sustainable style foundation*

California record store Amoeba Music -- with locations in Hollywood, San Francisco and Berkeley -- recently introduced "The Big Green Box" at its Hollywood location, encouraging customers to bring in their old electronics and gadgets for recycling instead of a trip to the landfill. Amoeba is also featuring a "Think Green" section on their website, with ten steps for a greener future, including "drive less," "recycle more," "check your tires" and "change a lightbulb." To make that last step easier, they sell CFLs alongside their rows and rows of music, which includes used CDs, LPs and DVDs that it buys and resells. They'll even put your new tunes in a biodegradable plastic bag! [Amoeba Music]

(RED) is a new idea launched to work alongside the growing ONE Campaign to Make Poverty History. If you buy a (RED) product from GAP, Motorola, Armani, Converse or Apple, they will give up to 50% of their profit to The Global Fund to buy AIDS drugs for mothers and children in Africa. Bono writes,"(RED) is the consumer battalion gathering in the shopping malls. It's a different kind of fashion statement." Personal expression to the power of (RED)...now that's sustainable style at it's best. [(product)red]

Reusable books, CDs, DVDs and software can be donated to this nonprofit for a tax deduction. Profits from selling these goods on Eco Encore's Online Store are given to nineteen environmental non-profit organizations in the Puget Sound region. Eco Encore is dedicated to treading lightly on the earth. They utilize recycled and used paper whenever possible, and ship packages through the U.S. Postal Service, which they believe to be the most environmentally efficient system. [Eco Encore]

A full-line music store, offering a wide variety of New, Used, and Vintage musical equipment in every department, The Trading Musician offers a great way to create music in the most sustainable way possible. They buy, sell and trade new, used and vintage musical equipment. [The Trading Musician]

Gen Art is the leading arts and entertainment organization dedicated to showcasing emerging fashion designers, filmmakers, musicians and visual artists. Gen Art strives to provide access to the film, fashion, art and music worlds for those that are interested in these areas, but often are intimidated and made to feel unwelcomed by the exclusive nature of these art / entertainment realms. They enjoy life to the fullest. [Gen Art]

Pop Sustainability uses popular culture-such as film, fashion, music, sports and food - to deliver a message that communicates to the most culturally influential sector of society today - young adults. Pop Sustainability is building a critical mass of commitment to sustainability among young people, thereby causing measurable progress in social, environmental and economic conditions-changing minds will change the planet. [Pop Sustainability]

The North American World Music Coalition's mission is to provide a forum for the advocacy, public awareness and economic viability of world music in all its forms. The Coalition unites and formalizes several ad hoc groups working to strengthen the viability of world music in North America. [World Music Coalition]

Urban Outfitters and Filter Magazine have put together a superb compiliation to help in a desperate situation. 100% of the proceeds from the sale of the album will go to UNICEF to help victims of the recent Tsunami disaster. The CD features rare, unreleased and live tracks donated by some of our favorite artists. Artists include Death Cab, Interpol and Rilo Kiley. [Tsunami Relief CD]

Fauna & Flora International’s SoundWood programme works to safeguard the future of threatened tree species used to make musical instruments. SoundWood wants to see these timber trees used in sustainable ways. It wants to see people who depend on the forests benefit from the valuable timber they contain, and it wants musicians and music lovers to be able to continue to enjoy beautiful instruments. The underlying premise of SoundWood is that when forests are managed wisely, trade can support rather than damage conservation efforts. [SoundWood]

Jill Sobule belongs to a rare breed of artists. Her work is at once deeply personal and socially conscious, seriously funny and derisively tragic. Over five albums and a decade of recording, the Denver-born songwriter/guitarist/singer has tackled such topics as the death penalty, anorexia, shoplifting, reproduction, the French resistance movement, adolescence, and the Christian right. No sloganeering flag-and-fist waving here, but rather story songs about human beings, real and imagined, which allow us to step back from the issue, be it personal or social, and relate to it as we would a close friend. [Jill Sobule]

Reverb's aim is to raise awareness and support for the environment by connecting touring bands and their fan-base to environmental issues and organizations via an interactive eco-village. A completely self-sufficient complement to a musician’s tour, they consist of alternative energy technologies, enviro-friendly products and voter registration. The eco-village's goal is to enhance the overall concert experience while educating and inspiring fans. Current participants include Avril Lavigne, The Dave Matthews Band and Alanis Morissette. [REVERB]

There are healthy alternatives and viable technologies that can help us to tread more lightly on the Earth. On Bonnie Raitt's 2005 tour, all buses and trucks are running on biodiesel and 30 of the 39 shows will be offset 100% by wind energy to make this tour as climate neutral as possible. At each of the theaters you'll discover the "Green Highway" display along with environmental organizations and green partners that are making an impact to improve our collective future. [Green Highway]

The premier alternative marketing firm for the natural and organic industry, MusicMatters has supported several critical and urgent causes and is continuing to do so by strategically combining pop culture, activism and marketing. By strategically aligning and promoting non-profits, entertainers, and values-led businesses, MusicMatters can activate fans and customers to effect change and contribute to forming a positive future. [MusicMatters]

Linkin Park and the American Red Cross have formed Music For Relief to help provide emergency funds to tsunami victims and their families. To ensure that funds donated through Music for Relief continue to be spent on the re-building of South-East Asia, they are now partnering with UNICEF and Habitat for Humanity. Both foundations are continuing relief efforts in the areas hardest hit by the tsunami. [Music for Relief]

Sarah McLachlan’s poignant song and powerful video for ‘World on Fire’ made an artistic statement and benefitted many less-fortunate people. Sarah took the production costs for her video and donated them to worthy causes all around the world, choosing to simply play her guitar and utilize her time on air to showcase how the production money could be spent on charity instead of on a music video. [Sarah McLachlan]