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| Get Organized Now! |
Most women can’t live without their handbags – or, more accurately, what’s in their handbags. Our
purses, satchels, packs and clutches are with us every day, all year long. Their purchase is an
investment in function and style. So when you’re ready to buy your next bag, why not do the Earth a
good turn at the same time?
Green Handbags: There are so many stylish, affordable, functional green handbags out there that it’s
impossible to describe them all, but I’ve put together a list of a few favorite brands and retailers.
If you don’t find the perfect purse for you at an eco-retailer, consider shopping consignment stores: you’
ll find designer offerings, usually very gently used, for a fraction of the price. Plus, when you buy ‘pre-
owned’, you’re reducing pollution because your new purse uses no new materials at all.
Now that you have your fab new eco-bag, it's time to fill it with earth-friendly - and woman-friendly -
products.
Personal care products are a big presence in handbags. Survey the contents of your purse and you
may find a virtual chemical stew! Here are some products commonly found in purses – and their natural,
planet- and people-friendly replacements.
Want to know what’s in your favorite cosmetics and personal care products? The Environmental
Working Group’s Skin Deep – a comprehensive database of product ingredients - is a wonderful (and
sometimes frightening) source of information.
When you’re filling your new eco-savvy handbag, you’ll want to keep it organized. Small zippered
pouches are the best way to keep small items like pens, receipts, and cosmetics separated and neat.
Look for pouches in different colors, textures, and sizes, so you know what’s in them without having to
open them. Many of the sites I've listed above for handbags also sell zippered pouches and other
accessories.
A few more ideas for keeping your handbag green and healthy …
Small changes can make your life a whole lot greener: they do say it’s the little things that count!
purses, satchels, packs and clutches are with us every day, all year long. Their purchase is an
investment in function and style. So when you’re ready to buy your next bag, why not do the Earth a
good turn at the same time?
Green Handbags: There are so many stylish, affordable, functional green handbags out there that it’s
impossible to describe them all, but I’ve put together a list of a few favorite brands and retailers.
- Eco-Handbags: this Canadian web site, and it’s fabulous. Handbags from record albums, books,
magazines, cigar boxes, and chopsticks? You bet. The artists selling pieces on this site are
endlessly creative, and you can be sure that no one in the office will be sporting your purse. - Beneficial Hemp: Not only do they sell adorable bags, backpacks, and accessories (as well as eco-
savvy hemp clothing for the whole family), they donate 15% of profits to Greenpeace. You don’t
get any greener than that! - Dan K. Forest: Hemp bags and totes in sophisticated styles.
- English Retreads: Seriously cool bags, briefcases, and satchels made from the inner tubes of
truck tires. Yes, tires. Think Harley Chic meets Tree-hugger, with a lot of attitude. - Hemp-Sisters: A little beatnik, a little high-fashion. They’ve got everything from coin purses to
serious totes, and all of it is totally eco-friendly. - Pristine Planet: This is a green comparison shopping site featuring several merchants. You’ll find
fair-trade, eco-friendly and recycled ‘eco-plastic’ purses, pouches, and other goodies. - Taraluna: offering Indian and Guatemalan styles from eco-conscious or recycled materials.
- Novica operates in association with National Geographic, and sells fair-trade goods from all over
the world. Click here to check out the Cotton Travel Accessories set from Thai Tribal Crafts.
If you don’t find the perfect purse for you at an eco-retailer, consider shopping consignment stores: you’
ll find designer offerings, usually very gently used, for a fraction of the price. Plus, when you buy ‘pre-
owned’, you’re reducing pollution because your new purse uses no new materials at all.
Now that you have your fab new eco-bag, it's time to fill it with earth-friendly - and woman-friendly -
products.
Personal care products are a big presence in handbags. Survey the contents of your purse and you
may find a virtual chemical stew! Here are some products commonly found in purses – and their natural,
planet- and people-friendly replacements.
- Lip gloss/balm: Many lip glosses and balms are petroleum-based – meaning they’re made from
crude oil, and therefore not something you want to wear on your mouth. Ingredients to look for
include: petroleum jelly, petroleum wax, mineral oil, petrolatum, etc. Instead, opt for natural lip
smoothers like those from The Merry Hempsters or Ecolips. Alba Organics Terra Tints add a hint of
color, and wear beautifully. - Cosmetics: After the recent scare over lead in lipsticks, it’s more important than ever to know
what you’re getting when you buy cosmetics. Look for mineral makeups that disclose their
ingredients. Zia, Gabriel, and Mineral Fusion are all great lines, and often cost less than
department store brands. - Hand cream/body lotion: Again, a hidden oil well. Most moisturizers you’ll find in drugstores are
petroleum based, even if they’re labeled ‘natural’. Plus they’re full of nasties like parabens -
chemical preservatives and endocrine disruptors which a British study discovered were present in
18 out of 20 breast cancer tumors (for more info go to organicconsumers.org) Look for brands
that use no parabens and no petroleum derivatives, like Avalon Organics and Collective
WellBeing. If your hands want a real treat, try Dr. Hauschka’s Hand Cream and Neem Cuticle Oil,
or one of Jurlique’s spectacular hand creams.
Want to know what’s in your favorite cosmetics and personal care products? The Environmental
Working Group’s Skin Deep – a comprehensive database of product ingredients - is a wonderful (and
sometimes frightening) source of information.
When you’re filling your new eco-savvy handbag, you’ll want to keep it organized. Small zippered
pouches are the best way to keep small items like pens, receipts, and cosmetics separated and neat.
Look for pouches in different colors, textures, and sizes, so you know what’s in them without having to
open them. Many of the sites I've listed above for handbags also sell zippered pouches and other
accessories.
A few more ideas for keeping your handbag green and healthy …
- Invest in a nice set of pens. Refillable pens cost more initially, but will save you money in the long
run. And, refill cartridges create much less plastic waste than disposable pens. Same goes for
refillable pencils. - If you carry a lighter, invest in a Zippo or other refillable lighter. Not only are they cool, these
types of lighters create no waste at all, except for the plastic bottles of lighter fluid (if these
bottles are made of #2 plastic, they can be recycled, too. Check with your local facility for details). - Buy supplies like aspirin, vitamins, and mints in bulk, and transfer them into smaller containers for
travel in your purse. Carrying them in reusable, washable containers reduces packaging waste.
Small changes can make your life a whole lot greener: they do say it’s the little things that count!
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| Put Some Green In Your Handbag |
