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

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

What: 100% corn plastic mug

Features: Yes, you read correctly–this 10.5oz mug is made out of 100% corn, grown and manufactured right here in America

Green Factors: Features lead-free ink and no BPA whatsoever. It’s also microwave-safe, biodegradable and can be composted, as well.

Bonus: Because it’s corn plastic, this mug won’t break when if you drop it

Find It Here: BuyOlympia

What: Baby wipes made from bamboo fiber

Features:  Natural ingredients, scented with non-toxic, all-natural essential oils with antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties

Green Factor: Bamboo is highly renewable and sustainable, wipes are 100% biodegradable. Bum Boosa is also a signer of The Compact for Safe Cosmetics.

Bonus:  Bum Boosa plants a tree for each package of 80 count wipes sold. Trees are also planted to offset 100% of their carbon emissions.

Find It Here: Bum Boosa

Win It: We’ve partnered with Bum Boosa to give away three 80 count packs of Bum Boosa bamboo baby wipes and one container of Bum Boosa bamboo diaper rash ointment. Click here to fill out our simple entry form. Just enter BB11 as the giveaway name and name one of the ingredients in Bum Boosa wipes (besides bamboo!) Enter by 11/27/09. $25 value. Open to residents of US and Canada. Winner to be notified by email. Contest Closed.

If you’re trying to be more green, like I am, but you get a little overwhelmed with all the organic this and Acronym-Free that—relax.

I’m about to you tell you the absolute easiest way for you to start being more environmentally friendly.

Ready?

Use greener cleaning products.

Hold on.  Get back here.  I see a few of you running to chain yourself in front of your closet full of pine-fresh scented cleaning products. Read the rest of this entry »

Buying things today is more than just the purchase. It’s about making smart choices—ones that aren’t harmful to the environment and you can feel good about, like buying from companies who are as committed to the earth as they are to their product. Take, for example, Print*Pattern*Paper, a handmade art and textile company that not only believes in environmental responsibility, but practices it, too.

Designer Rebecca Peragine takes the term ‘made from recycled materials’ to heart—all of her original prints are created from scrap materials. They’re packaged in biodegradable materials and Rebecca uses soy ink and recyclable materials and many, of her products are made in the United States using locally-sourced goods. Print*Pattern*Paper chooses to support smaller, local businesses, and donates both their images and designs to raise money for children and families around the world.

From wall art (prints and canvas), number cards, posters, cotton bags and stationery, Print*Pattern*Paper is original and stylish and philanthropic and totally ecoguilt-free—NO compromising required!

Find It Here: Print*Paper*Pattern

Bonus: Mention The Green Mom Review and receive 20% off your next purchase!

Every day I pack my kids’ lunches (yep…even in the summer) and every day they need a spoon. Well, I learned a long time ago that sending them with silverware was a bit of a crap shoot. It might make it home. It might not. And that right there? Is why I love Pop!CornWare utensils. It’s like the plastic stuff in that it’s disposable but it’s NOT plastic. Nope. It’s actually made from corn and it’s totally biodegradable, non-toxic and petroleum free. You can just use it and pitch it (or lose it) and not feel one iota of plastic guilt. But this is where Pop!CornWare gets even better. We DON’T just use it and pitch it. We use it, wash it in the dishwasher, and use it again. And again. And again. It’s true. I got my package of Pop!CornWare probably 4-6 months ago and I took 4 spoons out to use and have been using them ever since in my kids lunchboxes. Now how they can lose silverware but manage to hang onto a Pop!CornWare spoon is one of life’s great mysteries but whatever… They’re green. They last. They rule!

Find It Here: 3 Green Moms

Before I met my husband, I never really thought of bird feeding as a hobby or something I would find enjoyable. Turns out a very basic peanut butter pinecone like the one I made in third grade was a simple way to be part of a popular and relaxing hobby. Of course, my husband prefers the more complex bird feeders that prevent squirrels from stealing the seeds but whether you go basic or become an avid birdwatcher, bird feeding is a great hobby for both kids and adults. My young kids enjoy watching the birds fly around and eat from the little feeder attached to our patio (so do my cats, for that matter) and I often find myself slowing down after a hectic day and watching the show. I know…you’re dying to ask what birdhouse is best for your family or backyard, right? Well, for those of us who lean green, a natural edible bird house is a wonderful eco-friendly alternative from those complicated plastic or metal feeders. I especially like the castle bird feeder made from a sunflower seeds, dried apple and orange slices, corn and other delicious treats—for the birds, of course! By providing a yummy little haven for birds to hang out, you get to enjoy nature and the stress relief that comes with it and who doesn’t need more of that in their lives?

Find It Here: Zen Garden Bonsai

Around my place, we eat a lot of veggies—especially carrots and potatoes, which means a lot of scrubbing and cleaning of said vegetables. Thankfully, we found the Tampico scrub/vegetable brush by the good people at GreenBoatStuff.com. (This family-owned company has a range of green products, with particular emphasis on boating and watersports, and proudly asserts its Earth-friendly nature in its name.) What I adore most about this rough brush, though, is not that it makes vegetable-cleaning a hundred times easier and quicker than, say, a toothbrush, though it really does; not its great price (a steal at $3.25 plus shipping); and not the health factor of having well-cleaned versus inadequately cleaned veggies. I love the green denominator best: It’s plastic-free and constructed to be as biodegradable as possible, even if it were to accidentally make its way into the marine ecosystem! The bristles are made of Tampico fiber, which is a vegetable fiber from a plant indigenous to Mexico, and the handle is of finished hardwood. A few of the other great things about Tampico are its capacity to store and release water, its resistance to heat and oils, and its abrasiveness, which makes it ideal for other applications on and off the boat and around the house. Although not the sleekest, most fashion-forward brush (but who needs form when you’ve got oodles of function?), it more than gets the job done—sans chemicals!

Find It Here: GreenBoatStuff.com

Yep, we’re giving away a ton of cool stuff courtesy of Seventh Generation. Squeee! It would take me about 5000 words to tell you about all of their products so I’m just going to highlight a couple of their baby items today, like the Seventh Generation wipes which are, hands down, my favorite brand. Their wipes are always really moist (especially the ones that come in the fill packs…my advice is to get those and forget buying the new box every time). Their disposable diapers aren’t bad either. (Did I just say disposable and diaper in the same sentence?) Oh yes, that’s right. I *gasp* do use disposables. I cannot tell a lie. I’ve also used cloth, as well, and go back and forth. Admittedly, I’m not perfect — so, if like me, you set out intending to use cloth diapers but you don’t quite make it happen and you’re looking for something disposable, then Seventh Generation is a pretty good option. First off, they work well. I have yet to have a leak and I have used them with my son overnight, after a marathon breastfeeding session, so I consider them well-tested! The diapers are fragrance-free, hypo-allergenic, and latex-free. Additionally, the wipes are hypo-allergenic, whitened without chlorine bleach, unscented and alcohol free. Also, because their diapers and wipes are chlorine-free, they won’t contribute to toxic dioxin pollution. In the name of full disclosure, Seventh Generation diapers, like other disposable diapers, are made with man-made materials that are petroleum-derived (not so great). So yes, cloth is definitely the greenest option, but if you’re not quite ready to do cloth yet, Seventh Generation is worth a look!

Find It Here: Seventh Generation

Win It! Win an awesomely huge prize package of Seventh Generation products worth $140, including a package of diapers and wipes; phosphate and chlorine free automatic dishwasher detergent; natural kitchen cleaner; natural all-purpose cleaner; natural glass and surface cleaner; natural shower cleaner; natural toilet bowl cleaner’ natural tub and tile cleaner; and natural laundry detergent. Click here to fill out our simple entry form. Just enter “SG55” as the giveaway name and provide the answer to this question: What is the name of your favorite Seventh Generation product? U.S. and Canadian residents eligible. Enter by 10/17/08. Giveaway closed. Congrats, Leigh!

Towels are something I don’t skimp on. I want a big nice, fluffy towel to wrap myself in after a bath. Correction — I deserve a nice big fluffy towel to wrap myself in after a bath. After all, and I think this goes without saying, it’s hard being a mom and thus, I get to spoil myself now and then! My new favorite way to spoil myself (after giving myself a long hot bath…with a book…and a sinful chocolate dessert) is to dry off with a bamboo towel from The Company Store. Over the years, I’ve bought many cotton towels and I have to say that they don’t hold a candle to the bamboo variety. It’s softer, fluffier and in my estimation, stays that way longer than cotton. Bamboo fabrics are also naturally anti-bacterial, which means that your towels naturally stay fresh-smelling longer. And did I mention how absorbent they are? And fluffy? And soft? And, and, and….what are you waiting for? If you need a new towel or two, these won’t disappoint.

Find It Here: The Company Store

Green Mom Discount! Get 10% off eco-friendly items from The Company Store using code “ECO10″ at checkout. Expires 10/15/08.

If you’ve ever been to a trade show or convention, you know about the swag (actually an acronym for “stuff we all get”). In plain English, it’s all the promotional junk that you get and give to your kids as “souvenirs.” Imagine how much of that stuff gets produced and given out every day all over the country — that’s a lot of stuff! Now imagine that all that stuff was biodegradable, recycled, fair trade, sustainably-produces or some other flavor of green. Much better, right? Of course, we at The Green Mom Review are always in favor of less consumption across the board but if you’re going to give out branded items regardless (at your meeting, conference, family reunion etc), it would be awesome to do it in an eco-friendlier way and that’s where EcoBranders comes in. They have all the same stuff the regular promotional products companies have except it’s greener and every single item can have YOUR logo, design or name on it. Pretty cool, huh? Makes me wish I’d thought of it first!

Find It Here: EcoBranders