Eco-Friendly & Green Living Blog

I got my new Essentia latex mattress on Tuesday, and I’m simply loving it so far! It’s natural memory foam and compared to my old spring mattress, it feels like sleeping on thick gel, if you can imagine that. It basically moulds to your shape, in the most comfortable way imaginable. I’d heard that it takes some time to get used to memory foam, but that hasn’t been my experience at all. It’s like a cosy cocoon, in a non-cloying, non-warm way (it is summer after all!).

The mattress is great because:
• it’s made of natural latex, which doesn’t off gas
• it’s glue- and adhesive-free
• it’s entirely biodegradable
• dust mites can’t live in it, so it’s great for anyone with allergies or who suffers from asthma
• if you’re allergic to latex, the processing of the latex destroys the proteins you’re allergic to, so no worries!
• the unbleached organic cotton cover is made with organic dyes and is removable for cleaning
• it’s green – and how happy that makes me!!

How much greener could this all-Canadian company be?
• each mattress is hand made, with the liquid latex poured into a mould and cured, so minimal waste is produced
• Essentia’s website is stored on a windpowered server
• Essentia is a member of 1% for the Planet, an organization that funds green initiatives worldwide
• until Mar. 5, 2010, owners of hybrid and electric vehicles get a 20% discount on all Essentia sleep products. Woohoo!

The mattresses are available online, but if you live near the factory/showroom, which is just outside Montreal, you can try them out in person there, and now there’s also a brand-new store in Toronto, so if you live there, check it out!

Available at: www.myessentia.com; West Laval, Que,
888-764-4116; Toronto, 647-348-0321; Costco (Pure and Classic 8 models)

Price: from $1,299

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Looking to have a ton of people over but don’t have enough cutlery to go around? Really don’t want to buy plastic and toss it into the garbage after knowing it’s just going to end up in a landfill?

Check out this biodegradable cutlery. Made from potato starch, it’s not only biodegradable, you can compost it, too – it completely breaks down in three to six weeks. And while the price is somewhat higher, isn’t it worth it for never having to rely on petroleum-based plastic knives, forks and spoons again?

Available at: www.grassrootsstore.com

Price: $5.99 (package of 50)

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I don’t know about you, but insects just looooooove me!

One night out and I’m covered in bites that turn into angry, itchy, swollen eruptions. Not a pretty sight! But I hate using insect repellent that’s filled with icky chemicals. I’d rather just stay in, thank you very much!

Until this weekend, that is. That’s when I had a chance to used La Fresh’s All Natural Biodegradable Insect Repellent Towelettes. They’re made from all-natural ingredients, natch, including peppermint oil, sesame oil, olive oil, castor oil, wheat germ oil, and vitamin E (also no parabens and the towelettes are biodegradable). I smelled very minty, in a not unappealing way, but not a single bite!!!! Let me tell you, I was practically doing a happy dance around the campfire.

I could only be more thrilled if the repellent came in a recyclable spray bottle…

Available at: www.lafreshgroup.com

Price: from $4.49 US for a six-pack

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I’m seeing a recurring theme in the images I’ve been putting up lately: clean, bright and white!

This flirty Fly cushion from Canada’s own LoooLo Textiles is no exception. LoooLo’s green claim to fame? “Every pillow or blanket we make uses our own hand- and machine-knit biodegradable textiles. Yes, you can throw them in your composter at the end of their useful life and they will biodegrade within 1 year.” LoooLo also uses Canadian suppliers whenever possible. That’s saying something!

The Fly is shown here in Lamb and also comes in Mink, Slate and Buffalo and three different sizes, 9″ x 18″, 11″ x 23″ and 18″ x 18″.

Available at: www.looolo.ca

Price: from $125

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Washed with a new natural laundry detergent called Ecos recently, and since my whites turned out white, my darks stayed dark, and my brights were shining  brightly, suffice it to say, I was pretty happy when the laundry was done!

Ecos is a concentrated liquid detergent, one ounce of which will wash a full load of dirty fabrics, and you can use it in front loading and high-efficiency machines. It has a built-in soy-based fabric softener (which works for me, since I don’t used a dryer) and cellulose-based optical brightener (also good for me, since bleach is another no-no).

It’s also phosphate-, petrochemical- and formaldehyde-free, is plant-based, septic and greywater-system safe, 100% biodegradable, has a neutral pH, and the bottle and cap are both recyclable. Whew! That’s a whole lot of green cred goin’ on!

It comes in three scents: Magnolia & Lilies, Lavender, and Lemograss. I tried the Magnolia & Lilies scent, and while I found it very appealing, I also found it a little strong. I think I’ve grown accustomed to other eco-friendly products that are either unscented or quite subtly scented, so to tone it down a little I’d just mix it with some of the company’s Free & Clear Liquid Laundry Detergent (it doesn’t contain any essential oils for fragrance). That way, it would be just perfect for me; others will find it just perfect the way it is!

Available at: www.ecos.com for stores

Price: approx. $18.69/210 oz.

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This is your chance to win a great prize! I’m giving away four Go Green Works Starter Kits, including the following products made from plant-based, biodegradable ingredients, all in a handy big metal bucket (retail value $50).

• Green Works Dishwashing Liquid
• Green Works Natural All-Purpose Cleaner
• Green Works Natural Glass & Surface Cleaner
• Green Works Natural Toilet Bowl Cleaner
• Green Works Natural Dilutable Cleaner
• Green Works Natural Bathroom Cleaner

This is a super-easy contest. I’m giving away four kits over the next four weeks. All you have to do is be a subscriber to my blog.

If you’re not a subscriber already, sign up to have the Natural Chic blog delivered directly to your e-mail inbox for a chance to win. To do so, just click this icon:

I’ll pick one winner a week for the next four weeks. Best of luck!

Open to all residents of Canada, except those in Quebec. Not open to any Transcontinental Media employees, their families, or any other persons with whom they reside.

Do you have a product you’d like to recommend for this blog? Email me at naturalchic@styleathome.com!

This post premieres CHIC CHECK, in which I’ll test products on occasion and let you know what I think about them. I’ll also pick my fave from each batch, so if you’ve tried any out yourself, be sure to comment and let me know what you think!

1 ORGANIC KITCHEN LAVENDER BERGAMOT ANTIBACTERIAL HAND WASH
Green Cred No SLSs or parabens, synthetic fragrances, petroleum products, colourants and animal ingredients, biodegradable.
Scent Great lavender smell with a hint of bergamot (think Earl Grey tea) – pleasant, not overpowering.
Special Bonus Also available as a gift set with a matching lotion and a bamboo tray that’s perfect to use afterward as a key tray on a console table in your entryway or to hold jewelry or coins in your bedroom; $28.
Available at gift shops and department stores across Canada.
Price $12.

2 BURT’S BEES MILK & SHEA BUTTER HAND SOAP
Green Cred No SLSs or animal testing, paraben- and phthalate-free, bottle contains 80% post-consumer recycled material.
Something of a Surprise This soap doesn’t lather the way most do but feels more like a lotion. Not a problem for me, but some might find that off-putting.
Scent A subtle, sweet honey-like, beeswaxy scent, which I find intoxicating.
Available at stores across Canada.
Price $6.

3 ORGANIC SURGE LAVENDER & GERANIUM HAND WASH
Green Cred 99% naturally derived ingredients, no animal testing or animal-derived ingredients.
Scent Lavender, a known relaxant, perfect for those stressful days!
Charitable Work Part of the proceeds from the sales of Organic Surge products funds aid work in Africa.
Available at Shoppers Drug Mart/PharmaPrix across Canada.
Price $4.99.

4 METHOD WATER FLOW FOAMING HAND WASH
Green Cred Paraben-, EDTA- and triclosan-free, biodegradable, no animal testing
Scent Very light and subtle; I think my tween nieces will love it!
Fun Factor Wee ones will love the way the soap magically foams up when it comes out of the pump.
Available at stores across Canada.
Price $5.

♥ CHIC CHECK FAVE: BURT’S BEES!!
I absolutely love everything about this soap, from the way it smells to how it makes my hands feel to the fact that the bottle is made from recycled material. This will be the soap of choice in my apartment from now on!

Method keeps impressing me with their clever products and this fall, they continue to improve with their newest addition, Smarty Dish Non-Toxic Dishwasher Detergent.

Boasting zero phosphates and zero bleach, these tablets are sized to fit the average dishwasher dispenser and come in 20-tablet packages in either Pink Grapefruit or fragrance- and dye-free Go Naked.

Our magazine’s editor, Gail Johnston Habs, tested one out for me (I don’t have a dishwasher – sigh!) and thought it did a great job – even though it was slightly large for her Miele dishwasher dispenser.

And, if you’re feeling guilty about doing the dishes using a machine, don’t: a study by the University of Bonn in Germany proved that a dishwasher is by far the most environmentally friendly way to do the dishes. Click here to check out the facts.

Available at: stores across Canada

Price: $6.50

Do you have a product you’d like to recommend for this blog? Email Laurie at naturalchic@styleathome.com!

Many wipes used in households today, whether they be baby wipes or other wipes, contain polyester, a petroleum product, and chemical-based liquids.

Go totally green with these handy towelette rolls. Made of vegetable fibres and packaged in easy-to-carry rolls, each has 10 tabs or wannabe towelettes; just add 2 tsp of liquid (water, lemon water, rosewater – your choice!) and you end up with a wipe that measures 8 1/2 by 12 inches.

No worries about leaking, dripping or drying out!

Available at: www.ashtongreen.com

Price: $2.95 for 10 tabs to $24.95 for 100 tabs

Do you have a product you’d like to recommend for this blog? Email Laurie at naturalchic@styleathome.com!

I’ve been using Ecover’s Lemon and Aloe Vera Dish Liquid for months now and just love it.

Ever since I started using environmentally friendly cleaning products, I’ve realized just how strongly scented most chemical cleaners really are. This subtly scented dishwashing liquid gets rid of the most stubborn cooked-on food and leaves all of my dishes sparkling clean – all thanks to plant-based ingredients that are fully biodegradable and suitable for septic tanks.

To top it all off, there are no phosphates and both the bottle and cap are recyclable!

Available at: Ashton Green, www.ashtongreen.com; Whole Foods Market, www.wholefoodsmarket.com

Price: from $3.99 to $5.95