What happens when you take cast appointed bicycles, throw in some eco-conscious movie packaging, and a pinch of reusable wood? The first big hit “green” movie.

Evan Almighty, the $163 million hit, can be considered the first ever blockbuster green movie. Thanks to Tom Shadyac, the director, the movie was created with a goal to eliminate all environmental impact, period.

Eco-friendly Packaging

In Canada, you can find Evan Almighty in a new, slim, cardboard sleeve. What makes it green?
The use of soy ink, waterless printing and sourcing of the paper products from green-managed forests. Although, it can only be found in Canada for now, Universal seems positive that America will soon follow suit.

Green Movie?

Along with the eco-friendly packaging, director Shadyac did everything he could to keep his impact on the environment minimum. For starters, he purchased four hundred bicycles for cast and crew to move around the set. To neutralize the carbon emissions, 2,050 trees were planted in the Virginia Wildlife refuge. Also, extra trees were planted around the area where the movie was filmed as a thank you to the community. Recycled paper, plastic, aluminum and glass were used by craft service while over 90% of the wood used was donated to Habit for Humanity along with landscaping, windows, flooring, and hardware. Even scripts were printed on both sides of each sheet of paper and then recycled.

If you would like more information about how Universal aims to improve the environmental impact of its operations by reducing greenhouse gases, raising awareness about green issues and stimulating change in the media and entertainment industry head over to www.getonboardnow.org.

An eco-friendly world starts with one step…

Cheers,

Tiffany

I have been a long time user of Kiehl’s, a pharmacy offering skin care, hair care and body care products made with the finest natural ingredients. You can usually find me scurring the aisles at their Queen Street location, testing out new products.

History of Kiehl’s

The birth of Kiehl’s pharmacy happened in New York’s East Village neighborhood over 150 years ago. Since then they have remained dedicated to providing their patrons unique, natural skin and hair products through the most attentive, personalized service. Everyone at Kielh’s is committed to serving their customers and communities alike through the highest service standards.

What I especially like most about them are the little steps they take every day for the enviroment. Kiehl’s is one of the few stores that you can take your empty hand cremes, shampoo bottles and containers and have them recycle them for you. They have also introduced a canvas bag to carry your little goodies. If you are looking for personal hygiene products and cosmetics and want to do your small bit to help out the environment head out to your nearest Keihl’s or check out the website at http://www.kiehls.com/

Every little bit helps!

Amalia

If you’re in the market for eco-friendly clothing, you’re in luck! Some of the best fabrics out there are actually good for the environment too! What’s also great is that eco fibres and organic textiles have been popping up in our local malls lately as they slowly enter the mainstream.

 




What’s so great about eco fibres & organic textiles?




 

There are dozens of benefits to using eco fibres (textiles that do not require any pesticides or chemicals) and organic textiles. We have our own list of reasons why we LOVE them:

 




1. Eco-friendly clothing is comfy!

Eco-friendly clothing has a great breathable soft feel that makes it crazy hard to go back to cotton & polyester!

 




2. Eco Fabrics are Biodegradable over time!
Eco fibres & Organic Textiles are earth-friendly and biogradable over time, plus they don’t emit the harmful toxins that commercial cotton usually does.

 




3. Organic Textiles are Hypo-allergenic!
Since eco-friendly clothing is natural and doesn’t contain the irritants in most commercial clothing, it is also hypo-allergenic. A huge plus for those with more sensitive skin!

 




4. Eco-friendly Clothing is Naturally anti-bacterial!
Some materials, Bamboo for instance, have an anti-bacterial quality that keeps away pests or infections. This characteristic also carries over to its fabric form. For Bamboo, this anti-bacterial agent is known as “Bamboo Kin” and is said to bond tightly with bamboo cellulose molecules during the normal growth process and retained in fabric form. Studies have shows that even after a garment is washed fifty times, this bamboo fabric still retained its anti-bacterial quality. What does this mean for you? It keeps you from sweating, and your clothes from sticking to you therefore giving these clothes a naturally hygienic quality you won’t find in your regular cotton t-shirt.

 




5. Eco-friendly Clothing is Classy!
Choosing between organic textiles & eco fabrics is fun! Look at your options: Bamboo, Silk, Linen… CASHMERE.. These soft, beautiful fabrics will be a great addition to your wardrobe and before long you won’t let your body touch another scratchy, uncomfortable fabric again!

 




Looking to build a greener wardrobe?

 




You can find new organic lines at your local mall in Roots, Cotton Ginny, Levi’s, La Senza and H&M. If you need more help finding some great eco-friendly clothing, check out these online stores:

 

- Passenger Pigeon http://www.passengerpigeon.ca/collections/

- Bindi Wear International http://www.bindiwearinternational.com.au


- Bamboosa http://www.bamboosa.com/


- Lotus Organics http://www.lotusorganics.com/

- Manic Organic Shop http://www.manicorganicshop.com


 

 




Happy Shopping!

 

Tiffany

 

Eco-friendly Clothing has taken a turn for the better this year, and it’s made us quite excited! One sustainable fibre that is set to revolutionize the t-shirt industry is Bamboo.

Bamboo as a Sustainable Fibre

The reason why Bamboo is considered an eco-friendly material is because it is one of the world’s fastest growing plants. It is actually able to reach full maturity in about 3 years, compared to the typical 25 to 70 years for commercial tree species. Not to mention, It is usually grown without pesticides or chemicals, and is 100% biodegradable.

Why is Bamboo so great?

Bamboo fiber contains a natural antibacterial agent, called “bamboo kun”, that prevents the growth of bacteria. Known for its breathability, bamboo will never stick to your body or skin even on the hottest days thus keeping you odor-free.

Also, bamboo is super comfortable! It feels like a mix of silk and cashmere. Once you’ve gone bamboo going back to cotton is a little touch. It also helps that it’s fast drying, moisture-wicking, and thermal regulating. It will keep you cooler in the summer, and you can layer it to be warmer in the winter.

Where you can you find Bamboo products?

Bamboo is slowly making its ways to your favourite stores. In the meantime check out these stores to find some great bamboo clothing!

- HTNATURALS http://www.htnaturals.com

- Bamboo Clothing http://www.bambooclothes.ca

- Jonano http://www.jonano.com

- Panda Snack http://www.pandasnack.com

Be sure to add a little eco-chic to your wardrobe!

Cheers,

Tiffany

Eco-friendly is revolutionary for the companies that are trying to change the world, but a wonderfully surprising off-set of this has been its obvious chic-ness. We’re not complaining.. In fact, I personally love creating any event with an elegant nature theme.

If you’ve stumbled here because you’re looking for a nature themed wedding, I offer you the following tips to keep your wedding eco-friendly and natural.

Find a gorgeous natural setting & save on decorations!

Finding the perfect spot for a nature-themed wedding can seem difficult at first, but there are probably more than a dozen locations near you that you would never think twice to use! We love using local parks, the backyards of historical sites, or even rowing clubs to do our events. My favorite place to have a wedding is on the grounds of a native museum, where your guests can take a look around while you take pictures. It’s a great way of blending culture with your theme and giving your guests an added experience they wouldn’t normally see!

Use the seasons as your guide

If you’re having a fall wedding, incorporate the colors of the leaves throughout. Add a sleigh ride and bonfire to your outdoor winter wedding. Rather than buying arrangements, use what’s around you. Sometimes the most simple centerpieces are the most breathtaking. If you must use flower arrangements, arrange with your florist to have flowers that are organic and in season. Be creative!

Nature-themed Gifts: Don’t know what to give your guests?

Let’s face it, bombonieres are old-school. People don’t want to recieve little angel figurines or cups with your faces on the side. Our tip for the perfect bomboniere is to find something affordable, thoughtful and elegant. Here are our top choices:

• A donation on behalf of your guest to the charity of your choice. See http://www.idofoundation.org/ for charity registries and invitations that raise money for different charities worldwide.
• Tree seedlings or packets of perennial seeds. Great for a spring wedding.
• Fair trade wedding favors such as Theo Chocolate or http://www.cocoavino.com/

Remember an eco-friendly lifestyle or an event isn’t an all-or-nothing commitment, you can do little things that bring awareness to your cause while still showcasing your casually elegant self!

Good luck!

Tiffany

There’s a revolution happening.. And it’s eco-friendly.

Talen Events was started because we felt the rumblings of this revolution, and we loved it. We wanted to take part in the only way we knew how — creating eco-events that encouraged people to stop, think, and find new ways to reduce waste, reuse supplies, and recycle items.

It’s exciting to learn how other people use their area of expertise to educate the masses on eco-friendly solutions that relate to their business. Fellow Canadian Alex Williams, of Green Eye Tea, is an Eco-consultant with a focus on energy efficient IT solutions. He’s actually started a great blog where he supplies tips, tricks and overall awareness of the environmental impact of IT infrastructures throughout businesses around the world.

Kudos to Alex, and other companies who are doing their part to save our resources!

The Revolution is Now.

Cheers - Tiffany

Ahhh Ecollywood is over! And what a wonderful night it was!

On a day that will live in infamy, in a town filled with stars one of the very few eco-friendly parties was held. The TIFF festival was the perfect backdrop for the party, held in the heart of Yorkville @ the posh Club V. The message was simple ‘you can do your part and every little bit helps. From food to fashion to a holistic spa, you were treated like a star. And even though mother nature tried to steal our thunder with some rain and thunder of her own, we all equally shared the spotlight. We would like to thank Choroid Films for introducing us to the project, Much Music’s Sabrina Jalees for hosting the night, all of the sponsors who joined us in very little time and made it all worthwhile, and of course our benefactor the David Suzuki Foundation for all they do and we look forward to seeing you all next year.

Cheers,

Amalia