There are so many beneficial reasons to buy in bulk, so this simple green practice is easy and rewarding to implement. Living an hour away from the nearest grocery store, buying our food and personal products in bulk is a necessity of mountain life. The survivalist in me does not feel comfortable unless my pantry is stocked with staple goods bought in bulk. Not only does buying in bulk make life more convenient by saving trips to the grocery store, it saves money and environmental resources as well. Bulk good prices are cheaper than individually packaged goods, and fewer trips to the store means less fossil fuel burned and more leisure time for you! The following five ideas will help you make the most of buying in bulk.

Don’t limit bulk purchases to food items only!

Buying shampoo, laundry soap, dish soap, toilet paper, etc. is also beneficial to the environment and your wallet. Even if an item is not available in bulk at your local co-op or health food store, buying the largest size possible will give you similar savings financially and environmentally.

Bring your own containers!

When buying from bulk bins, bring your own containers. You can weigh your jars before filling them, in order to subtract the tare weight from the total purchase weigh. In addition, you will always buy the right amount for your containers if you take them along with you to the bulk foods aisle. If you must use plastic bags, try reusing them several times before recycling them.

Start a buying club and share with friends!

You will save a lot more money if you buy your own bulk bags of staple goods, such as rice and flour, directly from a natural foods distributor. Fifteen years ago, we started a buying club with friends through Mountain People’s Warehouse, which would deliver goods once a month to a neighboring town. Several families would take turns picking up the buying club’s order, and we had great fun sharing bulk items we couldn’t use completely or afford alone. By combining our orders, we easily met the minimum required order amount of this natural foods distributor. Even if you don’t want to start a buying club, you can order your own bulk goods through your local health food store for a small price above wholesale.

Buy big amounts, save packaging!

The larger the quantity you buy, the less packaging is involved. Be wary, though, of large warehouse stores that simply sell you cases of prepackaged individual goods; this is not bulk buying! For example, Aveda reports that when you buy liter size bottles of shampoo, you can help prevent waste.

Aveda litres use 40% less plastic and cost 30% less than the equivalent product in regular size bottles. Larger sizes mean we have to produce, and ship, fewer bottles. This means we send out fewer trucks that emit CO2 — the primary cause of global warming — into the atmosphere.

Imagine how much would be saved by buying gallon jugs of shampoo!

Store your bulk items in gallon-sized glass jars!

The safety of plastics used in food storage is questionable, and glass mason jars offer a safe alternative. Many health food distributors also carry gallon glass jars that are perfect for storing bulk food. Many people also use food grade five-gallon buckets for home bulk food storage, but I prefer glass jars.

When you buy in bulk, you tend to eat healthier, as there are less packaged, processed foods on hand in the kitchen. Diving into your staples on a winter day is a great way to eat well and do a little bit to save the environment, too. Save money, time, and resources by following this simple tip.

Holiday season fanfare has already begun, and I am reminded of my holiday motto: No more junk toys! Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and/or the Winter Solstice, if you have children, you know what junk toys are. Junk toys are toys that will have little educational value, are usually made of plastic, are overly commercial, and end up in our landfills. Green parents often try to make these toys disappear, but it is better to prevent their buying and giving in the first place.

Four years ago, before America was awash in greenwashing, Mothering Magazine featured a great article title "No More Junk Toys: Rethinking Children’s Gifts" by Judith Rubin. Rubin writes,

Like junk food, junk toys can be fun but are devoid of nutrition. Buying them requires little forethought. They are excessively commercial, and are often linked to cross-marketing schemes. They excite children at first, but that initial flicker doesn’t endure. Also like junk food, junk toys have hidden environmental and social costs for which the consumers pay.

The environmental and social costs of junk toys are huge! Plastic toys are often made in sweatshops, sometimes by children themselves, and many of them send the wrong kind of messages to children. For example, Bratz Dolls sexualize young girls, as well as have unfair labor practices, and Barbie’s proportions are unrealistic. According to Empoweredparents.com,

If she were alive, Barbie would be a woman standing 7 feet tall with a waistline of 18 inches and a bustling of 38-40. In fact, she would need to walk on all fours just to support her peculiar proportions. Yet media advertising, television and Hollywood would reinforce her message, influencing what would become the American ideal of beauty.

Besides the materials and energy used in the production of junk toys, these plastic toys end up in landfills and oceans. Life Magazine reported that there is a swath of plastic garbage twice the size of Texas in the Pacific Ocean. Life reports, "Except for the small amount that has been incinerated — and it’s a very small amount — every bit of plastic made still exists."

The safety of toys made in China has been in question lately with the recent rave of recalls. Governor Schwarzenegger signed into law a ban on toys containing phthalates. The Governator said, "These chemicals threaten the health and safety of our children at critical stages of their development." Phthalates have been linked to cancer and reproductive problems. This follows a ban last year in San Francisco on toys containing BPA and certain levels of phthalates. Despite such legal actions, junk toys still dominate the toy shelves.

How can you tell a junk toy from a good toy? Field naturalist Alicia Daniel offers the following list of questions to ask when selecting toys:

1. Will this toy eventually turn into dirt-i.e., could I compost it? Stones, snowmen, driftwood, and daisies-they will be gone, and we will be gone, and life goes on.
2. Do I know who made this toy? This question leads us to search for the hidden folk artist in each of us.
3. Is this toy beautiful? Have human hands bestowed an awkward grace, a uniqueness lacking in toys cranked out effortlessly by machine?
4. Will this toy capture a child’s imagination?

Every year, I send my family a reminder that we do not want any plastic toys or clothes made from synthetic fibers. I wish I could say that they always followed our wishes, but somehow, the message flies out the window when they see some "adorable" plastic thing they think my children can’t live without. My husband has changed the motto to "No More Toys" this year, but the grandparents have already scoffed at the idea. Perhaps I should try sending my family Alicia Daniel’s list to help them make appropriate gift selections. If we are going to tell our children to reduce, reuse, recycle, shouldn’t our holiday gift giving and receiving reflect this practice?

Scott James and his family founded Fair Trade Sports, a company providing premium quality sports balls stitched by adult workers, paid fair wages, and ensured healthy working conditions. Fair Trade Sports offers guilt-free soccer balls, rugby balls, volleyballs, and hip apparel. Scott and his family are devoted to helping at-risk children around the world. 100% of Fair Trade Sport’s after-tax profits go to children’s charities. Scott previously worked as director of marketing at Pura Vida Coffee, a sustainable, fair trade coffee, tea, and cocoa company. Fair Trade Sports helps Scott fulfill his mission to "Help others."

Green Options: What gave you the idea or motivated you to launch Fair Trade Sports?

Scott James: My passion is fighting extreme poverty and the problems caused by it. Fair Trade Sports is built to generate after-tax profits for children’s charities, from a Fair Trade foundation (e.g. adult workers - not coerced children - paid fair wages and ensured healthy working conditions). It also helps that I believe in the Fair Trade model and I’m a lifelong soccer player.

GO: You’ve gotten a lot of recent attention lately from Outside and Plenty magazines. Describe your "guerilla marketing" techniques and how this fits into a green business model.

SJ: (Laughing) It starts with having no marketing budget! We don’t need to support multi-million dollar marketing campaigns and sports star’s paid endorsements; instead, we ask our customers and champions to spread positive word of mouth about our mission and our quality products. True word-of-mouth is a great fit for any green business - just think of the resources you are saving (e.g. the trees needed and transportation costs for a direct mail postcard).

GO: Why are 70% of the world’s soccer balls made in Pakistan?

SJ: According to a myth, the sporting goods industry started in Sialkot, because an English man broke his tennis racket and, since an immediate replacement was not possible, he asked a local to repair it. The man did a perfect job, and the sports goods manufacturing industry took root in Sialkot.

Recorded history of the industry goes back to 1895 when the city started becoming famous for its tennis racquets. By 1903, cricket bats were being crafted from imported English willow and exported to different parts of South Asia and beyond. In 1922, one Mr. Syed, was awarded the British Empire Export Award for supplying footballs to the British Army. Over the years, the industry grew to include a variety of wood and leather-based sports equipment, and diversified into related industries such as sports apparel and riding equipment and even the Scottish bagpipes.

GO: Have you ever visited your manufacturer Talon in Pakistan?

SJ: Not yet; several of my business partners have multiple times. I started this company while my wife was pregnant (perhaps not the best timing). We just had our daughter a few weeks ago, so I expect to go sometime soon. I’ll take a video and photo crew to capture the story of our workers there.

GO: What is considered a living wage in Pakistan?

SJ: 4X the standard wage paid to adults.

GO: How are you assured that fair trade practices are utilized in the production of your merchandise?

SJ: FLO does unannounced spot checks of facilities and records for compliance. Their documentation is fairly complete.

GO: Fairtrade Labeling Organizations International (FLO) states that child labor has been "virtually eliminated" from this industry; however, you do not agree. Please explain.

SJ: The FLO document that makes that incorrect statement is still a good overall document on the positive programs happening at Talon, including their medical program - a first in the sporting goods industry in Pakistan. However, child labor has definitely not been "virtually eliminated" from the industry…not even close. Anyone can Google "Nike and Saga Sports" to see a long, repeated history of failures in this area.

GO: How can you afford to donate all of your after tax profits to charity?

SJ: Like Newman’s Own (the salad dressing and popcorn brand), we’re committed to giving away our "after-tax profits". Keep in mind that after-tax profits are defined as what’s left over after you pay items like salaries, utilities, and of course, your raw inventory. Each year, we’ll also retain a small portion of our proceeds to fund the following year’s growth (likely ~10%).

What’s left over usually gets distributed to shareholders. Given that my wife and I are the sole shareholders, and we are not interested in making Fair Trade Sports a wealth-generating operation, we decided to funnel the after-tax profits towards children’s charities. We expect to reach profitability in late 2007. Until then, we are donating $1000 annually to these organizations to benefit at-risk children worldwide.

GO: Can you describe some of the charities you donate to?

SJ: Yes, right now we donate to Room to Read (international children’s libraries) and the Boys & Girls Club of America. The idea is to help at-risk kids both here in the states and the communities where we source our sports balls.

GO: I love the alternative sleeve t-shirts! These shirts are produced by independent trade members. How do independent trade unions provide a solution to sweatshops?

SJ: The tee shirts are hip, for sure. The alternative sleeve gets alot of double-takes from people when you walk down the street. Everyone should check out USAS (http://www.studentsagainstsweatshops.org/) as well as the ILRF (http://www.ilfr.org/). Just a little bit of reading will show you a world of alternatives out there to sweatshops, as we’ve used for our tee shirt line and new technical training shirt line.

There as many ways to save energy when washing your clothes, and many of these topics have already been discussed on Green Options. Energy Star washing machines and dryers are more efficient and often use less water. In fact, our front-loading Maytag Neptune uses less power than my propane clothes dryer, and I can run it off two solar panels when our hydro turbine is down. Washing your clothes in cold-water can save 90% of the energy used in the process and make your clothes last longer. Hanging your clothes on a laundry line outside eliminates the need for a dryer during the summer months. But what if you live in a town that has an ordinance against outdoor clothesline, like the suburb I grew up in, and you don't have room in a basement or garage?

If you find yourself needing to use a clothes dryer, cleaning the lint trap before every load will decrease the energy used by 30%, according to the Sierra Club. Not only will removing lint save you energy, it will also reduce the risk of fire associated with gas dryers and extend the life of the appliance (whether gas or electric). Lint gets in your dryer beyond the trap, so using a lint brush with a flexible handle will help you into the vent. In addition, cleaning your lint trap with warm water, a scrub brush, and mild detergent will further increase the efficiency of your clothes dryer, especially if you use dryer sheets that can leave a waxy build up on the screen.

Ever wonder how your dryer works? A fan pulls fresh air into the dryer over a heating element or gas burner. The heated air is channeled into the tumbling drum containing the wet clothes. The warm air absorbs the moisture from the clothes, which passes through the lint trap and is then vented outside. Fresh air replaces it, and the cycle begins again. When your lint trap is dirty, the warm air cannot pass as easily and efficiently through the trap to the outside vent, and thus drying time increases.

If you must use a clothes dryer, for whatever reason, cleaning the lint trap and vent to the outside will increase the efficiency of the appliance. You can save the lint and use it for a variety of purposes, such as crafts, firestarter, and mulch. Don't forget to periodically wash the lint trap as well, to remove the fine particles and build up (if you use dryer sheets). Of course, hanging the laundry outside is the best option. Sure, it may take more time, leave your clothes a little stiffer, etc., but a little sacrifice to reduce our impact on climate change is worth it.

There are many natural window cleaners available at coops and natural food stores; however, these products can be expensive, and in my experience, their performance leaves much to be desired. It is very simple to make your own window cleaning solution with vinegar and water. This homemade window solution is very effective and inexpensive.

To make homemade window cleaner, combine 3 teaspoons of vinegar to one quart of warm water. Pour the solution into a reusable spray bottle, and you have the safest, best window cleaner for your home. To prevent streaking, do not clean your windows while the sun is on them and use crumpled newspaper to wipe them dry. The newspaper can still be recycled after cleaning your windows. It is hard to break the paper towel habit when it comes to cleaning windows, but once you do, you will be pleasantly surprised by the results.

Vinegar is very inexpensive. A gallon of organic vinegar costs about $12.00 (non-organic vinegar costs about $3.00 a gallon) and will last you for many years of window cleaning. You will find many other uses for vinegar beyond cooking , such as killing weeds and rinsing laundry, as you explore this amazing liquid. It is also relatively easy to make your own vinegar from juice, then you would have a truly homemade window cleaner!

Steve ElfrinkSteve Elfrink is the founder of OmTerra, a green marketing cooperative, and corporate dropout. Steve is like many people trying to live greener lives, in that he made changes to his lifestyle and home, yet his career did not align with his green values. For years, Steve struggled with this duality, until he needed to make a change. So, he left the corporate world in search of a better, sustainable life and started his own green company. OmTerra was created to meet the marketing needs of companies embracing a similar philosophy to Steve's of "ensuring the future of the Earth through their conscious and sustainable efforts, services, and products." OmTerra provides web design, webinar implementation, graphic design, powerpoint creation, marketing consultation, and market research services. Steve resides in rural southwestern Wisconsin known for its organic agriculture. This interview was conducted using Skype's chat format.

Green Options: Tell me about OmTerra.

Steve Elfrink: OmTerra is a marketing cooperative that was created to serve the green marketplace.

GO: Why did you start the company?

SE: I felt a strong need to work with companies that were aligned with my values. I also wanted to take my 17 years experience in corporate sales/marketing and apply it to companies that are making effective changes to the planet. I am very interested in working with green start-up companies that cannot afford to have a full time marketing department. Through the marketing cooperative concept, I can grow the company to fit the needs/demands of my clients.

GO: Did your family have any influence on your choice to leave the corporate world?

SE: Definitely! On many levels they influenced this change. When I worked in the corporate world, I needed to "mold" myself to fit into the corporate culture. I was not being true to myself. This was manifesting itself into a very unhappy husband and dad! On another level, the demands of my career were keeping me on the road and away from my family. Add in the stress of a high-level corporate position, and I was becoming the father I did not want to be: unavailable, distracted, stressed, and generally unhappy! My decision to leave the corporate world was heavily influenced by a need to become the father/husband that was available on all levels for his family. Also, I wanted to model for my children working in a career that I felt aligned with and proud of at the same time.

GO: So the values you wanted to model for your children played heavily on the decision?

SE: Yes!

GO: What other ways do you live a green life with your family?

SE: We try to be as green as possible in our lifestyle choices. We shop exclusively at the local food co-op and have joined a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) for produce to supplement our organic garden. We drive a Prius Hybrid, recycle everything possible, use energy efficient fluorescent lights, and we try to reuse anything and everything possible. We buy as much locally as possible, and most importantly, boycott products from China. We will be adding a solar/hydro intertie system to our homestead soon. We also stress the importance of being green, living sustainably, and consciously to our children.

GO: How does your immediate family feel about the green career change?

SE: Very excited and proud! My wife is probably the most supportive of my move. She was also the one who was encouraging me the most to make the transition and to "follow my heart". I know my bond with my three small children is increasing, as I feel and become more available to them as a father.

GO: How did your extended family respond to your green career change?

SE: My father worked for the same company for 42 years. He is all about stability and security. He is also a subscriber to the myth of our current culture. When I first let my parents know that I was "dropping out" of the corporate world, my father would not speak to me for several weeks. I think he thought my family was going to end up homeless! It was difficult on some levels, but it was also to be expected. I have always been the one in the family that danced to a different drum. My current mantra is "be true to yourself". This is something I want to model for my children. Through this transition there was a quote from Don Juan that helped me: “Look at every path closely and deliberately. Try it as many times as you think necessary. Then ask yourself and yourself alone one question. This question is one that a very old man asks…Does this path have a heart? If it does, the path is good. If it doesn’t it is of no use.”

OmTerraGO: Why does the green marketplace need a marketing cooperative?

SE: The concept for a marketing cooperative was to allow the collective pool of freelance web designers, graphic designers, market analysts, etc. to have an opportunity to work with aligned companies. Many freelancers have left the corporate world for many of the reasons I have left - they don't fit in! OmTerra, as a marketing cooperative, allows for a collective pool of resources that serve the green marketplace. Part of my intention in starting OmTerra was to be able to give back to the freelance community and help people survive on their own - so they aren't forced back into the cubicle and into a dead-end job. So in answer to the question on why does the green market place need a marketing cooperative, I would say it is a reciprocal relationship that provides a sustainable model for the green companies and the people that can serve those companies from a marketing perspective. Also, there is a need for quality marketing for start-up green companies - companies that cannot afford a full-time marketing department. For a start-up green company OmTerra can become their virtual marketing firm.

GO: What ways do you make OmTerra a green company?

SE: In an effort to make OmTerra a green company, I bought a Prius Hybrid for my "business car" to meet with clients. All office paper is recycled. In addition, my office for OmTerra is currently in a separate building on our property. I will be converting the office to a combination of solar/hydro. I want OmTerra to be as carbon neutral as possible.

GO: What has been the reception so far from the green community?

SE: So far it has been minimal - I have been currently only marketing the company locally. My goal is to be able to have a global reach that will be very positively received!

GO: Who are some of your clients?

www.omterra.comSE: OmTerra's first client was a certified organic farm. The farm sells their produce through wholesale and retail channels along with a CSA. The organic farm was looking to increase brand awareness and add a level of professionalism that was lacking. OmTerra redesigned their weekly newsletter, did a mini-redesign of their website, designed an HTML email template for their whole/retail clients, and a host of other marketing initiatives. OmTerra is also currently working with two life coaches who coach on wellness/healthy/sustainable lifestyles and a car dealership that is trying to enter the green auto market by adding/sourcing hybrids to it's line-up. As OmTerra ramps up, we are definitely looking to add more clients.

GO: How did you find the strength to take that one giant leap financially and leave the security of your corporate job?

SE: This was definitely the scariest part of the transition. There is the phrase in the corporate world of the "Golden Handcuffs" which is very true! To leave the security of a 17 year career in medical device marketing with a six figure income was a major leap of faith. It boiled down to a simple reality for me - life is not about money. Money is important, but it is not the "answer". The answer is right livelihood, following your heart, living consciously, and being in a position to benefit others and the planet. I truly believe that if you follow your heart/passion, the rest will fall into place.

GO: What advise do you have for others that want to leave the corporate world and go green?

SE: The number one thing is - go for it!!! Life is short. I subscribe to a Buddhist philosophy on impermanence. One major epiphany to leave the corporate world hit me when I was driving to the airport to go on a trip I was dreading. The epiphany was that if I died in that moment, I would be very mad at myself for dying without having "gone for it" and following my passion. It was shortly after that that I "quit" my corporate job and started OmTerra. So best advice - follow your heart now for tomorrow may not be here!

GO: How has your life changed since starting OmTerra?

SE: My life has changed in many ways! One of the most exciting ways it has changed is that now I have more time to devote to creating the life I want to be living. This model of life is based on self-sustainability. I currently live on 4.5 acres in SW Wisconsin. Our family's goal is to live as green as possible and as sustainable as possible. We are now raising chickens, organic gardening, and preparing to have a small herd of milk goats. I now have the time to devote to living the lifestyle I want - along with the focus and energy.

GO: What are your long term plans for OmTerra?

SE: My long term plans for OmTerra are to build it into a viable and sustainable model that supports my family along with a number of other families. My biggest interest is in allowing green-minded people to work with green-minded companies. I believe in giving back to humanity, and I feel by creating OmTerra, I can contribute on two levels - by spreading the word through marketing of green/conscious companies and by allowing people to create an income that does not demand working in an unacceptable environment.

Sustainably Produced Crib by Kalon StudiosThe Green Movement and sustainable living are often accused of being only accessible to those with a higher level of socioeconomic status. In some ways this statement is true, but in other ways it is false. Many families simply cannot afford to buy organic food and clothing, wooden toys, sustainable children's furniture, etc., because they do not earn living wages. However, these families often make sustainable choices, such as purchasing clothing from thrift stores, based upon their economic needs. Other families are used to megastore prices and go into sticker shock when they see what sustainability costs. Still other families can afford to buy expensive, sustainable products as they make choices to live greener lives. The real question is not how expensive sustainable products are, but how our purchasing habits affect the global population and environment.

Houston's Bike Shop: Photo Credit: The Bike ShopIn many ways, sustainable living is about returning to simpler, less expensive model of living used by families of lower socioeconomic status. For example, many families must use public transportation and bicycles to get around, because they cannot afford vehicle and fuel costs. The choices these families make may be driven by economics, but these choices reflect a more sustainable global lifestyle. In addition, programs have sprung up in poor neighborhoods to help residents maintain and repair their sustainable practices. For example, The Bike Shop of Houston conducts youth programs and promotes recycled bicycles as "an affordable means of transportation in the Third Ward…..Our youth and adult programs focus on hands-on self-directed education as a path to self empowerment." Such programs include Open Shop, where residents fix their own bikes with help from volunteer mechanics, and Earn-A-Bike, where participants receive their own bike by salvaging and repairing a bike for the community, then repairing a bike for themselves. The Bike Shop was recently featured on PBS NOW.

On the other end of the spectrum, Kalon Studios is a new company offering "design for a sustainable culture." Yes, their prices may send you into sticker shock. Their explanation: "In today’s world, sustainability is more than just being green. Rather, it has evolved into a belief system, an approach to living, being." Kalon Studios uses renewable, raw materials and food-grade oil finishes on their products. Although the prices are high, the company's children's products are designed to be versatile and multifunctional. For example, the Ioline Crib converts to a toddler bed, and the Ioline Changing Trunk can be used as a toy chest or reading bench. Kalon Studios believes that loss of aesthetics, chaos, and clutter do not have to rule family life, but sustainability and beauty can go hand in hand with parenthood. Their products are locally made in southern California.

Are sustainable products really more expensive? There are many costs not reflected in the prices we pay for products and services. When looking at a price tag, we are not seeing the true impact of our purchases reflected in the price. As Tom Kemper of environmentally responsible office supply company Dolphin Blue explains,

Please also consider the cost of the loss of resources like habitat; native forests being replaced by mono-cultural species of trees; loss of air quality because we use more energy and create more tons of emissions to make virgin-material products; loss of clean water because of unnecessary and excessive bleaching of paper; excessive reliance on oil because every time we don’t recycle and remanufacture a toner cartridge we use another pint of oil; and then, the associated costs to all of us through increased disease caused by pollution, and the transference of cost to each of us through healthcare premiums and medical care. The list goes on. Unfortunately, our balance sheets don’t account for these costs. So, if we now measure all these costs, which are only a portion of the true costs of 'business as usual,' then what are the costs of that cheap paper, or that non-recycled and non-remanufactured toner cartridge? And, with global population increasing by approximately 90 million people each year, accompanied by eco-systems and resources in severe decline, in what state are we leaving the planet for our children and their children?”

Remember the mantra "less is more": If we buy less, we can afford more expensive, sustainably produced products and services for our families and live with a clear conscious. The prices of sustainably produced products and services reflect the true cost of our purchases.