A survey that asked people to name companies that they believe are truly "going green" has revealed extreme scepticism on the part of consumers, the majority of whom gave the answer "none" when it was put to them in by Brandchannel.com. So, when asked about which brands were really serious about sustainable development, respondents offered a resounding, and--perhaps you may want to sit down for this--surprising consensus. Who is really going green? Answer: NOBODY.
This story really got the feminist and committed veggie sides of me in a bit of a tussle: lads' mag Maxim has just revealed its Top 10 Sexiest Veggies to rival Peta's list, proving that it's quite possible to show off plenty of flesh without actually eating any...
Featuring such beauties as American Pie's Shannon Elizabeth, Pamela Anderson and Avril Lavigne (pictured), the list was topped by Natalie Portman, a deserving winner who in addtion to shunning meat, does not wear fur, feathers or leather. She also designs a fabulous footwear line in association with Te Casan. It's enough to make the average lentil muncher feel quite inadequate...
The full list is available here for your viewing pleasure.
Spring is in the air, even if at the moment it just feels like one hour less in bed (grr) and slightly lighter evenings.
But before long those floaty, summery fabrics will be taking over your wardrobe and you'll want to accessorise accordingly, and Tearcraft have really come up trumps on that front. As well as this beautiful 'Butterfly Blooms' scarf, which features hand-applied batik printing and costs just £13, there are loads of seasonal jewellery items and other gorgeous accessories to see you through spring in style. And, of course, everything you'll find here is reliably fair trade.
Dedicated carnivores everywhere will be gnashing their teeth in fury at claims being made in the morning rags that eating processed meats, particularly sausages and bacon, carries a significant risk of cancer.
Eating just one sausage or three rashers of bacon a day can increase the risk of developing bowel cancer by a fifth, it is being claimed, with the ideal 'safe' amount of processed meat quoted as being 'none at all'. Now, while going vegetarian does seem an obvious solution to me, I think it's important to remember here that the claims are not being made about sausages and meat per se, but at the cheap, processed sort that have been treated with preservatives, including high amounts of salt and chemical additives called N-nitroso compounds. Follow the jump for some suggestions of where to buy sausages that don't contain these chemical nasties.
Related: Make a 'veg pledge' in time for National Vegetarian Week
Literally, that is! If you're brave enough to set up camp somewhere so remote that showering the conventional way isn't an option, then this little pouch will provide you with the relative luxury of a hot wash, using the suns rays to warm the water.
Simply fill the pouch with water (it takes a generous 20 litres), leave it in a sunny spot and give it three hours to warm. Once it's ready, the solar shower will let you freshen up in comfort. £8.99 at Ethical Superstore.
Related: Summer Love windup lantern and other eco camping gadgets | Classy Camping: Celia Birtwell Tepee
I've been very happy with my cool blue Eyemax windup radio, which sits in my bathroom and keeps me company during shower time with its reliable half hour of entertainment after a 30-second wind. But for my night time radio 4 habit, I need something a little clearer, a little crisper and (being an insomniac) -- longer lasting.
DAB digital radio is the way forward, if you want a clear signal that's undisturbed by the "banging" rhythms of local pirate broadcasters. But until now I've not seen any that were considered green. That's all changed now that the Energy Saving Trust has given its seal of approval to the new Pure Digital Move portable radio, which comes with a highly efficient, rechargable battery. Eco features include the option to turn off the backlit display at all times, and you'll get up to 40 hours play before needing to re-charge. Sounds like the ideal bedtime companion to me! £90 at Radio Now UK.
Looking for something different to wear on the beach this summer? You can't get much more unique than Hetty Rose shoes, each pair of which tells an individual story.
The new kimono collection uses high quality, recycled kimono fabric to make scrumptious looking shoes similar to these pretty courts. They're carefully finished with hand-stitching and a stunning red bow, adding a touch of pure class to the vintage quirkiness of the material. All shoes are available via the site, with a range stocked at The Natural Store.
Dining under the stars before retiring into your earth friendly lodge is a prospect that would appeal to the hippy in most people, and Nature's Retreats can offer you all this and more with their ecologically sound lodges that don't compromise on comfort or style.
Their 'hamlet' of ten lodges in Yorkshire ticks all the green boxes. Renewable energy? Check. Recycled water? Check. Grass for a roof? Er... Check. But the best thing about Natural Retreat's lodges is that you won't be sitting around the communal fire, singing about Mother Earth and having to dash off to use the "compost toilet" when all those beans and lentils get the better of you.
You're much more likely to be lounging around in your modern living room, sipping a glass of organic Shiraz from the welcome hamper, cooking up a dish from the locally sourced produce and all the while listening to your favourite tunes on latest, renewable-energy powered entertainment system. Not exactly roughing it, is it? [via Lost Weekend]
It looks like next month will be living up to its name, with rain forecast every day for the coming week. But don't let it get you down; there are some fabulous eco-chic clothes and accessories out there designed especially for a rainy day. Here's a pick of just a few of them. From top left, clockwise:
1. Vintage Navy Polkadot Raincoat
From Plaid Pony Vintage, $20
2. Totes Eco Brella
100% Recycled plastic umbrella; from £12.10
3. Dorothy Perkins Woodland Trust 'Blossom' welly boots
£5 will be donated to the Woodland Trust with each purchase; enough to plant a tree. £20 at Dorothy Perkins
4. Fairtrade tree button back tee
Fairtrade cotton tree-print tee with buttons down the back. £14 at Topshop
5. Happy Blue Cloud
Cute, hand-stitched brooch, perfect for cheering up old accessories. $7 at Etsy
What's Madonna doing on the cover of Vanity Fair's third annual Green issue? (apart from suggestively clutching a replicat Earth in fetish gear, that is.)
It seems most of the green community are asking the same question. Madonna's carbon footprint has already been scrutinized in the light of her association with Live Earth, and it seems she's far from being a Thom Yorke: 'carbon emissions from nine houses, a fleet of cars, a private jet and the Confessions tour', claimed one tabloid, calling her a 'climate-change catastrophe.' According to other reports, Madonna leads the pack of the worst individual rock star polluters in the world.
Related: Down on Madonna's Farm: is it ethical to dye your sheep?
Are you a meat eater who's been having thoughts about cutting down on animal products in your diet or eliminating them altogether? Vegetarian but wanting to go vegan? Maybe you just want to renew your commitment to a veggie or vegan diet you've been keeping up for years...
If so, you might want to consider making a 'veg pledge' and publically express your commitment to avoiding animal products. The good old Vegetarian Society have set up the pledge platform in advance of National Vegetarian Week which runs from Monday 19th to Sunday 25th May, and promises all the usual exciting events and opportunities to spread the word about going veggie.
If you're looking for something a bit different to wear on your feet this summer, there's a new alternative to Crocs that are light, springy, stylish and best of all, made from 100% recycled materials.
Frisky Footwear is a range of shoes for men and women that are moulded around the shape of the foot for excellent comfort and fit. The shoes' 'breathable' design protects you from dust and grime but still allows air to pass over and under your toes. They come in all sorts of fun colours, including 'bubblegum', 'mint' and 'lemon sorbet', and each pair is sold in its own biodegradable bag. £19 at Love Those Shoes
Japan is trying out a new concept in toilets that could save 22,000 tons of water per year: a new type of urinals that don't need water.
The waterless wonders have been introduced into the country's public railway system, at 18 men's toilets along the Nankai Electric Railway Co line. This should not lead to stinky train statins, because urine deposited into the urinals flows into special cartridges, which also reduce odours. The urinals are also covered in a low friction material that ensures condensation does not build up on them, hence eliminating the need to flush after use. [Via Ubergizmo]
Forget Earth hour! 1st April is Energy Wasting Day. A list of tips on the best ways to waste energy has been published in advance of the occasion, including "fill the kettle right up to the brim and make yourself a nice little cup of tea" and "turn your thermostat up to the max and pop on a pair of shorts".
Believe it or not, this site does no exist purley to promote Lush products: they just keep us on our toes with a steady stream of genuinely interesting green initiatives we can't ignore -- and here's another one.
This time it's the plastic packaging that's been given the green treatment: all bottles and pots from now on will be from 100% post-consumer recycled material. The rise in kerbside plastics recycling schemes has made this switch possible, and according to WRAP, it will save approximately 115 tonnes of C02, 90 tonnes of virgin plastic and 900 barrels of oil each year. The development also brings the total recycled content all Lush packaging to approximately 90%, a figure that many other companies could definitely aim towards.
Related: Lush introduces popcorn packaging | No such thing as 'sustainable' palm oil, says Lush
From: BEST OF 2008: Eco-friendy and sustainable shoes