Green with Env(i)

Two days ago, I went to Bench Trinoma to purchase facial wipes that I use to remove my make up.  When in Bench or other stores selling undergarments, I always visit the ladies undergarments section to see if there are new bras or panties.  It became a habit for me to check out new designs and offerings. You see I have this long love affair with bras and panties.  Fifteen years ago, I was in the business of making ladies undergarments which I supplied to local store chains. It lasted for 8 years.  Oh well that's getting ahead of the story.

Looking around, my eyes feasted on the candy-colored printed panties for young ladies. Oh to be young again.  I settled for the next best thing, plain colored panties that come in various colors.  Fushsia, canary yellow, emerald green, white, cream, violet, pink....  Upon scrutiny, I was intrigued with the label.  It says Envi.  Why Envi?  Well it turned out that the Envi panty line is composed of 65% bamboo fiber, 30% cotton and 5% spandex. It is packed individually in a box that says that Envi is renewable, biodegradable and sustainable because of the fiber used, bamboo fiber. I right away googled bamboo fiber. Bamboo fiber is a 20th century development pioneered by Chinese businessmen. It is very soft and can be worn directly next to the skin.  Aside from its softness, it is ideal to be worn by people with sensitive skin because of its superior wicking property.  Wicking is the ability of the fabric to move sweat away from the skin to the outer surface of the fabric.

Aside from the physical characteristics of bamboo fiber that makes it at par if not superior to cotton, it is also favored by companies trying to use sustainable materials.  The bamboo plant is very quick growing and does not usually require the use of pesticides and herbicides to thrive. As a result, plantations can easily be kept organic and replanted yearly to replenish stocks.

I am glad I bought Envi.  It made me realize that man will find ways to substitute the usual materials with ENVIronment-friendly alternatives.  Who says you can't marry business with green living?


http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7448895626413317633

 http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-bamboo-fabric.htm

http://mensfashion.about.com/od/dressingforyourbodytype/g/Wicking.htm

http://www.agribusinessweek.com/realizing-the-potential-of-bamboo-as-a-cash-crop/

Surviving Water Rationing

I woke up today with the news that there is no water coming out of the faucet.  Yes, I heard about the water shortage but I didn't give it much thought as we have an overhead tank that could supply our consumption for a one and a half days.  Suddenly "water rationing" which became a byword in Metro Manila for the last days has become a reality.  Reality just sunk in.  I readily called up my old reliable water supplier, Toto, whom I turned to in the past when there was sudden outage of water.  Alas Toto can't deliver as well as there was no supply.  My husband was already panicking as he had an afternoon appointment with a client. What to do?  My househelper took the initiative of fetching water from the deep well of a neighbor.  The water smelled rusty but it will do for flushing the toilets and on extreme cases, for baths. Ughh.   I prayed for rain.  By noon, my househelper happily informed me that the water supply has resumed.  It dawned on me that water rationing is already in place in our barangay.  I thought our barangay and those near us are spared because of our proximity to the La Mesa Dam.  Well I thought wrong.  I readily took a bath afraid that the water supply will be cut off at once.  All available containers were filled to the brim.  All of a sudden I took notice of the rantings of the environmentalists about climate change.  There's no room for procrastination.  Everyone has to get his act together.  

To endure or survive water rationing which MWSS, the government agency tasked with regulating the water distribution concessionaires among others, said could last up to September, here is a list of water saving technologies by GMA 7's Saksi:

• Adaption of big establishments of waterless urinals.  This technology will save 315 million liters of water per year.  Four liters of water is used per flushing.
• Used water can be recycled through the water treatment facility.  The by product is not fit for drinking but could be used for washing, rinsing, cleaning, and watering of plants.
• When taking a bath, use the "tabo" of old instead of using the shower.
• Use used water for flushing.
• Repair leaks in the water line.
• Use a basin for rinsing when washing plates and other utensils and kitchenware instead of letting water flow from the faucet.

http://www.gmanews.tv/video/63510/saksi-helpful-water-saving-technologies

DIY Cosmetics

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Do you know that an average person uses 10 different skin care products on his body everyday?  Our bodies absorb nearly 130 chemicals daily though cosmetics companies are quick to say that these are safe as they are in small doses anyway.  On the average, a woman ingests as much as four pounds of lipstick in her lifetime.  A little dab here, a quick spray there. Now we don't really know how these chemicals affect us over time.

Not all is lost for cosmetics.  We concede that not everyone can live without cosmetics.  A lot of people depend on make-up for their livelihood.  As an alternative to chemical cosmetics, we can go natural skin care.  How about making shaving cream, soap or shampoo out of natural and organic ingredients? What about eco-friendly cosmetics?


If you're interested in making your own shaving cream, try out this recipe.

Here's what you'll need:
1/2 teaspoon of sunflower oil
1/4 cup of unscented glycerin soap
Double boiler
A cup or mug for the cream

Here's what you'll do:

In your double boiler, melt chunks of the glycerin soap.  Stir in the sunflower oil.  Move the mixture into a mug as soon as all of the glycerin chunks are melted.

This formula will set quickly. When you need to shave, simply work water against the soap until a lather builds and use it the same way you would regular shaving cream.

You can make your own shampoo using the following:


4 oz of castile soap with any scent that is that available—plain, peppermint, eucalyptus.

½ oz of rosemary—stimulates the hair follicles and helps to prevent premature baldness

½ oz of sage—has antioxidants and keeps things from spoiling and is antibacterial

½ oz of nettles—acts as a blood purifier, blood stimulator, contains a large source of
nutrients for hair growth

½ oz of lavender—controls the production of sebaceous gland oil and reduces itchy and flaky scalp conditions

What to make your own eco-friendly cosmetics?

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/04/diy-skincare.php


Just like in choosing the food that we eat, we should also apply the same criteria for the cosmetics that we apply on our bodies. What is applied on the skin is like what is eaten, both are absorbed by the body.

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/fashion-beauty/homemade-shaving-cream.html

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/fashion-beauty/homemade-shampoo.html

Warning: Putting on Make-up Could be Hazardous to Your Health!

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Everyday, we are bombarded with advertisements on TV, print, radio and even in the internet by cosmetics companies trying to sell us products guaranteeing to make us look prettier, younger, and thinner. These products, unfortunately, are not regulated to a level that would make most people feel very safe. Majority of these products contain harmful ingredients and toxic agents that are not even mentioned on the label. Don't despair though, there are affordable alternatives available for everyone.


But firstly, let me enumerate what these harmful ingredients are that are  found in cosmetics.  Parabens, phthalates, perfume, petroleum and carcinogenic coloring are some of the ingredients found to have adverse effect on human beings.  Parabens are used as preservatives in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.  They can be found in shampoos, commercial moisturizers, shaving gels, cleansing gels and personal lubricants.  They are known to cause skin irritation, contact dermatitis or allergic skin reactions.  Phthalates, on the other hand, are used for nail polish and deodorants.  They are reported to cause birth defects.  The sad thing is phthalates are not listed as ingredients on product labels.  They can only be detected through lab analysis.  Perfume or fragrances are known causes of allergies and difficulties in breathing.  It is reported that 2,600 chemicals are commonly used in perfume of which 95% of these chemicals are derived from petroleum.  Perfumes easily penetrate the skin because of their sheer low molecular weight.  Mineral oil and petroleum are evident in foundations, cleansers and moisturizers.  They help lock moisture against the skin and cause pimples to appear as the skin cannot properly breathe.  Aromas and scents in lotions, shampoos and other cosmetic products and propylene glycol (helps maintain moisture in cosmetics) are derived from petroleum.  Propylene glycol pose serious health problems to liver and kidneys.  Hair dye products are not spared
as they contain ingredients derived from carcinogenic coal tar. 


This post doesn't aim to scare women who regard make-up as a second skin.  It aims to give information on something that everyone takes for granted.  We just have to make adjustments in our routine.  We spend so much time and money for our personal care and appearance, would it be sensible to do so in a way that doesn't harm ourselves and our environment?


http://planetgreen.discovery.com/go-green/womens-personal-care/

Healthy Eating

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Love for the environment can be shown in a lot of ways. One can opt to plant trees to replace those that were burned or used in logging operations. One could also go the way of conservation of our natural resources like water. Or one could practice eating healthy food.

Eating healthy could either mean eating food that are fresh, fibrous and rich in vitamins and minerals. It can also mean eating fruits, vegetables, fowl and pigs which were organically grown.

When I was a young mother, I refrained from buying processed baby food and fed my babies with my own milk. I prepared and cooked everyday my children's lunch. When they entered school, they had cookies that I baked. Oh don't get me wrong, my children had their share of tocino, hamburger, longganisa. I didn't buy these things from the supermarket though but made them myself. I spent time and money studying how to make these delicacies so as not to deprive them what other children are enjoying. I rest in the knowledge that what they have eaten are free from preservatives.

At present, I am still finding ways of serving them healthy food.

Big Green Business

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Going green business is proving to be BIG business. It is not something that is a fleeting fancy but rather it is going mainstream. Before, true green advocates did not worry if they have to pay a premium for green products but as these products go mainstream and reach a lot of consumers, they will be competing head on with non-green products. By then these products are being patronized not only because they are green but because they are more efficient and save money. One perfect example is the compact fluorescent light which is very affordable and consumes less electricity.

Another factor that would make green business BIG is the push that government will be doing. Governments will support legislation for the growth of green industries and can mandate compliance to using earth-friendly things and encouraging healthy practices like waste segregation, organic farming, blending of biofuels to petroleum-based fuels.

Going green transcends borders. Another country's garbage should not be exported to another one. One will not be successful in doing it alone. It needs the concerted effort of everyone to make it work.

http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/glenn-croston/starting-and-growing-green-businesses/trends-creating-green-business-opportunitie

Private Label Anyone?

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From the moment I came into this world I was already exposed to different brands. Strong brands. For Filipinos, a refrigerator is a Frigidaire. He asks for Colgate when he needs toothpaste, Xerox when he means photocopy, Mongol for pencil. San Miguel for beer. I could go on and on. Those were the days when brands reign supreme. Years ago, Magnolia sold its ice cream manufacturing facilities to Nestle but San Miguel Corporation, its parent company, held on to the brand Magnolia only to be resurrected many years later.

Twenty years or so after, are brands still relevant? Today, Generic Drugstores have mushroomed all over the metropolis. The government passed the Generics Law to make medicines more affordable for everyone. Independent players in the fuel industry became alternatives to the formidable Big Three - Shell, Caltex and Petron. Deregulation in the energy sector was the answer to the cartel that is the Big Three. Suddenly the latter could not increase prices indiscriminately as the independent players posed a big problem.

Because of eroding margins, businessmen are forced to think of ways to stay afloat. If they are carrying major brands, they are vulnerable to changes in ownership structure/policies of their parent companies. They are not in total control of their businesses. One of the routes these businessmen take is to buy generic products and create their own brand or label. Not only can they sell anywhere, they have choices on what products to carry and at what volume. They have truly gained total control of their businesses.

Why Green Business?

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I was with a classmate when we were thinking of a name for this blog. A lot of things come to mind in thinking of an appropriate name for a blog. A lot of things to consider. Would the name entice readers to take a second look at the blog? Would it encapsulate the message that I want to put across?

The message is that there is money that could be earned from being a "green entrepreneur". One does not have to sacrifice profitability in selling something novel and new like green lubricants or plant-based lubricants. I chose to become a green entrepreneur because I can see the effects on our planet of decades of abuse on the environment. Since everyone is getting scared of the effects of global warming and greenhouse effects, I think it is high time that everyone does his share on saving the Earth for future generations. It is this element of anxiety that would drive people to rethink their priorities and values and that made my husband and I decide to go in the green business. It is timely, it is relevant and only a few have swam in its waters. How nice to feel that while doing something for Mother Earth and the future generations, you are laughing your way to the bank.