Sustainably Yours
Resources for eco-friendly living.
Shop: Greenward
Earth-friendly meets fashion forward at Greenward, the new Porter Square boutique that’s conscious of the environment and aesthetics. “We started Greenward to showcase attractive products we knew were on the market but weren’t available in one place,” says co-owner and former urban planner Scott Walker. “We wanted to show people they don’t have to abandon their sense of style when pursuing eco-friendliness.” Here, Walker sounds off on his five favorite in-store items.
1. Dinnerware cork coasters and trivets Cork is an inherently renewable, durable, and beautiful material. Set of 4 coasters, $30; trivet, $20.
2. Swigg ’Shroom Squares Plush pillows in three great colors are designed by Stephanie Wenzel of Swigg and produced using organic cotton, natural inserts, and polyester manufactured in a no-waste, closed-loop system. $80 each.
3. Twist sponges Twist makes a line of biodegradable cleaning sponges in attractive, low-impact packaging. The Twist Euro Sponge Cloth apparently replaces 17 rolls of paper towels. Pack of three cloths, $4.
4. Plates with Purpose These beautiful, 100 percent recycled-glass plates are made by Riverside Design Group; each one’s design reflects the mission of a nonprofit organization that receives a portion of the profits. $30 each.
5. Envirosax Forgo plastic and paper shopping bags every time you shop to reduce waste. Envirosax bags fold up neatly so you can stash them in a purse. $7 each; pack of five, $33. Greenward, 1776 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 617-395-1338, greenwardshop.com.
Read: Green Guides
We mined the new four-part Chelsea Green Guide series for helpful, easy green-living tips.
Energy Open your curtains during the day to let sunlight heat your home, and save big on your energy bill. Water Ninety-five percent of tap water goes down the drain. Chill H2O in the fridge instead of running the faucet cold. Reduce, reuse, recycle Choose reusable glass packaging. Thick jam jars make fun water glasses for kids; if you can’t reuse, then recycle. Composting More than half your garbage can be composted. Make your bin easily accessible from the kitchen. Chelsea Green Guide, $8 each, Brookline Booksmith, 297 Harvard St., Brookline, 617-566-6660, brooklinebooksmith.com.
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Use: Recycled Wood
Even eco-friendly materials like bamboo and cork require energy-intensive processing. Salvaged wood, however, often has more character than its newer counterparts and can be used for flooring, cabinetry, millwork, and furniture. Buy old wood from soon-to-be-demolished factories, homes, barns, and boats, or through one of the dealers listed below.
Longleaf Lumber 115 Fawcett St., Cambridge, 617-871-6611, longleaflumber.com. Chestnut Woodworking & Antique Flooring Co. West Cornwall, CT, 860-672-4300, chestnutwoodworking.com. Old Wood Workshop 193 Hampton Rd., Pomfret Center, CT, 860-655-5259, oldwoodworkshop.com.