The Story Of Cosmetics

The Story of Cosmetics, examines the pervasive use of toxic chemicals in our everyday personal care products, from lipstick to baby shampoo.

Produced with Free Range Studios and hosted by Annie Leonard, the seven-minute film by The Story of Stuff Project reveals the implications for consumer and worker health and the environment, and outlines ways we can move the industry away from hazardous chemicals and towards safer alternatives. The film concludes with a call for viewers to support legislation aimed at ensuring the safety of cosmetics and personal care products.

Best. License Plate. Ever.

Mystery man in the Tesla Roadster, please marry me.

Via Ecorazzi

I Quit This BITCH!

This false killer whale, a species of dolphin, leapt out of its tank during a marine show at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in southwestern Japan

Ric O’Barry, 70, who now makes a career out of freeing dolphins, said the video highlights the cruelty the animals suffer while in captivity.  Mr O’Barry said: ‘The habitat of that false killer whale is so unnatural it leapt out in desperation.

The footage shows the stricken dolphin, called Kuru, lying on the floor as staff desperately wrap it in a mat and use a crane to lift it back into the water.

The other dolphins in the tank appear to be distressed and gathered around the side where the Kuri leapt out.

Hideshi Teruya, who manages the dolphin section at the park said: ‘It was playing around and jumped out by accident from the momentum.’  Mr Teruya denied the captivity was cruel and said the tank was not overcrowded and followed aquarium guidelines.

BULLSHIT!

But Mr O’Barry said the guidelines were inadequate and that dolphins were used to roaming for many miles a day, not swimming in a circle and doing flips at shows.

Two words: The Cove

Complimentary Coco Eco Magazine Subscription

Deborah Lindquist Sonic Fabric Bustier

We’ve covered ties and a fedora made from recycled cassette tapes and now Deborah Lindquist has followed suit with a bustier for the ladies.

Sonic fabric is woven from 50% recorded audio cassette tape and 50% colored thread.  The fabric is actually audible if you run a tape head over it! (Visit the youtube channel for a demo here: alyceobvious.)

Recycle-A-Flask. Can I Get An AMEN!?!

When I first laid my hands on the solar powered G-spot vibrator, I was blinded by a thousand white glimmering lights that shined upon me from the skies above..and when I first tasted organic vodka bought from my local BevMo!, I felt blessed knowing I was sipping on bottled up tears from the angels up in heaven..but now I KNOW for a fact that baby jesus is answering my prayers one by one from that time my mom forced me to go to church 2 Easters ago because of this new find– Recycle-A-Flask!

Recycle-A-Flask is 100% recyclable, reusable, BPA-free and sexy as hell!  It carries 5 oz of gods nectar, comes with a funnel and has a clear window on the side so you don’t overfill and waste one drop of the precious juice.  That would be cardinal sin.  See, I learned something from all those years spent in catholic school.

These would make perfect gifts for groomsmen, lushy bachelorette participants or at company holiday parties.  You can even get custom logos or images put on them through Fun Flasks.  They’re also very affordable (under $5) and can be found at Hot Topic, Aahs!! and various liquor stores around town.

Now I’m a believer that miracles do happen!  I have a collection of flasks and I’ve always wanted a plastic one.  Yeah, yeah, I know, not very GG&S of me but the metal ones weigh heavily in my small hand clutch during a night of debauchery.  Plus, plastic goes undetected through those pesky metal detectors.  But the fact that these are recyclable and BPA-free clears my guilty conscious and the liquid gold that goes inside of them helps to clear the catholic guilt I was raised with most of my life.  Ok, it only clears it for one night but thats why I keep on drinking.  Chu’uch!

Welcome to the family Recyle-A-Flask!

Coco Eco Launches New Website!

It’s taken over a year of blood, sweat and tears but my dear friend and founder of Coco Eco Magazine, Anna Griffin, has finally launched her new website.  Front to back pages (but not actual paper pages) full of good. green. glam!   Fashion, styling by moi, shopping, behind the scenes videos and much more!

Congratulations Anna and to everyone that contributes their talent to each issue!

Tatjana Patitz: For The Love Of Horses, Coco Eco Magazine Issue 11

Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever thought that I would one day style a model I used to love as a teen.  Ever!  But I did and to boot, we wrapped up the shoot afterwards, drinking wine and talking about rescue animals, chicken coops and the plight of mustangs in the wild.  Swoon!

The concept of the story was simple.  Tatjana’s passion for saving wild horses.  No emphasis on high fashion.  Just beautiful, simple, equestrian style clothing, Tatjana and the horses.  The shoot took place at the Return to Freedom ranch located in Ojai, in which Tatjana is a spokesperson for.

RTF is dedicated to preserving the freedom, diversity and habitat of America’s wild horses through sanctuary, education and conservation, while enriching the human spirit through direct experience with the natural world.

Russell Brand To Host Swap Meet At Beverly Center 5/27

Attention all actors and hoarders in LA:  Comedian and actor Russell Brand is scheduled to host ‘Buy Love Here,’ a swap meet type event on Thursday.

“Buy Love Here‘ is a pop up and exchange shop, where for one day money will have no currency. The shop is the brain child of British comic Russell Brand and will take place between 2pm and 6pm on Thursday the 27th of May 2010, at The Beverly Center in Los Angeles.

The idea is to raise debate about the scale of consumer culture and to promote the re-use of products in a surplus society. It is a social experiment to examine shopping habits whilst providing an opportunity for Russell to speak directly with the public and gauge opinion. The day will be filmed as part of an ongoing documentary Russell is currently filming about the pursuit of happiness.”

Katy Perry, Adrian Grenier and Perez Hilton are scheduled to be part of the event. Art by Shepherd Fairey will be on display.

Via Perez, ABCLocal

Follow BPGlobalPR On Twitter

#bpcares  Follow them here.

And for more shits and giggles, here’s a live stream of the oil spewing into the ocean.  Who needs puppy cams when we have this to warm our hearts?  Happy Tuesday!  xo

Mess With The Bull, Get The Horns…In The FROAT!

WARNING:  GRAPHIC IMAGES for you to enjoy…

This sucks…FOR THE BULL!  Unfortunately, the world famous matador dude survived and the bull was later slaughtered. Read about it on the Huffington Post.

Photos via Getty

Thanks Dante!

Happy FTW One Month Anniversary Of The Gulf Oil Spill

Boo to the ocean killers!   Here’s a celebratory virtual scrapbook in their honor.

DICK QUOTE OF THE YEAR: “We will fix it. I guarantee it. The only question is we do not know when. The Gulf of Mexico is a very big ocean. The amount of volume of oil and dispersant we are putting into it is tiny in relation to the total water volume.”  ~BP CEO Tony Hayward

Thanks for the vid Justin H.

More pictures via Huffington Post.

Cardboard: Music To Your Ears

Two types of cardboard can be recycled: flat cardboard, which is typically used in cereal and shoe boxes, and corrugated cardboard, which has a ruffled layer between the two flat pieces of cardboard and is often used in packing boxes. Check out these audio gadgets that come packaged flat and require assembly, for the geek in you.

Serato lovers, can you handle this?  Human powered record player by GGRP Sound.

Cardboard boombox for your iPod by Suck UK.  Comes with speakers and 4 AA batteries, which I’m sure you’ll want to replace with rechargable batteries.

The cross radio by Ewa Bochen.

To see more cool gadgets made from cardboard, visit Eco Friend.

Elaine Kim Studio

Fashion designer Elaine Kim has taken an eight year hiatus from the design world after creating for her previous line Product. After much reflection and unstoppable creativity she is back with her own line of eco-fashion that blends modern design with environmental awareness.

Elaine’s new designs use the new cupro cotton material. Cupro cotton is a soft fabric that is made from regenerated cellulose fibers from discarded cotton husks and wood pulp. The husks and pulp that provide the cellulose fibers come from the linter of the cotton boll which is a renewable source material and is regenerated on a yearly basis. By using the cupro cotton, Elaine is choosing to forgo both petroleum and forest depletion making the source of the fabrics she uses as environmentally sustainable as the fashions she creates from them.

Via Bright Hub

The Gorilla Version Of ‘Christian The Lion’

Have your tissues handy and get ready for a river of awwww’s to come spewing out of your mouth!

In the African jungle, conservationist Damian Aspinall searches for Kwibi, a lowland gorilla he hasn’t seen for 5 years. Kwibi grew up with Damian at his Howletts Wild Animal Park in England. When he was five, he was released into the forests of Gabon, West Africa as part of conservation programme to re-introduce gorillas back into the wild. Now Kwibi’s 10 years old, much bigger and stronger. Will Damian find him? Will Kwibi attack him?

Watch the whole story of the amazing UK gorillas who are making a comeback in Africa in Gorilla School on Animal Planet narrated by Kevin Spacey from 4th May 2010 at 8pm.  Adopt a gorilla school baby at the Aspinall Foundation.

Via Huffington Post

Tatjana Returns To Freedom

Styling Tatjana yesterday was AMAZING!  She was down to earth and stunning in person.  We shot at the Return to Freedom sanctuary which Tatjana is a spokesperson for.

Return to Freedom is a non-profit wild horse sanctuary founded in 1997 by Neda DeMayo, and is the realization of her life-long dream: to protect the freedom and natural lifestyle of America’s free ranging wild horses.

Return to Freedom provides a safe haven to nearly 200 wild horses and burros recognizing that wild horses live in tightly bonded herd groups. They became the first sanctuary with a focus on rescuing entire family bands. Designed to be a model program, they implement alternative and minimally intrusive management philosophies.

Thanks to the Coco Eco team, Tatjana, John and everyone at RTF for all their hard work!

I cannot wait to see the final images.  Stay tuned!

Speaking of Freedom- remember this video and the familiar faces?

Tatjana Patitz

Up and at ‘em and heading off to a horse sanctuary in Ojai to shoot our next cover model- Tatjana Patitz- one of the O.G. supermodels from 90′s!!!

Stay tuned for our Love of Horses issue coming soon!

Who can name all these beauties that defined the word SUPERMODEL back then?

“Gristle” By Moby: From Factory Farms to Food Safety

More than ever, meat is making the headlines and growing numbers of people are becoming more informed and passionate about what they eat. The facts are compelling: contamination cases are on the rise, obesity has become pandemic in the United States, and the animal agriculture sector is responsible for more human-induced greenhouse gas emissions than the entire transportation sector.

Gristle is for the growing number of people–from omnivores to vegans–who are thinking twice about the consequences of our industrial factory-farming system of raising animals for food. Multi-platinum musician Moby and leading food policy activist and expert Miyun Park have brought together fifteen of the country’s leading voices on this issue–an eclectic group from such diverse backgrounds as farming, workers’ rights activism, professional athletics, science, environmental sustainability, food business, and animal welfare advocacy–who together eloquently lay out how and why industrial animal agriculture unnecessarily harms workers, communities, the environment, our health, our wallets, and animals.

In the tradition of Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Gristle combines hard-hitting facts with a light touch and includes fascinating charts and illustrations depicting the stark realities of America’s industrial food system.

Donate Hair/Fur/Wool/Hose To Help Oil Spill

Matter Of Trust is providing a safe, non-toxic, effective way to participate in the Gulf Spill clean up. Donors from every state in the US, from Canada and beyond are sending in hair, fur and wool clippings as well as nylons and funding for outer mesh. This is used to make Booms that can protect beaches and coastal waters.

For over a decade, Ottimat has partnered Matter of Trust to orchestrate an International Natural Fiber Recycling system and stimulate green jobs and the textile industry. To participate please sign up here. More

Adrian Grenier Launches Pop-Up Shop in DTLA Art Walk

Adrian Grenier and producer, Peter Glatzer (“Alter Eco”), are opening a “green” pop-up art gallery and store for two weeks beginning this Thursday, May 13th during this weeks Art Walk.

The gallery will include more than 50 pieces by Los Angeles-based artists including Tierney Gearon, Jay Mark Johnson, Lauren Bon, Rebeca Mendez, Ramon Coronado and Jay Mark Johnson.  The store will offer eco-friendly products from SHFT.

Get Your Volunteer On

Find volunteering opportunities with nonprofit organizations by location and interest area by checking out some of these sites.

• Volunteer Match
• Serve.Gov
• Volunteers of America
• Volunteer Abroad

GOOD

Rojas Parking Lot Sale 5.8.10

Pizza, cocktails and shopping?  Yes please!   Come meet us next Saturday and get yourself some fabulous pieces from ROJAS, Boos & Besito, Ashton Michael and more.

Munn + Skin = Boycott The Circus

THE CIRCUS SUCKS!  This PSA, not so much.

Learn more about circus cruelty here:  Circuses - Animal Defense - PETA

And in case you need a few reminders of why they suck, please see below.

Via Raymond + Yuhmm

Puma.Safe Launches Sustainable Packaging By Yves Behar

After more than ten years of successful implementation of its social and environmental standards (puma.safe), PUMA launched the next pivotal phase of its ambitious long-term sustainability program on April 13th at the Design Museum in London. By introducing its cutting-edge sustainable packaging and distribution system by renowned industrial designer Yves Béhar, PUMA set new standards within the retail industry.

The new innovative solution will significantly reduce the amount of waste and CO2 emissions that traditional product packaging such as shoe-boxes and apparel polyethylene bags generate and underpins PUMA’s target of reducing carbon, energy, water, and waste by 25%, and developing 50% of its international product collections in footwear, apparel and accessories according to best practice sustainability standards by 2015.

Read more about it here.

Thanks Jesus and Candy!!

Biz Markie Reworks Classic For Mother Earth…?

I don’t know how I missed this last week- maybe I was out boozing celebrating.. but hundreds of supporters from all across the country joined hip hop legend DJ Biz Markie to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day by recording a clean energy remix of his classic song, Just a Friend.

Ummmm…?

Sonic Fabric

For the dapper DJ in you.  The sonic fabric neckties and fedora are a limited-edition collabo project between Alyce Santoro and Julio Cesar.  Sonic fabric is woven from 50% recorded audio cassette tape and 50% colored thread.  The fabric is actually audible if you run a tape head over it! (Visit the youtube channel for a demo here: alyceobvious.)

Biking Directions On Google Maps

In the US, Google Maps now offers step-by-step biking directions; bike trails outlined directly on the map; and a new Bicycling layer that indicates bike trails, bike lanes, and bike-friendly roads.

Love the new addition but I wish they would get this system working on the phone app.  I’d prefer to whip out my phone just like I do for driving directions as opposed to printing it out on a piece of paper.   I’ll be waiting patiently Google. : )

GILT-Free Shopping

Today on Gilt:

• Matt & Nat
• Loomstate
• Baggu
• Environmental Living
• Alex & Ani
• Edun
• And many more!!  Go shop- GILT-free now!!!!

Mahalo Shima!  xx

Earth Day Playlist

If Mama Earth had an iPod…

MARVIN GAYE: Mercy Mercy Me

Earth FML (On Chatroulette)

WTF?!?!

Shout out to McDreamy Josh from The Discerning Brute.

Grist

Origins Trade In Program For Earth Day

Origins is keeping the green spirit alive with another forward thinking initiative – The Trade-In Program.

Origins is keeping the green spirit alive with a forward thinking initiative – The Trade-In Program. On 4/22, Origins is offering customers the chance to bring an empty cosmetic container (regardless of brand) to any Origins retail store or counter (which Origins then recycles for them through their Return to Origins Recycling Program) to trade it in for a free full-sized Checks and Balances Frothy face wash ($18.50 retail value) or A Perfect World Antioxidant cleanser with White Tea ($20 retail value.)

And to join the conversation, everyone who does Trade-In and recycle their empty products at Origins is encouraged to tweet or twitpic their experience using the hashtag #OriginsTradeIn.

The Fashionable Housewife

Earth Day At Malibu Eco Country Mart 4/24/10

Thanks Candy!

Earth Celebration At Environment 4/22/10

We hope you will join us for an evening of cocktails and pampering this Earth Day, Thursday, April 22.  Among the amazing list of festivities, Josie Maran Cosmetics and STEAM Salon will offer complimentary makeovers and blowouts, guests can shop deals from ecoSkin, Deborah Lindquist, Wellness Bags, Necko Designs, Environment by Heather Heron, ecover, and more, and enjoy beverages provided by IZZE and VeeV Acai Spirits.  Anna Getty will also be signing copies of her cookbook “Easy Green Organic.”  You won’t want to miss!

Please RSVP to: mmalbas [at] environmentfurniture [dot] com.

Environment Furniture Showroom
8126 Beverly Blvd.  Los Angeles, CA 90048

**Shopping Event!  Some vendors will be cash-only!  Border Grill truck also stopping by!

Last Minute Discount Greyhound Deals To Coachella

Looking for a last-minute ride to the Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival?  Greyhound is offering a price break aimed at people traveling to the festival from other Southern California cities, the company announced this week.  The bus line is offering $39 round-trip travel to Indio or Palm Springs from the following cities:

Anaheim, Claremont, El Monte, Glendale, Hollywood, Los Angeles, Long Beach, North Hollywood, Norwalk, San Fernando, and Santa Ana.

Coachella attendees can still get the lower price for travel between now and Sunday.  The price break is available for tickets booked on www.greyhound.com as well as those purchased at Southern California bus terminals, the company said.

See you in the desert!!!

My Desert

Vegan KFC Double Down

I’m sure all you vegans have been totally fiending for the safe version of the KFC Double Down.  Ok, I know most of you really haven’t been but for the few unhealthy vegans (is there such a thing?) that want to have that same stomach erupting experience as the meat eaters,  find your recipe here.

Ate-Bit Vegan

Banana Hammock

Aussiebum- this range is a world first in underwear – it is made from the weave of the bark from the banana tree, and soft organic cotton, ensuring ultimate comfort, with an eco friendly flavor that will keep you coming back for seconds.

The styles shown aren’t really my cup of tea but who doesn’t like to look at a package of ripe bananas?

Happy 2nd To GG&S

Two years + over a thousand posts and we’re still here on the interwebz!  Happy Bitchday to us!

No Questions Asked Drug Drop-Off Locations In So. Cal

After just posting about the NY E-Waste event, I started to research where to recycle electronics  in LA and guess what I came across?  A website for safe drug drop-offs at local sheriff stations.  Shit, I’d normally be too paranoid to post anything having to do with drugs and the po-po but this is for a good cause, right?

From the website No Drugs Down The Drain:

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, in conjunction with the Los Angeles County Departments of Public Health and Public Works present the “Safe Drug Drop-Off” Program.  The program provides an opportunity for residents to safely and anonymously surrender any unused or expired prescriptions, over the counter medications, “SHARPS” (needles), or any other controlled substances.  There will be no questions asked (wink*wink).  We just want to get it off the streets.

Drop off  at your own risk!

NYC E-Waste Recycling Event 4/10/10

For all my NY friends and readers that write me from time to time asking where they can recycle electronics- here you go.

Tekserve has teamed up again with the Lower East Side Ecology Center to offer FREE electronics recycling on Saturday, April 10th, from 10a-4p. Recyclable items include computers, monitors, fax machines, copiers, DVD or VCR players, radios, telephones, cell phones, televisions, cameras, and stereo equipment.

Certain fully working electronics can also be donated to Materials for the Arts, a reuse initiative to get lightly-used electronics into the welcoming hands of NYC Department of Education classroom students and arts and cultural programs in-need throughout the five boroughs.

WIN A MACBOOK FOR RECYCLING:  Anyone bringing electronics to be recycled can register at Tekserve for a raffle to win a new MacBook ($999 value). All participants in the event will also receive a coupon for a $25 discount on any new current model iPod (except Shuffle) or computer purchased within 30 days after the event.

Save My Oceans Tour Is Coming To LA

The Save My Oceans nation-wide tour is coming to USC!  Save My Oceans is working alongside student organizations to bring you an exciting week of eco-friendly programming for a great cause. The tour will include an art installation, a concert, and an advanced screening of Oceans. See details below.

Concert: Participant Media in association with the USC Program Board at USC present the 2010 Springfest.  04/10/10
6pm – 10pm  McCarthy Quad

Screening: Participant Media and Disneynature present an advance screening of Oceans. 04/16/10 Location TBD

Art Installation: Participant Media in association with Planet Illogica and USC Sustainability present “Infiltrate”  4/14/10 – 4/16/10 Location TBD

Join the Oceans movement! You can get a FREE ticket to a special advanced screening of the film Oceans. Tickets are limited and entry is on a first come first serve basis.  Get them here.

True Life Story Of A Plastic Bag

Sweet.  Sad.  Scary.   : (

Kitty Cooper English Originals

Kitty Cooper English Originals produces ethically made women footwear and offers retailers the opportunity to have a range of shoes custom designed to their specific requirements based on predictions of future trends.  Each pair of shoes are individual and are hand made in London from recycled vintage fabrics.  The brand supports small local industry and all its fabrics, ribbons and trims are vintage – from the 1920s to the 1970s.

I could totally see these shoes on an Alberto Vargas pin-up girl.  So yummy!

Ecouterre

Port-A-Pint Retractable Beer Cup

Summer is almost here and that means backyard bbq’s and kegs galore.  Be the envy of all your lushed out friends and pop one of these babies out.  At least when you’re ten sheets to the wind you’ll be able to find your BYOC out of the sea of unclaimed red cups.

Joaquin Phoenix Is BACK! And Hot. But Will Still Make You Cry

When I saw this link sent to me from a gf, I went giddy seeing Joaquin cleaned up, the crazy washed out from his eyes and ready to be my baby daddy again.  My thrill was immediately replaced by horror.   I have forced myself to watch Earthlings and many other animal cruelty videos but I had to close my eyes several times while watching this one.

It’s one thing to kill an animal humanely (is there such a thing?) for our luxury fashion addictions but to cut up and skin an animal while it is alive and leave if for dead, sometimes for up to 4 days???….words just can’t explain.

I just checked all of my shoes and bags and realized I do have a clutch made from what looks like alligator skin- I got it from a styling gig.  It’s getting donated TODAY.

WARNING:  This video is EXTREMELY GRAPHIC!!!  But, I still suggest you watch it.  You don’t have to stop buying or throw anything out- but at least you’ll be conscious of how it came to be.

Octomom Says No To Porn, Yes To PETA

Nadya Suleman has fourteen mouths to feed and is rumored to be running behind in mortgage payments. Well guess who’s come to the rescue by offering her 5 G’s and a months supply of veggie burgers? PETA!  FTW!!!  From their website:

It seems like everybody has an opinion about “Octomom” Nadya Suleman, who gave birth to eight babies last year. No matter where you stand on that decision, starring in porn isn’t Suleman’s only option to remedy the recently rumored foreclosure proceedings on her home in La Habra, Calif. In fact, PETA is offering to bolster her finances by paying to place an ad on her front lawn:

Vivienne Westwood Designs For Sigg?

WHY??  I LOVE Vivienne Westood and  I USED to love SIGG until they left a sour taste of BPA and deception in my mouth.  Yesterday I read that the queen of punk teamed up with the lie tellers to design a new bottle and I thought I was going to have to go back on my word and buy a SIGG again (yes I’m a label whore).  But now that I’ve seen the bottle, I see that’s not the case. Yawn.

Her SIGG bottle design inspired her FW10/11 catwalk menswear designs with the slogan Act Fast, Slow Down. Stop Climate Change.

I still got love for you VW- long live the Queen!

King Of The Wild Frontier Reusable Water Bottle

In keeping up with World Water Day/Week, I reintroduce you to the teardrop Eco Bota canteen- Davy Crockett steez (coonskin hat not included!!)

Fellas, check out this twist on a classic favorite.  Same unique and ergonomic shape of a bota bag, with a high density polyethylene bladder (BPA-free, resists leaking and breaking) – now with a new look!  Using scrap materials, the cover is ecologically sustainable, producing a great hiking or tailgating companion.  All that for only $17.99?  SOLD!

Available in these colors:

Coco Eco Magazine Issue 10: The British Special

I love the newest issue of Cocoecomag.com!!   Coco Eco’s British Special features Stephen Jones OBE, Gary Harvey, Ben Grimes, Safia Minney, Lily Cole, Livia Firth, and Twilight’s Chaske Spencer.

Congrats to Anna for yet another amazing issue- especially since she flew all the way to London to make the cover story happen.  Huge props to the LA and London team for putting their talents together to create such a beautiful issue!  See more by clicking the link above.

Kiehl’s X Pharrell For Earth Day

Kielh’s has joined forces with Pharrell, Julian Moore, Jeff Koons and Malia Jones to raise awareness for Earth Day by having each of them design a label for their limited edition Acai Damage-Protecting Toning Mist which is scheduled to be released this April.  Kiehl’s will donate $200,000 to the Rainforest Alliance. Price: $26.

Via BBC and Hypebeast

The Story Of Bottled Water

I have to admit, I haven’t ditched plastic bottles completely.  I try to remember to fill up my reusable bottles for on-the-go purposes but sometimes I forget or don’t want to be hassled with carrying it everywhere with me.  Cut to this little animated video from the lady that brought us The Story of Stuff.  I think I’ll start trying a little harder to stop being so forgetful and lazy.

Annie Leonard, the activist filmmaker behind “The Story of Stuff” and the above short, “The Story of Bottled Water,” had this to say:

In the last few decades, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Nestle and other big beverage companies have spent untold millions making us afraid of tap water. They’ve told us that if we want to be sure what we drink is pure and clean — not to mention hip and fashionable — we should buy bottled water. After all, nobody cool or environmentally conscious drinks tap water, right?

The thing is, there are a lot of inconvenient truths the bottled water ads don’t mention:

• Bottled water is subject to fewer health regulations than tap water. In 2006, Fiji Water ran ads bragging that their product doesn’t come from Cleveland, only to have tests show a glass of Fiji water is lower quality than Cleveland tap. Oops!

• Up to 40% of bottled water is filtered tap water. In other words, if you’re concerned about what’s in your tap water, just cut out the middleman and buy a home water filter.

• Each year, according to the Pacific Institute’s Peter Gleick, making the plastic water bottles used in the U.S. takes enough oil and energy to fuel a million cars. And that doesn’t even include the fuel required to ship, fly or truck water across continents and state lines.

• Three-fourths of the half-billion plastic water bottles sold in the U.S. every week go to the landfill or to incinerators. It costs our cities more than $70 million to landfill water bottles alone each year, according to Corporate Accountability International.