Generating your own energy with solar panels used to be the preserve of only the darkest greens and most hardcore environmentalists, but a new type of lightweight 'sticky-back' solar panel could soon open up self sufficient living to the Blue Peter generation.

A company called Lumeta has developed a "peel and stick" design that should be much cheaper and easier to apply than the standard rack-mounted solar panel design. Lumeta's panels are apparently half as heavy as concrete roofing tiles and can be tailored to fit on most types of roofs.

[Via Popgadget]

I'd buy these tote bags on the basis of the design alone (I'm a total sucker for tree silhouettes), but was even more impressed when I found out about the organisation that sells them, and its commitment to helping impoverished and destitute women around the world.

Global Girlfriend is what can only be described as a 'fairtrade boutique' selling all kinds of lovely stuff with profits going to women's charities around the world, providing women and girls from the poorest communities with vital financial security.

Neals Yard Remedies has been in the business of providing organic, natrual beauty products for longer than most, with a back catalogue of skincare must-haves you can really trust to be kind to your skin and to the planet. Its range doesn't change fast (it doesn't have to), so I'm always excited to discover they've added a new product.

Or, as in this case, two! The award-winning frankincence range has now been supplemented with a hydrating cream and mist.

These knitted dish 'scrubbies' caught my eye over on Berlin's Whimsy, where there's a well-illustrated tutorial on how to knit your own.

Far better for the environment than a disposable sponge (and much prettier too), you'll be itching to get the washing up done once you've made a scrubbie! For materials, you'll need cotton worsted weight yarn, some tulle and the cardboard from a paper towel roll. [Via Craft]

If you're chosing to spend your holiday in the UK you're already off to a good start in the green stakes, and if you choose accommodation with sound eco credentials, you'll lesser the impact of your trip even further.

The Green Tourism site is a great first port of call if you're looking for an eco friendly B&B or hotel in the UK, and has a handy online list of establishments that have been approved by the scheme. And this weekend, I had the chance to visit one hotel that's doing its bit for the environment, Three Acres Country House, which is set in the beautiful, remote surroundings of Exmoor National Park.

Related: Eco-tourism: Organic places to stay

Last year, I got the chance to experience a (frankly terrifying) trip in a scissor lift, taking me up to the very top of the trees at Kew Gardens, which as I came to appreciate all too well is home to some very tall trees.

This was during the construction of the treetop walkway, which has now been opened to the public. Designed by the architectural team behind the London Eye, the new attraction lets visitors bond with nature as they walk 18 metres above the ground. Why not check it out this weekend and get involved with some seriously high-altitude tree hugging?

After gaining fairtrade acreditation for all its retail products, sugar giant Tate & Lyle is looking to join forces with several large confectionary companies hoping to mass-produce fairtrade sweets.

This is great news for anyone with a sweet tooth who wants to support fair working conditions. A spokeswoman for the fairtrade foundation said of the potential deals (which are still shrouded in some secrecy) they are 'fantastic news' and that the size of Tate & Lyle's industrial sugar production meant it would have a very significant impact if it was converted.

[Via The Guardian]

One of the biggest trends this season is the dip and tie-die look, and I've been keeping an eye out for labels that let you embrace the style without resorting to unethically made threads. My favourite at the moment is this dip-dye dress from Noir. I love the little cable belt and anything that comes in 'organic poplin' is to 'dye' for in my book!

Equa is selling this classic dress for £150, but if you're on a lower budget, Nomads has specialised in ethically made tie-dye gear since time immemorial, so go and check out their site for some bang-on-trend bargains. Or, of course, you could also have a go at doing it yourself and transform some old clothes...

Related: Pick of the best eco-chic summer dresses #1 | Pick of the best eco-chic summer dresses #2

Anna Shepard's down-to-earth style and practical approach to environmentalism has made her column in the Times a huge hit. Now, the Eco Worrier has brought out a yearbook, drawing on her wisdom and experience in green living.

The book is aimed at those who want to have fun while living responsibly (don't we all?) and describes Anna's efforts to live a life that is both enjoyable and sparkly green. Whether growing vegetables, throwing a clothes-swap party or concocting natural potions, she proves that being planet-friendly is liberating and enriching. Get it for £9.89 at Amazon

If you don't know Matthew Langille's work, think childlike line drawings, fun, colourful prints and playful indie style -- all attributes he'll soon be bringing to People Tree, with a limited edition t-shirt range.

The range includs 'You and Me' (pictured); a trendy oversized tee with a V-shaped back, pleat detailing and double layering at the sleeves.'Honey Bee' is also an oversized tee and comes in sunny yellow with a black graphic print. It has a rounded neck and unfinished edges. Both tees are made from 100% organic Fairtrade certified cotton and are on sale for £32 each from People Tree.

It's not good enough for things to just be organic anymore; they've got to be so natural you can prove their purity by, um, eating them! That's right, even shoe polish.

The makers of Po Zu edible shoe cream claim that the Soil Association certified, coconut oil based polish can also be used in skin care, as lip balm, in drinks and "on toast". I've not had the pleasure of sampling it yet myself, but I'm guessing it tastes something like marmite. If you'd like to find out for yourself, it's available for £5.50 at Greenfibres.

Nothing is more evocative of summer than the smell of sizzling barbeque food (even if you happen to be veggie). But how green is this form of outdoor cooking? The answer is it can be either decidedly ungreen, or not bad at all depending on which methods and fuel types you choose...

Lucy Sigel has given some good tips in this article on how to reduce the impact of your barbeque; the main point being that you should avoid the modern sort that pump out vast quantities of gas or electricity and ensure you use sustainable charcoal. A traditional, charcoal-burning model is the greener choice, and I love the fact that she mentions the best barbeque she ever had was cooked on a customised wheelbarrow.

I was interested to see this story which puts forward the idea of a re-sealable version of the drinks can. You pop the top as usual with the newly-proposed design, and then when you want to re-seal it, you turn the pop top tab and it completely closes up the can again, good as new.

Many of us are guilty of buying canned cold while out and about, only to take a few swigs then leave them lying around until the contents go flat then jettisoning them in the nearest bin. Then getting thirsty again and repeating the whole sorry episode. Wouldn't it be great if we could re-seal the cans, finish the drinks at our leisure then keep hold of the empty can to make use of our local curbside collection scheme?

Related: CAN we recycle it? Yes we can with thinkcans.net

You'll probably know Worn Again for their recycled trainers, distinctive for their fantastic camouflage soles -- one of the cleverest aesthetic uses of recycling I've ever seen.

But the Terra Plana-owned company is now offering an exciting range of sandals and thong shoes, including these innovative shoes made out of old car seatbelts. The car cross and car thong shoes (both aimed at men but essentially unisex) cost £45 apiece and are available online.

Unless you're very careful about sourcing your food, it's now widely accepted that a vegetarian or preferably vegan diet has a lower environmental impact than one that's based around animal products.

As part of the launch of National Veggie Week, the Vegetarian Society put on a special screening in London's Leicester Square of Meat the Truth, a new film from Dutch director Nicolaas G. Pierson that aims to expose the contribution to worldwide greenhouse gas levels by the livestock industry. There's more info on the film here if you'd like to check out a screening new you.

Related: Top five veggie products to satisfy your omnivorous urges