ISSUE 3/JAN/FEB 2009 7 8
EDITOR: Letter to You COCO ECO EDITOR LOVES . . . New Year, New You!
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DRESS: Secretly Seductive Flight of Fancy
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SHINE: Best Face Forward – 2009 Spring Trends Wow – Cacao! Hip Not Hippie Spotlight On Beauty . . . WILDAID by David Babaii
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COVER STORY: Summer Rayne Oakes, Confessions of a Green Goddess
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THRIVE: Hitting the Refresh Button for 2009 Want to Go Green in the Bedroom?
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LIVE: Minarc, Design With Common Sense 4 Tips to Surviving Valentine’s if you are SINGLE! Valentine’s Day Gifts for the Most Important Person in Your Life! Guilty Pleasures - Eco Valentine’s Day
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MEN WE LOVE: Bryan Meehan, From being Fresh & Wild to going Nude!
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TRAVEL: The Coco Eco Magazine Guide to . . . Seattle
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GO: Juju Salon: Let Your Skin Eat
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DRIVE: How Much is that Mini in the Window?
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EVENTS: Opportunity Green Seizes the Triple Bottom Line
WHERE TO BUY: 100 Get it all here! 5
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Secretly Seductive
W Goddess
ho said we should only see R E D on Valentine Day? Our eco designers are here to prove there is an earth loving in each of us. It’s now easier than ever to be SEXY
and responsible, so wear your P A S S I O N for this green life close to your heart. Choose sustainable and organic fabrics that will seduce and beguile that special someone!
Words by Sarah Griffin Berns
Panties and thigh highs Urban Fox, www.Urbanfoxeco.com
Pas
Joline (inside) - L www.lindalou Bra and panty (t www.dess
Christine (outsid Dessou www.dess
ssion
Linda Loudermilk udermilk.com thong) - Dessous sous.com
de) - Vintage top, us brief sous.com
G
oddess
Corset - Designer Amy Mohlenoff www.houseoforganic.com Panties - Wendy Gletz www.vieonthird.com
Sexy
Body Suit - Romp www.romp.uk.com Necklace - Angel Court www.visionaryboutique.com
Photography Courtney Dailey Models: Joline from Photogenics, Christine from Ford Stylist Robin Garvick Hair Brian Bowman Make Up Daniel Chinchilla Special thanks to Glenda Borden for our gorgeous Los Angeles location
Words by Sarah Griffin Berns
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By Anna Griffin
A
s we try and green our beauty regimes, not only for the health of the planet, but also our bodies, new products are continuously appearing on the market. Unfortunately, the hair care industry has been slower to catch on to its skincare counterparts, but thankfully a new product line has emerged that’s kind to Mother Nature, our animal friends, and you! In development for three years, and launched in 2008, David Babaii for Wildaid is the brainchild of golden girl Kate Hudson, and her long-time hairstylist/confidante David Babaii. Kate, who is a self-confessed product junkie, felt a call to action when a friend of hers developed breast cancer. Immediately eliminating and replacing all harmful chemicals from her beauty routine, Kate found it hard to find good hair care. It was then that she and David, a celebrity hairstylist with more than a hundred major covers to his name, joined forces. Their mission? “To not only celebrate the remarkable beauty in nature – but help sustain it.” They do this by donating ten percent of all profits to Wildaid, a non-profit organization that works with governments and communities of the world to reverse the devastation of our planet’s wildlife.
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SPOTLIGHT : ONBEAUTY
Free of dangerous sulfates, parabens, petrochemicals, and animal products, and never tested on animals, this is an innovative line of hair care products and appliances featuring exotic, natural, and renewable ingredients. Rich Cupuacu Butter from the South American Amazon, nutrient rich super volumizing Volcanic Ash from the Vanuatu Islands of the South Pacific, Blue Algae, Wild Orchid, Kiwi, Mango, Jojoba Seed, and Dead Sea Salt contribute to this collection of fourteen products that include shampoos, conditioners, styling aids, and even a hair dryer and flat irons. I personally love the Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner, the Hair Polish, and Professional Styling Iron, which delivers a multitude of styles and using ionic technology, enhanced health and wellness for your hair! To thoroughly test the styling products, we put them in the hands of Los Angeles Hairstylist S. Tiara Lewis, who used them during our accessories photo shoot. Here are her comments: Fibers Molding Paste (With essence of Candelillia Wax, Shea Butter, and Cupuacu Butter): This product adds a lot of texture and is ideally suited to men’s’ hair. Volcanic Ash Sculpting Clay (with Mineral-rich Volcanic Ash): Great for definition, this product is not heavy, and adds volume. Amplifying Whipped Mouse (with Blue Algae, Mango, Kiwi, and Jojoba Oil): Adds great fullness whilst protecting your hair from environmental contaminants and pollution. Volcanic Ash Root Amplifier (With Mineral-rich Volcanic Ash, Jojoba Oil, Blue Algae, Kiwi, Mango, and White Ginger): Great for lift and volume on wet or dry hair, and adds amazing shine. Mise En Plis Light and Extra Hold Styling Spray (with White Ginger, Fenugreek and Rosemary): Both sprays do as they promise whilst delivering healthy shine and manageability. This is a carefully conceived hair care line that delivers great results. If the performance, exotic ingredients, and company philosophy aren’t enough, you’ll feel good because you’ve supported the Environment, endangered animals, and your health. And looked fabulous whilst doing it! www.db4wildaid.com www.wildaid.org
GOWILD! 39
Summer Rayne Oakes
Ashootgorgeous day for a photo brought us way up in the Hollywood Hills for an exclusive glimpse of a day in a life of the Coco Eco Mag team. Besides the excitement from the out of this world, breathtaking views of the chosen location, this shoot was with the one and only Summer Rayne Oaks. Summer gave us free range on our questions and was willing to share with us everything we wanted to know, from her roots to her current passions. We kicked off our chat by finding out the story behind the name.
By Apple Levy
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Photographer Agatha A. Nitiecka
NEW YEAR’S RENEWAL:
HITTING THE REFRESH BUTTON FOR 2009! By Randi Ragan
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O
ne of the most enjoyable aspects, to me, of our ever evolving world of computing and technology, has always been the unexpected poetry of the language used to describe various functions, situations, and concepts. (defragmentation, cookies, open the drapes, pixel dust, thumbnail). My favorite lately, perhaps because in practical terms, it sometimes solves so many problems with a mere click of a button, is “refresh”. Who doesn’t enjoy the feeling of an instant “fix” when in a jam? In metaphorical terms, it’s a complete winner: a simple enough concept, albeit one with huge ramifications: it’s the all encompassing “do over” for which all of us are longing. And when considering its use in thinking about the looming New Year, it has a more gentle, less harsh ring to it. Instead of saddling ourselves with sure to backfire, hardcore “resolutions” about how much better we’re going to be in ’09 with (fill in the blank) our diets, our exercise program, our finances, our relationships, etc. etc. etc. , we can right away avoid the straight out of box “doomed for failure” modality which that whole system involves. “Hit the refresh button for your life”. See how much softer, kinder, and attainable that sounds? Mind you, like anything and everything in life, attention must be paid in order to achieve any kind of satisfaction. Paying attention here means thoughtful consideration, a modicum of stick-to-it-ive-ness, and a little perseverance. But, as with computing, there is no limit to the amount of times you can hit the refresh button. Keep doing it, and before long, you will have developed the incredibly good habits of enlightened self-care that will change your life. And that is not spam, that’s truth.
What is “enlightened self care”? Anything that furthers the goal of authentic living, which gives you good physical, mental, and spiritual health, wellbeing, and balance. Following are three sections devoted to a holistic approach to finding this balance – all three are necessary for accessing the sweet spot, and getting the richness you deserve with your life.
Body!
My approach to the idea of physical “refreshing”: if you do it on a semi-regular basis all the time anyway, then there’s not so much need for drastic detoxing. This list offers several ways to work simple habits into your daily life for more long-term results.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Drink at least 2 quarts of filtered, purified water a day. No matter what. There is nothing that you can do for yourself physically that is more simple and more important. Eat plenty of fiber, including brown rice and organically-grown fresh fruits and vegetables. Beets, radishes, artichokes, cabbage, broccoli, spirulina, chlorella, and seaweed are excellent detoxifying foods. Cleanse and protect the liver by taking herbs such as dandelion root, burdock and milk thistle, and drinking green tea. The herbs can be taken in capsule form like you would your daily dose of vitamins. Take vitamin C, which helps the body produce glutathione, a liver compound that drives away toxins. Practice Deep Breathing. Breathing deeply allows oxygen to circulate more completely through your system. Breath is the source of life. During inhalation, fresh energy is brought into the body, energy centers, and pores to nourish the cells, tissues, and organs. With exhalation, accumulated stress, stagnant energy, and toxins are released. Transform stress by emphasizing positive emotions. Chronic stress in increasing degrees can make us more susceptible to physical and emotional illness (like anxiety disorder and depression), burn out, premature aging, and impacts negatively on judgment, performance and decision making. Positive emotions have a harmonizing and thereby health promoting effect on our body.
7.
Practice hydrotherapy. Take a very hot shower for five minutes, allowing the water to run on your back. Follow with cold water for 30 seconds. Then wrap up in warm clothes lie down in bed, and pile a bunch of blankets on top of yourself. Stay prone for 30 minutes. Hydrotherapy exploits the body’s reaction to hot and cold stimuli. The nerves carry impulses felt at the skin, deeper into the body, where they are instrumental in stimulating the immune system, influencing the production of stress hormones, invigorating circulation and digestion, encouraging blood flow, and lessening pain sensitivity.
8.
Sweat in a sauna so your body can eliminate wastes through perspiration. Almost every city and town has some kind of facility with day pass access to dry or wet saunas - YMCA’s, health clubs, and such. Try going to ethnic enclaves in your city for some of the best of these kinds of inexpensive experiences: Russian, Turkish, and Korean traditions have a beautiful history of working with sauna heat for everyday detoxing.
9.
Dry-brush your skin to remove toxins through your pores. Special brushes with natural bristles are available at natural products stores (please don’t use artificial fibers for this effort). This is a very lowtech yet time tested technique used by people all over the world. Dry skin brushing increases circulation to skin, encouraging your body’s discharge of metabolic wastes, which greatly aids the lymphatic drainage of the entire body. When the body rids itself of toxins, it is able to run more efficiently in all areas. Dry skin brushing also rejuvenates the nervous system by stimulating nerve endings in the skin. Dry skin brushing helps your skin to absorb nutrients by eliminating clogged pores. Healthy, breathing skin contributes to overall body health. Begin brushing your skin in long sweeping strokes starting from the bottom of your feet upwards, and from the hands towards the shoulders, and on the torso in an upward direction. Always brush towards the heart. Try and brush several times in each area, over-lapping as you go. Try following your dry brushing session with the hot and cold hydrotherapy suggested above for an incredible DIY detox session.
10.
Finally, what is the most important way to detoxify the body, day in and day out? Exercise, and for at least 30 minutes every day; enough to elevate your heart rate and break a sweat. Choose anything that also gives you enough pleasure to keep doing on a regular basis, because if it’s a chore, then you won’t stick with it. Variety is also key: mix hiking or swimming into a daily yoga practice; salsa dancing twice a week alternating with medicine ball workouts at the gym. Be fearless, try something new. 55
In discussing ways to jumpstart your New Year, the focus has been on cleansing, “refreshing”, starting over. The cornerstone of any holistic approach to good health and healthy living, is the acknowledgment of the mind/body connection. One of the very best ways, then, to begin cultivating this “new you”, is to really and truly understand what your own mind/body connection is, to begin viewing everything you do through this perspective. The easiest place to begin is with the breath. As mentioned in our Top 10 list above, learning how to deep breathe is a must for physical cleansing and health. But breathing exercises also form the foundation of many ancient practices that promote a deepening of consciousness—meditation, mindfulness, yoga, chi gong. In the Middle East the word for breath (ruach in Hebrew and ruhain Aramaic) also means spirit. The way in which we breathe is also the way in which we embody spirit. Deep flowing breath is a sign of health, balance, and fullness of spirit. Short shallow breath indicates stress. Breath is the simplest most direct way to focus one’s energy and to connect with the center of awareness. Breathing through a stressful time is an effective way to let go of the tension that accumulates in the body. A few long deep breaths at a difficult moment can completely change the way we handle a situation. By changing the way we breathe we can change emotional and physical states. Feelings and emotions can therefore be released and cleared out of the body by working with the breath. Meditation is another way to achieve the same results. It clears the mind, puts everything in perspective, helps move your emotional center to a more non-reactive place, and trains the mind to “be in the present moment”. Stress comes from either dwelling in the past or projecting into the future. Problem solving, clear thinking and reasoning, and ability to be more flexible with life’s daily challenges can be directly related to present moment thinking. There are many ways to begin meditating, either on your own, or with a group. There is meditation with yoga, Zazen (seated formal Zen Buddhist meditation), walking meditation, Transcendental Meditation that trains one to meditate anytime, anywhere. As they like to joke in ye olde Buddhist monastery: “Don’t just do something, sit there!” The practice of consciously unplugging, of finding how to take a step back from your daily life, through alone time, through stillness and quiet, is critical for living a healthier life. It’s been medically proven that mindful disengagement, when practiced on a regular basis, provides the link to mind/body health. This is truly what “hitting the refresh button” is all about.
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Watch your words:
They become your thoughts.
Watch your thoughts:
They become your actions.
Watch your habits:
They become your destiny.
Watch your actions:
They become your habits.
Image by Agatha A. Nitecka
Mind!
Spirit! The through line of this discussion is about finding a New Year’s ritual that not only serves the purpose of helping you to welcome the turning of the ‘08 to the ‘09 with good cheer and enthusiasm, but to give you encouragement to continue on for the whole rest of the year, and beyond. And nothing helps to set intention more than ritual. Mindful living really is nothing more than a series of rituals, big and small, that we create for ourselves on a daily basis, that help give structure and meaning to our story, the story of our life. One of the components of mindful living is a connection with nature. Re-affirm your own personal connection to the natural world every day, in every way that you can. To me, this is spiritual health. Once one has an abiding relationship with nature, then all the dots become connected: it is pointless to care about what you eat and what you put on your body as being eco pure, if you have not directly related that to the state of the planet. Getting zen and calm and yoga-ed out everyday merely becomes an act of trendy self absorption if those lessons aren’t put into action to help make the world a better place. Every choice every day hopefully enables you to understand the interconnectedness of all that you do, think, consume, recycle, create. Here is a simple ceremony to help you re-affirm your spiritual connection to Nature, to engage in a ritual that helps you to bridge the year just completed, with the one still to come. It’s based on the Native American ritual, The Blessing Tree Ceremony. Go out into Nature and find a beautiful tree that speaks to you. Choose it for it’s solitary location (away from lots of people) Bring an offering of cornmeal and loose leaf tobacco (traditional Native offerings) and sprinkle around the base of the tree in a circle going clockwise after your ritual. Sit on the East side of the tree, and ask yourself: What ideas have brought me liberation? On the South Side: What beliefs have I outgrown? On the West Side: What things do I regret and now let go of? On the North Side: What are my life’s achievements as well as unfulfilled desires? You should take a small notebook and pen to at least have the questions so you don’t forget them, but to also provide yourself a journaling exercise to record your lists. I like to take mine out and look at them throughout the year, and to also compare my lists from year to year. Mindful living is simple, honest and direct - just like the refresh button on your computer. Both contain what any new year always promises: potential. Here’s another thought that’s been around for a while, but ever so appropriate now, more than ever, and to help you in your preparations for 2009:
For the first 3 months of 2009 (Jan/Feb/ Mar) Randi will be offering private and semi-private day long Renewal Retreats in Los Angeles with guest teachers and experts, and which will include yoga, meditation, quigong, holistic and green living lectures and interactive discussions, organic gourmet lunches and eco-luxury spa treatments. Reservations and more information can be obtained by emailing randi@greenblissecospa.com.
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Want To Go Green
In The Bedroom? Get set to go all the way and learn how to safeguard your health and love life‌ By Emma Pezzack, Beauty Director
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K-Y is the oldest and most prolific brand that most consumers tend to trust, with a whopping 52% market share. Little known but to be expected, is that similar to the unhealthy ingredients often poured into our beauty products, which are then slathered on by an unsuspecting (but increasingly savvy) consumer, conventional lubricants contain a multitude of ingredients that are… surprise, surprise… harmful for you. Most of these ingredients are various forms of petrochemicals such as propylene glycol (often used in car batteries as anti-freeze), synthetic preservatives (such as the family of parabens, which have been found in cancerous breast tissue and are known endocrine disruptors encouraging an over-abundance of estrogen), glycerine (which not only is drying over time causing skin to potentially become even more absorbent to harmful ingredients, but it’s also a sugar, therefore can feed candida, or thrush, bacteria), and sodium hydroxide (which is very harsh and irritating to skin). We all know that up to 60% of what is applied to skin can be absorbed, but this becomes critical to understand when using personal lubricant, and this is why: There are parts of the body and skin, known as mucus membranes, that contain semi-permeable tissue. These are the cavities such as your nose, mouth, vaginal, and anal areas that are external to environments, but also directly link to internal organs. When you apply anything to these sensitive, highly absorbent skin surfaces, the ingredients are absorbed directly and effectively into your body. Compelling cause for concern, but even more so is the effect these chemicals can have on your fertility or for couples trying to conceive. A common misconception is that a lubricant does not impair sperm function if it doesn’t contain spermicide, however, most conventional personal lubricants tend to alter the normal pH balance of the vagina and cervical mucus, providing a hostile environment in which sperm can survive. Data from the World Health Organization shows that the optimum pH value for sperm motility and survival in cervical mucus is between 7.0 and 8.5. By contrast, most lubricants tend to have pH values below 7.0 and sometimes even as low as 3.5. What this means is that particularly in oil-based lubricants where the formula is viscous or syrupy, sperm is prevented from reaching the uterus and gets trapped in the overly acidic environment of the vagina, where they die. Even in conventional, water-based lubes, ingredients such as glycerine and propylene glycol can cause irreversible damage to sperm. So if you’re trying to conceive, you might want to think twice before reaching for that little tube of helpful glide. Lubricants should facilitate your pleasure, without masking your skin and senses, but besides the cornucopia of harmful chemicals outlined above, what is often also found in conventional lubricants is a barrage of artificial colors and flavors. Fun for some but again, most of these synthetic colors & flavors are produced synthetically from toxic chemicals. As if that weren’t enough, most are also tested on animals.
If you love to use lube and this article has you not only concerned now about your love life, but just as importantly, your health - don’t worry… there are alternatives. Susi Lennox & Sarah Brooks had both for years worked in the pharmaceutical and petroleum industries, but both felt increasingly compromised by the then prevailing ethics. Once they understood how petrochemicals were being used in personal care products, and how those ingredients can affect our health and well-being, they spent three years developing what is the world’s first, Soil Association approved, organic personal lubricant. Stylish in look, uncompromising in purity and offering all the reassurance of a certified organic product with the premium performance of a synthetic one, their brand of lubricant called Yes®, is revolutionizing the world of intimacy. Containing certified organic butters, fine oils, aloe vera gel and more, the products also represent a radical breakthrough in lubricant technology that uses plant-based polymers, instead of petrochemicals, glycerin or silicone.
Sliquid www.sliquidorganics.com
Where to buy:
Yes® www.futurenatural.com
Sylk www.sylkonline. com
Fire!ywww."re!ylubricant.com
Oceanus Natural # www.oceanusbrands.com
Given the hefty billion+ market share up for grabs, there are now several brands available including Firefly, Slyk (does contain grapeseed oil which can be irritating for some), Oceanus Naturals and Sliquid. These are all waterbased formulations that provide a natural experience, and Yes® also has an oil-based version for a deep, velvety glide. Bear in mind that most water-based formulations are latex compatible and oil-based versions are generally not, when making your choice. The new organic lubricants are designed to be as nature identical as possible, while safeguarding your intimate health by eliminating all toxic additives. Enhancing your intimacy with plant-based lubricants is literally changing the world of personal intimacy from the inside, out - so now you can go all the way, and feel good about it. 61
MINARC: Architect Tryggvi Thorsteinsson and Interior Designer Erla D枚gg Ingjaldsd贸ttir
DESIGN 64
WITH COMMON SENSE! By Nicole Landers & Samantha Brumley of eConnect Group 65
T
he world’s answer to modern, “green” simplicity in design might just be Iceland’s greatest export. MINARC, a Santa Monica, CA-based minimalist architecture and design firm founded by Icelandic couple Tryggvi Thorsteinsson and Erla Dögg Ingjaldsdóttir in 1999 has some great ideas about what it means to be eco-friendly, but they say it’s just common sense.
Fact sheets by country: Energy Mix, Energy for a Changing World, European Commission Directorate-General for Energy and Transport.
MINARC’s style is what Erla and Tryggvi stated as “functional for modern living”, meaning designing a home that is functional for it’s inhabitants and functional to meet energy needs, or what Erla describes as “eco-function”. Before MINARC even begins designing, land surveys and studies are conducted to determine what the plot of land’s natural location can offer the architects. The team might conduct and sun or wind study for example, and while designing along the coastal regions of California, it is likely that the design might even be able to take advantage of catching a breeze from the ocean for home ventilation. Unlike many other “green” architects, MINARC’s approach is unique in the sense that they seem to be not as concerned with installing eco-friendly afterthoughts, but understanding who will occupy the structure being built and what their needs are and what that land can naturally offer them. To Erla, “a big part of being eco-friendly is taking advantage of what you have…the simplest answer is using common sense”. Although many of MINARC’s projects are LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Certified and recognized by the USGBC (United States Green Building Council), the certifications are not what drive them to design sustainably but that design should be that way. Erla and Tryggvi’s Icelandic background has a lot to do with to couples’ approach to sustainability; because Iceland is an island with a very small amount of native trees, wood is not in abundance and what is consumed by the country’s citizens is either naturally found on the island or imported in from elsewhere. Not to mention, Iceland’s mild climate and breathtaking beauty is hardly easy to pollute. Iceland has the highest fractions of renewable energy of any country and yet some of the lowest fractions of carbon emissions. Erla and Tryggvi pointed out the differences in eco-consciousness between the American living and the rest of the world (Iceland for example) has a lot to do with the “disposable culture” that is maintained within this country in particular. “Tryggvi grew up way up north with not ev-en a doctor around…all this luxury here that we don’t even appreciate” says Erla. “At that time there was one T.V. station that was off on Thursdays and for six weeks during the summer”. Although both of them hail from Iceland, this dynamic couple met in the United States through work and has been married since 2001. Dotted around the walls of MINARC’s studio are evidence of a happy marriage- family photos of their three beautiful daughters, ages thirteen, five, and two. When asked what it is like to have her husband as her partner, Erla replied, “I couldn’t think it any other way. It’s a totally different relationship, and you have to build it up from that…because the practice is so dedicated, it is ideal to have your other half with you to complete that unit. Either (working together) will drive you apart or make you stronger, and you find out early in the relationship whether it will work or not so you are not wasting any time”. 67
4
Tips to Survi Valen
If You Are
iving ntines Day...
Photographer, MAGDA Model, Ivy at Ford Models Stylist, Layne McGovern Make-Up, Jamie Harper Hair, S. Tiara Lewis Recycled cashmere sweater Avita Co-op, LA www.avitastyle.com
Single! By Laurel House
I
t was love at first sight. From the moment I first felt my heart go pitter pat, I fell absolutely, head over heels, in love… with love. I couldn’t get enough of the goose bumps on my skin, the butterflies in my stomach, the summersaults in my heart. I loved hearing “I love you.” I loved saying “I love you.” I loved love! But it quickly became more than loving, and turned into needing, love. I grew addicted to love. I felt empty without it, depressed, lethargic, paralyzed. When I was a little girl, I dreamed about walking down the aisle. More than a dream, I had it all planned out- the dress, the flowers, the location, even the basic profile of the man. To say that I was boy crazy would be the understatement of the year. I was obsessed with finding my prince and getting hitched. Each time I was in a relationship, my girlfriends were the first to know… that’s because I stopped returning their calls and completely fell out of the social picture. Throughout high school, college and the bulk of my 20’s I was a serial long-term dater. When each relationship came to an end, I promptly found another… within weeks if not days of saying goodbye to my last. For some strange reason, a few of my friends chose to endure the abuse and opted not to turn their back whenever I made a comeback. After a string of broken hearts and heart breaks, I have finally come to realize that friends, not lovers, (and family) are the only companions who truly stand the test of time. They carry little to no drama, don’t pick fights, are unconditionally supportive, and are always there when you need them. Being single is a state that I have always feared. I have always been so terrified of being alone and feeling unloved that I hopped from one man’s arms to the next, constantly seeking an indefinable something. But once I had the opportunity (okay, not by choice) to be alone with myself, I discovered that I am stronger than I once thought I was, and better now because of it. I guess I never before gave myself enough credit to think I could get through this life by myself. So with Hallmark’s favorite holiday forcing red hearts down our throats, it’s time to celebrate your singlehood, give thanks to your girlfriends, and love yourself! Let’s face it, Valentine’s Day is essentially a Hallmark holiday created for a) love sick couples who need yet another excuse to publicly profess their undying love and devotion b) saps c) needy and greedy women who live for chocolates encased in heart-shaped boxes and, lest we forget, the infamous robin’s egg-blue box in which a diamond encrusted necklace nestles d) okay, me- yes, ever since my mom made me write valentines to all 35 classmates in grade school I have been devoted to the day of love- single or happily (or even unhappily) coupled. But learning to celebrate the day as a single can take some practice (and possibly years of counseling- no wonder my therapist drives a Benz!) Here are 4 tips to survive and honestly enjoy this day of love! So happy Valentines Day to all of you singles out there! This time dedicated solely to yourself could be the best of your life- when you don’t depend on another half to be whole, you are fabulous enough to be whole on your own.
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1. 2.. 3. 4.
You’ve got to face this simple fact once and for all- in order to be in a healthy and harmonious relationship in which you trade genuine lasting love, you have to first love yourself. I am talking everything about yourself! In order to work on your self-worth I have two essential activities that you truly should try: 1- create an “I Love Me” journal and write out all of the things that are fabulous about you. No one else is going to see this. Consider it your opportunity to be ruthlessly honest and even a bit arrogant. 2- walk around the house naked… often. Glide your hands along your skin and feel just how beautiful and perfect you are. Treat yourself to one of your favorite things- be it a box of chocolates, a massage, or even a diamond ring. If splurging on yourself is tough, rationalize it this way- if you were coupled, you would be wasting that cash on someone else. Why not spend it on yourself?! Take the day off and luxuriate in some quality me-time. Take a hike, play catch with your dog at the park, read a book at the beach, or just stay home all day and play Super Mario Bros 1 on the original Nintendo (nothing wrong with nostalgia to brighten your day). Do something for someone else. Case in point: I woke up one morning in a foul mood. A boyfriend had broken up with me the night before and all I wanted to do was marinate in my misery. After a few hours I decided to pry my butt off the bed and go for a walk. Along the way I crossed the path of about 200 exhausted marathoners on their last mile. Sweat streamed from their pores and their faces articulated more agony than even I could imagine. Since I had no water, Luna bars or a finish line to take the pain away, I looked one particularly pathetic runner in the eye and smiled. Her expression instantly softened and she responded with the most genuinely thankful smile. Somehow my smile lightened her day, and her smile brightened mine. Moral of my rambling anecdote: doing something for someone else can actually be construed as selfishly satisfying.
Now don’t for a second think that just because you are single means that you have to go through Valentine’s Day giftless! Buy yourself one of your favorite things- jewelry! But not just any jewelry, gorgeous gems with purpose! Veronica Ladjili, founder and designer for Ladjili Jewelry, imbues each of her traffic stopping baubles with healing energy that further amplifies the natural powers that each gem possesses. Perfect for this day of loving yourself, Veronica has created the “I Love Myself” Abalone Heart necklace ($60) and Love Rocks ring in Rose Quartz ($50). Abalone intrinsically reduces worry, anxiety and frustration (no more worrying about not having a Valentine’s Date!) and helps us to focus on the core of the self: to understand who we are and who we are not- you can’t find your soul mate if you don’t understand yourself. Rose quartz embodies self love. Because Veronica’s rings allow the stone to press up against your finger (as opposed to being set), it’s natural healing energy is able to flow into you (yes, a setting that separates the stone from your skin blocks its power). You must get these gorgeous pieces! www.LadjiliJewelry.com
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GUILTY Pleasures! By Valerie Williams Image by Sherene Hulugalle, Wisteria Lane Flowers
V
alentine’s Day, second only to Christmas, is the western holiday that causes the most damage to the environment and exploitation of human health and well-being. Regardless of the holiday’s origins or original sentiments, today Valentine’s Day is utilized as a highly commercialized expression of love in many commonwealth countries around the world. What many consumers don’t know is that each of the traditional accoutrements of Valentine’s Day – chocolate, flowers, diamonds, gold and cards –come with a serious impact on the environment.
Chocolates
Much of the worlds’ major chocolate ingredient is grown in developing nations by poor farmers. 70% of the world’s cocoa production is grown in West Africa, with the Ivory Coast producing 40% of the world’s estimated 6.5 billion pound crop of cocoa beans. More than half of the country’s 15 million people make a living directly on cocoa according to the International Labor Rights Fund (ILRF). The ILRF works to raise awareness about the bitter side of the global chocolate industry. Most of the world’s cocoa production includes child labor and starvation level wages for farmers. ILRF reports children work long hours, face frequent exposure to pesticides and child labor slaves face physical beatings and other cruel treatment. Many children working on cocoa farms never eat a chocolate bar in their lifetimes. Global Exchange, a global human rights’ organization, reports US chocolate manufacturers have deflected responsibility for the conditions on cocoa plantations, citing lack of ownership of the plantations. But the $13 billion chocolate industry is heavily consolidated with two major American firms — Hershey’s and M&M/Mars — controlling two-thirds of the US chocolate candy market.
Valentines Day, second only to Christmas, causes the most damage to the environment.
Fair trade chocolate organizations work to ensure the certified chocolate you buy does not involve slave labor, is pesticide-free, grown and manufactured without genetically modified ingredients, and farmers and cocoa workers receive fair wages. Global Exchange reports currently less than 1% of the $13 billion dollar chocolate market is fair trade certified. However these figures are only expected to increase as consumers become better educated about the ethics of chocolate.
Flowers
US consumers spend more than $18 billion on cut flowers each year reports Labor in the Americas Project. Yet flowers, considered an expression of love, have an ugly side most consumers don’t know about. There are an estimated 40,000 flower workers in Ecuador, and more than 100,000 in Colombia, working to grow, harvest, and package flowers and carnations for North Americans. Flower workers are routinely prevented from organizing unions, experience sexual harassment, forced pregnancy testing, and numerous health and safety violations according to the International Labor Rights Forum. Flowers are one of the top pesticide-intensive agricultural crops. The Green Book estimates if all the roses purchased for Valentine’s Day in the USA were organically grown, it would prevent the use of 22,700 pounds of pesticides. A joint report between US Labor Education in the Americans and the International Labor Rights Fund found flower companies in Ecuador use more than 30 different chemicals, in addition to fertilizers, in the production of their cut flowers. The report also indicated flower workers experience higher-than-average rates of premature births, congenital malformations and miscarriages. This is in addition to inordinately high incidents of headaches, asthma attacks, frequent colds, vomiting and weight loss. In some areas more than 50% of flower workers have symptoms of pesticide poisoning.
Flowers, considered an expression of love, have an uglyside most consumers donÕt know about.
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In every area where industrial flower growing takes place, the environmental impact is evidenced through loss of animal and plant species, water resources running out and high levels of deadly chemicals leaching into local water and the surrounding land. In addition to worker’s health concerns and the environmental impact of purchasing non-organic flowers, greenhouse gases produced from the transportation of cut flowers need to be taken into consideration as part of the environmental costs of purchasing flowers for Valentine’s Day. UPS, a North American courier and freight company, shipped more than 14.8 million stems of fresh cut flowers to North America from various South American countries in 2005. From Kenya to Holland to Columbia, the flower industry is having deadly repercussions for the environment.
Diamonds & Gold
ItÕs not just diamonds that create problems, mining gold has a deadly impact on the environment.
More than 4 million people have been killed in diamond-fueled conflict and wars reports Amnesty International. The Conflict Free Diamond Council explains a diamond can be certified conflict free if its profit is not used to fund war, and it is mined and produced under ethical conditions. The certification process involves monitoring a diamond during its entire lifespan, from the mine to the consumer. The majority of blood diamonds come from Sierra Leone, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. According to the World Press ‘…conflict diamonds are valued at between 4% and 15% of the world total and generate annual trade revenues of $7.5 billion’. It is not just diamonds that create problems; mining gold has a deadly impact on the environment. Gold mining has changed since the early prospecting days when the precious substance was mined from a stream by hand. Mining has become much more industrialized as the gold is increasingly found in smaller concentrates, about 10 grams of gold for each ton of earth or rock mined. Today’s industrial gold mining is done by open pit method, blasting into rock to find the gold while simultaneously destroying the landscape and ecological systems. No More Dirty Gold, an education and advocacy group, reports that a single gold ring leaves behind more than 20 tons of mine waste. Gold production also destroys land through open pit mining and utilizing deadly cyanide to separate gold from ore. Metals mining is considered to be the number one toxic polluter in the USA, responsible for 89% of arsenic releases, 85% of mercury releases, and 84% of lead releases in 2004 according to No More Dirty Gold. Purchasing environmentally certified gold and conflict-free diamonds is the only way to ensure you are not destroying the environment when you buy jewelery.
Valentines Day Cards
Although a Valentine’s card might not have the same impact on the environmental as chocolate and roses, each time you purchase a card made from nonrecyclable paper you are contributing to the erosion of forests. More than 370 million tons of paper products are used each year in the world. The paper trade is considered to be a non-sustainable industry as there are not enough wood resources to continue to supply global paper demand indefinitely—more than 50% of the world’s forests have been destroyed or converted to non-forest use.
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Cards made from sustainable materials like hemp, animal dung, cotton rags, hosiery cuttings, bananas, flowers and straw, are just a few of the materials papermakers around the world recycle into tree-free cards and paper. Finding alternative sources for paper production is becoming increasingly urgent as current global paper consumption cannot be sustained indefinitely —93% of paper still comes directly from trees.
Resources Chocolates Fairtrade Labeling Organizations (FLO) International: http://www.fairtrade.net/ La Siembra Co-operative: http://www.lasiembra.com/ International Labor Rights Fund: http://www.LaborRights.org/ Rainforest Alliance: http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/
Flowers Online Organic Florist: http://www.OrganicBouquet.com/ VeriFlora: http://www.veriflora.org/ Sierra Eco Flowers: http://www.SierraEco.com/ Flower Label Program: http://www.fairflowers.de/ US Labor in the Americas Project: http://www.usleap.org/ War on Want: http://www.waronwant.org/
Diamonds & Gold Amnesty International: http://www.amnestyusa.org/ Basel Action Network: http://www.ban.org/ Blood Diamond Action: http://www.blooddiamondaction.org/ Brilliant Earth Conflict Free Diamonds: http://www.brilliantearth.com/ Conflict Free Diamond Council: http://www.conflictfreediamonds.org/ Green Karat: http://www.greenkarat.com Global Witness: http://www.globalwitness.org/ Mercury Policy Project: http://www.mercurypolicy.org/ No Dirty Gold: http://www.nodirtygold.org/
Each time you purchase a card made from nonrecyclable paper you are contributing to erosion of forests.
Green Pages Canadian Cocoa Camino Company offers fair-trade certified organic chocolate and pays farmers a fair price for their cocoa beans: http://www.lasiembra.coop/en Find out how the world’s largest chocolate companies are treating their farmers in the International Labor Rights Fund global overview of the chocolate trade. The ugly reality of chocolate is the thousands of Africa’s children are forced to labor in the production of cocoa, chocolate’s primary ingredient. Low cocoa prices and lower labor costs drive farmers to employ children as a means to survive: http://www.LaborRights.org/ To find out more about the flower trade read Flower Confidential: The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful in the Business of Flowers by Amy Steward: http://www.amystewart.com The Conflict-Free Diamond Council is dedicated to stopping the trade of conflict diamonds by creating consumer demand for Certified Conflict-Free Diamonds: http://www.conflictfreediamonds.org/ A single gold ring leaves behind more than 20 tons of mine waste. Gold production also destroys the land through open pit mining and deadly cyanide used to separate gold from ore. Metals mining is considered to be the number one toxic polluter in the USA, responsible for 89% of arsenic releases, 85% of mercury releases, and 84% of lead releases in 2004: No Dirty Gold Campaign: http://www.nodirtygold.org/ When you purchase non-organic flowers, your loved one may be inhaling toxic fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides, nematocides and plant growth regulators. Flowers are not regulated for pesticide levels yet they must be free of insects when crossing North American borders. The result is mass quantities of unregulated pesticides on your flowers: 81
Coco Eco
MAGAZINE . . .
Men We Love !
B M RIAN
EEHAN
From being Fresh & Wild to going Nude! By Anna GrifďŹ n
S
temming from solid working-class and poor roots in Northern Ireland, Bryan Meehan’s journey to success was far from guaranteed. This is a man who, despite tough odds has landed on his feet, but that is probably as much to do with his integrity as his talent. He’s quiet, humble, and soft spoken, if he says so himself, and hardly what you might associate with the Creator of an international “rockstar” skincare brand. But then this forty-year-old Eco-trepreneur is not your typical CEO! Having worked for Guinness, in sales and marketing, he moved to the US to enroll in the Harvard Business School. Seeing the success of Whole Foods stateside, Bryan decided to set up his own natural food store in London’s trendy Notting Hill district. Joining forces with his friend Hass Hassan led to immediate success, resulting in seven stores bought by Whole Foods in 2004. During this time, a mutual friend introduced him to Bono. Ali Hewson, Bono’s wife and the brains behind Edun Clothing, suggested Nude and a skincare line was born. We wanted to learn more about Nude Skincare and the man behind the brand.
Coco Eco: When did you become eco-aware? Bryan Meehan: Really through my wife Tara, who is half Swiss and was very eco aware all her life. She introduced me to organic food and about caring for the environment...the little things that made a difference like recycling or having short showers etc and that was back in 1994 so she was ahead of the game. CE: Why after owning a chain of successful organic supermarkets did you choose skincare? It seems like a diverse choice. BM: I am now doing for skincare what I did for food at Fresh & Wild. Making natural more fun, luxurious and most importantly ensuring that consumers don’t have to compromise on their beauty by going natural. CE: What are your parameters for Nude and how do you source your ingredients? BM:: If you look on the web or a brochure you will see our ‘beautiful without’ stamp where we avoid synthetic ingredients like propylene glycol, sodium laurel sulphates etc We like to add beautiful ingredients like pre and pro biotics; milk peptides that will do something powerful for the health of your skin without adding the usual nasty synthetic ingredients that are all too prevalent in this industry. CE: Can you explain the terms pre and probiotic? BM: Pre biotic is a sugar that probiotics feed off. The by-product is water. Probiotics are friendly bacteria that help to strengthen the skin’s natural micro flora and hence skin acid mantle.
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CE: Nude’s packaging is sleek and minimalistic whilst also being recycled and recyclable. How was it conceptualized? BM: Mr. & Mrs. Hewson were very much involved in this. We worked with the cult design company in London, Pearlfisher, and between us we came up with something that uses 60% post industrial polypropylene (200ml) and the whole range recyclable. CE: Aside from the product and packaging, what other eco practices does Nude follow? BM:: Everything we do, we TRY to do in a responsible way. I will have the marketing team send you stuff like carbon neutral/the materials we use/lightweight packaging to reduce shipping emissions/use of organic and fair-trade ingredients etc. Remember we always insist on not being squeaky clean. We try to do our best but we are no saints...we have to get our product to LA and we all fly on planes!!! CE: What’s next for Nude? BM: The nude spa....... CE: Are you involved in any charitable work? BM: Yes lots. My main charity (I am a trustee) is Concern Worldwide (www.concern. net) fighting extreme poverty worldwide and responding to national disasters. Also I am on the board of The Soil Association (UK organic food charity). CE: Outside of being an Eco-trepeneur, what’s your passion? BM: I love art, love my three girls and wife Tara, and beautiful buildings (I have a thing for houses....). CE: What’s next for you? BM: I am off for lunch now.... in South Africa and then off to see a charity in Cape Town (SOS Children’s’ Village) where my daughter Olivia has a friend (Valencia Adams). What’s really next? Who knows? I follow a path less trodden, take a turn here and turn there, sometimes its hilly, sometimes its perfect. CE: Finally, any advice for other entrepreneurs? BM: Do it. Follow your heart. Focus on something you can enjoy that doesn’t feel like work...
It would be easy to admit to being a bit professionally smitten with Mr. Meehan as one of that new breed of Eco Warrior who’s out there changing the world. Whilst building his ethical empire, he’s a Trustee of a charity, whilst being a hands-on family man who is happiest when collecting his children from school, Blackberry in hand. And with all that going on, he just loves his life and wouldn’t have it any other way. Now, we gotta love that! www.nudeskincare.com 84
The
Coco Eco
MAGAZINE
Guide to . . .
Seattle!
K
By Anna Griffin
nown as the Emerald City not only for its lush surroundings but its commitment to all things environmental, Seattle is also a thriving cosmopolitan destination. Mixing equal parts vibrant fashion boutiques with old-world vintage charm, fabulous eco hotels and breath-taking local adventures, Seattle effortlessly blends both sophistication and mindful living, making it a must-see green weekend break on your travel list in 2009!
Stay! The luxury boutique Hotel Monaco is located in the vibrant heart of downtown near Pike Place Market and Pioneer Square and is one of three eco-friendly boutique hotels in the area operated by the Kimpton Group, including the Hotel Vintage Park, and the Alexis Hotel. Rated one of the Top 100 hotels in the world by Travel & Leisure, the Monaco offers four star accommodations and top service with an outstanding commitment to their carbon footprint. As standard practice of Kimpton Hotels, the Monaco uses non-toxic cleaners, in-room recycling, CFL’s and low VOC paint throughout, and composts. If that were not enough, it is extremely pet-friendly (Fido can stay for free!), and there’s a 25% parking discount if you drive a hybrid. Or go one better, take Amtrak, and Kimpton Hotels will give you 20% off your room rate! www.kimptonhotels.com
Lobby at Hotels Monaco 86
Shop: Boutique! Seattle is home to several stores that carry gorgeous ecochic fashion. If you’re looking for a little conscientious retail therapy, then look no further! The Finerie. This boutique offers an exciting collection of eco lines such as Abi Ferrin, Larson Grey, Doucette Duvall, Edun, Fin, Pierce Jeans, Same Underneath, De De purses, and Yed Omni jewelry. Make sure to find out about their many green trunk shows and fashion events when you visit. 1215 1st Ave, (206) 652-4664, www.thefinerie.com
The Finerie
Tulip. The place to find beautiful organic cotton and cashmere from Souchi by Suzi Johnson, and Beautiful People’s organic cotton line. 1201 1st Ave, (206) 223-1790, www.tulip-seattle.com
Sway and Cake. Buy your Loomstate here, and with purchase they will give you a free reusable gold “Sway and Cake” shopping tote! 1631 6th Ave, (206) 624-2699, www.swayandcake.com Barneys New York. Need we say more? Look for eco-staples Stella McCartney, Loomstate, and Barney’s Private Label organic cashmere knits. Plus, bring in your used denim for a discount! Pacific Place, 600 Pine St, (206) 622-6300, www.barneys.com
Shop: Vintage! Seattle is the ultimate place to shop if you’re a vintage connoisseur, and it’s easy to find amazing one-offs, as the demand here is relatively unsaturated! House of Pretty Parlor. A vintage lover’s fantasyland for all things cool from another era! Frocks, coats, hats, purses, shoes, and plenty for the boys too! 119 Summit Ave, E, (206) 405-2883, www.prettyparlor.com Vu. Great for eco-couture, including dresses, suits, coats, and shoes, for men and women, plus Vu carries his own line of repurposed appliquéd jeans and cashmere sweaters. 313 E Pine St, (206) 621-0388, Le Frock. Another great find for eco-couture. We spotted vintage Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana at great Seattle prices! 317 E Pine St, (206) 623-5339, www.lefrockonline.com That’s Atomic. A small hole in the wall with amazing finds. We scored a Grace Kelly style 50’s era dress and hat in mint condition for under $50. Also great jackets, coats, and kitschy house wares. 1502 E Olive Way, (206) 854-2532
House of Pretty Parlor 87
Eat! Tilth: Rated in 2008 as a NYT Top 10 Restaurant, and with uber organic chef, Maria Hines at the helm, Tilth is as sustainable and natural as it is delicious and sophisticated. With a strong commitment to organic food and boasting, an organic certification from the exacting Oregon Tilth association, Tilth manages to combine seasonal yet superfluous ingredients whilst supporting local farmers. And of course, they compost, use low VOC paints throughout, and all the furniture is hand-made from bamboo. This is a perfect restaurant for lunch or dinner, and their weekend brunch is exceptional. Look out for Tilth Mondays “Homage to Local Producers” featuring a four-course feast for $45, with optional $20 wine pairing. 1411 N. 45th, (206) 633-0801, www.tilthrestaurant.com
Jason McClure
Maria Hines, Tilth
Sazerac: Executive Chef Jason McClure runs the Sazerac at the Hotel Monaco like a well bio-dieseled machine. Aside from creating a tantalizing and delicious menu of organic, local, and sustainable items, McClure has cut 60% of all restaurant and hotel landfill by composting, and in his commitment to running a more efficient establishment, has installed a system that recycles restaurant oil four times before being turned into biodiesel. And if that weren’t enough, this place is serious fun! 1101 4th Ave, (206) 624-7755, www.sazeracrestaurant.com
Sazerac Taste Restaurant, Seattle Art Museum: No visit to Seattle would be complete without visiting this famed museum. Whilst there, try lunch at Taste. Local, fresh and seasonal, Taste takes a stand on many issues surrounding their food supply and understands that the effects of their choices extend well beyond the walls of their kitchens. Because of this, they choose to invest in their community by buying products from local farmers and artisans in support of sustainable farming practices, committed to nourishing and replenishing the local land, and in doing so believe that they have the power and responsibility to make a true difference. 1300 1st Avenue, (206) 903-5291, www.tastesam.com 88
Explore! Evergreen Escapes: This family owned adventure travel company specializes in crafting upscale nature, wildlife, active and education based experiences throughout the Pacific Northwest & British Columbia. EverGreen Escapes features authentic half, full and multi-day escapes, exclusive private getaways, memorable corporate retreats and inspiring teambuilding experiences. Whatever the pursuit: Bird watching, hiking, sea kayaking, cycling, snowshoeing, marine biology, rock climbing or wine tasting, they will creatively design and execute programs with a commitment to wilderness education, interpretation and sustainability. We were picked up at our hotel by our knowledgeable guide, Dan, in the EverGreen Escapes biodiesel van and whisked off to sample their “Urban Escapes,” and see some local beauty spots, before setting off on a sustainable wine-tasting tour. After a short but scenic drive, we found ourselves in Woodinville at the sustainably designed Novelty Hill tasting rooms that feature wines which are produced at a Salmon-Safe certified vineyard and delicious organic and local catering. They even use their crushed grapes for fertilizer! After being treated to a full-tour of these breath-taking facilities, our next stop was the Hollywood Hill Vineyards, a small family run wine-maker that produces Chardonnay and Pinot grapes organically on their own land in the rolling hills of Woodinville! They too use their grape skins as fertilizer, have plans in the works to become Salmon-Safe certified, and eventually produce wine from a no-spray grape varietal. We definitely recommend this half-day tour if you’re short on time, and tell Dan we sent you! (206) 650-5795, www.EverGreenEscapes.com
Hollywood Hill Vineyards
Theo Chocolates Factory Tour: The 3400 PHINNEY CHOCOLATE FACTORY offers public tours 7 days a week. Get ready to be entertained with the story of cacao, including the extraordinary transformation of the cacao fruit into what we know and love as chocolate, and the social and environmental issues relating to cocoa and cocoa farmers. Best of all, you will try all of their amazing productsduring your tour experience! A must for chocolate lovers! Tours are $6 per person, ages 1 and older. (206) 632-5100, www.theochocolate.com
Theo Choclates 89
Indulge! Julep Nail Parlor: With all lotions formulated to be paraben free, and nail vernis colors gently formulated to be free of formaldehyde, toluene, and dibutyl phthalates, Julep Nail Parlor maximizes its use of natural and organic ingredients. Their signature “Parlor” manicure or pedicure includes exfoliation, reflexology massage, neck wrap, and complimentary polish touch-ups (within 5 days for a mani, 3 weeks for a pedi!). As well as eco treatments, they’ve installed LEED (Leadership in energy and environmental design) approved flooring in the parlor, a dual flush commode in the restroom, and they support the local community through their Corporate Giving Program. Bring back your “little orange bag” of disposable implements, and they’ll donate $1 to The Nature Conservancy. We love their “Essential Cuticle Oil” and “Quench” moisturizer! Perfect for thirsty hands! 1427 5th Ave, (206) 985-0088, www.myjulep.com
Julep Nail Parlor
Getting Around! When visiting downtown Seattle, you’ll do a lot of walking which is preferable as there is so much to see and on foot is always best! Everywhere is in close proximity, but as the city is built on seven adjacent hills, take your sneakers! Seattle also has a vast public transportation network including free downtown buses, the monorail, waterfront trolley and the West Seattle Water Taxi. If you happen to be a Zipcar member and need wheels, you can book a car through their Seattle offices. www.zipcar.com
Getting There! Flying in from LA, we chose to fly Virgin America, the only California-based carrier, whose goal is to build an airline from the ground up that makes environmentally-sustainable practices part and parcel of their business model (even down to the use of organic hand-soap in the lavatories). Virgin America operates a brand new fleet that is up to 30% more fuel and carbon efficient than the average fleet flying domestically. The airline also employs practices to reduce its carbon footprint, such as single engine taxiing, maximizing use of efficient ground power, utilizing advanced avionics to fly more efficiently, and cost index flying – the practice of regulating cruising speeds to reduce fuel burn. Virgin America has partnered with Ceres, a leading coalition of investors, environmental groups and public interest organizations that works with companies to address sustainability challenges. The airline recently became the first to join the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Leaders program. In addition, as a minority investor in Virgin America, the Virgin Group has committed to reinvesting all profits from Virgin-transport related businesses to renewable fuels research and other initiatives that combat climate change. Plus we love their serene violet cabin lighting, superior in-flight entertainment, and service! Wherever you go, remember to travel lightly (local, organic, sustainable, fair trade, or recycled), and always offset your vacation co2’s. We like ecotourism.org, and also TerraPass, who are now partnered with Expedia. Great if you’re a one-stop shop kinda gal! www.terrapass.com
EverGreen Escapes Biodiesel Bus
Woodinville
Tuna at Tilth
Pike Place
Bags at the Finerie
Vu
Seattle Art Museum
Tulip
713 S. 4th St. on Philadelphia’s Fabric Row and can be reached at (215) 238-6080. www.jujusalon.com.
Let Your Skin Eat By Laurel H ous e
Y
ou eat organic food, plant trees, wear bamboo clothes and drive a hybrid. So why do you stalwartly stick to your same-old beauty routine, visiting the same facialist and colorist for chemical-saturated treatments month after month?! Fact is, skincare products don’t just sit on the surface of your face, they seep deep into your body, finding their way into your bloodstream. Your skin is like a sponge- soaking up anything that you smooth on your face, slather into your hair, and rub onto your body. Since you take such pride and care in what you put in your body, it is time you pay more attention to what you put on your body. Don’t forget, your skin eats too. Feed it well. You wouldn’t choose to eat, drink or even lick a chemical cocktail, so stop forcing you skin to.
126 The number of chemicals the average woman smears on her skin every day (thanks to unnatural-skincare).
60% The amount of those chemicals found floating in the bloodstream
0 The number of chemicals in organic skincare. Thankfully, we found the most fabulous salon and spa that makes sure to feed your skin only the most nutrient-rich organic products that will leave you aglow. Juju Salon/Spa and Organics in Philadelphia, PA is on the cutting edge of the all-natural, nontoxic, organic hair, skin, and body movement. From organic enzyme peels to non-toxic pedicures, ammonia- and resorcinolfree highlights to soy-based waxing, you can’t get more full-service than this- naturally. It’s like a fat camp for your skin and hair- a place to get your beauty routine in gear and revitalize its health! Oh, and need a little something something for your own at-home, post skin/hair boot camp care? No problem, Juju sells their fabulous organic and natural beauty finds so you can keep up your skin’s healthy diet even between treatments. Julie Ebner opened juju salon & organics (which means magic or a holistic charm used for healing in West African culture) in 2005 following the birth of her first daughter, Lucie. A graduate of Jean Madeline Aveda Institute, a certified instructor, a former paralegal and a wife and a mother of two, Julie finally was able to fully put into practice her education in Eastern religion as well as her own organic beauty and wellness practices, creating an outward expression of her inner ideology- Juju. According to Julie, “’Traditional’ treatments are often aggressive, invasive, or even harmful to one’s overall health. Ingredients in ‘traditional’ spa treatments may include drug-grade properties (cosmeceuticals) which may or may not be necessary for the intended results. In addition, many clients have no idea what is being put on their skin... even if the ingredients are disclosed, not many clients are able to discern the pharmacological and chemical names of the ingredients. Natural and organic ingredients are time-proven remedies for holistic skin care. Lavender, nettle, shea butter, rose, linden blossom, calendula, aloe, etc. are effective and when combined with the correct treatment, can literally and positively transform one’s skin.”
Find a better way to beauty and let your skin eat!
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OPPORTUNITY GREEN seizes the triple bottom line.
By Vicki Godal
T
he Opportunity Green sustainable business conference held at UCLA on November 8th and 9th, came to life when Patagonia’s Vice President of Environmental Initiatives and Special Media Projects, Keynote speaker Rick Ridgeway said, “What we’ve chosen to do with our company is to really truly use it as a tool for environmental change. We think that our shareholders are the wild places and the wild animals on the planet that occupy those places. They’re not a bunch of business grease balls and investors.” Ridgeway’s statement not only personified the corporate culture in attendance at Opportunity Green but honed in on the gap between the operational models of traditional business and those of sustainable businesses. This in essence is Opportunity Green’s raison d’etre. Opportunity Green co-founder Karen Solomon and partner Mike Flynn launched the conference in 2007 as a way to lead sustainable entrepreneurship, raise awareness of the triple bottom line (financial, environmental and social performance) and build partnerships between sustainable leaders, business owners and professionals entering sustainable business. The Opportunity Green objective is simple, be green and be profitable. Opening to a standing room only crowd, Opportunity Green sponsors, speakers, hosts and attendees represented a veritable who’s who of the sustainable business world. Event hosts Planet Green TV’s Annabelle Gurwitch and Boise Thomas infused the conference with humor as they introduced speakers while honing in on what the conference represented, sustainability. The first speaker, award-winning documentary photographer Colin Finlay underscored the importance of sustainability as he narrated a slide show titled “Cause and Effect,” which showed the environmental consequences of human actions worldwide. From the war in Darfur to melting ice bergs and their effects on polar bears, Finlay’s grim images of environmental chaos brought home the urgency with which we need to seek and institute sustainable solutions, which like the Hippocratic Oath, seek first to do no harm.
Following Finlay, a stellar group of environmental business leaders focused on an array of business topics including the development of product sustainability, the financial rationale for greening a company and how the current economy affects sustainable products and clean technology. To emphasize the need for corporate reform in order to enable sustainable business models, Patagonia’s Ridgeway offered their three-prong mission statement, “to make the best product, cause no unnecessary harm and to use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis.” Nike Considered Design’s Director of Category Integration Jane Savage described Nike’s approach to sustainability. “By systematically following a shoe’s development from start to finish, assessing its environmental impact and defining what we were going to do about it based on that impact, we designed a totally sustainable, high performance athletic shoe.” Executive Editor of Grist, Russ Walker participated in a moderated conversation with UCLA Department of Economics professor Matt Kahn on how the recession would impact the green economy. “We’re seeing a fundamental outrage at the whole interconnected mess. CEOs’ earning 1000 times what their average worker on the floor makes,” Walker said. “The public sees it, recognizes what it is and damns the politico-economic system that allowed it.” During the afternoons, concurrent workshops featured over a dozen tracks of sustainable information such as Pangea Organics founder Joshua Onysko on the “Green Branding of Pangea Organics.” In telling the story of how he got started, Onysko proved the point that these are not your average suits when he mentioned that while hitch hiking the world he sold fake Louis Vutton bags and Mueller watches for the Yakuza in Tokyo. Not the typical Harvard graduate type, Onysko also shared that he dropped out of school at 16. Other fascinating tracks featured a panel of five including Toyota Motor Sales National Manager of Cross-Vehicle Hybrid Marketing Mary Nickerson on “Energy Efficient Vehicles of the Future” and “Media Matters in a Sustainable World” moderated by Dwell magazine’s President and Publisher Michela O’Connor Abrams. Opportunity Green 2008 is a testimonial to the fact that sustainability, which started as a social movement, has evolved into a huge market opportunity. For two days, socially responsible companies, social venture funds, green publishers, environmentalists and philanthro-capitalists hashed out the issues that occur at the intersection of business and enviro-social goals. The predominant belief is that if businesses radically change the way they operate and investors change the way they fund, then sustainable economies will grow. But make no mistake about it; although this is a socially conscious group, they are also pure business. As one conference attendee put it, “Granted, I have greater interests than just the bottom line…but that doesn’t mean I’m willing to sacrifice it.”
For more highlights from Opportunity Green 2008, go to www.opportunitygreen.com.
WHERE TO BUY GET IT HERE
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