My Eco Store Blog

Clever little Bag From Puma Could Lead To Industry Revolution

2010-04-15T12:32:00.007+01:00

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

2010-04-14T14:03:00.004+01:00

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

2010-04-14T13:23:00.002+01:00

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

2010-04-07T11:29:00.000+01:00

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

2010-03-09T13:45:00.004Z

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

2010-03-08T15:07:00.004Z

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!

2010-03-02T12:08:00.008Z

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.

Be A Real Life Barbie And Live in A (Recycled) Plastic House

2010-02-26T13:37:00.004Z

The BBC news website has reported on a Swansea company called Affresol that is building homes from recycled plastic. Affresol, uses a patented low energy 'cold' process to combine minerals and recycled plastic to construct the houses which it estimates should have a life span of at least sixty years. The recycled plastic and minerals are used to construct Thermo Poly Rock (TPR) panels, which provide the basis for the houses. These TPR panels form a load bearing structure for the houses and, ever eco friendly, the TPR panels can even be recycled themselves!

The innovative recycled eco-friendly homes and portable buildings made by Affresol have been developed and backed by money from the Welsh Assembly Government. Leuan Wyn Jones, the Economy Minister has commented that the TPR's "new sustainable process" had exciting potential for green jobs and construction growth. A pilot project is in the pipelines and Ian McPherson, managing director of Affresol has stated that he has high hopes for TPR products in boosting the Welsh economy as well as having a global impact on the development of eco homes.

Whilst we all may have to wait a few more years to be real life Barbies and live in eco friendly plastic houses, there are several recycled plastic eco gifts around which can help us do our bit for the environment in the meantime. Eco gifts, such as beautiful and stylish Zipped Tote Bags which are made from recycled plastic and Woven Juice Carton bags are both environmentally friendly and also help contribute towards economic sustainability. The Woven Juice carton bags are a great example of eco gifts with a conscience. These eco gifts are made in the Philippines from juice cartons collected locally from schools and hospitals and the whole processes helps to create jobs for local people.

A Saving Worth Writing Home About

2010-02-24T12:10:00.004Z

A journalist in the Telegraph has recently explained how she saved £528 on her energy bills simply by making her household more energy efficient. Kara Gammell used a variety of methods to cut her energy consumption and made significant financial savings as a result. Using money saving websites the Telegraph journalist was able to switch to cheaper energy providers – and even managed to get herself some freebies along the way!

She also made use of solar powered appliances and concentrated on draft proofing the rooms and windows throughout her house. Amongst the energy management equipment Kara Gammell used to save over five hundred pounds was one of our favourite eco gifts gadgets - The Ecobutton. The Ecobutton is one of the coolest eco gifts around – not only is it made from recycled plastic, but it can help you to reduce your carbon footprint and save money in the process.

Attach one of these eco gifts to your PC and press the Ecobutton to put your computer into energy saving mode – even if you are only on the phone or popping out for a tea break. You can instantly reactivate your computer by pressing any button and be immediately returned to whatever you were doing.

Take 'Note' – The Humble Notebook Is Back In Fashion

2010-02-19T10:57:00.007Z

If you are old enough to remember the Filofax craze of the eighties, you might just look upon the new trend for notebooks with some fondness. Although the Filofax has been pretty much superseded by hand-held electronic devices, there is still a need to take notes, write reminders, shopping lists and even keep a diary (amazingly not everyone Tweets or blogs).

Cat Davison from the Guardian, recently ran an article entitled "How to make Notebook" - which of course was environmental in nature and would make for fabulous eco gifts. The article included saving bits of old paper and - with the use of a crash course in book binding - knocking up your very own hand made recycled note book. Now, whilst it is extremely admirable that people have the resources, time and skill to produce such a beautiful thing as a hand made note book, this will not be everybody's cup of tea. Bookbinding is called a skill for a reason and not everyone can, or wants to, sew.

So, what are the alternatives if you would just love to get your hands on a eco friendly notebook, but would rather pay for one that do it yourself? Well, there are some simply charming eco friendly notebooks knocking about that are made from all sorts of recycled material. Items that would make perfect eco gifts – either for yourself or a loved one or friend – include Recycled Plastic Bag Notebooks, Leather Notepads with cotton paper and Sari Journals. Tech lovers and men are also catered for with these stylish eco gifts in the guise of Recycled Circuit Board Notebooks – which make highly unusual but 'stand out from the crowd' eco gifts.

Elephant Dung Artist To Make A Million Pounds.

2010-02-16T09:47:00.005Z

This Is London was amongst the first to break the news that artist Chris Ofili is close to selling some of his work for more than a million pounds. The Turner Prize winning artist, whose work is currently on show at Tate Britain, has already sold a piece at auction for £802,250. An expert from Sotherbys has confirmed that work by Chris Ofili will soon be fetching over one million pounds a piece as demand for his work grows.

Chris Ofili, who became renowned in the Nineties for his artistic creations which used glitter and elephant dung, has always courted controversy and sparked heated discussions surrounding his work.

If Mr Ofili's use of elephant dung inspires you, then you may be interested in some eco gifts that are creative, environmentally friendly and even support sick and disabled elephants. As far as eco gifts go, Elephant Dung Photo Frames are pretty unique. Thankfully, as these are commissioned by the Sri Lankan elephant charity, Maximus Conservation Trust and not Mr Ofili, they will not break the bank!

With a starting price of just £5.99 Elephant Dung Photos Frames prove that eco gifts can be both environmentally and budget friendly!

The Met Office Has A Chilly Prediction For February Half Term

2010-02-11T11:48:00.003Z

The Met Office has today issued cold weather and snow warnings just in time for the February Half Term school holidays next week. It has been estimated that some regions of the UK could experience up to six inches of snow and a return to freezing temperatures. If the thought of being stuck inside with the kids for a week sends a chill down your spine – then it is time to come up with a crafty plan!

Why not take a fierce approach to the frosty weather and buy your children some eco gifts that will provide them with something to keep them occupied for a few hours – and more importantly ensure you get to keep your sanity over the next week (or at least until they are tucked up in bed and you can relax with a nice warming drink).

Eco gifts such as HappyMais – a versatile environmentally friendly toy formed from Mater-Bi, a natural GM-free corn starch material, that is brightly coloured and can stick to itself using just water to create crafty sensations; or Puppet Kits, which come in a variety of designs that will appeal to children - young and old – and get their creative juices flowing! Choose from ballerinas, award winning dinosaurs, groovy spacemen or fabulous fairy princesses! The Puppet Kit eco gifts are made from recycled materials – and can even be recycled again once the kids have finished with them.

If you don't believe that puppets or maize will appeal to your children, then perhaps eco gifts such as a Jewellery Making Kit or Wooden Construction Truck may be more suitable? Either way, your offspring should at least be coaxed away from the television and games console for a little while.

The Chilling Truth – Highest Ever Winter Energy Bills

2010-02-11T11:30:00.004Z

Price comparison site, moneysupermarket.com, has just released new research that indicates that Brits are about to face their heftiest ever energy bills. We all know that the cost of gas and electricity went up and down quite a bit last year. The end result? Consumers are going to end up paying through the nose.

The startling research shows that average winter energy bills are expected to have almost doubled since 2003. Moneysupermarket.com explains that average bills have risen from just over £200 to in excess of £600. However, there are many things you can do to try to cut down on your bill. First, you should make sure you are on the best tariff your energy supplier has to offer - a quick telephone call or visit to their website is usually all it takes, whilst changing to a new tariff is often as simple as clicking a button.

Other ways in which you can help to cut down your bills include turning your thermostat down, changing to energy efficient light bulbs, draft proofing your house and taking showers instead of baths, with a range of eco gifts now available to aid in each of these areas.

A still smarter approach is to keep track of your energy consumption – and possibly shave 20% off your bill - is with the latest in eco gifts, the Efergy Elite Meter. This fabulous invention is portable, so you can monitor energy consumption in different rooms using this cleverest of eco gifts. It utilises sensor and transmitter technology, making it possible and track the information on the display screen from any room in the house.

The 'real time' energy reading you get allows you to monitor where your energy is being drained in your home. So, by using the latest in eco gifts this means that your next energy bill should be a whole lot lighter!

Putting Some Magic into Valentines Day With Eco Gifts

2010-02-11T11:24:00.005Z

When not in her Hogwarts uniform, the magical Emma Watson (Hermione from Harry Potter) is usually seen looking glam and sophisticated wearing top-to-toe Chanel. However, this week it has been announced that Emma Watson has collaborated on, designed and modelled, a range of Fairtrade clothing.

Dubbed as "on trend with a conscience", the clothing range represented by Ms Watson is aimed at luring the "Primark generation" of teenagers towards a more ethical way of dressing.

Where celebrities lead – we all shall follow! Valentines day is the perfect time to purchase eco gifts that are fashion forward. Whilst the love of your life may not be the target market for "Hermione's" products, there are plenty of alternatives around.

Eco gifts such as Naveh Milo's gorgeous range of natural and part recycled bags and purses are the ideal purchase for a fashionable and environmentally conscious Valentines day gift.

If you are looking for eco gifts that are trendy and cool for the man in your life, then consider a recycled shower/wash bag. Funky and fashionable, you can celebrate Valentines day with a clear conscience – and perhaps a tidier bathroom!

ALEX ZANE TO HOST RAINFOREST FOUNDATION UK’S ‘HOT & BOTHERED’ COMEDY EVENT

2008-10-13T09:42:00.002+01:00

Acclaimed comedian, presenter and XFM Breakfast Show host ALEX ZANE will compere the Rainforest Foundation UK’s ‘Hot & Bothered’ event with a host of hot comic stars as part of London’s Big Joke Comedy Festival.

The ‘Hot & Bothered’ show on Tuesday October 14 at the Leicester Square Theatre’s month long festival features an impressive line up of UK comedic talent. Alex will become the bread in the comedy club sandwich of the fabulous JOSIE LONG, Irish-Iranian stand-up PATRICK MONAHAN, the brutally witty NATALIE HAYNES and the sharply funny JANEY GODLEY, all lending their talents to what promises to be a night of hilarity, and all in the name of a good cause.

The event is part of the Rainforest Foundation UK’s ‘Hot & Bothered’ campaign aimed at getting everyone who is bothered about climate change to stand up and make a difference. All profits go to the campaign.

The box office is now open so buy your tickets today by calling 0844 847 24 75 or online at http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/ and http://www.leicestersquaretheatre.com/.

10 Ways To Reduce Food Waste And Save Money

2008-07-18T11:59:00.006+01:00

Through poor portion control or buying too much fresh food that goes off before we use it we create a lot of waste. Here’s some helpful tips to help you to reduce food waste, save money and protect the environment.

1. Write a list
Menu plan your meals for the week. Check the ingredients in your fridge and cupboards, then write a shopping list for just the extras you need.

2. Stick to the list!
Take your list with you and stick to it when you’re in the store. Don’t be tempted by offers and don’t shop when you’re hungry – you’ll come back with more than you really need.

3. Keep a healthy fridge
Check that the seals in your fridge are good and check the fridge temperature too. Food needs to be stored between 1 and 5 degrees Celsius for maximum freshness and longevity.

4. Don’t throw it away!
Fruit that is just going soft can be made into smoothies or fruit pies. Vegetables that are starting to wilt can made into soup.

5. Use up your left overs
Instead of scraping leftovers into the bin, why not use them for tomorrow’s ingredients? A bit of tuna could be added to pasta and made into pasta bake. A tablespoon of cooked vegetables can be the base for a crock pot meal.

6. Rotate
When you buy new food from the store, bring all the older items in your cupboards and fridge to the front. Put the new food towards the back and you run less risk of finding something mouldy at the back of your food stores!

7. Serve small amounts
Serve small amounts of food with the understanding that everyone can come back for more if they have cleared their plate. This is especially helpful for children, who rarely estimate how much they will eat at once. Any leftovers can be cooled, stored in the fridge and used another day.

8. Buy what you need
Buy loose fruits and vegetables instead of pre packed, then you can buy exactly the amount you need. Choose meats and cheese from a deli so that you can buy what you want.

9. Freeze!
If you only eat a small amount of bread, then freeze it when you get home and take out a few slices a couple of hours before you need them. Likewise, batch cook foods so that you have meals ready for those evenings when you are too tired to cook.

10. Turn it into garden food
Some food waste is unavoidable, so why not set up a compost bin for fruit and vegetable peelings? In a few months you will end up with valuable compost for your plants.

Original source: www.myzerowaste.com

Energy Efficient Lightbulbs

2008-06-24T10:46:00.003+01:00

Eco Fact: Did you know that every day more solar energy falls on the Earth than the total amount of energy that the planet’s 5.9 billion inhabitants would consume in 27 years.

Reduce your energy use: save yourself money in the long run and reduce your footprint on the planet. If everybody bought just one energy efficient lightbulb, we could shut down a power station.

Four Easy Ways To Cut Down On Unwanted Mail

2008-06-19T14:04:00.002+01:00

Join the Mailing Preference Service (MPS) this will stop personally addressed unsolicited mail.
Royal Mail Door-to-Door. By ‘opting out’ you will stop unaddressed mailings from businesses and organisations. However by choosing this ‘opt out’ scheme you may miss out on important central government and local government information but this can usually be viewed on-line. Address: Royal Mail Door-to-Door Opt Outs, Kingsmead House, Oxpens Road, Oxford OX1 1RX.
Put a ‘No Junk Mail’ notice on your mailbox to discourage individuals delivering door to door promotional materials.
For additional information and advice visit: www.stopjunkmail.org.uk

Recycling Cans

2008-05-23T14:14:00.002+01:00

Eco Fact: Every day 80 million food and drink cans end up in landfill

Recycle your food cans and you will be doing your bit to help stop them going to landfill. Rinse cans at the end of your washing up and recycle. Aluminium cans are the most cost-effective materials to recycle, so don’t waste them! Recycled aluminium from cans is used extensively to make new products.

Steel cans are also valuable and well worth recycling. They are easily separated from the aluminium with magnets at the Materials Reclamation Facility. On average, every single person in Britain uses 240 steel cans each year.

Time to meet us!!

2008-05-19T11:17:00.004+01:00

We've been out and about this month and have attended our first show with our stand. We went the the Ardingly Spring Garden and Leisure show over the May bank holiday. The photo shows you exactly who we are from left to right Paula, Joanna and Nikki the mums behind My Eco Store.

It was a busy bank holiday weekend and we met lots of different people who were interested in our products. Our Eco Store bag went down really well and alot of postitive comments were made by people. Another great product was The Waspinator which helps to deter wasps from where you are. It's been been scientifically tested in Canada and has been proved to help stop wasps annoying you, people loved it and like the bag this is available on our website.

We will be attending The South of England Show at Ardingly on the 5th, 6th and 7th June 2008 we are in the Eco Village so why not pop along to meet us in person!

My Eco Store Presents Prizes

2008-05-14T13:14:00.002+01:00

We have just presented prizes to winners of the Eco Summit 2008 competition held for local schools. Two pupils from the Thomas a Beckett Middle School in Worthing were the lucky winners. The competiton was organised by Tim Loughton local MP and we donated the 1st prize a Trevor Baylis Eco Media Player. The competition asked pupils to develop a slogan to advertise the Eco Media Player, we also donated a runners up prize of a My Eco Store bag and recycled pencil case.

Tim Loughton attended the presentation along with us at the schools Friday morning assembly. We were all very impressed with the great entries we received, this just goes to show how young people are getting to grips with going green.The winning slogan was "I want to go very green so I will listen to this machine" and it will be used to promote the product in the future

Buy Back Your Garden Waste

2008-04-29T14:08:00.002+01:00

West Sussex homes can now buy back their garden waste as genuine organic compost called Reclaim Organic Soil Conditioner.

Household waste recycling sites are now producing bags of organic compost for sale. So far 56,000 tonnes of green waste from gardens in West Sussex have been processed into organic compost. This is an example of how recycling can effectively ‘close the loop’. The green waste from your garden can be taken to your nearest household waste recycling site or collected from your kerbside. It then goes into a local composting plant, where it is processed and bagged ready for sale at household waste recycling sites. The loop is closed when the compost is spread back onto the garden.

This is a great example of how waste can be turned into a useable product which in this case will enrich your garden with an organic product that is local in every sense of the word.

It is available at 10 out of 11 Household Waste Recycling Sites in West Sussex:
· Billingshurst
· Bognor Regis
· Burgess Hill
· Crawley
· East Grinstead, via Imberhorne lane nurseries adjacent to the site
· Horsham
· Littlehampton
· Midhurst
· Shoreham
· Westhampnett, Chichester
Worthing is expected to be complete by the end of 2008

Please let us know of other areas that are offering a similar service around the country.

Composting

2008-04-25T12:55:00.003+01:00

To make good compost you will need to have a mixture of green and brown materials. Green materials contain a high percentage of nitrogen and breakdown quickly; brown materials contain a high percentage of carbon and breakdown slowly. Aim for a 50/50 mix of both wet greens and dry browns. For example, for every caddyful of fruit and vegetable peelings you add, match it with a caddyful of scrunched paper and cardboard packaging.
It can take approximately 6-9 months to make your compost. Finished compost is a dark brown, almost black. It has a spongy texture and is rich in nutrients. Spreading finished compost into your flowerbeds greatly improves soil quality by helping it retain moisture and suppressing weeds.

Tip: If your compost heap tends to be wet & smelly, add more browns; if it is dry, add some greens.

Compost Materials

Compost Greens
Annual Weeds, Bracken Leaves, Cabbage, Citrus Peel, Comfrey Leaves, Cut Flowers, Grass cuttings, Green pruning, Lettuce/salad trimmings, Manure, Old Bedding plants, Potato tops, Rhubarb leaves, Seaweed, Straw, Tea bags/leaves, Vegetable/fruit peelings, Weeds without seeds

Compost Browns
Cardboard, Coffee grounds, Egg boxes, Egg shells, Feathers, Hair, Hay, Kitchen paper, Newspaper, Paper bags, Pet bedding from herbivorous pets, Shredded garden waste, Shredded paper, Spent perennial stems, Wood ash, Carpet dust, Wood shavings, Charcoal (cold)

Materials to avoid
Butter, oil and dressing, Bread, Cigarette ends, Cooked food leftovers, Crisp packets, Coal ashes, Dairy products, Diseased or insect infested plants, Fatty/oily foods including cheese, Human Faeces, Meat, bones and fish scraps, Pet Waste (cat and dog), perennial roots, Plant or grass clippings treated with chemicals, Rose prunings/thorny materials, Weeds with mature seeds.

Read It, Swap It!

2008-04-22T09:00:00.006+01:00

Bought a book and finished it? Don't know what to do with it? If you've read it swap it!

We have just come across this site www.readitswapit.co.uk which provides an eco way to get rid of unwanted books - recycle them by swapping books on-line. It is a free service with over 170,000 books available for swapping.

The swap process works in the same way that you'd normally swap something. You find something you like, you ask to swap, another ReadItSwapIt member chooses something of yours and you exchange the goods.

For more information go to the ReadItSwapIt website.

Why Recycle Plastics?

2008-04-21T13:39:00.005+01:00

Plastic bottles are made from oil which is a fossil fuel that will one day run out. In Britain alone we throw away about 9 billion bottles every year! Many of which currently end up in landfill.

Almost all plastic bottles are made from 1 of 3 types of plastic:
1. PET e.g. fizzy drink bottles, cordial bottles, cooking oil bottles
2. HDPE e.g. milk & fruit juice bottles, washing up bottles, fabric conditioner bottles
3. PVC e.g. still mineral bottles, bottles for toiletries, cordial bottles

PET bottles can be recycled to make a variety of end products, including

fleece clothing
sleeping bags
anoraks
new packaging
industrial strapping
wall and floor coverings

ECO FACT: It takes 25 x 2 litre plastic bottles to make 1 adult-size fleece jacket

HDPE bottles can be recycled to make a variety of end products, including:

fences
park benches
sign posts
It can also be put back into bottles to be recycled again and again.

PVC bottles can be recycled and used to make a variety of end products, including

drainage pipes
electrical fittings
clothing

ECO FACT: Recycling 1 plastic bottle saves enough energy to run a 60-watt light bulb for 6 hours

Recycling bottles does make a difference – plastic bottle recycling cuts down on waste and saves energy.

The UK now has over 4,900 plastic bottle banks and over 5.4 million households can have their plastic bottles collected as part of a kerbside collection scheme.

Recycle Your Wellies!

2008-04-18T13:43:00.003+01:00

A bit of fun for a Friday afternoon - I thought this photo was great!

REUSE

cut-down wellies to use as slip-ons
plant things in them!

RECYCLE

Donate to charity shops (in pairs!)
Sadly Dunlop has stopped its Welly Recycling Campaign

Please let us know if you have any other tips for recycling your wellies!

source: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle by Nicky Scott

10 ways to go green in the kitchen!

2008-04-15T10:19:00.002+01:00

1. Ditch the bottles - Bottled water is pricey and uses a lot of fuel to transport as well as to make and store all those bottles. Use what come out of your tap instead. Get a good filter to boost purity.

2. Buy Local - Rediscover the bounty of the area that you live in. Seek out Farmers Markets and Country shows where you can buy locally produced products and help boost local shopping.

3. Dispose of Disposables - Instead of relying on single use containers, get real dishes and wash them! The resources savedwill really add up.

4. Banish Excess Packaging - Buy things in larger sizes if you know that you use them all the time. Try to select items thathave less plastic and extra filler stuffed into them.

5. Bring your own bags - It's so simple, plastic and paper bags take resources to produce and distribute and end up as litter.

6. Get a green thumb - Growing your own plants not only helps soak up excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere but it can help clean toxins from the air and provide habitat for wildlife.

7. Eat less meat - Modern meat is energy and resource intensive and factory farms are huge polluters. Eating lower on the food chain reduces these problems.

8. Use appliances wisely - Get an energy audit (doing one yourself is easy) unplug unused devices and purchase an energy meter to see just what you are saving

9. Cook! - Plan meals ahead of time so you are not scrambling to pick up something convenient, which is likely to be less healthy and wrapped in more packaging.

10. Become Educated - Learn to save money and time by reducing waste and unneeded consumption, whether that's water, energy, paper, food, travel and more.

Eco Facts About Cars:

2008-04-14T09:23:00.008+01:00

There are 38 million empty car seats on the roads every day
58% of car trips are under 5 miles and 25% are less than 2 miles
Road traffic produces one fifth of the Uk's carbon dioxide

Have you heard about Liftshare?

2008-04-11T10:21:00.006+01:00

Whilst continuing our research on ways to go green we came across an interesting website called Liftshare the other day. Liftshare was set up in 1997 with the initial aim of making more efficient use of the millions of empty cars on UK roads by encouraging and enabling more people to share their car journeys. They help individuals to find travel companions to share the journey and offer a wide choice of travel modes not just cars! We thought this was a great idea and wanted to share our findings with you.

Liftshare are recognized internationally as leaders in the field of online journey matching. They have a friendly and professional team who work with many different organisations helping them to set up their own liftshare programmes. Before liftshare was founded, organised journey sharing was almost unheard of in the UK. They have worked extremely hard to make the concept of UK journey-sharing a reality.

Why not take a look at their website which gives a full run down on exactly what they do.

5 Ways to make your Business Greener!

2008-04-08T09:18:00.003+01:00

1. Reduce waste and save money

Business waste in the UK carries a high premium. Latest research suggests it can cost as much as 4% of annual turnover. Using recycled and recyclable materials and biodegradable packaging can reduce waste costs dramatically. Specialist recyclers can be found for hazardous waste, such as batteries and chemicals. Printing on both sides of paper obviously helps to save on paper costs.

Moving to ‘digital documents’ having the agenda and notes on your computer rather than paper, not only reduces waste but also provides an easily found record of the event.

Check for leaking taps in the office kitchen and ensure the sink has a plug to use when washing up.

2. Reduce energy and save money

Switching off your computers, printers, other equipment and lights at night are easy ways to save energy but also save money. Even during the day encourage employees to turn the lights off when they leave a room, switching off computers and unplugging mobile phone chargers when not in use will all save money. Rather than using a screensaver, set your monitor to power off after the same amount of time – its easy!

Checking heating and air conditioning are not on at the same time can help and keep doors closed when either of these are in use will help their effectiveness. If rooms are empty make sure the light is turned off and possibly turn the heating off too.

3. Change your products and make money

Introducing features that promote the reusability or recycled nature of your product(s) not only helps the environment but also helps sell your product. Can you print on recycled paper? Can your business send material out via email rather than print?

4. Buy Plants and improve your environment

Plants not only make your office look nicer but they absorb airborne pollutants and negative ions from computers, whilst emitting oxygen. Plant waste like bark and leaves can also be recycled and used as garden mulch.

5. Car share

Encourage your employees to car share and/or take public transport where possible.

It is important to remember not all green initiatives will save you money or cost nothing but having a green business is not always about saving money. Ultimately you will be doing your bit to help save our planet for future generations to enjoy.

10 foods that you DON'T have to buy Organic

2008-04-07T10:09:00.008+01:00

With all the talk about pesticides on our foods and going organic, we have found ten foods that are safe to eat without being organic which can help if you are on a tight budget.

Asparagus
Avocados
Bananas
Broccoli
Cabbage
Kiwi Fruit
Mango
Onions
Papaya
Pineapples

Please ensure that you wash them all thoroughly before you eat or cook with them.

The Dirty Dozen

2008-04-04T10:57:00.004+01:00

Did you know that the most highly contaminated foods with pesticides and chemicals even after washing and peeling are:

Peaches
Apples
Sweet Bell Peppers
Celery
Nectarines
Strawberries
Cherries
Pears
Imported Grapes
Spinach
Lettuce
Potatoes

If you can always try to buy the organic alternative.

Eco Fact Of The Week

2008-04-01T11:35:00.001+01:00

It's estimated that Sussex generates 8,849,000 kg of carbon emissions each year, the equivalent to filling 50,000 double decker buses or nearly 320 million party balloons.

How can you save Energy?

2008-03-31T12:10:00.008+01:00

Reduce electricity usage, save money, save the planet..... but how do we know how much electricity we are using at any one time, typically all the information we receive is an electricity bill. The Efergy meter changes this, this device allows us to see at any moment how much electricity is being consumed and at what cost. Once set up you can see exactly how much in pounds and pennies is being consumed, it's amazing how easy it is to find lights and appliances to turn off. Save money...Save the planet.

We started using one of these meters in our homes and now we all have very eco conscious children! As soon as we put the kettle on or switch on the TV the numbers change on the meter and one of the kids lets you know how much the figure has gone up by! It has made us all a lot more conscious of the electricity we are using and how much can be wasted by leaving lights on when you are not in the room!

The key benefits of this product as we see it:

It helps you to understand where and how energy is being used
Identifies areas where you can reduce energy consumption and save money
Shows instant power use, electricity cost and your carbon footprint
It gives real time, instant accurate reading of how much energy is being consumed

Happy Easter

2008-03-20T12:37:00.005Z

We hope that you have a relaxing Easter Break and don't over indulge too much on chocolate! On an Eco front be mindful of how you dispose of your Easter Egg Packaging.

Eco Fact: Around 60% of your rubbish can be recycled – but only 11% is actually recycled.

Try to follow the simple moto: "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" which is also the name of a book packed with ideas for cutting your consumption, reducing your rubbish, reusing and recycling. It also tells you where your old plastic goes to, what happens to your old glass jars, how they handle waste in other countries.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle is an invaluable guide for anyone who want to slim their bin and help stop the earth going to waste.

Happy Easter

Eco Fact Of The Week

2008-03-18T14:14:00.004Z

The total mileage travelled per person has increased significantly since the mid 1980s. This is because, whilst the total number of trips made by people has remained fairly static, average trip lengths have increased by a quarter from 5.2 miles to 6.6 miles.

Going Green For Easter

2008-03-17T10:10:00.006Z

Chocolate manufacturer Cadbury’s has just unveiled its Eco Easter Egg. The firm is cutting back on the packaging it uses on its Easter Eggs in a bid to become more eco friendly to read more go to BBC News.

Be mindful when buying your eggs and try to reduce the amount of packaging that you purchase. If we all do a little bit we can help the environment.

Do you know anyone who has a dairy allergy? Easter can be a hard time for them but one of our children is and we’ve just found a website which produces dairy free Easter eggs click on this link to take a look

Green Easter Games to play with the kids over the 4 day weekend :

Egg and Spoon Race

Bunny's Eggs - a version of stick the tail on the donkey – pin the egg on the bunny

Paint an Easter Egg – children will love this

Easter Egg hunt in the garden or around the house if the weather is bad

Make cakes - Chocolate cornflake cakes filled with mini eggs