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From clothing to gadgets to toys, manufacturers are working hard to create environmentally friendly products for an increasingly eco-conscious consumer base. Take the Apple MacBook Air. The new ultra-thin computer has a recyclable carrying case and was given a silver rating by the new Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) standard from the Green Electronics Council. Lloyd Alter, a correspondent with environmental advocate sites Treehugger.com and Planetgreen.com, believes the move is significant. Having a major player such as Apple step up to the sustainability plate emphasizes the movement's importance. "Jobs made a big deal that this computer was designed to be green," he says. "It's wonderful to see Apple take a step in that direction."

Of course, the definition of "sustainable" depends on who you're talking to. And it's clear consumer-focused companies such as Apple can do more to "green" their product lines. But in the meantime, here's a selection of recent consumer products designed with the environment in mind, from cheap and cheerful, to megabucks.