Yala Shares Environmental Practices and Celebrates with an Earth Day Sale!

Rejoice, relax and rejuvenate knowing that Yala believes in the extra effort to make sure our products are sourced, produced and shipped environmentally and ethically. Learn more about what we do to ensure you are getting the best...

Electric Truck

Driving an electric truck is a conversation starter. People are curious and want to know more about it. We can share that it saves us 300 gallons of gas a year – carbon free and neighborhood friendly.

Green Shipping

How to ship in a responsible way: Shipping generates over 10% of the world’s green house gas emissions. Yala® is proud to partner with GreenShipping to make our shipments carbon neutral. GreenShipping's service allows businesses and individuals to ship in a carbon neutral manner by providing an accurate method to measure and offset the carbon footprint of their UPS, FedEx, USPS, and freight shipments. Yala offsets all inbound and outbound shipments.

Organic Trade Association and Green America
Green America and Organic Trade Association are two strong organizations that provide leadership and education with a vision to grow communities that are healthy and safe for generations to come. We are proud to be a member of both.

Oeko-Tex Certified
Our BambooDreams clothing and bedding is Oeko-Tex certified. This certification screens for harmful substances present in textiles. It guarantees the safety of our fabric and dyes and is an additional assurance that we are using environmentally friendly production methods.

Our fabric is dyed using only low impact, Azo-free dyes. We have seen how the dyed water is cleaned by micro-organisms and, after testing for purity, it is reused by the factory.

Certified Green Business
As a certified Green Business we continue to conserve resources, limit our waste as well as provide education for employees and the public.

Solar Pioneers
Recycling, reusing and capturing the energy of the sun. As members of Solar Pioneers, a program to increase solar generated electricity city wide, we are using the sun to meet a portion of our energy needs.



If you are in Ashland this weekend, be sure to swing by Science Works for and visit over 70 Exhibits to learn about energy conservation, solid waste reduction, local food and farms, green products and building materials, renewable electricity sources, transportation alternatives, and enjoy live entertainment & activities throughout the day.

We hope you have a wonderful Earth Day!

Until next time,

Lauren of Team Yala

11 Easy Ways to Kick the Plastic Habit by Green America

How long could you go without using plastic? Once you start thinking about it plastic is a staple in everyday life - you have to make an effort to avoid it! We are excited to share this reblog by Green America...

"11 Easy Ways to Kick the Plastic Habit"


 Replace common single-use plastics with these sturdy reusables, recommended by MyPlasticFreeLife.com‘s Beth Terry and the editors of the Green American.

Cloth Grocery Bags

1. Instead of accepting plastic bags at the grocery store, carry your own cloth grocery and produce bags. Choose stretchy string bags that carry many times their weight (ReuseIt.com), paper-thin organic cotton produce bags (BlueLotusGoods.com, EcoBags.com), compact recycled nylon bags that crush down to the size of two golf balls and fit in a bag or purse (Chicobags.com), and more.
Find more retailers in the “Bags/Baskets” category at GreenPages.org and at ShopGreenPages.org.

Reusable Stainless Steel Bottle

2. Give up plastic water bottles and carry your own unlined, reusable stainless steel bottle. Klean Kanteen (KleanKanteen.com) now offers a 100-percent plastic-free “Reflect” bottle, crafted from stainless steel, sustainably harvested bamboo, and food-grade silicone. Try an insulated steel bottle to keep your drinks hot in winter and cold in summer.
Find more at GreenPages.org, “Exercise/Sporting Goods” or “Housewares”, or at ShopGreenPages.org.

Reusable Food Containers

3. Bring your own reusable food containers to buy builk items at the store and when you’re ordering take-out. To-GoWare.com offers stainless steel “tiffin” boxes with two or three compartments. LifeWithoutPlastic.com sells stainless ssteel and glass “Tupperware”-like containers, lunchboxes, and more. And Dr. Wallace J. Nichols funds his sea turtle research in part through sales of the “Sporklace” (Sporklace.com), an attractive metal spork on a chain that functions as to-go silverware and a conversation starter.
Find more at GreenPages.org, “Housewares”, or at ShopGreenPages.org.

Plastic-Free Three-Ring Binders

4. When buying supplies for school or the office, choose plastic-free three-ring binders, notebooks, badges, folders, CD cases, and office labels from companies like ReBinder (ReBinder.com). ReBinder’s products are made from recycled cardboard and can be recycled again at the end of their useful life.
Find more at GreenPages.org, “Office/Desk Supplies.”

Reusable Sandwich Wrappers and Snack Bags  

5. Eliminate the need for plastic wrap or plastic “ziploc” bags with reusable sandwich wrappers and snack bags, like the plastic-free, organic cotton snack and sandwich bags from GrazeOrganic.com and EcoDitty.com. For more moisture-proofing, SnackTaxi (SnackTaxi.com) sandwich/snack sacks are made of cotton with a nylon-coated interior. (The company plans to use recycled nylon and organic cotton in the future.) Find more at GreenPages.org, “Children” and “Housewares,” or ShopGreenPages.org.

The Keeper

6. Women can jump on the plastic-free train by choosing reusable cloth menstrual pads (GladRags.com, Lunapads.com) in a variety of sizes. Also, replace tampons with washable sea sponges (JadeandPearl.com), or reusable silicone or natural latex menstrual cups like the Keeper (theKeeper.com), the Moon Cup (MoonCup.com), Lunette (Lunette.com), or Diva Cup (DivaCup.com).
Find more at GreenPages.org, “Women.”

Reusable Glass Straws

7. When you purchase a cold beverage to go, refuse to accept a single-use plastic straw. Instead, whip out one of Glass Dharma’s reusable glass straws (cleaning brush included). If you see a crack in your straw, Glass Dharma (GlassDharma.com) will replace it for free.

Cosmetic Glass Jars with Metal Lids

8. Most body-care products are packaged in plastic. Find minimally packaged shampoo bars from companies like GoodEarthSoap.com and OregonSoapCompany.com. If you have hard water, ask the retailer for advice on how to use shampoo bars effectively. RMS Beauty (RMSBeauty.com) offers cosmetics in glass jars with metal lids.

Sponges and Cloths

9. Avoid synthetic sponges, which are often made from foamed plastic and wrapped in plastic. Consider replacing them with Skoy cloths (SkoyCloth.com; available at ReUseIt.com), super-absorbent cleaning cloths made from cotton and cellulose. Machine-washable, long-lasting Skoy Cloths are compostable at the end of their useful life.Find more at ShopGreenPages.org. 

 Reusable “Dry Cleaning” Bag

10. Even the greenest professional clothes cleaner may package your garments in a single-use plastic bag. Stop the waste with the Green Garmento reusable “dry cleaning” bag (GreenGarmento.com). It acts as a regular laundry bag you can use ina hamper. Pull out the handle and zip up the top, and it’s a large tote in which to carry your dirty clothes to the cleaners. And turn it upside-down, and it becomes a garment bag! Use coupon code GREENAMERICABOGO to buy one Green Garmento for $9.99 and get one free.

Recyclable Toothbrush

11. Try a recyclable toothbrush. The Preserve toothbrush, made from recycled #5 plastic, is zero-waste. Once you’re finished with your Preserve brush (or the company’s tongue cleaners, razors, and kitchen products), drop it off at your local Gimme 5 dropbox for #5 plastics at participating Whole Foods stores and food co-ops, or mail it back to Recycline. The company closes the waste loop by turning returned items into plastic lumber. (http://www.preserveproducts.com/)

Thanks again to Green America for a wonderful blog!

Until next time,

Lauren of Team Yala

Natural Body has the only Platinum LEED Certified Day Spa in the U.S. And they have Yala too!

Have you ever been to a spa that is certified by Green America, Earth Share, Green Spa Network and U.S. Green Building Council? Not to mention opening the first & only platinum LEED certified day spa in the US, Natural Body is a leader in the green spa and green business communities.

Cici Coffee and Patti Beggs founded Natural Body in 1989, back at a time when hardly anyone had heard of a “day spa”. Nineteen years and twenty-one spas later, their vision of providing natural, nurturing services and products to their clients while helping the environment is stronger than ever.

We are proud to have Yala product in these spas that align with our business practices and lifestyle. As members of the Organic Trade Association, Green America, Green Shipping and being Oeko-Tex certified, Yala product fits perfectly in Natural Body Spas. Plus, our organically grown Bamboo Dreams® fabric is so silky soft, it's the perfect thing to slip into after treating your skin!

Natural Body strives to use sustainable materials at all of their spas, "More than just natural services and some of the most coveted natural products on the market, we utilize recycled products. The newsletter and spa menus are printed on recycled paper with soy ink. Plus, as much as possible, the spas incorporate recycled, post consumer building materials in their construction. Many of the floors are crafted with recycled school bus tires, among other recycled waste."

You will be delighted to find Yala pieces at Natural Body Spas, such as our beautiful new Bamboo Dreams® Piper Dress. Perfect for summer, fall or winter, it is both form-fitting and flattering. Gathering along the side seams caresses your curves in just the right way to accentuate but never exaggerate. Paired with our Bamboo Dreams® Full Length Leggins - it will feel like heaven after a Natural Body treatment!

Until next time,

Team Yala

Top 10 Things Green America Says to Never Buy Again

Ever feel like there are so many corporations jumping on the “green” bandwagon that it’s hard to tell which is the best to go with? Make sure to look out for credible certifications such as Green America to ensure you know exactly how your money is being spent. Yala is proud to be a member of Green America, as well as the Organic Trade Association and partners with Green Shipping.

 In order to qualify to be listed in Green America’s National Green Pages Yala had to submit an application to demonstrate that we…                               

Yala's Electric Truck

1. Focus on using business as a tool for positive social change.
2. Are "values-driven," as well as profit-driven.
3. Are socially and environmentally responsible in the way we source, manufacture, and market our products and run our offices and factories.
4. Are committed to and employ extraordinary and innovative practices that benefit: 

• Workers
• Communities
• Customers
• The Environment

Inspired? Check out Green America’s Top 10 Things You Should Never Buy Again. Follow the link to find out why not to purchase these things and what alternatives you can buy instead...

1. Styrofoam cups

 
2. Paper towels

3. Bleached coffee filters

4. Over packaged foods and other products

 

5. Teak and mahogany




6. Chemical pesticides and herbicides




7. Conventional household cleaners



8. Higher octane gas than you need




9. Toys made with PVC plastic

10. Plastic forks and spoons


You can also join Green America today as an individual, business or institution by visiting their website.

We have learned that partnerships grow through honest and open communication, no matter where you live in this world. We are committed to maintaining strong ties to the factories and workers who make our products by visiting the factories, speaking with the workers, and celebrating special occasions. We value our friends and partners around the world.

And we continue to learn!

Until Next Time,

Team Yala