10 Eco-Friendly Friendly Products for a Chic, Sustainable Lifestyle

Buying eco-friendly products is one way to save the Earth. These items are safe for the environment as they are either biodegradable or have a long staying power. They are also made of Earth-friendly material and are non-toxic. Several organic store Manila have these items to encourage consumers to spend and consume ethically.

1. Eco Bag

First, the average plastic bag takes 15 to a thousand years to decompose. It can clog landfills, pipes and damage bodies of water. Pieces of plastic are the most common cause of death of sea creatures as they resemble plankton or a jellyfish. The cost of recycling plastic is high, so most people dump them on the landfill.

An "eco bag" or reusable bags are made of cloth. The sewn bag is durable. It can carry more weight than a plastic bag. It also encourages quick bagging during checkout. Most, of all it is washable.

2. Metal Straws

According to the Pocholo Espina, the Chief Executive of Sip PH, "Straws are the third most pollutants you can find during coastal cleanups." Using a metal straw does not only reduce personal plastic consumption. It also reduces waste that goes into the ocean and other bodies of water.

There is the standard metal straight one, straw with a bend, and the "milk tea" straw for bubble teas. A set comes with a flexible brush with tiny bristles to clean the inside of the metal.

4. Mesh shopping bags

Mesh shopping bags are stylish. You must have one if you are an eco-warrior. The see-through produce bag is made of biodegradable cotton to keep you stylish while shopping for fruits, flea-market finds, and vegetables. Is a canvas bag is bulky, mesh shopping bags are a viable alternative.

5. Preloved Clothes

Fashion fades, but a person's style is eternal. Why not purchase old clothes from garage sales and online stores? Give life to the sellers old faves by dressing them up according to your own style.

There are several hidden gems when scouring consignment stores, bazaars and other local standees. Opt for these instead of the mass-produced products of the fast fashion industry.

6. Plants

Plants are free. Place a seed into the ground and voila! You have a  source of garnish, insect repellant or spice. Most of all, you have an oxygen factory and a toxin zapper.

Plants thrive in carbon dioxide and toxins from people, animals, vehicles, and other devices. They save other beings from lack of oxygen. They also prevent soil erosion. Plus, flowering plants beautify the area!

7. Bamboo Toothbrush

A bamboo toothbrush uses natural bamboo wood handle while its bristles are nylon infused with charcoal. The handle breaks down in eight months. Remove the brush using pliers to use the handle as compost. The brush is also BPA (bisphenol A - used to make plastics and resins) free! It is genuinely a double-duty product.

8. Konjac Sponge

A Konjac sponge is small and made of veggie fibers, but they are perfect for exfoliating the sensitive skin of the face. The sponge comes in pastel colors with the combination and natural infusions of bamboo, green tea, charcoal, and other biodegradable materials.

9. All-Natural Body Care Products

Choose organic, plant-based treatments for your hair, skin, and teeth. The body reacts to phytonutrients, especially when layering each product. Plant and herb treatments have actives that support our energy and the planet.

10. Wooden Spoons

Wooden Spoons are versatile, practical and they almost last for a lifetime. They are insulators. It minimizes burns and scalding accidents when cooking (and eating). It is durable. It can stir and scrape things without breaking. But, it's not hard enough to scratch non-stick pans and other surfaces.


Living an eco-friendly sustainable lifestyle should not be alienating. It should not only be for people who can afford it. It must be for everyone. Take your part to save the Earth. Try not to be wasteful or a waste contributor by using these products.


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Green Weddings 101: How to Make Your Wedding Eco-Friendly (Part 3)

We’ve discussed in the second part how you can plan a green wedding including invitation, attire, reception, flowers, décors, gifts and parties. Finally, we will look into food, ceremony, jewelry, makeup, photography, favors, transportation and honeymoon. For food, the emphasis is on choosing the best catering services in Philippines. Again, here are some practicalities that will keep your sanity and creativity at the same time.

Food

Food can affect the sustainability of any green wedding. One of the common practices is having local growers as food suppliers, thereby eliminating the amount of chemicals used in producing and the amount of emissions released in transporting.

Green caterers frequently have contacts with local suppliers whom they can work with in adding organic elements on the food where possible. Some couples request their caterers to customize the menu and make it more vegan or vegetarian.

Find the wedding caterer who can pick the best seasonal fruits and ingredients for you because you might not be able to taste test them ahead of time. Local produce needs lesser fridge time and lesser packaging thereby producing lesser wastage.  

The same goes with the wedding cake wherein organic, in-season ingredients are used in reducing chemical use further. So, there is no need for the cake to travel miles to the wedding reception, reducing carbon footprint in the process. Don’t use plastic toppers. Choose fruits or flowers instead.

If there are leftovers, couples may choose to have them composted. Untouched foods are also donated to a homeless shelter locally.

Ceremony

Regardless of wedding, ceremonial paraphernalia are used. In the Philippines, weddings are not complete without rings, arrhae, candles, veils and cords. Veils and cords used can be made from organic fibers while the candles are made from beeswax.

Red carpets are usually used in local weddings although some couples may choose a personally-designed aisle runner. The runner can be made from organic cloth as well.

Jewelry

Wedding rings are a must. They are symbolically important. Blood or conflict diamonds are a big no-no. These are the diamonds mined in conflict areas. Instead, couples often consider buying from eco-conscious jewelers that use recycled metals and stones in their rings. Some jewelers strictly enforce the use of ethically sourced diamonds and other gems. These are sustainable luxuries that you cannot afford to miss on your wedding.

Other less expensive options are re-fashioned family heirlooms or antique jewels for a wedding ring or buying handcrafted rings. These are the most common choices not just for wedding rings, but also for engagement rings.

There are couples who opt to wear wooden wedding bands in place of metal bands.

Makeup

On average, a lipstick wearer absorbs 4 lbs. of lipstick over her entire lifetime. Cosmetics, like lipsticks and other makeups, have toxic chemicals in them. Instead, use all-natural beauty products for the bride and bridesmaids. Organic hair products should be also used.

Some brides seek out local green salons for her wedding day to style and makeup the female members of the entourage.

Photography

What’s a wedding without a photographer to capture the special moments? Most photographers today had already migrated to digital. Digital photography means paperless, chemical-free way to cover the event. In fact, digital photographers simply gave newlyweds choices on which photos to print.

Green photographers who use rechargeable batteries, 100% recycled photo papers, non-toxic inks and LED or CFL bulbs are a good choice.

Finally, you may also ask your families and friends to bring a digicam with them. Just make sure they will share the photos perhaps on Flickr, Snapfish or even Facebook. In this way, you don’t have to hire several photographers.

Favors

Favors are trinkets that some guests may choose to throw to the garbage bin. Instead, couples choose to make a small donation in the name of their guests to an advocacy. You may give your guest a choice of charities to donate.

Some weddings, on the other hand, opt for non-wasteful favors such as seedlings or mini potted window or table plants, echoing the values of the wedding. Couples may also choose to plant a tree and name it after a guest.

Other options are homemade jams, gourmet organic chocolates, bags of dried or fresh organic herbs, organic coffee or tea, reusable bags and organic soaps and other skin care products. Make sure the containers are reusable also.

Transportation

Transportation to and fro the church to the venue is another must for weddings. Typically, the couples arrive in cars and guests travel separately. Cars are a leading contributor of air pollution.

Some to-be-weds decide to hold their ceremony and reception at the same place or close to one another (as in walking distance) so there’s no need for frequent transports. There are couples who chose to transport their guests in batch through alternative energy buses.

There are couples who arrange carpools to travel from an agreed place to the church and then to the venue. This minimizes emission while having them acquainted with one another in a less yet fun way.

Honeymoon

About 99% of the newlyweds in the US will go to a honeymoon. The choice of honeymoon destination can also reduce the impact. For instance, newlyweds may choose ecologically sensitive areas. They may also go to eco-tourism options. They may choose green hotels or accommodations such as family-operated bed and breakfast or lodging inn that opt to help in conserving resources. Both of you are going to spend most of your time in the hotel anyway.

Couples ensure that what they are spending will go to the local economy by choosing local vacation options instead of traveling abroad. Choose a location where people and environment will benefit because of that choice.

Whether it’d be in the Philippines or elsewhere, there are various ways to have a green wedding minus the need to sacrifice style and elegance. Eco-friendly weddings are like your traditional weddings without the waste. All aspects of a wedding have sustainable options to consider during planning. Whether you want an earth-friendly element in a wedding or two or go completely green from the decors to the foods, remember going green always makes a difference.