"Green" Your Summer!

Ah, the dog days of summer are upon us, a time when many spend long days at the beach soaking up the sun, frolicking in ocean waves or lounging poolside.  Make your summer excursions even more enjoyable…“green” your gear!

Ladies, your perfect swimsuit can be eco-friendly and fashionable!  Check out Kelly B’s collection made from sustainable Bamboo and Organic Cotton.  Or cute and comfortable swimsuits from Deux FM made of soy, recycled linen, and an organic cotton blend with a small amount of spandex for fit.  Visit Nimli to purchase.

Find soft and eco-friendly beach towels in fun and colorful prints at Sea Glass Organic.  Perfect for the beach, spa, and pool outings, their towels are made from 70% Bamboo and 30% Organic Cotton.

Another cool find at Sea Glass Organic…rope sandals!  These truly unique sandals are handmade in North Carolina from start to finish! Made from very soft durable polypropylene rope, the non-slip soles are put together using low VOC glues and the entire sandal is machine washable.

By way of beach bags, the Iles Sainte Marie crocheted bag is made out of sustainably harvested raffia and woven seagrass by a workers’ cooperative in Madagascar.  The chic handle is hand-carved wood. Or consider their Lug CarryAll handmade of raffia and jute with sturdy leather handles, has a nifty cotton drawstring closure and inside pocket.  Find these and more at White Apricot.

Don’t even think about spending time in the sun without proper sun protection.  One of my personal favs is the organic moisturizing suncare collection by Coola.  Packed with natural photo-protectors, certified organic extracts, antioxidants and vitamins that boost skin’s natural immune system, Coola’s products are PABA, paraben, petroleum, and phthalate free.  The Mango Sport SPF45 smells good enough to eat!

Surely you can’t forget to protect your peepers!  There are several eco-friendly lines to choose from.  A stylish and trendy choice is from iWood ($370).  iWood frames are crafted using exotic woods and reclaimed veneer.  The frames are coated in an eco-friendly sealant, which preserves the product without emitting any volatile organic compounds (VOCs).  They offer 100% UVA/UVB protection.  Interestingly, as part of an Industrial Technology Program, iWood products are manufactured by American high school students.  These students earn college credits, gain experience, and receive a competitive wage.  Hmm.  Available at Greenloop.com.

A bit more in my price range ($21.95) are from ICU Eyewear.  Famed as the first to develop “green” sunglasses in the industry, this eco-friendly option is made out of 100% reclaimed material and available in red (shown), black, and tortoise.

How about a pair of Liz Claiborne, Calvin Klein, or Gucci sunglasses?  Equation Eyewear offers refurbished name brand sunglasses at extremely affordable prices.  Member of the National Recycling Coalition, Inc., Equation’s mission is to help the world see better for less by providing eyewear that is 100% recycled and reconditioned.  Very cool!

Of course you’ll want to memorialize all the fun you’re having!  Check out the eco-conscious Olympus Stylus 1010 featuring a 7x optical zoom, 10.1 megapixels, a large 2.7″ HyperCrystal™.  It is certified as an Olympus Eco-product, which means this camera has a reduced environmental footprint across its entire product lifecycle, which encompasses not only the product and its packaging, but also the manufacturing and logistical processes in bringing the product to the marketplace.

So who wants to walk to the concession or boardwalk in this heat when you can zip on over on your electric bike!  Electric bikes, bicycles, mopeds, and scooters offer the perfect green and affordable alternative for short jaunts.  You get about 100 miles for less than $1 or about one cent per mile with an electric scooter. A midsize car costs 15-20 times that amount in fuel alone! A nifty choice is the 36 Volt Electric Street Bike from Green World Scooters.  It is fully equipped with a front basket and a rear locking trunk, 350 watt brushless Hub motor, with a charge time of about 6-8 hours.  Shipping is included in the price.  AND, you can crank this baby up to 15 miles per hour!  Yee-ha!

Now you are set to enjoy a blissful eco-friendly summer vacation!  Have tons of fun and hey, send us some pics!

*Note: click on the post link to see cool pics!