Green Solutions Product Picks

By Madelyn Lipszyc

1. Elephant Poo-Poo Paper Notebox

Made from naturally dried animal dung collected from conservation areas. Feel free to write notes to whomever you wish, and you won't be killing trees doing so. These products have no residual odour, and are strikingly similar to, but a better option than, paper notes.

2. Patagonia - Men's Raincoat

This coat is going to keep you warm and dry, and is, of course, one hundred percent recycled. The colours range from beige, black, coriander, and henna brown. It is long enough to cover a blazer, and has a detachable storm hood. Patagonia also offers recycled luggage, sweaters, jackets and more for both sexes. This brand makes it is possible to stay in style while maintaining ethical purchasing power!

3. Staple-free Stapler

How can a stapler staple without staples you ask? Able to bond up to five pages, this device pokes a hole and folds it in, giving a sturdy attachment. This product could revolutionize how the workplace is run, without having dangerous staples around our desks, home, and eventually in a landfill - puncturing animals. Its only vice is that the stapler itself is not made from recycled materials. But have hope; it can be used for a long time and is safe for children.

4. Nokia Eco-Sensor Phone Watch

Powered by the sun, this two-piece device has one component that can be worn on the wrist like a watch, but is really much, much more than a gadget to tell time. The second component is a cellular telephone made from reclaimed steel, that tells you the weather, your heart rate, and more. Most impressively, the device can detect gas levels, ultraviolet radiation levels, and is a glimpse into the future of an ecoholic's essential information centre.

5. Reusable Menstrual Products

Women menstruate every month; that is a fact. Unfortunately, this results in a plethora of waste. It is a good idea to invest in GladRags reusable cotton pads that can be handwashed, or put in the washing machine. They come in organic, undyed cotton, or funky patterns. GladRags offers other alternative menstrual products as well.

6. Feline Pine Kitty Litter

Much of our pets' waste and traditional kitty litter carcinogens are dumped in landfills each year. Feline Pine brand litter boasts no dust, and is chemical-free. It is made from reclaimed pine sawdust, and is reviewed well on the internet by new users.

7. Desert Essence Natural Tea Tree Oil Toothpaste

We all must brush our teeth at least twice daily to maintain our oral health. But most products on the market today are full of chemicals, and can be scary to ingest. Desert Essence's Tea Tree Oil toothpaste is free from harsh abrasives, synthetic sweeteners, or artificial flavors. Check out the Desert Essence website for even more hygienic products that are free from harsh chemicals, like mouthwash, toothpicks, sun protection, deoderants and more. No animal testing, they offer a one hundred percent vegan line as well.

8. Orange Power Pump

Operating like a traditional air pump to blow up a mattress, this device uses the body to produce kinetic energy that can then be transferred to a cell phone. This product "follows the success of 2008's Dance Charger and Recharge Pod." One minute of foot pumping gives enough power to make a five-minute phone call. This is a great gadget to have if you are in a place where there is no power and your phone has run out of juice.

9. Ecopod Green Coffins

Okay... I know what you're thinking... Crazy! Why Bother? Ahh, etc. But let's face it - we are all going to die eventually, and there is no need to sacrifice a new tree along with us. These coffins are made from recycled materials and paper that will biodegrade. Ecopods are being sold in the UK, while similar models and brands are available in the U.S., Canada and abroad. Your life, your death, your choice.

10. NatureMill's Automatic Indoor Compost Bin

Easy to use, you keep it in your kitchen and dispose of your paper and food. NatureMill likes to think that their product allows you to go from garden to compost, and from that rich soil, back to garden. They point out that "there is more food and paper in landfills than diapers, styrofoam, and tires - combined." Clearly, this waste can be diverted and properly re-used with the help of this automatic compost bin.