It's the Eco-Friendly Summer Giveaway Hop!

Welcome to the friendly Summer Giveaway Hop, hosted by Happy Mothering, Easy Green Mom, and Brittleby’s Corner through the Green Moms Network! Each of the participating blogs is offering a prize package to help you have an Eco-friendly Summer! We hope you’ll get ideas for having a green summer vacation and win some great prizes. After entering my giveaway, be sure to hop around and enter all of the other giveaways listed on the linky at the bottom of this post!

 

What's summer without a new swimsuit for mom? Well, pretty typical for a lot of us. But, if you are a size 14 (the average size for women in the U.S.), you're in luck! I'm giving away a fabulous swimsuit from ECO SWIM by AQUA GREEN valued at $128!

 Sweet, huh?

Even if you're not a size 14, you probably know someone who is. So enter. You could make someone very happy.






Why is a swimsuit part of the Summer Giveaway Hop when the hop is supposed to be about eco-friendly products? Simply because this suit fits the bill. ECO SWIM by AQUA GREEN is all about sustainability. Their pledge is to the environment and their passion is great swimwear. They are committed to providing products that are often better than the non-sustainable alternatives.

The Mission Statement for ECO SWIM by AQUA GREEN reads as follows:

Our mission is to provide fashionable, excellent quality, and planet-friendly swimwear. We will achieve this by embracing sustainable technologies and methods, hence reducing our carbon footprint in the sand.™ Our vision is to be the most sustainable swimwear manufacturer on the planet.

Their parent company is a fourth generation family business based in the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania. They sell their suits all over the world, but the suits are designed, fitted, sourced, cut, and sewn in the USA. Ranked in the top one percent for sustainability by a leading global retailer, ECO SWIM by AQUA GREEN employs a full-time Director of Sustainability. They are committed to families employed in their factories and offices, as well as the domestic supply chain. They've kept their US manufacturing intact, following their core principles of people and sustainability first. They are also committed to the health of their employees, their families, and the community.

Not only that, they just don't talk the green talk, they walk the green walk! How? By getting their hands dirty (for real!) as they conduct beach and waterways cleanups where needed. They believe their cleanups help to close the loop in the product lifecycle by revealing what happens to trash that ends up in the landfills and oceans. Along with their cleanup partners, they've gathered over 50,000 pounds of trash!


Now let's look at the products themselves --

• The hang tags are made from recycled materials (FSC certified)
• The woven labels are made from recycled polyester.
• The swimsuit lining is made from recycled fabric derived from post consumer waste (water bottles, plastic bags, etc.)
• The fabric is made from recycled nylon, polyester, and cotton. 
• The suits arrive on recycled black hangers and in plastic bags that are 100% recyclable. 
• The bra cups are made from Eco Cell foam, a biodegradable material made from plant oils and recycled materials. 
• The 2014 line of swimsuits featured waterless dying, which means more water was preserved.

As if all of the above wasn't enough, the company is constantly working on ways to become more sustainable.

But what about quality? From what I can see from my suit, the quality is top notch. The fabric feels amazing. It is stretchy, yet not flimsy. And, of course, their designs are current and eye-catching.

So, who wants to win one? This size 14 suit can be yours if you are chosen as the winner on June 22nd. Simply enter the rafflecopter at the bottom of the page. USA only.

But first, check out the Grand Prize for this Eco-friendly Summer Giveaway Hop.

One winner will receive queen and twin organic sheet sets from Nest Bedding; one kids sport spray, one adult sport spray and one facial sunscreen from Goddess Garden; a beach terry poncho and water shoes from UV Skinz; and a 3 month subscription from Green Kids Crafts. Enter here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

Disclosure: This contest will run through June 21, 2014 at 8:59 pm PST (11:59 pm EST). The winner will be chosen the following day and announced on Green Grandma. No purchase necessary. US entries only. Must be 18 years or older to win. The sponsors provided me with a free product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. You understand that you are providing your information to this blog and not to Facebook. Please note that Happy Mothering, Easy Green Mom, Brittleby's Corner, the Green Moms Network and the Green Your Mom event bloggers are not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes. We have represented each sponsor with the expectation they will fulfill their prize and in a timely manner. We will contact the sponsor regarding your prize(s). The sponsors, in most cases, are shipping their items to you directly. I will make every effort to assist you obtaining your prize. If there is an issue with a sponsor, please notify the blog you won a prize from within 4-6 weeks for assistance, after that we may be unable to assist you.

Why we don't shop at Walmart

Photo by Peter Griffin

My husband has ongoing debates with people about shopping at Walmart. He won't set foot in one. Why? For several reasons, I suppose. And I have to agree with him.

• Walmart is trying to create a monopoly. The only fun that can be had with a monopoly is when playing the actual board game, not while negotiating through the endless stream of soon-to-be-defunct stores as they advertise their "Going out of Business" sales. If we don't stop feeding the Giant and start shopping the independent retailers and small chains, we have no one to blame but ourselves when we no longer have choices.
• Walmart buys cheap so they can sell cheap. That means a whole lotta stuff from China. I don't know about you, but I'm wary of anything made there. Does caring for your family really mean "junk" shopping?
• Walmart has been exposed for many questionable business practices, including mistreatment of employees, etc. You can simply type in "Walmart mistreating employees" into a search engine and look out! The stories on this are seemingly endless.

Now, if you're trying to live a greener life, part of that means shopping with the environment in mind. Which means, avoiding Walmart at all costs! And do not buy into their "green" advertising.

Here's the thing -- if you buy cheap, plastic products that have zero durability, you may not be as green as you think. Does it cost more for quality? Of course. Is it worth it? Most definitely.

Cheap stuff that is basically disposable requires a lot of energy (again and again) and resources to manufacture it.  Plus, the toxins in so much of the so-called economical products may end up costing you down the road in medical bills for you or your kids.

Choosing where to spend your hard-earned money is one of the first steps in being a true steward of the resources around you.

Purchase items that will last. Of course, that is easier said than done, it seems. We've had 3 refrigerators in the 20 years we've lived in this house. That's ridiculous. But it was more expensive to fix than to replace.

Technology is undermining us on this one, with the push for newer and better coming at us from all sides. Why, exactly, do we need to replace our electronics every year or so? Do we really need new cell phones? Is that latest piece of technology all that necessary for you to have? Have you ever thought about all the waste? E-waste is a major problem and we better start dealing with it soon.

Are you concerned about ecologically destructive practices? Well then, avoid buying from companies that are endangering or depleting our natural resources. Look for sustainability from the businesses you deal with.

Observe the wastefulness, or conservation, of the stores where you shop.

For example, I get my prescriptions from Giant Eagle, a chain of stores in my area. And let me tell you, they are the most wasteful pharmacy. The draw for me is the free diabetes drugs, but I struggle each and every time I pick them up. The amount of paper I'm given with each prescription is ridiculous.Seriously. And I swear they are the kings and queens of stapling. They love to staple. Over and over again. And they will not take back the bottles, which is ridiculous as well. Every month, I get these absurdly large bottles for a tiny amount of pills. I took my bottles back once and asked them to put my refills in them, and the clerk looked so confused, and a bit disgusted. She told me they would have to relabel them. Yeah ... and? I couldn't see why that was such a big deal.

Okay, it's late and I'm rambling. I didn't mean to do that. My real purpose was to just encourage you to think before you shop. There is something to be said about green investing ... you're investing in the future of this earth for the sake of your children and your children's children's children. And that, my friends, is why we don't shop at Walmart.

Sharing a bit of my eco-philosophy,

Hana

A snot rag by any other name ... Review It Wednesday

Allergy season is in full force in Western Pennsylvania. I see endless piles of tissues casually tossed in the trash from the countless allergy sufferers across the area. What about you? Are you a tissue user or have you back pedaled to an earlier era where wastefulness was not the norm and colorful 'kerchiefs were carefully tucked in apron pockets or up sleeves of plump sweet grandmas? I am part of the latter group. I love my hankies and especially enjoy sorting through pretty embroidered ones at estate sales and resale shops. It is rare that I don't have a hanky close by to wipe at my runny nose or watery eyes ... particularly during these pollen-packed spring months. The problem is ... while I don't have to look for a trash can when I'm done blowing my nose, I do have the issue of shoving a snot-filled hanky back in my pocket or purse. Yuck.

Well, imagine my delight when I discovered an alternative to both the wastefulness of tissues and the yuckiness of hankies! HankyBooks are the answer. HankyBooks? Yes, HankyBooks -- evolution of the handkerchief!

A HankyBook is exactly what the name says it is -- a book of hankies. But these are not your typical hankies. The pages of the 'book' are made from 100% organic cotton, and let me tell you, I've never wiped my nose with a hanky as soft as this ... ever.

The folks at HankyBook.com sent me a sample so I could review this innovative new product. Happily, I can report that I love it! Really, I do.

Aside from the incredible softness (no more red nose!), the convenience is wonderful. Yeah, I said convenience. Usually, those of us involved in a green movement of any kind shy away from the word convenient. Not this time. I mean, how convenient is it to toss this cushy little book (about the size of a pocket pack of Kleenex) into your purse, bring it out when it is needed and then throw it back in after you're done wiping your nose? Need to use it again? Pull it out, open to a different page and blow your nose. Repeat the process numerous times and then simply toss the HankyBook in the wash with your regular laundry.

Before I wrote the review, I wanted to see how my HankyBook would hold up in the wash. Let me tell you -- it's possibly even softer than before! I washed it with my Eco Nuts and machine-dried it (we're having quite a rainy spell here in Western PA) with my wool dryer balls. It emerged from the dryer looking just like new.

How do you use a HankyBook?

When you need it, you just open the book, holding the cover with both hands and blow your nose into the center. Turn the page and blow again. Simple and sanitary. Once the book is closed, only the clean cover surface touches the other items in your purse or pocket. It's easy -- Pinch off, Blow, Fold & Tuck.

HankyBooks are reusable, washer and dryer safe, purse and pocket friendly, and made from super absorbent 100% organic cotton.

Why should we care about a product offering all these features, plus sustainability?

Well, ask yourself this question: How many disposables pass from your hands to the landfill everyday? Every year? In your lifetime? Did you know that, according to the Scottish EPA, one year's worth of tissues throughout the world require the cutting down of 6,000,000 trees? 6,000,000 trees!! Unfathomable.

The folks at Seventh Generation surmise that if every household in the United States replaced just one box of 85-sheet virgin-fiber facial tissue with 100% recycled tissue, 280,000 trees would be saved. The same goes for replacing that box with reusable products, like handkerchiefs or their 21st century upgrade -- HankyBooks. The HankyBook mission is "to steer people happily towards a non-disposable culture ... aka a culture that values resources, produces little waste and causes minimal environmental stress."

But HankyBooks aren't just for blowing noses! They're also great for cleaning up after messy toddlers or drooling infants! They even come in cute little baby designs and, if you have a particular theme, pattern or fabric in mind, can be custom-ordered to suit your tastes!




And here comes the fun part! The kind folks at HankyBook are giving away sets of 3 HankyBooks to 2 lucky members of the GG community!

Here's what I want you to do for this Review It Wednesday Giveaway:

Like HankyBook on Facebook and post a comment there letting them know that Green Grandma sent you.

Two winners will be selected via Random.org from the comments on their wall that mention GG. Simple enough?

Entries will be accepted until midnight EST on Memorial Day (5/30/11) and the winners will be announced on Tuesday on the blog and on the Green Grandma Facebook page.

Spread the word. Share this. Tweet this. Let's all work toward that non-disposable culture HankyBook is trying to promote.

And make sure you check out the HankyBook video posted below. Imaginative, informative and just plain fun!

Reviewing eco-friendly products for you,

Hana

From ink cartridges to cork

photo by Target

With 1,740 store in the United States, Target is doing its part to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. There are now recycling bins in front of every store for beverage containers (aluminum, plastic and glass), plastic bags, MP3 players, cell phones and ink cartridges. This is a good start, Target. Of course, I'll feel much better about you when you start carrying plastic pants or other diaper covers. After all, what sense does it make to sell cloth diapers if you don't sell covers for them? That's like selling cars without tires and forcing your consumers to go elsewhere to complete their purchase. And I've told many a manager that very thing.

My choice for ink cartridge recycling is Staples. They give me a $3 credit for each cartridge I bring in and then send me a check to use at the store. I take my checks in and purchase 100% recycled copy paper. It's a good deal all the way around.