Saving the planet should start at home, and with so many companies going green, it's a cinch to shrink your carbon footprint without sacrificing style (spare me the hessian hairshirts and hippy-dippy homewares).

 

 

 

I have a real soft spot for old things this month, so thought I'd highlight some gorgeous vintage furniture – always more eco-friendly than buying something new. For inspiration, flip through the pages of Recycled Home (Ryland, Peters & Small, £19.99) by Mark and Sally Bailey of Baileys. It's full of beautifully subdued colour palettes and tasteful shabby chic.

 

Still, some of us can't resist the allure of ever-so-girly confections. I know I've mentioned Le Tramac before, but the 'Bombon' collection is so deliciously moreish – I adore the 'Madame Lit de Repos' chaise (right). You can just imagine a French siren (even one d'un certain age) reclining on this whilst beguiling young hopefuls, not with wrinkle-free skin but with her wit and vivacious spirit.

And this 'Table Coquette' does more than hint at feminine wiles.

 

If you fancy something a bit funkier, turn to Burke & Hazelden. They transform antique finds into distinctly modern pieces, such as this 'Aladdin Sane', a c1890 Louis XV walnut armoire with detailed Rococo carvings, decorated by KID4EVA, a London-based graffiti artist.

 

These beauties don't come cheap, however, so if your budget is more lowly than Louis, why not get artistic and make (or commission) your own? Keep your eyes peeled on Freecycle, eBay, at your local charity shop, at vintage furniture market stalls or even on your local pavements (one man's junk...) If you find a real treasure whose charms lie deeply buried, contact the British Antiques and Furniture Restorers Association (BAFRA) for details of a specialist who can help reveal its unique charms. If it's not a proper antique but is an interesting item that needs a little TLC, get to work. A bit of upholstery (organic fabrics anyone?) or a dash of paint (try earth-kind concoctions) and your vintage find will be as green as can be – even if it's in a shocking shade of raspberry pink!

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This month I'm loving... Mean green mowing machines. Well mow me down! Spring is in the air, and with it the smell of freshly grown grass – which whets the appetite of most gardeners to make it freshly mown grass. If you lust after the latest 'must-have' garden gadget, get your hankie ready 'cause you'll be drooling over the new range of robot lawn mowers. What could be easier? Flip the 'ON' switch and retire to a sun lounger with a G&T – at least until the next shower rolls in. You needn't even break a sweat. This is the sort of gardening even I could excel at!

 

If you don't want your thumb to be the extent of your green-ness, test drive the new solar hybrid electric robot mower (above) from Husqvarna. Dear, yes, (around £2000) but potentially cheaper over time than a lawn service (especially if rumours of eastern European immigrants deserting our dirty work are true) and surely more ethical (if you've been paying substandard wages). This is not your garden-variety lawn mower. If you have green electricity – and the sun shines for you – this glossy beauty could help you cut back on the pricey petrol – and the carbon (it's even assembled in the UK). It's suitable for areas up to 2,100 square metres, so perhaps slightly OTT for the typical inner-city or suburban patch. I've never understood the need for each house in a street to have its own massive mower in the shed. Perhaps after the success of car clubs we'll see a new phenomenon: shed-sharing clubs. Sacrilege? A man's shed may be his castle, but if it wasn't full of lawn equipment, he'd have even more room for... for whatever it is he gets up to in there. Sharing equipment would help to reduce waste – and maybe even encourage neighbours to talk to each other again.

 

On the other hand, why lounge on your backside while a robot mows the lawn, then drive to the gym to spend an hour on a cross trainer? Just cancel your gym membership and get a push mower (for the price of a month's fees). The snazzy Husqvarna Novocut 64 has five blades to help keep your lawn green and groomed without consuming any fuel – unless you count a hearty breakfast. Even better, it's a snip at approx £75-80 (plus £15 for grass catcher). It recently won the Which? Best Buy for a medium-sized lawn.

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This month I'm loving... Tray chic from Christine Misiak. Christine rescues ‘homeless’ teapots, trays and cups from charity shops, flea markets and car boot sales and gives them a new lease of life by recycling, restyling and resurfacing them. The ‘Original Recycled Tea Sets’ (below in black and turquoise) are one-off works of art, re-use at its most elegant. The 'Old/New' sets (right) blend the charm of antique style with contemporary sensibilities and the 'New Handle' sets are made by adding modern handles to 'pre-loved' tea sets.

This is my favourite kind of eco design, sleek and stylish with nary a whiff of world-weary earnestness or raggle taggle gypsy – though I can't get enough of Waterson:Carthy singing the song, I don't bring that gypsy vibe home (I got my fill of macramé at summer camp in '75, thanks all the same).

 

Christine graduated with a degree in Three Dimensional Design from Northumbria University and within weeks won the Peter Walker award for innovation in product design at the 2007 New Designers exhibition. She'll be at the New Designers: One Year On show in July at Islington's Business Design Centre. All Christine's work is made to order, so let her know which designs tickle your fancy.

And to ensure a truly green cuppa make sure you serve fairtrade tea. Three teas from Equal Exchange top the ratings at Ethiscore.org (a great source of ethical info) including the regular organic tea, organic rooibos and (of course) green tea.  

 

 

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This month I'm loving... Maison Belle's cleaning products with gleaming green credentials. OK, maybe 'loving' is too strong a word. I humbly admit I am no match for Kim and Aggie (right), and Anthea Turner could keep herself blissfully busy for a week tidying up after my family (particularly scraping up all the glitter trapped between our floorboards – I say life's too short!), but the Maison Belle products do actually make me smile. Even when I'm using them. I'm a sucker for a sweet logo and the delectable scents (thanks to essential oils) are a wonderful distraction from the task at hand. If your nose thinks you're in a spa having a massage, the rest of you can blithely get on with the scrubbing.

 

The brainchild of Denmark's Isabelle Smith (left) Maison Belle has a squeaky clean green CV: the cleaners are completely natural, non-toxic and fully biodegradable, with no bleach, ammonia or phosphates. Yet (shock!) they work.

I have taken a real shine to 'Glass', as natural glass cleaners can be a little tricky, requiring more elbow grease than might be comfortable (unless like me, you still haven't joined a gym so count window cleaning as an essential part of your workout regime). This one works a treat, offering a guilt-free – and streak-free – shine and a refreshing Green Tea/Sage scent. So far (fingers crossed) the Apple/Thyme washing up liquid (right) has meant I'm less tempted to leave the washing up until morning. (We're not a sexist household, but as he does the cooking it's only fair...)

 

The All Purpose cleaner's dreamy orange, lavender and clove scent makes spring cleaning just that little bit nicer. And that's all you can ask. Try the entire range, from Maison Belle Kitchen to floor and toilet cleansers and even gentle hand soaps.

 

Buy online at Roullier White or Long Barn, or in smart shops such as Colin Firth's new Eco Age in Chiswick and The General Trading Company in Sloane Square (find other stockists here).

 

 

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This month I'm loving... organic mattresses and divans from Abaca Organic. Since having children (one of whom didn't sleep through the night for years and still doesn't often manage it) I never take a good night's sleep for granted. You can sleep the sleep of the just on a cosy organic mattress certified by the Soil Association and handmade in Wales from recyclable and biodegradable materials created by traditional farming methods.

 

We spend so much time in bed (though perhaps not as much as we'd like), and organic bedding means less exposure to toxic fertilisers, pesticides, herbicides and fungicides. Abaca is launching a range of organic headboards in February 08, so visit AbacaOrganic.co.uk to find out more and order a whole set. Now, your conscience is clear, so why can't you fall asleep? Try counting fluffy little organic sheep jumping over a fence.

 

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This month I'm loving... ethical and earth-kind holiday gifts.

For Harry (or Harriet), your main squeeze: Friends of the Earth (and I) are gaga for guilt-free gifts this year, especially DIY versions such as personalised gift vouchers to give to your favourite folks. These could promise breakfast in bed, help in the garden, or in the case of your lover, something a little more racy.

Harriet again: If you think even a lifetime supply of vouchers for washing up without complaint, breakfast in bed or sensuous massages won't satisfy her Christmas spirit, try the sexy yet sustainable hemp and silk 'Peek-a-Boo' lingerie by Enamore, from The Natural Store. (Photo by Richard Bridge, model: Kim.)

For Jonathan, your Silver Surfer Dad: If your old man defies stereotypes of technophobic over-50s, get him a trendy and eco-friendly Freeloader or Solio charger from Ecotopia. The solar-powered Freeloader, £29.95, and award-winning Solio, £59.99, can power up MP3 players, digital cameras, mobiles and more. Just beg him in the name of all that's holy never again to sing along to 'Sexual Healing' in public.

For Janice, your Mum: Pamper your parent with naturally gorgeous candles and organic bath oil and body potions from Jo Wood. She'll also love Jo's book Naturally: How to Look and Feel Healthy, Energetic and Radiant the Organic Way (£12.99). She can read it on the plane to Antigua next month (kidding!)

For little poppet Pippa: This gorgeous fairly-traded fairy outfit, £18.99, well help your little one learn about fair play; from Fair and Fabulous.

For your brother Matt, a graphic designer who works from home: Turning down the thermostat doesn't have to mean poor Matt is stuck with icicles on his nose. Keep his tootsies warm with über-stylish, cosy (and 99% biodegradable) earth-kind slippers from Po-Zu at Terra Plana. Let's face it, they beat Crocs foot down in the fashion and eco stakes. Over time, the coconut-husk and air pocket foot mattress moulds to the shape of the foot, making them so comfy he may be tempted never to leave the house again. But seriously, Bro, you need to get out more. Walking to the paper shop once a day does not constitute a) fresh air  b) exercise or c) a social life.

For Charlotte the chocoholic: Lottie needn't feel so guilty if she's gorging on organic chocs from By Nature. The scrumptious selection includes tasty handmade treats from The Chocolate Empire, certified by the Soil Association and packed in recyclable or re-usable packaging such as vintage style gift tins. Or maybe she'd prefer devouring award-winning Booja Booja chocolates, handmade in Norfolk or the spicy seasonal truffles from Montezuma, made in the UK. My head is spinning from all the choices, or is that a touch of hypoglycaemia? Remember, the chocs may be guilt-free, but that doesn't mean you're free to gobble an entire box in one afternoon!

For the twins, Isaac and Issy: Pedal-free bikes from Kiddimoto, a family business based at the foot of Cheddar Gorge. Kiddimoto bikes are designed in Britain and built from high-quality birch plywood from FSC-certified managed forests. The kids gain confidence and balance (without stabilisers) so moving on to big bikes is a breeze.

For Alistair, arbiter of good taste: If there's a serious foodie you're trying to impress, turn to Daylesford Organic. The Organic Christmas Hamper, £200, is packed with a generous range of treats: organic Christmas pudding, cranberry sauce, natural quince jelly, organic chocolates, Cotswold honey, a Daylesford Organic kitchen diary, biodynamic Champagne, sloe gin, a kilo of Daylesford Organic's award-winning handmade mature cheddar and more. The Traditional Treats Hamper, £105, (right) includes delicacies such as smoked trout pâté, smoked salmon, organic blackcurrant jam, Manuka honey, chocolates, red onion and apple chutney, biodynamic wine, mince pies, and Daylesford Organic's cheddar. Consider Alistair well and truly buttered up (a slightly disconcerting mental picture).

For Helen, your RIGHT-ON-erable friend: Trendy-friendies will adore tops or skirts in squeaky clean hemp or organic cotton from Natural Collection, or this cute crocheted fair trade Jute Swirl Bag. Some of Natural Collection's Autumn/Winter collection is already on sale, so you might even find a few bits and bobs for yourself while you're browsing...

For Heidi, the girl with stars in her eyes: No, not a subscription to Heat, but a charity plate designed by one of her favourite celebs for Whatever it Takes. She'll swoon over the George Clooney, but her boyfriend might prefer the Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman or even Coldplay, Rolling Stones or Snoop Dogg. The plates cost £9.99 and proceeds go to charity. I like the designs by Margaret Atwood and Yoko Ono (right) but smart shoppers will snap up the Paul and Heather Mills McCartney plate – sure to become a collector’s item!

For house-proud Aunt Sylvie: Sylvie won't mind an earnest gift if it's also beautiful, like these luxury handmade aromatherapy soaps from EcoCentric. Scents include wild lavender (relaxing), star anise (refreshing), spicy orange (cleansing), geranium and rosebud (healing) and cinnamon (warming and soothing). Ingredients are natural, eco-friendly and organic or wildcrafted. The only problem? Sylvie may say they're too pretty to use, so why not buy her two lots: one to show off and one to savour. Box of nine, £20; box of four, £12. With orders over £20, newsletter subscribers get £5 off plus a free bar of Divine fair trade chocolate (use checkout code 3095).

For your brother-in-law Mike (and his bike): Keep Mike that little bit safer on nighttime roads with a Micro Bike Front and Rear Wind-up Torch Light, £19.99, ECOutlet. The battery-free wind-up torch lights shine for 90 minutes for only one minute's winding or five hours on a full charge. That should sort out his worries that cycling only tones his legs and his arms are looking a bit weedy.

For Sophie, pampered princess (with principles): These limited-edition treats from The Body Shop are full of natural goodness and give farmers a fair deal. After weeks of water-saving showers, treat yourself to a steamy soak with Cranberry Bubble Bath, Vanilla Spice Bath Melt or Sweet Chestnut Shimmering Bath Bubbles. They’re only available for Christmas so order now. Spend £50 online and get a bag of freebies worth £26. Offer ends midnight, 21 December.

For Jo, shopaholic and dog-lover: This sweet Carry-a-Bag is perfect carrying lots of Christmas shopping and carries a potent message too. And just look at those eyes! Irresistible! The last day for UK orders is 17 December, so let your fingers do the typing now.

For the neighbours: Barbara, James, Victoria, Geoff, Kym and that nice lady down the road whose name I can’t remember: Don't worry if you’ve left this one a bit late, just add a case of organic wines to your weekly Riverford order. Or give them their own sample veg box to try out.

For Stephan and Stephanie, the couple who have everything: Good Gifts has expanded its portfolio of meaningful and charitable gifts. Yes, this couple probably has shelf space (in one of their homes) for another knick-knack, but instead, why not help those less fortunate: on their behalf give the gift of eyesight, donate seeds to third-world countries or sponsor tea dances to keep the elderly frisky. A farmyard for an African family (one cow, two goats, five chickens and a cockerel) is £165, or give five chickens and a cockerel for just £25. If they'd prefer a UK project, try a pair of beech trees, £40, to provide oxygen for generations to come. Now that will surely last longer than a sweatshop-made vase.

For Jon, unabashed groover and groomer: Today's men don't flinch at grooming products, they flaunt them proudly, especially if they're packed with eco cred like this smart Trevarno gift set packed in a jute bag. Trevarno was the first organic skincare manufacturer certified by the Organic Farmers and Growers Association. The set includes shaving soap, aftershave cream/moisturiser, aftershave oil and Cedarwood, Juniper and Pine bath and body oil, all with certified organic herbs, plant oils and essential oils.

For Miss Baker, your child's teacher: She'll need the respite of the holidays more than you can imagine. Help her savour her days off with a soothing cup of fairtrade cocoa from Divine. After all, could you work in a room full of noisy, fidgety, chattery children five days a week? On second thought, splurge on a Divine Indulgence or even a Divine Extravagance package at Ethical Superstore.

For Mrs McMichael, your child's teaching assistant: Share the Christmas spirit with a candle from the Naturals Christmas collection at Colony. These environmentally-friendly candles use natural ingredients and re-usable  containers. Choose from Redcurrant & Bayleaf (with winter berries, vanilla and cedarwood);  Mulberry & Clove or Cinnamon Bark & Vanilla.

If you find yourself stuck with unwanted gifts, remember Efreeko.co.uk, a UK-based non-profit site that let your give away your unwanted presents to anyone, anywhere in the UK totally free of charge, thus decreasing the amount of stuff going to landfill sites. Just think of the holiday cheer you can spread. After all, *someone* will have asked Santa for the Take That biography.

 

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This month I'm loving... furniture made from reclaimed materials. First up, I'm gaga over the clever and quirky designs from Max McMurdo and the design team at Reestore. They turn trash into treasure with style and sass. I adore the 'Max the bath tub chaise', inspired by a sofa featured in the film Breakfast at Tiffany's and crafted from a vintage, cast-iron bath. If you're feeling particularly worthy, adopt little orphan 'Annie the shopping trolley chair' (left) and save her from languishing in a canal. Or send a stylish signal with 'Silvana', (right) an illuminated side table made from a reclaimed washing machine drum. All the products are created with as many green principles as possible, using reclaimed and rejected materials. "I don't consider myself a traditional greenie, with dirty fingernails and a hemp wardrobe," says Max. "Environmental considerations need not compromise the aesthetics and desirability of Reestore's products." Though Max isn't clad in hemp, he is finding the green cause slightly addictive, as you can see with his new guise as the Green Gladiator.

I also love the 'free-range' furniture from Ryan Frank. Reclamation is a recurring theme in his work, as Ryan incorporates board from discarded office furniture as well as sustainable and recyclable materials. The Inkuku chair (left) is made from recycled aluminium and recyclable plastic bags. (I wonder if he could make them in bright pink...) His Hackney Shelf (below) is half-furniture, half-social experiment, as he leaves white boards around East London to 'acquire' graffiti, then cuts them up to create one-of-a-kind shelving units. They're also available in plain white.

 

Both these gents are really going places. Look out for Reestore's Max on telly, as he has several projects in the pipeline. Ryan is heading for Buckingham Palace on the 12th of November for a reception with the Queen. Perhaps Her Majesty is contemplating a new, sustainable throne... 

 

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This month I’m loving… Eco-friendly lad bags. Papa's got a brand new bag and it's about time! If you – or your other half – are having trouble keeping up with modern life's bits and bobs (keys, wallet, mobile, mp3, laptop, etc) it's time to bag it. Call it what you will – man bag, attaché, courier bag, commuter bag, overnighter, satchel, tote, café bag, holdall, despatch bag or even 'murse' – just blinking carry one, please!   If you're worried about your street cred, remember you're in good company. Some of the world's most desirable dudes have carried boy bags: George Clooney, Jose Mourinho, Jude Law, Jake Gyllenhaal, Mick Jagger, David Beckham, and even the most he-man of heroes, Indiana Jones. So hold your head high (after all, nothing's more embarrassing than leaving your phone at home – again – or searching coat pockets in vain for your elusive wallet).   In your quest for street cred, don't lose your eco cred – try these on for size:  A) Satchel made with recycled and vintage belt and saddle leather, with reclaimed buckles and pockets lined with men's tie silk; from £225, Ting. B) The PURE® hemp bag collection uses recycled metal and gets the nod from Amnesty International and the World Wildlife Fund; see a large selection at The Hemp Shop. C and D) Paragon of eco chic Oliver Heath has an exclusive range of leather accessories made from vintage belts, such as this smart camera bag and wallet, EcoCentric.  E) The Jimi™ wallet, £12.50 from Love Eco, is made from 100% recycled materials. This compact, colourful wallet holds just enough for a night on the town and is tough enough for outdoor adventures.  F) The 'Jack' shoulder bag, £64.99, is made from recycled fire hoses and safety belts; ECOutlet. Or go for old: pick up a vintage Mulberry satchels online or at a quality antique market stall.