As an element, pure gold — the 24-karat kind — can be melted down and refashioned an infinite number of times with no change to its strength, shine, or molecular structure. It’s even easy to reclaim alloys, which are used to make the metal harder and more durable. Most frequently alloys are created by combining pure gold with nickel or palladium (for white gold), silver (for yellow), or copper (for rose), all of which are easy enough to extract and recycle as well.

The environmental impact of mining gold is a well-documented travesty, responsible for water and air pollution and displacing not just tons of earth per ounce but also the indigenous communities who have the bad fortune to live near a lucky strike.

Yet even high-end designers have found that there are literally tons of reclaimed gold available for purchase, meaning that no waste is created in the production of high-quality fine jewelry.

We profile five of these designers in the below slideshow. Click on any image to launch.

From the gross-but-true category, a British company has developed a type of leather made from bacteria grown in a vat of sugary green tea.

The designers at BioCouture then dry the textile biomaterial “leather” and use it to make jackets, shoes, and accessories.

According to Suzanna Lee, BioCouture’s founder, the process can have interesting results:

Depending on the recipe the material can either feel like paper or–more desirably–like a vegetable leather.In testing with dyes we found no need for mordant [a substance used for dyeing fabrics] and an incredibly small amount of dye goes a long way so it’s eco-credentials go through the entire process. We also recycle a percentage of the fermentation liquid.

While I’m not sure I’d ever have an occasion to wear this jacket — it looks more like a Fruit Roll-Up than lambskin — the process is pretty intriguing. Are any of the vegans out there tempted?

Timberland’s “Chelsea” boots from its Earthkeepers collection are about to go on sale during Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale, starting Friday. (See Page 79 of the online catalogue.)

Timberland’s website describes the eco-features so nicely, we want them to come in women’s sizes too:

Our Earthkeepers™ range features tough, rugged footwear made with the environment in mind. Thanks to moisture-wicking linings made from recycled materials, organic cotton content, rugged outsoles made with Green Rubber™ material and the all-day softness of leather from a silver-rated tannery, they’re durable, lightweight and always a talking point. This is laid-back comfort — with a conscience.

What all that means is a sole made from 42 percent recycled rubber and an organic cotton canvas lining that also incorporates 100 percent recycled PET mesh fabric. And more urban-rugged style than you can shake a stick at.

Timberland Earthkeepers “Chelsea” Boots, $99.90 at Nordstrom.com (starting July 16).

Planet Green reports:

Researchers don’t know for sure that the lead in your handbag could leach out and expose you to toxic levels. But like the children’s jewelry and toys that were recalled in 2007 (see my Good Housekeeping feature for the full scoop) these handbags count as a pretty unnecessary source of exposure, and one that it makes sense to minimize when we’re exposed to so many unavoidable toxins in our air, water and food every day. And activists and public health officials alike worry about what happens when a toddler messes around with mom’s purse or jewelry, given the tendency of young children to put things in their mouth.

Which is why it’s great news that CEH announced today that it has succeeded in getting over 40 major retailers to agree to phase out lead-containing accessories. Macy’s, Sears/Kmart, Target, Kohl’s, JC Penney, Guess, Victoria’s Secret, Saks and other retailers have until December 1 to make sure their accessories meet new, stricter standards for lead content, after which they’ll face mandatory fines of up to $12,500.

This news just further confirms our established suspicious about petroleum-based pleather goods. Steer clear, people!

(via GbD)

But finally, we came across a luxury hair-care line that requires no such compromises. Alterna’s Hemp with Organics products have all the effectiveness of the brand’s famous Caviar line, but with organic ingredients as well. And none of the company’s formulas contain the parabens, synthetics, phthlates, petrolatum, and other junky chemicals you don’t want washing down the drain.

There’s a product for every summer-hair woe. Get perfect Blake Lively-esque beachy tresses with the Ocean Waves Texturizing Spray ($20). Restore shine and brilliance with the conditioning Repair Gloss ($19). Coax out great volume in your next blowout with the Thickening Compound ($28). Protect your highlights and scalp with broad-spectrum sunscreen in the Sun Recovery Spray Bi-Phase Leave-In Conditioner ($20). Love package deals? Save yourself $10 by buying the Sculpting Putty and Shine Spray set ($28.20).

We promise, you won’t be disappointed.

However, it’s not a clear-cut example copyright infringement, since the Twilight costume designer has said that she bought that same BB Dakota hoodie at Nordstrom Rack to fill an urgent wardrobe need during the filming of the first movie. Meaning it was a commercially available product long before Twilight hit the big screen.

However, now BB Dakota includes a Twilight hang tag on every “Bella” hoodie featuring an unlicensed image of Kristen Stewart. Therein lies the problem.

Summit is asking that BB Dakota not only pony up all the profits from the jacket’s sales, but also surrender all remaining “Bella” hoodies for destruction. We understand both sides of this conflict, but really, creating all of this unnecessary waste seems far too extreme a way to protect profits.

What do you think?

Not shopping is, of course, probably the best thing. (We have to wean ourselves off of the absurd idea that every chain store should be like a sushi conveyor belt of brand new styles that all cost $5.) This world doesn’t need more stuff, and considering the Sex And The City juggernaut of consumer-porn is still going strong, shopping could stand to be de-aestheticized. But what happens when you really want something new? Thrift stores are green (and cheap), but hunting through their racks can be time-consuming and offer inconsistent results. What are the choices for decently-made, competitively-priced, really cute stuff?

– Jezebel.com writer Jenna on the issue of system-wide waste in fast fashion, and the dilemma facing ethical shoppers. Have a solution for this central consumption debate? Contribute in the comments section below.

Take the Great Recession as an example. The troubled economy has taken a real toll on retailers, but the silver lining is that the companies that have survived are now stronger than ever, having learned to do more with less. That is especially true for the eco-fashion sector, since so many companies would love to save money by reducing waste.

In this issue, we explore all the way change is good.

• Apparel companies are adapting to the new consumer-driven marketplace — it’s a great time to make your voice heard.
• In the newest Real Girl Ethics, Kara interviews Sarah S., a news anchor on NewsWest 9 in Midland, Tex. She moved to western Texas two years ago for her job and her style has changed accordingly as she’s gotten accustomed to being on camera.
• If you’ve ever wondered how being the editor of a website on green fashion shapes your shopping conscience, check out this piece on my ever-evolving fashion ethics.
• Looking to make a change in your own closet? Consider paring down your wardrobe options to just 10 garments during the dog days of summer and see if less can’t be more.
• And as always, check out Seam Ripper for a few more top links from our Behind the Seams blog.

In the past five years, grocery store chains have begun to offer various types of recycled bags to be used to carry food out of the store. Many retailers are instituting their own BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag) policies. The sale of reusable has risen dramatically, and when the maker puts its logo on the bag, customers become unwitting billboards wherever they carry the bag.

It’s a win-win situation for the grocery store who gets to spread its name recognition and foster a reputation of being green. Doubt it? The bags are listed under “Promotional Merchandise” by the people who sell them.

That said, Whole Foods was one of several grocery chains to lead the way, eliminating plastic bags from their stores by Earth Day 2008. They’ve done a great job pioneering the just-say-no-to-plastic trend; I know my friends and I certainly try to remember our reusable bags.

One common kind of bag is made from is PET (rPET) bags from plastic bottles. PET is an abbreviation of Polyethylene terephthalate, used in synthetic fibers and in packaging of food and beverage products — i.e. the bottle you are drinking out of right now. If you are wearing polyester, well, that’s the exact same thing that your Coke bottle is made out of on a molecular level. Both are a bi-product of oil and gas production.

It’s interesting to note that among plastics, PET (pronounced “pete”) is very recyclable, but only cost effective in very large factories. Hence our return of plastic bottles to China, where PET recycled bags are made, stamped with grocery logos, and sent back to us.

As we continue to buy recycled PET shopping totes, it important to remember why we’re doing it. We don’t want to create waste in the first place. Calling them “polyester bags” or “sturdy plastic bags” with a stores logos on them sounds a lot less eco-friendly than “PET plastic bottle shopping totes.”

Another type of bag that has become well known is the recyclable polypropylene tote, which is the most standard bag offered at grocery stores; you might know them as the “fuzzy” ones.

So here is my dilemma: Should I worry that my whole-hearted mass consumption of recycled bags is creating a market for bottles on the front end of the food chain? Everytime I get to the checkout of the grocery store, should I freak out about forgetting to bring a reusable bag and immediately purchase another reusable bag for 99¢? Should I have 15 reusable bags in my closet — all of which are made from things that have crossed the Pacific and two continents three times? Maybe four times?

Should I learn my lesson, get paper bags instead, and maybe go out and buy a nicely made organic cotton tote or string bag? Or just bring a ball of plastic bags I have undoubtedly collected from another store? Maybe I should just remember to bring my polypropylene bags I’ve already purchased?

Finally: Are mass-produced recycled bags that I own from Target, Walmart, Giant Eagle, Giant, Whole Foods, Ace Hardware, Safeway, HarrisTeeter, and several non-profits and other companies really cutting down on waste?  Or is it just green washing?

I certainly use them all the time, and not just for carrying food (especially not for carrying food, actually — they aren’t so comfortable when they’re loaded). Only if I use them like I should, and I change my behavior, will it be making a difference.

TreeHugger.com has a great article on this issue. They analyzed the environmental difference between a number of reusable shopping totes, and finding the difference somewhat negligible, had this to say: ”Ultimately, what is most important, regardless of your choice, is that you use the reusable shopping bag.”

I couldn’t have said it better myself.

If you’re a dedicated and classy bag re-user, Ecobag.com has a few stylish bags I love — some adorable organic cotton bags and, my favorite, the classic European string bag. Search Etsy.com for handmade string bags.

Last tip: Love your reusable bag? Wash them. They get very, very dirty.

Many books have been written about how a French woman eats and dates. But what you may not realize is that understated French style is actually eco-friendly by default — “less is more” means you’re more selective and less wasteful with what you buy. (Bonus: Dressing so attentively means you will likely spend less over time as well.)

Here are a few tips to coax out your inner Parisienne:

• Whip your hair into fab shape. L’Institut Leonor Greyl, one of France’s most celebrated hair clinics, is well known for its scalp treatments. You can recreate the experience at home by kneading Weleda’s Rosemary Hair Oil into your roots for an invigorating scalp massage, then shampoo out. Complete the look with buffed, groomed nails; contrary to what you may think, just say no to French manicures.
• “Pared down” is the name of the game in French beauty. A swipe of lipstick and a dab of your signature perfume is all you really need to leave the house. (Eco-options abound for both, but here are our picks.)
• The keys to French style is exquisite tailoring and maintenance. You needn’t spend a fortune on basics, so long as they fit you like they were custom made for your measurements and you keep them looking their best. Buy the best quality you can afford, then get a tailor on speed dial. Keep shoes polished, jewelry sparkling, and frayed hems under control.
• Show restraint. Always remember proportion and balance: If you wear heaps of pearls like Coco Chanel, go easy on bracelets, earrings, and rings. Draw attention to one feature at a time.
• Own a great handbag in a neutral color. That means black, grey, cognac, and white, preferably in leather. You want something that will go with any outfit, day or night, so make sure it’s smaller than a bichon frise.