Resources

BOOKS

The Eco-Chick Guide to Life by Starre Vartan is the perfect book for people who want to make greener and more sustainable choices in the products they purchase. Examples: Which hair removal option produces the most waste. Which fabrics are treated with toxic chemicals before they make it to the store? After explaining why you should care how your makeup is made and what happens to the case when you’ve used the last of it up, the author provides you with a list—a “Green Shopping Basket”—of companies to start with. She does the same for clothing, jewelry, household products, and more. (Readers looking for “green” travel and pet care will find plenty of info here.)
It’s definitely geared toward a younger, mostly single audience, so don’t expect any child-related tips. But, your inner green fashionista, traveler, and hostess will find plenty of ideas and inspiration. Getting engaged and want a conflict-free diamond? This book will point you in the right direction. Along the way, it will educate you about the chemicals all around you, from moisturizer to sink cleaner, and how to choose safer, healthier items.
The library copy I have has about 20 pages of bookmarks of resources I want to look at again and information I’d like to quote. While I am not rushing out to buy it right now, I’ve added it to the list of books I’d like to add to my low-waste library in the future.
For those dipping their toes into more planet-friendly life, this book can be an information-packed introduction to why purchasing choices are important and how to make smart ones.

Garbolology: Our Dirty Love Affair with Trash by Edward Humes is a great intro into what happens when your garbage leaves your house and the problems posed by the the tons of trash each of us throws away in our lives. It really broke my ability to think of trash as somehow going “away,” by clearly and engagingly talking about our trash problem and the way our consumer-driven culture impacts the environment.