Green Eco Services

Great Gift Idea from Green Dimes

Welcome back!

I get the Green Dimes Newsletter, and what a great idea- just have to pass it on. Gift Cards from Green Dimes! How perfect can that be!

Please read the below for more information’

Greetings from GreenDimes! The big headline this month is the return of gift cards, just in time for the holiday season.

Gift cards are back!

Gift cards are back on the site, in two great flavors: print and email.

Give them to your friends, relatives, teachers, childhood heroes… everyone who could use a little less clutter in their life. And for you newlyweds, how about your first anniversary, when you’re supposed to give paper? How about getting rid of some annoying paper instead?

You can even schedule email gift cards to be sent by email up to 90 days in advance. Shop now – we’ll send it later.

Buy gift cards today:

http://www.greendimes.com/senders.php

We also have discounts available for corporate sales – if you’re buying memberships for your employees or clients, contact us and we’ll set you up.

What we heard from you

We received a flood of response to our last newsletter. Thanks to those of you who shared your success stories.

We even heard from one member who had such a dramatic reduction in junk mail that her mailman asked for our information! It’s great to get that kind of feedback.

We also heard from some of you who are frustrated by the junk mail that hasn’t gone away, and that’s great feedback, too. We know we need to do a better job upfront explaining that you need to tell us which catalogs you’re receiving, so we can remove your name from specific lists. Others of you made purchases that threw you back onto retailers’ lists (see more on that below.) Whatever the reason, if you’re not getting the results you expected: we want to hear from you. GreenDimes can and will help you get rid of your unwanted mail.

Did You Know… The Shopping Conundrum: GreenDimes’ Refresh Service

The holidays are coming, and for many that means shopping. And whenever you buy something, you may be opting back on to a retailer’s list without knowing it. The fact is that retailers (and not-for-profits) want your name and will sell it to others. As member David Dorn of Rochester, MN says:

Every time I order something online, the company automatically puts me on their junk mailing list and I have to reapply to remove my name. It would be nice if they included a box on the order form to check… But I’m not holding my breath.

David says he receives “almost no junk mail anymore” – in part because he resubmits opt-outs in GreenDimes whenever he makes a purchase. It’s easy to do: just click the “Resubmit” link under Additional Options in the “Most Recent Activity” section of your account homepage. (This link only appears if it’s been at least 90 days since your initial removal request was completed.)

So when you shop at your favorite stores over the next few months, remember to resubmit your opt-outs in GreenDimes too. Just log in at www.greendimes.com.

Member Profile: No Wire Hangers

It’s great to hear from members who are working to reduce waste in the world, and Julie Naylon is one of them. She is a professional home organizer, with a green twist. No Wire Hangers, her Los Angeles-based business, focuses on getting people organized and keeping unwanted items out of the landfill. They work with many charities and know how to give your unwanted things a second life. And they make suggestions on how to live a greener life- including getting rid of junk mail. As Julie says,

My clients are busy people with stuff piling up. Junk mail is one of their biggest complaints. I make sure that all of my clients sign up with GreenDimes right away.

We love it, Julie! And judging from the testimonials on your site, your clients do too. Check out No Wire Hangers online at http://www.nowirehangersbiz.com.

And thanks to all who visited member Ted Wells’ Catalog Canceling Challenge for schools and scouts. The kids in Ted’s class were thrilled by the increase in visitors after our newsletter went out. You can still check it out at http://www.catalogcancelingchallenge.com.

As always, if we can help, just let us know at customerservice@greendimes.com.

Fighting the good fight,

The GreenDimes Team
Karen White, President, GreenDimes
www.greendimes.com

The Simple Life – Buying Less Stuff

As I have been travelling in Ecuador, I constantly wonder how we in the USA got so involved with buying, having and owning stuff, and how that involvement with stuff has led to higher prices- due to consumer demand and ´keeping up with the Joneses.´leading to – of course a $700 billion dollar and counting bailout.

For instance here in Ecuador, a gallon of bottled water is $.96, not even a dollar. In the USA, you buy a small bottle for $2.00, most of the cost is due to marketing.

In Ecuador, an hour massage is $20.00 in a tourist area, in the US, it is upwards of $80.00/hour. Yesterday, i had a great massage and facial for $35.00 (2 hours total) In Bali, beach massages were $5.00.

Most people do not have a computer, therefore cybercafes are all over. Pricing in Ecuador is $.50-$1.00 an hour. It should be so easy in the States.

Here and other parts of the world, they have great private and cheap bus (transportation) infrastructures. It is faster and easy to drive than mass transportation in the states. (although, this is not true in all cities) People hop on and off the bus constantly here. You can get around any town in Ecuador for $.25, and longer routes, $2.50- $5.00. (4-5 hours)Could you imagine getting from San Diego to Los Angeles for $1.50?, with many drop off points along the way?

Clothing selection is limited. Designer clothes, who can afford them here! Nobody worries about their Prada or Coach purse, real or knockoff. Great, handmade leather purses go for $6.00 and up. I bought beautiful, handwoven scarves for $3.00. A few years ago,  I brought back some great straw purses for my nieces- they have never been used, no designer name, not the look that everyboday was wearing. It didn´t matter, that I watched the weavers make this purses in a very small traditional city in Bali.

Food is also simple. The basics, bread, meat, beans or rice, juice, eggs. I´ve had some of the best meals of my life in little restaurants for less than $3.00. I still remember the Corvina Fish I had in Costa Rica years ago for $2.00. Today, my breakfast, 2 eggs, 1 large juice, 2 piecs of bread, 1 coffee for $2.00. I am surprised that wine is fairly economical here in Ecuador. limited amount, so if you want wine, you can find. But no wine snobs here. ( I think we all know them!)

Many of the museums are free as well, and if not free, reasonable prices so everybody can go. Entertainment, day or evening is also free. Music is constantly playing in Central and South America.

Hotels- another story. I am staying in an immaculate hostal, with hot water, private bath for $10.00 a night (single) it goes for $8.00 if with other people. The last time I checked the average hotel cost was $77.00 a night, plus taxes in the US. In Cuenca, we stayed at a hostal for $6.00 a night, including a full breakfast and hot water.

Not to rant too much, but- How did we get here? When did Stuff become so all consuming important? What would happen if more people went back to the Simple life? What I think- we would not have a $700 Billion dollar bailout, more people would still own their homes, the economy would still be flourishing, companies would still be in business, and products would still be made in the USA .

Optical WebBlog and Business

Eco Tourism and Volunteerism Banos, Ecuador

Here i am in Banos, Ecuador, a beautiful resort area in the Andes, with an active volcano, Tungurahua. Tungurahua is on yellow alert, and the locals seem to feel if it erupts, you will have enough time to evacuate. Hopefully my luck still will hold,- Left Kuta, a week before the bombing and left Yogakarta, 2 days before the last earthquake. For more information on Volcano´s and eruptions go this this great blog’ Volcanism

There is of course alot to do here, especially if you are into outdoor activites. Rafting, Canyoning, Hiking, mountain biking, and much more. This is a typical touristy small city with thermal baths, spas and massages, but a great place to come.

Everywhere you go, there are opportunities for Eco, Ethno, Community Tourism Travel. Still don´t know if it is more prevalent here, or I am just more aware. Never have I seen so many signs for help and volunteerism.

Some sources for Volunteering in Ecuador-

WWoof- i have listed them before, opportunities to learn about organic lifestyles in exchange for volunteer help on farms and small holdings.

Arte del mundo Ecuador if student or working artist in painting, theater, dance, sculpture, music or writing looking for some fresh inspiration or a person who likes to play games with children or maybe you are a lover of books and literature and would like to share your joy with others, then we invite you to bring your talents and enthusiasm to the children and youth of Baños. For someone experienced and self-motivated — someone who is brimming with ideas, can work independently and carry through a project from start to finish then we can offer support and lots of kids to inspire! Contact volunteer coordinator Marshia at 593 3 274 0083 or in the U.S. 1-773-572-8810. emailartedelmundo21@gmail.com

Ecuador Volunteer Ecuador Volunteer Foundation is a non-profit organization that offers volunteer work opportunities abroad in social, environmental, educational and community areas around Ecuador. The main focus of our programs is to offer a cultural exchange experience to each volunteer in all of the projects that at helping and working together with the local people.

Volunteer Abroad

Volunteer Latin America

Volunteer South America This site lists the free and low-cost volunteer opportunities in South & Central America. The site is designed for backpackers /independent travellers looking for a real volunteer experience abroad, without paying any middle-man or agency fees

Eco Tourism- Riobamba, Ecuador

After the Galapagos Islands, everything else seems to almost pale in comparison. Next stop was Cuenca, a world historical site and Ingapirca. Once again, i was impressed by the cleanliness of the city and the lack of street hustlers. Despite the cleanliness, there are no recycle bins, as in Guayaquil and the Galapagos Islands. What is interesting is the amount of ´eco´named places. (I´m at an Eco- Internet now)

What I think I am most impressed with is the amount of indigenous communities that you can visit, stay, learn and get involved. Perhaps I have never noticed this about other places I have been, or it could be eco tourism is growing, and written about more. It could also be that Ecuador jumped on the bandwagon before it became a ´hot ticket´. No matter, at least something is being done to preserve ways of life, provide needed income, conserve the environment to provide a more sustainable way of life.

For instance in Cuenca, there is the Casa de Mujer, covered stalls with work by local women. Next door is Mama Kinua´s who runs a cafeteria, and tours to benefit indigenous women and the Andean way of life. Staff there can arrange an ethnotourism project.

Further south in Saraguro, is Mama Cuchara, who rallied the women in Saraguro, and raises money to help the indigenous women with a restaurant, ´Mama Cuchara´s. Unfortunately, didn´t have the time to go there.

The problem with winging it as you go along and if you have a limited amount of time, it can be a challenge to book one of these community tourism expeditions at the last minute. You have to plan in advance, with a tour operator, or a contact, who can make arrangements. So if this is something that interests you, plan in advance, and plan to stay 3-5 days.

Currently, i am in Riobamba, and if you are interested in community tourism initiative in Chimorazo, get in touch with the Corporacion de Desarrollo Comunitario y Turismo de Chimborazo. www.cordtuch.org, who can coordinated local projects.

It appears that indigenous community stays are a big thing here in Ecuador. In the Oriente, especially, these eco tourism projects, are providing needed income to provide a sustainable alternative to more destructive means of subsistence as logging. The main centers for organizing theses are in Puyo, Lago Agrio and Macas. As I am not going there on this trip, i wish i could say more about them.

No matter if you are going to the Oriente or anyplace, the Rough Guide to Ecuador, www.roughguides.com, has a great listing of various tours and indigenous people if you are interested in getting involved. Just remember to plan in advance!

Now I´m off to see if I can see the mountains, as it just cleared up.

Vaya con Dios!

ikea – View from a Swede

I’m in  the Galapagos islands right now, and had the good  fortunate to meet up with a swede, who spoke fluent English- and the number one question i had for him was ´Is Ikea really sustainable?

it took me 6 months and hours on the Internet to find out if ikea was as sustainable as they claim. Finally , I made the decision to go with ikea with my kitchen cabinets. After speaking with Martin, i  feel so much better about making the ikea choice. Ikea is very common in Sweden, and apparently does promote sustainability and the products are ´green´. Martin, coincidentally really admires the whole ikea culture and the man who started ikea. it seems hes alot like warren buffet, very humble, drives his 10 year old volvo, lives simply. -remember this is one of the richest guys in the world.

apparently, all the members of the board at ikea work there. what a concept! no paying extra for CEOs buddies to sit on a board, who know nothing about the business. i wonder if we had that more in the usa, if we would of had to bail out all these companies. no golden parachutes! what do you think?  would we have been better off today, if business ran like a business with profits in mind, multi-million dollar bonuses, $500,000 Corporate retreats, advisory boards that have the company in mind, rather than their pockets or egos?

moral of the story, you can run a sustainable business profitably and without multi million bonuses and huge payouts.

San Cristobal in the Galapagos

im blogging to correct my previous blog about the galapagos and the environment. yesterday was an eye opening event. went to the interpreation center to read about the history of the galapagos island. if you are in san cristobal, this center is a must. the galapagos islands have had a bloody and interesting history. at the end of the center, is the future goals, with a bit about the environment, water and sustainability. water is definitely in short supply, 1 island (floreana) has no water at all and imports. 4 islands import or have desalination plants. most of the groundwater is contaminated due to of course humans. (how else would it get contaminated?) the galapagos goal is 0 fossil fuel usage by 2017. the  problems here are not just water, tourism but almost everything has to be emported.

here are my questions, of which hopefully i will be able to get some answers by the time i leave.

1. if money is an issue, of which it always is, why is the interpretation free? in fact, every center we have visited has been free. even if they asked for a donation, they might be able to hire a guide or a speaker, at any of these centers, who should be able to answer you.

2.) recycle containers are all over, but based upon observation, when they are full, the people will still put bottles and cans in the regular garbage, if the recycle containers are full. it tells me they have not ´bought ´into the whole conservation thing. what i don´t understand, is they pick up trash everyday because they use these very small bins. if they are trying to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels, why don´t they use larger bins and pick them up less often?

3.) you would think in a small island with population of 5,000, with signs all over to conserve and protect, why there is so much trash in the gullys and the rocks?

4.) after speaking to several people, it appears that they are not aware of  some of the conservation issues, such as water. that could just be on san cristobal, because im sure, it is different in other islands. 

5.) if the galapagos islands are trying to be fully sustainable by 2017, where are the going to get the food? 97% of the island is a park. where are they going  to grow the food? plus they are trying to eradicate all invasive species of plants and animals. how does that work, if  they want to grow their own food?

hopefully, i will be able to get the above questions answered by the time i leave. but despite all of the above, this is a wonderful place. yesterday we were swimming with sea lions. here, sea lions rule, here, they are on every beach, every rock, on the boardwalk, and in  backyards. it brought to mind, the issue of the seals vs the city of san diego at la jolla cove. why is it that man and tourists can live together with the sea lions here in the galapagos,  yet we in the city of san diego have to go to court to eliminate the seals from 1 little, tiny beach? it has cost the city millions, because a few people cannot live in harmony with nature.

gotta go swim with the turtles again. the boat we were supposed to go on today to swim with hammerhead sharks broke. – que lastima! but there are many sea lions and turtles to swim with.

oh and 1 last note, if you are a surfer- g. islands is a pretty big surf spot. but i do not think american surfers would ever put up the the g. surfers. a wave is everybodies wave- at least that is the way it looks. 15 surfers take off and all 15 get in each others way. i was not the only one that noticed that either.  that just life in the g. islands!

Galapagos Islands

We made it here to the Galapagos islands- this is my 2nd internet cafe that i tried to blog on. so again if you are blogging or using the internet in  the G. islands, there are plenty of internet cafes, but not  all of them are able to access a blog or website.

I will impart as much knowledge as i have learned already- this is from speaking to bartenders, taxi drivers and a person who is really into green, and she also lived here for 6 months.

first off, there are many recycling bins in G. islands. in fact each household has 2 bins, trash, recyclables. there  is a  landfill here, but so far, havent spoken  to a local regarding this. Recyclables are shipped out to the mainland. the problem they have is a lack of staff to process the materials. despite the environmental aspects  of living in g. islands- unfortunately there  is  still bottles and  plastic bags laying around in the ocean, the rocks and roadside. not as much as it could be, but still, i would consider it alot!

currently, am in san cristobal, where water is not a problem. apparently they get their water from rain. dont know how  they collect it, because havent seen too many rain barrels. usually all the houses have  some kind of rain collection  on the roofs. will have to check it out with my limited amount of spanish.

there are sea lions everyplace, and signs all over- not to touch anything. pretty hard  when you are walking a trail and  lying right in the middle of the trail is a sea lion, who of course is not going to move for a mere human!

i wish i could show the pictures, but forgot my camera.que lastima! but must sign off now, have to go interview more bartenders!

Eco Tourism in Ecuador

This is my third internet cafe, to write this blog! So if you are planning on bloggin in Guayaquil, go to -victor manuel rendon y boyaca- (in the back) use this Iinternet cafe.! because the keyboards are different down here, and i´m using explorer and a PC, This entry will be a little different because i am very computer challenged.

First, I am very impressed with Guayaquil. This is one of the cleanest cities, i have been in south america. not only that, this is the only city who has 3 trash cans out, 1 for trash, 1 for plastic and one for organics. Very amazing. The river is dirty and of course trashy, the suburbs are filled with trash, but downtown is clean.

Due some last minutes adjustments, <i stayed at the hotel continetal. www.hotelcontinental.com.ec  they use cfls lightbulbs, have signs posted to save energy and water. very impressed. have never seen that in any hotel south of usa. now i am experiencing my first couchsurfing adventure. the family is wonderful and very embracing, but as much as it has been a great thing, and probably less of a carbon footprint, still dont know if i am the couch surfing kinda gal!

As yet 2  wonderful things have happened. if you come to guayaquil, please visit teh parque historico. www.parquehistoricoguayaquil.com we were very fortunate to meet with a master gardener, who took us through the whole garden. they compost everything, grow all the food to feed the animals (this is a zoo as well) he went through and talked about all the medicinial plants, what they were good for (ailments) how did we get away from native plants to relieve all of our ills? We spent about 2 hours going over all the plants, medicines, dyes and more. it was wonderful.

the next thing that happened. we met this wonderful women, who along with others started a small chocolet company called Theobrioma Cacao Libertus. www.artepasionecuador.com. they also do art with cacao as well.  Their ´´arriba´´ chocolate bars have a high conten t of barietal cocoa with a perfumed scent of the ecuatorian cocoa bean. They use no vegetable art or vanilla covering aroma. it is delicious. i bought 4 bars for $15.00. they are not labeled fair trade as yet, not even quite sure if they know what fair trade is, as only seem to sell locally.

There are 2 other Fair trade chocolate here, Kallari (salinas) and Yachana gourmet (quito area) haven´´t tasted them as yet,

Top 5 Reasons to Recycle Your Cell Phone

American Recycles Day  Nov. 15th

 I Recieved this great information from Grcrecycling- please read and call them if you have any questions.  

If you’d like more information on cell phone recycling, or if you’d like to find out what you can do to help, contact GRC Recycling, http://www.grcrecycling.com/
Technology is constantly evolving, especially in the realm of cellar devices. You can’t turn on your TV without being bombarded by the newest, fastest, sleekest cell phone model. Each one comes with more capabilities and bells and whistles. So the time comes in every cell phone’s life to say goodbye. Change is good, but what happens to your old friend? Does it end up in a junk drawer? In an old box somewhere? If you’re like millions of Americans, it ends up in the trash….and this can be a serious problem.  Recycling cell phones is an easy process which has many benefits. Below are 5 reasons why recycling your cell should be a priority.

Cell Phones Contain Toxic Materials

That sweet gun metal finish, back lit LCD screen, and QWERTY keypad come at a price, and that price is toxic materials. Most all cell phones these days contain lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic. Yeah, arsenic. When you toss it in the trash, it ends up in an incinerator or landfill, where those materials can combust causing some major environmental issues. These materials often times sweep into the soil or drinking water which ends up affecting a lot more than just the landfill they get dumped in. Many of these materials like cadmium and lead are known to cause liver and lung cancer in humans. With the average shelf life of a cell phone peaking out at 18 months, it’s easy to see how these little devices can result in a much larger problem.

All Those Phones Add Up!

When was the last time you met someone without a cell phone? Nowadays kids take notes via text message and surf myspace on their iPhones. Just about everyone has a cell, and they all want the newer, better version coming out next year. If the average cell phone user is only holding on to a phone for 18 months, that creates a LOT of waste. The EPA predicts that more than 150 MILLION cell phones are thrown away each year. That’s 75,000 tons of toxic material waste every single year. There is no sign of those numbers slowing or decreasing in the future. By recycling your phone, you are helping to cut down on this growing problem.

Just Because It’s Not New, Doesn’t Mean It Can’t Work

Wait, you’re telling me that my phone only has a 7 mega pixel camera, but this super new phone has a 16 mega pixel camera?? I’m ready to upgrade. But that doesn’t mean that Mr. 7 mega pixel no longer works. In fact 80% of the 150 million cells that are thrown out each year are in perfect, or close to perfect working order. When you recycle your phone, it is thoroughly inspected for its quality and whenever possible, it is refurbished and resold. But how does this benefit you? You’ve moved on to higher quality pictures and unlimited texts. By recycling your phone, you’ve helped keep production costs down, and in turn it keeps product costs down as well. That’ll come in handy next time you upgrade.

Even If Your Phone Is Dead, It Can Still Be Recycled

You spilled coffee on your phone, your dog chewed it up, and the screen is dead? It can still be recycled even if it can’t be reused. Many times broken phones still have many working parts which are reused in the production of new phones. Even in the event your old faithful phone is truly dead, all the metals and materials used to make it can be broken down and reused to make new cell phones. By recirculating the materials, it can significantly cut back on the need for new metal mining. All this is done in a completely environmentally safe process.

Recycle and Get Involved

November 15th is “America Recycles Day”. This national holiday is in its 11th year and going stronger than ever. Through the countless efforts of many local and national recycling and environmental facilities millions of Americans will learn what they can do to help. According to the EPA, if only 1 million cell phones were recycled, they could produce enough energy to power 1,940 homes with electricity for a full year! If 150 million phones got recycled that’d mean electricity for 291,000 homes. What better way to be a part of ARD than by starting off with recycling your old cell phone.

Organic Essence- Biodegradable Jars! Oh My!

I have been writing on organic and non- toxic alternatives to beauty products. Despite the content, the packaging of all those products still hurts the environment. But now- you can buy Shea Cream and Butter- in a biodegradable Jar! Please read the following press release!  Do you know how rare that is! This is very exciting

Biodegradable Jar is Here

Crescent City, CA., Oct 8, 2008 /SOAPWIRE/ — Organic Essence is pleased to announce the introduction of Pure Shea Cream and Pure Shea Butter in completely biodegradable and compostable paper jars. “This ultimate ‘green’ package represents a new opportunity for consumers to enjoy the highest quality skin care while also doing the most they can to protect the environment” says Ellery West, one of the founders of Organic Essence “even the label is biodegradable – you could actually plant the entire container in your garden. Whether or not you have a garden, this new jar will actively help the environment.”

Building on decades of body care experience, Organic Essence makes only USDA Certified Organic body care products because it’s the only meaningful organic standard. It is an organic standard for food that has the virtue of eliminating all of the questionable body care chemicals. “Health is the main reason for organic and the basis of real beauty.” says West, “Americans are coming to realize that we are exposed to hundreds of chemicals on a daily basis. Most are safe for most people, but not all are good for everybody, and sometimes people are harmed. In my view, better health is not about living forever; it’s about feeling more alive while we’re here. The health of our surroundings affects us in the same way, too. Whether or not climate change will threaten humanity, it’s clear that we are trashing our environment, and by extension, our health and everybody’s future. So now people are looking in their stores for solutions to help the environment. With our purchasing decisions, we want to choose better health and a cleaner world.”

“Plastic bottles and jars don’t break down and pretty much last forever, and only 25%, ever gets recycled. Glass has many of the same problems plastic does in terms of persistence and recycling, with the added carbon cost of moving the extra weight around. We needed an authentic green jar, so I went to the major packaging expos looking for alternatives to plastic and glass. Like everywhere else in our culture, there’s a lot of green hoopla, but the industry is just getting started on being ecologically responsible, so there wasn’t much to see.”

West realized that he needed to innovate a genuine biodegradable jar. Paper tubes were the natural place to start because they are inherently biodegradable and lightweight. It was important to make the jar leak proof and sturdy enough to perform to peoples’ expectations. “People shouldn’t have to give up quality for environmental responsibility; I think we can improve our standard of living while also lightening our footprint at the same time. Asking consumers to peel off a label to make a package truly biodegradable is an inconvenience and lowers the overall green quality. So we print our label with pure soy ink and developed an organic biodegradable adhesive and varnish that gives the jar its soft, high-end finish.”

“The fact is that most body care products could be made to USDA Certified Organic food standards, and be even more effective than current offerings. As the market grows, the availability of more organic raw materials will enable many more offerings that are not currently possible. Fortunately, a growing number of people care about their health and the environment. They are demanding real organic products and genuine green packaging.”

“Early on, the organic movement suffered because products did not live up to quality expectations, and tarnished the overall ‘organic’ brand. The ‘green’ movement is in a vulnerable early phase where quality is often overlooked in favor of promotion. Our goal with these products is to set the quality standard as high as it can go, health, function, and environmental. Our work is not just a good idea that sounds good, it must be tangibly better, where anybody can tell the difference.”

Pure Shea Cream is a powerful moisturizer designed to replenish dry and stressed skin. A tiny amount moisturizes hands and body because of its high shea butter content. Also use as a make-up remover. Use more for a top quality long lasting massage that has great glide and doesn’t pull hair. Available in refreshing and relaxing scents: Grapefruit, Lavender, Lemongrass Mint and Vanilla Orange.

Pure Organic Shea Butter is the most effective natural moisturizer for dry and troubled skin. Pure, unscented and creamy. Known for stimulating skin capillaries and promoting the skin’s natural balance, shea butter is gaining widespread popularity. This is the active ingredient found in a growing number of skin care products.

The Organic Essence biodegradable jar functions just as well as glass or plastic, but will break-down without a trace in short order when you are done with it. It’s a blueprint for all sorts of products. The public is looking in their local stores for products to help them solve environmental problems while preserving the quality they expect. “I am actively encouraging other manufacturers to copy our biodegradable jar design, because if they do, the environment and everybody in it, wins.”

Organic Essence Pure Shea Cream and Pure Shea Butter will be available in stores this October, or at http://www.orgess.com/. this September.