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).

Daisy Green and Enamore are introducing the 'best ever' ethical bra. So, what does it look like? Well, that's a bit tricky, as it's actually under wraps until the launch party on the 11th of June. [NOTE: The event was postponed due to the Tube strike. Visit Daisy Green or Enamore to find out when it will be rescheduled.]

 

Yes I realise it's bizarre to highlight a fave find you can't yet see, but never fear. As it's from Enamore, I can guarantee it's going to be fun, flirty and fabulous, just like the Peekaboo camisole, below (just £24 in the Spring Fever sale).

 

Each bra will be hand-crocheted in soft, eco-friendly bamboo wool and made in the UK (no sweatshops and a much lower carbon footprint). Not only that, a donation from every sale will go to charities that encourage breastfeeding worldwide, through education and support. Speaking of support, the bras will have more support than past ethical selections.

 

For a sneak peek, head to the launch party, from 7pm til late at I.N.C. Space in Grape Street, WC2. Tickets are £10 in advance; £15 on the door. The party also aspires to be the UK's biggest ever swish.

 

Worried all this char-i-dee and good will swishing will mean a goody-two-shoes party? Think again. The vibe is much more indulgent and well, naughty than nice, with a burlesque act, music from ethical group the Phoenix Rose, an ethical styling session by top stylist Lupe Castro, and of course plenty of green goodies at the sponsors' booths.
 

In the meantime there are plenty of other treats to behold on the Daisy Green site. Have a look at the beauty section's tried-and-tested ethical self-tanning products plus the fab competitions like the current one for two pairs of Pants to Poverty knickers.

 

 

 

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To survive the GFM (global financial meltdown – oh do keep up!) you need to try smarter shopping. That means buying only as much as you can carry (and resisting the urge of the adrenalin surge whispering 'Time for a binge buy!'). 

 

Shopping locally supports local businesspeople (if you choose independent shops, not the local branch of Tesco!). To make the journey as stress-free as possible, try these handy solutions (unless your child's still in a pushchair – unbeatable as a carrier bag carrier).

 

They're just so big, bulky and well, forgettable. Not anymore. Here's the cutest solution I've seen for American ecomaniacs: the Flip & Tumble bag. These nifty nylon sacks come in a rainbow of hues and roll up into a small ball (like a pair of socks). Stash them in your bag, and whip them out at the checkout for guilt-free purchases (unless you're already in the red – but hey, I'm not your accountant).

 

Save by buying in bulk: they're $9 a bag, going down to $7 a bag for 7+ so team up with an eco-friendly friend. By the way, though the pink is tempting it sometimes pays to go with more gender-neutral colours like this smart red 24-7 bag (right). That way your bloke can't squirm out of chores so easily. The bags are strong too, able to carry up to 25 lbs of goodies.

I hope to spend some of April in Paris (great Eurostar offers, even if you only stay for the day) but I expect to spend most of this month here in London, complete with kids on school hols and dare I predict, the odd spot of rain.

 

Cheer up a drizzly, dull day with a Rainy Day Box from Creative Charlie (and earn yourself a few minutes' peace without resorting to the telly). It's better for the kids (bye-bye mummy guilt) and better for the planet (so long green guilt).

 

 

Creative Charlie is the brainchild of Kerri Sellens, an artist and mum of two. She and her team assemble the kits in the UK, with recycled and recyclable materials. The 'Make Masks' kit includes four recycled cardboard mask templates, feathers, washable glue, biodegradable water-based paints, recycled sugar paper, pom-poms and a recycled pencil for decorating. (One of the templates is a bunny mask: perfect for Easter!) There's even a kit for painting your own T-shirt (organic cotton, natch), and I love the jewellery kit with colourful beads made from recycled paper (below).

Creative Charlie will encourage you to hang onto potential art supplies in your own house, from wallpaper samples to scraps of gift wrap. In the Creative Recycling section you'll find 'recipes' for crafting a sock puppet, money box, even a guitar, all from items others might just throw away.

 

Creative Charlie also has a page of tips for fun and free activities for you and your children. Take a closer look: I second the recommendation of Coram's Fields, a delightfully peaceful spot in the centre of London's hustle and bustle (if the weather cheers up I may be spending a large part of April there, too).

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Spring is in the air. That usually means a good old spring clean and a bad case of 'out with the old and in with the new', but things are different this year. Even if you don't fret much about the carbon cost of home improvement, you're probably keenly aware of  the financial cost. Instead of embarking on a huge home improvement project, try a fresh lick of paint – it can work wonders, easily morphing your tired- looking lounge or boring bath into a snazzy room you're proud to call home.

 

Your paint can earn you green points too, especially if it's Beckers, the first paint brand in the UK to be awarded the EU Eco-Label flower for environmental safety. The paint also has Nordic Swan accreditation and the endorsement of the Swedish Asthma and Allergy Association.

 

If you're tempted to gut your kitchen and throw perfectly good (if tired looking) cupboards on the tip to install shiny new units, think again. Sure, the new units could be green (if dear) custom cupboards crafted from hand-plucked local trees. Or you could simply paint them.

 

We did this last autumn, when we brightened up our gloomy (north-facing) kitchen's country green (bleurgh) cupboards with glossy white Beckers paint. I was worried the finish would chip or peel, but the experts at Ray Munn helped us select a hard-wearing yet earth-kind paint that's bearing up beautifully. I usually advise white (as you can re-style your kitchen simply by changing tea towels, paintings or other 'accessories', but going for bold can work a treat too.

 

 

 

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What to do when you're out and about and get a thirst on? Well, you could wait for the government to re-introduce proper drinking fountains in public spaces, but you may feel a bit parched in the meantime. Instead, stock up on bottles designed for refill, not landfil.

 

This month's theme is BYOB: bring your own bottle. I'm not talking booze here (well, I suppose you could smuggle some champers into the playground, but I don't recommend it on a regular basis) I'm talking reusable bottles to help wet your whistle on a thirsty afternoon.

 

Buying bottled water is bad for your piggy bank – and bad for the planet. Bottled water is oil intensive and plastic water bottles are clogging landfill and polluting the seas. Even recycling them is an energy-consuming faff, and these days they're likely to end up in a warehouse or shipped to the far east for eventual recycling. Instead, become a convert to the reusable bottle.

Even the most reluctant greenie would be tempted by the Wottle designer reusable bottle from Orla Kiely (above right), now just £7.99 at Ethical Superstore. It's chic and stylish and is made in the UK from 100% recycled materials.

 

 

Ahh, that's better. See, it's easier than ever to get through the day with your green cred (and your hydration) intact. Still, even the greenest god or goddess can easily leave the house without remembering to pack provisions. Make BYOB a habit.

 

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For this month's Fave Find, I wanted to highlight the gorgeous fleeces from Jump Kids (given as a Christmas gift to my tots by our good friend Fiona, 'The Martha Stewart of the North'). To my surprise, the ultra-soft fleeces (with sweet appliques like these, right) are made from recycled plastic bottles, making it easy as pie to start the new year with your green cred (and style) intact. Unfortunately, Jump Kids has lost its manufacturer, and with the current economic climate has decided to close. It's a real shame that hard economic times don't just hurt greedy, wasteful corporations but talented and well-meaning small businesses.

So, I'm moving on to another of our Christmas presents, the La Cafetière manual coffee mill I presented to my husband. Before you go thanking your lucky stars (yet again) that you're not married to me, consider the advantages of a manual mill. Electric grinders don't just gobble power. Many of them emit an annoying high-pitched whine (and we get quite enough of that from our 4-year-old at the moment, thanks) making mornings more stressful than ever – especially before you've had your morning joe.

 

Like me, you may also worry that manual grinding will take yonks and feel like a workout. Though many of us are looking for 'Return to Austerity' fitness plans instead of gym memberships, one often needs a cup of coffee to generate that sort of energy – a bit of a Catch-22 in this case.

 

Fortunately hand grinding doesn't take too long, and as you crank you release the soothing aroma, for a tantalising preview of the pleasure to come.

 

Increase that pleasure by choosing fairly traded coffee beans. I like the superb selection at Monmouth Coffee Company (I picked some up at their Borough Market shop). The folks at Monmouth are true coffee connoisseurs (and craftspeople), taking care in their selections and their roasting technique. They also develop strong relationships with growers and exporters, for what they call "sustainable, fair and equal trade". And Monmouth's coffee is certified organic by The Organic Food Federation.

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For everyone from Grandma to your next-door neighbours: Share the most precious gift of all – your time – with friends and family by giving personalised gift certificates promising dinner at your place, a picnic lunch, help in the garden, even dog walking. Recession bonus: these gifts are inexpensive or actually free! For your main squeeze, the personalised vouchers can get a little more personal, whether you're vowing to serve up breakfast in bed or something a little more saucy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For Chris, the proud pappa: Let the new Dad revel in his new role with this organic cotton matching T-shirt set, £30 from stylish new eco-friendly store MimiMyne. 

 

 

 

 

For Louis, Generation Z's next Sir David Attenborough: These gorgous Rhino and Tiger books from Silver Jungle bring together art and nature, showing how animals have inspired artists through the centuries.I’m a hummingbird, I hum is a ‘humming and drawing’ book, where Louis can add his drawings to those of Edward Lear and John James Audubon. Part of each sale goes to 21st Century Tiger, Save the Rhino or Brehm Fund for International Bird Conservation respectively. Also available at Our Eco Shop.

 

 

And if you just can't get in the mood for Christmas yet, switch to Maison Belle's Christmas cleaner infused with cinnamon and orange, £3.95 at Get Ethical. Remind the kids that Santa's taking notes, and they should start scurrying around like Cinders (pre-fairy godmother enlightenment) while you curl up with a warm mince pie. Splurge on gorgeous spelt mince pies from Daylesford Organic or don an organic cotton pinny and bake your own  – might as well embrace the thrift revolution wholeheartedly.

 

 

I can't turn to retail therapy to shift the doldrums. Even if I could stuff ethical concerns into a box marked 'Do Not Open until 2010' and head off on a high-street spree, my bank manager would expressly forbid it. So what's a girl to do to lift her spirits as winter descends? If your world's looking a little grey and blasé, add a dash of colour.

Try earth-kind make-up for a guilt-free pick-me-up. Green goes glam at buyOrganics with a palette of products including Inika's natural mineral range (above and right) that will get you glowing with a healthy look and as much colour as you dare. This metallic Zoya nail varnish is bad girl chic with a surprisingly green halo. buyOrganics also stocks Miessence and Nvey Eco organic makeup plus luxurious skincare potions for guilt-free pampering.

If you want natural make-up but not the natural look, you'll take a shine to the Organic Glam range from The Organic Pharmacy. There's plenty of shimmer, shine, gloss and colour, but no artificial preservatives or fragrances. The dramatic lipsticks come in strong colours but are gentle on lips with shea butter, castor oil, green tea, grape, lemon and orange. The new Organic Glam Mineral Eye Jewels (left) will cheer up even the glummest glamour girl. Instead of hitting the tanning bed this winter (or resorting to pigment-changing creams) simply brush on the Organic Glam bronzers for a healthy glow, and add some Warm Gold Liquid Shimmer Highlighter for a flash night on the town.

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My 'Favourite Find' section might be construed as just trying to entice people to buy more stuff. Obviously that's not always best, from an eco – or economic – perspective, so I thought this month I'd talk about something you don't have to buy: your daily bread.

 

Unfortunately, as my friends and family well know I'm no Domestic Goddess, more Domestic God-Help-Us*. I know that the traditional method of kneading and baking bread by hand is the most eco-friendly of all (no power required for mixing except a little elbow grease). That's how my Dad did it. He'd knead the dough in the morning, let it rise for a few hours, come home and pop it in the oven, then slice it and spread on some jam he'd made himself (from berries he'd picked).

 

It's a tough act to follow, and unfortunately I don't have that sort of stick-to-it-ness – just a sticky rolling pin from inexpert technique. If you're like me, try the Morphy Richards Fastbake (right). I used mine diligently for a year until one of the parts broke. (Note to self: time to mend and make do – bread is getting too expensive!)

 

By the way, if your toaster's on the blink, try the Morphy Richards Ecolectric Toaster (£34.99 at Ecotopia), part of the Ecolectric range of products that save energy, in this case with a lid that keeps the heat in, using 34% less power.

 

 

*By the way, I still can't get Nigella's Victoria sponge recipe to work for me. Last time I tried it someone complimented me on my 'torte', and I blushingly explained it was meant to be a fluffy sponge, not a dense dessert.  I am baking several birthday cakes this week, so if you have an idiot-proof recipe (I need chocolate, traditional sponge and lemon if possible), please share!