Being Green in the Deep Blue: Eco-Friendly Swimsuits

Just because summer is dwindling down to a couple of weekend barbecues and last glimpses of the beach, doesn’t mean you still don’t have time to make good use of an eco-friendly swimsuit. However, trying to create a sustainable bathing suit is no easy pickings. Common materials used to add shape and style to your one-piece assembles and trendy bikinis include man-man wonders, such as Lycra and spandex. Fortunately, with the help of repurposed and recycled materials – it's easy being green in the deep blue. Aaron Chang International For the surfer girl at heart, Aaron Chang International offers a line of eco-friendly swimwear fashioned from recycled soda bottles made into polyester yarn. Within his collection, a natural element theme weaves in and out of his suits. Beyond the reversible style delivering the flexibility of a chameleon to the padded Classic Woody Cut Out One Piece with eye-catching cut patterns, Aaron Chang also sells high-quality prints of outdoor scenes. Kelly B Couture Featured on the green fashion show of 'The View,' the Kelly B Valentina Bikini is comprised of bamboo and organic cotton – offering a chance to stay true to the earth while still embracing a classic style. The organic cotton used in the swimwear line has been grown, processed and produced without the pesticides and other toxic chemicals. Choose a basic Amanda one-piece swimsuit (available in black or white) with the option to remove a halter strap. The Nadia Ring Bikini presents a fun and flirty look and only uses 8% spandex in its creation. Other Kelly B options include the Jenny String Bikini and the Tizi Cutout Swimsuit – offered in a vibrant yellow. Jungle Gurl Can you think of anything better than taking a cue from a former model turned eco-friendly swimwear designer? Jungle Gurl mixes alluring designs with minimal fabric use to create a line of bathing suits and bikinis that repurpose vintage fabrics with an international flair. Tap into your wild side with the Ginger Lulu (shown), which allows you to also fashionably prepare your baby for a day at the beach. The Keila offers artistic designs with fabrics and strings that tie around the neck and back. Anna Cohen Floating across the web, swimmers can still find a few Anna Cohen swimsuit designs despite her decision to explore 'another chapter in her life.' Mull over the sexiness of an eco-friendly string bikini or select the quick-drying Teal Triangle Bikini – originally constructed out of leftover fabric from the Olympic Speed Skating team uniforms. Cohen gave unwanted surplus mill-end fabrics a home of their own. The Portland-based designer additionally chose organic cotton and sustainable bamboo to bring her innovative styles to life. Niksters With bamboo rings, soy, and organic cotton materials, Niksters allows you to dazzle beachgoers with intriguing designs, such as the Heavenly, a white one-piece with Xcross crochet strings at the front and top. The Balance bikini presents a handmade crochet top that seductively ties in the middle of the back. Experience a monobikini (shown) against your skin with the Native Goddess – a classy heart shaped one-piece. Niksters also plans to add eco-friendly beach accessories, including necklaces, beach hats, and bracelets made out of natural materials. Other earth-friendly swimwear and companies to consider:

• Triumph: Awarded Best Environment Management accolades from Austrian Industry, Triumph blends eco-friendly ideas with green production processes when generating their swimwear line filled with striking prints, colors and cuts.
• San Lorenzo: Join Jhonatan Figueroa and Megan Spurlock – the two designers behind cutting-edge Brazilian cut bikinis with an eco-friendly, organic cotton twist. Don't forget to check out the belt-style bikini.
• Rawganique: The entire line of swimwear from Rawganique uses hemp to create comfortable and stylish designs, including swim trunks for men.

Business: 12 Steps to Turning Green

While more and more businesses implement eco-friendly practices, there are many companies that feel 'going green' is too much of an expense or too difficult. As a company owner or entrepreneur, you may not want to go through massive overhauls to reduce your carbon footprint. However, there are many small steps companies can take to make a huge difference. Below are 12 simple steps any business can take to become more eco-friendly. 1. Get Rid of Paper Checks Rather than paying employees with paper checks, utilize a third party payment system such as PayPal. Recipients get paid as soon as you click 'send,' and there is no need for a printed check. Statements come right to your inbox, and records of transactions are kept so that you can keep track of incoming and outgoing payments. 2. No More Paper Literature Whether it's an office memo, a brochure for customers or a company policy - these things typically get printed on paper. Use alternative options such as sending an email, creating PDF documents or providing a link to an online copy of the company policy. 3. Stop Computer All-Nighters Have employees completely shut down computers at night before leaving the office. Many companies leave computer systems up and running, sucking electricity and wasting energy. It only takes a few seconds to get the computer started again, and the effort helps save money and conserves energy. 4. Promote Recycling Simply by placing a few large containers in a corner somewhere and clearly labeling them, offices can get started recycling. Owners might consider placing paper bins near desks while offering plastic recycling containers in the conference room or lunch room to make it even easier on employees. 5. Recycle eWaste Along with paper and plastics, companies can easily recycle electronic products to make a difference. Simply locate an eWaste recycling center in your area and organize an office recycling effort. Anything from old cell phones to printer cartridges and computer parts can be recycled this way. Visit eRecycle.org's Recycler Search to learn more. 6. Packaging Products If your company must package items for customers, do what you can to reduce waste. Use as little packaging materials as possible, and if possible, use recycled packaging. Not only will it make your company greener, but customers will notice your efforts as well and this is a great way to build a reputation for being environmentally responsible. 7. Cleaning the Office Whether the office is cleaned by a member of the staff or an outside cleaning service, request that it be cleaned with all-natural products. A vinegar and water mixture is as effective as a typical spray cleanser that is filled with chemicals and potentially dangerous ingredients. This is a positive step for the health of office employees, as well. 8. Encourage Carpooling While this choice will ultimately be up to the employees, companies can encourage carpooling to and from work, as well as to and from lunch. 9. Switch to Energy-Saving Lightbulbs It's easy and fast to switch to energy-saving lightbulbs, and while this step helps companies 'go green,' it also helps them save green. Energy-saving lightbulbs can help reduce expenses and decrease utility bills. Find out what kind of energy-saving bulbs you need! 10. Low-Flow Toilets Have low-flow toilets installed in the office bathroom(s). These kinds of toilets use a fraction of the water typically used to flush, and aren't expensive to obtain. If you don't want to shell out the price of a new toilet, place a small brick in the back of existing toilets at work to help save water. 11. Water-Saving Faucets Install water-saving faucets to cut down on the amount of water being used every time an employee makes coffee, washes their hands, etc. 12. Utilize Recycled Materials Offices can make a huge difference by utilizing recycled materials rather than purchasing new ones. This method can be used for office furniture, electronics and much more. Join your local Freecycle group, where used items of all kinds can be obtained. While these practices are small and very easy to implement, they can make a very large difference in the amount of energy and other resources used around the office. Encourage your employees to take part in a greener company today - and start by giving them a great example! Learn more about greening your business. Image Courtesy of www.pleasantrees.com

Looking for Eco-Friendly Wedding Invitations?

When it comes to infusing your respect for the planet into your wedding, the number of ways you can stay true to an earth friendly walk down the aisle is staggering. One of the first things engaged couples must do in their journey through wedding planning is to announce their special day to family and friends. Today, an eco-friendly wedding invitation may utilize recycled paper or breathe new life into discarded objects. Before making a final decision, take the time to browse an assortment of companies offering green wedding invitations. Sweet Invitations No trees are used to make these acid free, 100% recycled wedding invitations for the eco-minded newlyweds-to-be. Using discarded and shredded cloth, petals, silk and grass, the handmade wedding invitations of Sweet Invitations are stunningly beautiful and creative. The benefit? Eco-friendly announcements that will not fade or disintegrate over time like wood pulp-based papers. A few collections that I thought stood out included the Sealed Hearts Collection, decorated with a traditional faux wax seal sticker displaying a double heart design. This sticker is used to attach the translucent vellum overlay that presents the details of your wedding. However, my personal favorite is the Wedding Bands Collection (Green and Red Silk Invitation shown above) – outstanding handmade paper background cards fashioned from recycled cotton and embedded with silk fibers. A handmade paper band attaches the translucent vellum. Invitesite Featured in Newsweek and Time Magazine, Invitesite has made quite a name for themselves in the world of unique DIY wedding invitations. Since 1999, the company is known for their green business practices that include the papers they use to their methods of printing. Besides choosing from a fine selection of paper invitations, customers may also browse save the date cards, programs, holiday cards, and thank you notes. For an added convenience, Invitesite provides a collection of 'how to' videos for customers looking to make their own wedding invitations using the company's modern invitation kits. Eye-catching and simple, Invitesite offers the DIY Unryu wrapped Natural Invitation called Angelicia, which is decorated with a Japanese maple leaf and offers a tree-free option made from 100% post consumer recycled papers (Thai mulberry fibers). Produced in the United States and/or Canada, the maple leaves are dried in California. When purchasing this set, you will receive a recycled paper envelope; cream-colored mulberry paper cut wrapper; genuine pressed Japanese maple leaf; matching husk post-consumer recycled cardstock; glue sticks; MSWord templates; complete reference sample; and 10% extra printing sheets and envelopes for those pesky, unexpected printing errors. Earthly Affair From earth friendly printing methods to an eco-equipped studio, Earthly Affair has made a commitment to embrace business practices that lessen their impact on the environment. Offering wedding invitations with flair, the company recycles and reuses it way into the hearts of their clients with modern and fun designs. Other highlights of Earthly Affair include carbon-free shipping, donations to environmental projects, and the use of 100% recycled paper. A couple of options to consider include:

• Breeze – perfect for a seaside or coastal walk down the aisle
• Juliet – offering two lovebirds perched on a branch
• Shade – expresses a love of nature with signature tree illustration and flourished border

Sterling Wine Online For the ultimate in personalized eco-friendly wedding invitations, Sterling Wine Online offers laser engraved announcements on recycled champagne bottles. Flattened and accented with gold or silver rings and ribbons, this extremely unique approach is made by glass artisans in the United States. While a wooden display stand accompanies the invitation, this work of art is also functional – designed to double as a cheese platter. At nearly $100 per invitation, this has to be one of the most luxurious ways to announce your upcoming nuptials. Please note that invitations will take two to four weeks for delivery. Available in Dark Green or Kelly Green. Photo Credits: Sweet Invitations, Invitesite, Sterling Wine Online

Hot Mama Gowns - Organic Maternity Wear

Mamas-to-be, if you've ever had the pleasure of staying at a hospital, then you already know your temporary digs is no five-star hotel. Surrounded by the beep of blood pressure monitors and scent of antiseptic soap, you can probably think of a million different places you'd rather give birth to your bundle of joy. To make matters worse, you're wearing a generic hospital gown that certainly cramps your fashion sense and for many, actually adds to your physical discomfort. In order to stop the spread of germs and prevent infection, hospitals must use water at extremely hot temperatures with strong chemicals to disinfect gowns. If that wasn’t bad enough, countless patients have worn the faded hospital gown given to expectant mothers. The wear and tear on gowns is usually not the way you’d like to welcome new baby into the world. Are you looking for a better way to make this a more special and healthier memory? With Hot Mama Gowns, women can express their individuality and enjoy the miracle of life in eco-fashion style. Hospital- and birthing center-friendly, these organic maternity gowns supply mothers with:

• Short sleeves
• Full coverage snap-open back
• Two ribbon-tied panels for quick and convenient nursing
• Trendy and expressive styles

Hot Mama Gowns is Born It took two years of jotting down notes and creating proto-types until the brainchild of Hot Mama Gowns, Deidrea Haysel, constructed her fashionable masterpieces. Surrounded by itchy material, the scent of hospital chemicals, and less-than-desirable threads, Deidra turned the first moments spent with her newborn daughter into a business venture that forever changed the way mothers coped with the preamble, experience, and aftermath of delivery. Inspired by her organic eating habits, Deidrea set out to design natural, fashionable maternity wear with added convenience for breastfeeding mothers. Organic and comfortable, Hot Mama Gowns reduce the impact on the environment by using 100% natural or low-impact dyes. In the end, expectant mothers wrap up in "super-soft organic cotton" without the harshness of cleaning chemicals often found in hospitals. Hot Mama Gowns are fashioned from organic cotton:

• Grown from natural seeds without the use of fungicides or insecticides
• Cultivated in healthy soil due to crop rotation
• That forgoes aerial spraying of insecticides and pesticides
• Produced with non-toxic cornstarch instead of synthetic waxes
• Whitened in safe peroxide – no chlorine bleaching
• Follows fair trade practices

Whether you're having one child, twins or triplets, Hot Mama Gowns are designed to accommodate growing bellies of all different shapes and sizes – thanks to the two ribbon-tied panels. When ordering, it is suggested to request a gown based upon your true pre-pregnancy size. Larger pregnancies would benefit from ordering one size larger than pre-pregnancy size. Want to keep up-to-date with the latest Hot Mama Gowns news - follow them on Twitter. Photo Credits: Hot Mama Gowns

Brews for the Eco-Minded Drinker

The next time you call the boys over for a friendly game of poker or host a chip-and-dip fest with the ladies, Full Sail and New Belgium Breweries are hoping you grab one of their sustainable beverages. Respected in the nation for green business practices and tasty beers, these two microbreweries are leading the way in energy efficiency, recycling, reuse, and sustainability. Full Sail Brewing From their American Pale Ale to the Brewmaster's Reserve, Full Sail Brewing masterfully creates handcrafted ales and lagers in Hood River, Oregon. In the sustainable business world, Full Sail has certainly earned their ranking as one of the leading 100 green companies in Oregon – an honor bestowed upon the microbrewery by the Oregon Business Magazine. Besides using sustainable ingredients and embracing renewable energy, the brewhouse itself is an efficient wonder – built with reclaimed and recycled building materials. Other green business practices include:

• An on-site wastewater treatment facility
• Utilizing hops and barley from Northwest farms
• Recycling grain and yeast waste into cattle feed
• 100% recycled paperboard for packaging
• Energy-efficient lighting and air compressors throughout brewhouse
• Adopting a 4-day workweek (four 10-hour shifts) to reduce water and energy consumption by 20%.

The brewery has also achieved reduced water consumption in regards to their beer making process. While most breweries use 6 to 8 gallons of water to make just one gallon of beer – Full Sail accomplishes the same task with only 3.45 gallons of water. New Belgium Brewing Social and environmental causes have always figured into the plan for New Belgium Brewing, as they've continued to push the envelope with their own green business practices. In addition to the sustainable brewery features listed below, the company has also set goals to further reduce their carbon footprint by 25% and water usage by 10%.

• Exceeding the expectations of the Clean Water Act of 1973, New Belgium Brewing implemented their own process for treating wastewater. As a result, they also learned how to harness the methane produced by the process to create a fuel used to generate electricity and heat for the brewery.
• In 1999, New Belgium became recognized as the largest private consumer of wind-power electricity at that time. They also earned the honor of being the first wind-powered brewery.
• UV blocking windows, sun-tubes, and light shelves assist the brewhouse in taking advantage of more than 360 days of sunrays decorating the Fort Collins, Colorado skies.
• Measuring 55,000 square foot, evaporative coolers result in decreased energy use for the compressor-free packaging hall. The interior wood used to construct this newer facility is beetle kill pine, which New Belgium Brewing says give "fallen trees another life."

Photo Credits: Environmental Leader, New Belgium