As the global mountain of plastic bags grows ever higher, so too does the stock of creative ideas for turning bags into something new. One of the most stylish I've seen yet has got to be these plastic bag boots, fashioned out of carriers by Chilean fashion design student Camila Labra. Labra created the effect by fusing later upon layer of plastic to create a thick, robust material so that as well as looking good, the boots have the added advantage of being very weatherproof.

[Via Treehugger]

Related: Bag Ladies: Kathy Kasdan's plastic bag chic

We've been fans of Moo cards here at Shiny for some time, and who wouldn't love a service that allows you to have anything from your own artwork to a lovely picture of your cat emblazened on your business cards?

Great news then, that you can now get the cards printed on recycled paper. While the 'classic' card used by Moo is already sourced from sustainable forests, their new 'green' option uses 100% recycled fibre, is totally recyclable and biodegradable and is also chlorine-free.

The Tate in London has a tradition of inviting an artist to create a Christmas tree for the gallery each year, and this time around it's the turn of Bob and Roberta Smith (aka Patrick Brill) who has responded by making a 'tree' from recycled timber and lamps, which are powered using a bicycle generator. Visitors will provide the energy needed to keep the lights glowing.

I can't help thinking this echos everything that's going on in the underground world of craft at the moment, from the choice of scrap materials to the harnessing of renewable energy to create dazzling results.

Follow the jump to see a video of the tree in pedal-powered action.

Here's another great example of how old furniture can have a lifespan beyond its original purpose; in this case with commendably green results.

An old bathtub makes an excellent DIY wormery, as the owners of Lifeboat Farm found out. Much more attractive than an old plastic vat, and by attaching a tap to the bath's existing plumbing, they get liquid feed in industrial quantities [Via Craftzine]

Related: Wiggly worms work | Compst crock for your fruit and veggie scraps

We've done some fairly extensive research into what eco-minded individuals want as treats this Christmas, but what do you give the green guy or girl who is already knee deep in energy-saving gadgets, vegan shoes and paraben-free face wash?

One idea that's bound to go down well (and you'll also still be able to get your hands on three days before Christmas, ahem) is films, books and other forms of entertainment based around the very subjects that have us going green in the first place: what I will clumsily refer to here as eco-entertainment. And this year, shop shelves have been brimming with it.

Follow the jump for a roundup.

We're used to green politicians being the quiet voices of reason, the unsung heroes whose role often seems to be little more than to disagree with the actions of those in power. But all that may be about to change with the news that Barack Obama has appointed a strong team of environmentalists to head up his science advisory body when he takes up the US presidency next month.

Related: Obama: how green is your president?

You may recall that back in September, Origins launched a competition to see who would construct the best 'eco-friendly gingerbread house' ever; a strange brief that I felt sure would result in some interesting and inventive constructions. If nothing else, I'm pretty sure I've never seen a gingerbread solar panel before now, and that had to be worth waiting for.

And as they invariably do, the crafting community have come up trumps on this one, totally unphased by the challenge. Some entries have been uploaded to flickr, where I picked out my favourite, which is by Neviepiecakes. Not only does the house feature an edible wind turbine, it also has recycling bins, organic garden and a bicycle.

Follow the jump to see more of the house

Related: Origins seek architects for eco-friendly gingerbread house

One of the interesting things about the credit crunch is not the ways it changes people's behaviour, but the ways it doesn't. Let's look back to a year ago, when we were all rolling in money. If you can remember that far back, you'll recall that it was considered far more 'normal' to buy expensive coffee on the way in to work than it is now - and that's no real surprise. Expensive coffee is something we can all live without.

But there are some things that haven't changed: expenses that we still justify, whether we can really 'afford' them or not. And according to a source of mine at a major UK supermarket chain, the one are that customers are still prepared to shell out is 'welfare food'; free range meat, poultry and dairy products in particular.

Related: Enjoy an alternative Christmas dinner | Would you buy battery again?

Ha ha ha. So you probably knew that Saturday 20th - tomorrow - is the last UK First Class posting date before Christmas.

Were you, like me, planning to do a rush job on your Christmas cards and fling them at a postbox sometime in the next 24 hours?

And did you, like me, not realise that today, 2,000 postal workers will close seven sorting offices as part of a postal strike?

Ha ha ha. Erm. Never mind! Our friends over at Dollymix have compiled a Top 5 charity ecard list!

So come with me over the jump and let's send our wishes of the season in a way that helps those less deserving than us, treats our planet with respect, and doesn't depend on the vagaries of the UK postal system....

Continuing in our quest to find great new uses for old stuff around the house, I wanted to share this great idea from Crafty Nest, who've posted a tutorial on turning an old cupboard door into a stylish and useful serving tray - one that would be a godsend for anyone with hordes of relatives coming round at Christmas. What I like best about this project is that every element of the original item is used in the new one, with the drawer pulls becoming functional handles on the tray - a sure sign of good repurposing.

Full instructions on how to turn a cupboard door into a tray can be found here [Via Crafty Crafty]

Related: Repurposed home #3: Kitchen | Repurposed home #2: funky and functional furniture | Repurposed home #1: lighting

Its main purpose in life may be to get passengers to and from big, polluting jets, but that hasn't stopped the Gatwick Express making the green gesture of offering a free, environmentally-friendly Christmas gift wrapping service on board its trains.

The idea is that busy customers can bring their own recycled wrapping materials (suggestions include tin foil, newspapers, shirts and plastic bags) on to trains in the last hectic days before Christmas, and hand them over to professionally trained gift wrappers.

2008 has been a great year for people who like to go out and shout about things, and it's the green lobby that have been making their voices heard the loudest. From Plane Stupid's objections to the proposed third runway at Heathrow to a LEGO stand against Kingsnorth - the first coal power station to be built in Britain for 30 years - it's been a great year for the art of protesting, and a whole new breed of activist has emerged: one that has a sense of humour.

Follow the jump for our favourite direct action antics of 2008

Our immaculately turned-out sister site Kiss and Makeup has been picking out its top products for 2008, and included in that countdown for the first time is a category for green and ethical cosmetics; another area that has shot to prominence in the last year.

Winning the 'best green beauty product' award was one I tested over the summer: It's Sukicolor's tinted active moisuriser. Follow the jump to find out why it was chosen, and what was picked as best green skincare product.

Another area that's come on in leaps and bounds this year is eco-friendly footwear. It's worth remembering exactly how uninspiring and dowdy vegan and ethically produced footwear was even a couple of years ago, and when I started on this blog, labels like Terra Plana were just starting out with a limited range of styles at mostly prohibitive prices.

Now, thanks to the likes of Natalie Portman and a host of imaginative and forward-looking designers, sustainable shoes are all the rage. We had loads of new labels starting up this year, including Nina Dolcetti, whose handmade party shoes are a joy to behold, while Olsenhaus brought in its Jackson Pollock-esque shoes. Meanwhile, we've seen ethical sneaker brand Veja move to London.

Click on the image below for my top picks of this year's ethical footwear

This year has been a great one for ethically-minded parents, and it feels like not a day went by in 2008 when someone didn't alert me to a new toy, clothing label or washing product designed specially for children. There was the launch of Method's new kids range, a delicious-smelling selection that makes bathtime lots of fun, a menagerie of wonderful handmade soft toys including the lovable Bobby Dazzler range, and a real treat for young fashionistas with a clothing range from Bindi Irwin, daughter of the late crocodile hunter.

As the smaller, more sustainable toy companies flourished we saw the big giants flounder, as Mattel's 'biodegradable Barbie' failed to convince savvy parents that the stunt was anything more than greenwash. But what have we liked in the world of eco-friendly toys? Follow the jump for our favourites, all of which are small and affordable enough to go in stockings.

Follow the jump for stockist details

Related: Eco-friendly stocking fillers for her | Eco-friendly stocking fillers for him