Diane MacEachern, founder and CEO of Big Green Purse, is passionate about using the marketplace to protect the environment. To that end, she tells consumers what to buy so they can push manufacturers to be green. She also tells manufacturers how to be green so they can pull consumers into step behind environmentally friendly products.
Diane has launched the only company in the U.S. focused specifically on harnessing women’s enormous consumer clout for the benefit of the environment. Her Web site, www.biggreenpurse.com, encourages women to
“use your purse” to green the marketplace by choosing products whose use or manufacture have the greatest environmental impact.
Diane’s best-selling "Save Our Planet: 750 Everyday Ways You Can Help Clean Up the Earth" was featured on national television programs ranging from CNN Headline News to ALive with Regis and Kathie Lee. She has written for Good Housekeeping, The Washington Post, Family Circle, Self, Christian Science Monitor, Ladies Home Journal, Reader’s Digest, First for Women, Baltimore Sun, Country Living, MoveOn’s "50 Ways to Love Your Country" and many more. She is also the author of "Enough is Enough! The Hellraiser's Guide to Community Activism: How to Organize a Successful Campaign for Change," and "Beat High Gas Prices Now! The Fastest, Easiest Ways to Save $20-$50 Every Month on Gasoline."
Diane earned a master's degree from the School of Natural Resources and Environment at the University of Michigan. She is vice-chair of the board of directors for the Alaska Wilderness League, where she is part of the team working to protect America’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from oil drilling. She lives in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area in the energy-efficient home she helped design and build more than 20 years ago.
Recent Stories
Eco-friendly grilling tips & recipes
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Does Memorial Day launch your summer barbecue season? Try these ideas for a barbecue Mother Nature herself would love.
Eco-easy Mother's Day
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Mother's Day (as well as Father's Day) is a "no gift" day in our house. That being said, my children find it unacceptable not to give me anything. And truth be told, I always want to honor my own mother in some way, especially since we live 500 miles apart.
An Eco Easter
Monday, March 17, 2008
Rather than plastic grass, cheap baskets and gummy candy, you can enjoy an eco-friendly Easter that fits right in with the arrival of Spring.
Brilliant "green" jewelry
Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008
My husband surprised me with a beautiful diamond and sapphire-studded wedding band to commemorate our 25th anniversary. What made the ring even more special was that it was manufactured by a company that crafts its jewelry from recycled gold and earth-friendly gems.
Eco Undies, Sustainable Socks, Roses and Chocolates
Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008
Switching to clothes made from organic cotton can be a challenge. Most mall stores still don't carry much, and ordering online can be a hassle if the clothes don't fit and you need to return them.
Shopping for "green" spring clothes
Friday, Jan. 18, 2008
Buying clothes can consume a big chunk of your budget - especially if you have kids and teenagers. New clothes also take their toll on the planet, given how much water, pesticides and energy it takes to produce cotton, polyester and other fabrics. Meanwhile, "out of style" clothes can end up in the trash even though they still have a lot of life left in them.
Have a 'green' Christmas!
Friday, Dec. 7, 2007
Searching for an organic Christmas tree or the next best thing? Have we got options for you!
Shift your spending and make a difference
Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007
The Big Green Purse "One in a Million" Campaign is urging a million women to shift $1,000 of money they'd spend in a year anyway to green products and services that can help protect the environment.
Toys you can trust
Get the lead out
Friday, Sept. 14, 2007
Though millions of toys have been recalled because the paint they were decorated with contained dangerous lead, don't despair. There are plenty of safe and healthy games, dolls, blocks and figurines to offer the children in your life.
Dishwashing dilemma
Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2007
Guess what? There's no restriction on the phosphorus content of dishwashing detergents, which may contain as much as 30 or 40 percent phosphorus.