Clever little Bag From Puma Could Lead To Industry Revolution

Puma has been on a mission to realise its PUMAVision. Creating "puma.safe", "puma.peace" and "puma.creative", Puma has been determined to become greener, more ethical, more environmentally and more people, friendly.

Puma's vision to give back to the Earth has been long-standing, since 1999 it has strived in creating a sustainable and responsible image. An integral part of the Puma Vision has been to reduce its "paw-print". As well as making Puma HQ carbon neutral and sourcing cotton from Africa, Puma has been concentrating on boxes. Following considerable research and exploration as to its packaging, Puma has come up with a very clever idea.

The concept centres around a "Clever little Bag". A bag so clever, in fact, that Puma claims it will "reduce water, energy and diesel consumption on the manufacturing level alone by more than 60% per year". Puma's Clever little Bag was a labour of love, taking twenty one months to develop and test.

Puma worked along side renowned industry designer Yves Behar to make a bag that does away with traditional cardboard shoe boxes and the need for carrier bags. The new bag is designed for both storage and transportation and can then be reused (and ultimately recycled) by the consumer. It is stylish and innovative and sure to shake up this packaging-centric industry. Its eco credentials have turned trainers and their associated packaging into eco gifts!



Of course, bags have always made great eco gifts and there are many fabulous designs from which to choose. Top of the eco gifts list you will find the Onya Shopper Bag. Fashioned from strong parachute material, the Onya Shopper Bag conveniently packs into a keyring sized pouch, thus ensuring that you will always have it with you.

Waste Not, Want Not: Government Set To Tackle £17bn Waste Mountain

Plans are being drawn up by the Government to tackle the estimated £17bn waste mountain that is discarded by Britain each year. Comprising a combination of food, drink and packaging, the impact upon the environment is believed to be substantial. It has been suggested that the Carbon Footprint generated from the 'waste mountain' is the equivalent to more than 12 million cars on the road per annum.

The Government recycling body, Wrap, is determined to reduce the volume of waste being sent to landfill by domestic consumers. In addition, a number of strategies are being drawn up to help manufacturers to do their bit - such as the re-usable fabric softer packaging pilot scheme by Asda.

Consumers can of course help by choosing products that employ less packaging, being more aware of use-by dates on food and generally taking a more eco-conscious approach to shopping.

So, do your bit by choosing products that are made from recycled materials, opting for eco gifts that are environmentally friendly and remember to take those reusable bags you received as eco gifts along with you when you go on a shopping trip!

Recycling Innovations: From Yoghurt Pot and Broken Bottle - To Stylish Kitchen Top

Sarah Lonsdale has recently written in the Telegraph about the virtues of using recycled material to create stylish kitchen worktops. Ms Lonsdale herself was surprised and impressed when presented with an attractive and durable kitchen worktop that was made from 'several thousand yoghurt pots".

Before you start imagining chopping your carrots with Muller Light labels staring up at you, be assured that modern innovative recycling techniques leave you with an outstanding finish that is easy on the eye and incredibly durable. Straight out of a showroom catalogue and good for the environment – are these worktops too good to be true? It would appear not. As the Telegraph writer boldly claims that the bountiful supply of material from which kitchen worktops can be made means that "it should be possible never to have to make another new material worktop ever again".

Yoghurt pots are not the only recycled material that can be used. With four hundred wine bottles you could get yourself a glass worktop, alternatively, reclaimed or recycled wood, other sorts of plastics and reclaimed slate and porcelain tiles can all be used to fabulous effect.

Of course any environmentally conscious shopper will know that all sorts of items can be crafted from recycled materials. Eco gifts are one area which has expanded in recent years, with all manner of interesting, fun and stylish eco gifts available.

Recycled glass can be crafted into wonderful eco gifts, such as wine glasses and goblets (rather aptly!). Understated clear or green goblets will make a fantastic addition to any dinner party, whereas glasses made from beer bottles, such as Grolsch, Corona and Sol, make perfect eco gifts for the fun loving environmentally aware party goer in your life!

Celebrities Recycle Clothing In Aid Of Eco-Conscious Shopping

The 'Mind' charity shop in Brighton has had a fashionable makeover thanks to donations of clothing by celebrities and students from the University of Creative Arts. In order to encourage a wider range of shoppers, the Brighton Mind shop has broadened its appeal to encourage eco-conscious fashionistas to try charity shop shopping.

Not only has the clothing range been overhauled, but the shop's interior has had a style makeover too, thanks to student designers from the University of Creative Arts. The design students have also created a range of clothing for the shop that have all been made using recycled materials.

Those hoping to purchase the celebrity threads as eco gifts for themselves or for their nearest and dearest, can enter a private bidding system. Celebrities who have donated items of clothing include Fern Britton, Norman Cook and Daisy Low.

Those eco-conscious shoppers who are not luck enough to live near the Mind shop in Brighton can get their hands on some fabulous eco gifts online. For example, the Naveh Milo bag range – a stylish collection of different sized bags, each one of which is constructed from natural and recycled materials.

A Dung-Ho Approach to Cutting Carbon Emissions

The Guardian reports that Paignton Zoo in Devon is planning on using elephant dung as part of its 10:10 campaign. Paignton, along with Newquay Zoo in Cornwall, has already started to cut carbon emissions by growing food on-site for animals and using a voltage optimisation unit to radically cut down on wasted electricity.

The government campaign to cut 10 per cent of the UK emissions during 2010 is in full swing and all around the country people, businesses and schools are joining in with initiatives to make this possible. Paignton Zoo plans to do its bit – and hopefully cut down on its energy bills – with the help of 'biogas' made from elephant dung and animal waste.

This is just one of the many environmentally sound uses for elephant dung. Not only can it be used to create energy by turning it into biogas but perhaps surprisingly, elephant dung can be used to create some pretty beautiful eco gifts.



Eco gifts that can be made from elephant dung include Elephant Dung Photo Albums, Elephant Dung Address Books, Elephant Dung Notecubes, Elephant Dung Photo Frames and even Elephant Dung Greeting Cards!

Supermarket Recycles Fabric For Fashion

The Guardian has reported that Tesco is to collaborate with From Somewhere, the environmentally ethically forward fashion label, to make six pieces for the Florence & Fred (F&F) line. Rather than send old Tesco stock to the landfill, the material from these 'end of line' pieces has been recycled to make six fashionable outfits, which will hit Tesco stores under the F&F brand.

Sir Terry Leahy's speech regarding Tesco's pledge towards reducing its carbon footprint by 50% by 2020 was sure to be at the forefront of Tesco's managerial minds as they embarked upon their new venture into the world of eco fashion. With prices for the Tesco recycled fashion pieces starting off at the low figure of sixteen pounds, consumers are sure to take a liking to this new direction too!

The pieces being produced for Tesco are very much influenced with 'From Somewhere's' own individual style and will appeal to the teenage to late twenties market. Orsola de Castro from 'From Somewhere' is pioneering in her 'up-cycling' stance and has been pushing her environmental ethos - succeeding in forcing not just supermarket giants but also London Fashion Week to take notice.

It is always good to see a big company taking a step in the right (eco) direction and where Tesco leads, others are sure to follow. Being eco friendly, stocking eco friendly goods, eco gifts and Fair Trade products are all steps towards reducing the harmful impact consumerism can have on the environment.

This latest move by Tesco further proves that fashionable products can look as good as you can feel about them. Take our range of eco gifts such as Naveh Milo handbags and purses for example: these eco gifts are produced to the highest standard, completely gorgeous and completely Fairtrade!

It Is Fairtrade Fortnight!

Fairtrade Fortnight 2010 runs from 22nd February until 7th March 2010. Metro was amongst the many news providers reminding the public as to how they too can do their bit to support this Fairtrade event.

During Fairtrade Fortnight, the Fairtrade Organisation is asking consumers to swap one item from their regular shopping list for an equivalent Fairtrade product. The idea behind this promotional fortnight is of course to draw attention to the plight of workers from developing countries.

Fairtrade Fortnight sees both national brands and local shops brimming with offers on Fairtrade products and eco gifts. Amongst the many Fairtrade products that you can swap are chocolate, coffee, tea (look out for the 'Swap Your Cuppa' Campaign'), cotton, nuts and cosmetics. You will find big guns such as Cadbury's, Boots and Tesco selling Fairtrade products in amongst their own lines.

As well as everyday items, you can also find a wide range of Fairtrade eco gifts which are suitable for all the family. Choose children's toys such as Fairy Magic Wishing Wands from Fairtrade producers in India, or Fairtrade Wooden Construction Trucks from Thailand. Other Fairtrade eco gifts include handmade Recycled Small Purses from Cambodia and Fairtrade Beaded Pens from Rajasthan.