Calling all people who want to look good, be good, and do good. A new kind of shopping is making its way into Austin and bringing sustainability to a whole new level – W3LL People is the ultimate skincare boutique located at The Bridges on South Lamar. No risk of greenwashinghttp://www.safecosmetics.org/faqs/#Doesn_t_the_government_ here. From the materials used in the décor and building to ALL the ingredients in the products, W3LL was created to bring a fresh, safe focus on skincare by providing products with proven, medical-grade nutrients that actually work and are not harmful for the planet.... [continue]

What is the greenest way to celebrate the 4th of July? Well, the 2nd Annual Green 4th of July Celebration at the Austin Farmers Market, of course! Technically on Saturday, July 5th, this year's event features green gurus, interactive discussions, local food, live music, sustainable kid's activities and entertainment.... [continue]

United Way Capital Area announced yesterday the launch of a new initiative designed to invite Central Texans to "Live United" and work together to advance the common good. A "Live United" kick-off event will take place this weekend to help promote the message of the campaign: Give. Advocate. Volunteer. Live United. ... [continue]

TOMS Shoes hit the social-responsibility scene in 2006 with its unique one to one model of donating one pair of shoes for a child in need for every pair sold to you the consumer. Since its inception, it has given over 10,000 pairs of shoes to children in Argentina and 50,000 pairs in South Africa. In 2008, TOMS plans to give 200,000 pairs of shoes to children in need around the world.... [continue]

The U.S. Green Building Council has granted the new Ronald McDonald House of Austin and Central Texas a top green honor - LEED platinum certification. It is the first building in the city of Austin and the third building in the state of Texas to be built to LEED-Platinum standards, which is the highest level of sustainable building in the United States. ... [continue]

In a world where people, planet and profits must run paramount for any business to thrive today, this triple bottom line approach has been at the core of the Whole Foods culture for nearly 30 years. And now, CEO John Mackey is sharing his insights and his commitment to the business principles he calls "conscious capitalism" at a benefit for the organization FLOW.... [continue]

First Niece, model and Houston native Lauren Bush is teaming up with Whole Foods for her "FEED 100" reusable bag. Each bag will provide 100 school meals to children in Rwanda through the United Nations World Food Program's School Feeding Program.... [continue]

In an effort to honor the who's who of Austin legacies, City Council has finally named the new city park near the south shore of Lady Bird Lake and just west of the Palmer events center (between Riverside Drive and Barton Springs Road) Butler Park. The park itself was named in honor of the Butler family that donated the land to the city. In the late 1800s, Butler was an Irish immigrant who ran a successful brick-making business on the land and ultimately his heirs donated the land to the city in 1941 for civic purposes.... [continue]

A recent Associate Press survey indicates that pharmaceuticals ranging from antibiotics, anti convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones are found the drinking water supplies in 24 major metropolitan areas. According to the report: ... [continue]

Austin's continued involvement in the Central Texas Clean Cities Program, has earned the city a $12,500 in grant funds from the U.S. Department of Energy. ... [continue]

Austin is about to incur a hefty carbon footprint as SXSW kicks off, but thanks to the folks at MakeMeSustainable (MMS), people have an opportunity to walk the sustainability talk. The 'Interactive Carbon Tree' was designed specifically for SXSW in an effort to mobilize attendees at the conference to reduce their collective carbon impact. Check it out here: http://makemesustainable.com/sxsw... [continue]

Green Drinks gets computer savvy this month with a focus on greening computer usage and IT. Rebecca Thorburn, a member of the Climate Savers Computing Initiative, will be on hand to discuss the non-profit organization's dedication to promoting climate conservation through the widespread deployment of energy efficient hardware and power management software. ... [continue]

As the growth of downtown continues to explode, so does the need for commuter friendly alternatives - enter the bike. Granted nothing new, but with Lance Armstrong's recent unveiling of plans for a commuter biker shop, he really is bringing biking back. According to Armstrong: "This city is exploding downtown. Are all these people in high rises going to drive everywhere? We have to promote (bike) commuting."... [continue]

As the trendiness of "going green" evolves more into an issue of long term sustainability, Austin continues to thrive when it comes to merging civic leadership, local business, and tactical implementation for more sustainable living. Popular Science recently released a list of the top 50 greenest cities and Austin rounded out the top 10. Other Texas cities making the top 50 include Fort Worth, Amarillo, and Laredo. ... [continue]

Over the last several months, the Austin Parks Department has been accepting public nominations for naming the new downtown Austin park on the south shore of Lady Bird Lake. Located west of the Palmer events center, just upstream from the Ann Richards bridge, the new city park features an ultra-cool high-tech fountain. ... [continue]

Austin Water Utility’s Free Toilet Program is back! If you’re an Austin Water Utility customer whose toilets were installed before 1996 you may be eligible for a new, high-performance toilets for free. The new high-performance HETs (high-efficiency toilets) use only 1.28 gallons with each flush. New flapperless technology means these toilets get the job done in just one flush with even less water than some modern toilets.... [continue]

What do you get when you recycle 80,000 pounds of aluminum cans, or approximately 2.7 million cans? Well, evidently $5,000 dollars and a national award for the City Recycling Challenge. Mayor Will Wynn accepted the Cans for Cash prize on behalf of the City of Austin at the recent U.S. Conference of Mayors Winter Meeting taking place last week.... [continue]

For all the avid recyclers out there who are suffering from multiple blue bin clutter, good news is on the way. The City of Austin's Solid Waste Services Department announces a new program that will replace the blue bins with 90-gallon carts that can be filled with all recyclables, including new items like cereal boxes. ... [continue]

This month's Green Drinks is kicking the New Year off with some eat-right type resolutions. Salila Travers, organizer of the Sunset Valley Farmer's Market and owner of Aztec Organic Pest Service for over 25 years, will be on tap to share her passion for organic foods and nutritional expertise with the environmentally aware and sustainability professionals that make up Austin Green Drinks.... [continue]

While high-end luxury transportation may not always be associated with sustainability, a new limo service is rolling into town to change all that. Clean Air Limo is Austin's first eco-luxury private car service. Traditionally, most limousine companies in Central Texas use Lincoln Town Cars which could serve as one of the many contributing factors to why Texas leads the nation carbon emissions. Clean Air Limo uses only eco-friendly vehicles in their fleet. ... [continue]