The Green Parent

I can remember it clearly.  It was very early on in my first pregnancy.  I was hardly showing and still felt like a bit of an imposter in the baby store.  Still, I ventured in to try to get a glimpse of this new world I was ventruing in to.  And I was instantly shocked [...]

Currently, about 25% of the garbage in the U.S. is recycled, but experts estimate that 65% of our garbage could be recycled. Recycling options vary by city or county, but most areas collect office paper, cardboard, magazines, newspaper, aluminum, plastics, glass (colored or clear), steel, yard trimmings, tires, batteries, and building materials. Use this chart [...]

Did you happen to catch the latest news about the danger of the group of chemicals called phthalates that are currently found in a number of baby products? Phthalates are man-made substances that are used to make plastics flexible and to stabilize fragrances. These chemicals have also been linked to some really frightening health risks, [...]

It’s just about time to say good-bye to 2007 and ring in 2008. Get your new year off on the right foot with these eco-friendly tips to green your New Year’s Eve celebration. Send Evites: lost robin hood downloads Paper invitations are so 2007. Send email invitations, or evites, for your New Year’s Eve celebration. [...]

If you’re shopping for treats to hand out this Halloween, you are likely to find a frightening assortment of artificial ingredients, plastic packaging, and sweatshop trinkets. How scary! Steer clear of these ghoulish wares and Green Your Halloween by giving out treats that don’t trick! Here are a few ideas: Fair Trade Chocolates: Chocolate is [...]

Nothing says “sucker” quite like the sight of a human being bending over to pick up a pile of doggie doo. Having a pet is like having a toddler that will never become potty trained. You’re stuck in perpetual diaper duty. And all of that duty makes for a pile of doodie that needs to [...]

As a Green Parent, I try to minimize my impact on the environment each day, especially at the store. I take the time to buy organic and locally grown foods as well as all-natural personal care products whenever possible. I check ingredient labels and “vote with my wallet” to support companies with an environmental backbone. [...]

Recycling is a great way to keep stuff out of the landfill and reduce the need for new materials. And if you are lucky enough to live in a community that heavily supports (or even mandates) recycling, the task may be as simple as remembering which stuff to put in the recycle bin. But for [...]

New parents are inundated with new decisions, often on topics that have never before crossed their minds; bottle or breast? paci or thumb? co-sleep or crib? Of these decisions, none is more vexing than diapers. It would seem from the great diaper debate that there is simply no eco-friendly way to diaper a child. Sure, [...]

Call the Plastic Loosefill Council at 1-800-828-2214 for a list of locations where you can drop off those plastic peanuts that you get in shipments. Most UPS Store locations accept foam packaging peanuts for reuse. Check out www.theupsstore.com for a location near you. watch the whole red film

Whether you’re at home or at work, get in the habit of using both sides of a piece of paper. Kids’ art projects, grocery lists, and messages can give paper a second life. Check with your kids’ school to see if any of your waste (such as jars, magazines, paper towel rolls, newspapers, or plastic [...]

Many parents rely heavily on pre-packaged and disposable goods when packing lunches. Sure, they’re convenient, but what is the cost of this convenience? Much of the trash generated in the American home comes from the packaging on the food we buy. According to Wastefreelunches.org, each school-age child who packs a disposable lunch generates 67 pounds [...]