Green Consumer Day, Stylishly

By Lexi Green
September 28, 2010

Today is annual Green Consumer Day, a day intended to build awareness around how even the smallest actions we take as individuals can help—or harm—the planet. To commemorate the occasion, we rounded up a selection of products—from reusable totebags to soy-based candles to vintage dresses—that not only make it easy to be green, but also allow you to stay stylish in the process.

REUSABLE SHOPPING BAGS: While food shopping (and we're sure you always go organic and local), make sure you forgo the one-use plastic bags. eBay users sure do: sales of items with the term "reusable shopping bag" have more than doubled in the past week vs. a week-long period approximately one year ago, while listings have more than triple.

Roll over items for details

Two Eco-friendly Baggu Shopping Tote Bags

(buy it now price, $18.99)

Set of Four Reusable Grocery Bags

(buy it now price, $12)

left: These colorful bags are stylish enough for toting around grocies, gym clothes or whatever else you cart around with you; right: Instead of wrapping up your produce and bulk-bin items in plastic, carry these re-usable bags with you; they're made especially for the grocery store.

WATER BOTTLES: We can all help the planet by purchasing fewer water bottles and carrying reusable ones with us. According to the Food and Water Watch, bottled water produces up to 1.5 million tons of plastic waste per a year.

Klean Kanteen Classic Water Bottle with Loop Cap 40 oz

(buy it now price, $19.90)

Soda Club Stream Fountain Jet Seltzer Maker

(buy it now price, $9.99)

left: This bottle is made from stainless steel that's free of BPA and other toxins. There are lots of similar options on eBay: product listings with the term "water bottle" are up 49 percent over the past week vs a week-long period approximately one year ago; right: Prefer your water bubbly? Try making your own seltzer instead of buying it at the store.

SOY CANDLES: There are multiple benefits to using soy-based candles: They're clean-burning (soy wax is non-toxic); they're biodegradable (soybeans are vegetables, so they're all-natural); and buy purchasing these candles, you're helping American farmers who depend on sales of soybeans and soybean products for their livelihood.

Soy Votive Candles

(buy it now price, $4)

Emerald Soy Candle

(buy it now price, $26)

left: Classic votive candles look elegant inside of (equally eco-friendly) vintage Mason jars. Plus, you can re-use the Mason jars later as vases; right: Scented soy candles are more aromatic than those made from paraffin wax. This one smells like lime, mandarin and basil.

ECO-FRIENDLY LIGHTING: Eco-friendly lightbulbs with a vintage or re-used lamp plugged into a Smart Surge power strip = triple green points.

LU80/ED23.5/ECO 70 W ECO TCLP Compliant Light Bulb

(buy it now price, $9.50)

Vintage Wood Table Lamp

(buy it now price, $19.99)

left: These eco-friendly bulbs cast a pleasant glow; right: An Eames era lamp has a retro-cool vibe.

VINTAGE CLOTHING: Since the greenest item is always the one that already exists in the world, vintage clothing is a great green bet that's stylish too. The vintage selection eBay is ever-increasing: listings of vintage items in the Clothing, Shoes and Accessories category are 9 percent higher this week compared to a week-long period approximately one year ago.

Samantha Pleet Jumpsuit

(buy it now price, $35)

Vintage Whiting & Davis Mesh Purse

(buy it now price, $139)

left: This romper is vintage and it's made by an eco-friendly designer—doubly whammy; right: This collectible, Art Deco mesh look is having a major style moment.

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