New to the market: Moto Renew

The first mobile phone in the world made using the plastic of recycled water bottles (you knew it was coming), the Moto W233 Renew, is truly and quite literally green. Palm-sized and portable, it's also carbon-neutral, meaning Motorola has funded environmental programs to offset the carbon emissions created during the manufacturing of the phone.

Naturally, you'll want to charge it using a Solio solar charger. And just as it is in the beginning, the end of Moto Renew's life leads to something new. That's right: The 2GB phone can be completely recycled. (Find full details here. $51 for T-Mobile.)

On the topic of dying phones, don't think your digital dinosaur is best off in the junk drawer. Do some good and send it to Recellular, who will dissect it and reuse every salvageable piece their zero waste initiative.

It's that time again...

Just like last year, we're celebrating our favorite holiday with a juicy round-up of fresh-picked eco news straight from the web. Here are some of our favorite picks for inspirational stories that will have you packing a suitcase before you submit for the time off.

Are we missing a great article that you found (or wrote)? Drop us a comment and we'll post the link.

Green, mainstream and A hybrid for a day (Budget Travel)
Hotel chains that have eco'd up and tips on hybrid car rentals

Earth Day signals a trend in eco travel (New York Daily News)
Don't say we didn't tell you it would catch on soon enough...

Volunteer for the planet (Grist)
"Screw Earth Day" and make every day count with voluntourism

Guilt-free getaways (New York Times)
Service, value and personal fulfillment: An easy recession vacation?

Authentic shopping guide (National Geographic Travel)
Grab handcrafted goods on your next excursion

National Parks in pictures (Away.com)
A stunning reminder of travel uninterrupted

Ecotourist hot spots (Sherman's Travel)
A round up of trendy destinations, including Botswana and Antarctica

The best adventures of 2009 (Outside)
The most droolworthy, wanderlust-inducing trips of this year

Community-based tourism: going native (Ode Magazine)
Turn travel as you know it on its head by leaving hotels and going local

Best save-the-earth trips (Travel + Leisure)
This slideshow takes you from India to China on missions for the better good

Of course, in true ecotourism form, don't ever forget that sometimes, your own backyard can be the most interesting of destinations.

Green Giveaway: Reusable Picalili Bag

Groceries? Library? Farmer's Market?

Whatever your dilemma, Picalili's got a bag that serves as the solution. Above, is the Black Pop-Out-Bag, a reusable shopping tote that--in addition to being easy on the eyes--collapses into an attached "pocket" for extra easy storage in the console of your car of bottom of your purse.

These lightweight, shiny shoppers offer reinforced handles to cart around that half gallon of orange juice and if it springs a leak, there's no need to worry: the bag is machine washable. (Whew.)

WIN IT!
Want one of your own? Simply leave your name and e-mail below for a chance to win one of two Black Pop Out Bags (MSRP: $25) from Picalili. Naturally, they're made in the USA.

One entry per person, per day allowed. US residents only. Contest runs from April 18, 2009 - April 30, 2009. Winner chosen at random. Know that we will never share or use your e-mail for any reason other than to contact winning participants.

How do you celebrate?

Wednesday is Earth Day and I'm curious to know, how do you celebrate?

I'll be hitting the daily grind from 9-5 on Wednesday and am looking for some ways to spruce things up around the "office," get people to feel the green, you know? Of course, this weekend, I'll be dropping by my local festival, the Earth Day Expo in Rochester, Mich., to check out what's happening close to home - versus my usual global travel beat.

What's going on in your neck of the woods and what are you doing at work and home to keep the Earth under our feet in perspective?

Share your tips and suggestions for making Earth Day 2009 the best yet!

Suitcase Staple: 3-in-1 Bamboo Cleansing Cloths

Sometimes I come across a product that just makes life easier. When that's the case, I almost always become a lifetime devotee... and that's just what happened when I began using Kaia Bamboo Facial Cleansing Cloths.

Incredibly soft to the touch, these "cashmere" cloths are made of sustainable bamboo and combine eye makeup remover, facial cleanser and toner, allowing for one sweet sweep before you hit the sheets. Infused with eight pure citrus essential oils, organic Canadian honey, sunflower seed oil, oat amino acids and fatty alcohol that won't dry skin, Kaia's cloths are natural, non-harmful to the environment and are unbleached, biodegradable and recyclable. To stay moist, they're housed in a snap-shut reusable container.

Perfectly packable for travel, these quick-clean cloths were too tempting to save - even on my dry skin. I've used them all up and only took advantage of the space savings on one weekend getaway. But that's okay; I'm already on board to order more. My only request? A refill size that I can load into my original snap-shut container.

Available exclusively in the US at http://www.futurenatural.com/.

Price: $18 for a pack of 30 cloths.

KEEN Community: I like it

Connections. They're everywhere. EVERYWHERE. The web is such a vast, infinite space that it's alarming the number of veins that branch out and connect one person to another.

On that note, another platform enters the mix. This one, HybridLife, was developed by footwear brand KEEN, a socially responsible manufacturer that prides itself in furthering "hybrid lifestyles" of sole-happy customers. Not to mention their shoes are solid gear great for travel - check out the blog. When I heard that they'd launched their own social network: HybridLife, I decided to check it out. I like. In fact, my profile is here.

Interested in the end goal of "inspiring positive change?" Join here. Then send me your link.

Top 10 Ecommodations, according to Trip Advisor

Online travel booking site Trip Advisor released its top ten list for green accommodations today, populated with a nice mix of highly-regarded lodging, I must say. Nice job. That goes to the site editors and the travelers like you who rate the properties online.

So who made the cut?

Eco-Adventure: Hamanasi Adventure and Dive Resort, Hopkins, Belize
Terra Firma: Hotel Terra Jackson Hole, Teton Village, Wyoming
Organic Accommodations: La Cusinga Eco Lodge, Uvita, Costa Rica
Tree House: Morgan's Rock Hacienda & Ecolodge, San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua
Preservation Place: The Ambrose Hotel, Santa Monica, California
Nature Nook: Hix Island House, Isla de Vieques, Puerto Rico
Wildlife by the Water: Alaska's Sadie Cove Wilderness Lodge, Homer, Alaska
Conservation with Coffee: Finca Rosa Blanca Coffee Plantation and Inn, Santa Barbara, Costa Rica
Sustainability Under the Stars: Concordia Eco-Tents, Virgin Islands National Park, St. John
Paint the Town Green: Hotel Monaco Seattle – a Kimpton Hotel, Seattle, Washington

Have you stayed at any of the above? I can vouch for Kimpton Hotels, but that's about it. Share your experiences!

More Green on the Worldwide Web

Grist lauches its new website! (Grist)
The eco mag celebrates 10 years with a new beta site

Is this the Golden Age of green travel? (Nat'l Geographic Adventure)

Sustainable Travel Panel Answers FAQs (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
Great nuggets of info from some leading green decision makers

Mind Altering Vacations - Literally (Concierge.com)
Not-so eco-related, but interesting all the same. From kava to magic shrooms.

April is Virginia Green Travel month
Info and events here

Top Green Destinations (Travel Answer Man)
Do you agree?

100 Can't Miss Adventure Travel Bargains for '09 (Smarter Travel)

And the winners are...

Congrats to:

• Laura Lincks of New York City
• Alline Anderson of Rutledge, Missouri
• Lisa Hinkle of Dwale, Kentucky

These lucky ladies will score a copy of Bo Parfet's new book: Die Trying. Be sure to share your feedback, we're always eager for second opinions!