EcoSalon and Sprout Watches are teaming up for a special Earth Month promotion!

On trend for too many years now: otherwise fashion-forward women rummaging through the depths of shoulder bags to flip open mobile devices for the time of day – emanating from an iPhone in ugly neon numbers, no less.

We think the time has come to bring back the wristwatch. For the eco-forward and design conscious consumer we suggest the Sprout watch.

As if you needed an added incentive for wearing one of these:

For every Sprout watch sold online during Earth Month, the company will plant a tree. And just to sweeten the deal, shipping is on them.

Sprout is a rather vintage breed: a traditional watchmaking company with timely values. They started making timepieces over 50 years ago and remain rooted to the same principles and technical expertise they were founded upon; but they keep on ticking into the future through their innovative sustainability practices.

Sprout’s mission statement says: “We do not claim to be the greenest company around…we aren’t environmentalists, we are a watch company, and so we figure one of the best ways to be a greener company is to make a greener watch.” Like these handsome selections from their new water-resistant line.

All Sprout watches are lead and phthalate free and made out of biodegradable corn resin instead of synthetic plastics, as well as organic cotton. Materials like Tyvek® (a high-density recyclable and incinerator safe fiber), bamboo and mineral crystal are the norm.

For luxe watch wearers, fish skins are used instead of animal leather, sourced from farmers harvesting non-endangered species for human consumption. That skinless salmon filet might be tonight’s dinner; the sloughed off skin could be tomorrow’s wrist watch. Fish skin is one of the strongest and most elastic leathers on the planet.

For the ultra-luxe, all diamonds are certified and conflict free.

Sprout’s promotion runs now through April 30^th in celebration of Earth Month. Just in time for a billion of us individuals, in our scattered 190 countries, to bind together for a healthier and more sustainable planet. The hour is upon us; it’s on our watch.

The post Sprout Watches: Saving the Environment One Wrist at a Time appeared first on EcoSalon.

Ah, the teeth-gnashing angst of being single when it seems as if everyone around you is coupled up on Valentine’s Day. Considering how hard it can be to meet people with similar interests, it’s tempting to make a date with the couch, the remote and a pint of soy ice cream.

But singles in one British town will have a reason to get out and gab with their fellow bachelors and bachelorettes on Valentine’s Day – in nature, no less, planting trees in an underprivileged community.

A program called Trees for Cities is holding a tree-planting speed-dating charity event at Sunnybrow Park in Manchester, recruiting single volunteers to spend a Sunday wielding shovels and gardening as they plant 3,000 new trees and maybe even meet someone special in the process.

Not only will the speed-dating singles be providing a haven for wildlife and increasing biodiversity in the park, they’ll be adding to the health and vitality of city residents by providing a beautiful, relaxing green space.

Even if they don’t make a match, the day won’t be a total wash. Participants will be helping out the environment and a community in need. Isn’t that a greater gift than sweets and jewelry? Tree therapy for singles on V-Day – perhaps it will catch on.

Image: Alex Indigo

The post Tree Love: Speed Dating for the Earth appeared first on EcoSalon.

Celestial Seasonings has been blending healthy teas with environmental consciousness since 1969. Now, they are expanding their environmental consciousness to the planting of trees in developing countries.

They’ve teamed up with Trees for the Future (a non-profit organization that has planted more 70 million trees in Central America, Africa, and Asia in the past 20 years) and aim to sponsor the planting of one million trees. They’re nearly there, but how about a little love from EcoSalon readers?

Every box of Celestial Seasonings tea bought between January 1 and March 31, 2009 will ensure the planting of a tree. But you don’t have to be a tea drinker to participate. Anyone can stop by their online website and plant a tree in the virtual forest until the end of April. For each online tree planted, Celestial Seasonings will sponsor the planting of one real tree in a developing country.  Their interactive program that turns “virtual trees” into reality also provides information about why trees are good not only for the environmental but also the economies of the developing nations where they are being planted.

The post Tea for Trees appeared first on EcoSalon.