Gisele Bundchen is arguably the world's top model, earning millions (and millions) of dollars each year (in fact, the Guinness Book of World Records has bestowed the title of "World's Richest Supermodel" upon her).

Underneath the flawless exterior however is Gisele's desire to raise environmental awareness. For the past few years, she has collaborated with Brazilian flip-flop designer Ipanema to design a line of sandals as part of the Ipanema Gisele Bundchen G2B collection. The line has been incredibly successful, with last year's sell-out collection raising thousands of dollars for the Kisedje Tribal Campaign. The 2008 collection will be used to promote awareness about water preservation and a portion of the proceeds from the sales of the sandals will be donated to organizations such as WWF to support these efforts.

To further enhance the eco-friendly message, the shoes are 100 per cent vegan and 99 per cent of any excess material remaining from the manufacturing of the sandals are recycled. The shoes are also 100 per cent recyclable. Best of all, the flip-flops in Gisele's collection are incredibly affordable, ranging in price from approximately US$20 to US$45.

Visit the official Ipanema G2B website to order one (or five) pairs for yourself.

» Ipanema Flip Flops (Official Site)

Not only is it hard to believe it's already May, but Mother's Day is already less than a week away! There's no need to panic (yet) if you haven't given thought to finding the perfect gift for mom since you still have six days left. However, don't develop the Christmas mentality and wait until the day before to start shopping either. That tends to result in an impulse purchase that may reflect desperation more than thoughtfulness. Instead, check out our green gift ideas over the course of the next few days and let them inspire you to pick out something she'll not only love because it's from her child (or children), but be able to enjoy for its earth-friendly qualities as well.

This Kimono Robe by Under the Canopy is made from 100% organic cotton and is thankfully a one-size-fits-all gift, so you don't have to worry about trying to figure out sizing ("Well I think she'd take a large, but do I stick with a small since buying a large may seem insulting?" Sigh.). There are also three beautiful colors to pick from and the robe is on sale for $36! Green and affordable, could it be any more perfect? Well possibly: the company offers expedited shipping so you can avoid the nail-biting fear your gift won't arrive in time for the big day.

» Under The Canopy (Official Site)

If you've ever lost a favorite shirt to the drool and spit-up that inevitably occurs while burping your baby, than has Burp Armor ever got great news for you. The company offers ergonomic burp cloths that have enough traction to stay-put on your shoulder, meaning they won't shift at a crucial moment and leave you covered in your baby's *ahem* residue.

Not only the cloths stay in their proper place, they're made using all-natural materials such as organic cotton and sustainable hemp and are pre-washed in organic soap to mirror the soft feeling and absorbency of cloth diapers. Two layers of fleece soak up any fluids unexpectedly hurled at you and a third layer of corduroy provides the aforementioned traction to keep the cloth from slipping.

The concept of the cloths was developed by a new father who was inspired after staying up with his newborn during a late-night feeding.

“The idea came to me one very late night after an especially ‘soggy’ feeding with my newborn son,” recalls Burp Armor Co-founder Mike Barclay. “I knew I wasn’t the only parent who could use a more comfortable, durable and practical burp cloth. The very next morning I started sketching our ideas … and the rest, you might say, is ‘burp history.’”

The cloths, which are made in the U.S., aren't the only aspect of Burp Armor that is eco-friendly; the company also uses recyclable packaging and soy-based inks. They also donate a portion of their proceeds to Children's Hospital Boston.

Hit the jump to find out if there's a store carrying Burp Armor near you or to order yours online.

» Burp Armor

If you're a parent with a young child, you probably know the pain - quite literally - of having to buy new shoes every few months for your growing offspring. Not only does it cost a small fortune to keep kids in shoes that fit properly, but it contributes to an awful lot of "shoe waste" as kids are in and out of new pairs as fast as their little sneakered feet will carry them.

A new technology called iFit used in the INCHworm shoes seeks to save parents some cash and and in the process, reduce the number of shoes that undoubtedly end up in landfills. The INCHworms can be expanded up to one entire size by pressing a button on the side of the shoe that extends its length. The shoes can can be adjusted in two half-size increments, for a total of one size. They also have a flexible plastic sole and uppers and can endure the most strenuous of activities that average child participates in. The nearly £50 (or almost $100US) price tag may seem a little hefty at first given the shoes will be gracing the feet of your family's smallest members, however the makers claim they will last anywhere from three to six months longer than the typical pair and could save nine million pairs of shoes annually if the trend caught on.

Maybe so, but that still seems a tad bit pricey for shoes. It might work on the assumption that your child only wears one pair of shoes for months at a time. Would you pay that much to keep your kids in shoes that lasted longer than the traditional ones they wear and is it worth it from an environmental angle?

» Daily Mail

Disposable diapers are so 2006; today's eco-conscious parent is gravitating toward the reusable kind to keep crap out of landfills (yes, I went there). The Sumo Baby Store can help get you started on the path of reusable baby products with their collection of diapers, as well as some clothing, made from earth-friendly, -- often recycled -materials.

The diapers feature materials such as Malden Mills WindPro Polar Fleece, organic cotton and wool, while the soakers made from Burley Knit Terry and Killington Flannel. The diapers contain handy fold-back laundry tabs that will protect other items in your washing machine when you go to clean the diapers. There are also double liners made from hemp and pure cotton flannel sold separately for the "heavy wetters" and babies prone to rashes in their nether regions. The Musubi Wool Soaker are made from recycled wood sweaters and cover fitted diapers, and keep leakage issues at bay. These soakers absorb moisture (a property wool is known for) and if the wool is properly lanolized, will not hold the smell of urine.

Diapers and related accessories aren't all that Sumo Baby offers; baby wipes made from velour, organic cotton or hemp are available too, as well as bibs containing adorable Asian prints on one side and a silk blend or hemp on the other side.

Several of Sumo Baby's products can be custom-ordered for the baby with discerning tastes, so hit the jump to discover more about the products they offer.

» Sumo Baby Store

It's time to shed that heavy winter jacket in favor of something lighter for spring. Uniqlooks has you covered (literally!) with a selection of scarves and stoles that are eco-friendly and a great option for the seasonal transition.

The cashmere scarves are light-weight and free of chemicals, so you won't have to worry about the material irritating your skin. Even more unique (as the company name would suggest) are the nettle scarves and stoles made from - you guessed it - the leaves of stinging nettles. Nettle is a plant that can be easily grown and is commonly found in gardens. Since it requires little water and offers protection from pests, the growing of nettle is considered far more earth-friendly than other crops such as cotton, which uses pesticides unless it is grown organically. The nettle products offered by Uniqlooks are available in a range of colors and can be used to dress up your jeans or add a splash of color to a little black dress. You wouldn't guess by looking at the wraps that the nettle they are made from is actually viewed as a weed in most gardens.

All of the products sold through Uniqlooks are handmade by Panchachuli Women Weavers India, a development program that facilitates economic and social independence for women living in the Indian Himalayas. More than 800 women in 32 villages are involved in the initiative, which uses traditional knitting and weaving methods to create high-quality products made from raw materials. The program is the largest independent women's cooperative in Uttaranchal, a state in North India, and the women involved not only receive regular wages for their work, but are also shareholders in the cooperative. The cooperative is registered under section 25 of the Companies Act of India, ensuring the company has a clear social objective and that all profits made are used for that purpose.

Pinky's Pick: Nettle stole with organic silk backing in pink.

Hit the jump to learn see Uniqlooks' collection of scarves and wraps and to learn more about the cooperative responsible for making the products available.

» Unique Looks

Banana Republic is not only donating one per cent of all online and in-store sales from April 22 through April 27 to Public Land, the retail chain has also introduced a line of clothing made with sustainable materials such as bamboo and organic cotton.

A word of caution to those seeking solely organic clothing: it seems only a small portion of some of the clothing items is actually composed of organic materials. The sleeveless ribbed tank top is made of 87% cotton, 8% spandex and 5% organic cotton. And since the tank is the only item labeled as eco-friendly currently available for viewing on the website, only time will tell how sustainable the collection actually is, as other pieces are eventually released.

Though Banana Republic may have some work to do on their clothing before accurately being able to label it "green" (shouldn't at least half of the material be organic to qualify as eco-friendly?), the company is introducing other green measures to the business. The shopping bags you receive when shopping in one of their stores contains 15% recycled material and the shoe boxes are made from 50% recycled material. Eventually the ticket tags attached to clothing will be made of 100% recycled material as well.

Retail locations now use energy-efficient halogen bulbs and flooring made from wood from sustainable forests certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. The company also plans to install a solar energy system in their Fresno, California distribution center. Since introducing green practices, the company claims to have achieved a 41% overall energy savings.

Though their tank top efforts may be a little weak, the company seems to be moving in the right direction by at least attempting to introduce some other eco-friendly initiatives. Hit the jump to learn more about Banana Republic's green efforts.

» Banana Republic (Official Site)

Looking for a good excuse to go shopping while easing the guilt of spending your hard-earned money? Banana Republic has a solution for you; from April 22 (Earth Day!) until April 27, the clothing chain will donate one per cent of in-store and online sales (up to $100,000) to Public Land, a non-profit organization committed to conserving green spaces in urban areas. You can also donate directly to The Trust for Public Land for any amount over $10.

Anyone living in the New York City or San Francisco areas can also sign up to volunteer for events co-sponsored by Banana Republic and Public Land. On April 27, volunteers will help prepare Visitacion Valley Greenway in San Francisco for its public grand opening this summer. The Greenway is a six-block stretch of parks, gardens and playgrounds and requires some landscaping, painting and general construction and maintenance to prepare for its busy season.

Also on April 27, New York residents can volunteer for one of several projects happening in the area, including cleaning, painting and gardening local schools and parks, also in prepartion of the summer.

Hit the jump to learn more about Banana Republic's Earth Week efforts, as well as to find out how you can become involved in their initiatives, whether as a shopper or volunteer!

» Banana Republic (Official Site)

Back in February scientists announced they had developed a new microfiber fabric that could produce electricity by using minimal movement of the human body. The electricity generated was powerful enough to charge a cell phone and other portable electronics. Now SilverStar Jeans, a small clothing company based in La Jolla, California, has extended that concept by inventing a pair of jeans that generates electricity using flatulence. It’s now a well-known fact that the methane released into the atmosphere from cow flatulence is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emission issues, (particularly in Australia), however it is a lesser known fact that humans actually come in third pace, behind cows and pigs, in regards to damaging gas emissions. Inspired by a California dairy farm's concept of turning cow farts into a source of renewable energy, SilverStar’s new BottomPower denim line uses a slim turbine to capture human emissions and convert them into stored electricity.

For those concerned about the social faux pas of passing gas, not to fear. SilverStar has taken this into account and developed a built-in muffling device and deodorizer. 

“We’re so pleased to introduce an innovative new product that allows you to feel good about contributing to the preservation of the environment, as opposed to feeling guilty when you break wind,” says SilverStar Jeans founder Anders Sloof.

The new line of denim won't be available until July, but you can pre-order your own pair by hitting the jump.

» SilverStar Jeans (Official Site)

You can boldly proclaim your committment to ec-friendly living without even saying a word with t-shirts by Under the Canopy. The company believes in using sustainable methods to produce their clothing and therefore all t-shirts are made from materials like organic fabrics and fabric blends such as organic cotton, soy and cotton angora. The collection is also made without the use of harsh chemicals and pollutants.

As further demonstration of their earth-conscious business practices, Under the Canopy donates 10 per cent of all of their proceeds to the Rainforest Foundation.

Pinky's Picks

Green is Groovy T-shirt

Conscious long-sleeve T-shirt

Aware Tee

Ananda long-sleeve T-shirt

» Under the Canopy (Official Site)