Bottles to Babies from Green to Grow

I've been meaning to post about this great BPA free bottle company called Green to Grow out of California. I met a friend of the owner at the Greenpower Baby Shower the other week and loved both their display and product line.

Specifically related to the plastic issue, according to their product info, Green to Grow uses "PES plastic, which gives them a natural golden color. They are free of phthalates and free of bisphenol A – a suspected hormone-disrupting chemical used in polycarbonate plastic, from which most baby bottles are made."

But what I love even more in today's visit to their site is their Bottles to Babies program where they facilitate the donation of lightly used bottles and nipples to not for profit organizations all over the country that serve women and children in need. Check it out!

Bravo!

People Power means Green Power

I had the pleasure of meeting Green For Good's founder, David Kaufer today. David one of an incredible team that has organized the Greenpower Baby Shower Expo set for this Saturday at Seattle's downtown Sheraton Hotel. Satsuma will proudly be on hand to sell all natural products for baby and home.

Free to attend, the Expo runs from 10a-4p and will feature over 50 local Green companies who make and sell products for babies and kids. I think it's an incredible initiative that I wish had been around a few years ago as I ticked through my nursery checklist to prepare for parenthood.

While this is the first year, I'm sure it won't be the last.

Bravo Green For Good!

Overdue

That's how this post feels. Meant to post about Earth Day, of course, but was probably dealing with some blanket production issues!

So, a short post about all the orders we've been filling. So fun and we thank each of our customers, bit and small, for their support and interest in our little venture.

Many thanks!!

HP, more than just a printer store

Yesterday, I picked up a three pack of HP printer cartridges (black number 56) at Costco for around $50 - great deal! Anyway, I just jammed my pair of orange handled scissors into the blister pack and used my super human strength and only a few French words as I pried one of the cartridges out.

And what to my wondering eyes did appear, but a postage paid envelope for me to send my empty ink cartridge back to HP to recycle. I was thrilled! I usually take my old one wrapped in paper towel to Officemax or O-depot and turn it in for my $3 credit. I didn't mind losing the credit for the incredible ease of popping the cute green envelope in the mailbox for Dale to pick up today.

Thanks HP! Enjoy!

I'd live with Ed

That's Ed Begley Jr., but few could compete with his wife Rachelle who is beautiful and funny and manages to deal with how green Ed really is. I love their show on HGTV - Living with Ed and have now learned about Ed's new book Living Like Ed.

Published by Random House, they write:

A committed environmentalist for more than thirty years, Ed Begley, Jr., has always tried to "live simply so others may simply live." Now, as more and more of us are looking for ways to reduce our impact on the planet and live a better, greener life, Ed shares his experiences on what works, what doesn't - and what will save you money!

From recycling more materials than you ever thought possible to composting without raising a stink to buying an electric car, Living Like Ed is packed with ideas - from obvious to ingenious - that will help you live green, live responsibly, live, well, Like Ed.

Sounds like a great green read. Enjoy!

Recycling's in and up in Seattle

Not the biggest news, but I was pleased to read in our local paper the other day that Seattle's recycling rate (consumers and businesses) was up to 48% of garbage in 2006. Not sure why we don't have access to 2007 figures, but at least they're counting.

But the figures were confusing, later reporting that businesses recycled 54% of their trash and single family homes 64%. I guess there's some distinction between 'garbage' and 'trash'? Maybe the reporter was just mixing it up, I wonder.

The goal as set by City adminstrators is for all of us to recycle 60% of our waste by 2012. Apparently next year the city will require all single family homes to sign up for (this must mean pay for) table scrap recycling.

Guess my ziplog (now glad) container under the sink for food waste might get an upgrade!

Hair it is - the word on phthalates

I try to live by the golden rule for awesome hair - only wash every other day, or if you or your family can stand it, every third day.

And when I do scrub away, I go phthalate free. That's the nasty group of chemicals that has been shown to cause problems in animals, ergo people animals. The GreenGuide has a super primer on what products are free of the accused and a great list of brands you can trust. A couple of personal favorites include Aveda and Tom's of Maine. Okay, the aluminum free deodorant tends to leave you smelling like a travel weary tourist in mid-August, but I feel good about the product ingredients and when my husband used it, his armpit rash vanished.

Don't forget to suds up with my every other day routine of Super Shiny Grapefruit & Sugar Beet Shampoo.

Enjoy!