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Green Mile: Our Guide To Eco-Friendly Shopping In NYC

Being eco-savvy is no longer just about Whole Foods bags and hybrid cars. Reducing your carbon footprint also requires lots of conscientious shopping. Fortunately, there are plenty of stores in New York that can help you do your part to maintain a sustainable lifestyle. Some boutiques are going all out and building LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) spaces, while others are starting small and carrying environmentally friendly labels. And from borough to borough, more and more businesses are taking extra steps to introduce green options. From wellies to tabletop décor, these establishments stock goodies that have you and Mother Nature covered.
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1. Bird:
eco-friendly-bird
This Brooklyn favorite recently completed construction on its third and largest space in Williamsburg, the first LEED-certified retail store in the city. Not to be left out, Bird's Park Slope location used denim and other re-purposed materials to insulate their space during a recent renovation.

220 Smith Street (at Butler Street), Brooklyn
718-787-3774
shopbird.com
Green Points: eco-shopping doesn't have to be granola.
Above, images courtesy of Bird

2.
Green Depot:

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Think of it as the Home Depot for all things green. Renovation and decorating enthusiasts will find materials for roofing, flooring, cabinetry, and a variety of VOC-free (volatile organic compound) paints, all in one soon-to-be LEED-certified space.
222 Bowery (between Prince and Spring Streets)
212-226-0444
greendepot.com
Green Points: even the smallest apartment can get environmentally friendly!
Above, images courtesy of Green Depot

3. Camilla:
camilla-boutique-eco-friendly-shopping

Dressing green and looking good at the same time isn't always easy, but Camilla in Brooklyn offers an array of stylish basics for men, women, and children, like pieces made with organic and eco-friendly fibers or labels that utilize locally-based production (all the better to reduce carbon emissions from shipping).
118 Union St # 9C (at Columbia Street), Brooklyn
718-422-0282
camillaboutique.com
Green Points: made locally, works globally.
Above, images courtesy of Camilla

4.
Ekovaruhuset:

eco-friendly-shopping-nyc-05

Ekovaruhuset brings its brand of Scandinavian eco-savvy design to America in its Ludlow Street boutique. Like at the original in Stockholm, heavy emphasis is placed on luxury, environmental responsibility, and inventory produced under fair working conditions. Look for fashion-forward designs by Jodi Busby, Meiling Chen, and founder Johanna Hofring.
123 Ludlow Street (between Rivington and Delancey Streets)
212-673-1753
ekovaruhuset.se
Green Points: their factory workers are happy, so you can be too.
Above, images courtesy of Ekovaruhuset

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5. Kaight:
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Kate McGregor opened Kaight on the Lower East Side with the mission to sell smart, ethical, and eco-friendly clothing, shoes, and accessories. Stop by to stock up on Loomstate organic denim, jewelry by Lulu Frost, and select Steven Alan pieces.
83 Orchard Street (at Broome Street)
212-680-5630
kaightnyc.blogspot.com
Green Points: denim that works for the planet.
Above, images courtesy of Kaight

6. John Masters Organics:
john-masters-organics-eco-friendly-shopping

With all the chemicals populating your medicine cabinet, beauty may be one of the toughest areas to get green. John Masters solves this eco conundrum. His SoHo salon uses only ammonia-free, herbal-based colors. He prides himself on owning New York's only clean-air salon (they don't offer any chemical treatments), which is also powered solely by wind energy.
77 Sullivan Street (between Broome and Spring Streets)
212-343-9590
johnmasters.com
Green Points: your hair is clean, and so is the planet.
Above, images courtesy of John Masters Organics

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