BlueSuitMom's Working Mom Must Haves: Green Products By Rachael Bender, Co-founder of BlueSuitMom.com & Beth Bogerman, Contributing Writer WaterWeek Grab and Go 5 Day Water Bottle Set There are always times when convenience trumps our best ideals, whether it’s stopping for fast food, driving instead of using mass transit, or buying bottled water. A key to green living is to find products that allow for the same level of convenience while encompassing sustainability and reusability. Reduce’s WaterWeek aluminum bottle set seeks to assist all of us in breaking the water buying habit. The five all-aluminum, 16-oz bottles are meant to be filled with filtered water and placed in the fridge for easy access for the week or for the day. Each bottle is uniquely designed should each person be assigned one bottle. A handy tray keeps them in a row and at hand. The bottles are free of BPA plastic and can be frozen for chilled drinking. Green living requires new thinking about our impacts on the environment. With the Clean Air Council claiming 2.5 million bottles being disposed of each hour in the United States, the Reduce WaterWeek Grab and Go 5 Day Water Bottle Set will help end this practice and remedy our disposable culture. Website: reduceeveryday.com Zero Water Pitcher With the recent negative press on BPA plastics and studies showing high bacterial content in reused water bottles, the market for water filtration pitchers is reaching fever pitch. Zero Water underwent a heavy marketing push in 2008 as it sought to capitalize on this trend toward do-it-yourself bottled water. The Zero Water Pitcher utilizes a 5-stage filtration process (Zero Water describes it as Ion Exchange Technology), which has allowed them to claim being on par with purified bottled water per FDA standards. The pitcher itself is standard fair, with the substantial filter mounted in the lid. A convenient pour spout (á la a water cooler) is located at the bottom of the handle. A water Total Dissolved Solids testing device also can be stored in the lid. This device allows quick water comparisons and monitors the filter’s performance. The water itself had no detectable chlorine taste that accompanies our city water, nor any other suspect flavors. While not a cheap investment, the real savings come with frequent use over time as compared with bottled water. What is even more heartening is Zero Water’s promise to recycle those used filters that are returned to them (consumer pays shipping), along with the promise of a $5 off coupon for a new filter to offset the shipping cost. Website: www.zerowater.com Laminated Raspberry Lime Market Tote w/pockets This tote has been so versatile for everything from going to the farmer’s market to having coffee with my clients. It has super comfortable, reinforced, black knotted handles that are held in place with simple but very elegant grommets. The material of this tote is made from overstocked Chinese silk textiles that have been laminated with Naturally Knotty’s exclusive low-heat process on both the inside and the outside of the bag so, if anything spills you just take a damp cloth and wipe it right off. The bottom of this bag has four stainless steel metal feet that will hold all of your possessions right side up no matter how full or empty your bag is. For the price of $89.99 this bag is well worth the cost because of the great construction and timeless style that will last for years to come. Website: www.naturallyknotty.com Goody Green bags It seems like I always have a chore list to take care of, or something to pick up at the store. Lately I’ve really been cognizant of using reusable bags at the grocery store or farmer’s market. Created by two Chicago moms, Goody Green Bags are an affordable, yet still really stylish, alternative to dependence on store-supplied plastic bags. They’re so nice that I’ve also given them as part of a gift by using them as the gift bag. I like how they are designed to be folded and secured with Velcro, and the external pocket is handy for your grocery list, card, or coupons. Website: www.goodygreenbag.com SKOY cloth As the old saying goes, “A great cook has a messy kitchen,” and that kitchen will eventually need to be cleaned up. To help me do so, I turn to my trusted SKOY cloths. Unlike those televised chamois cloths, SKOY cloths are truly biodegradable, made with a non-chlorinated process, and colored with water-based inks. Their 7”X8” dry size will shrink to a 7”x7” square when wet, making them easy to handle and rinse. SKOY claims that use of one cloth is the equivalent to using 15 rolls of paper towels. I tend to use mine for a couple weeks at a time in the kitchen and then switch to the bathroom for a couple of weeks where the grout will start to wear the SKOY out. They dry quickly and can be microwaved to prevent any moldy smells. Do not let the simplicity of SKOY cloths make you skeptical: they are tough, environmentally sensitive, and economical. Website: www.skoycloth.com We've found many other great products and services that are either Must Haves or Great Finds. You can read our recommendations and those of BlueSuitMom readers in the following categories: Kitchen Technology Personal Care Health Cell Phones Online and Mom-Based Calendar Systems For Babies and Toddlers For Preschoolers and Young Children For Older Kids (5 and up) For Little Girls Gifts for the Family Products for Breastfeeding Moms Gifts for Clients or Co-Workers Multipurpose Gifts - Coming Soon Books - Coming Soon Over the next year, we'll continue to add to the list, so if you know of something we missed, please send us an email.