The Naked truth about your favorite juice bottles

Will you pay more for green bottling?

I'm a fan of Naked Juice. When I need a quick boost and don't have access to a blender, Naked Juice is a great pick-me-up. Still, how can a company like Naked Juice contribute to green technology?

Well, by using renewable plastics that enable Naked to use the same plastics over and over again to make its bottles. That reduces Naked's oil consumption by 57,000 barrels per year while reducing their energy consumption by 48 percent in the process.

Other companies might used recycled plastic, but they don't use the same recycled plastic over and over. Instead, it's recycled into other outputs, requiring ever more plastic. Sure, that's better than virgin plastic, but it's not as good as Naked Juice's recycled plastic.

Just goes to show that you don't have to big some big high tech company to develop technology with soul.

Naked Juice. Good for you and it just got better for the environment. For more, check out the Naked Juice video.

Consumers willing to pay extra to go green

Shoppers willing to pay more for organic cotton clothes

According to Deloitte’s 2008 Annual Holiday Survey almost half of consumers polled are willing to pay extra for green gifts, up 17 percent from last year.

"A significant number of people are willing to pay more for green gifts or supplies, which tells us that this issue is on shoppers' minds and is becoming more central to consumers' purchasing decisions,” said Stacy Janiak, Deloitte's U.S. retail leader.

Buying ecofriendly gifts

A hemp and organic cotton shirt from Patagonia

I was just looking over an article detailing some online sites to help find eco friendly gifts. Honestly, it's impossible to compose some kind of comprehensive list for green products. Green products are everywhere these days.

Looking for jewelry? Google "green jewelry" and you'll find more sites than you'll ever be able to scan. The same is true of most products, especially green clothing which can be found in many malls in addition to online. My favorite green store is Patagonia.

Green gifting is just like any other type of gifting. If you want the person to like their gift, then you have to focus on what kind of gift fits the person. Once you know what you're looking for, then google the product with the word green in front of it.

Still can't find it? Leave a post and we'll help you.

Gas saving gadgets that work

Kiwi helps you achieve better fuel economy

I'm sure you've probably received tons of spam telling you how such and such a product can increase your fuel economy. Unfortunately, whenever Consumer Reports or Popular Mechanics tests such products, most products are proven to be pure gimmicks.

In the latest issue of Popular Mechanics they highlight some green gadgets that actually work. Essentially, most devices don't really save gas, they help you change your driving habits to save gas. Click here for the full story.

Better labeling for green products?

Is this the greenest TV?

Much like hybrid cars, consumers are interested in green consumer electronics, but most are unwilling to pay extra for them. Nonetheless, this appears to be a trend that is changing, as young consumers are twice as likely to pay extra for green products compared to older consumers. Thus, the future for green products has potential.

Unfortunately, there isn't an objective green labeling system that covers all electronic products. Even the EPA's Energy Star Program doesn't cover green packaging, recycling and other green issues.

Would a fair, green rating label affect your consumer decisions?

Payless to offer green shoes and handbags

Cheap, green footwear

Payless will be rolling out about 8 - 12 styles of women's shoes at about 1/4 of its stores and its online store early in 2009. The shoes, made from organic cotton and linen, hemp and recycled rubber will cost about $30 a pair. Additionally, these green shoes will utilize biodegradable glues and be shipped in recycled boxes. Eventually, green styles will also be added for men and children.

Clean and Green Deodorants

All natural deodorants

So, I've been testing different natural, green deodorants for a very long time. As luck would have it, I wear green deodorant not because I'm a green fanatic, but because I have no choice. Conventional deodorants are just too harsh on my sensitive skin.

Finish: Clean and green deodorants

A green motor oil on the way

Green Motor oil from Green Earth Technologies

In the past, Soultek has covered a green car wash product from Green Earth Technologies, one of many green automotive products from the company. But the one product that we are really excited about is a new biodegradable, green motor oil.

"G-OIL™ Green Motor Oil is a patent pending superior performance motor oil. G-OIL™ is made from American grown base oils that now puts the power of nanotechnology into the hands of the consumer. This provides the ultimate protection for automotive engines under the toughest driving conditions."

Sounds like a winner to us.

Green paint the future of paint

Freshaire from Home Depot

Green paint is quickly becoming a big hit. For just a few dollars more per gallon, depending on brand -a price destined to disappear with economies of scale - you can pick any number of green paints, such as Home Depot's Freshaire.

These green paints offer few or no volatile compounds, which contribute to both health problems and smog. Just as important, according to experts, green paints provide performance this is as good, or even better, than conventional paints.

Finally, no more headaches when you paint!

What's wrong with pull-cord power generation?

So, sell it already

I first came in contact with the Potenco pull-cord generator at last year's Wired Fest. In fact, it was one of my favorite booths at the show. Yet, I just checked out their website, and the generator is still not yet for sale.

Just last night, my power went out temporarily and the only flashlight I could find was a crank powered flashlight. After a minute of cranking I had plenty of light, which reminded me of Potenco.

With one minute of pulling the Potenco can provide 20 minutes of talk time on a mobile phone, an hour of LED flashlight use, three hours of play time on an iPod Shuffle. You get the point.

Could you find a use for the Potenco?

Any green shopping in your town?

Clean and green clothing

I'm in LaCrosse, WI on my way to Madison, WI for work. Since there was a Crazy Day's event going on, I thought I'd do a little green shopping. To my surprise, green clothing was quite easy to find. Organic cotton, hemp and recycled fabrics were pretty easy to find. Kudos to the Simply Living store and Three Rivers Outdoors.

I live in Los Angeles, but hang out regularly in Pasadena, yet outside of Patagonia, green shopping seems easier here in LaCrosse than in Pasadena.

Rate your town's green shopping.

Hemp dress slacks - Rate 'em

About as green as you can get for the office

Earlier today, I made a post about some green pants that I'm interested in buying that are 50 percent hemp. In the past I haven't been into 100 percent hemp goods, simply because they are a little rough. However, I received an e-mail claiming that these hemp dress pants, made with 100 percent organic hemp, are supposed to feel much softer than your typical all hemp pants.

Has anyone out there tried this pants sold by Rawganique?

It's not really what I'm looking for right now, though I'd love to try them. Still, I need to find a new t-shirt supplier, and if I could find comfortable, 100 percent hemp t-shirts, I'd be very happy. So, if these pants are as comfortable as some claim, maybe their hemp t-shirts are just as comfortable?

Do you buy green jeans?

Planet Earth Denim Jeans

I desperately need a new pair of jeans and since I try to only buy green products, I want some green, eco-friendly pants. I'd love some 100% organic hemp jeans, but they always seem a bit too rough, which is why Planet Earth's Denim Jeans have me interested. Half organic cotton, half organic hemp. Sounds perfect.

Any Planet Earth denim wearers out there?

OutsideIn: A small step for you a big step for green footwear

The OutsideIn Hemp Shoe

I really like the store Patagonia. Sure it's expensive, but there is a good clean and green environmental reason why it's expensive. The other day I picked up these OutsideIn shoes made of Hemp, 70 percent natural latex rubber and some recycled plastic. Not that's green footwear.

Have a pair? What do you think of the OutsideIn shoe? Have any other shoes from Patagonia?

Make sure a plasma tv is not on your shopping list

You can't be green and own a plasma TV

So, you're feeling pretty green heading into this Holiday season, right? You've replaced all your light fixtures with compact fluorescent light bulbs, bought some energy star compliant appliances, and sent An Inconvenient Truth to all your friends.

Let's hope your friends aren't going to watch that movie on a plasma TV. That would be self-defeating. Read more.....

Save Water: The waterless car wash

Wash it without water

"A typical car wash uses between 20 to 45 gallons of water per car. A home wash can use between 80 and 140 gallons" states the Green Earth Waterless Car Cash website.

"There are approximately 240 million vehicles in the U.S. If even half of those cars used Green Earth Waterless Carwash, once a month for one year, we would save 28 billion gallons of water. This is the equivalent of 40,000 Olympic size pools or 560 million baths."

Check 'em out! Have you tried the Green Earth Waterless Car Wash? Tell us about it.

Nike's Green Boot: The Nike Considered Boot

I buy mostly New Balance shoes, not because they are the best, necessarily, but because the company seems less harmful to the world. While I loved my Nike's as a kid, I've felt guilty buying these shoes as an adult. The Nike Considered Shoe gives me some hope for Nike. Recycled and recyclable, plus many of this line are made from a hemp, a product I totally endorse. Should cost about $110.