We know how difficult it is to get straight answers about the practical and environmental issues that surround building materials and other household goods. We've struggled, too.

To stock our first store, company founder Matthew Freeman-Gleason spent long nights reading. He traveled thousands of miles to meet the world's top manufacturers of "green" merchandise. And when he got home, he tried out the products and eliminated those that didn't meet his standards.

Our research continues. In this section, we share what we've learned.