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.

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

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

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

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.

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!