Celebrities as Eco-Spokespeople

Celebrities have the power to make the entire world stop, look and listen. Sifting through the pages of magazines, we take guilty peeks into their lives and absorb their fashion sense, hairstyles, eating habits, and late-night haunts. Today, we will take a look at some of the eco-friendly lifestyle choices and products that some of your favorite actors, actresses and musicians have embraced over the years – proving the rich and famous can ignite not only the entertainment industry, but also the environmental movement. Cameron Diaz Spreading the word on an important cause and having a decent chunk of the world listen to you is a rather significant gift for a celebrity to possess. Cameron Diaz has been using her star power for many years to promote the Toyota Prius, the use of solar cells in her home, and offsetting carbon use during travel. Hint: She actually calculates how much carbon she uses and then purchases credits from an alternative energy source and plants trees to offset her use. A new eco-documentary is also set to hit the scene, as Diaz travels around the world questioning people's knowledge on environmental issues. Her impact and involvement doesn’t stop there – as she's penned an eco-friendly how-to manual called "Green Book," offering tips on living green. Inside, you'll find 700 solutions to everyday obstacles and lifestyle choices, including information on travel, beauty products, household items, and sporting goods. Leonardo di Caprio From famously driving energy efficient cars to buying an eco-friendly condo in New York City, Leonardo di Caprio (of Titanic fame), can definitely teach you a thing or two about living an earth-friendly lifestyle. He's focused on educating the world on their impact on the environment through mediums, such as his eco-documentary 11th Hour. Besides serving as the co-producer, writer, and narrator of the documentary, he's also partnered with Discovery Networks' Planet Green on projects, like documenting the green rebuilding of a town devastated by a tornado. Adrian Grenier If you're a fan of Entourage, then you probably already have eyes for what Adrian Grenier's character is going to do next. However, outside of the lights, camera, action of Hollywood, Grenier has played an active role in going green and spreading the word. From his own show on the Planet Green channel (Alter Eco) and hosting the Charity: Water Ball to raise money for safe drinking water for developing countries, he's an eco-spokesperson to watch out for in the coming years. Brad Pitt Rebuilding New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina is still a daunting task, but Brad Pitt has embraced a different approach to lending a helping hand. Donating $5 million of his own cash, Pitt supports Make It Right, an adopt-a-green-home campaign concentrated in the Lower 9th Ward. With every $150,000 raised, a family receives a brand new home – eco-friendly, disaster-proof, and one prepared for another hurricane, as the houses even float. To see a complete home, click here. Woody Harrelson He lives in an earth-friendly home and now he wants to share his eco-sense of style with the rest of the world. Woody Harrelson (of White Man Can't Jump) has leaped into a new project that takes place outside the silver screen. Pairing with musician Alanis Morissette, he's not releasing an album, but instead, an eco-friendly line of denim jeans called Reco Jeans – made from 50% recycled material. Ana Ortiz Spreading the word on eco-friendly baby accessories for expecting mothers is actress Ana Ortiz of Ugly Betty. Appearing in a recent issue of US Weekly, Ortiz shared her choices in baby products used to decorate her nursery. On her list, organic bedding from Giggle and Ducduc furniture fashioned from sustainable wood. Honorable Mentions

• Hilary Duff – Has donated to Hurricane Katrina victims, became an ambassador for Return to Freedom (sanctuary for wild horses), and is active in USA Harvest, which collects and transports surplus food from restaurants and suppliers to missions and soup kitchens.
• Jay-Z and Beyonce – As founder of UN's Water for Life, Jay-Z participates in an organization that aims to provide clean drinking water to people worldwide. Much more than a pretty face and singer, Beyonce has worked with Second Harvest, which is part of a food-bank network.
• Josh Harnett – Active in Global Cool, Harnett participates in a charity that encourages billions of people to reduce their carbon footprints over the next 10 years.

Interesting Fact Tobey Maguire – Did you know that Spiderman has been a vegetarian for 14 years? An official ban has been placed in the Maguire household. If you come wearing leather products, you must leave your belts and shoes by the door. Image Credits: RecoJeans, ducduc

Aveda Earth Month Campaign

The Aveda Earth Month Campaign is responsible for raising millions of dollars for environmental causes and awareness since they first set out to educate the world in 1990. With an army of Aveda salon and spa professionals, employees, and volunteers – an international call for action takes place throughout the month of April. From environmental issues on an international level to protecting local biodiversity – the Earth Month campaign concentrates on one specific theme each year to raise awareness, educate supporters, and raise funds for non-profit conservation organizations. This month, 2009 is focused on clean water for all. Why push for a clean water campaign? According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, conventional farming is one of the leading polluters of waterways in the United States. A United Nations report also estimates that every 15 seconds, a child dies from lack of clean water. Aveda not only supports organic farming and clean water initiatives, but will also donate every cent to the cause when you buy the limited-edition, light the way candle with organic lavender for $10. Green Ingredient Policy Aveda pushes a 'green ingredient' policy whenever possible, offering products sourced from organic, sustainable, or renewable plant-based substances. They also support:

• Ecosystem preservation
• Biodegradable ingredients
• Fair compensation to suppliers
• Alternative methods to animal testing
• Environmentally responsible processing
• Organic essential oils

Thoughtful Packaging Principles Aveda is also known for making groundbreaking strides in their approach towards packaging – using up to 100% post-consumer recycled content. They have also formulated pacts with suppliers who use renewable energy to manufacture their packaging materials. A Wind Power First Speaking of renewable energy…did you know that Aveda became the first beauty company to use 100% certified wind power when their manufacturing facility located in Blaine, Minnesota embraced alternative energy resources, such as Windsource – wind-generated electricity? The Minnesota facility is able to produce enough wind energy to offset 100% of the electricity associated with primary manufacturing and distribution. No air emissions are generated in the process. As a result, no water is wasted and no water treatments are needed during production. Recycle Your Caps If you thought the earth-friendly practices of Aveda stopped with packaging, ingredients, and energy sources – think again. Join their recycling efforts by supporting Recycle Caps with Aveda, which helps reduce the amount of plastic caps that end up polluting our neighborhoods, landfills, beaches, rivers, and oceans. Send in your twist caps from shampoo, soda, or water bottles. Flip-top caps from tubes and food product bottles (like ketchup containers) are acceptable. Laundry detergent bottles and peanut butter jar lids are also taken in. Candle Image Credit: Aveda