New from Old

New from Old designs, handcrafts and installs bespoke solid wood kitchens and furniture for the home using either reclaimed pine or new accredited sustainable hardwoods, including the beautifully grained Oak, Ash, Elm, Sycamore, Beech. The grain of the wood is carefully chosen and used as an integral part of each design. Sole Proprietor Rick Forward is a furniture craftsman, and uses time-tested methods of craftsmanship to create traditionally made kitchens and furniture in contemporary and traditional styles. His philosophy is to create beautiful and functional interiors with minimal environmental impact. www.newfromold.co.uk

Natural air conditioning

Some of the worst air quality is found in the home. Plants filter out many air impurities and give off oxygen, so why not grow a few indoors? The green spider plant, peace lily and philodendrons are particularly good air filters.

The very best air freshener? Fresh air! Open the window for a while - its free. Air fresheners do not contain fresh air, but many contain toxins.

More money saving tips and ideas

Turtle Doves

Turtle Doves make recycled, ethical clothing out of pre-loved jumpers. They make once-loved garments into ethical clothing. They have been operating as a recycled clothing store since November 2009, recycling cashmere fabrics & other knits they buy into gorgeous Eco-friendly, fashionable items of clothing, which are useful and beautiful too! www.turtle-doves.co.uk

Living more sustainably also means saving money!

It's easy to forget the money side of things when moving to a more sustainable lifestyle and reducing your carbon footprint. Put simply, living more sustainably saves money. Switch that around, and it means that saving money helps us to lead more sustainable lives. Better for your pocket = better for the planet.

It's amazing when you really consider the amount of money that we could save simply by making a few simple changes. It comes back to the old adage - every penny saved is a penny earned. That doesn't mean, of course, that we have to make hard sacrifices to save a few quid. Quite the contrary, its often the simple changes that generate the greatest savings. Piggy Bank is a free website that provides lots of useful tips and ideas for saving money whilst helping the planet.

A family we knew recently changed their old gas guzzling boiler, reducing their carbon emissions whilst shaving £25 each month off their fuel bill. Over a few years it actually pays for itself. Beyond that its all profit. They also changed their 2.0 engine 4 x 4 for a smaller but equally practical family car - the road tax, fuel and insurance costs saved them a further £80 each month.

There are obviously many more changes that can be made to save literally thousands of pounds each year. A good idea is to write down your monthly outgoings and then consider how each one could be reduced. Try it! You could save a small fortune.

The Natural Gardener

Nature wastes nothing, and now we all know that it's a pity we did not learn from that wise old lady earlier!

All of The Natural Gardener's products, even their packaging, comes from the soil, and will return to it, but the journey includes fair free trade, wonderful natural growth in your garden and an income for at least a few of the millions far less advantaged than us.

Gardening naturally -  peat, chemicals and plastic free.

www.thenaturalgardener.co.uk

Fresh Therapies Natural Polish Remover

Fresh Therapies Natural Polish Remover is totally natural and uses a carefully blended mix of natural ingredients that are kind on your nails and skin. With no harmful man made chemicals it's perfect for you, your family and the planet.  Also winner of the Best Beauty Vegan Product 2013.

No man made chemicals,  just Mother Nature's very own solution...
www.freshtherapies.com

Honour Your Flow

Honour Your Flow. Natural and reusable menstrual pads, cloth tampons, washable breastpads and accessories. Very beautiful, top quality pads in many shapes and sizes to suit all needs. Extremely heavy flow a speciality, also a new Petite range. Most pads are made from oeko-tex bamboo fabrics, with wool backings an option.

10% discount with the code GPD

"I just tried your pads! Not only are they beautiful, but they are soft, easy to wash and they stay in place."

www.honouryourflow.co.uk

Spirals Fair Trade

Spirals offers you the chance to buy from a beautiful collection of ethically sourced products. Including fairtrade gifts, eco-friendly furniture, fairtrade home furnishings, ethical toys and the best in fairtrade and ethical fashion … there is plenty to choose from! Most of their fairtrade products are sourced from BAFTS registered wholesalers. They also stock products made in the UK which are earth friendly, many of them made in Hebden Bridge. This includes items made using reclaimed timber, natural skincare products, and work by local designers using recycled materials. www.spiralsfairtrade.co.uk

Ethical Futures - ethical independent financial advice

ethicalfutures are ethical independent financial advisers (IFA). They specialise in ethical investment and financial planning advice. Based in Edinburgh, they advise private clients, charities and trusts throughout Scotland and the UK.

Their job is to help you make the right decisions for your needs both financially and ethically. At ethicalfutures, they believe they can help you make your money change your world. www.ethicalfutures.co.uk

Go Green with Style!

 

 

 

BasketBasket is a family run business based in Hampshire.

 

What started as a business offering a green alternative to the plastic bag has developed into a stylish range of baskets from handbags to beach baskets to household storage.

 

However, BasketBasket never forget their primary eco friendly objective to create a range of useful and beautiful baskets, paying fair trade prices direct to local suppliers.

 

Having lived in France, founder Virginia fell in love with baskets but could never find them in the UK, so launched BasketBasket in October 2008.

 

“We aim to offer something for all tastes - from lightweight couffin baskets to robust reed carriers - and now our baskets are appearing in hotels, delicatessens, garden centres and shops throughout the UK, as well as in homes around the world too. Neal's Yard Remedies are using one style for their own in-store shopping basket. They are handmade so each one is chic and unique!”

 

“The damage from plastic bags to animals and the environment is long lasting and horrific, so we hope that many people will continue to choose a reuseable bag or basket for all their shopping trips.”

 

Why choose BasketBasket?

• The baskets are made by talented artisans, ensuring these ancient skills are not lost for future generations
• By paying fair trade prices, this ensures the makers can provide a better lifestyle for their own families
• They are all made with natural products which will biodegrade at the end of their long working life
• To help offset the carbon in their transportation, BasketBasket are members of the Woodland Trust
• Environmentally friendly packaging - biodegradable bubblewrap and brown paper - is used for all posted orders

 

 

For more information and to view the range available visit www.basketbasket.co.uk

Duckydora

Duckydora, exclusive beautiful and ethically sourced gifts and products for the modern home. Duckydora is a design-led homeware and gift company offering exclusive ethically sourced products for the modern home. Unique contemporary designs and subtle use of colour are complimented by reclaimed and recycled materials to create an exclusive range of gift and homeware products. Duckydora is proud to support British manufacturing, where possible sourcing products from Great Britain working in conjunction with smaller producers and artisans to create desirable gifts and goods for the modern home. www.duckydora.com

Volunteer 4 Africa

Volunteer 4 Africa is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping people volunteer for free or at reasonable cost in Africa. As well as being an easy-to-use resource for anyone interested in volunteering in Africa, they encourage philanthropic travel by providing the wish lists of voluntary organizations and charities. In essence, they are a one-stop shop for volunteers and responsible travellers interested in making a difference to Africa's animals, its people, and the environment. www.volunteer4africa.org

Volunteer Latin America

Want to volunteer abroad for free or at reasonable cost in Central and South America? Volunteer Latin America informs international volunteers about some of the best volunteer opportunities in the environmental and humanitarian sectors. Whether you want to work with animals, volunteer with children, help out in a hospital, or are simply interested in volunteering abroad for free, we can connect you to suitable volunteer work opportunities in Central and South America. www.volunteerlatinamerica.com/

Rug Couture

Rug Couture are bespoke rug and runner specialists who can create any rug in any size, any shape and in any colour combination. Free material swatches and colour samples of each product are available upon request and discounts are available for trade customers. Their key selling points are that they can create and delivery any bespoke rug faster than any other company in the world. And, as their distribution centre is based in the Midlands you will find that their prices are generally much lower than that of their competitors. www.rugcouture.com

The Natural Rug Store

The Natural Rug Store specialise in custom made natural fibre rugs and runners. All products are made from the finest natural materials which include coir, jute, seagrass, sisal, sisool and wool. A complimentary samples service is available and discounts are available for trade customers. All rugs and runners can be designed online quickly and easily using the fantastic Rug Builder tool. www.naturalrugstore.co.uk

Conscious Skincare

At Conscious Skincare they are passionate about making truly organic handmade skincare products from their rural retreat in West Wales. Their award winning range includes the highest quality organic face and body products, luxurious gift sets, and specialised items suitable for Hotel or Spa use. All ingredients serve a useful purpose, none are added for colour, fragrance, filling or bleaching. They are also constantly mindful of the environment, selecting recycled or recyclable materials such as glass, aluminium and paper for all their packaging. Conscious Skincare - beautiful items, lovingly packaged with a clean conscience. Visit www.conscious-skincare.com for more information.

Green cities - Leeds as an example!

Green cities

Green cities - Leeds as an example!

Green cities

Which are the UK’s most polluted cities?

Britain is one of the most congested countries in the world, with some studies suggesting that the average British motorist spends over 200 days of their life in traffic jams. London is the worst city, with around 35 per cent of the capital’s roads regularly congested according to the satnav company TomTom. Other cities with high levels of traffic congestion include Edinburgh, Manchester, Bradford, Oxford and Birmingham.

 

It isn’t just the frustration and inefficiency caused by traffic congestion that is a concern. Traffic pollution is believed to be responsible for a growing number of new cases of asthma in children. A report in the Guardian also claims that poor air quality is the cause of more than 4,000 deaths in London each year. So bad is the pollution in our capital that the EU is threatening to impose fines for failure to meet legal limits.

 

With a growing UK population density it is clear that we cannot continue to fill our roads with increasing volumes of traffic. This simply isn’t sustainable in the long-term and it poses a growing problem to our health, particularly children who live in the most polluted cities.

Road pricing – a green solution to an impending traffic crisis?

 

A report by the RAC Foundation predicts that traffic levels could increase by 33% within 15 years, due to a combination of population rises, economic recovery and road spending cuts. Unless radical changes are introduced, the result will be increasingly gridlocked traffic, greater congestion and a rise in air pollution.

 

The report goes on to suggest that a "pay-as-you-go" system could solve the problem. In a nutshell, drivers would pay per mile travelled. There remains debate on whether this will be on motorways only, or if it would be extended to other major roads. Car sharing is another initiative being promoted more heavily.

 

Whilst many people are instinctively opposed to road charging of this nature, because it’s viewed as just another tax, many acknowledge that it would make them re-consider their journeys and amount of time spent driving.

 

Regardless of the particular approach to the problem, it’s clear that traffic levels cannot be allowed to rise by over 33% with widespread gridlock ensuing. That scenario would ultimately cost motorists more and cause greater damage to the environment.

 

For eco-conscious individuals, this is a nightmare scenario – long stretches of roads with cars sat bumper to bumper cloaked in a thick shroud of smog.

 

Many insurers offer discounts for drivers who drive fewer miles, away from major roads and outside of the ‘rush hour’. It now looks as though the government will be forced to follow suit through some financially based form of incentive.

EU to introduce law to force car manufacturers to cut carbon emissions by a third by 2020

According to a leaked report in the Guardian, the EU is to impose a 95g CO2/km limit by 2020. It then intends to reduce this limit even further in an attempt to encourage manufacturers to make more hybrid and electric cars.

 

Though car manufacturers have voiced concern about tough new regulation, arguing that it could harm the industry in the face of difficult economic conditions and increased foreign competition, there would be benefits for motorists in the form of big savings in fuel. The new law would also encourage the motoring industry to invest in newer technologies and innovation to meet the new targets. Obviously, the reduction in emissions would also help to combat climate change (exhaust fumes are currently responsible for around a third of Europe’s greenhouse gas emissions).

Dinosaurs, Mother Nature and Human Destiny

Dinosaurs, Mother Nature and Human Destiny

Scandal of the rainforest killings

Rainforests

Is your weekly shop killing the orang utans and the rainforests?

Orang utans and the rainforests

Protecting the tiger from extinction

Tiger extinction

Big increase in demand for eco-friendly products - what's behind it?

Eco friendly shopping

Katharine Botanicals

Utilising natural ingredients to create a beautiful range of skincare products, Katharine Botanicals is well suited to delicate skin. They offer mother and baby care so you can sooth your stretch marks and keep your baby’s delicate skin feeling beautiful as well as a range of natural remedies for psoriasis. You can also enjoy their Pure Indulgence face cream; they have nourishing skincare for all skin types. Have a look at their vegan range of skin care and they never test their products on animals. www.katharinebotanicals.com

Light Switch Timer - A timer which fits over your switch by Switched on Products — Kickstarter

Light Switch Timer - A timer which fits over your switch by Switched on Products — Kickstarter

The green economy

The green economy

The environmental cost of technology

The environmental cost of technology

Bee Happy Plants

Bee Happy Plants sell ‘Wild Species’ plants which are ideal for all bees and pollinators, and propagate our wild species plants (to Soil Association Organic standard) from seed, also selling seed of these species. Wild flowering plants have evolved over millions of years with their pollinators. They also have the ability through healthy gene-pools, by growing from seed, of evolving to adapt to changing environmental conditions, it being the mechanism by which all species on earth have so far survived.

Loss of wild species plants ultimately means loss of their pollinators. www.beehappyplants.co.uk

Natural Friends - Ethical Dating

Natural Friends was created in 1985 as the UK's first ethical 'green' dating and friendship site for environmentally-sensitive, country-loving, health-conscious people aspiring to tread lightly on the earth. They attract members with a diverse range of backgrounds and interests, unique individuals looking for a compatible partner to share interests such as outdoor activities, musical and creative events, human and animal welfare, conservation and personal development. Join today for free and your chance of finding a soulmate who will match your values and expectations will improve immeasurably. www.naturalfriends.co.uk/

Accoya wood - sustainable, eco-friendly & FSC certified wood.

The Green Providers Directory

Green Providers Directory

Fair Trade movement re-states commitment to green practices

In recent weeks, two key statements by the international fair trade movement have re-stated their commitment to environmentally friendly practices in the production of fair trade goods.

Principles of Fair Trade

One of the core tenets of the fair trade movement is the sustainability of the production process.

Indeed one of the World Fair Trade Organisation’s (WFTO) 10 Principles of Fair Trade is “Respect for the environment”, which states:

• Organizations which produce Fair Trade products maximize the use of raw materials from sustainably managed sources in their ranges, buying locally when possible.

• They use production technologies that seek to reduce energy consumption and where possible use renewable energy technologies that minimize greenhouse gas emissions.

• They seek to minimize the impact of their waste stream on the environment.

• Fair Trade agricultural commodity producers minimize their environmental impacts, by using organic or low pesticide use production methods wherever possible.

• Buyers and importers of Fair Trade products give priority to buying products made from raw materials that originate from sustainably managed sources, and have the least overall impact on the environment.

• All organizations use recycled or easily biodegradable materials for packing to the extent possible, and goods are dispatched by sea wherever possible.”


Global Fair Trade Week & Fair Trade Beyond 2015

This commitment to eco-friendly practices was re-confirmed at WFTO’s Global Fair Trade Week in Brazil in May 2013. The conference statement declared that the international fair trade movement would continue to fight against “the causes of climate change” and for “respect for the environment”.

In addition, the Fair Trade Beyond 2015 campaign (which is calling on the UN to replace the 2015 Millennium Development Goals with a new global development framework) wants to “encourage environmentally-sustainable farming and production practices” as one of the key elements of its development framework.


Fair Trade equals eco-friendly

So fair trade is not only about making a commitment to balancing the current unequal global trade rules and practices, but to creating an ‘equitable and sustainable world’ based on environmental as well as social and economic development.

This environmentally sustainable approach to business is carried out by fair trade retailers across the world, as the goods they sell are usually made by small artisan producer groups creating high quality handmade goods in an eco-friendly manner.


How Accessory Fair helps the environment

For example, here at Accessory Fair, our commitment to reducing our impact on the environment is a core element of our business philosophy which can be seen in many ways. For example:

• The vast majority of our fair trade products are made using natural materials and eco-friendly dyes.

• One of our jewellery suppliers works exclusively with the Women for Conservation project in Columbia, which seeks to help marginalized women who live near nature reserves to make ethical jewellery using sustainable materials.

• Our winter woolies supplier recently funded a river erosion rescue project in the village where many of their workers live in Nepal.

• Within our own business we use the bio-degradable Eco Poly Jacket to send out orders, and only ever use 100% recycled paper. In this way we, along with every other fair trade retailer, are doing our bit to minimise our impact on the environment, and contribute to the global fair trade movement campaigns to encourage environmental sustainability.

Colin Timperley
Accessory Fair

Choose What I Use

Welcome to I Choose What I Use! They’re here to prove that beauty doesn’t have to come with the ugly price tag of such things as animal testing and petrochemical by-products. I Choose What I Use are Vegetarian Society approved and all their hair, skin and beauty products are carefully selected to ensure that they are vegetarian, cruelty free and naturally derived. Many are also vegan, organic or fairtrade. They aim to cater for the natural skin care needs of all members of your family (see their department for pets!) whatever their age. www.ichoosewhatiuse.co.uk

Special offer - Organic Skin Care Set from Beauty Naturals

Green Providers Directory Offer Organic Skin Care Set Save 50% plus a free gift, worth £8.50 Two wonderful products formulated with organic Rosehip Oil and a wealth of natural oils and herbal extracts to restore and maintain a supple, smooth and glowing complexion. The set features 100ml Organic Facial Cleansing Oil and 100ml Advanced 24 Hour moisturising Balm. You can purchase this wonderful set for a special discounted price of £14.00 (saving 50% of rrp £28.00) with a FREE 100ml Harmonising Skin Tonic (worth £8.50) & free p&p. To order this special offer free phone 0800 980 6665 or order online at http://www.beautynaturals.com/gpd

Positive promotions with professional impact

Eco Everyday was founded as a social enterprise on the ethos that products do not need to harm the environment, By working in harmony in nature, we can still create the quality required from our consumers, and still contribute to reducing the negative impact on the environment. Ethical and environmental concerns form the heart and soul of their operations. As more and more commercial organisations and individuals become conscious of environmental issues and their social responsibility, Eco Everyday provides the perfect place for ethical minded corporations and individuals to contribute to the cause while not having to do any extra work. All you have to do is explore their range of products, find what you like, and they will do the rest.

eco cuisine - HOME OF SUSTAINABLE, ETHICAL AND ORGANIC CATERING

eco cuisine is an ethically run catering business. They use British farmers and fishermen and British and/or organic fruits and vegetables. Offering you seasonal menus and produce, Sonya will guide you from your initial enquiry to the day of your event. eco cuisine can offer canapes, finger/fork buffets, hot/cold buffets, bbq's, sandwich/wrap platters, sit down meals plus staff, drinks and equipment hire. Telephone: 02088820350 Mobile: 07773298269

Sempatap Thermal - Insulate your home

Insulate your home with Sempatap Thermal, as easy as wallpaper to apply. Can be decorated with virtually anything, emulsion, wallpaper, even tiled. Sempatap Thermal immediately reduces heat loss through cold walls and ceilings providing warmer rooms. Black mould problems can be successfully treated with MGC’s Mould Eradication Kit which contains sufficient materials for 10-12m² of mould. The ME Kit has been successfully used by Local Authorities, Housing Associations, Private Landlords and homeowners throughout the UK for over 25 years. Effective against mould, even in severe condensation situations. Visit Sempatap Thermal

Rewards for polluters, prison for climate campaigners

Writing in the Guardian recently, Andrew Simms asks why climate campaigners are being given prison sentences instead of medals for their bravery and public service. What if, instead of giving Marie Curie and Alexander Fleming Nobel prizes for their life-saving work on radiation and penicillin, they'd been thrown in jail? It would be perverse to return the favour of great, public works by depriving people of their freedom. Yet that is just what we're doing in Britain right now according to Simms. The contributions of the people above were remarkable, but how much greater is the challenge of preserving a readily habitable climate, and how thankful should we be to those prepared to throw their life's energy and creativity at the task? Climate campaigners have long been parodied as sandal-wearing tree huggers, veggies, lefties, greens and portrayed by the media as trouble-causing protestors. At the same time, the all-powerful corporations have sought to pervert proper science and put pressure on researchers to produce results that support the notion of climate change being part of natural cycle. Scientists who have refused to tow the line have been ridiculed and their credibility questioned. Remember The Climatic Research Unit email controversy when an unknown group hacked into the University of East Anglia’s server, and copied thousands of emails and computer files to various locations on the Internet? [Read more]

Ethical investments

Ethical investments are about placing money according to morals and beliefs, not simply profit at any cost. However, that doesn't mean that you have to compromise on returns; just that the investments are made more selectively and avoid environmentally damaging practices, trade with oppressive regimes and countries with poor human rights records, gambling, tobacco companies and the arms industry. “To honestly achieve a sustainable economy, humanity must step through a paradigm shift, as profound as the transition in the sixteenth century, when Copernicus showed that the earth is not the centre of the universe. Likewise, ecology teaches us that humanity is not the centre of life on the planet. Just as the Pope's henchmen refused to look through Galileo's telescope, some economists avoid looking out the window to see what keeps humanity alive: photosynthesis, precious materials, and concentrated energy.” - Rex Weyler

Bailouts, bonuses and immoral practices: should I switch my bank?

It is quite remarkable that, despite outrage at banker bonuses, taxpayer bailouts, mis selling scandals, rate fixing, branch closures, PPI fines and broken cash points along with a seemingly endless list of unethical and immoral practices, people still choose to stay with their existing bank. And that tends to be one of the big four. If people are not motivated to switch banks now, when will they ever be? Perhaps it is general lack of awareness of ethical banking alternatives and the perceived hassle of switching accounts, direct debits and changing over cards and cheque books. In a way it is frustration versus apathy. How far do the big banks have to push us to cause large scale switching? Switching banks is now easier than ever and brings many benefits. The first obvious benefit is knowing that your money will not be used to fund unethical pursuits, profit at any cost type ventures. These include destruction of the rainforests, funding the arms trade, drugs lords and rogue states, fossil fuels, dirty coal and oil, child labour and so on. That in itself is a strong reason to switch. Secondly, it is a vote against the current banking culture and greedy banker bonuses. Without customers banks cannot exist, the big four cynically rely on spending huge sums on television advertising and customer apathy for survival. Banks such as Triodos have no bonus culture, invest solely in ethical projects and screen against non-ethical investments. The Coop Bank has an ethical charter and invests only in ethical funds. It is becoming a bigger player and starting to challenge the big four. Building societies too, tend to be more ethical in nature and are owned by members. There are many alternatives. Ask yourself the question, if you switched your bank away from one of the big four today do you think that you will switch back again one day because you miss their service and respect for customers?

The environmental cost of technology

Computers, tablets, mobile devices and hybrid car batteries. They all contain rare earth metals. By extension, everyday life in the Western world relies on these rare earth metals. But why should this pose a concern for the environment? Well, there are substantial environmental costs associated with the use of rare earth metals. In the first place the metals have to be extracted by mining and then purified. Mining can be a dirty business creating topsoil loss and pollution of waterways, requiring road building infrastructures and causing degradation of natural environments. Often, miners have to work under dangerous conditions for minimal pay with scant regard to health and safety. Then there is the disposal of technological machines and gadgets. Today, people tend not to repair older electronic equipment. Instead they discard it and buy the newest model. How many people keep their current mobile phone more than a few years? Discarded electronics typically end up in landfill sites, where they create their own pollution problems as rare earth metals and toxins gradually seep out into surrounding soil. True, some electronics do go to recycling facilities. However, there are many unscrupulous operators in the third world where workers are paid a pittance and exposed to hazardous elements as they strip down these electronics for re-use. The whole process inevitably creates pollution and makes people sick. The solution? Repair or at least retain, rather than replace. Ethically sourced supplies should be made more readily available, and the industry should be subject to more intense oversight. Eco-friendly replacements for rare earth metals do exist but that would entail cost increases for consumers. A price worth paying? Companies that outsource or import labour to exploit people should be publicly shamed for what they do, whether that labour is in mines or recycling centres.

The Tide is Turning

Some time ago, we received a communication from an organisation that claimed all consumerism was wrong and that it would not associate itself with a directory that promoted selling of any kind, even if this related to green and ethical products. This viewpoint has been repeated many times in various guises, and is often manifested in different political interpretations such as communism vs capitalism and socialism vs free market thinking. Irrespective of ideals and political persuasions however, and whether we agree with consumerism or not, the reality of the situation is that it is here to stay. The question then becomes one of what types of consumerism are acceptable and which are not? This is where the true debate lies. There is certainly bad and irresponsible consumerism. A shirt made from cotton grown using pesticides and use of child labour may be cheap but it is certainly not ethical. Filling a car with cheaper fuel provided by an oil company that is destroying natural habitats and ruining lives in areas like the Niger Delta or the Arctic gives the green light to such companies to continue with impunity. Buying beef from cattle raised on land from cleared rainforests, sourcing paper from companies associated with the jungles of Borneo being cut down and decimation of orang-utan populations, buying from supermarkets which sell unsustainable palm oil, buying electronic gadgets built with rare earth metals from toxic mining where countless children have been poisoned and killed, the list is endless... [read more]

Enter the Doodle-Bag Competition!

For the month of December Doodle-Bag is running a great, festive competition to win three customised Doodle-Bags! All you have to do is share your favourite tip for being eco-friendly over the winter and Christmas period, and you could be the winner! Entries close on 31st December 2012, and the winner will be announced in early January - just in time to beat those New Year blues!

For your chance to win, just share your best eco-friendly tip for Christmas on their Twitter page, Facebook page, or via e-mail. They'll be sharing the best entries as well as their own tips for environmentally-friendly festive fun!

Worse than malaria or TB but never discussed

According to the Blacksmith Institute in partnership with Green Cross Switzerland, the health burden of pollution from industrial activities is as bad or worse than that of malaria or TB. Yet the problem goes largely ignored. Why? Because pollution is seen as the necessary price of economic growth. And economic growth is what keeps governments in office. The new report claims that waste from mining, lead smelters, industrial dumps, mercury, radionuclides, pesticides and other toxins affects the health of an estimated 125 million people worldwide. In one tragic example, doctors carrying out vaccinations in a Zamfaran village in Nigeria questioned the general absence of children attending their centre. They found the reason. Hundreds of children from the village had died from lead poisoning whilst thousands more were stricken with the effects of high levels of lead in their systems [read more].

Where have all the bees gone?

Albert Einstein once remarked that if the bee disappears from the surface of the earth, man would have no more than four years to live. No more bees, no more pollination and no more men [read more]

African conservationists resort to 'shoot to kill’ to stop poaching

Rhino horns command a very high price in some parts of Asia where they are used in dubious medicines, which fuels poaching and puts already endangered species at further risk. Some poachers are heavily armed professionals, who will shoot people as well as animals in their quest for money.

In contrast, the development of nature tourism has generated a great deal of international pressure to save high-profile species. This has been to such an extent that some conservation groups regard the protection of the gorilla, rhino and other endangered species as more important than human life.

Professor Rosaleen Duffy has conducted research in this field and discovered that private security firms and mercenaries are now being used to train game rangers. In countries such as Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of Congo and

Living for a Cause

Called 'Living for a Cause,' Greenpeace have launched a new series of web shorts giving an 'insider' look at the organisation today. The series highlights some of the more surprising aspects of the organisation, and future episodes will cover the well known Greenpeace protest actions, their people, and their volunteers. To find out more click on the video link

Chevron fined for Amazon pollution

The US oil giant Chevron has been fined $8.6bn (£5.3bn) by a court in Ecuador for polluting the country’s Amazon region. Campaigners claim that the company dumped billions of gallons of toxic materials into the Amazon rivers damaging crops and killing farm animals. The company has also been told it will have to pay a 10% legally mandated reparations fee, which brings the total penalty to $9.5bn (£5.9bn). However, Chevron has condemned the ruling as fraudulent, and has said it would appeal. Pablo Fajardo, lawyer for the plaintiffs, described the court ruling as ‘a triumph of justice over Chevron's crime and economic power. This is an important step but we're going to appeal this sentence because we think that the damages awarded are not enough considering the environmental damage caused by Chevron here in Ecuador,’ he told the BBC.

Princes new policy on sustainable fishing

The UK’s biggest supplier of canned Tuna, Princes, has announced that it will source its fish from more sustainable supplies after heavy lobbying by the environmental group Greenpeace. A proportion of Princes’ tuna will now come from ‘pole and line’ fishing. From 2014 its tuna will come from fleets that do not use fish aggregating devices, which can kill other types of marine life such as dolphins.

Salmon’s role in defining Canadian ecosystems

According to the publication Science, pacific salmon play an important role in delivering nutrients to part of the world’s largest old-growth temperate rainforest. The annual migration of salmon to western Canada to spawn provides food for bears and wolves, which then transport the carcasses away from the streams into forested areas. In turn, this allows nutrient-rich plants to thrive in such areas, adding to biodiversity there. "Along the Pacific coast, all salmon die after spawning so carcasses can line rivers, but many of them are killed before by bears and wolves," explained co-author John Reynolds, professor of ecology at Simon Fraser University (SFU), Canada. "This adds up to a huge amount of nutrients being dumped into the stream or on to the banks," he added.

Will ethical consumers sustain their values in times of economic hardship?

A key question for providers of fair trade products is whether ethical consumers will sustain their values in the face of scepticism, apathy and more difficult financial times. Or whether demand for ethical product and services will decline. Indeed, one of the main challenges is how ethical businesses can continue to engage with consumers with a social conscience and ensure their continued business [read more]

Big increase in sales of fuel efficient cars

Rising fuel prices have encouraged more people to buy low emission, fuel efficient cars according to the motor industry body SMMT. In fact, 47% of cars sold in 2011 emitted less than 130g per km, an increase of 11% since 2007.

Average emissions from new cars sold in 2011 stood at 138.1g/km. The average must fall below 130g/km by 2015, then below 95g/km by 2020, in line with European Union regulation.

New or nearly new cars are now so fuel efficient that, combined with the current high cost of petrol and diesel, switching from an old, thirsty model often pays for itself. And it is not only private car buyers who have cottoned on to this. Demand for fuel efficient cars has also soared amongst fleet buyers.

Both fleet and private car buyers realise this, so demand for fuel efficient cars has soared.

There are other savings too, such as road tax and insurance, which are typically lower for low emission cars. Many green insurance companies also now offer discounts for drivers of low emission and fuel efficient cars.

Taken in combination, the savings from driving a low emission car can be significant.

China tops list of world's list of investors in clean energy

Despite what you may have heard in the press about China being a major polluter, it remains the world's leading investor in low-carbon energy technology according to a study by the US Pew Environment Group. The Chinese invested $54.4bn (£34.1bn) in low carbon technology across 2010, an increase of $39.1bn from 2009. The US also increased its investment $34bn, but it still fell from 2nd to 3rd in the ranking, behind Germany at $41.2bn. Disappointingly, the UK did not even make the top 10 as investment fell by 70% in 2010.

Electric cars take a step forward

Research chemists at BASF are working on next-generation lithium-ion batteries that will have significantly improved energy densities and lower material costs than today’s products. The researchers are hoping that the technology will increase the travelling range of current hybrid vehicles and bring long-distance all-electric cars closer to mainstream production. Company research director Dr Andreas Kreimeyer said: Existing batteries are too expensive, their range is too limited and their weight is still much too high. We must develop innovative concepts for more efficient electric cars if we are to convince potential users.

New species of monkey discovered

Scientists have discovered what they believe to be a new species of monkey living in the northern eastern Myanmar region of Burma. The monkeys are distinctive in appearance due to their strange, upturned nostrils. The total population of this new species is estimated to be just 300 individuals and they are critically endangered. The new species has been named the Burmese snub-nosed monkey [read more]

Only nine car companies achieved EU target for CO2 emissions in 2011

According to figures produced by Clean Green Cars, only nine car companies have achieved the EU target for CO2 emissions of 130g per km set for 2012. However, on a more positive note, overall emissions for new cars fell by over 4 percent.

The nine car companies who achieved emission targets were:

Fiat
Citroen
Toyota
SEAT
Lexus
Mini
Alfa Romeo
Peugeot
Hyundai

Many well known car manufacturers, some of whom promote themselves as green and eco-friendly, failed to meet the EU’s emission targets and do not appear in the list of nine. Another example of ‘greenwash’ aimed at deceiving car buyers where reality is divorced from the truth.

The same principle applies to green car insurance, where companies who promote their ostensibly green credentials have simply bought carbon credits without actually doing anything worthwhile to protect the environment.

California approves first US carbon-trading scheme

California has become the first US state to approve a carbon-trading plan aimed at cutting greenhouse emissions. State regulators passed a "cap-and-trade" framework, which allows companies to buy and sell permits, thereby providing an incentive to emit fewer gases. State officials hope the scheme will be copied across the US, but opponents warn it may harm California's growth and lead to higher electricity prices. The scheme means that from 2012 California will allocate licences to pollute and create a market where they can be traded.

UK and India urged to follow low-carbon path by businesses

Closer co-operation between the UK and India could accelerate moves towards a low-carbon economy, according to business leaders from both countries. Retailers Marks and Spencer, wind energy giant Suzlon, and HSBC Bank are among the companies calling for closer ties. Among other things, they argue for more UK investment in clean energy in India. Prime Minister David Cameron said the collaboration could "deliver jobs, growth and environmental protection". The UK government believes that bilateral collaborations could potentially improve the prospects for a new deal within the UN climate negotiations.

Hemp clothing and the environment

Hemp is particularly useful in making organic clothing and accessories such as bags, because the bark of the hemp stalk is very rich in cellulose and natural, long fibres. On a like-for-like basis, hemp is a far stronger, more absorbent and insulating material than cotton. Hemp fibres can be woven into extremely durable clothing material. The original Levi Strauss jeans were actually made from hemp and use of hemp for making clothes dates back 10,000 in China.

What is fair trade?

What is fair trade? After years as a niche market, the concept of ‘fair trade’ seems to have finally broken through into the mainstream, with most of the major supermarkets now stocking these lines. The fair trade market has grown massively in recent years with new product ranges being added all the time. There are now thousands of fair trade products available in the UK - everything from bags, teas and coffee to wine, clothing and flowers, biscuits, fruit juices, chocolates, snack bars, muesli and even footballs.

It appears that growing numbers of consumers are prepared not only to buy fair trade products but also to pay a little bit more for the privilege. Some have even suggested that it would be more logical to label unfair products.

True, fair trade products are still in a minority and will probably remain so whilst the current economic climate persists. Then there is cynicism, with a perception amongst some that it is a con, that the money doesn’t get to the producers, that manufacturers are using it as a smokescreen to charge more. A few die hard cynics have even compared fair trade to charity Christmas cards – that you pay a little extra cash and clear your conscience in the process.

The majority view, however, is that the growth of fair trade serves the common good and is a route by which poverty, ignorance and unfairness can be reduced across the globe. It can also be a platform upon which a more sustainable global economy can be built, empowering women through education and reducing birth rates, protecting endangered species and helping to preserve the Earth’s delicate eco-system.

Flood insurance cover – homes most at risk in the UK

At estimated 200,000 households will face insurance problems when the government’s protection agreement ends in 2013, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI). This agreement currently ensures insurance cover for those properties most at risk from flooding.

In anticipation of this, the ABI has identified those areas most at risk of flood damage in the UK. These also represent the areas where some residents may struggle to find adequate insurance cover.

Anyone worried about flooding should speak to their home insurance provider to find out what their policy covers and any exclusions.

Greener cities – the future

Are greener cities the future?

There is a common misconception that during tough economic times we must abandon ‘nice to haves’ in favour of harsh commercial realities. That green initiatives and environmental concerns must take backseat.

A recent study by GreenWise, however, dispels this myth. Not only is investment in green initiatives justified but actually delivers real economic benefits. According to the study, cities in the UK that adopt a green stance can realise a return on investment within 4-5 years, whilst potentially saving billions of pounds in energy use and creating thousands of new jobs....

Will carbon dioxide emissions defer the next Ice Age?

Climate sceptic groups who oppose limiting greenhouse gas emissions have already begun citing this research as a reason for continuing with industrialisation and carbon emissions (ironically including some who had previously disputed that carbon emissions contributed to global warming!) Read more

Urban tree planting programme launched

A £4.2m scheme to plant one million trees over the next four years has been unveiled by the government. The scheme involves planting trees in urban areas of England that need them most, and is the first government tree-planting campaign since the 1970s.

Led by Defra, alongside the Forestry Commission and organisations such as the Woodland Trust, the aim of the scheme is to halt the decline in the number of trees being planted in towns and cities. Trees for Cities and the Tree Council will also be involved in the Big Tree Plant scheme.

Indian mines company accused of unlawful deforestation

According to the BBC, a subsidiary of the Vedanta mining group in India, Sterlite Industries, has cleared forest land in violation of Supreme Court orders. The trees were cut down while constructing a new power plant in Chhattisgarh state. Two government reports - dated October 2010 - said that trees were cut down in an area owned by the state government which is officially designated as forest land in government records.

Fracking hell

Fracking is the process of injecting a high-pressure mixture of sand, water and chemicals thousands of metres into hard shale rocks to shatter them and release the natural gas inside. The concerns around this controversial technique surround its potential to contaminate water aquifers and poison drinking water. It will also simply extend our reliance on fossil fuels and contribute further to greenhouse gas emissions....

Environmentally Reckless Marketing Ploys

It is no secret that in order to create products in an industrial world, we have to commit some harm to the environment. While major corporations receive backlash for their treatment of the land we live on, they also make attempts to disguise their actions in the form of “green” marketing. Some companies have been exposed for their false messages while others have blatantly disregarded the sanctity of Mother Earth. Here are 5 of the most devious displays of reckless abandonment ever seen in the marketing world:

Every Mobile Product Commercial

The mobile companies run intensive advertising campaigns that make their products look clean, crisp, and current. If you see any marketing venture for Apple, you are going to get an onslaught of white mixed with slick black and chrome features.

While the advertising is designed to throw you off guard, the truth is that these companies employ millions of workers in foreign countries in sweatshop conditions. Every new release promises the fastest connection ever, but it is really slowing the earth down with billions of tons of waste going directly into landfills and the ocean.

10,000 Red Balloons

In what seems to be an homage to the German singer Nena's 1980's hit “99 Red Balloons,” a San Francisco video game company called TrashTalkFCM released 10,000 red balloons over the entire bay area. While it was no doubt a spectacle, the marketing stunt is wreaking havoc on the birds and marine life which calls the bay home. According to the SF Weekly, the city is fining the company $7,000 and is expecting payment within 30 days.

McDLT

McDonald's is one of the most egregious exploiters of the environment in the history of industry. They generate billions of tons of waste, create unhealthy food sources for impoverished urban citizens, and release unnecessary amounts of methane into the atmosphere with their factory farmed cattle. Back in the 1980's, before people got into the entire “green” movement, McDonald's introduced a product known as the McDLT.

As evidenced by this extremely dated commercial featuring Jason Alexander, the McDLT was served in a Styrofoam container which kept your burger hot and your veggies crisp. Instead of actually preparing food fresh, the fast food giant decided it was a good idea to make consumers do all of the work themselves and add waste to landfills across America.

GE's Green Week

When GE owned the NBC network, they promoted an annual “Green Week” once or twice throughout the year. While this was a nod to the entire environmental movement, the fact is that GE is a pillar of industry and creates more waste than most developed nations. This bi-annual PR stunt was a clever way into deceiving the public about the inner-workings of the company.

Biofuel

The corn producers of America have the government in their pocket. Not only do these farmers get to control what most of what the entire world eats on a daily basis, they also want to change how we power our vehicles and buildings. A few years back, ethanol became a buzz word for reducing carbon emissions and decreasing our dependence on foreign oil.

In reality, ethanol and other biofuels emit even more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and take more energy to cultivate. This is an example of how an extensive lobbying budget and the control of Congress can create just as effective of a marketing campaign than any money spent of television advertising.

Before falling for advertisements claiming the purported convenience or green capabilities of certain products, use your head and analyze what is really going on. Companies need to unload products in order to make profits and will do so at virtually any means necessary. Become a smarter and more informed consumer by visiting sites like The Education Update and Consumer Reports.

Hydrogen cars - the future?

The opening of the UK's first public refuelling station for hydrogen vehicles in Swindon is part of efforts to create a "hydrogen highway" along the M4 motorway. It is also seen as an important step in a UK-wide scheme to make hydrogen vehicles a viable alternative to petrol-driven cars. "A hydrogen car is much cleaner than a conventional car," says Professor Kevin Kendall, a hydrogen and fuel cell expert from Birmingham University. "This will clean up our cities enormously," he says in an interview with BBC News. "No emissions whatsoever." For more information on green cars and green insurance visit the Green Insurance Directory.

Plastic debris 'killing Adriatic loggerhead turtles'

One in three loggerhead turtles in the Adriatic Sea has plastic in its intestine, according to research in the Marine Pollution Bulletin. The Adriatic sea floor is one of the most polluted in Europe and the shallow waters of the Adriatic are important feeding grounds for the turtles.

Hundreds of millions of tonnes of plastic litter the world's oceans

Scientists are investigating ways of dealing with the millions of tonnes of floating plastic rubbish that litters our oceans. One of the largest areas of plastic litter is in the North Pacific and covers an area twice the size of France. As well as damaging coasts and killing marine life who mistake the plastic for food, contaminants in the water, which attach to the plastic debris, are distributing waste chemicals across the world's oceans. This dire situation emphasises the need for sustainable goods being used in preference to (arguably) cheaper but ecologically damaging alternatives. The plastic debris now strewn across our oceans is a sad indictment of our collective failure and a burdensome mess for future generations to clean up.

Survey reveals environmental damage of car washing

It's a typical Sunday morning chore, but over half of British motorists are unaware of the environmental harm of regularly hand washing their cars.

Whilst nearly three quarters (74%) of Britons understand that their individual actions have an effect on the environment, they appear to be unaware that washing a car on streets and driveways causes dirty water to run into the nearest rivers and streams, where it affects water quality and harms wildlife.

Survey organisers Total UK and TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk say if half of the 43 million British motorists decided to hand wash their car, 14 billion litres of untreated water would flow into local waterways .

Green cars

Hybrid cars use a conventional petrol engine as well as an electric battery that charges as you drive and automatically switches on when the car slows down, making city driving more eco-friendly. These cars cost around two-thirds less to run than a petrol car, have reduced road tax and are exempt from the London congestion charge [read more]

What is carbon neutral?

When insurance companies talk about being carbon neutral, they mean balancing a measured amount of carbon emissions with an equivalent amount that is captured through one process or another. With net emissions being zero it becomes ‘carbon neutral’.

The most environmentally aware insurance companies will always seek to firstly reduce their own emissions and those of their customers. This will include making their buildings more eco-friendly and cutting energy use. Customers will be encouraged to drive more fuel efficient cars and given advice and incentives to reduce their carbon footprint. Only after this will unavoidable emissions be offset.

Carbon emissions can be offset in a number of ways. For example, carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere from burning fossil fuels can be balanced against renewable energy that creates a similar amount of useful energy, so that the carbon emissions are compensated. More dubiously, insurance companies can pay others to remove carbon emissions by planting trees or by funding 'carbon projects' that lead to the prevention of future greenhouse gas emissions, or by buying carbon credits to remove them through carbon trading.

Dangerously radioactive sites in UK revealed

New disclosures from the Ministry of Defence reveal that at least 15 sites across the UK have been contaminated with radiation from military equipment used in World War 2. The extent of the contamination is largely unknown yet the sites are still accessible by the public and are even being considered for the development of home and businesses [read more]

Good news! Cairn Energy's Arctic drilling misadventures are over

After spending more than a billion dollars and risking ecological disaster in the biggest oil exploration campaign ever in the Arctic, Cairn has found no commercially extractable oil at all, putting its entire Arctic drilling project in doubt.

The astronomical costs (and the company's plummeting share price) mean that there will be no further exploratory drilling off Greenland for the foreseeable future.

Not by Cairn, anyway.

Other oil companies - including Shell, ExxonMobil, Chevron and Statoil - all hold licenses to drill in an untouched area off the north-east coast of Greenland. Elsewhere in the Arctic, Shell plans to start drilling in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas of Alaska next year, and Gazprom in the Pechora Sea north of Siberia.

Cairn's demise is good news for the environment but we must remain vigilant.

The great River Taff cleanup project

A few short decades ago, the River Taff drained some of the largest coal mines in South Wales. Tributaries ran black with coal dust, and there were plenty of other contaminants flowing into the Taff and on into Cardiff Bay and the Bristol Channel. Along with large reaches of the Ebbw, the Rhymney, the Ely, and the Rhondda, the lower waters of the Taff were too toxic to support much life. It's estimated that the river once received about 100,000 tonnes of mining waste per year.
30 years ago the Taff was considered unfishable below the industrial works around Merthyr Tydfil. It now plays host to international fly fishing championships. Salmon can be seen leaping the weirs just a mile from Cardiff city centre, and waterbirds, insects, and amphibians have all returned to the lower reaches. It made a recent Environment Agency list of the 10 most improved rivers in the UK.
While the cleanup began with the closure of the mines it would be a mistake to assume that the Taff returned to a healthy state on its own. Huge efforts have gone into restoring it, including everything from small tributaries like the Taff Bargoed, which flows past the site of Merthyr Vale Colliery, to the artificial banks put in place to protect Cardiff suburbs from flooding. Sewerage treatment works have been improved and the remaining industrial outflow points more tightly controlled. The weirs have been modified to allow salmon to pass more easily and wetlands re-established to provide vital habitat for other species.
The efforts to clean up South Wales rivers have delivered immense benefits to the local community as well as the environment. A 55 mile cycle path winds down the Taff valley now, and country parks have been built on the Taff Bargoed and the Rhondda. The rivers are now used for fishing, birdwatching, kayaking, and rowing rather than draining industrial waste.
Volunteers, angling and watersports clubs, environmental campaigners, and local and national authorities all played a part in the tremendous recovery of the Taff and other South Wales rivers, and they should all have a share of the credit. However, the work is far from over. Out the 6114 rivers in England and Wales only five are pristine. Just over a quarter are considered to be in good condition.
Under EU regulations that figure ought to be 95%. Cleaning up Britain's rivers is a formidable task, but it can be done. All it takes is a short walk by the Taff so see that it's not only possible to return heavily polluted rivers to sound condition but also get some idea of the potential benefits. The clean Taff now has a tremendous value to local people as well as flora and fauna.

Jess Spate lives less than a mile from the River Taff and has been lucky enough to see the salmon running there. She has cycled beside it, enjoyed the wading birds in the wetlands, and kayaked reaches that were toxic not so long ago.

Forget oil. Population growth and water supply, the Arab worlds real challenge

Rapid population growth, spreading water shortages and growing food insecurity are already plaguing many Arab nations. For example, grain production has started to fall as aquifers (underground water-bearing rocks) have become depleted. Saudi Arabia used to be self-sufficient in wheat production but has now phased this out as its aquifers have been bled dry. As a result it will become totally dependent on imported grain to feed its growing population. Realising that its population cannot eat oil, the Saudis have started to buy or lease land countries such as Ethiopia and Sudan. The problem is that these countries often have real problems feeding their own people, let alone trying to support the food needs of other countries [read more]

Is carbon capture feasible? The race to bury carbon dioxide under ocean

Often touted as the solution to halting climate change, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) for electricity generation has not yet been carried out commercially anywhere across the globe. Early efforts in the UK and around the world have so far produced little in terms of practical and workable models... [read more]

Kenya’s forests and the legacy of Wangari Maathai

Over the last 30 years, vast swathes of Kenya’s forests have been ruthlessly felled for fuel wood, building materials and other uses. Abusing nature in this way always results in a payback. In Kenya’s case it has been rising temperatures, increased droughts and persistent water crises...[read more]

Smaller families reduce carbon emissions

As the human population nears the 7 billion mark, questions have once again been raised about the ability of our planet to support this vast increase. Will there be enough food and water? How long will the population carry on growing? What will happen to already threatened eco systems and endangered species as they compete with humans for space?

According to the Guardian, more than 200 million sexually active women who do not wish to become pregnant do not have access to modern contraception. A quarter of all births worldwide are unplanned and 42 million abortions are performed each year, half of them clandestinely, killing 68,000 women. The human toll of denying women the fundamental right to plan their families is extraordinarily high and also a significant source of population growth.

The report goes on to state that if family planning was provided to all women who wanted it, then the reduction in carbon emissions by virtue of there being less people consuming more resources, would be the equivalent to stopping all deforestation or increasing the global use of wind power by forty fold.

These figures are truly staggering. Both in terms of the suffering caused to women worldwide and also with respect to unnecessary damage being caused to the environment.

These sentiments are echoed in a statement signed by 1600 senior scientists from 70 countries, including 102 Nobel Prize laureates - Pressures resulting from unrestrained population growth put demands on the natural world that can overwhelm any efforts to achieve a sustainable future. If we are to halt the destruction of our environment, we must accept limits to that growth.

Does Fair Trade really make a difference?

Fair trade has come under criticism from some quarters as marketing hype. The Adam Smith Institute has even claimed that fair trade is actually unfair because if offers only a small number of farmers a higher, fixed priced for their produce at the expense of a majority of farmers, who can be left worse off. So does fair trade really make a difference? Read more

Money saving tips and ideas

Piggy Bank is a free site dedicated to helping you find ways of saving money and cutting costs. You'll find the site packed full of useful ideas, tips and suggestions on how to save money on a vast range of everyday goods and services including books, clothing, fuel bills, water bills, driving and mobile phones.