Matt & Natt Is Where It’s At

If you’ve been a Veganisto™ for more than five minutes, you have heard of Matt & Nat wallets, bags and accessories.

Matt & Nat originated in the mind of Inder Bedi (founder) as a university project. His concept revolved around the notion that a brand could be über chic, yet cruelty-free (100% vegan) and eco-friendly.

It is important to note that M&N bags have linings that are made from recycled water bottles (21 of them on average). Other renewable sources are recycled cork detailing in the bags and the packaging is made from recycled materials.

Various vegan leathers are used in production, the scientific terms are PU (polyurethane) and PVC (polyvinylchloride). PU is less harmful to the e nvironment and used wherever possible.

Zero Motorcycles… The ‘Rev’ Evolution!

Tags

CHAdeMO, electric vehicles, lithium-ion cell, Z-Force™, Zero Motorcycles

Zero Motorcycles is set to change the way two-wheelers affect us and the planet.

All the fun, more of the power and none of the noise!

That’s what Zero Motorcycles offers with their varied range of bikes, from the street, to the trail, to the dirt track.

Zero Motorcycles proprietary Z-Force™ electric powertrain and aircraft-grade aluminum frame make their bikes lighter and faster than gas-powered motorcycles. 

A Zero motorcycle will produce less than one-eighth of the CO2 pollution per mile at the power plant than a gas-powered motorcycle. It will also produce 1/100th of the smog causing nitrous oxides.

 

Electric motors constantly produce 100% torque straight off the line, giving you immediate throttle response and serious performance.

Second-generation lithium-ion cells mean little chance of thermal runaway.

The 2013 lineup boasts a 99% average increase in power and the Zero S has an estimated range of 137 miles per charge in the city.

All of the new models offer the option of quick charging (95 percent in an hour or less) with CHAdeMO charge stations.

Total domination in an off-road race with gas-powered bikes. Watch…

So, what’s the cost to run one of these babies? About a penny a mile! More Eco Go- Go for your buck!

Acqua Liana… Divine Eco Digs!

Tags

Acqua Liana, bamboo, green home, LEED-H, reclaimed wood

Welcome to the not-so-humble abode that has the distinction of being the world’s first truly green certified mansion, Acqua Liana.

This is the first ultra-luxury home to obtain triple “green” certification through the U.S. Green Building Council, the Florida Green Building Coalition and Energy Star for Homes.

So, by default, the home is LEED-H (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Homes) certified.

A few of Acqua Liana’s green features include:

• Solar panels, insulative characteristics, environmentally conscious lighting, ultra-high efficient appliances and air-conditioning that cut down on electrical consumption by nearly 60%. On certain days the home will be energy neutral, and will generate enough electricity to run two average size homes.

• A system that collects runoff water from the r
  oof and fills the water garden. The system collects enough reusable water to fill the average size swimming pool every 20 days.

• Ultra-high efficient air-conditioning and purification systems that make the home’s indoor air quality 2x cleaner than a hospital’s operating room.

• Use of enough reclaimed and renewable wood to save over 10.5 acres of rain forest. Renewable woods used regenerate at an average rate of every 5 years vs. every 50 years for many hardwoods (one species of Columbian guada bamboo used regenerates by growing 90 feet in a single year!).

• During construction over 340,000 pounds of debris and trash was recycled. Over 75% of all debris was diverted, and will never reach a landfill.

• An automated “bio-feedback” system that allows the owner to monitor resource consumption in real time. (source: http://frank-mckinney.com/)

Acqua Liana flaunts 7 bedrooms and 11 bathrooms, 24-foot oceanfront sheeting water walls, a double-helix glass staircase and glass water floors. (pictured right and below).

The eco-friendly crib is cradled on 1.6 acres of pristine oceanfront property in Manalapan Beach, Florida.

The master bedroom is 2,180 sq. ft. with his/hers baths, and boasts an astonishing view of the Atlantic Ocean.

Mahogany soaking tub for the lady of the house.

The kitchen sports a 10′ water wall and is partially ensconced by a 2,000 gallon salt water fish tank.

The foyer commands your attention with a 9-foot hand-blown multi-color glass chandelier (672 individual pieces) that “melts” into the reflecting pool below.

This home is yet another example of how one can live in luxurious excess and be environmentally correct!

Life On ‘The Farm’

Tags

living food, Philippines, raw food, raw food restaurant, raw vegan retreat, retreat, The Farm at San Benito

The Farm at San Benito is a holistic healing retreat in the Philippine Islands that features live vegan cuisine and luxurious accommodations in the most alluring,  natural settings imaginable.

Every villa at The Farm offers heated pools with hydro jets and views of the surrounding jungle.

The Healing Sanctuary/Spa has a variety of rejuvenating services in store to enhance your healing experience.

Now, we adjourn to the dining facilities…

As I mentioned before, the food at The Farm is all vegan and raw! Alive! is the restaurant_ and the food is to LIVE for…

You will find some of your favorite dishes on our menu, from pates and crackers to succulent main dishes; from freshly made ice cream to cookies and cakes.Preparing our foods by soaking, blending, dehydration, culturing and the culinary creativity and talent of our chefs, we transform vegetables, nuts, seeds and fruits into absolutely delectable culinary delicacies.

More photos of The Farm…

Cultured Diamonds Are A Planet’s Best Friend

Tags

blood diamonds, conflict-free, cultivated diamonds, lab-grown diamonds

The mined-diamond industry has enjoyed a long history of prosperity and until relatively recently has managed to keep “the man behind the curtain” hidden.

The conflict perpetuating, eco-system compromising industry’s weak foundation has in effect been exposed.

Man-made, cultured or cultivated diamonds are physically and optically identical and are a viable rival to naturally occurring ones. The two are only distinguishable by a gemologist with a spectroscope.

• Cultivated diamonds are grown under controlled laboratory conditions avoiding the disruption of the earth’s layers of stratified rock to extract geologically-grown diamonds.
• Man-made diamonds are by consequence “conflict-free” as the manufacturing process eliminates the possibility of human rights abuses and of profits being used to wage war.

Created-Diamonds.com is being featured here on Ecoposh not only because their diamonds are lab-grown and conflict free, but also for their efforts to be a green company.

Created-Diamonds.com‘s network and website are maintained by HostGator, the first and only “green” server maintenance company that exclusively uses wind-powered energy.

To reduce energy consumption as well as neutralize environmental impact, wind energy is used for both cooling and powering the servers.

The great distances that mined-diamonds have to be shipped (usually from Africa) from the source to the customer has an equally long paper trail.

By comparison, Created-Diamonds.com has a much more streamlined process that drastically reduces not only printing waste but saves millions of acres of trees each year. 

Grown from graphite, a carbon allotrope, all of our cultured diamonds are formed in High Pressure High Temperature conditions similar to those necessary for geological diamond growth.

Because of this unique process, all lab-grown gemstones possess the same chemical, physical and optical properties of earth-mined diamonds and are different only because they are cultivated in a lab and not under the earth’s crust.

Certified by the world’s most respected gemological authorities, our diamonds are not imitations, but genuine diamonds.

More Eco Go-Go!

Tags

Eco Suede™, Eco-Chic™, EVer™ technology, Fisker Karma, plug-in hybrid, recycled post consumer materials, Rescued Wood™, solar roof

Eco-innovator Fisker Automotive prowls on to the 2012 market with maverick style, ecology consciousness and sheer naked luxury.

After all is said, the total vegan man has to get from one point to another in style, right? The Eco-Chic™ model is totally devoid of animal-derived products!

Behold the 2012 Fisker Karma. The chef-d’oeuvre of Henrik Fisker, CEO of Fisker Automotive.

The elegant lines of windswept sand dunes and the muscular grace of a cheetah inspired the design of the Fisker Karma. The design team’s inspiration were also led by the understanding of the principles of order, and the harmony of opposing structures, textures and elements.

The command center was designed with a touchscreen interface for seamless governance of the premium audio, navigation, iPod™, Bluetooth™ and climate control systems.

The interior features Rescued Wood™ salvaged from trees damaged in the 2007 Southern California wildfires.The Karma’s seating foam is sourced from soy-based bio fiber, while the carpet backing is made from recycled post consumer materials.

For the compassionate as well as eco-conscious driver, Fisker offers the animal-free Eco-Chic™ package option. It features 100% post-industry virgin textile Premium Eco Suede™.

The Karma utilizes a solar-panel roof to extend its range for up to 200 additional miles.

Fisker’s patented EVer™ technology powers dual electric wheel motors with an electric generator and battery pack to extend the range of electric driving an additional 50 miles. Then, the wheel motors are powered by the internal gasoline combustion engine for an additional 250. (The gasoline engine is never used to power the plug-in hybrid. Only the wheel motors).

The EVer™ unit uses a lithium-ion battery system in conjunction with the 2.0 liter 260 HP 4-cylinder direct injection motor that can propel the Karma from 0 to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds at a top speed of 125 mph.

Gunas: At The Vanguard Of Eco-Style

Tags

Eco-Luxury Handbags and Accessories, Gunas, Sugandh Agrawal

The young upstart venture, Gunas Handbags is the brainchild of designer Sugandh Agrawal, whose aim is to epitomize the shared EcoChiq mantra of “treading lightly in luxurious excess” by crafting high-quality handbags that are animal and eco-friendly.

“We take great pride in epitomizing Eco-Veganism and promoting Ethical Consumerism through Fashion”.

Sugandh started Gunas in 2009, but the foundation of the concept was laid during her Masters program in Design Management at Pratt Institute in New York.

Her passion for design and compassion for the environment and animals drives the unique aesthetic of the Gunas brand. There are no animal-derived by-products in the entire line of stellar handbags.

Gunas merchandise is produced in limited quantities to promote conscious-consumption and ensure exclusivity.

Careful attention to detail in design and extensive research into the materials used sets the brand apart from the competition.

The animus for Sugandh’s distinctive design sensibility no doubt stems from her background as an Industrial Designer. And one of her latest collections Quantum was inspired by “sci-fi movies and the concept architecture one sees in such films”.

At GUNAS we not only use Lead/Nickel free hardware but also fabrics that are safer and better quality.

Sugandh Agrawal embodies the precept that all the beautiful, abundant rich bounty any of us could ask for is ours to enjoy without harming animals, the ecology and ostensibly ourselves. And fittingly, she receives the first Econista Of The Month Award for 2012.

(source: Delimited Addiction interview with Sugandh Agrawal)

Eco-Travel Vegan Style

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Christina Pirello, Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Dr. T Colin Campbell, Jessica Porter, The MSC Poesia, Vegan travel

Holistic Holiday at Sea combines luxury travel and the very green concept of veganism.

One of the major points I try to bring home in this blog is that one may recycle every bit of recyclable material he/she has, drive a Prius (or better yet, take public transportation) and take two-minute showers in semi-cold water. Ouch! But no matter what you do in the name of going green, nothing can remotely compare to going vegan.

 

The organizers of Holistic Holiday at Sea on the MSC Poesia cruise ship echo my philosophy that one may indulge, not feel in any way deprived and still come away from the experience knowing that they have done the best for themselves, the planet and animals.

It is sometimes difficult for a traveling vegan because more often than not kitchens and quality health food stores with plenty of vegan options can be scarce.

But this is not always the case. As veganism grows in popularity, more viable veggie options are becoming available.

To meet the needs of the vegan travel community, Holistic Holiday at Sea has developed an educational vegan cruise program. Aboard our vegan cruise, guests will experience three vegan meals each day and have the opportunity to attend over 120 classes, workshops and lectures covering a variety of vegan and holistic health topics and activities.

The cruise itinerary features lifestyle enhancing classes and lectures by holistic notables like Dr. Neal Barnard of PCRM, Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr. and Dr. T Colin Campbell.

Vegan cooking class teachers include Christina Pirello, host of the Emmy award-winning Christina Cooks, author and comedian Jessica Porter.The MSC Poesia was inaugurated in 2008. As you would expect with such a new cruise liner, it is built to the highest and most demanding ecological and safety standards, resulting in a truly modern liner. In fact, MSC ships are the greenest in the industry, having received numerous awards from both private and government organizations.

The MSC Poesia flaunts luxurious accomodations. Many of the staterooms have private balconies. There is an atrium that features a 50 foot waterfall and specially prepared vegan meals are served in the ships fine restaurants, the Le Fontane and Il Palladio.

Enjoy swimming or lounging in the sun in a unique “sun visor” chair at the outdoor pool.

For your complete rejuvenation, the MSC Poesia’s 13,000 square foot Aurea Spa fits the bill nicely with an aromatherapy room.

After a day of increasing your healthy lifestyle IQ, getting spoiled at the spa and sunning at the pool, why not take in a show at the ship’s  Carlo Felice theatre.

The acoustically and visually stunning theatre is the venue for an array of spectacular nightly shows that feature opera singer Mimma Barra, aerialists and dancers in a Vegas style review.

BON VOYAGE!

Ecocentric Style

Tags

Emilio Estevez, Greener Pup, Jessica Alba, Kari Whitman, Kristen Bell, KW Interiors, Virginia Madsen, Wall Makeup

 Introducing the Queen of Ecocentric Style and designer to the stars, Kari Whitman. Wikipedia defines ecocentrism as “a term used in ecological political philosophy to denote a nature-centered, as opposed to human centered system of values”. Not only has Kari managed to center her creative prowess in the ecological, as well as the human-centered realms, she has added a third dynamic: Cruelty free.

Kari is the wind beneath the wings of her design company, KW Interiors and does not use any animal byproducts in her clients’ spaces.

I’m a lifelong vegetarian and feel it would be hypocritical to eat or wear something that was once a living thing, separate from myself. This is also evident in my design work; I refuse to use leather in clients’ homes, instead, finding them amazing options in faux fabrics.  Boulder gave me a strong sense of ethics and the ability to stay true to my quest in any circumstances.

Kari understands the delicate yet simple balance between personal style, responsibility to tread lightly and compassion for animals.

Kari’s moniker, “designer to the stars” is not misplaced. Her celebrity client list includes Kristen Bell, Jessica Alba, Don Henley, Virginia Madsen, Emilio Estevez, Don Johnson and Kurtwood Smith to name a few.

As a result of her indomitable drive to perfect a project or take on a social issue, when Kari finds a void, she fills it. Piles of empty tester paint cans that deepen the environmental footprint inspired her to invent Wall Makeup, a do-it-yourself paint mixing kit that lets you create thousands of colors from a few small bottles of tints.

While creating a personal space for Jessica Alba’s pooch, Kari noticed a lack of stylish and eco-friendly pet beds, so she created Greener Pup with up-cycled designer covers and soft, hypoallergenic fillers made from 100% recycled plastic bottles.

100% of profits from Greener Pup go to her pet (pardon the pun) project Ace Of Hearts dog rescue. In true ‘angel of mercy’ form, Ace Of Hearts rescues dogs on the day they are to be euthanized.

Kari Whitman embodies the concept of the true Econista, which is why I’m crowning her my 1st Econista Of The Month of December. Each month I will select an environmentally conscious iconoclast. If that person happens to be a man, he will so be named Econisto Of The Month.

The Green Jet Yacht Docks At The Port Of Eco-Luxury

Tags

Aero-sail system, Designer Erik Sifrer, Eco Luxury, Green Jet Yacht, hydrogen power, Mides Design, twin 950 Kilowatt engines, wind powered yacht

Designer Erik Sifrer  of Mides Design has sailed this 187 foot Uber-Yacht into the ‘green’ seas of eco-consciousness.

This sail yacht runs on both wind and hydrogen power. To fully harness wind power, the Green Jet has two automated Aero-sail systems that can be controlled by a touch screen. This system along with an on board computer determine the best position of the sail for maximum propulsion and, thus enables the Green Jet to minimize the use of its twin 950 Kilowatt engines.

Along with its many luxurious appointments, the Green Jet has a jacuzzi/pool and an amazing lighting display on the sails that sets the night ablaze.