Since Al Gore brought the threat of global warming to the attention of the world with his film An Inconvenient Truth, more companies have switched to biodegradable and recycled materials to manufacture their products. Last year, the overall sale of hybrid cars rose 36% in December and with gas prices still on the rise, this is expected to increase even more. But hybrids are just the tip of the iceberg and there is literally a green solution for nearly every product consumers need and want these days.

Eco-friendly household supplies are one way to begin living a greener lifestyle. Eco-Products http://www.ecoproducts.com/ offer biodegradable serving solutions such as sugarcane made plates and bowls to corn made cups. In addition, they offer natural cleaners and paper goods made from 100% recycled material.

One of fastest growing companies in the world is Method http://www.methodhome.com. The manufacture of non-toxic soap and cleaning products uses natural ingredients such as soy, coconut and palm oils. Their packaging is also biodegradable as they are committed to renewable resources across the board.

Hemp has long been a way to produce eco-friendly products and hemp.com http://everything.hemp.com/ is dedicated to utilizing the marijuana plant for all their products. From hemp clothing and accessories to hemp coffee and baking supplies, they prove that cannabis can be used for much more than smoking.

Eco-friendly home furnishings are another growing way which consumers are leaning towards.

According to Positive Ripple http://positiveripple.blogspot.com/ , what makes a piece of furniture eco-friendly are as followed:

*Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified, sustainably harvested wood
* nontoxic glues (or no glues)
* nontoxic stains and finishes
* organic cotton or other natural fibers
* untreated upholstery or nontoxic fabric treatments for fire resistance, waterproofing, and stain proofing; and local manufacture using local materials

One company who is truly environmentally savvy is Greener Lifestyle http://www.greenerlifestyles.com/ as they employ all six of the rules of making truly sustainable furniture. Based in Seattle, WA, the company is dedicated to using all natural materials, including hemp and organic wool. Greener Lifestyle also utilizes recycled materials such as soda bottles to create beautiful material for their fabric covered furniture. If you have a sofa or chair you want re-upholstered, they offer an eco-friendly service to make an old piece look new without filling the land fills with discarded furniture.

Next time you plan a vacation; why not make it environmentally friendly? 1 Hotel and Residences www.1residences.com/ in Seattle offers eco-friendly rooms with luxury as one of the main draws. The proprietor’s of the 560,000 square foot complex are committed to less waste, less energy and less water use while providing unmatched elegance and style to their residents. Built with natural materials such as sustainable woods and hewn stone, 1 Seattle’s interiors are calm and relaxing with spacious floor plans.

Coffee is a staple item for millions of consumers but for those worried about discarding the empty cups, many java suppliers are offering 100% biodegradable cups including Tully’s and Starbucks. Both companies have always encouraged customers bring in reusable cups.

While I have only touched the surface of the green alternatives available, hopefully I have enlightened some of those who have been thinking about switching to an eco-friendly lifestyle to some of the products available. Kermit the Frog once sang “It aint easy being green”, but with all that obtainable with the eco-craze, now it’s very easy to be green.

Tony Engelhart is a featured writer for Xomba.com. Read the rest of his work here .