Written by Melanie Kozlan, Four Green Steps

Despite your good intentions, do you always find yourself in overcrowded department stores at 4pm on Christmas Eve? Holiday shopping shouldn't be stressful- that's why we strongly encourage taking advantage of Cyber Monday sales rather than getting trampled in stores on Black Friday. Looking for eco-friendly presents? Use coupon code XMAS2011 for a discount when shopping in our green marketplace this holiday season!Here are some other reasons you should skip the holiday shopping lines and buy your presents online:

Written by Melanie Kozlan, Four Green Steps

The Environmental Protection agency has began a new effort to increase the safety of lead paints by requiring extensive testing and regulations for lead paint companies. This effort is especially helpful for institutions such as schools which still use lead paint even though it's known to cause brain damage in children.

Written by Madiha Boolani, Four Green Steps

Walmart has the highest revenue in the world. They are known and advertised as having the lowest prices for household products. But how eco friendly is the company? Does the lower cost come at a higher price paid by the environment?

Written by Danielle Salley, Four Green Steps

Truth be told, today’s marketing schemes are typically worded to benefit the company in question, and rarely to benefit the environment.  Then why do their products pretend to be something they’re not?  We all know the answer: to sell!  It is not surprising that companies are attempting to push the green buttons to distinguish their products over others, particularly since ‘going green’ is the new trend.  Consumers are more willing to buy a product with a green label on the front, even without substantiated green evidence, because it’s easier on all of our consciences.  Take a household product for example: a cleaning detergent that says ‘environmentally friendly’ or ‘ecosmart’ would likely be purchased over another standard detergent.  So how can we determine if we are being ‘greenwashed’?