This post is contributed by MemoryFoam, a leader in eco-friendly natural mattresses and memory foam.

Life is about balance. Certainly Zen is about balance. Environmental and “green” issues are also about balance.  We must be part of the planet, working with natural resources instead of just consuming them.

Sleep is essential for health, but the products we select are also essential for the survival of the natural resources of the planet.

There is a responsibility in the selections we make, the products we buy and the process that creates them; all must be in tune with what is good for today and for tomorrow.

There has been much written on the importance of sustainability and environmentally friendly manufacturing and products. It’s easy to be caught up in the hype, buying things because they are trendy and seem “green”.

It is important to know the company manufacturing and selling your products. We must ask: what is their commitment to the planet, and how does their manufacturing process contribute to that commitment?

Mattresses are a great example. There is much muss and fuss over which type or style mattress to buy. (more…)

In addition to preserving our earth-cooling forests, there’s another great reason to reduce our consumption of living trees – reclaimed wood has so much more character. Many of the great hardwood trees of yesteryear are either in limited supply from over-harvesting, or are almost completely missing from our forested lands.

Designer André Joyau’s Reclaimed Hardwood Table (photo above) is a great example of the fabulous grain patterns and unique character often found in reclaimed, or salvaged timber. The handsomely crafted table is built completely of wood and sits 10 comfortably.

A small Colorado paint company is trying to change the way paint is made and sold in the USA. Unearthed Paints, a new natural paint company is pursuing a sustainable reinterpretation of the paint industry with its new selection of eco-friendly paints. Crafted with minimally processed natural ingredients such as clay, chalk, lime, and Italian marble the paints are biodegradable, vegan, and 100% VOC-free.

All Unearthed paints are tinted with earth and mineral pigments; Ochers, Sienna, Umbers, Ultramarines and Spinels. These pigments give the paint a depth and radiance that cannot be achieved by the chemical colorants used in conventional paints. One of the company’s earth-friendly innovations is to ship paint pigments in powdered form, extending the life period of the paint, and eliminating any chemical preservatives. Consumers simply add water and mix.

Unearthed Paints is also providing full ingredient disclosure for all of its products. While the industry standard is to keep paint formulas and their chemical ingredients secret, Unearthed products come with a full ingredient list on the front of the labels.

The company has some unique paint products, including: Gecko Paint, a natural paint that can stick to almost any surface, Vega Paint, which has a finish like traditional milk paint but is made from vegetable casein instead of milk casein creating a beautiful matte finish and Clay paint which uses earth and mineral pigments blended to create a robust palette that is odorless, non-toxic and 100% VOC-free. Unearthed also produces natural plaster and wood products.

Unearthed Paints have been used in Germany and other countries worldwide for over 30 years under the brand name, Kreidezeit.