To save the environment is to save your ass, and a new underwear company is making both more comfortable. PACT, which launched last month, integrates organic materials and a low-impact manufacturing, shipping and shopping process to deliver comfort and style ... but not at the expense of the rainforests and ozone layer. Premium organic is poised to become the next iteration of conspicuous luxury (if it's not there already), and hiding a PACT product under your jeans could someday supplant a Patek-clad wrist.

Well, maybe that's wishful thinking from an ol' tree-hugger, but there is no doubt that the premium associated with environmentally friendly products is already beginning to carve out its own space in the world of luxury products.

Manufactured in Turkey – from the farming of organic cotton to finished product, all within a 100-mile radius – PACT underwear requires a lower level of carbon emissions to produce, and every link in the supply chain, the company says, is certified to exceed the highest environmental standards. Where no certification exists, PACT uses social expectations as its benchmark (and not the expectations of a guy who clubs seals for sport). Packaging for shipping bags is compostable and encloses another bag, made from cloth scraps and reusable.
The company eschews filler, plastic and big cardboard boxes.

"We looked at underwear through the lens of 360º design," says Jeff Denby, PACT Chief Creative Officer and Co-Founder. "Having fuseproject as an equity partner in PACT illuminates the fundamental importance of design to the PACT brand. Our collaboration is key to generating what we believe are the most innovative ideas at the intersection of business, design and sustainability."

Modern Spirits, makers of the TRU Organic line of spirits we wrote about last fall, has introduced Fruit Lab, a collection of artisanal, 100% organic liqueurs designed to facilitate making all-organic cocktails at home and in bars. The collection - which includes Citry (orange), Crism (hibiscus) and Theia (jasmine) - complements the growing number of organic vodkas, rums, gins and tequilas on the market.

"With Fruit Lab, we set out to bring the garden to the glass with whole, organic ingredients and complete hand processing for uncompromising quality," says Melkon Khosrovian, co-founder of Modern Spirits. Named after the company's Los Angeles production facility, "The Fruit Lab," where all TRU organic spirits are crafted, Fruit Lab Liqueurs are now available for $29 per 750ml bottle.

Citry combines the familiar aromas and flavors of fresh Valencia and naval oranges with the scent of Bergamot and sour orange. Crism is a powerful balance of the sweet-sour nature of hibiscus flowers with floral aromas and tangy berry flavors. Theia is described as "like a night garden infused with flowering jasmine" and makes a great champagne cocktail.

Similar to how TRU Organic Spirits plants a tree for every bottle sold, Fruit Lab will donate a percentage of proceeds to The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation, a San Diego-based nonprofit dedicated to planting edible, fruitful trees and plants to benefit needy populations and improve the surrounding air, soil, and water.

Lux Life Apparel recently launched an organic clothing site, Lux Green Living. (I know luxe is spelled with an "e," but this is how they spell it.) The site is just getting going, and for its first line is featuring Toggery by Kate D'Arcy, a simple, casual line with reasonable prices that the site calls "a fun, contemporary line that appeals to every body shape and is offered in all organic and sustainable luxurious fabrics." I saw only one item that cost more than $100. I randomly clicked on about 10 items, and all were made with bamboo or cotton, and some had Spandex. If you're looking for some light, breezy summer basics that are eco-friendly, this could be a place to start. See the gallery for a few items that caught my eye (too bad they don't come in petite sizes).

France has jumped on the organic spirits bandwagon with a new organic vodka. Laclie Alcools has created HR Organic Vodka which is said to be the first French organic vodka. It is produced in the Cognac region and made with water which isnaturally filtered over Champagne limestone and organically certified French wheat. The vodka is distilled six times and the company says that the wheat byproduct from the vodka-making process is then sold as feed to an organic dairy farm.

Dave Racicot, a former vice president of marketing for Campari/SKYY Spirits is going green with a line of organic liqueurs. Thatcher's Organic Artisan Liqueurs are a line of eight flavors: cucumber, elderflower, apple spice ginger, pomegranate, tres chili, dark chocolate, chipotle and blueberry. The liqueurs are USDA Organic certified and include: Cucumber, Elderflower, Apple Spice Ginger, Pomegranate, Tres Chili, Dark Chocolate, Chipotle, and Blueberry flavors. The liqueurs are ackaged in lightweight, recyclable glass bottles and the labels are made from recycled materials. They will retail for less than $25 a bottle and are being sold in Illinois and California so far.

[via Wine Spirits Daily]

So I will be toasting tonight with Casa Noble tequila, which just received USDA organic certification. It still doesn't quite qualify as health food, but Casa Noble's triple-distilled tequilas are made from the organically-grown slow roasted hearts of blue agave cactus, fermented without additives, and aged in French White Oak barrels. The Añejo rests two years in the barrels and it's smooth, woody and just a touch fruity. It retails for $59.95, and the beautifully designed purple decanter is an added bonus. In a nod to fine whiskey, Casa Noble also has started to offer a limited edition single barrel line. For this version, the Añejo rests for five years, and costs $129.95.

Note: Post corrected, see comments.

Maybe this is the year you want to send a valentine to the planet, express your love for the environment, in addition to impressing the object of your desire.

Luxury gifts that just might turn the tide against climate change abound, and there are plenty more that are chic reminders that going green looks good these days -- like Stella McCartney's just-released organic lingerie line.

Don't forget all-organic romance: flowers (like the dozen roses at right, sustainably farmed and harvested using fair labor practices), truffles, champagne and candles. See the gallery for inspiration.

The world's first all-organic bar opened in New York City recently opened inside GustOrganic, an all-organic restaurant. The bar uses entirely organic spirits, beers, cocktails, wine, liquor and fresh organic fruit. It is the first bar to be certified organic by the USDA. Treehugger checked out the scene and reported that the fresh fruit cocktails were particularly memorable. In addition to organic food and drink GustOrganic has a wind turbine for power and e menus are made from 100 percent recycled paper and printed with soy ink.

Yumi & Laurie makes a high-end, stylish, eco-friendly line of blankets, which it calls "blanQuettes." They feel like a large, plush Turkish towel and are designed with vibrant and whimsical colors and patterns inspired by founder Laurie Suzuki's trips to Japan and Europe and the beautiful textiles she saw there.

The blanQuettes are woven out of 100% organic and sustainable cotton and bamboo fibers, are anti-microbial (safe for allergy sufferers), and machine washable. The blanket is light, so it can be used in all seasons, and is manufactured with environmentally sound materials and techniques.

Five styles are available, all 6'6" x 4'9": St. Moritz (rich texture, $225), Nevis (two-color floral, $225), Laguna (vibrant colors, great for teens, $195), Furano (three-color Asian-inspired design, $235), and Milan (texture with calming colors, $225).

All are on sale (20% off these prices) until December 31, 2008.

Here's a bumper bed for your special family member that you can feel good about, ecologically-speaking. Covered in organic cotton twill, free from pesticides and chemical fertilizers, it's filled with a comfy, cozy stuffing and is made from post-consumer recycled plastic bottles, which diverts more than 25 tons of plastic bottles from landfills every year. The bed features a center, removable pillow that can also be used separately inside crates or the car. It's a great option for allergic, sensitive, or orthopedic pets. Made in the U.S.A., machine washable. A portion of sale proceeds are donated. Sizes S - XL; $76.95 - $178.95.

Using the best of old and new world winemaking techniques, Jim Fetzer introduces award-winning, Biodynamic growing practices that go beyond organic standards. The Opulent Vintner's Collection contains a 2002 Ceago Camp Masut Cabernet Sauvignon, a 2006 Ceago Del Lago Chardonnay and Ceago Vinegarden's estate-grown, cold-pressed, certified organic and Biodynamic olive oil. To complement the wine, included are 10 pieces of fresh, seasonal fruit, 4 oz. each of roasted and salted organic cashews, almonds and pistachios, and 4 oz. of organic chocolate caramel pecan clusters.

This collection is Biodynamic certified by The Demeter Association: no pesticides, herbicides or synthetic fertilizers; organic methods with astronomy; humane animal practices; and ecosystem protection.

A nice Father's Day idea for the gourmet, eco-concerned dad. $174.95

For grape growers, vino viticulturists, syrah sippers and green gods and goddesses, the day has come when wineries both domestic and foreign can compete for glory to bring us, the consumer, the best eco-friendly wines available. The Green Wine Competition has chosen its champions from over 271 entries originating in six states and eleven foreign countries within four categories: Class I - certified biodynamically grown; Class II - organic; Class III - transitional & third party certified; Class IV - natural (international imports only). With 153 award-winning bottles, broken up into gold, silver and bronze medals, and a shopping list to make your next selection of wine easier, the search for a fantastic bottle of green wine is bound to be simpler. (And in case you are wondering who took home the most medals, Bonterra Vineyards blew the competition away).

Liqueurs from LOFT Liqueurs appear to have it going on from all angles: they come in decadent and unique flavors (i.e. Lavender, Lemongrass, and Spicy Ginger), they're handcrafted in small batches, and they're the first liqueurs in the country to be 100% certified organic.

Just two years ago LOFT Liqueurs was started by two women, Lisa Averbuch and Sabrina Moreno-Dolan, and was originally born through Lisa's experimentation with a random limoncello recipe. Besides the 3 standard flavors LOFT is looking to expand, starting with seasonal flavors like Tangerine and Blueberry. Look for LOFT Liqueurs in restaurants in California and you can buy them online here for $29.99/bottle.

Via Mighty Foods

These products are a triple play -- almost 100% organic, luxurious, and free of animal testing/ingredients tested on animals. Using the tagline "Beautify Not Toxify," Luxe Essentials is a simple line with just three categories: body butter ($10 - $30), bath salts ($37), and bath and body oils ($20). Oh wait, two gift baskets are offered -- lavender and lemongrass ($55). I love lavender, just in case you're thinking of sending me one of these. Hey, I'm just saying, if you need an idea. Anyway ...

Luxe Essentials' founder, Nydia Norville, is based in NYC. Read more about her and the line on her MySpace page or her blog, which has some beauty tips to try at home.

Bonuses: The main site accepts PayPal and is affiliated with the Indie Collective.

First it was organic food. Then, last year, we saw a flood of organic liquors and wines hit the market. Could this be the year of the organic spa? The Today Show profiles Priti the only all-organic spa in New York City, What does organic mean when it comes to spa treatments? For one thing. many of the ingredients in nail polish are fairly toxic. The polishes and polish removers at Priti are free from dibutyl phthalate, toluene and formaldehyde. Their teas, creams, scrubs, essential oils and even their cleaning products are all organic. Even their website is hosted by a green web hosting company that plants a tree for every person who joins.

Priti offers a variety of services including the Priti relaxing manicure or pedicure which starts with a bath of fresh flowers and organic lavender oil followed by a scrub with lavender chamomile foot polish, a massage using a lavender chamomile organic cream and finally a polish. The manicure is $40 and the pedicure is $50. A spa day package including an hour-long massage, facial, manicure and pedicure is $300.