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Menstrual Sponge http://www.girlsustainable.com/news/menstrual-sponge http://www.girlsustainable.com/news/menstrual-sponge#comments Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:00:14 +0000 L.Angelina http://www.girlsustainable.com/news/menstrual-sponge Okay this one is really cool or not, quite depends on how you view it. I once wrote about eco-friendly menstrual pads, which got a bit of a mixed reaction from my fellow readers. I guess it does put women off to learn that they have to clean, wash, dry and reuse their feminine towels. I agree it is quite the bother and it takes getting used too but frankly that’s how it was done in the olden days before disposable sanitary napkins came about.

But here’s another interesting feminine hygiene product that will pretty much get the same readers’ reaction if not a more alarming one.

Now we all know there are basically 2 kinds of feminine hygiene products to help us get through our visits from Aunt Flow without the stains and embarrassments. The first is disposable sanitary napkins and the second is tampons. Well the latter is what we’re discussing here today.

Many modern women who are constantly on the go tend to favour the use of the little bullet shaped tampons then a sanitary pad. With tampons you don’t have to fuss about pads shifting or heat rash. They are small and easy to carry around in a handbag.

However much like conventional disposable sanitary pads, they do pose a threat to the environment so the eco-friendly version is a sponge! Obviously not just any sponge but natural sea sponge… Well if you’re already churning at the idea of inserting a sponge into yourself, then perhaps the knowledge that sea sponges are classified as animals can only make it worse. For some odd reason I now have this discerning thought of Sponge Bob Square Pants.

But back to the eco front of this sponge affair, using sponges is not a new invention. It was used in the old days by the good women of the coastal when there simply weren’t any tampons yet. The basic selling facts about using menstrual sponges are as follows:

Can hold up to 1 ounce full, but be aware that a full sponge will leak
  • Contains no strange/artificial fibre
  • Contains no life threatening dioxin
  • Eco-friendly because they are natural and reusable
  • Favoured by women with menstrual cramps
  • Touted as the most comfortable insertable menstrual instrument, soft and textured like the vaginal wall – you won’t even know it’s there
  • Lifespan of each sponge is 4-8 months – think of how much you save!

The drawbacks:
  • Needs sanitization/sterilization before use
  • Needs to be washed to be reused
  • It’s an animal
  • Risk of sponge tearing leaving behind fibres during removal
  • Need to be removed for cleansing every 3-4 hours

Well what do you think? Would you sponge your menses?


]]> http://www.girlsustainable.com/news/menstrual-sponge/feed/ Working a green job http://www.girlsustainable.com/lifestyle/working-green http://www.girlsustainable.com/lifestyle/working-green#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:00:42 +0000 L.Angelina http://www.girlsustainable.com/lifestyle/working-green If the world was a perfect place and life was fair and just, then we’d all be peacefully making a decent living doing what we all loved the most. But since that’s not how it works, most of us are stuck at dead end jobs that we really stick to because it pays the bills and there’s hardly room or time to think of any joy to be associated to it. In all honestly my day job is a drag that’s giving me breakouts but I’m blessed because I found Girlsustainable which allows for me to combine my love for green and writing together.

Now perhaps it isn’t my luck to get a fulltime job of dreams but maybe there’s something out there for you greenies. Although scouting through all the boards and advertisements for green jobs have lead to another sad conclusion:
  • •    Green jobs are normally with non-profit organisations which needless to say either doesn’t pay at all (volunteer with room & board as compensation) or doesn’t pay much.
  • •    That basically means unless you are already financial sound/well-to-do with luxury of time and choice on your hands, this green jobs can’t help you support your family.
  • •    Green jobs in the present market are mainly for engineering, scientific research, advocacy and education, not much out there for other skills.  

So I guess the next best thing we can do is to find conventional jobs with conventional company who are taking a green stand. Least you know such companies pay a fairly decent salary package that will be enough to sustain your family on.

If you’re one of the lucky few who fall into the first situation (financially sound, luxury of choice) then visit ecojobs.com for a good listing of green jobs. They have listings that are for international placements too! And The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy is another good site to visit because not only has it got vacancies within the organisation, it’s got a list of Green Employment Opportunities with other Organizations as well.

However if you are like me, then you’d want to try looking up companies such as these 25 big companies that has gone or is presently in the midst of restructuring their business to go green.

When going green, always try the next best thing!




]]> http://www.girlsustainable.com/lifestyle/working-green/feed/ Garbage of New York http://www.girlsustainable.com/news/garbage-york http://www.girlsustainable.com/news/garbage-york#comments Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:00:44 +0000 L.Angelina http://www.girlsustainable.com/news/garbage-york One man’s trash is another man’s treasure…we’ve all heard that line before. And usually only 2 things come to mind when I hear someone say it – either the man’s talking about his grand collection of crap or he’s talking about a relationship. But never in my wildest dream did I actually think or see that phrase taking to life literally until Justin Gignac came along with his eccentric idea about boxing garbage ( I don’t mean those things that no one really has a need for but actual trash like cans, used condom wrappers etc) and selling them to the public.

Sounds insane but it works and it’s been working very well for him since 2001! How do I measure that works? Well probably by the fact that he’s managed to sell over 1,200 garbage cubes that now happily reside in over 25 countries worldwide! And these cubes don’t come cheap either. They sell for a minimum of $50 a cube and can fetch up to double that amount for a limited edition cube!

Right so what exactly goes into these cubes and what’s so special about them? Well pretty much like what their tag line says ‘Hand-picked from the fertile streets of New York, NY, that’s exactly what sells. Pieces of garbage littered by the good residents of New York are harvested then artistically put together before being sealed in a smell proof clear cube.

Now you probably have the same question as I did when I read came across this Garbage of New York City cube – why would anyone want to pay for actual trash and geez I could do that too and it surely won’t cost me $50! So thinking about it, I think it sells on the same idea that the tourism industry exploits - people want a piece of a place that to commemorate that visit. That’s why tourists to the bewilderment of locals buy sand in bottles, seashells from the beach, crappy plastic keychains with the most tacky prints…you get the picture.

But New York is New York…and while you can associate white sand beaches to the shores of say the Caribbean or beautiful corals to the Great Barrier Reef, New York isn’t made up of much else than sky scrapers and mean yellow cabs. So what else would represent a piece of beautiful New York then the litter than make up the streets!

And if you think it’s a plain crazy idea, well you’re not alone but acknowledge that this little cube is now around the world and even has a spot on ESPN Mike & Mike’s table, a page in Playboy, CNN, CBS and NBC!

]]> http://www.girlsustainable.com/news/garbage-york/feed/ Ecoblue http://www.girlsustainable.com/news/ecoblue http://www.girlsustainable.com/news/ecoblue#comments Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:00:36 +0000 L.Angelina http://www.girlsustainable.com/news/ecoblue This morning when I decided to type in the words –“eco + blue” into my browser’s search bar, I had a different expectation/intention for what would turn up and honestly urinals were not amongst them.
But that’s the great thing about the unexpected isn’t it? It leaves room for wonderful surprises and ‘amusing’ pieces of writings. Well whether or not this one counts as amusing is left to you to decide but one thing I do know is that it is informative so bear with me.

Ecoblue as far as my search revealed to me is a magical little blue cube. How so you ask, well simply because it does the following tricks:
  • Vanishing
  • Banishing
  • Appearance of money

Let me explain a little more of each in brief detail:

Vanishing – well literally the little blue cube will vanish before your eyes, with time that is as with any other urinal cake-like product. So that’s not fair and hardly a winning difference, but what is different is its ability to transform into a biofilm of  beneficial microbes that solves all the problems you face with conventional urinals.

Banishing – This little cube will literally banish odour and pipe blockage due to scale. Honestly lime scale is bad enough to deal with but uric scale is absolutely disgusting. It smells horrible and being water insoluble, it’s almost nearly impossible to remove without the use of those hardcore, their fumes will burn your oesophagus through and through chemicals. But with little ecoblue, the biofilm will coat the urinal bowl, pipes and trap and enzymatically remove the scale.

Appearance of money – well frankly it is not as though a cube will just grow cash but one thing it will do is save you so much on water and chemicals that you will see more green in your account. One little cube will last 1,400 uses (that’s 1-3 weeks depending on ‘traffic’) and boasts to save you 99% on flushing! With Ecoblue, you can discount the need for deodorisers, sanitizers and toxic acidic cleaning compounds.

But really if Ecoblue wasn’t a champion for the environment I would dare give it a mention here. This little cube is all eco not because it saves on the use of water and toxic chemicals, but because it’s an all natural approach. The entire cube is made up of natural living organisms

]]> http://www.girlsustainable.com/news/ecoblue/feed/ Eco Resorts around the world - Thailand & Indonesia http://www.girlsustainable.com/news/resorts-around-world http://www.girlsustainable.com/news/resorts-around-world#comments Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:00:32 +0000 L.Angelina http://www.girlsustainable.com/news/resorts-around-world Continuing from yesterday, we’re visiting/introducing to you a world of luxury hidden amongst the many promises of eco-tourism. If you ever had the impression that going eco conscious on a holiday meant living in mud huts and bathing in rivers then this series of article will change that mindset forever.

South East Asia
I know we’ve already listed 2 luxurious resort for this destination but seeming that this region is a very popular vacation spot, it seems only fair that I cover more countries.

Thailand
When people think South East Asia, the Land of a thousand smiles is never far from thought. And regardless of whether it is the culture that interests you, the friendly people, the amazing shopping opportunities or simply the mesmerising thought of a Thai Spa rejuvenation experience, this country is never short of eco-hotels and resorts to cater to your lodging needs.

The Tongsai Bay, Maenam, Koh Samui, Thailand
The perfect location for a honeymoon, spa retreat or to hold your wedding, The 5 star luxuryTongsai Bay is everything you want to make your stay an absolute splendour since 1985. Read about their “green project” here.

The Racha, Koh Racha Yau, Phuket, Thailand
When you say you want to experience the tropical beaches of Thailand, then you simply must include ‘to touch the white sands of Phuket’ as part of the agenda. And if you want green tranquillity and privacy, you should complete that experience of Phuket with The Racha where this amazing modern boutique resort is build on a secluded seaside, neatly nestled next to its own stretch of white sand beach that frames the crystalline waters of Phuket. Undeniably perfect for anyone who loves diving, the Racha was voted among the top 10 best beach resorts in the world in 2008 and a member of the small luxury hotels of the world.

Indonesia
This unfortunate country has had its fair share of sad history but nothing could ever sway the world from recognising it as owner of one of the most beautiful holiday destinations in the world. Yes, we are talking about romantic Bali, where the water is clear, the historical culture is rich and the spa treatments are divine.

Alila Villas Uluwatu , Bali, Indonesia
Personally I think this is a fantasic resort to fall in love again. There’s always been something magical about Bali and with the Alila Villas Uluwatu, a green modern boutique resort giving you that extra setting of serenity and romance, just about anything can happen. Perfect for the busy people seeking some pure time to relax –golfing, diving, spa, etc. Built on the concept of Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) and incorporating the special Bali Savannah ecosystem into the landscape, the resort is registered for Green Globe certification and is the first in Bali to get the highest level of certification for ESD.

Conrad Bali Resort, Bali, Indonesia
I like big rooms and this is exactly what Conrad Bali Resort offers along with sprawling gardens, and an enormous beachfront. Perfect for families, this eco-friendly resort is where you can go diving, fishing and enjoy all your fun in the sun and water without a care in the world.
]]> http://www.girlsustainable.com/news/resorts-around-world/feed/ Eco Luxury Around the Word - First stop Asia! http://www.girlsustainable.com/news/luxury-around-first-asia http://www.girlsustainable.com/news/luxury-around-first-asia#comments Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:00:30 +0000 L.Angelina http://www.girlsustainable.com/news/luxury-around-first-asia It’s been a tiring day. I’ve driven miles across town in this sickening hot weather for one meeting after another and frankly it’s got me all worn out. Finally back in the comforts of my home I’m refreshed at the sight of these fantastic holidays advertised in the magazines. There are mesmerising, beautiful, picture perfect promises of tranquillity and everything that I would ever want in recuperation from burnout. Only problem is…such luxury are clearly beyond my means – that is if I want to come home from the trip refreshed and not worried about how much I bled my bank account dry.

 

But if you are in an ‘absolutely’ comfortable position or you have the secret to how you can make money grows on trees and I’m not selfish with information, here are a list and some information on beautiful spectacular luxury eco-resorts that are pretty much out of my league.

There are many such places worldwide so to make this a bit more systematic I’m going to cover this by the continents.

 

Asia

Everyone wants to visit Asia. It’s a spectacular continent and is obviously the home to the most intriguing countries and cultures in the world (personal vote so no boos please). Asia is huge (largest continent!), and everybody’s got their preference on which is their favourite. So I think I’ve got the regions covered as follows:

 

South East Asia

Gayana Resort, Borneo, Malaysia

An ultimate tropical paradise, it’s a resort built on the edges of the lush tropical jungle on a beautiful coral reef. Seeing such beauty is believing that Nature is irreplaceable. You’ll be surrounded by acres upon acres of beautiful coral reef blessed with the abundant of marine life! Everything will seem so magical.

 

Cacao Pearl, Palawan, Philippines

Ultimate boutique luxury set on a 124 acre private island in the Calamianes archipelago, Cacao Pearl is the world’s first non-profit and luxury eco-resort community where 100 per cent of operating profits is committed to environmental protection and social improvements! If that isn’t enough to win you over then consider the location itself – Palawan is a stunning eco preservation area within sailing distance of two UNESCO World heritage sites & four marine reserves. If you love the ocean and the tropics what else could you ask for?

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                       

]]> http://www.girlsustainable.com/news/luxury-around-first-asia/feed/ A handy candle http://www.girlsustainable.com/home/a-handy-candle http://www.girlsustainable.com/home/a-handy-candle#comments Tue, 02 Mar 2010 14:00:52 +0000 L.Angelina http://www.girlsustainable.com/home/a-handy-candle These days, everything is expensive. Even the simplest of household problems can cost you a small fortune…well I blame commercialism but who can really say? And therein lays the beauty of sustainable living where the same kindness and respect we show for the environment will be in turn shown to our wallets. Bottom line is because loving the environment means we should reduce waste, green lovers tend to exercise their brains a bit more to figure out ways to be resourceful.

What I want to share with you here today isn’t really so much ‘my discovery’ but rather a compilation of simple experiences I’ve had throughout the years with the use of candle wax. Now everyone knows in the absence of electricity, you light a candle to ‘cure’ the dark, but the fact of the matter is there are many more uses to that little waxy stick:

1.    Solid lubricant
If you have ceiling/wall fans then you’ll probably find that after each wipe-down, they make a noise. Whether it’s an irritating squeak or an alarming grind, you’d find yourself reaching out for a bottle of lubricating oil… But once when I first moved into my new home, that trusty bottle of oil went missing I went into a frantic panic! My husband just calmly as for a candle and before I knew it the fan was smooth spinning again. Only then did I find out using a candle to line the same spot you would spray oil over worked just as well, in fact better because it didn’t leave a drippy mess!

2.    Cleaning the iron
Well I suppose we are beyond the days of our hand-irons sticking to just about everything. Personally I still find it a pain but non-stick Teflon surfaces have really made a difference. Yet sometimes you’ll still find something akin to a layer stuck on to the surface of your iron and since you’re dealing with a non-stick surface, the last thing you want is a scratch. So I find the best way to clean the iron is to use candle wax. Just heat up the iron then take a candle and rub it against the spot. The dirt/layer will fall off and for those stubborn ones, just wax it then iron against a rag.

3.    Threading a needle
This is something my grandmother taught my mother and my mother then taught me. Threads are fine and the eye of the needle is tiny. Sure there’s that device that helps loop the thread in but honestly I don’t use it very much or at all. On days when you don’t have those thread looping things around, just take the thread and cut it into a candle to coat it. It will stiffen the thread allowing for more control when threading it into the needle.

4.    Preventing knots
If you sew and especially if you do beading, you’ll understand the frustration of dealing with long pieces of thread – they knot up like crazy! You can’t exactly go for shorter thread either because the joints will also drive you crazy and make the art-piece less perfect. So what I do it just run the entire length of the thread into a stick of candle and it never knots.

5.    Filling up marble
Beautiful homes have beautiful floors. Some love wood, some adore marble. Well for those with marble you’ll realise how fragile the floor can be. When something drops on it, there’s always a risk of chipping the floor. Well there are fillers but those are expensive and quite the chemical frenzy. What I do is get a white candle, light it and drip the clear hot wax into the chip, filling it up. Then when it cools and hardens, just use a putty knife to scrape off the access mount and use a clean cloth to buff!

]]> http://www.girlsustainable.com/home/a-handy-candle/feed/ Hosting a party (Contd) http://www.girlsustainable.com/lifestyle/hosting-party-contd http://www.girlsustainable.com/lifestyle/hosting-party-contd#comments Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:00:45 +0000 L.Angelina http://www.girlsustainable.com/lifestyle/hosting-party-contd Picking up where we left off with the party planning:

The decorations/setting
The success of any party is highly dependent on selecting the right theme. Now you would have done that and incorporated it into your invites but the decor is going require a bit more thought. When going green, remember that no theme is beyond your reach. You can go ahead and select any – as complicated and elaborate as you would like, it would not be an issue. All you have to do is  keep it to the 3 rules –

  • Be innovative to reuse/repurpose anything that you have in hand or be insightful enough to purchase decors will last and is general enough to be reused in other theme you will have in the future – idea is to reduce unnecessary waste and save money
  • Reduce the urge to buy everything new and party props such as plastic banners or ballons etc that are specific to the party  (specifically mentioning date, event, etc) because you know the chances of you putting those out to use again are near zero and they don’t bio-degrade very fast/at all. Bottom line is if you buy such items you’re exchanging a lot of cash for a lot of trouble for your child’s future.
  • For a children’s party I like to use whatever I already have around but I guess you’ll always find that you don’t have everything.  Thus when you must buy, go for items that can be sent for recycling.

The menu
Clearly going organic is the best, but that can prove to be very expensive. So you do what you can. If you’re a gifted baker than baking one is a snap for you. But if you aren’t and the cake is everything to the party, you can go ahead and pick out a beautiful organic birthday cake as it will serve as the centrepiece of the party and of course the highlight of it.
For the rest of the menu, I would suggest you just whip up your old cookbook and be guided by it. Go down to your local grocers and buy the ingrediance fresh. Going green with your food isn’t just about going all out organic. It’s also about the smaller steps of reducing carbon footprints and keeping the food pure, free of chemical additives. Cooking your own food is always best because you know what goes in it, of course if you have the budget for it; there are always ‘green’ caterers you can engage.

Personally I find taking charge of the edibles served at children’s party to be vital because let’s face facts kids are attracted to colours and sweets – leave that to conventional manufacturers and you’ll find yourself serving nothing but a table full of health adverse artificial flavourings, colourings and sugar.

The souvenir
Everybody goes home with something- that’s the rule. So depending on the theme of the party you could consider getting eco-friendly toys or something fun yet practical like stationary (eco-crayons that comes in shapes are a great choice). If you’re handy with needles and thread you could always make little dolls from scrap fabric or even little pillows with the name of each child – serves as a place card too! Another fun thing you can do use ‘flower seeded paper’ to make those place-cards and they can double as the gift to take home because the kids can then just plant the paper and turn them into flowers!  

 
]]> http://www.girlsustainable.com/lifestyle/hosting-party-contd/feed/ Hosting a party? http://www.girlsustainable.com/lifestyle/hosting-party http://www.girlsustainable.com/lifestyle/hosting-party#comments Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:00:00 +0000 L.Angelina http://www.girlsustainable.com/lifestyle/hosting-party The children are our future. And if nature is ever going to stand a chance at survival it will be up to us to ensure that the next generation is all for sustainable living. People often ask how and where we should begin to teach children to appreciate nature and be sensitive towards her in their every action.  Some sternly say it’s through education and I agree but education can be both in and out of the classroom. I say the best way to teach a child is to lead your life as an example. Show the how it is a way of life and they will follow seamlessly.

One way to create that impression both on your child and other families is to hold a green kids birthday party! It isn’t difficult, it won’t cost you anymore than hosting a conventional one and best of all you get to beam with pride as everyone young and old become amazed and at your ingenuity.

I know hosting can be a huge emotional burden for many but with a bit of planning, nothing is impossible and in this 2 part article I’m going to give you some pointers to make a simple yet effective green party.

Now everyone has their own approach but this is mine.  

  • 1.    Decide on your budget
  • 2.    Determine the size of the party and the type of invites
  • 3.    Select the theme (I put this second because the size of the party can affect the effectiveness of a theme) and determine the props.
  • 4.    Decide the events (games, entertainment)
  • 5.    Decide on the menu for the edibles
  • 6.    Decide on the door gift/ souvenir

The budget
Working backwards is the easiest way to keep track of spending. Firmly decide how much you’re setting aside for this party and stick to it. It helps to keep an excel worksheet of the budgeted costs (never actually start buying till you balance this worksheet!), and formularise it to show when you’ve gone overboard. That way you can fine tune the spending by cutting down, substitution or simply reassigning the costs.

Size and Invites.
For a kids party, I really like to keep it small…not too small but I think 10 is a good number. Keeping it green and saving on cost, go for online e-invitation cards. You can design your own or personalise some ready- made ones and send them off to your child’s friends. Everyone has an email these days and no worries about invitations getting lost in the mail and no replies to RSVPs because in the age of IT, everything is possible. You can set to be notified when the invites are opened and you can always set up an RSVP Management site…all free if you use MyInvites! I love this site, it’s the best!

Continued next: Putting it all together…
]]> http://www.girlsustainable.com/lifestyle/hosting-party/feed/ Eco Furniture http://www.girlsustainable.com/furniture/eco-furniture http://www.girlsustainable.com/furniture/eco-furniture#comments Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:00:33 +0000 L.Angelina http://www.girlsustainable.com/furniture/eco-furniture Whether you are a newly wedded couple looking for a new home of matrimonial bliss or a growing family looking for more space or even just a single bachelor looking to setup  his own pad, house hunting is only the first of all your bothers to making that dream home your reality.

Once you’ve visualised what you want and you’ve found the perfect house to embody it, comes the horrid painstaking task of applying the cosmetics to it. You’ll find yourself working with experts on refurbishment and renovations…Then comes the fun part – shopping for furniture to complete the look!

Now I know it’s quite impossible to make everything eco-friendly (especially refurbishment work) without you running well over your entire home design budget, so I guess the next best thing is to just go green with your furniture.

It doesn’t have to be about buying everything new. But it really depends on the look you’re trying to achieve. Sometime interior designers work entirely with just antique/vintage pieces to create an amazing look while others mix the pieces of old and new.

I understand that ‘vintage/antique’ pieces stripped on the glorious names really still refer to ‘used’ furniture and that can be a big no-no to some for sensitive reasons but if you’re not adverse to the idea you should take a walk down to the antique shops. You’d be surprised at what you’d find. I find that there are certain craftsmanship qualities that died with the ages and those remaining pieces of art are masterpieces.

But if rustic decor isn’t your thing and you’re into a more, clean modern design then do visit these shops for some ideas.

Green Culture Furniture
This shop has got an abundant of choices but I think the designs lean more towards contemporary. If you’re one who is keen to find everything at one same place then this shop is a good place to try.

Eco-Furniture
This shop has more modern simplistic designs, but I wouldn’t say they have as many designs to select from.

2Modern
2Modern carries an eco range by famous and very much sought after eco designers. You’ll really love this site. My personal favourite for shopping for home decor…

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