Yes to Carrots is a line of cosmetics, hair products, and body lotions that is committed to providing high quality items made from natural ingredients. Yes to Carrots uses certified organic fruits and vegetables in the making of their products, and main ingredients in their lip care line include coconut oil, olive oil, jojoba, beeswax, peppermint oil, sunflower seed oil, and of course…carrot root extract.

Yes to Carrots items are paraben-free. Paraben is used in a wide array of topical preparations that we use every day, including soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, makeup, shaving cream, etc. Paraben is a preservative that was previously believed to have low toxicity. It has recently been linked to cancer, endocrine disruption, hormone abnormalities, and infertility due to its estrogenic qualities. Check this out for more information on parabens and their hazards.

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images from Yes to Carrots.

NOVICA offers incredible, unique finds from artists and artisans around the world. As one of their missions, NOVICA states that they wish to provide a global platform for artisans in developing countries to express their artistic talents and spur their creativity. In return, consumers are offered unique and hard-to-find items at great prices.

NOVICA features thousands of products, ranging from area rugs, mirrors, tablewear, jewelry, handbags, paintings, and carved chess sets. I have spent hours just browsing through all the merchandise, which doesn’t feel like wasted time at all. Instead, it feels like I’m browsing through art in a museum or gallery! Some of my favourite finds include a necklace made from rice that’s been covered in 24-carat gold, beads made from compacted recycled paper, hand blown juice glasses in gorgeous colours, and hand-painted jewelry boxes. One-of-a-kind finds! And perfect for the holiday season.

NOVICA is a National Geographic endeavour and is approved by Green America.

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images from NOVICA.

Wrapsacks is a family owned and operated company that makes reusable drawstring gift bags, zip-up shopping totes, and reusable greeting cards.

The drawstring gift bags come in various sizes (as shown above), and the shopping totes zip into handy wallet-sized pouches when not in use. The reusable greeting cards simply require you to replace the single sheet of paper with each use.

Wrapsacks offers a “track-a-sack” service so you can see where your Wrapsack travels or where it came from, what gifts it’s carried, and what celebrations it’s been a part of.

Wrapsacks are made from fair trade, traditional Batik cotton from Indonesia.

Using recycled wrapping paper and gift bags is a great idea, but precycling or reusing is even better.

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images from Wrapsacks.

Chuck, a recycled wastepaper basket designed by studioCRANK, was created out of necessity — the necessity to turn piles and piles of unwanted cardboard into good use. Chuck is printed with low VOC inks and is completely recyclable. No tools or glues are required for its fold-n-tuck assembly. Chuck is in its final concept and print design stages, but you are able to purchase the botanical design (featured above) now.

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images from Chuck.

In response to yesterday’s post, Kids Konserve contacted me to share a discount code with Ave Natura readers! Visit Kids Konserve and enter “halloween” in the coupon code section. This code will allow you to receive a 15% discount on all purchases, valid until November 30, 2009. Go have a look and let us know what you find!

The Kids Konserve company was started by Lynn Julian and Chance Claxton out of a growing need for waste-free lunch packing products. Kids Konserve lunch sets are 100% reusable and made from the safest materials around today: non-leaching, non-toxic, BPA, PVC, phthalate, and lead-free.

It’s obvious that the less we throw away, the better our environment and overall health. But what about the materials in our kitchen? What about the containers we use to store our food? Why is it so important that we stay away from BPA, phthalates, etc?

BPA, or Bisphenol-A, is a plastic additive that has been linked to obesity, breast cancer, neurological disorders, thyroid dysfunction, reproductive disorders, behavioral problems, and much more. Phthalates are added to plastics to increase durability and flexibility. They are linked to endocrine disruption (unnatural and dangerous changes to hormone levels), metabolic disorders, obesity, insulin resistance, liver and testicular damage, severe allergies, asthma, etc. In other words, these are the kinds of materials we want to keep away from our bodies.

And it’s not difficult to do so, especially as more and more companies catch on and develop more suitable products to match our needs. For those companies that haven’t clued in yet, be sure to voice your concerns. Give them a phone call, send emails, do your part to make things better. Every little bit helps.

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images from Kids Konserve.

I just read over at Yogue that there’s a magical little shop called Piña Styles in Ucluelet, British Columbia that makes fantastic, one-of-a-kind clothing for men, women, and children. The clothing is organic and the prints are original. Piña is also collaborating with a local Ucluelet seamstress on some of the pieces. I can’t wait to check it out in person. Until then, I’m going to order the red heart top!

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images from Piña Styles.

Plan Toys manufactures toys using wood from rubber trees that are too old to continue providing latex. Normally the old trees are cut down and burned, but instead they are made into toys that promote environmental responsibility. The images above show the Eco Home which is part of the Plan City collection. The Eco Home comes complete with wind turbines, solar panels, an electric scooter, and living roof! The playset includes two figures and furniture for two rooms. Expansion sets include Eco Town, Road and Rails, Fire Station, Express Train, and so on.

Plan Toys is committed to social and environmental responsibility. No deforestation is involved, and the old trees that are uprooted are replaced with new trees. The manufacturing plants are powered by solar energy and biomass. The wood is chemical-free, and the ergonomically-shaped toys are decorated with nontoxic paints. Plan Toys has received numerous awards, including the “Best Toy of the Year” from Parenting Magazine.

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images from Plan Toys.

Mary’s Softdough is a safe, non-toxic molding dough (the two main ingredients are flour and water!). The company — founded in 1988 — is family owned/operated out of Eugene, Oregon.

Mary’s Softdough is available in classic solid colours and rainbow tubs. The dough is also available in scented or glittered versions. Play sets can be purchased that include cookie cutters and hardwood rolling pins for small hands.

Scents include: lavender, lemon, orange, peppermint, rose, vanilla, banana, birthday cake, bubble gum, chocolate, grape, green apple, root beer, strawberry, and tutti fruity.

To purchase, please visit Terrapin Toys.

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images from Mary’s Softdough.

A great alternative to potentially harmful vinyl, plastic, or PVC shower curtains is a hemp curtain! No liner is required with this hemp shower curtain from Grassroots Environmental Products, due to the extra-tight weave and quick-drying properties of hemp.

This hemp curtain measures 72 X 72 inches and comes in four colours: natural, seafoam, sand, and keylime.

Hemp is naturally resistant to bacteria and fungi, so all you need to do to take care of your hemp curtain is keep your bathroom well-ventilated and wash your curtain about 1-2 times per month. That’s it!

Hemp requires less water than most crops and is grown without chemical pesticides or fertilizers, so take as many showers as you want knowing that you’ve purchased an environmentally-friendly, sustainable product. :)

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image 1 from Greenzer.
image 2 from Grassroots.

Take a moment to contemplate where your next notebook, journal, or day planner will come from. Not all notebooks are made with past/present/future in mind. The ecosystem line of notebooks and day planners from Sterling Publishing and Barnes & Noble takes the past, present, and future into consideration:

Past = The books are made from 100% post consumer New Leaf paper. Sustainability and environmental friendliness govern all the processes that go into making each journal, including how they are made and transported. Present = Recording your thoughts, ideas, creations, and important events in your own personal location. Now. Future = Keep your book, or recycle it! ecosystem provides a recycling service where you can send the covers when you no longer need your book. The latex in the covers can be broken down to make an alternative energy source!

ecosystem notebooks and day planners come in 3 sizes: large (7 3/8 X 9 7/8 inches), medium (5 1/4 X 8 1/4 inches), and small (3 5/8 X 5 5/8); 4 styles: Advisor (day planner), Architect (grid paper), Author (lined paper), and Artist (Unlined, Blank Paper); and 5 colours: onyx, watermelon, lagoon, clementine, and kiwi.

Order online here.

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images from ecosystem.

You like light. You like candle light. You want candles that last a long time but don’t make you breathe bad air. You want beauty without the bad side.

Lumina Organic candles are made with non-genetically modified soybean oil. The soybeans are organic and grown by organic farmers. Once harvested, the soybeans are crushed to form oil, which is then mixed with essential oils and hand-poured into molds or glass containers.

Most consumer candles are made with paraffin wax, which contains 11 documented toxins — including formaldehyde, toluene, and benzene. Paraffin wax does not burn as long as soy either, because it burns hotter. Lumina candles, depending on the size, last up to 120 hours!

Lumina candles are scented with the highest quality essential oils to form blends such as Orange Peel and Chinese Ginger, India Jasmine with Vanilla, Parsley Sage Thyme, and Rosemary Mint. Yum!

Price: Lumina candles are $2.50 and up, USD. Candles come in a variety of sizes.

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images from Lumina Organic, Inc.

This is a pretty little phone and I hope it’s available in Canada soon. So far, Samsung has announced that their Reclaim cell phone will be available starting August 16, 2009 in the United States. The Reclaim will sell for $50 USD with a two year contract.

The Reclaim comes in two eco-forward colours — Green Earth and Ocean Blue. I would personally go for the Green.

The Reclaim is made from corn-derived bio-plastics and comes with a charger that consumes 12 times less than Energystar recommendations! Not only that, the packaging and printed materials are extremely light, and printed with soy-based ink.

Product features include a QWERTY keyboard, 2 megapixel camera/camcorder, email, personal calendar, etc. It’s basically a little EcoBerry. :)

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image 1 from ecofriend.
image 2 from Samsung.

Most inexpensive flip flops are made from synthetic (nasty and non-renewable) materials! Planet Flops’ flip flops, however, are made from naturally tapped rubber, which is collected from rubber trees in a way that’s similar to getting syrup from maple trees. Planet Flops are designed by a working podiatrist in California and are available for people of all ages. They are soft, comfortable, and come in a variety of delicious colours. Have a look for yourself. They are priced at around $24.00/pair and are made in Brazil.

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images from Planet Flops.

Sometimes I like to enjoy my coffee or chai on the bus during my morning commute. One thing I’m always worried about is spilling on other people, particularly when I’m flying down the aisle looking for a seat and the bus is lurching forward. I’ve never done it, but I’ve seen it happen. Burning complete strangers is not the way I want to start my mornings!

A solution for commuters and/or those concerned about throwing away unrecyclable paper cups is Australia’s KeepCup. The KeepCup comes in three barista standard sizes, and can be used for coffee, tea, soup, juice, or water. It is unbreakable and splashproof with a one year product guarantee. Coffee preferences are embossed on the silicone band (which can be branded with a logo or slogan), so you can write your personal drink preferences in permanent ink for easy reference.

The large size is available here for aproximately $8.60 in US currency.

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images from KeepCup.

Plastic is the big evil these days. Reports are everywhere, warning us that many of the plastics we’ve been using can leach into our food and beverages and then into our bodies, causing all sorts of ailments, including raising the risk of a variety of cancers. Consumer-wise, there’s been a huge turning back to glassware and ceramics in the kitchen, and beyond.

What about stainless steel? LunchBots presents a line of 100% stainless steel food containers in a variety of sizes, ranging in price from $12.99 to $16.99 each. Store food with style and ease, and fear not! No plastic in sight! Perfect for your kids’ lunches. Perfect for taking your own eco lunch to work.

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images from LunchBots.

Fred Flare offers a set of twelve coloured pencils made using recycled Chinese newspapers! The pencils are packed in a tube for easy carrying. Only $10 and makes a perfect gift for the eco-conscious artsy type.

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