Environment, Organics, Fair Trade & Recycling at Big Green Purse

Comparing Hybrid Cars, the Honda Civic Came Out on Top for My Dad

Buying a car any time is a big financial outlay. In this era of penny pinching and fuel scarcity, it's particularly important to consider not just a functional car but one that gets great gas mileage. What choices do you have that won’t break the bank? Big Green Purse intern Rachel Haas filed this report:

"What's the most fuel-efficient car I can buy to meet my commuting needs?" That’s the question my father asked recently after he passed his used car on to me and began looking for a small or mid-sized vehicle for himself. We decided to go on the hunt together, with our primary criteria being that the vehicle should be affordable, a hybrid if possible, and highly fuel efficient—achieving an average of at least 40 miles per gallon.  

Only three vehicles fit the bill:

HONDA

  Insight:
o MPG: Estimated mileage of 40/43 city/highway, average of 42 mpg
o FUEL ECONOMY: With gas prices around $2.60, the annual fuel cost amounts to around $929. You can make calculations for your own region by finding local fuel prices at GasBuddy.com and using the chart at fueleconomy.gov.
o COST: The Insight EX with navigation (a GPS system) has a ticket price of $23,100. NOTE: Because it’s a brand-new model, dealerships are less willing to negotiate on price.
o SPACE:  Overall smaller interior space than the Civic Hybrid, but as a hatchback, the Insight can fit almost three times as much cargo with the seats folded down, 31.5 cubic feet.

Civic Hybrid:
o MPG: estimated mileage of 40/45 city/highway, estimated average of 42 mpg
o FUEL ECONOMY:  same annual fuel cost as the Insight
o COST: The Civic Hybrid with navigation has a ticket price of $25,650, plus the option of leather seats (unlike the Insight) for an additional $1,200.  We were able to negotiate the price of the Civic Hybrid with navigation and leather to about $22,700. 
o SPACE: The interior space is slightly larger than the Insight, but the cargo space is significantly smaller, only 10.4 cubic feet. 

TOYOTA

3rd Generation Prius:
o MPG: Delivers the best mileage and power of any hybrid on the road today with an estimated mileage of 51/48 city/highway, estimated average of 50 mpg
o FUEL ECONOMY:  The annual fuel cost is about $780
o COST:  The 2010 Prius with leather and navigation has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of  $28,350. Like with the Honda Insight,  dealerships are less willing to significantly lower the price of this brand-new model.
o SPACE:  The Prius has more interior space than the Civic Hybrid, especially in the backseat, with an inch and half more leg room.  The Prius also beats the Civic Hybrid in cargo space, with 21.6 cubic feet.
o ADDED BONUS:  You can buy the 3rd generation Prius with a solar roof.  Why is that so cool?  The solar roof literally cools the car by using the sun’s energy to power an air circulation fan, eliminating the need for owners to blast their air conditioning in the hot summers.  Unfortunately, the solar roof adds about $1,800 to the ticket price. 

After test driving all three vehicles and comparing both fuel efficiency and price, my dad happily settled on the Honda Civic Hybrid (left). He opted for a slightly roomier interior over more cargo space, since he doesn't need to transport much in his car. Both price and mpg met his critera. Plus, he likes the way it drives. "This car has a lot of pep!" he says.

NOTE: You don’t have to be in the market for a new car to improve fuel efficiency when you drive. Getting a tune up on the vehicle you currently drive will improve fuel efficiency by 4%. Pumping up your tires to the proper PSI (pounds per square inch) will get you another 3.3% improvement in your MPG. Or skip owning a car altogether for “wheels when you want them” via ZipCar. Here are more ways to beat the high price of gas.

Looking for a different car? Check fuel efficiency ratings for all vehicles at fueleconomy.gov.

Interested in a mid-size, highly fuel-efficient family car? Stay tuned for our review of the Ford Fusion Hybrid.

Can Guys Get a "Green" Shave as Well as a Close One?

In honor of Father's Day, we're running a series on personal care just for men. We kick it off with this post on clean and "green" shaving, by Katie Kelleher and Diane MacEachern.

We love a guy who takes care of his face. Though beards are more "natural,"  you can still "go green" if you shave. Here's how: 

Start with the shaver itself - electric, or blade?

An electric shaver uses electricity, but saves money on shaving cream, hot water, as much as $100/yr in throwaway blades, and even more when you factor in the cost of throw-away razors. Plus, an electric razor reduces the amount of trash you toss since you don't discard empty shaving cream cans every few weeks. A straight razor saves electricity, but requires soap and a dish or shaving cream - - and maybe a lot of band-aids, depending on how skillfully you can pull what amounts to a sharp metal knife across your throat. A disposable razor is, well, disposable. In fact, 2 billion disposable razors are sold every year in the U.S., most of them made from petroleum products that are already in short supply.

Unless you're traveling and left your reusable razor at home, skip the disposables in favor of a reusable option.

What we suggest (and granted, we only shave our legs and arm pits, not our rosy faces; we do wax our eyebrows, but we don't really recommend frequent and whole-face waxing for guys...) -

* Rechargeable electric razor -  Rechargeables can be expensive to purchase initially, but their long life usually warrants the up front cash outlay. If you recharge them using a solar charger, you reduce the amount of energy they use considerably. Unlike other models, the Braun Pulsonic Shaver contains no cadmium, lead or mercury in its components.  Its Smart Plug technology has earned it an Energy Star rating for energy efficiency from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

A straight razor uses no energy other than your own, but be careful! Keep a box of band-aids at the ready. In place of shaving cream, many men use a shaving brush and soap in a jar, for a very low cost, low-tech approach. NOTE: You probably can't take the straight razor on an airplane. If you travel a lot, you will still need an electric razor or a reusable razor with disposable blades.

If you use a reusable razor but disposable blades, consider the Razor Saver. This little gadget sharpens blades so you can extend their life from the normal 5-10 shaves per blade to 130. 

If you absoslutely must use a disposable, choose one like Recycline. The handle is made from recycled plastic and can be recycled in any community that allows recycling for #5 plastics.

What about shaving cream?

 When picking a cream, read the label. Skip products that contain: 

• Synthetic fragrance  (which contribute to acne as well as respiratory illnesses; you may see the word "fragrance" or "added fragrance" rather than the specifics, like lemon or pine oil)
• Antibacterial agents (doctors worry we're building up too much immunity to antibiotics because we overuse antibacterials)
• Parabens (a preservative linked to cancer in people and lab animals)
• Phthalates (classified as a reproductive toxin in the state of California)

(Living Green provides a more extensive list of the chemicals commonly found in conventional shaving cream.)

Also note:   Standard shaving creams come in aerosol cans which may be difficult to recycle in some communities.  Plus, the cans contain only a small amount of product compared to the size of the container. A greener alternative: a 6 oz. tube of non-aerosol shaving cream, the equivalent of five to ten cans of conventional shaving cream, or soap in a jar and a shaving brush. 

* Burt's Bees Natural Shaving Products can be found at most grocery stores, drug stores, and natural food outlets, as well as a variety of specialty shoppes. Their men's shaving line includes shaving cream in a tube, after shave lotion, and a travel kit of plant-based cream and lotions formulated especially for guys.

• Anthony Logistics for Men These plant and vitamin-based personal care products include an entire line devoted to shaving needs  featuring cleansers, toners, astringents, shave gel and shave cream.  The Perfect Shave gift set ($50), includes a travel case with facial cleanser, pre-shave oil, shave cream, after-shave balm, and a grooming card with information and tips. 

• Soap for Goodness Sake offers a line of handmade, all-natural shaving soaps and accessories.  The bar of shaving soap costs only $4.99; pair it with a cup and brush to avoid using canned shaving cream.

•  Dr. Bronner’s Organic Shaving Gel is certified fair trade and USDA organic, comes in five different scents and retails for around $7.99.  Purchase through Dr. Bronner’s website or at Whole Foods and other natural foods stores. 

• Aubrey-Organics plant-based shaving line includes face scrub, shave cream, and after shave in three scents: City Rhythms, North Woods, and Spice Island.  An added bonus: right now, you can save 25% off of any complete shave system when purchased through Aubrey-Organics.com site.

What works for you? Let us know.

Want more info? Start here.

Think you can't afford 'green' nail polish? Wrong!

Put another nail in the coffin of the ‘green costs too much money’ myth. At least when it comes to nail polish (the kind on your fingers and toes, not in your tool box), buying the most eco-friendly brands costs you far less than the conventional  -- and more polluting -- options.

Plus: Not only does buying eco-friendly nail polish save you money, it reduces your exposure to harmful chemicals.  A recent study by The National Healthy Nail Salon Alliance  reports 74% of popular nail care companies no longer use the “toxic trio” of toluene, formaldehyde and dibutyl phthalate, dangerous compounds linked to health problems such as asthma, cancer, and reproductive problems. 

The good news is that you will likely find your favorite drug store brand among the 18 options that are “three free.”  L’Oreal, Orly, Revlon, and Sally Hansen all have eliminated these harmful chemicals from their ingredients.  Where does the cost savings come into play?  The safer, widely available brands retail for an average of about $5 per bottle.  The five brands that were not yet “three free” or did not respond to the survey, including Essie and Yves Saint Laurent, average closer to $9 per bottle. 

While exposure to toxins in nail polish may vary, it is both safer and more environmentally friendly to avoid products containing these harmful chemicals.  In fact, many companies are already producing organic and phthalate free cosmetics.  If safer options exist AND are more wallet-friendly, why buy the harmful brands?  

For those of you who have already joined our One in a Million campaign, add nail polish to your list of products to look for.  Interested in becoming involved?  Sign up today

Don’t stop there - contact Essie  and Creative Nail Design and ask them why in the world they’re still producing toxic nail polishes when they are aware of the harm they're potentially causing their consumers.

(Thanks to Katie Kelleher for researching and writing this post!)

Environmental In-Box: Paper Notepads, Folders, Calendars & Binders

Even though you try to live a paperless life, every now and then you just might need a notebook or binder to help you stay organized. When you do, take a look at the very earth-friendly solutions offered by EcoJot.

Why Am I So Impressed? This Canadian company makes its products from 100% post-consumer waste - which means it's really recycling the paper you recycle. All the inks and glues are vegetable-based and biodegradable. No new trees are used in EcoJot's papermaking process. Manufacturing is powered by biogas captured from a nearby landfill. And the focus is on using local materials as much as possible.

What I Especially Like: EcoJot's website is a model for transparency. Not only is it easy to navigate; it also provides extensive information on the eco qualities of its product (i.e., saying its paper is "100% post-consumer waste" is much more informative than saying the paper is "recycled.") Plus, the artwork that adorns the covers on the calendars, agendas, journals and workbooks is whimsical and fun. If you have to write down your "to do" list, putting it in an EcoJot journal might make it a little less painful.

What Could Improve? Even though online shopping is all the rage, I'm a big fan of being able to walk into a local store and get the product I need. From what I can tell, EcoJot is still not widely available in the U.S., so buying it when you're out shopping could be a problem. Help improve its availability by asking store managers to put EcoJot on their shelves. As much as I like EcoJot's transparency, we're taking their word for it when they tout their eco-credentials. I'd like to see third-party verification of their eco claims. Plus, there are no product prices on the website. They're probably available in the downloadable catalogue, but that file is large and takes time to download - especially when someone is looking for quick price comparisons.

Environmental In-Box: Terralina Skincare Products

 "At Terralina, we believe that what goes onto your skin, goes into your body. We formulated our natural and luxurious line of skincare products with your health in mind."

Sound too good to be true? That's what I thought when I first met Gina Garrubbo, the company's co-founder (pictured here at right with her co-founder and business partner, Patricia Bazan Garrubbo).Gina is a passionate champion of toxin-free skin care products and corporate responsibility. When she told me about Terralina's claim that the products were "98.5% natural," it sounded too good to be true. Then I visited Terralina.com. I was bowled over not just by the nature of the product, but the entire environmental philosophy of the company. 

Why am I so impressed?

The product: Terralina offers a natural-based moisturizer, toner, cleanser, and body lotion.

What I like: This may be the most transparent skin care site on the Internet. Not only are all product ingredients listed; the site also contains a glossary of terms to help you understand why you don't want to put acrylates on your body, but aloe vera might be ok. Bookmark this page for future reference, no matter what skin care products you buy!

What could improve? I suppose the product line could be expanded to include an eye cream, or maybe a hand cream. As far as the existing products go, they're pretty complete.