*This brand is not just about “vanilla” and does not just make coconut based frozen dessert, though that is the flavor and variety we believe worth highlighting here. Other coconut flavors are Alphonso Mango, Key Lime Creme, and Del Lago Chocolate.  And other flavors are available from the soy collection – originals like New Orleans Salted Praline, Sicilian Hazelnut Truffle and Peanut Butter Fudge Mash.

Breyers® Natural Vanilla Ice Cream photo: source Breyers

DF Mavens Dairy-Free Frozen Dessert (Madagascar Vanilla) photo: courtesy DF Mavens via Plantbased Solutions, Inc.

This household product serves as a perfect example to debunk the myth about a lack of suitable eco-friendly alternatives to familiar best-in-class cleaning agents. Ironically, this concentrated natural and cruelty-free scrubbing cleanser is dubbed appropriately as a “soufflé” since it has a unique creamy-powdery consistency and is offered in an array of feel-good pampering aromas. This is interesting in itself, but becomes more notable since in its most pleasant form it rivals the familiar household cleaning staple featured. The scrub is made with non-toxic biodegradable ingredients and the result of the founder experimenting with recipes in her kitchen. It proves strong enough to clean and polish the inside of your oven and bathroom tiles yet is gentle enough for use on an induction range and fine counter tops (related case study:  it’s been known to take off crayons from silestone based on recent toddler experimentation!) and can also be used for granite and stainless steel. After initially applying and wiping, as with any scrub, if you see any residue, don’t be afraid to wipe again to reveal more sheen and sparkle, which this scrub will deliver. Just wipe down repeatedly until you obtain your desired reflective surface.

Suggested tip: keep a pre-wetted, wood handled eco-friendly hardware sponge on hand to apply the product to tiles, induction or stove range tops, and for the crevices of an oven door. Otherwise, a regular dual-sided scrubbing sponge or cloth works well (with a bit of muscle to remove stubborn oven stains, for example).  The scrub is highly concentrated so you will get maximum use from each application. And aside from household appliance, glass and tile cleaning, the uses don’t stop there – this scrub also suitable for cleaning silver jewelry. The product is packaged in either 12 oz or 24 oz eco-conscious glass jars versus plastic.  It is this packaging, reminiscent of marmalade jars, combined with the message of “good karma” for cleaning that lends to the brand name.  So, consider the versatility of this product for polishing all things household,  and please don’t continue to assume that to clean an oven you must deal with noxious fumes and toxic cleaners. With scented* scrubs such as lavender sugar cookie, coconut macaroon, almond butter and lemon meringue you may even forget to take your head out.

*unscented option is also available

Editor’s note:  Other than being partial to the tagline, “Cleaners with a Conscience” of this brand, this product also fills a special void since the search was out for a high performing, eco-friendly and cruelty-free scrub and tile cleaning product  since it was one of the first requested alternatives from visitors when this site launched last year.

Soft Scrub® Lemon Cleanser photo:  source Amazon

Karmalades Lemon Meringue Scrubbing Soufflé Soft Scrub Cleaner photo:  source Karmalades via Etsy

N.B.: If you live in the NY metro area, have ample residential space and bulk orders work for your lifestyle² another leading sustainably-minded option for coconut water is use of delivery services from Noelani Beverage Company, a company who imports whole young coconuts from the Caribbean. They offer fresh green coconuts, yielding raw, immature water direct to consumers and businesses in New York City, Connecticut and northern New Jersey. They also pick up and recycle used shells and husks and offer services to educate consumers about how to properly tap a coconut.

¹ A product of Thailand; the brand is its Brooklyn-based distributor

² Minimum order is 7 coconuts and recommended consumption is within five days

Zico® Pure Premium Coconut Water (from concentrate with natural flavor) photo:   © 2013 My Conscience, My Choice LLC

Harmless Harvest® 100% Raw Coconut Water photo:   © 2013 My Conscience, My Choice LLC

For spring and summer graduations, weddings and other seasonal festivities:  here’s some sustainable party ware worth getting excited about.  The founder of this brand, Emily Doubilet, subscribes to the statement, “To Change the World, Throw a Better Party!” Though, as she educates, parties and events generate a huge amount of waste (just second to the waste generated by the construction industry!) Of course, the waste from parties is often comprised of non-biodegradable material such as Styrofoam and/or plastic, in addition to the excessive paper goods. Enter this brand’s line of flatware, cups, plates, bowls, straws, and other sustainable fun products made using PLA plant-based plastics, SFI/FSC paper and wood, palm leaf, starch and bagesse materials. Besides being completely sustainable the line is “party chic” versus the stodgy or predictable styles of chain store brands.

The tastefully festive and colorful plates and cutlery are compostable¹, non-toxic, and highly durable. The cutlery, made out of PLA plant-based plastics, is sold in festive shades – both dark primary colors and bright pastels and reusable.  The compostable 7″ or 10″ starch plates are made from tapioca starch and grass fiber, a composition invented by an aerospace engineer, and are microwave safe, oven safe, and freezer safe. They are also sturdy enough to hold heavy, messy, wet food.  In addition, they are certified by the only program that verifies products for biodegradability in home compost piles. The plates come in various pastel and dark festive colors; they are dyed naturally with mineral pigments and then baked giving each piece a unique and subtle coloring variation.  All pieces are sold in small and bulk quantities to satisfy your needs of dinner parties, small soirees or large events. Consider matching plates and cutlery with the compostable starch bowls, clear PLA cups or sustainably harvested SFI-certified paper and PLA-lined cups. Who wouldn’t want to merge eco-friendliness, performance, and chic festivity?   Consider making this switch so that after all the fun, your waste will not put a damper on your spirits or your conscience.  Party on, responsibly!

¹For a list of a composting facility near you, click here.

Dixie® All-in-One Tableware Comb Pack (Plates, cups and cutlery packs with patterned paperware) photo:  (source:  Staples)

Susty Party Compostable Starch Plate (in Natural) and fork PLA cutlery (in assorted colors) photo:  Courtesy of Susty Party

I set out to learn how to make my own body lotion – I got a little obsessed with it – and 2 years and 32 recipes later I finally got it. I started using it regularly, so did friends, then I was encouraged to branch out and try other products. I started using them regularly and so did friends. The rest is history.

The most significant learning that came out of the experience is that there is no regulation in labeling in the industry and there is no clear definition of “all natural”. It really is up to the manufacturer and their interpretation.

Our products are so pure you could actually eat them — not that you would want to — but we believe you should apply the same scrutiny to what you put on your body as what you put in our body.

That’s our definition of “all natural”.

nyl Skincare is a 100% vegan & cruelty-free skincare line which is chemical, gluten, paraben and preservative-free, both people and environmentally friendly. Everything is hand made in small batches and delivered fresh.

“nyl” is pronouned like “nil” – meaning nothing – as in nothing bad for you, harmful, or toxic.

This conveniently packaged, eco-friendly, all-natural, organic balm stick is the first of its kind.  Made primarily from coconut and other essential oils, it helps relieve irritation from various forms of chafing:  skin-to-skin, fabric-to-skin, equipment-to-skin and footwear to skin friction…and this is just the beginning.  The packaging is unique, smart and earth-friendly in an easy-to-port cardboard tube. Aside from its portable size and shape, the packaging is made from 90% recycled, unbleached paper pulp, 75% of which is post-consumer waste, along with water-based adhesives. The design is simple and elegant:  just push up, no mess, no dials, and NO plastic or additional showcase packaging.  It applies clear, feels lightweight, yet provides serious friction protection to rival the leading brands.  Just enough balm penetrates quickly without leaving a greasy residue and keeps skin softened for hours afterwards. But don’t stop at applying this stick as an anti-chafe remedy. Users of the stick have reported countless other applications– from improving skin disorders, to taming brows and flyaways to treating diaper rash (see testimonials for many uses here as well as on individual product pages).   In fact, if you are sporting in the outdoors, the stick can also be used to treat scrapes, burns, and even bug bites.  But make no mistake, the product is free of any harmful chemicals and is still gentle enough to use on an infant’s diaper rash, as well as chafe-prone, sensitive regions.  Seek out this very efficient product line, in five essential oil varieties, for sporting and day-to-day use alike.

 Mission™ 5 Hour Anti-Chafe Stick photo:  (source: Amazon)

SkinFare Topical Nourishment photo:  Courtesy SkinFare

Bliss® Blood Orange + White Pepper Body Butter Maximum Moisture Cream image: source Amazon

Pacifica® Tuscan Blood Orange™ Body Butter image:  ©2013 My Conscience, My Choice LLC

That is when I remembered the comforting warmth of cherry pits. I was born and raised in Switzerland and have been exposed to using cherry pits for heat in early childhood. Europeans have made use of cherry stone heat for hundreds of years. So I added a little bag with the heated pits to the warming sleeve. To our delight, it helped keeping our son’s meal warm for up to 6 hours. Soon we found ourselves selling our Warmables Lunch Kit to other parents who wanted healthier school lunches for their children.

Demand started growing and we decided to turn our idea into a business. We added several heat packs in various shapes and sizes to our offerings and went to the Philadelphia Gift Show in July 2012. Warmables took off right then and there; we are now offering our products nationwide.

Due to their being hollow, the pits hold heat for an impressive amount of time. It is a deep, moist heat, yet the packs are dry to the touch. That warmth is extremely soothing for people who suffer from Fibro, RA or other chronic pain as it “sinks” into the muscles and last for an impressive amount of me. Of course the packs can be used for headaches, cramps, cold feet and many other ills. Store one in the freezer and use as a gentle cold pack – ideal for babies and elderly people as well. Warmables packs lend themselves splendidly to aromatherapy as they can be washed after essential oils have been applied.

Cherry pits are totally sustainable as they would be garbage if not used for items such as our Hot’n Cold packs.

 Kleenex® Facial Tissue photo:   2013 My Conscience, My Choice LLC

 Emerald™ Brand Green Collection Naturally Green Facial Tissue:  2013 My Conscience, My Choice LLC