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Ethical Shopping
Green Festival and
Camping Survival Kit
15th April 2008
With festival season almost upon us, Ecotopia.co.uk is launching its green survival kit to help festival goers reduce their carbon footprint at events. The kit which contains 10 essential items, costs £59.99 and includes everything you need to have a happy, healthy and eco friendly festival. All packaging for every item is either biodegradable or recyclable:
Freeloader Solar Charger
Freeloader is the portable solar powered charger that can power everything from phones to gaming machines to digital cameras and much more. FreeLoader is an advanced portable charging system that can power any hand held device anywhere, anytime. Freeloader takes power from its solar panels or via a supplied charge cable that plugs into a computer’s USB. Supplied in a tough but stylish aluminum body, Freeloader can take the knocks of every day life whether on a business trip in New York, backpacking in the Andes or chilling on at the V festival or Glastonbury.
Condomi Condoms
Totally biodegradable, all condomi condoms are free of animal derivatives and meet or surpass all global and domestic quality accreditations
The Freeplay Kito LED Lantern
The Freeplay Kito LED Lantern combines Freeplay technology with the reliability of LED illumination. Never worry about replacing batteries or bulbs again, or even charging from a wall. A 60 second wind provides one hour of illumination - the more you wind the longer it shines.
Badger Tangerine Breeze Lip & Body Balm
With its blend of essential oils, this fruity scented balm from Badger can be used to sooth and moisturise your skin and lips, making it the perfect all purpose product to keep with you at all times.
Soothe and smooth skin with this beautifully scented balm
Can be used on body and lips
Natural and botanical ingredients
Packaged in a cute, quirky tin to carry with you wherever you go
Kingfisher Toothpaste
It's especially suitable for children, vegetarians, homeopathic users (shame some of you can't touch the mint), vegans, Halal, and some kosher diets and people who want good healthy teeth.
Kingfisher is approved by the British Dental Health Foundation - approval doesn't come any better than that.
Preserve 100% Recycled Toothbrush
Recycled Plastic Adult Toothbrush – Medium
Tushies Baby Wipes
Put off buy the festival showers? Or maybe too busy having fun to wait in a queue. Keep clean and fresh, even in the sweatiest of conditions with our Tushies Baby wipes. These natural formula wipes contain Aloe Vera, Vitamin E, is hypoallergenic and alcohol-free. Each wipe is thick and comfortably soft. The natural cleansing lotion will moisturize and soften your skin and are biodegradable. Contains 80 wipes.
Degradable Refuse Sacks
At the end of your festival experience, clean up your living area with our 100% degradable refuse sacks will degrade to just CO2 and water after its useful life.
Natracare Organic Feminine Wipes
For everyday freshness, during your period, or when traveling, Natracare certified Organic Cotton natural wipes, enriched with Calendula and Chamomile are gentle for cleansing delicate skin because we only use ingredients derived from plants and never use the harsh chemicals and damaging preservatives used in everyday wipes.
Toms of Maine Deodorant
Wood spice Gentle Deodorant is created specifically for people with sensitive skin. A combination of sage extract and lemongrass oil is used as odour-fighting botanicals and only mild fragrances are chosen.
Creator of the Survival Pack, Miles Owen, says:
“We have developed this pack among growing concerns about the impact that festivals can have on the environment, fears that have led to wide-scale interest from organisers and visitors in various methods to reduce the 'ecological footprint' they leave.
Many festival organisers are already pursuing green policies, including sustainable forest projects to offset carbon monoxide output, recycling initiatives and compost toilet systems but by using these green survival packs, each individual festival goer can make a difference.”
Further details: Ecotopia
Reclaimed Timber
3rd April 2008
If you would love a new wooden floor but have concerns about where the wood comes from, then consider "Reclaimed".
Established fifteen years ago, Reclaimed is a company with a deep interest in old wood. They hold a strong commitment to reclaimed timber and to promote the environmentally aware use of it. Based in a warren of railway arches and yards, their enterprise is located Chingford, East London.
In their sawmills they miraculously transform industrial joists, rustic timbers and structural beams into smooth golden floorboards and joinery stock. Any of their wood can be sanded, planed or cut to size, to reveal its beauty, with the richness and depth of colour and texture that only comes with age.
Today's marketplace has shown a spiraling interest in reclaimed fine timber, most of which was shipped to Britain from Colonies and Commonwealth lands in the days before sustainable sources were available.
Much of today's demand is for high grade flooring but even in new builds and furniture antique wood holds the illusive quality of character.
Visit Reclaimed
Are you an ethics girl?
27th March 2008
You know right from wrong, right? Show the
world you have morals with our new ‘Ethics Girl’ and
‘This T-Shirt is Green’ tees, made from sustainable
bamboo and organic cotton.
Love Eco’s new range of eco-friendly tees come in
black, white, green and red. Their slim fit style with
scooped neckline and raw edged sleeves that will curl
up nicely as the garment ages, make for that essential
vintage look that is so hot this Spring/Summer ’08.
Why bamboo? Because it’s a naturally sustainable
plant source that yields a soft, absorbent fibre, perfect
for tshirts. As the fastest growing plant in the world,
bamboo is soil enhancing and thrives without any
synthetic encouragement, so now you can express
yourself naturally. Love fashion. Love bamboo.
Love Eco.
Find out more at http://www.loveeco.
co.uk/products/ethics-girl-tee
WWF launches sustainable
seafood website
Finding sustainably sourced fish may sound like yet another challenge when doing the weekly shop. But it's vital that we pay attention to the kind of fish that ends up on our plate. According to recent reports three quarters of the world's fish stocks are either fished to their limit or overfished. To encourage more shoppers to make the right choices when it comes to fish, WWF has launched a new website Stinky Fish. It has information on which species to avoid and a simple guide to buying sustainable seafood.
"Overfishing is the single biggest threat to our oceans," said Giles Bartlett, Fisheries Policy Officer at WWF-UK. "It is vital that consumers have much better information to help them choose which fish to buy.
"WWF's new Stinky Fish website will provide exactly that. We hope that consumer demand for sustainable seafood and better regulation will transform the most damaging fisheries into ones that we can all buy from with a clear conscience."
Buying seafood with the Marine Stewardship Council's (MSC) blue eco-label is the simplest and most reliable way consumers can take action to be ocean friendly. Fisheries that want to be certified to the MSC standard must be managed in an environmentally responsible manner.
If more people buy their seafood from a sustainable source, it will inspire the rest of the fishing industry to follow suit, and improve their fishing methods.
Another vital move is to choose fish other than cod. There are fish out there that are just as tasty and are more sustainably sourced. Sign up and we'll e-mail recipe ideas to you.
WWF are also launching a sustainable seafood shopping survey. If you print off a scorecard [PDF] and take it along when you go shopping for fish, you can help WWF find out which retailers are doing most to promote sustainable seafood, and which need to do more. They will post the results on their website, as a useful guide to where to buy fish around the UK.
If you want to shop with a clear conscience,
here are just a few of the many sites that are worth looking at.
- Oxfam - lots of ethical products to help people in need
- Earth Tote Bags - Earth Tote Bags are beautifully hand silk screen printed and offer an earth friendly alternative to other reusable shopping bags. The Earth Tote Bags range includes unbleached cotton, hemp and organic cotton shopping bags, back packs and sling bags and all have handcrafted 100% cotton detail on the handles.
Earth Tote Bags organic bags are made from cotton which has been grown without the use of harmful pesticides, herbicides or other chemicals. Earth Tote Bags hemp bags are made with 55% hemp and 45% unbleached cotton to add softness. All of the Earth Tote Bags are washable and extremely durable.
- By Nature - a great site promoting organic and ethical living
- Ebay - eco items on auction
- Olive Organic - The inspiration behind Olive Organic came from a desire to bring together a range of ethical, affordable, organic and natural products in keeping with their philosophy of a respect for life, nature and our shared planet. They are a small family business based in rural Northamptonshire and sell a range of home care and beauty products.
- Ecover - Environment friendly cleaning products
- Organic Ally- This is the only website in the UK that sells organic cotton hankies. They also sell other eco-friendly reusable products, such as organic cotton face cloths, table napkins, gift bags, wine bags and shopping bags – to counter the excessive consumption of single-use paper tissues, kitchen towels, gift wrapping paper and plastic carrier bags. They are founded upon the principle of trading in eco-friendly and ethically-sourced goods. The products are made by people who work under humane and fair labour conditions and emphasize the use of eco-friendly materials that do not have a harmful impact on the earth.
Natural Deco
Online company Natural Deco Limited launched their ecommerce website www.naturaldeco.co.uk this week with an extensive range of natural, healthy and environmentally friendly paint, plaster, insulation and wood care products and advice from a range of manufacturers designed to help fight the growing threat of climate change and the rise in incidences of asthma and other allergies
This one stop online shop serves as a comprehensive sales and information hub for professional Architects, Specifiers, Decorators, Interior Designers and other specialists, as well as for DIYers looking for property finishing and decorating products which are sustainably produced and are not based on petro-chemicals.
Natural products are based on ingredients such as plant oils and are much better for the environment as they’re manufactured from sustainably farmed crops, made in factories powered by renewable energy and any waste created is fully composted. Insulation materials, made from hemp, sheep wool or recycled waste paper, use far less energy in their manufacture than more conventional melted and spun glass or rock.
Whilst based on traditional materials, these products are the result of a complex synergy of modern chemistry and a sound environmental ethos.
The health benefits of Natural products are down to the absence of the poisonous cocktail of chemicals inherent in conventional petro chemical based products. For example, research* indicates that petro chemical based paints may contribute to the incidence of asthma in children and to allergic reactions in people using the products as well as those living with them.
“Would you rather sniff petrol fumes in your home or orange oil?” says managing director David Kitching.
In their use, Natural products offer huge benefits over and above conventional materials in the way that they work with buildings to preserve their structural integrity. Instead of sealing them with plastic, Natural paints and plasters allow walls breathe – to pass water vapour –to serve their dual function of protecting from the external weather whilst providing a warm dry interior without succumbing to the effects of moisture and damp. Natural insulation absorbs and releases moisture, regulating humidity and temperatures.
“Conventional paints, plasters and insulation, virtually all of those available on the market today, are made from non renewable resources, contribute to global warming, create massive pollution and environmental damage in their manufacture and disposal and generate allergy and health problems,“ says Kitching. “But our range of natural paints, waxes and varnishes, based on plant and earth derived natural products, reduce or eliminate these impacts and they are just as effective. Furthermore, unlike plastic paints, they allow walls to ‘breathe’ and so are much better for the structural integrity of buildings, minimising the risk of damp or condensation. In their manufacture and in their use, greenhouse gas emissions are vastly reduced compared with conventional products.
The site offers possibly the most comprehensive selection of products of any in the UK, ranging from straightforward emulsions to silicate paints and masonry conservation materials, via high performance plasters and natural insulation.
It’s intended that the website will emerge as a powerful resource for all people interested in making the living space within our buildings better in themselves, better for us and better for the environment. It is unusual in that it serves both the consumer and the trade sectors.
A portion of all revenues goes to offset carbon emissions in delivering the products [www.climate care.org] and also to Azafady [www.madagascar.co.uk], an NGO supporting sustainable development in Madagascar where a key constituent of all paint is mined. In this way, users of the website can be sure that their products are as climate neutral and as sustainable as possible.
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Ecobasics - everyday products - easy on the pocket and the planet
13th April 2008
A new, on-line eco shop based in the Lake District is putting green, everyday products within everyone’s means, by ensuring that its wide range of household and health & beauty products can compete on price and quality with well-known supermarket and standard brands.
Stocking over 200 products from tough, bio-degradable bin bags (swing bin liners - £1.99) to organic eye gels for banishing under eye-bags and giving that extra lift (£4.25), Eco Basics (www.ecobasics.com) aims to prove that choosing eco-friendly products can be economical.
The firm sources natural products from global companies that all make a contribution to the environment and the world – by supporting ethical employment, social welfare or agriculture. Eco Basics is also careful to choose recyclable packaging, and its convenient next-day delivery service is carbon offset and free for all orders over £80.
In tune with our growing awareness of the harm that chemicals can cause to our health and the environment, new mums, housework fanatics, babies, teens and pet lovers are all offered effective, affordable natural products that can take the place of their regular, non-organic brands.
Best-selling household products include the firm’s long-lasting “spiky” tumble dryer balls which literally bounce around in the dryer to save up to 25% drying time and soften fibres without the use of fabric softener (£8.50). The Sodasan Eco Bathroom Cleaner (£3.10) is also winning over Eco Basics’ customers, with its completely organic, highly effective cleaning power, which leaves dazzling tiles, tubs and sinks, and a lasting, wonderfully fresh aroma from essential citrus oils.
Visit www.ecobasics.com or call 015242 73584 for further information.
Eco Bouquet
27th March 2008
EcoBouquet is the UK's first ethically inspired online Florist. Their beautiful bouquets are delivered by courier anywhere in the UK. They offer quality assured flowers at excellent prices. EcoBouquet brings a smile to peoples' faces and is a great way to say "I love you and the Earth too!"
EcoBouquet was founded by Claire Dhanjal to cater for a growing demand for organic and ethically sourced flowers.
Their aim is to improve the quality of flower farm working conditions, minimize damage to ecosystems, conserve biodiversity and enhance environmental quality for future generations.
They source flowers from their registered florist network, organic or in transition to organic flower farms in England including the Channel Isles and Fair Flowers Fair Plant (FFP) approved producers who implement the highest social and environmental standards in flower production, thereby giving their customers a choice. EcoBouquet are also members of Fair Flowers Fair Plants (FFP) and the Flowers & Plants Association. They focus on providing a very high level of service, quality, efficiency and value.
All the flower suppliers have to fulfil the following criteria:
- Responsibility for the handling of natural resources in the cultivation of flowers.
- No Air Miles used, avoiding the hidden impact of air transport emmisions.
- A Ban on child or forced labour.
- A total ban on toxic pesticides which cause damage to people and the environment.
- Protection of the environment.
Quirky Earth
Quirky Earth is a new company which believes that jewellery can be fashionable, individual, AND ethical. They have a great range of fair trade, recycled, and reclaimed jewellery.
They believe that beautiful jewellery should not come from exploitation, and ensure that their artisans receive a fair income for their work, and operate within a safe working environment. Many of the materials that used are recycled or reclaimed and all of their natural products come from sustainable resources. Where possible, they use recycled or sustainable materials for their packaging and stationery.
What is ethical jewellery?
People - unfortunately, most of the jewellery available on the high street is mass-produced in places like China, India, Africa, and other developing countries. Often the workers are poorly paid, and work long hours in unsafe conditions. As a result of working in these conditions workers can develop serious health problems, such as respiratory diseases from breathing dust and fumes.
Planet - the process of jewellery production can also harm our environment and overexploit the earth's resources. Mining for precious stones and metals can cause serious soil erosion affecting agriculture and sometimes causing natural disasters such as landslides. Also, natural products used in jewellery-making such as shell, pearls, coral, wood, nuts, and seeds can be collected in an unsustainable manner. Quirky Earth hope that from selling great jewellery they can also help to alleviate poverty in the third world.
http://www.quirkyearth.co.uk
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Baby Scents
Would you allow smoking around your child? Would you feed a little one junk food? The answers should be a resounding NO. A minority of parents do allow such things to happen, but most would agree that the answer is NO. Why then do so many use suspect cleaners and sprays to pollute the child’s environment? It’s a worry that adults can absorb 60 per cent of chemicals that touch the skin. It becomes really scary when you realize that small children have skin that is up to FIVE times thinner than a grownup’s. Yes, FIVE times thinner. Their skin is also more permeable and what goes onto the skin ends in the bloodstream. The implications of that one fact should alarm us all. Children and chemicals do not mix. The shame is that so many of the most widely used cleaners and sprays can cause health problems if not now then later. The inability of politicians everywhere to clamp down and force manufacturers to declare the toxicity of their products is a scandal. If that sounds gloomy, take heart: there are scores of people out there determined to change things for the better. The answer to so many problems is to use natural products. By using pure ingredients we improve our health and our environment.
Among those who Dare To Be Different are Judith and John Mathias who live in Northumberland and have formed a company, Home Scents, developing and producing 100% pure cleaners and sprays for use in the home and they now have launched Baby Scents. Judith has a background in aromatherapy and is adept at blending essential oils for scent and their natural aromatherapy benefit.
All Baby Scents products are scented with their special blend of Certified Organic Lavender, Organic Rose Geranium and Organic Chamomile essential oils
Their All Purpose Nursery Cleaner does a great job cleaning all surfaces a little one can come into contact with and in addition to the wonderful fragrance, the blend is naturally antiseptic and works a treat without leaving any suspect residues. Use on High Chairs, Changing Mats, Prams, Cots, Hard Toys, the list is endless. Keep the refillable travel size with you to ensure public changing mat facilities and high chairs are safely clean. Just spray on and wipe off any residue with a paper towel.
Baby Scents Organic Liquid Hand Wash is a purely certified organic liquid Castile soap scented with certified organic essential oils. Mild, pure and moisturizing it can be used for hands, hair, shower, bath for babies, children and adults.
Baby Scents Nursery Room Spray creates a calm and reassuring atmosphere, and is made from rock filtered spring water, organic essential oils, vitamin e and nothing else.
These are complimented with Home Scents’ range of Natural Laundry products such as their Ecological Laundry Wash made from Organic Hemp Soap, Earth friendly non- chlorine Bleach ideal for safely soaking nappies, and Ecological Dish Wash scented with Lemongrass & Fennel or Lime & Ginger for a hygienic washing up liquid.
Their aim is for Homes Scents and Baby Scents to be there to help people make an informed decision as to what they really want from life. They hope you will welcome their products into your child’s environment and show the unwanted chemical guests the door. Tread softly on our Earth. www.babyscents.co.uk and www.homescents.co.uk
ECO
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http://www.ecozine.co.uk
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