It's a new year, but most of the fireworks so far aren't the colourful sort that scare dogs, cats and kids but are otherwise fairly innocuous. Instead the sparks are flying and crowds are gasping in fear as another bank bottles it, big corporations crumble and yet another high-street stalwart shuts its doors for good. A soothing cup of coffee won't erase the world's woes, but in hard times we fall back on simple pleasures – and it does give you one small reason to get out of bed in the morning. Make your mug as green as possible: to learn how, visit this month's Favourite Find for tips on greening up your home brew, and this week's Website of the Week for an ethical cuppa when you're out and about.

 

The 'I'm Not a Paper Cup' from NotOnTheHighStreet.com (left, recommended in my Christmas good gift guide) makes a great cup for commuters, and for home use I adore the Love mugs from Petra Boase, (below). They're made in the UK, so you can support UK pottery, despite the closure of several big names in Stoke-on-Trent (many after moving most production to the Far East).

 

And if you're worried about how the glum economic forecast may affect green businesses read my interview with ecopreneur Kresse Wesling on MSN Environment, where she explains how green businesses can stay in the black.

 

 

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