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Sodium lauryl sulfate is an effective degreaser used to clean oil stains from the floor of my mechanic's repair shop; what's it doing in my toothpaste and my daughter's bubble bath? And, why is the long-known carcinogen nitrosamine, banned in Canada and the European Union, still a common ingredient in my mascara, concealer, sunless tanning lotion and baby shampoo? The simple answer is......read more
Sneaker shoppers will be taking home their next pair of PUMAs in something sustainable. The apparel company's new eco-conscious packaging and distribution system, which was unveiled on SHFT last year, will start hitting stores soon. Designed by Yves Behar's fuseproject studio, the so-called "Clever Little Bag" is part of PUMA's footprint reduction strategy. It's claimed that the packaging......read more
In three short years, the Prix Pictet has become the global prize for excellence in environmental photography, assembling some of the most powerful images of sustainability (or lack thereof) from around the world. The theme for this year's competition is Growth, which organizers call "one of the great conundrums facing humanity in the early decades of the 21st century." True enough. The winner......read more
It seems like one step forward, two steps back for the environmental movement these days. The once-high hopes of achieving national and/or international action on climate change have faded to a mere memory. Backward-thinking Republicans are attacking the Environmental Protection Agency in Congress. Eco-minded folks are getting bummed. But another movement, one that shares a common ethos with......read more
Whaler Failure: Are we witnessing a turning point in the war against whaling? Japanese whalers have halted their annual whale hunt in the Antarctic (veiled under the bogus guise of "scientific research") after persistent harrassment by the brave bad asses of the Sea Shepherd Society sent them into retreat. "Putting a priority on safety, the fleet has halted scientific whaling for now," Tatsuya......read more
Long before sustainable design hit the mainstream, Austin-based architects Andersson Wise earned a reputation for creating low footprint buildings that borrow design cues — and materials — from the sites on which they're built. Stone Creek Camp, a rustic wilderness retreat on the picturesque shores of Montana's Flathead Lake, is a case in point. The central building on the property,......read more
In a picturesque seaside setting, between the dual architectural icons of Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge, a pop-up restaurant is blazing new trails in green design. It's only been open for a month but Greenhouse by Joost is already being called The Greenest Building in the World. That may be a little lofty, but it's definitely got some solid green credentials. Designed by......read more
For most of us, the vision of a solar-powered future conjures a mental image of rooftops covered in photovoltaic panels. But PV tech is actually only a few decades old, and humans have been harnessing the sun's power for millenia. Concentrated solar power (CSP), or "solar thermal," is an ancient, low-tech version of solar energy capture, in which the sun's heat energy is used to boil water and......read more
Is it summer yet? It's barely halfway through February and we're already pining for our first summer road trip, even moreso after checking out this collection of pics from Elizabeth G Brown, in which the LA-based photographer captures her adventures rambling around California, enjoying the Great Outdoors. More "California Roaming" here....read more
According to the United Nations, 2011 is the International Year of the Forests, which means, well, not much. It's always the Year of This or the Month of That. But we can't not get behind this one. Especially when it looks this good. GoodPlanet Foundation, chaired by Yann Arthus-Bertrand (the filmmaker behind the epic doc Home), is raising awareness of forest issues through, among other things,......read more
