Rubin Recommends

Goodguide helps you on your journey of buying the right products that are safe for you and the environment. With it’s growing database of products, you can look up pretty much anything you use right now, or are about to purchase.

From the companies’ business practices, to what the actual chemicals are, you can learn about your shampoos, deodorants, face wash, household cleaners, just about anything. After you look it up it also has a great suggestion engine to help you replace a product you might using that isn’t all that great. Each product you look up is rated by health performance, environmental performance, social performance, has links to user reviews, and buy links to find the products you want.

I think their greatest new feature is the iPhone application that makes shopping even easier by allowing you to look up the products as you shop.

Visit Goodguide at http://www.goodguide.com

It just makes sense, if the statement below IS true that if you’re already rocking the Method brand liquid soap you should buy the refills whenever you can (heck, even if you’re not and it’s time for a fill up.) It’s more cost effective (already I’ve filled 2 bottles with some left) and better for the world.

You can get it here or view other green options at Amazon Green.

“Same great naturally derived formula as our handwash, in a funky pouch that has 83% less environmental impact than if we used a traditional plastic bottle, meaning less energy, water, plastic and pollution as a result.”

db clay is having a 55% sale of anything on their site. Get a really nice new wallet for only $21.00 (that includes free first class shipping.) Use the coupon code “08SEPT55” to receive the discount. I especially like them because of their use of Tope which is their “custom engineered and eco friendly textile.”

I’ve had one for about 4 months now and I love it very much.

http://dbclay.com

(via The Bargainist)

A little steep in price but I’ve seen them in action and it seems well worth it. The carrying pouch makes it easy to throw in your back pocket so you don’t forget it. Comes in lots of colors so you can re-use in style.

Grounds for Change is a family owned and operated coffee roasting business located in the Pacific Northwest. They roast 100% Fair Trade, Organic coffee in small batches to ensure that you receive the freshest coffee possible. The vast majority of the coffee they sell is also Shade Grown Coffee which ensures healthy habitat for migratory birds.

Not only do they offer all of the things above but they also offset 100% of their non-renewable energy consumption through a partnership with Puget Sound Energy’s Green Power Program. (Read more.)

The flavors I am most into right are the Agate Pass Blend,  Solstice Blend, and the Bolivia Blend.

The Preserve Tooth Brush – The Preserve’s materials, all of which are completely recyclable, have been selected for both performance and their recycled origins. You can purchase them online at Amazon or get them at your local Whole Foods, Trader Joes, and Wild Oats.

Too much to list here, you should read more about this toothbrush. They even give you pre paid mailers to send it back for recycling when it’s time to get a new one. Also all the packaging is reuseable and you can even use the package it comes in as a toothbrush travel case (it even has holes for air.)

• The Preserve’s handle is made from the highest quality post-consumer and pre-consumer recycled plastics.
• Join the cycle: Return the Preserve toothbrush to Recycline, we will grind it to make material for recycled plastic lumber. Our postage-paid return envelope assures recycling and makes it easy.
• Efficient packaging eliminates unnecessary waste. All of our packaging is made from recyclable materials, and the reusable brush canister provides a sanitary holder to keep your brush clean and portable.

Learn More…

ClickGreener is an online shopping portal that makes all your online shopping greener.

By shopping at the normal places you’d shop (Like Amazon, Apple, Buy.com, etc) if you start at Clickgreener and visit the store that way, they will donate 51% of the referral credit on each order to their environmental non-profit partners.

Try it next time you’re shopping online.

Clickgreener.com

I finally made the plunge. I got rid of all my toxic cleaning supplies. I mixed and matched some brands but you can get a lot of it done with Method: Home (and I like the packaging.) Some people think that Method is a Target™ only brand. Nope. You can get it at finer grocery stores, etc.

Method: Home can get your started with this Detox Kit – Detox Your Home (pictured above.) It’s 28.00 and it has everything you need to get started and phase out a lot of the products you shouldn’t be using anymore. They also have some good holiday sents right now for soap, etc. I think I like cleaning more since the smell is actually good and doesn’t make you pass out. This kit comes with:

• all purpose cleaner: french lavender
• tub + tile spray
• wood for good furniture polish
• microfiber cloth: wood for good
• hand wash: sea minerals
• 25 oz omop all floor cleaner: lemon ginger
• 25 oz dish soap: pink grapefruit

If you need a toliet bowl cleaner I suggest the Ecover Toliet Bowl Cleaner.

And for Toliet paper I’ve found Seventh Generation bathroom tissue is the softest on my you know… Not everyone agrees I’m sure so the toliet paper is a tough recommend! Good luck! Seventh Generation also has great cleaning supplies so check out their other stuff as well! I’m not the ONLY ONE that thinks this is the best.

LAST but not least: If you’re ready to start to get these products but still have a lot of the other ones left you can either use them till they run out (I guess) OR you can lookup facilities in your city that you can bring the old chemicals to, to dispose of them properly. DO NOT just throw them in the trash! K THNX.

Here is info for what you do with your old products in Los Angeles.