What: Grass Drying Rack

Features: A modern twist on a kitchen staple, this funky two-piece countertop drying rack was built with mothers in mind, as it’s great for air drying baby gear (bottles, soothers, teething toys, etc.). Objects big and small stand upright and dry atop the flexible faux grass blades while water drips down to a tray below AND it’s easy to clean—both the grass and its tray are dishwasher safe

Green Factor: BPA, phthalate and PVC-free

Bonus: Free shipping on orders of $75 or more at Sprout Baby!

Find It Here: Sprout Baby

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• Ice, Ice, Baby
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By Katherine, March 14, 2010  
Filed under: BPA-free, Baby, Home, Kitchen, Kitchenware
Please read our disclaimer regarding the content on this site.

What: Wall Hook

Features: Check out these sweet wall hooks from FluffyCo! They’re screen-printed by hand on to blocks of Ponderosa Pine, with three hooks at the bottom to hang clothing, jewelry, keys or whatever strikes your fancy

Green Factor: Made by hand in San Francisco using locally sourced and sustainably harvested wood, water-based materials and American-made hardware

Bonus: Check out the Inspirations section on the company’s web site, which features cool snaps of what inspires the minds behind FluffyCo and photo tour of their studio

Find It Here: FluffyCo

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By Katherine, March 10, 2010  
Filed under: Home, Made in USA, Sustainable
Please read our disclaimer regarding the content on this site.

What: Climate Counts web site

Features: Keep tabs on your favorite companies and their efforts to address climate change with Climate Counts, a web site that scores their impact on the environment. Check the scorecard for a ranking of a company’s grade and the ways they’re reducing their carbon footprint (Kraft Foods, for example, is up 19 points from last year and is listed as ‘Striding’ toward their environmental goals. Sara Lee, on the other hand, is ‘Stuck’, meaning they have yet to take meaningful action on climate change)

Green Factor: The goal is clear (and green): to encourage awareness among consumers, and, in turn, within the companies themselves

Bonus: The site is full of information. Sign up for their newsletter, watch videos, contact companies directly, download a helpful iPhone app and more!

Find It Here: Climate Counts

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• Weekly Green Round-Up
• Eco-Learning and Green Gaming!

By Katherine, March 8, 2010  
Filed under: Eat, Learn, Resources, Tips, news
Please read our disclaimer regarding the content on this site.

What: VidaAire Lemongrass Sanitizer and Air Purifier

Features: Odor neutralizer and sanitizer made from natural essential oils. Can be used virtually anywhere to sanitize any surface because it leaves no residue. Lemongrass oil is a natural disinfectant and the essential oils in VidaAire have been clinically proven to help alleviate stress and anxiety and elevate mood.

Green Factor: Non-ozone depleting, non-toxic, organic, safe for people with allergies to harsh chemicals.

Bonus: VidaAire smells lemony fresh and clean naturally.

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By Janet, February 27, 2010  
Filed under: Clean, Home, Organic
Please read our disclaimer regarding the content on this site.

What: USB rechargeable batteries

Features: The numbers are staggering—over fifteen billion batteries are tossed into the trash each year, yet now more than ever, batteries are in demand. From Moxia Energy comes a forward-thinking solution: USBCELLs, batteries that can be charged via a USB port, allowing you to recharge virtually anywhere, without having to rely on a portable charger. Currently available are AA’s, with triple A’s, 9V and cell phone batteries on the way

Green Factor: With proper use, USBCELLs can be charged several hundred times before losing capacity, saving you money and reducing your household waste output! Batteries are sent back to the company (free of charge if you’re in the UK!) for recycling

Bonus: Check their web site – it’s packed with information on the batteries, their various uses, how to recycle them and much more.

Find It Here: USBCELL

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• Batteries Not Included
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By Katherine, February 26, 2010  
Filed under: Home, Office, Recycle, Tech
Please read our disclaimer regarding the content on this site.

What: Green Wax

Features: Skiers, snowboarders and surfers alike have been known to wax their equipment, which not only enhances their ability and execution, but protects expensive gear against the elements as well. Green Wax, an all-natural performance wax, is made in small batches and then poured in to recyclable tubes, bypassing the need for extrusion machinery and further reducing energy consumption and waste

Green Factor: Unlike most of its competition, Green Wax doesn’t come equipped with harmful toxins. It’s non-toxic, biodegradable, and contains neither PFC’s nor petroleum

Bonus: Endorsed by a third-party environmental research firm based at Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada, and made here in the United States

Find It Here: Green Wax

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• Let’s Party
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By Katherine, February 24, 2010  
Filed under: Biodegradable, Made in USA, Play
Please read our disclaimer regarding the content on this site.

What: Ol’ Macs Story Building Barnyard

Features: Imagination rules with this 95-piece barnyard building set from Sprig Toys! Kids will have a blast building their own farm, and creating a fun storyline to go with it

Green Factor: Made out of recycled Sprigwood, a bio-composite material comprised of reclaimed wood bits and recycled plastic. Sprigwood is free of paint, soluble heavy metals, phthalates and endocrine disruptors

Bonus: This toy is 100% battery-free!

Find It Here: Sprig Toys

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By Katherine, February 18, 2010  
Filed under: Kids, Play, Preschooler, Recycle, Toddler, Toys
Please read our disclaimer regarding the content on this site.

Did you know that even if it’s marked “pure and gentle,” baby shampoo might contain contaminants linked to cancer. That’s what the Breast Cancer Fund’s Campaign for Safe Cosmetics found nearly a year ago, when product tests revealed formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane in children’s shampoos, bubble baths and other cosmetics.

Yet because U.S. cosmetics are almost completely unregulated and the FDA has no authority to issue recalls on dangerous products, our government has taken no action.

Please support the Safe Baby Products Act, which would require the FDA to test kids’ products for contaminants and work to prevent contamination in the first place.

Find It Here:  Safe Baby Products Act

On Our Blog: We’re Blushing!

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By Janet, February 9, 2010  
Filed under: Action Alerts, Baby, Community
Please read our disclaimer regarding the content on this site.

What: Dandelion Organic Teething Blanket

Features: The bear on this blanket has knotted appendages and wiggly ears for infants to touch, feel and teethe on; the soft material makes it the perfect bedtime companion (or anytime lovey!)

Green Factor: Made with the good stuff (100% certified organic cotton and natural dyes), not the bad stuff (pesticides and chemicals). Packaged in recycled materials.

Bonus: Baby Green Sprout only chooses products from companies that employ fair-trade and sweatshop-free standards.

Find It Here: Baby Green Sprout

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By Katherine, February 8, 2010  
Filed under: Baby, Baby Shower Gift, Fair Trade, Organic, Toddler
Please read our disclaimer regarding the content on this site.

What: Bamboo E-Plane

Features: Up, up and away! This wooden toy airplane from Hape is stylish, modern and built to last.

Green Factor: The environmentally-friendly E-Plane is made out of sustainable bamboo and is decorated with non-toxic, water-based dyes

Bonus: All of Hape’s products meet international safety and quality standards

Find It Here: Amazon.com

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By Katherine, February 3, 2010  
Filed under: Bamboo, Kids, Play, Preschooler, Sustainable, Toys
Please read our disclaimer regarding the content on this site.

What: Goodie Boxes

Features: The crowning touch at children’s birthday parties? The goody bags, of course. But more often than not, those bags are filled with cheap, plastic junk from the dollar store that no doubt winds up in a landfill somewhere. Check out this greener alternative: Goodie Boxes!

Green Factor: Each re-usable box is made from recycled cardboard and is printed with soy ink

Bonus: There are several different patterns to choose from and Green Party Goods also carries a great selection of non-toxic, fair trade and earth friendlier goodies to put in your Goodie Boxes

Find It Here: Green Party Goods

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• Box Appeal
• Goody Green Bags

By Katherine, February 1, 2010  
Filed under: Holiday, Kids, Recycle, Reduce/Reuse, Toys
Please read our disclaimer regarding the content on this site.

What: Paper Loop Greeting Cards

Features: L.A.-based Paper Loop is an eco-friendly, wholesale stationary company that offers up a variety of fun and funky greeting cards for all occasions

Green Factor: Using recycled paper and envelopes, biodegradable sleeves, wind-powered printing and domestic suppliers are ways this company keeps it green

Bonus: Can be found in the US, Canada, the UK, Chile and Japan; will ship via buyer’s preference

Find It Here: Paper Loop

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• Birth Announcement Turned Wildflower
• Peace on Earth. Delivered.

By Katherine, January 28, 2010  
Filed under: Biodegradable, Home, Made in USA, Office, Recycle
Please read our disclaimer regarding the content on this site.