A week or two ago, we were contacted by Mr. Chris Savage, owner of Universol Aromas Soy Candle Company, who asked us to review his products…and we were more than happy to oblige!

As a result, we have been able to play with matches at work and enticed the other GenGreen Team members with the multiplicity of scents that have come wafting down from our office area. (Review Item #1: no one has complained; instead there have been many comments to the effect of, “Sniff, sniff…you guys have candles up there?!”

Always down for a scented adventure, we followed our noses, and this is what we found.

Ingredients with Integrity

Universol Aromas candles (and other aromatherapy products) are all made with 100% natural ingredients, and therefore won’t pollute your indoor air like other conventional products. Instead of choke-worthy chemicals, we found pure essential oils, distilled water, and natural soy wax (not paraffin, a refined petroleum product) that comes from non-GMO, herbicide and pesticide-free soybean crops right here in America.

Scents that Make Sense

Instead of unnatural and often overpowering scents like Moonlit Walk, Clean Linen or Angel Whispers (?!), the Universol Scents are inspired by  and named after the flowers, spices and fruits from which they are made, and are anything but overpowering. In fact, if we had one complaint, it would be that they’re a little too subtle, making it difficult for just one or two candles to fragrance a room.

Summer Breeze Spa Glass Candle – (lavender & lemongrass)

Awareness Candle – (eucalyptus & lavender) [Crystal's favorite!]

Love Candle – (lavender & ylang ylang)

Aphrodisiac Room Spray – (patchcouli, orange, lavender, jasmine, sandal wood, ylang ylang) [my favorite!]

Harmony Candle – (cinnamon, clove and vanilla)

Energy Candle – (rosemary, peppermint, lemon, and eucalyptus) [Crystal's second-favorite]

Size Does Matter

Universol Candles aromatherapy products are offered in a variety of sizes (and shapes), with candles in everything from large spa glass sizes to travel tins to votives. Travel tins and votives are perfect for smaller spaces (like, ahem, office bathrooms) and larger candles can hold their own in larger, open rooms, as long as you let them burn for a while.

Thinking Outside the Candle

An unexpected benefit of being incredibly clumsy and trying to read the bottom label on a soy candle that’s only recently been extinguished, is the realization that warm soy wax feels good on dry hands and, because it’s made from only natural ingredients, said wax can be rubbed into palms and cuticles (surpisingly moisturizing!) without worry.

An aromatherapy candle AND cuticle cream?? We smell another product line.

Special Offer for GenGreen Blog Readers! Universol Aromas has generously created a special discount for you. Visit the Sustainable Savings page to learn more!

- The Team at GenGreen

Nordstrom is Using a U.S. PTO Error to Throw a Small Competitor Under the Bus – and What You Can Do About It

(NOTE: This is a call to action written by Jim Harper and originally published at  http://techliberation.com)

I’ve gotten an unusually strong reaction to a TechKnowledge piece that went out today describing how the Nordstrom retail chain is capitalizing on a Patent and Trademark Office error to throw a small business under the bus.

Beckons is an organic yoga and lifestyle clothing business that Nordstrom is trying to force off of a trademark – or out of business. It’s owned by two businesswomen in Colorado who have done everything right to get a trademark, but now may have tens of thousands of dollars in legal bills to defend it. The short article is called U.S. Patent and Trademark Office: FAIL.

I wrote about it because I think it’s an outrage. People have written to me since I published it asking what they can do.

Well, there are a couple of things. The original error is with the PTO, so you can send a copy of the story or a link to your Member of Congress. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is within the jurisdiciation of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees.

But it’s Nordstrom that has really taken advantage of things. And you don’t have to beg for a politician’s help to bring companies to heel. Here’s a four-step plan for helping Beckons beat Goliath. Do one or all of the items listed below.

1. Send this page to all your friends. That’s probably the most important thing, because the more people doing the other things on this list, the better.

2. Write a letter to Nordstrom, telling them that you disapprove of their abuse of the trademark process, and that you won’t be shopping there until they mend their ways. Here’s the address for the president of the company.

Blake W. Nordstrom, President
Nordstrom, Inc.
1700 Seventh Avenue, Suite 300
Seattle, WA 98101

3. Print this page, copy it, and hand it out at Nordstrom. Or slip copies into the purses they sell – especially any with the “Beckon” label!

4. If you do yoga, or know anybody who does, shop at Beckons! (Be sure to send this along to friends who do yoga.)

So those are just a few ideas for getting Nordstrom to correct its abuse of the trademark process against this small business. Please feel free to put additional ideas or report on your successes in the comments. (Got a sample letter to Nordstrom, for example?)

A well-functioning marketplace requires assertive consumers – so assert yourself!

Staff Photo: Josh D. Weiss
Piper Davis, left, talks to friends as she wears an LED headlamp during lunch at Wesleyan on Wednesday. The school is taking part in the Green Cup Challenge and invited all the students to bring flashlights so the school could turn off several lights around the building.

Note: Jessica Felts is one of the most rockin’ Ambassadors GenGreen has ever know- and she’s been with us from the beginning! Miss Felts is a great example for youth everywhere that being young need not prevent you from making a significant, positive impact in your community!

Learn more about becoming an Ambassador here.

NORCROSS, Georgia – Jessica Felts wore a head lamp Wednesday, using it to illuminate her work in her classes at Wesleyan School.

The day before its winter break, the Norcross school encouraged students to bring flashlights to campus and conserved energy by turning off some lights in classrooms, hallways and the dining hall.

Wesleyan is one of 27 private schools – one of four in Gwinnett County – participating in the Southeast Green Cup Challenge, which encourages schools to reduce their electricity usage in February. The other Gwinnett participants are Greater Atlanta Christian School, Providence Christian Academy and Covenant Christian Academy.

“The end goal is to learn how to be better stewards of our resources,” Wesleyan teacher Alison Holby said. “We’re trying to educate the community that it’s not dramatic steps that need to be taken to be better stewards of our resources. It’s little steps we can take.”

While “Flashlight Day” was a grand gesture, it exemplified one thing schools are doing to reduce their energy consumption: turning off the lights.

“I was surprised by how receptive most of the students were to Flashlight Day … but a good 60 percent of the high school was very supportive, if not enthusiastic,” said Felts, the student founder of Wesleyan’s high school environmental club, Gen Green. “Overall, the competition has really brought awareness and united the lower school, middle school and high school on one major green endeavor.”

Felts said practicing good stewardship makes good fiscal sense.

In the first two weeks of the competition, Wesleyan reduced its energy usage by nearly 12 percent compared to the average from the previous three years, Holby said. With the school’s winter break beginning today, she said she was hopeful that decrease would increase.

Covenant Christian Academy teacher Pamela Krumpach said Georgia Power reported the school has decreased its electrical usage, but exact figures weren’t available. The Loganville school has switched some of its light bulbs with lower-wattage varieties and encouraged people to turn off lights when they leave a room.

“We are a Christian school, and our belief system is based in that God calls us to be good stewards,” said Krumpach, who is organizing the school’s Green Cup efforts. “I personally believe God has given us and blessed us with so much … and it’s incumbent upon us to take care of that beautiful gift.”

Greater Atlanta Christian School’s goal is to reduce the amount of electricity it uses by 10 percent compared to the average of the last three years, said Alan Henderson, chair of the school’s high school Bible department and co-chair of the Creation Care Initiative.

“GACS is participating in the Green Cup Challenge because it fits well with our commitment to being good stewards of the resources God has given us,” Henderson said. “Though the final results are still a week away, we have already seen a reduction in energy consumption on campus. Faculty, staff and students are doing more and more little things to cut consumption, all of which adds up to big savings.”

Sean Chapman, Providence Christian Academy’s high school principal, said the need for conservation is becoming more important. The school’s Green Cup Challenge, led by teacher Ashley Keeton, is raising awareness among the students, he said.

“In the world they’re going to live in as adults, if they don’t understand and do it (conserve), the world won’t really be an inhabitable place, I don’t think,” Chapman said.

(By Heather Darenberg – This story originally published in the Gwinnett Daily Post)

We dismantle it everyday and shove it in the recycling bin. We packour plates and cutlery in it when we move to a new house. It holds our delivery pizza when we’re too lazy to make our own. What is this versitile item that we constantly take for granted? Corrugated cardboard.

You are all familiar with my love of upcycling (taking former landfill fodder and giving it a useful, even glamorous, new life). But discovering the work of Ohio artist Mark Langan made me realize that I hadn’t yet begun to scratch the surface of the possibilities presented through creative reuse.

Langan makes one of a kind sculpture via the unique medium of reclaimed corrugated boxes, “Corrugated board is a material that can be easily recycled over and over again,” said Langan. “I see it as an endless supply source that I purge from my trash and neighborhood, reusing it towards my creations.  Artwork that is intriguing to the viewer whereas one might ponder quite some time over.”

(I suggest you take the hint and ponder over the picture above for a second or two…click on it if you want a closeup…that’s CARDBOARD!).

Langan creates pieces for both corporate clients (logos/seals like the one at the top, created for The Green Dream) and private collectors (see above). He’s been commissioned by paper, corrugated manufacturers, packaging companies, recycling firms, green industries, organizations and related events.

Need a sign for your new business? Got a blank space on your living room wall? I think some cardboard would look just perfect.

- The Team at GenGreen

Denver NBC Affiliate 9News partners with GenGreenLife.com
Bringing local resource listings to their ‘Live Green’ section of 9news.com

Today, two Colorado-based companies, GenGreen LLC and NBC affiliate KUSA-TV 9News, announced an innovative partnership that will provide 9news.com visitors with easy access to environmentally conscious businesses and organizations across Colorado.  KUSA-TV is owned by Gannett Co., Inc.

“We created GenGreenLife.com to better provide people with the resources they need to live sustainable lives,” said Charisse McAuliffe, Founder and CEO of GenGreen LLC. “Having our database hosted on 9News.com just furthers our mission of helping as many people as possible find the green businesses and organizations in their own communities.”

GenGreenLife.com has listings for over 1,600 Colorado-based companies and organizations on its website. Through the use of its API, information about these 1,600+ companies can be viewed on 9news.com (by clicking ‘Seen on 9News,’ then ‘Live Green’) giving visitors an easy way to locate and support businesses that are helping make living green lives easier here in Colorado.

To learn more about this partnership please click here.

20% Discount on Denver Green Festival Exhibit Booths for GenGreen Members

GenGreen is pleased to announce that the Denver Green Festival is coming to the Colorado Convention Center May 2-3, 2009; to celebrate what’s working for people, business and the environment!

With gratitude for all that GenGreen members contribute to sustainability, and in recognition of the support GenGreen LLC has shown as a national partner, Green Festival is offering ALL members of GenGreenLife.com a 20% discount on exhibit booths through February 27! Call 877-727-2179 x300 and identify yourself as a GenGreen member to reserve your space at the Denver Green Festival.

Exhibitors at Green Festival enjoy comprehensive and precisely targeted exposure for your organization, products and services. At the fall 2008 Green Festivals, crowds reached 36,104 in Washington, DC, and 43,212 in San Francisco. Please don’t hesitate to take advantage of this great offer to grow your green business!

Visit GreenFestivals.org for more information about the event.

I have three old cell phones sitting on a shelf in the spare bedroom (my loving name for a room full of furniture, clothes and books in limbo). Despite the many times as I’ve encouraged readers to recycle or donate their gently used electronics- there they sit. And every time I’m rustling around in there for ski pants or a bike tire pump, I see them and think, “I really need to do something with those phones.”

Well, I just may have found the motivation.

Gazelle is the nation’s largest reCommerce company, providing a practical, responsible, rewarding way for consumers to get value for used electronics. So, instead of the underwhelming experience of leaving your old phones, faxes and video games to an unknown fate at a semi-annual recycling event, or (gasp!) Goodwill, you can be handsomely rewarded for disposing of your e-waste responsibly and rest easy knowing a reputable organization will be putting your things to good re-use.

From what I can tell, Gazelle just might be the easiest, fastest way for you to sell or recycle your gadgets. And they’re definitely the only ones paying you to be environmentally responsible, by guaranteeing that every item gets an offer of cold, hard cash. Their website’s fun fact for today? On average they pay their customers $115…who couldn’t use that in their pocket on a Monday?

- The Team at GenGreen

Reusable shopping bags are all the rage. Totes of all shapes, styles and sizes are popping up every day, and while they are a much more sensible alternative to traditional plastic or paper shopping bags, they still deserve the same discerning environmental eye that we use to evaluate conventional products.

Recently, I was asked to use and review a new brand of bag, cleverly called Waste-Less Bags TM: see my thoughts below and decide for yourself whether they live up to their name.

Less is More

The first thing I noticed about the Waste-Less Bags is that, instead of “less” bags, there are actually more. Three rolled shopping bags came in a “carrying pouch” which is actually another smaller bag. This carrying pouch is supposed to make it easier to keep track of the multiple bags within it, but to me it just looked like needless extra material.

Location, Location…and Materials

Attached to the “carrying pouch” is a tag with the bags’ stats, and although designed in the U.S., I was surprised to see the bags were made in China. Aside from China’s atrocious environmental policies, a long history of disregard for human rights, and poor labor conditions, this means these “affordable, attractive and easy-to-use” bags made a 12,000 mile journey before ending up at my doorstep (producing who-knows-how-many pounds of carbon). With so many U.S. made (and even DIY) options for reusable bags, I was extremely unimpressed with this aspect.

The same tag also boasted that the bags are made from 100% polyester. Although on it’s web site the company criticizes its “canvas or polypropylene” competitors for being “cumbersome and inefficient,” it neglects to inform consumers that polyester (better known as polyethylene terephthalate or PET) is chock full of toxic chemicals that can harm the planet and your skin, not to mention taking thousands of years to biodegrade.

(Also: before even using one of the bags I noticed that a seam was already torn. So much for being “Strong & Durable”).

User Un-Friendly

The shopping bags came neatly rolled and tucked into the “carrying pouch,” but of course the first thing I did was unroll one…and then tried to re-roll it. Getting it back to it’s original size and shape (so that it could be conveniently “carried” in its “pouch”) was almost impossible. Then I noticed that the flip side of the very informative tag also included 3-step directions for how to correctly re-roll the bags. A shopping bag with instructions?!  Talk about making things more complicated than they need to be.

Size Does Matter

One of the only positive things I can say about this product is that they are bigger than many of the original styles of reusable bags, making it easier to fit more items into one bag. And it had a carrying strap that made carrying a full bag over your shoulder pretty easy.

The Verdict

Although the hearts of the Waste-Less Bags creators are probably in the right place, there are too many companies out there trying to make a quick buck in the green scene without taking the time to do their homework and learn what it truly means to be sustainable. And that just gives the whole movement a bad name.

Contact Waste-Less Bags at info@waste-less.com

- The Team at GenGreen

Today, Colorado-based GenGreen LLC proudly announced a strategic partnership with the Boston-based Green Restaurant Association (GRA), which will provide consumers with quality information about Certified Green Restaurants™ across the country.

“Food production, transportation and consumption have a tremendous impact on the health of both humans and the environment,” said Charisse McAuliffe, founder and CEO of GenGreen LLC. “The conscious choices we make about what and where to eat, and the kind of companies we support with our food dollars are an important part of being truly green, and we are excited that our partnership with the Green Restaurant Association will help more people make smart decisions in this area.”

GenGreen chose to partner with the GRA because of the non-profit’s unique ability to connect restaurants with ecologically sustainable products and services, and because of the organization’s respected and multi-faceted Green Restaurant™ 4.0 Certification process.

Read more about the partnership here.

About GenGreen LLC
The mission of GenGreen is to help people learn how to live more sustainable lives by making them aware of the environmentally conscious businesses, organizations and people in their local communities. They accomplish this through their web site, www.GenGreenLife.com, which is the most comprehensive and diverse resource available for people looking to live a locally-focused, environmentally conscious lifestyle. Currently, they offer a directory of over 35,000 business and organizational listings, and hundreds of green events, green-collar job listings and volunteer opportunities across the entire U.S.

About the Green Restaurant Association
The Green Restaurant Association? (GRA), a national non-profit organization, helps the restaurant industry improve its environmental practices through research, environmental consulting, education, and certification. Founded in 1990, long before green was cool, the GRA utilizes a collaborative strategy that involves restaurants, manufacturers, vendors, community organizations, government, media, and restaurant customers. The GRA’s model provides a convenient way for all sectors of the restaurant industry, which represents 10% of the total U.S. economy, to become more environmentally sustainable.  The GRA has the world’s largest database of environmental solutions for the restaurant industry and has been featured on CNN, NBC Nightly News, NPR, in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and in several other media outlets. For more information visit www.dinegreen.com.

Media Contact:
Crystal Vilkaitis
Director of Marketing, GenGreen LLC
crystal@gengreenlife.com

(Pittsburgh, PA) Printing Industries of America is pleased to announce that Marilyn Jones, President and Owner of Consolidated Printing Company in Chicago, Illinois, is the recipient of the 2008 William D. Schaeffer Environmental Award. Established in 1990 and named for environmental pioneer and researcher Dr. William Schaeffer (1922–2003), the Schaeffer Award honors an individual who has made significant contributions towards environmentally sound practices in the printing industry. Dr. Schaeffer was widely known and respected for his ongoing environmental advocacy and leadership for the graphic communications industry.

Since the company’s beginning in 1973, Ms. Jones has taken steps to ensure that Consolidated Printing maintains its profitability while complying with local, state, and federal statutes and regulations; protecting employee health and well being; and operating as a good citizen of the community. The company mission is “to provide high quality printing services with a zero impact on the environment.”

Recognizing that printing is among the top ten most toxic industries in the U.S., Ms. Jones has focused her career on actively pursuing the elimination of toxic chemicals in the printing process. Consolidated Printing uses an all-natural process without toxic chemicals that are harmful to workers, the community, or air, land and water. In early years, common household products were substituted for harmful chemicals—cooking oil as a roller lubricant, vinegar as a neutralizer, and fabric softener as a wetting agent. Ms. Jones works with suppliers to eliminate harmful substances in chemicals and offers her shop as a willing beta test site for products that could potentially be safer for the environment. Today, Consolidated Printing uses an all-vegetable process, including inks, pigments and solutions, and the company is petroleum and carcinogen free.

In recognition of Consolidated Printing’s accomplishments and level of environmental sustainability, Ms. Jones has received awards from the Illinois EPA, three Illinois Governors, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, and the Chicago Department of the Environment. In addition, Consolidated Printing has been asked to open a second location to provide the printing services at the Business Service Center for the Green Exchange, a retail and office facility that will house some 100 businesses, all of them environmentally and socially responsible. The first of its kind in the U.S., the Green Exchange building is a four-story, 272,000 square-foot former factory being converted according to LEED Platinum standards and incorporating a wide array of green building features and benefits.

Throughout her 35 years as a printer, Ms. Jones has used her own resources and initiative to ensure that others learn of the many ways a firm can print responsibly, honoring the environment as well as the health and well-being of the persons who produce printed product. She was involved in the development of the Great Printers Project, the first team in the nation seeking to create a business environment conducive to pollution prevention for the entire printing industry. Consolidated Printing became the first printing company in Illinois to achieve Great Printer status in 1997. The company then produced a film with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), and Ms. Jones and other Consolidated Printing employees traveled the state with IEPA representatives to raise awareness of the Project among printers. Hoping to establish an “effective and easy to understand program for complying with OSHA regulations,” the Consolidated Printing staff also participated in a national OSHA project for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). Working with several printing companies, Consolidated Printing formulated teaching materials to be utilized by printing companies across America in the National Pilot Project.

Ms. Jones works continuously to spread the word about sustainability and green in the printing industry. Outreach efforts include speaking engagements; educational and environmental committee involvement; exhibiting at a variety of facilities and events; participation on panels, blogs, You Tube and internet radio shows. Environmental sustainability in the printing industry has also been taught by Ms. Jones during weekly tours of Consolidated Printing for clients, printers, suppliers, associations, and radio and television crews, which have resulted in recent segments on Chicago’s WLS Channel 7, NBC Channel 5, and Good Morning America. She makes herself accessible to all who wish to learn of her pioneering practices.

The William D. Shaeffer Environmental Award is presented annually at the National Environmental Health and Safety (NEHS) Conference. This year’s NEHS Conference will be held March 16–18 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

About Printing Industries of America: Printing Industries of America is the world’s largest graphic arts trade association, representing an industry with more than one million employees. It serves the interests of more than 10,000 member companies. Together with its nationwide affiliate network, Printing Industries delivers products and services that enhance the growth, efficiency, and profitability of its members and the graphic communications industry through advocacy, education, research, and technical information.

GenGreen Ambassadors are highly motivated, eco-conscious individuals across the country that promote awareness of the mission of GenGreen and GenGreen Life.com in their communities, and we are extremely proud of our stellar group of volunteers!

As part of a Green Living Challenge, Ambassador Verda A. Davis created these delicious recipies using locally grown produce from her CSA and is nice enough to share them with us all!

(Mostly) Locally Grown Greek Pasta

Verda says: Items noted as CSA are from a Community Supported Agriculture program.  During the 2008 summer season, I owned a share of Three Springs Farm (http://www.threespringsfarmcsa.com) about an hour and a half from where I live.  With the abundance of veggies from the farm, I became quite adept at freezing things.  Below are items from the CSA and how I froze them a few months ago, in order to enjoy the bounty today!

*Tomatoes (CSA):  Basic recipe for sauce, good to freeze.
Half tomatoes and place in baking pan.   In food processor, combine garlic cloves (co-op), basil (a friend’s garden), parsley (CSA), chives (CSA), (basically any herbs available, which will compliment the dish, dried and/or fresh), and olive oil.  Make a paste, enough to cover tomatoes thickly.  Vary the basil types to customize the tomatoes, for example, for this Greek style pasta, I used cinnamon basil.  Bake at 400? F for 45 minutes.

*Roasted eggplant (CSA) paste: good to freeze
Eggplants can be roasted whole in a 425?F oven (cut tops and bottoms off).  Bake until soft, 30 to 40 minutes.  Let cool for 15 minutes or so, then peel off the skin and puree or finely chop the flesh.  This paste is also great for making Baba ghanoush, or mixing with dill and yogurt for a Greek style dip.

*Roasted red peppers (CSA):  good to freeze
Roast whole peppers under low broiler.  Core and seed.  Can rinse to remove seeds.

*Green and black olives (co-op olive bar), quartered/sliced.

*Kenny’s Cheese (locally produced), peppercorn asiago, shredded (optional)

*Whole wheat fettuccini (freshly made by a friend!)

While cooking pasta, heat tomatoes, a few spoons of eggplant paste, red peppers (chopped), red onion (chopped, locally grown, from co-op), olives, and stir well.  Additives can be tailored to style of dish, and what is on hand.  Layer cooked pasta, shredded cheese and sauce.  Optionally, you can top it with crumbled feta cheese obtained from the co-op. Yum!

Spinach Chicken Baked Salad

Verda says: All items obtained from the co-op, and locally produced items were used when available (in this case, all except vinegar).

•    2 organic boneless skinless chicken breasts
•    Diced organic onions
•    Diced organic red peppers
•    Balsamic vinegar, enough to cover the above in a shallow baking dish
•    Organic spinach leaves

Bake all, except spinach, at 400? F for 10 minutes.

Remove from oven; baste chicken and veggies with vinegar from baking dish.  Cover chicken with spinach leaves, filling baking dish as much as possible.  Sprinkle some more balsamic over the spinach.

Bake 10 more minutes.

Remove from oven; stir down spinach, baste chicken and veggies with vinegar from dish, and fill the entire dish once more with fresh spinach leaves.

Bake 10 more minutes. Remove from oven.

Spoon wilted spinach into serving dish.  Drain as much liquid as possible.  Place chicken and remaining veggies on bed of lettuce.  Serve chicken with spinach as a side dish, or serve chicken and wilted greens over fresh spinach leaves.  Little or no extra dressing will be necessary, but balsamic vinaigrette would be recommended.