Through the American Ecolo, Hélène Crié-Wiesner, a former French journalist based in the United States since the year 2000, paints the portray of a new America, she emphasizes in the notions of sustainable and environmental development.

The new American era
Marked by three events, the World Trade Center’s September 11^th attacks in 2011, the Katrina hurricane on august 2005, and the victory of Barack Obama on November 2008´s elections, the country seems to be entering a new era. Following Katrina and Al Gore’s films in 2006, An inconvenient truth, the global warming issue has come to stay within the nation. Inspite of this, Americans are still practicing their awful habits, but on the bright side, they now have a bit greener conscience.

Book “American Ecolo – Les Américains et l’environnement: chroniques du meilleur et du pire”, of Hélène Crié-Wiesner. Editions Delachaux et Niestlé. 16€.

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Here is an interesting way to combine greed with fashion, and still respect the environment. Nahui Ollin creates bags and accessories made in recycled candy wrap. Packages are taken in rolls in food industries and, instead of being thrown away or burnt because of their non-compliance, are reused in fashion accessories. Note that to create a bag, it takes 1 to 4 days and 150 to 4000 candies wraps. This Mexican designer has founded her eponymous brand in 2003 which, since then, became a leader in ethical fashion thanks to a colored and ultra trendy style. Proof of this is seen in the Comics series (super heroes), Floral, Groovy, Tootsie Pop, Black & White or Leopard. Simple stroll during the day or red carpet outing during the evening, there is something for everyone! Are you going to fall for them ?

Nahui Ollin bags and accessories are for sale on the official website.

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This is the motto of l’Allée du Recyclage. This new permanent exhibition area, settled in the bowels of the Paris subway, is dedicated to recycling and sorting trash. They teach us right things to do and benefits of this selective waste sorting. Did you know that, the heart of Paris is one of the dirtiest place in France? Now, these used packaging are transformed as raw materials that artists and craftmen will reuse to create something new, useful or useless. This special art gallery, organized by Fabrice Peltier, founder of the DESIGNPACK GALLERY, shows everyday art items, furnitures, lights, and clothes made with rubbish. The result is amazing and demostrates that a new recycling era is born.

Free entrance from Monday to Saturday from 11am to 7pm.

L’Allée du recyclage
Métro Palais Royal – Musée du Louvre
Entrance at conseil d’état subway 1 and 6

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Paris, famed as the city of lights and of fashion, is also a gastronomic Mecca. Recently declared part of the world’s heritage, French haute cuisine is a nice story that deserves to be told and retold. At Astrance, a three-Michelin-star restaurant overlooking the capital, you will understand the true meaning of “bliss”. The food overseen by Chef Pascal Barbot and the customised waiting service led by Christophe Rohat will definity take you to total Nirvana! Expect nothing less than a pure delight for the palate, with rich flavours exploding in the mouth, as well as for the eyes, with views over the capital. Coming out only with the desire to return soon – it can become almost like an addiction. A success thanks to the close cooperation between Pascal Barbot and Christophe Rohat, two artists of a kind who met at Alain Passard, no less!

Closed Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays.
Lunch set menus: 70€ and 120€, 310€ with matching wine.

Photo credit: François-Régis Gaudry

L’Astrance
4, rue Beethoven
75016 Paris
France
T. : +33.(0)1.40.50.84.40

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Having seen knitted garments on the catwalk, the fashionistas have decided it’s time to put some knitted items back on. Eco-friendly, knitting makes you focus on creating only what you really need. The tiny shop Elle Tricote in the street of rue Duban is a world entirely dedicated to the art of knitting, cross-stitching and crocheting. The shop assistant will guide you through your first attempt at knitting, helping you pick the right wool, and the most suitable kit. We especially love the wooden needles with their hand-painted dotty ends. Now, the incomprehensible knitting jargons used by your grandmother will be no secrets for you!

Open Monday from 2 pm to 6:30 pm, and Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 6:30 pm.
V

Elle Tricote
7, rue Duban
75016 Paris
France
T. : +33.(0)1.45.20.11.80
elletricote@wanadoo.fr

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Headquarters of the organic, the adorable little boutique of Aline is the strategic meeting spot of all eco-friendly shoppers! In a quiet area of Paris, a few steps away from the Seine, Bio & Bien-être is an invitation to discover organic farming. In a cheerful and friendly atmosphere, customers run into each other among the shelves full of green products: mosquito repellent spray, Celtic water spritzers, birch sap, fresh fruit… A pleasant shambles respectful of the world, the environment and yourself!

Bio et Bien-être
19, place Jeanne d’Arc
75013 Paris
France
T. :+33.(0)9.77.00.23.44.

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For nearly 15 years, Valérie Roubaud and Patrick Lions have been working on an idea: making the East and the Provence meet through fragrances filled with memories. Since then, the dream came true with the creation of the brand Terre d’Oc with products sold at Nature & Découvertes and now also in a charming boutique with exposed stones, paneling and colors of Provence, located in the Abbesses area. Spice, flower or ocean-scented home fragrances, “Nature after the rain”, “Frangipani flowers” candles, cinnamon tea from Sri Lanka, white tea from the Fujian… natural products with scents as exotic as pleasant. All the cosmetics are certified organic and the brand sponsors several GNOs worldwide. A great place to treat yourself to an eco-friendly lifestyle.

Open from Tuesday to Friday from 11.30 am to 2 pm and from 3 to 7.30 pm.
Open on weekends from 11.30 am to 7.30 pm.

Photo Credit : ©OlivierMESNAGE

Photo Credit : ©OlivierMESNAGE

Photo Credit : ©OlivierMESNAGE

Boutique Terre d’Oc
38, rue des Abbesses
75018 Paris
France
T. : +33.(0)1.55.79.02.53

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According to a recent report of France Nature Environnement (FAO), each French person throws away an average of 20kg of food each year (including 7kg of unopened products). Even worse: between the time of the harvest and the time the product reaches our plates, an estimated 55% of global production goes to waste. Beyond the ethical aspect of the problem, this important figure leads to ecological consequences, notably with the use of soils, water and unnecessary waste. Still according to the FAO, 90% of people don’t have any idea of the amount of wasted food. For instance, did you know that the equivalent of a bathtub full of water is necessary to make one baguette? An awareness program in schools would be a good start to grasp the importance of this waste. There are yet simple tricks to avoid throwing away food. For example, store your food in the right place in the refrigerator for a better preservation, use left-overs (by making French toast or soup), rather buy products by the slice and in bulk or make a shopping list of what you’re really missing at home.

See more eco-friendly tricks on www.trucsbio.com/-Conservation- (in French)

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Colin Beavan, New Yorker writer lives with his wife and daughter in Greenwich Village, the “bobo” area of Manhattan. He was far from being ecofriendly, in fact, he was a mass consumer! Yet, one day, everything changed. He decided to act as he could to reduce his carbon footprint, hence the title “No impact man”. Progressively, proceeding step by step (loss of packaging, use of only organic and local products, recycling, meeting with other men and women leading the same fight as him…), this man, who could be us, revolutionized his and his family’s everyday life entirely, even going as far as living with no electricity for several months! This chronicle, as instructive as funny and captivating, leads us to question our very own role faced with the major environmental challenges we face worldwide. Colin brings us proof in a very concrete way that we can all act by taking drastic measures in our everyday life, and foremost how these changes can enrich our lives.

Book “No impact man“ by Colin Beavan. 10/18 Editions. €8,20

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Taking care of themselves is a full-time occupation for many women. “Ma Beauté Bio” teaches you how to have shiny hair, a slim waist, how to erase crow’s feet, get rid of cellulite and shares secrets to sleep better, all of that in a natural way! Professional advice and custom recipes depending on your skin or hair type and lifestyle, as well as true stories to discover new ideas are on the program of this complete book on beauty, organic style. The two authors are passionate. Anne Ghesquière spent her childhood surrounded by wilderness, on the island of Noirmoutier. This is where she gathered recipes, advice and tricks to preserve vitality in a green way. Marie de Foucault is very concerned about protecting the environment. Both work for the FemininBio.com website.

“Ma Beauté Bio : astuces, recettes et conseils d’expert”, by Marie de Foucault and Anne Ghesquière. “Ma vie en bio” collection – Eyrolles Edition. €12,26.