Every once in awhile I find a product(s) that just plain impresses me. I feel compelled to tell the masses about my finds. On this page you will find products I give a thumbs-up to. Most, if not all, I have used myself and suggest to you. Feel free to make suggestions of your own — for the sake of the community.
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NAU sustainably made clothing
“Style, function, and consciousness that extends to all realms of your livelihood.”
The descriptor that immediately comes to mind for this organic cotton material is “butter-soft” — it consistently receives compliments every time I wear one of these garments. It comfortably hugs
the body’s natural form in an uncompromising way. The best part about the material and fitting is that it tends to feel custom fit as it becomes broken in after several uses. Only complaint for the women’s style is the annoying tag placement on the left hip – which is an easy fix with a pair of scissors. The Eco Yuppie naturally takes kindly to NAU’s approach to clothing, because items are sustainably made, and are clearly intended to outlast the average garment with tough construction and neutral coloring and styling. Really, I’ve tested these garments in many scenarios that others just wouldn’t be able to hack it in, but the women’s scoop shirt and the men’s short sleeve kept performing — in the office, jogging in the park, dinner in the city, outdoor adventure activity, and even as this material quick-dried after a rainy day on the coast of Oregon. I can easily picture myself still rocking these shirts in another half decade, without a doubt. Even more, I can see myself still being a loyal supporter of NAU years into the future.
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Preserve food storage solution
“”Food storage” sounds boring, I know. Allow me to give this term a little life — a little eco-style, if you will.”
Preserve is a company that uses recycled #5 polypropylene plastic – which is typically difficult to recycle — to make various high quality household items in an eco-friendly way. Preserve uses less raw resources to create these
products, and they give new life to plastics that most municipalities will pick out of a recycling bin and throw into a landfill. Not only that, but when you have worn out your Preserve plastic items, you can send them back in to be recycled, again. Find a Preserve #5 recycling receptacle near you or use the mail-in option to make good use of things like yogurt cups, Brita filters, and other one time use food containers and plastic items.
These containers nestle into my messenger bag quite easily for any trip out on the town, and I can count on a mess-free transit with the screw on lids. The leftovers are fridge-ready as soon as I get home, and are lunch-ready for work the next day. So much more convenient and reliable compared to cheap, spill-able, disposable plastic and styrofoam.
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TOMS shoes
“Sustainability & social responsibility is the new black.”
Extremely decent price, unique styling. Best part is that for each pair you purchase, another pair is sent to a shoe-less, fellow human in a third 
world country. They offer breathability, the right amount of arch support, and the colors and materials are fun and interesting. Vegan options available. Check out the TOMS site for more details.
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Osprey Elroy messenger bag
“And its made of recycled material, too?!”
First all, this bag is huge. A good huge, though. It’s versatile and comes in great, conservation-inspired colors (I have ‘Redwood,’ shown). The Elroy is the largest of the line of messengers from Osprey, but I like the ability to stuff my lunch, my 17″ MacBook, and an extra shirt to make it through a day at the office and out on the town after work. I also use this bag in outdoor settings to carry first-aid kit, snacks, water, and a rain coat. So, it’s good for all aspects of any busy urban/suburban/wilderness lifestyle. Can double as a diaper bag. Eco-friendly, with a seal of “72% Recycled Content,” denoting the materials that comprise this baby.
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Patagonia Re-Tool Snap-T pullover
“Great sidekick sweater for if-y weather. And its recyclable when you need a new sidekick.” 
Compressible. Soft. Does not “shed,” like some lower quality fleeces. And Patagonia participates in a recycling program known as Common Threads, which makes this even more attractive for eco-conscious consumers. Wear it out, and then give it back, instead of throwing it into a landfill. My thought, though, is that you will not wear this out anytime soon — its that great, in my opinion. I have this piece in black, and it stays near me often so I can put it on when temperatures drop in any environment — in my sometimes frigid office, weekend getaways, the movie theatre, pub hoping, a restaurant, etc.
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Physicians Formula Organic Wear makeup
“Does the job. Does it well. And i don’t feel guilty using it.” 
The company boasts the following: ”100% Free of Harsh Chemicals. 100% Free of Synthetic Preservatives. 100% Free of Parabens. 100% Free of GMO’s. 100% Free of Synthetic Colors. 100% Free of Synthetic Fragrances. 100% Cruelty Free.”
It’s a little more expensive than other makeup, but I feel like I’m buying peace of mind, in a way. I use the tinted moisturizer as a foundation, and my skin is not irritated at all. This is a great product for those who do not like to wear a lot of makeup. Bonus: most of the packaging is recyclable, unlike practically every other makeup brand.
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Stanley recycled mug
“Stanley’s on to something here.”
Stanley, the manufacturer of personal beverage containers, that is. A tumbler that can rough it, tough it, insulate it, and be recycled when its seen its final day. 
My favorite part is the screw down lid that won’t spill when in transit, but will loosen to let you sip. This is the perfect solution to reusable beverage mugs — nix the one-use disposable mugs that don’t insulate, and can be accidents waiting to happen. This item allows you to tap into the power of all three R’s — reuse, recycle, and reduce. And $12 is a steal.
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Annie’s Homegrown natural and organic groceries
This brand has a great selection of pantry staples, and the company stands for solid core values. I want to support this
company simply for its commitment to quality and to environmental activism. Plus, these products kept me well fed during college. It’s more than just food, though.
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Seventh Generation household products
“Make a difference, in your choice of toilet paper.”
Seventh Generation makes various products from toilet paper, to laundry detergent, to household cleaners. The company is making leaps and bounds in the market for cleaner, more eco-friendly everyday products. If we choose to
support companies like this by buying products that are, quite frankly, must-haves (pretty much need toilet paper, for example) that’s just one more small step towards changing the status of our planet. Come’on, you can get used to a new texture against your rear-end for the sake of saving some trees and energy-output!
Plus, check out this interesting fact posted on their Web site, about petroleum.
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Kleen Kanteen water bottles
“You’re still buying bottled water? That’s so 2002.”
Seriously, buying bottled water is such a horrible idea in consideration of the planet. Buy a tap filter, and do something so
obvious you might have missed the genius of it — RE-fill a reusable bottle. There are lots of water bottle companies out there, but when it comes to eco-friendly bottles, this brand is perhaps one of the squeakiest clean ones. Not only do they participate in the “1% For the Planet,” but they also follow fair labor standards for out-sourced factory workers. These jugs are surprisingly lightweight, are obviously BPA free, and they resist stains and odors.
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Garmin nuvi GPS device
“Track your carbon footprint when you travel.”
I tend to be an eco-geek, sometimes. 
I wanted/needed to get a GPS unit, so I researched reviews and compared prices for several weeks. I decided on what appears to be one of the nation’s top-selling GPS devices according to several Web sites and review databases — theGarmin nuvi 255w.
The Garmin nuvi series gets multiple praises from The Eco Yuppie for the “ecoRoute” feature. This feature allows users to create a vehicle profile, including estimated MPG & current gas prices, then calibrates your carbon footprint alongwith your fuel cost per mile, total time en route, and other useful information. Over time, it will calculate your average MPG on its own. Another interesting feature is the “Driving Challenge,” which allows you to challenge yourself to beat your best MPG and carbon footprint reading. Having this information at your fingertips is more than amazing, its encouraging.
What great finds! Thanks for sharing your passion for environmentalism with the world while also giving product advice to help those interested in making personal changes.
Molly H.