• Buying ecofriendly products is occasionally referred to as "green purchasing."recycling image by dbvirago from Fotolia.com
  
  From the office to the living room, people are changing habits and opting for green products. A wide variety of businesses now offer products tailored to meet this audience, including clothing, appliances, snack food and cleaning supplies. Products may be considered "green" if they are energy-efficient, biodegradable, constructed with recycled materials, reusable or produced in an environmentally conscious manner.
  
  

Doormats

• Rag mats may be produced from textile waste.hand-made door mat image by GeoM from Fotolia.com
  
  Custom Cordage of Maine produces doormats out of recycled lobster rope. The rope, previously used by fishermen is collected and woven into colorful mats. Since the rope was designed for heavy-duty, outdoor use the resulting mat is weather-proof, durable and easy-to-clean. Other post-consumer products that have been turned into doormats include sandals, tires and aluminum.
  
  

For Pets

• Some pet accessory manufacturers, such as Purr Post, provide green options. USDA organic catnip is free of harmful chemicals and produced in an environmentally conscious manner. Hemp collars for cats and dogs are produced with less waste and energy than their nylon counterparts. And paperboard Scratch products are recycled and recyclable --- unlike most furniture.
  
  

Cleaning Supplies

• Amway Global, Bissel, Sun, Weiman and Staples are just some of the companies that produce green cleaning supplies such as detergent, hand soap, window cleaner and carpet shampoo. These products clean and disinfect with the use of fewer harsh chemicals. The EPA reviews and recognizes these items under the Design for the Environment (DfE) program. Approved products are labeled with the DfE label for easy recognition.