11 February, 2008: Leading textile testing laboratory, Shirley Technologies tells us that 10% of the textiles (towels, clothes, bedding, etc) it tests fail ecological tests. And the most harmful are from the US.
 

Surprise, surprise. Well it is a surprise if you've seen the US Cotton industry's 'Feel the Difference' campaign (right), complete with angelic young maidens and a 'Pure, Sensual and Sustainable' tagline.

 

 

The issue hasn't escaped the notice of UK textile designers. A group including Lisa Harland of  Harlands Organic Furnishings is starting to tackle greenwashing in the textile industry. Have a look at Lisa's blog entitled 'The Environmental Impact of the Furniture Industry'. It also includes a disturbing film from Peta on Merino wool. She also wants consumers to know that chemical flame retardants are now widespread, due to fire and safety regs, and that some of these chemicals may have harmful effects on humans and should be replaced with non-toxic or natural alternatives. These chemicals are also tested on animals, so should be avoided for any truly ethical furnishings. Anthony and Jesse at Q Collection also have a lot to say on the subject of ecological and ethical upholstery.

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11 February, 2008: Do you have some nasty little secrets lurking in the closet? Sweatshop chic, animal cruelty, throwaway fashion that's trendy today, trashed tomorrow...
It's London Fashion Week (as you can see on my Website of the Week page) so now's the time to inspect your wardrobe and switch to ethical threads.

 

Animal-friendly fashion boutique Bourgeois Bohème aims to turn every Fashionista into a 'Compassionista' with its newly launched line of stylish yet cruelty-free shoes made in ethical factories from microfibre, an eco-friendly leather alternative.

 

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28 January, 2008: WhalesRevenge.com is trying to gather a million signatures on an international petition to stop whaling. The site was started by Australian Patrick Bonello, who was inspired after watching graphic TV footage of Japanese whaling ships slaughtering whales. The site also has a Space Invaders-style game, where you help the Greenpeace good guys by sinking whaling ships (if you can avoid their harpoons long enough).

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11 January, 2008: Novelty Christmas jumpers, books you've already read, perfume you sneeze at, a DVD of 'The X Factor's Most Magical Moments'? If Santa (or cousin Sam) didn't put on his bifocals when reading your Christmas list, take heart. You needn't chuck imperfect pressies into the back of the cupboard and forget them until next year (when you plot your revenge with your own selections).

 

 

Choose from over 12,000 worthy non-profits already registered on Mission Fish (including Friends of the Earth and GlobalGiving) or add your own good cause.

 

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10 January, 2008: If you've been watching Hugh's Chicken Run on C4, you may be making a few changes to this week's menu. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall is hoping to start a chicken revolution in the UK – no, not by encouraging strike action in the henhouse, by changing consumer behaviour. He wants us to buy ethically reared, free-range chicken, instead of cheap factory-farmed chicken often sold for less than a price of a pint. 

 

After all, isn't an animal's life worth more than £1.99? These creatures have short, wretched lives in cramped conditions without natural daylight – not exactly the 'frolicking in the unspoilt countryside' lifestyle the label photos often hint at. The chickens regularly develop severe injuries and disabilities due to unnaturally fast weight gain and restricted movement.

 

Consumer behaviour can change – and supermarkets and government can play a role. Publicity about the plight of battery caged hens led to more consumers demanding free-range eggs. Marks & Spencer and Waitrose now sell only free-range eggs, and in the run-up to a new EU law coming in 2012, Sainsbury's, the Co-op and Morrisons are phasing out eggs from caged birds. Hugh is calling on supermarkets to end the price wars, which put pressure on farmers to intensify their farming methods.

 

Now you may love or loathe Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall (or just want to give him a really hot shower, a shave and a haircut). Either way, don't miss tonight's final episode. This chicken revolution won't end with the final show. Sign up for the Chicken Out! campaign for a free-range future. It's being led by River Cottage locals, who are boycotting intensively reared chickens and choosing free-range birds instead. Add your name to the list to show your concern and if you eat meat, join the boycott. At the moment, 95% of the chicken sold in the UK is intensively farmed, so there's a long way to go.

 

Jamie Oliver is a partner in the campaign, and his new show Fowl Dinners (starting Friday at 9pm on C4) will try to encourage us to change our perspective on poultry products.

 

The Soil Association applauds the campaigning efforts of Hugh and Jamie and believes a shift towards more ‘free-range’ production would be a positive step, but reminds us that we should go even further. The Soil Association’s organic poultry systems offer the highest standards of animal welfare as acknowledged by respected animal welfare groups such as Compassion in World Farming. A recent government survey found that eggs from intensively farmed or even free-range birds have a significantly higher level of Salmonella than those from organic laying hens, confirming the Soil Association’s view that there are serious potential human health implications from intensive farming. Find out more at SoilAssociation.org.

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9 January, 2008:  A survey by NESTA (The National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts) has found that four out of five Brits believe ideas from ordinary people can make a huge difference to serious social problems like climate change. Eighty per cent of people in the UK believe they’ve had an idea that would have a positive impact on everybody’s lives but, for the vast majority (72%), their moment of genius remains untapped over worries such as lack of funding or fear of failure. Unleash your bright ideas with NESTA and transform your creativity into carbon-cutting initiatives!

 

Today marks the opening of the application process for NESTA’s Big Green Challenge. The challenge is to reduce CO₂ emissions in your community (which can be local, regional or more widely dispersed) by 60%. If you're interested in taking part visit the website and submit an initial application (deadline is 29 February!)  "The New Year offers an opportunity to bring these ideas to the surface," says NESTA's Chief Executive Jonathan Kestenbaum. "By providing a financial incentive and expert support, we hope to encourage communities to come together to find new ways to tackle climate change.”

 

Now – how to make my dreams of replacing nuclear plants with energy-producing gyms a reality... Solves the obesity crisis and climate change in one fell swoop (or many, MANY miles on the treadmill and exercise bike!)

 

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The Make Your Mark Challenge 2007 has announced the winners of the UK’s largest ever simultaneous enterprise competition. The theme this year was ‘Make it pay in a globalocal way’, designed to spark the teams’ creativity to find solutions to social and environmental issues. The winners:

School: Wickersley School and Sports College, Rotherham, wins the schools category with ‘Truck Trackers’, for small businesses that need to deliver goods but cannot fill an entire truck (saving money and reducing travel waste).

College: The City of London School for Girls wins with ‘Cyclevision’, selling exercise bikes for gym and domestic use which generate electricity to power an in-built television (Brilliant!)

University: University College of Plymouth St Mark & St John wins with ‘Fruit on the Roof’, an idea for growing fruit on urban roof tops.

 

The three winning teams won £3,000 for their institution and £100 of vouchers for each team member. The second place teams won £2,000 and the third place teams £1,000. Congratulations to you all. And have a look HERE to see the inspiring and innovative ideas from all the finalists.

 

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Don't waste a tasty bite this Christmas. Love Food, Hate Waste can give you a head start on planning a less wasteful Christmas dinner, with these tips. I'll share my favourites; click for more helpful hints from their site.

*Prepare Christmas veg, such as carrots and sprouts on Christmas Eve and store them in plastic bags in the fridge to save time the next day.

*If you are cooking for lots of people and need to keep the food cool and safe in your small kitchen, save the fridge for highly perishable foods and use an unheated garage, balcony or even an animal-free area of the garden for drinks, eggs, root vegetables and hard cabbage.

 

*Make mince pies in early December and freeze uncooked in pastry tins until solid. Then pack in boxes. Bake a few at a time when needed.

*Making stuffing on Christmas Eve is always a fiddle, and your guests will never know if it’s been made in advance and frozen. Take the stuffing out of the freezer on Christmas Eve and thaw in the fridge.

*Dried chestnuts keep better in the freezer than in the cupboard. Chop coarsely into stir-fries and stuffings.

*If you have got leftover yoghurt, stir sugar, cinnamon and ground saffron into it and serve as a light dessert after spicy foods such as curries.

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6 December, 2007:  Guilt-free bargains are yours for the taking at the Fashion Made Fair Sample Sale at the Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, London from 13-16 December. It's not just knickers, either, though you'll love the selection from Green Knickers (left) and Enamore (right). You'll find deals from stylish eco and ethical brands People Tree, Howies, THTC and more. The sale starts at 6pm Thursday the 13th and is open from 11am on the following days. Find fabulous sweatshop-free stocking fillers (or even some fairly traded socks and stockings!)

  

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6 December, 2007: In nine days Al Gore will address the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali. I've signed a petition from The Alliance for Climate Protection to support his call for a visionary treaty to address the climate crisis now. Have a look here and sign your name.

 

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29 November, 2007: Not any longer. Five stars to the WWF, for its groundbreaking new report ranking luxury companies in terms of eco and ethical issues and advising celebrities not to promote ‘dirty brands’.

The ‘Deeper Luxury’ report examines the environmental and social records of top brands including L’Oréal, Hermès and Tiffany & Co. The top ten holding companies for luxury brands scored badly. (The best, L’Oréal, scored only a C+).

Luxury consumers are a mixed bag: they are the affluent élite whose lifestyles are by definition unsustainable (think private jets, vast mansions, Caribbean winter homes, garages lined with Hummers and sportscars, bulging wardrobes and oodles of sparkly girls'-best-friends), but also regular Joes and Janes. After all, most of us have hankered after top-drawer luxury goods, even if it meant saving our pennies. But today, people who appreciate luxury products are also increasingly concerned about social and environmental issues. The solution? The WWF says the definition of success must change, with people judging brands with clean records on sustainability and ethical issues the most desirable.

“This report is a call to action for the world’s top brands,” says Anthony Kleanthous, Senior Policy Adviser for WWF. “Luxury companies must do more to justify their value in an increasingly resource-constrained and unequal world. We call upon the luxury industry to bring to life a new definition of luxury, with deeper values expressed through social and environmental excellence.”

Sweatshop cool?
WWF is also asking celebrities to stop endorsing environmentally damaging products. The WWF's new 'Star Charter' encourages celebrities to consider the environmental and social performance of any brand they endorse. As I said, five stars – but only ones who commit to the Star Charter, please. It's only fair: after all, how can a sweatshop ever be cool? (And to that manufacturer of diamond-encrusted patio heaters who keeps ringing, if I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times: "No!")

 

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28 November, 2007: The green Olympics (and more importantly, a lasting legacy) are one step closer today, as Mayor of London Ken Livingstone published the East London Green Grid, a guide to creating a network of interlinked open spaces to connect town centres, public transport hubs, the Thames and the countryside with the area's new communities. "The 2012 Games is acting as a catalyst for the regeneration of London as a whole and East London in particular," says Mr Livingstone. East London is divided into six Green Grid areas, and the plans propose £200 million be invested into 300 projects over the next five years. "'The East London Green Grid will eventually cover an area 29 times the size of Hyde Park," says Jenny Jones, London Assembly Member. "Significant funds now need to be found so that we can turn the vision into reality."

 

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27 November, 2007: Meet a jolly green Santa at the Edinburgh Ethical Christmas Fayre (5-9 December), a new event in the city centre. Hand Up Media, organisers of this event hope to get the message out about fair trade, ethical and environmental issues with fun, stylish and unique gifts that don't cost the earth. Visit the fair's giant marquee on Castle Street/Princes Street to find a great selection of fair trade, ethically sourced, organic, and environmental products and gifts, plus tasty curries from The Mosque Kitchen. There will be visits from Green Santa and children's activities and storytelling. 

 

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22 November, 2007: To green up your home in style, head for ECO, a new eco chic boutique that's the brainchild of this handsome group, from left: Ivo Coulson, Colin Firth, his wife Livia Giuggioli and her brother Nicola. (Mr Firth's shirt is neither white or wet, but it should grab the girls' attention!)

The shop opens on the 7th of January and will be brimming with fairtrade and sustainable finds, plus advice from eco design experts. You'll find everything from appliances and gadgets to high-tech home improvements: solar panels, grey water systems, underfloor heating and wind turbines. There's also a selection of stylish accessories, such as these cushions by Lucy Renshaw. ECO hopes its solar panels and wind turbines will make it the UK's first self-sufficient shop.

 

So is Mr Firth just another celeb jumping on the green bandwagon (whilst jumping onto a private jet every weekend?). Apparently not. On the quiet, he's been a champion of sustainable living for years, setting up Progreso, a fairtrade coffee bar with branches in Notting Hill and Covent Garden. Pop into the shop at 213 Chiswick High Road, but if you happen to catch a glimpse of Colin, please do not squeal, faint or ask him to help you test drive an organic mattress. Exhibit such restraint, and you surely deserve to treat yourself to a cosy fairtrade throw to keep you warm this winter.

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21 November, 2007:  The Government is looking for nine young people (aged 11-18) from across England to spend a busy year 'in office' as climate change champions. The winners will take part in a European fact-finding expedition, get £1000 to organise their own climate change events and have a chance to put their ideas to Ministers. So if you (or a young person you know) are passionate about the environment and think you're up to the challenge visit www.climatechallenge.gov.uk to find out how to enter and read what last year's winners have done. Be quick – the deadline is 3 December!

 

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21 November, 2007: This is the launch weekend of Our Eco Shop, featuring a collection of eco chic homewares from Harlands Organic Furnishings and Pieces of You, plus eco and ethical creations from a select group of eco-conscious designers and artists. Take a closer look inside the shop, located at Cathill Gallery, 264 Merton Road, London SW18. Hours will be Wednesday to Friday, 10.30-4, Saturday and Sunday, 12-5pm.

 

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20 November, 2007: Streetcar (the country's largest pay-as-you-go car club with over 20,000 members – including my family) has added dozens of Streetcar Vans to its fleet. It's the perfect solution for moving house, buying large items (or getting them on Freecycle) or donating bulky bits to the charity shop (we cleared out several bags of toys at the weekend, so definitely need to book!)

Best of all, Streetcar Vans leave no excuses for people who insist on owning giant cars because of the occasional need to lug something large from pillar to post. Downsize to a smaller car – or give yours up altogether and join one of the many car clubs around now. They're convenient, cheap and much less hassle than owning your own (no more insurance paperwork or payments and you can forget about getting an MOT – without getting a ticket).

16 November, 2007: Juliana Grove Presents is one year old today. The online boutique of handmade crafts and designs is a wonderful place to source ethical and eco-friendly Christmas gifts, such as these cufflinks by Julie Robertson made from reclaimed watch parts, colourful paintings in natural pigments, beautifully hand-crafted ceramics, colourful organic cotton cushions or Art Farm Aromatherapy handmade, natural soy wax candles created in France with 100% pure essential oils.

 

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15 November, 2007: Don't miss the Big Green Home Show 2007, which runs until Sunday at the National Self Build and Renovation Centre, Swindon. Find inspiration for making your home carbon neutral, generating your own power, or just increasing your home's energy efficiency. Eco heroes Dick Strawbridge (‘It’s Not Easy Being Green’), Penney Poyzer ('No Waste Like Home’) and TV builder Tommy Walsh will be on hand with advice and you'll find information and product demonstrations of photo-voltaic cells, rainwater harvesting or organic paints, plus informative seminars. To book tickets, visit the site or ring 01506 409 616.

 

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