What Rachel Avalons seminar taught me about the beauty industry…

Whether its dipping into latest Sephora finds or scanning through celebrity looks, my heart has always fluttered just that much more when it comes to beauty. And with being an eco writer, I figured I pretty much knew all there was to about eco beauty.

Thats why when I heard about holistic nutritionist and eco expert, Rachel Avalons Lecture on Eco Beauty, I was curious to see what the green “it” girl would be discussing. Knowing there is at least one natural makeup product that meets my approval, and often putting pestle and mortar to use in my kitchen for new facial concoctions, I wondered what the eco industrys freshest face would have to say about beauty that I didnt already know.

I walked into the lecture room, paper and pen in hand and ready to soak up what I thought would be new beauty tips. I also got a chance to have a quick meet and greet with Rachel, who was absolutely charming and a natural host. With people pouring in, we quickly took our seats and the presentation set sail to what was going to be a revealing look at the beauty industry.

Moments in, I was capsized by own limited perceptions of beauty. Rachel began with where our beauty products are coming from, whats in them, and how detrimental they are to our health. The virtually self-regulated cosmetic industry is saturated by politics and hazards, even though one could argue the two were never really mutually exclusive anyway. Though we all know about lobby groups, Rachels knowledge of what exactly comprises the beauty industry which policies so easily saunter past the red-tape (and why), and how they affect us, is absolutely horrifying. In short, I learned that just like the IRS, we should never really trust the so-called “safety” regulations.

But to learn what was actually in all those lovely pressed powders, tubes and jars left me thoroughly disgusted. So whats in it exactly?

Think Gemma Artertons scene in Quantum of Solace, where shes covered head to toe in oil, and then youve got a very small picture of what youre actually spackling on yourself everyday. The trauma of what Gemmas character goes through varies disfiguringly with our own experience – after all, with that much toxic waste on her she inevitably died. On the other hand, we go about our day with ten fold more and think were glamorous. Put on, rinse, and repeat.

Considering we toss ourselves into a daily beauty gauntlet with questionable (and sometimes cancer-causing agents), you can only imagine how much damage were doing to ourselves in the long run.

If you consider the basics, (like shampoo, body wash, toothpaste, mouthwash, etc), its easy to see how the average American uses about 10 products a day – which exposes them to about 125 chemicals!

If you factor in that our skin absorbs 60% of what we put on it, and with the average girl wearing makeup at 14, by the time youre 85 youve been exposing your body to harsh chemicals and toxins for over 70 years! Its no wonder that we have such a high rate of cancer in society, with 1 in 3 women and 1 in 2 men now being diagnosed with it. The role of cancer in beauty was another interesting component of Rachels lecture, and got me questioning about how many chemicals I expose myself to daily without even thinking about it – all in the name of beauty.

And beauty isnt just for women. Conscious care is definitely something both men and women need to think about (because almost everyone uses shampoo, soap, deodorant, etc.). I brought my fiancĂ

If you own an eco-conscious business, getting your target audience’s attention is only part of the pathway to success. Keeping it takes time and dedication and know-how, says Shannon Dunn of Conscious Life Media Limited (CLM)-a company that helps green and eco-conscious businesses to maximize their potential and customer reach.

“Running a website and starting a Facebook fan page, hoping customers will find you, is unfortunately not going to take any business from a start-up to a super success,” she says. “It takes detailed knowledge and experience to connect with customers through various mediums.”

The media spotlight, Shannon says, is of course where every business wants to get noticed. However, in a world where first impressions count, ensuring your business is a tight-running, well-branded ship is the first port of call before trying to entice a journalist to sing your eco praises. Then, being able to deliver above and beyond what you promise is paramount.

After 15 years in the media and publicity industries, Shannon saw that eco conscious businesses needed professional support and a helping hand to promote their green services and wares.

“Running an eco-conscious business is no longer a lonely journey, but it also means the customer has thousands of options to choose from, whether it be which eco baby bottle to buy or what website to get their trusted information from,” Shannon says. “It’s learning how to stand out from the eco crowd that can mean the difference between green boom or bomb.”

A Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Business Award winner, Shannon launched CLM to support businesses who are contributing to ensure a better world, while bringing content with a conscience to the masses.

“We provide specialized editorial content, targeted publicity campaigns, copy editing, graphic design, magazine inserts, advertorials, corporate newsletter compilation, small business website and blog design as well as advertising and marketing solutions,” she says.

“We service a global client base, focusing on the Australasian, as well as the ever-popular US and UK markets.”

To find out more about how to give your eco-conscious businesses specialized exposure, head to www.consciouslifemedia.com or email info@conscioiuslifemedia.com

Real Estate mogul to the stars and green home guru, Ann Eysenring knows a thing or two about greening houses-and selling them.

With celebrity clients such as fashion photographer Herb Ritts, Louie Anderson, Russell Simmons and Sally Hershberger , she has built a solid reputation as a savvy agent in the know.

As owner of Ann World-Wide, Ann manages outrageous properties around the globe and has created a successful company resulting from 12 years in the industry. She is a real estate heavyweight in Hollywood-a position she uses to regularly promote green living.

Ann says in any house, people can do small things to make a big difference in the environment. Ann provides various ways for her clients to change a house into a green home, minimizing their carbon footprint.

Often spotted cruising around Malibu on vintage motorcycles, the estate agent has explored many corners of the world, from the US to Acapulco, Ireland, Belize, Bahamas, Germany and beyond.

The Green Dove caught up with the successful, adventure-seeking, international realtor, business owner, and devoted environmentalist to talk green-estate.

Did you find real estate or did real estate find you?
My mother has been a broker my whole life, so it was natural direction for me.

What’s the one question you can guarantee most people will ask you?
How much do I offer?

How did you get into green?
I had asthma as a child, so I have always been very sensitive to the environment and allergens. Green hasn’t been an option for me in my life, so integrating that into my business was a predictable route.

Is there a rise in interest of green/eco real estate?
Yes, there are many Led Certified homes that have been built and sold in the last couple years. I think that as people become more aware of the benefits to not only the environment but their overall health, green/eco real estate will gain even more popularity.

What tips would you give someone who wants to green their existing property?

Replace your carpeting with hemp and make sure the installers are using a low-emission adhesive. Also check for the “Green Label” seal of approval from The Carpet & Rug Institute.

Use Non-toxic paint. I get mine from Dunne Edwards.

Remove your shoes before entering your home leave the toxins and filth outside.

Open your windows and let the air circulate.

Use plants as natural air purifiers. NASA did a study about what plants are best.

Open you window treatments and let the sun warm the rooms.

Use only non-toxic cleaning products. I mostly use Shaklee and Meyers.

Are green properties easier to sell?
Not necessarily, It still comes down to pricing your property correctly.

What’s your greatest love/passion, real estate or motorbikes?
Actually, it’s surfing.

A gorgeously green home. Photos courtesy Ann Eysenring

Living green can be overwhelming. Where to start? From eco cars and planet-friendly cleaning products to organic wines and veganism, its little wonder many opt to do nothing for fear of not being able to do it all.

Yet its the little steps that add up to mean something big.

A great way to test the eco waters is at this years Go Green Expo, to be held at the LA Convention Center from January 22 to 24. Get the goss on natural personal care products, green gadgets, eco-celebrities, yoga classes, green industry and activists including Ed Begley Jr., Mariel Hemingway, John Picard and Eric Corey Freed.

With more than 300 exhibitors, the Go Green Expo is a favorite for those who are eco-curious or full immersed in all things environmental.

Food and wine lovers also mark the event on their calendars thanks to the local restaurant and wine tasting pavilion. Pet lovers can also help fido go green at the Pet Expo.

For 50 per cent off the online ticket price, check out the Go Green banner on The Green Dove home page for the exclusive code.

Find out more about the 2010 Go Green Expo at www.gogreenexpo.com

Go Green Expo Los Angeles is proudly sponsored by The Green Dove, CBS Television, The Los Angeles Business Journal, Natural Health Magazine, Natural Home Magazine, Spirituality & Health Magazine, Mother Earth News, Kiwi Magazine, Green Lifestyles Magazine, Whole Life Times, The Sierra Club and more.

By Shireen Qudosi

Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away and this year we have a few green additions to our family. With my newly turned eco leaf and with one of our family members going vegetarian, this year Thanksgiving presents a whole new set of challenges.

But the idea of a green or even a vegetarian Thanksgiving seems like blasphemy to die hard turkey stuffers. To ease them into what will inevitably be a culture shock, I already started dropping the idea of a green feast that goes beyond just an organic turkey. When asked how theyd “green” their Thanksgiving, I got all sorts of responses from “add more plants to the dinner table” to “use green dye on the turkey”.

If were to be literalists, then Id rather go cold turkey than sit across the table from a green turkey.

Rethinking the Main Course

The veggie kick brought with it the “Tofukey”, a tofu turkey that received grimaces from most non-vegetarians, including myself if only because of the horrid name for it. Another option is to try a soy-seitan turkey – (for a great recipe, check out Chef Bryanna Clark Grogan). Soy is an alternative to tofu, and for many it has a much more appealing taste.

Most people are immediately turned off when thinking of vegetarian alternatives to traditional meat dishes. But this isnt because of experience, (since mostly like theyve never even tried it), but rather because of conditioning. Were brought up being programmed to think fowl when imagining a Thanksgiving meal. Itll take a lot of deprogramming and a little willingness on peoples part to taste a soy turkey – but once they try it, theyll be one step closer to rethinking their attitude.

Your part in all this is to make sure you dont botch it up. Find a great recipe, and do quick pre turkey day test run. This way you can rest assured on the big day and know your feast will be a big hit, with some turkey somewhere thanking you for being spared the gauntlet.

DID YOU KNOW: Approximately 45 million turkeys are (killed) cooked and eaten in the U.S. on Thanksgiving? Thats about a sixth of all turkeys sold in the U.S. each year.

With facts like these, its all the more important that we do our part to bring this number down.

Why You Should Green Your “Meat”

Not to long ago, there was a bigger to-do about our carbon foot print. More recently, people started looking at the carbon foot print of cattle, or what they called a “cow emission”. According a 400 page report by the U.N.s Food and Agriculture Organizations report entitled “Livestocks Long Shadow”, the worlds 1.5 billion cattle are responsible for 18 percent of the greenhouse gases that cause global warming, more than all other forms of transportation combined.

A great measure of how much awareness is spreading about this issue is to look outside of the green community. When my non eco friends started discussing it, I knew were starting to gain ground on the importance of the impact cattle has on our environment.

Its a more commonly known fact that cows produce a tremendous amount of methane a year, adding to an already increased global warming problem. As a natural part of a collective species, its a small and likely insignificant “contribution” – but when considering cattle is farmed to sustain a billion dollar beef industry, we can start seeing the compounded impact to our ecology.

Cows arent the only one. Any livestock that is farmed bears a similar burden on the environment. And if you recall the number of turkeys harvested and killed to cater to a Thanksgiving feast, you can start using your abacus to tally up the figures.

The Problem with Turkey

Turkey dinners have their own carbon foot print, or in this case a “wing print”, according to NPR, which did a piece on tracking the amount of resource it takes to raise a turkey and then transport it to its final destination. Each step along the way burns natural resources from farming turkey to the fuel it takes to transport them.

DID YOU KNOW: A landmark study at Cornell University revealed that turkey meat “production consumed energy in a 13:1 ratio to protein output.” The study goes on to add that:

Animal agriculture is a leading consumer of water resources in the United States.
Livestock are directly or indirectly responsible for much of the soil erosion in the United States
According to David Pimentel, Professor of Ecology at Cornell University, “More than half the U.S. grain and nearly 40 percent of the world grain is being fed to livestock rather than being consumed directly by humans.”

With these clear cut facts, we find ourselves hard pressed not to switch out turkey for soy even if just for one day. My recommendation is to email this article to your friends and family, particularly your guest list to get them thinking about the importance of an eco-friendly Thanksgiving feast.

At the end of the day, Thanksgiving is not about the food as much as it is about community – a gathering of loved ones over a feast regardless of what type of feast it is. And its hardly a celebration of gratitude if youve forced a turkey sacrifice for it, who Im sure isnt very grateful to have been included as an unwilling participant.

If youve got to get people to consider alternative lifestyle choices by hook and by crook, then so be it. Were on about 45 million turkeys here that will be very grateful to you for your efforts.

“Your Green Guide to Surviving Thanksgiving” is written by Shireen Qudosi and brought to you by http://www.heater-home.com, where youll find an abundance of heater articles to help guide you through a cold chilly winter. Follow them on Twitter@HeaterHome.

Eco-fashion finds need not be hard to, well, find. We love ecofashionworld.com, a website dedicated to the hottest and latest must-have environmentally-friendly fashions.

Two of its founders Michael Braungart and William McDonough say their diverse backgrounds and collective goals are what have made the site so successful.

“We all believe in embracing personal style. And we’re all empowered by the possibilities of change,” they say.

“Today being aware of what you wear takes on a very different meaning than it once did! It begins with understanding the global repercussions that come with careless consumerism. It continues with realizing that we are all linked, from New York to New Delhi, Paris to Pakistan, Brazil to Bangladesh, Vancouver to Vietnam, by the very strings of our garments. It evolves with recognizing that when we support ethical fashion, we help reduce poverty and environmental damage. Our actions have an impact. Our decisions energize transformation.”

Green fashion is growing in leaps and bounds, according to the eco-preneurs, with new environmentally-conscious concepts and developments picking up pace, as consumers demand more responsibility from the manufacturing of their purchases.

“Every day an innovative designer creates a super-glam, socially aware collection. A boutique devotes itself to making ethical clothing more easily available. An admired celeb dons an eco-friendly gown on the red-carpet and declares the smartest style statement possible. Someone picks up her first bamboo fiber shirt or organic pair of jeans and instantly falls in love. Really, every day, a new ecofashionista is born,” Braungart and McDonough say.

“We are not selling anything on this site but, rather we aim to inspire with new ideas, ideals, information. Our goal is to keep you green, gorgeous and growing with a comprehensive ecofashion finder of the greatest brands, shops and resources around the globe.”

Check out ecofashionworld.com for the latest ecofashion news and reviews, designer Q&As, store profiles, launch updates, and interviews with our favorite ethical divas. Explore more with our always-expanding directory of important names, organizations and opportunities.

“Fashion is one of the most visible and seductive mediums there are. Arm yourself with the power of knowledge, indulge your passion for art and, suddenly, anything can happen,” the site’s creators urge.

“Just like the first industrial revolution started in the fashion industry, so will the second that leads us to sustainability.”

The non-profit environmental magazine, E, received 42 merit awards at last week’s 2009 Eco Awards.

Recognized as America’s premier green publication, it has been a source for in-depth, credible environmental coverage for almost 20 years.

The ECO Awards recognize outstanding achievement by environmental communications professionals. Out of 174 entries, E received two of the 42 Awards of Merit presented, winning in the categories of “overall print magazine” for E Magazine and “regular column” for its nationally syndicated EarthTalk feature.

Founded in 1990 by publisher and executive editor Doug Moss, E Magazine is a nonprofit “clearinghouse” of environmental information, news and resources. It was one of the first magazines for general readers to sound the alarm on a number of emerging environmental concerns, including: the observable effects of climate change around the world; the environmental impacts of the bottled water industry; and ecological connections to and avian flu.

The magazine’s articles enjoy substantial mainstream media syndication, regularly appearing in the pages of major newspapers and other magazines. Many E stories have also inspired other major media coverage, including an NBC Nightly News report on water issues, a Time magazine cover story on the environmental and health benefits of a vegetarian diet, and a Parade magazine feature entitled, “Make Your Household Healthy.” In addition, green groups use E articles extensively in waging their own public education campaigns.

In 2005, Es editors authored Green Living: The E Magazine Handbook for Living Lightly on the Earth, a comprehensive guide to the environmental lifestyle. From recycling to rainforest protection, Green Living introduces readers to broad categories of issues, and features a compendium of green products and services, from organic foods to non-toxic cleaners to “eco-travel” options.

EarthTalk appears in the bimonthly magazine and is also a nationally syndicated weekly question-and-answer feature that is distributed to more than 1,750 newspapers, magazines and websites, including The Green Dove.

EarthTalk answers reader-submitted questions on a wide range of environmental topics, ranging from “Are my kids breathing in dangerous exhaust fumes by riding the school bus?” to “Where can I recycle my plastic CD jewel cases?” EarthTalk is an effort to reach beyond “the choir” of committed environmentalists and offer highly useful information to sympathetic but uninformed people shown in poll after poll to be ready and even eager for “green” information. In February 2009, Plume (an imprint of Penguin publishing) released a “best of” EarthTalk book that is now available in stores.

“As we approach E’s 20th anniversary and EarthTalk’s 6th, we are heartened by this recognition for our work spreading environmental intelligence to a public increasingly eager to learn about these issues and how they can make a difference,” says Moss.

To learn more about the Eco Awards, visit www.environmentalcommunicator.com. To learn more about E Magazine visit www.emagazine.com.

Eco Luxury, a collaboration of some of the best retreats in the world, is working to change the focus of luxury tourism.

Industry insiders say it is fast becoming an established brand that combines “all that is eco with all that is luxury”, showing the two can go hand-in-hand.

This eco+luxury trend has culminated in a new book and website to show just how the luxury tourism market is contributing to protecting nature, cultural identity while promoting responsible business practices within their destinations. Each offers an insight into new developments in the luxury travel industry by providing detailed information about new eco luxury properties launching this year.

“It also enables readers to feel safe in the knowledge that these properties are actually as eco and luxury as they claim, having had to pass a strict criteria,” a project spokesperson told The Green Dove.

Eco Luxury brings together 90 high-end retreats from around the world including big name brands such as Six Senses, Banyan Tree and Emirates Hotel Resorts. Organizers say they hope Eco Luxury will lead the way in responsible travel.

Here’s how it works:

Members are carefully selected through a specific four stage criteria: 1) natural resources and landscapes; nature preservation as well as reduction in the use of natural resources 2) economic re-investment; re-investment back into the community, helping to find sustainable re-development. 3) Social/Cultural input; are the retreats contributing to a school to educate the local community? 4) Quality of life; do they reach a high standard of service? Are the retreats luxurious and high quality? Once all these areas are fulfilled a retreat can be a part of Eco Luxury.

“The 2009 Eco Luxury publication and the new website, will be a prestigious showcase for the members of Eco Luxury, and will provide information on how luxury tourism is dynamic and sensitive to market trends,” says its founder Enrico Ducrot.

“I hope that Eco Luxury can always be a mark of reference not only in tourism, but can continue to contribute positively to the success of all those companies who believe that environmental protection is of common interest and non-partisan.”

The InterContinental Hotels Group has received the Eco-lodging Award at the China Hotel Investment Summit. The award demonstrates an industry-wide recognition of the companys pioneering initiatives and long-term commitment to operating and maintaining sustainable hotels across the region.

The Award was created to honor operators and owners of existing environmentally friendly hotels and recently completed green hotel projects

“We are deeply honored that our efforts and initiatives to save energy and protect the environment have being recognized by the industry,” said Tony South, chief development officer, IHG Asia Pacific. “It inspires us to continue focusing our development on ways to better design, build and run our hotels in more intelligent and sustainable ways. In addition, guests have told us that they want to stay in hotels with great environmental credentials and that provide them with a level of well-being.”

IHG initiatives launched throughout its more than 4,100 hotels across the globe include:

Green Engage – an on-line system which will help hotel general managers measure and manage energy consumption more effectively.

Innovation Hotel – an online example of what a future hotel might look like if it used new green technologies. Guests can provide feedback on which of these they feel are important, allowing IHG to consider how they can be implemented as part of the Green Engage program.

IHG eco-friendly hotel projects include:

InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spas building specifications include the worlds deepest underwater pipeline, which feeds cold sea water to an environmentally friendly air-conditioning system. The system reduces the hotels electricity consumption for air-conditioning by 90 per cent;
Crowne Plaza Guangzhou Science City China has an environmentally friendly architectural design that utilizes natural lighting and wide glass ceilings, solar panels for outdoor lighting and water heating, as well as a rainwater recycling system;
Crowne Plaza Changi Airports carbon-fiber-mesh exterior naturally cools the structure by blocking 60 per cent of the suns rays;
Crowne Plaza Alice Springs has the largest building mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) system in the Southern Hemisphere;
200 newly built Holiday Inn hotel (the Holiday Inn Parkview pictured above) prototypes currently open or under construction globally use 30 per cent fewer materials to build and require 20 percent less energy to operate than earlier version hotels.

Find out more at www.ichotelsgroup.com