emphasize that tackling its problems means addressing its sustainability. One solution is to treat plastic as a reusable material rather than as a disposable commodity that’s quickly discarded. That means making plastic more easily recyclable from the get-go by using fewer materials in the manufacturing process and increasing recycling facility availability. Increasing the availability of biodegradable plastic, which can be made from renewable materials from plants such as corn and soy, is another option.

The authors said that if plastics are made and used responsibly, they can help solve some environmental problems. For example, one study found that packaging beverages in PET (a type of plastic) versus glass or metal reduces energy use by 52 percent and greenhouse gas emissions by 55 percent. And, solar water heaters containing plastics can provide up to two-thirds of a household’s annual hot water demand, reducing energy consumption.

HOME ENERGY

Consumption- The average Chicago household uses 5,400 kilowatt hours of electricity per year, spending $600 on electric bills annually, and 1,400 therms per year in natural gas, spending $1,000 annually. Most of the energy goes to heating and cooling the home.

Environmental impact- Because Chicago gets so cold, two-thirds of the 10.7 tons of greenhouse gases emitted per home comes from natural gas (used for heating), while one-third comes from electricity.

Nationally, however, about 39 percent of the energy consumed in the U.S. is used to generate electricity, making electricity the country’s No. 1 source of greenhouse gas emissions. Electricity accounts for 2.5 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S.—about 40 percent of the country’s total CO2 emissions.

Saving grace- Though Chicago continues to get most of its electricity from coal (the biggest carbon emitter) and nuclear power plants, wind energy is becoming more prevalent in the Midwest.

Alternatives- Insulate your home and buy energy-efficient appliances (look for the EnergyStar label, which indicates the product meets efficiency guidelines set by the EPA and Department of Energy). Adjusting your air conditioner or thermostat a degree makes a big difference. And if every Chicagoan replaced four light bulbs with energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs, it would prevent 2.6 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions, the equivalent of removing 81,164 cars from the road. Also, electronics on standby still use electricity, so turn off computers and power strips to avoid such “phantom loads.”

DRIVING/PARKING

Consumption- Americans have bought 6.9 million cars and 7.8 million light trucks (including SUVs) so far this year, and they drive about 2.6 trillion miles annually. The more than 200 million cars on American roads account for 30 percent of all cars worldwide—though the U.S. represents less than 5 percent of the world’s population.

Environmental impact- Transportation contributes to a quarter of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions, emitting 1.5 billion tons of CO2 annually, mostly from automobiles. The average American passenger car, driven about 12,500 miles a year, spews 11,450 pounds of carbon dioxide in a year, while the average light truck emits some 16,000 pounds annually. Cars impact the environment even when they’re not moving, as paved parking lots create rainwater runoff that pollute lakes and rivers and absorb solar heat, warming the area.

Saving grace- Sales of cars that run on alternative fuels are increasing, and there are now 11.5 million such cars on American roads. There are 60 models of alternative- fuel autos on sale today, up from 12 in 2000.

Alternatives- Walk, bike or take public transit when possible. If every Chicagoan replaced one car trip a month with another mode of transportation, it would decrease carbon dioxide emissions by 1.9 million tons per year. More drastically, you can use car-sharing services or buy a hybrid or a more fuel-efficient car.

FLYING

Consumption- U.S. airlines transported 744.6 million passengers in 2006, pulling in $163.8 billion in revenue. Added together, passengers flew 797.4 billion miles.

Environmental impact- Air travel accounts for 2 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, but with demand for flying rising, it is one of the fastest-growing contributors to global warming. Also, the fuel burned at high altitudes has a bigger global warming impact than fuel burned at ground level, and airplanes emit much more carbon than cars do on a per-passenger, per-mile basis.

Saving grace- Airlines have doubled fuel efficiency between 1978 and 2006 and have pledged to improve fuel economy an additional 30 percent over the next 18 years. Efforts to modernize air traffic control operations would also cut down on trip lengths.

Alternatives- Fly coach to save room and take direct flights to save fuel. Drive or take the train to your destination when possible. Forgo business trips and hold meetings through teleconferencing.

PLASTIC BOTTLES

Consumption- Although soft drinks continue to dominate the beverage market and are responsible for most plastic beverage bottling, the staggering rise of bottled water sparked the backlash against plastic bottles. Sales of single-serving plastic water bottles more than doubled between 2002 and 2005 to almost 28 billion bottles.

Environmental impact- The 1.5 million barrels of crude oil used each year to manufacture plastic water bottles in the U.S. could fuel 100,000 cars for a year. Thousands of tons of greenhouse gases are emitted transporting bottled water around the world. Just 23 percent of all plastic bottles are recycled, meaning some 52 billion end up in landfills or littered.

Saving grace- The industry has reduced the amount of plastic in its beverage packaging by 40 percent during the past five years, and some companies such as Nestle are pushing initiatives to further lighten the plastic while others such as Coke are opening plastic-bottle recycling plants.

Alternatives- Fill a reusable bottle with filtered tap water. Recycle the plastic bottles you do accumulate. Had the 2 million tons of plastic bottles thrown in the trash in 2005 been recycled instead, 18 million barrels of oil would’ve been saved.

JUNK MAIL

Consumption- There were more than 105 billion pieces of direct mail sent to U.S. households in 2006, accounting for half of all mail delivered by the U.S. Postal Service. That’s up from 66 billion pieces of junk mail delivered in 1990.

Environmental impact- The production of junk mail in the U.S. uses 100 million trees annually, and the manufacture and disposal of it consumes more energy than 3 million cars. Some 44 percent of bulk mail gets thrown away unopened, and less than 36 percent of it is recycled.

Saving grace- Direct marketing is expected to generate $2 trillion in increased sales this year, account for 10.2 percent of total U.S. gross domestic product and employ 1.6 million people. One-third of the U.S. Postal Service’s annual revenue depends on advertising mail.

Alternatives- Visit the Direct Marketing Association’s Web site at the-dma.org for information on how to remove your name from mailing lists. You can pay $1 to be put on the DMA’s do-not-mail list, but also contact companies directly to remove your name from their lists because not all companies go through DMA. Also, visit optoutprescreen.com to cut back on credit card and insurance offers.

NEWSPAPERS

Consumption- Almost 1,500 daily newspapers are published in the U.S., with a combined daily circulation of more than 53.3 million.

Environmental impact- U.S. newspapers use about 9.2 million tons of paper, consuming more than six million tons of virgin fiber every year—more than the book, magazine and catalog sectors combined. Making a year’s worth of newspapers in the U.S. requires 105 million trees and enough energy to power 3 million homes for a year. The greenhouse gases produced by newspapers are equal to the amount produced by 4.9 million cars in a year.

Saving grace- Newspapers are the most recycled paper product, boasting a 73.4 percent recycling rate, and newsprint contains an average of 32 percent recycled fiber. Also, newsprint consumption has declined over the past 20 years, as newspapers scale back.

Alternatives- Cancel subscriptions you don’t use. Recycle newspapers, magazines and catalogs. Opt out of catalogs at https://www.catalogchoice.org/signup.

EATING MEAT

Consumption- U.S. meat production is projected to exceed 90 billion pounds in 2007, helping to feed Americans who eat 220 pounds of meat per person every year.

Environmental impact- Livestock account for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, including 37 percent of the world’s methane (mostly from flatulent cows) and 65 percent of its nitrous oxide (mostly from cattle manure). Though carbon dioxide is a more prevalent greenhouse gas, the other two are more potent. Methane has 23 times the global warming potential of CO2 and nitrous oxide has 296 times. Livestock also are a major cause of deforestation globally as land is cleared for grazing and feed crops, which contributes to carbon dioxide emissions. Livestock consume more food than they yield.

Saving grace- Methane emissions in the U.S. have decreased 11 percent over the past 15 years, and improvements in the cattle industry, such as better-quality feed, contributed to 3 percent of that decrease.

Alternatives- Cut back on meat consumption, or give it up completely. Switching from a meat to a vegan diet could save 1.5 tons of greenhouse gases annually, according to one University of Chicago study.

PLASTIC BAGS

Consumption- U.S. consumers used 91 billion plastic bags in 2006. In Chicago, every resident uses 208 plastic shopping bags per year. Ninety percent of all grocery bags are plastic.

Environmental impact- Twelve million barrels of oil are used each year to manufacture plastic bags for U.S. consumption, according to some estimates, yet only 7 percent of plastic bags are recycled. Worldwide, about 4 billion plastic bags end up as litter, ending up stuck in trees, oceans and in the throats of wildlife. The rest go to landfills.

Saving grace- Lightweight, low-cost and water-resistant, plastic bags are in some ways more efficient than paper bags. The manufacture of plastic bags consumes 20 to 40 percent less energy and releases 70 percent less air pollution than the making of paper bags. Also, more than 80 percent of consumers reuse plastic bags for use as trash can liners, lunch bags, picking up pet waste and more.

Alternatives- Replace plastic grocery bags with reusable bags. If everyone in Chicago did so, it would eliminate 601 million bags and save 4,508 tons of waste from going to a landfill. Chicago-based reusablebags.com has a wide selection. Also, plastic bags are recyclable, used primarily to make composite lumber but also new bags, crates and pipes. While plastic bags are not accepted in Chicago’s curbside recycling programs, some retailers such as Jewel-Osco have bins for plastic bag recycling. Visit plasticbagrecycling.org for more locations.

Planes, trains and automobiles have a bigger effect on the environment beyond the fumes they emit. Researchers have created a new framework to calculate the true environmental cost of travel that accounts for every process, from generating energy to keep train stations running to extracting ore to build a car.

Researchers from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, compiled a catalog of emissions for a variety of vehicles, including cars, light and heavy railways and jumbo jets. Their research produced some surprising results.

For example, a comparison between light railways in both Boston and San Francisco showed that despite Boston boating a light railway with low operational energy use, the city’s trains emit far more greenhouse gases because 82 percent of the energy generated in Boston is fossil fuel-based compared to only 49 percent in San Francisco.

The Berkeley researchers also cautioned people to not make assumptions about the environment impact of one form of transportation over another. Using this new framework, the researchers concluded that a half-full Boston light railway is only as environmentally friendly, per kilometer traveled, as a midsize aircraft at 38 percent occupancy.

As part of their Billion Tree Campaign and to celebrate World Environmental Day on June 5th, the U.N. Environment Programme (UNEP) is promising to plant a tree for each person that follows them on social networking site Twitter. Between now and June 5th, the UNEP is pledging to plant one tree for each new person that follows them on Twitter. The goal is to engage 100,000 followers on the social networking site and, in turn, plant 100,000 trees towards UNEP’s Billion Tree Campaign.

Follow their campaign at: www.twitter.com/UNEPandYou.

This Friday is World Environment Day and the big event will be the global premiere of the environmental film Home. Narrated by Glenn Close and directed by Yann Arthus-Bertrand, the photographer and author of Earth From Above, the film can be seen in movie theaters, on DVD, and for free on television and the Internet.

The documentary about environmental issues, which was filmed in 50 countries and shot entirely from the sky in high definition, is a commentary on the major environmental and social issues challenging our world and calls for a new awareness that protecting the earth is indispensable. The premise: In 200,000 years on Earth, humanity has upset the balance of the planet, established by nearly four billion years of evolution. The price to pay is high as humankind has barely 10 years to reverse the trend, become aware of the full extent of the Earth’s riches and change its patterns of consumption.

Arthus-Bertrand’s collaborators on the project were producer/director Luc Besson and Francois-Henri Pinault, the chief executive of the French luxury group PPR, which is the majority shareholder of PUMA and the world exclusive partner for the film.

Proceeds from the sale of merchandising products related to the film will be donated to the organization www.goodplanet.org.

For many consumers today, slapping a “Green!” label on a product attracts buyers as easily as “New and Improved!” does on a bottle of detergent.  ”Green is a global phenomenon,” said Marshal Cohen, chief analyst for the NPD group, a market research group. Consumers are even willing to pay an extra 20 percent for eco-friendly products such as organic clothing, Cohen said.

Most eco-conscious consumers inch their way into the green closet by choosing organic cotton clothing. Organic cotton makes up 95 percent of organic fabrics, according to Organic Exchange, a nonprofit trade organization working to increase the use of organically grown cotton. While many consumers may think cotton is “natural,” cotton crops take up 3 percent of the world’s farmland, yet use 25 percent of the world’s insecticides and 10 percent of all pesticides, according to Pesticide Action Network North America.

Organic cotton, grown primarily in Turkey, India and the United States, makes up less than 1 percent of all cotton grown worldwide. Produced without pesticides or chemical fertilizers, organic cotton must be grown in soil that has been chemical-free for three years. Consumers need to be wary of “green washing” or “green sheen,” the act of misleading consumers regarding the environmental practices of a company or the environmental benefits of a product or service, said Yolles. Some clothing labeled “made of organic cotton” might contain only 3 percent organic cotton, for example. Items made from 100 percent certified organic cotton are preferable, said Ellen Gavin, co-owner of Birch clothing, an eco-friendly clothing store in Minneapolis.

Consumers also can choose clothing made from hemp, bamboo, Tencel or rayon (from wood pulp), soy and corn, most of which are much softer and more resilient than they were five years ago. But the focus of the greenest clothing companies goes beyond the fabric. For companies such as Nau and Patagonia, it’s also about the product’s color and design, as well as its production, distribution, care and cleaning and recyclability.

Patagonia’s transparency about its eco processes is a standard for other green companies. At Patagonia.com, consumers can look at five products and see the paths they take from crop to cloth in the “Footprint Chronicles” series. Its Eco rain shell jacket, for example, has a shell and lining that is 100 percent recyclable (the retailer takes them back), but the company admits that the synthetic chemical applied to make it rain-resistant is bad. They’re looking for an alternative, the site says.

That’s a step better than most companies, which claim that their products are recyclable but don’t offer a collection program. Some Herman Miller office chairs, for example, are 95 percent recyclable, the company says, but consumers can’t return the parts to a retailer, only a recycling facility in their area if there is one.

To be green, know the origin of the material and how the item was made. The less transparent a manufacturer is about its processes, the more suspect it should be. Go to the company’s website for information (check the product label for info) if you’re shopping at big-box stores, or shop at small stores with a green focus whose employees can answer your questions.