paign, they immediately start doing Now, the group is gearing up to
Turning Green will keep 50 percent of
research and learning how to read in- provide their products through other
the proceeds, reports Shils.
gredient labels. “Now,” she advises, outlets, as well.
Many of the items are also for
“if I can’t pronounce it, I don’t want
sale online at ProjectGreenDorm.org,
to be using it.”
whole life choices
along with back-to-school resource
Last year, teens in Marin County
Teens Turning Green recently added
guides, tips on going green, illustrated
and New York collaborated with
a whole new dimension with Project
product recommendations and other
several organic beauty companies to
Green Dorm, because, “We have
advice. Shils notes that the group’s
create and launch the first-ever line of
moved into all aspects of a teen’s life-
basic ($50) and premium ($100) care
organic skin and body care products
style, 24/7,’’ says Shils.
packages provide what a college stu-
specifically for teens. Named after
To set up a prototype green dorm,
dent needs to live a green life.
the group, the Teens Turning Green
the group rented space in a Marin
Members of Teens Turning Green
brand offers hand sanitizer, face wash,
County shopping mall and convinced
say that, along with living a greener
body lotion and other skin care prod-
more than 100 eco-friendly companies
life themselves, they want to convince
ucts that contain no toxins or other
nationwide to sell their products at
others to do so, as well. “To be able
chemicals believed to cause cancer
wholesale prices. They opened their
to help people change their lifestyles
or reproductive harm, according to
first retail shop this past July.
and have healthier options is really
Executive Director Judi Shils.
All items are made from either re-
rewarding,” says a smiling Whalen.
Everything in the teen line is
cycled or organic materials, including
“When people appreciate what we
organic and packaged in glass jars,
glass containers (no plastic) for pack-
are doing, that is what drives me to
without extra paper or cardboard ing a school lunch; organic cotton bed continue the work.”
packaging. Initial sales have been sheets; banana fiber notebook paper;
good via the group’s original distribu- fair trade sports equipment; and shirts
Kristin Bender is a San Francisco Bay
tion through Whole Foods Market’s made of silk, harvested using sustain-
Area freelance writer. Connect at
independent stores, reports Shils. able methods. Under the plan, Teens
KristinBender@comcast.net
Pr i n t e d o n re c y c l e d Pa P e r t o Pr o t e c t t h e en v i r o n m e n t
October 2009 35
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