Oh Sigg. Really? We’ve been backing you for years, promoting your bottles, even your liner. You said it was non-toxic, and we believed you. In fact, back in 2006, I wrote this about the Sigg bottle, “said to have gone under extensive testing to prove that it does not contain toxins”.

Well, back in August 2009, the CEO of Sigg dropped the bomb,

Prior to its transition, SIGG utilized a water-based epoxy liner which contained a trace amount of BPA.

(CEO continues thinking…) “Uh, and we knew about it. Since, for, like, ever.”

The story has been an ever evolving one, but for now, ends like this: if you have a Sigg bottle from 2008 or prior, bring it into a Sigg retailer (Whole Foods is one), and you can trade it in for a new one which is said to be BPA free.

The best (or most fun, at least) coverage I’ve seen on this water bottle scandal is on Ecorazzi, a site which I (Rebecca Carter) co-founded, so I could be biased:

9.8.09: Sigg CEO Apologizes, Says Company Will Fund BPA Research

9.8.09: Ouch. Patagonia Terminates Relationship With SIGG Over BPA Reveal

9.3.09: Take Your BPA-Tainted, Soulless SIGG Bottles Back To Major Retailers

Though we might have trouble convincing some of our friends of this fact, vodka has many more uses than meets the eye.  The Daily Green has given us good reason to take a second look at vodka and some weird household uses, stating

Why would you want to do anything else with vodka but drink it? It is widely available, effective and less toxic than many of the chemical alternatives you might use for these tasks.

Some of our favorites:

Freshen up your clothes with a spritz of Smirnoff: spray some vodka on your clothes when your jeans are about to walk away on their own, but you aren’t ready to hit the laundromat yet!

Shine up that bathroom with some Absolut: pour some vodka on a cloth and rub it on your porcelain, chrome, and glass. Then spray it on the moldy caulking around your tub.

Other uses include treatment for poison ivy and jellyfish stings, insect killer & repellant, and even toothache relief (but no more excuses, just go see a dentist!!)

Of course, any vodka will do…not just brand names, though some say you’ll need 100 proof to get the job done. There is, however, a greener vodka. Organic vodkas are becoming more and more popular, and now there are dozens of brands to choose from.

via: The Daily Green

banner image courtesy: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Any parent knows the story…once we find out that we are bringing a new life into this world, we start to analyze everything around us: will it be safe for my children? Healthy Child Healthy World is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping families figure out just that – especially in regards to chemicals and toxins. They published a book under the same name in 2008 that has become the guidebook for the “next generation of parenting”. They now also offer a way to learn more and spread the word to your friends and family.

Called Healthy Home Parties, HCHW has teamed up with corporate sponsors like Luna Bar to create a party package with everything that you will need to hold your own Healthy Home Party. There are product samples for all of your guests, and even nicer eco-friendly products that can be used as door prizes. They include materials that you can use during the discussion, as well as a DVD hosted by Judging Amy’s Amy Brenneman. The package requires a $20 donation (largely as a result of the organization getting listed on a “freebies” list and being bombarded with requests by people that only wanted free stuff!), and will arrive in 3-4 weeks from ordering.

We’ve ordered one of these kits, and there is definitely more than $20 worth of stuff in there. Plus, we just wanted another reason to have a party at our place! Get yours here.

This delicious & fast raw food vegan recipe was featured in Eco Echo’s Pilot episode.

Ingredients

1.5 Cup Almonds (soaked over night)
1 Cup Water
2 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
1 Teaspoon Sea Salt
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1.5 Cup Chopped Vegetables
Carrots – cut in chunks
Celery – cut in chunks
Red Belle Pepper – cut in chunks
Onion
1 Large clove garic, sliced
Salt and pepper to taste

In the bowl of a food processor, grind the almonds, add water, lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper. Add vegetables and mix them together. (Add more lemon juice or water if necessary to achieve desired texture).

Stuff on tomatoes or put it on top of a half of romaine lettuce.

Store in refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Recipe courtesy: Om Garden

We love the teaser for this article from WSJ magazine, Baggage Claims:

Plastic shopping bags are as despised as corporate jets. But are their successors—reusable totes—really that eco-friendly? A look at form versus function from some of the key players.

We’ve got grocery totes, totes from conventions, cloth bags, nylon bags…in every shape, size, and color. And we keep accumulating more! The article tries to rate the bags of 6 different chains from Whole Foods to Dean & Deluca on eco-friendliness, reusability, and style. Some didn’t fare so well!

It’s true: we hate the plastic bags…but do we really need more totes?

One crafty eco-minded person out there has taken matters into her own hands. She was overflowing with totes, and low on throw pillows. You get the picture!

image via: notcot.com