Earlier this week, media types like myself were treated to some eco products at the GreenShows‘ Bodega Green – rather than load everyone down with swag in a bag, we were given the opportunity to check out various freebees and help ourselves to whatever appealed to us – great concept!

Some of the goodies I was already familiar with; here’s what I selected:  A Perfume Organic‘s Green Rose scent with black truffle, chamomile & ylang ylang Primitive Lip Color in Cozumel (no parabens or synthetic preservatives)  Youngblood‘s Mineral Primer & Peridot (free of fragrance, oil, talc, parabens & animal dyes); Amika‘s Hydration Cream for deep conditioning hair treatment Luna Bar‘s new Protein Bar (12 grams; 200 calories) Earth Friendly’s ECOS laundry detergent  Vega Complete Whole Food Health Optimizer (vanilla chai flavor; gluten-free; protein + fiber + antioxidants); 8oz = 100 calories); CarenOnline.com‘s Ennecence CitrusEscape Shower Gel & The Answer PMS System for skin 35+

After the whirlwind of Eco Fashion week, these goodies should help put that natural glow back on my face and green in my routine.  Many thanks to all, can’t wait to try!

Amidst the GreenShows fabulous runway scene this week we feasted our eyes on another welcome sight of a different nature – refreshments!  Between shows yesterday afternoon the crew and media were treated to delicious cupcakes, compliments of the Little Cupcake Bakeshop.  Earlier in the week, guests were also served these yummy treats during some of the eco designer after-show parties, but at that point I just hadn’t a moment to indulge.

After one bite of a lemon cupcake, I had to learn more about these sweet goodies.  Turns out, they’re created from scratch with local, fresh ingredients in a carbon neutral bakeshop on Third Avenue in Brooklyn & they’ll soon open another shop at the corner of Mott & Prince in soho…the icing on the cake is that they’re reasonably priced.

dig in @ littlecupcakebakeshop.com

Another little car with big dreams has made its world debut.

If you haven’t tired of hearing about the electrifying strategies of Chevrolet and Nissan, Korean automaker Hyundai has entered the arena with a full-speed battery electric vehicle known as the BlueOn.  Ironically, the teeny four-door was unveiled at South Korea’s “Blue House” (similar to the U.S. White House), where it was announced that a fleet of 30 cars will participate in a two-year pilot program and promotional tour, kicking off at the G20 summit.

Powered by a lithium-polymer battery, the BlueOn serves up a range of approximately 87 miles on a single charge, which is noteworthy but far from best-in-class.  The battery’s juice can be replenished via a 220-volt or 380-volt outlet and off you can go… until you reach a top speed of 80 mph, that is. A 4.2-inch LCD display with voice guidance will notify you of charge status, and also point out where the nearest charging station is located, if needed.  With about $34 million invested in the BlueOn program, Hyundai is eager to get some cars on the road.  The company plans to produce roughly 2,500 BlueOns by the end of 2012.

Since we’re in the U.S., it will likely be a while before we’re privy to the BlueOn.  But that doesn’t mean the automaker is leaving us high and dry.  I’m not sure if you checked out the Sonata sedan recently, but it’s looking pretty as can be… and a hybrid powertrain option is just around the corner.

• Men are also prone to believe in Rush Limbaugh, cage fighting and the attractiveness of a faux hawk + wife beater t-shirt ensemble…Women Agree With Science on Global Warming More Than Men Do – livescience
• What do you do with a dead electric car battery filled with toxic stuff? Nissan, Sumitomo Partner to Re-Use, Recycle Electric Car Batteries – reuters
• Outsmarting Killer Bacteria – sciencedaily
• Funding comes up short…Pricetag Set for Tiger Conservation – bbc
• Ten Hot Energy Trends to Watch – msnbc
• Houston, we’ve got a problem…African Activist Bono Manufactures Majority of His Eco-Fashion Edun Line in China – ecorazzi
• Northwest Passage Open in Arctic Again – usatoday

Sunday night’s premier runway event for the GreenShows in NYC was quite exciting as Miami-based eco designer Luis Valenzuela took center stage.  With a serious devotion to creating works of art without harming the planet, he reuses found objects & materials, and upcycles them magically into stunning and unique fashion statements.

Born into a family steeped in a tradition of “waste not,” Luis is no newcomer to having eco conscious values; so in creating new works, he does what’s natural, second nature, by honoring Earth’s natural resources.

Opening and closing his show was an adorable child model looking beautifully coiffed and princess of the ball in gorgeous sparkly dresses (above).  Luis is full of good energy, and fun-loving.  His line was smart, sleek and glamorous.  Elegant gowns both skin tight or flowing, silk tunics floating over slacks, edgy cocktail length dresses, and much much more.   Photos are grabbed from our Luis Valenzuela on the Runway video.

Designer Larry Jacobsen’s prototype for a futuristic, sustainable lighting fixture is made of bio-plastic and recycled aluminum.  The hanging fixture features energy-saving LED bulbs.  In addition to the design’s avoidance of petrochemically-based plastic,  I particularly like the combo of having light directed both up, and down.

Here in the heart of Chelsea in NYC, I’ve attended two days (with one more to go, today) of eco fashion shows, aptly named, the GreenShows — produced by the inimitable Eric Dorfman and supported by his crack pr team, Kristina Ratliff and Ryan Urcia of State PR.

Staged in The Metropolitan Suite – a new eco conscious venue on the second floor of the Metropolitan Pavilion -  it’s the perfect place to debut the spring/summer collections 2011 of the show’s ten featured eco designers.

Whipping up all the creative for makeup and hair backstage are James Vincent of The Makeup Shows, in tandem with Youngblood Minerals makeup artists; and a crew of stylists from Hair Room Service.  At a fast and furious clip, they’ve created works of wonder to support each designer’s vision.

We’ll be bringing you more, with video highlights soon, so stay tuned.

I admit it, I don’t do bikes.  That being said, this little leather box from Walnut Studiolo is pretty cute.  You can store a spare inner tube, bike lock, or iPod in its hand-stitched confines.  Made from unfinished, upcycled leather scraps recovered from a factory near the designer’s Portland, Oregon studio.  Finished with neatsfoot and walnut dye.

Attaches under your bicycle seat.

$55 @ walnut studiolo’s supermarkethq shop

A double positive – here’s a product made out of old growth lumber that requires no trees die in its making, and it sits on a base made of recycled industrial steel that would otherwise be headed straight for the landfill.

Reclaim Recycled Products has just released the I-Bench, the first product offering in its I-LINE product family.  The entire I-LINE furniture collection will be completely made of recycled materials, primarily reclaimed fir wood and i-beam from building demolition sites.

The zero carbon footprint bench features a simple, straight forward silhouette that limits waste and will last a long, long time.  Reclaim Recycled Products is a division of the Vancouver based construction management and design firm, Urban Green, (hence their ready access to demolition materials for recycling).  Additional products will be added to the line shortly, and as with the I-Bench, they will be available at the Reclaim web store.

related:  reclaimed cedar benches