Guys have a reputation for being hard to buy for, but I had no trouble digging up these great valentine's gift ideas, each of which gives something back to the planet. Click on the image below to see my top picks for men, and show how much you care by picking a green gift this year.
We were having a discussion in the office today about how hard it is for men to find decent underwear that their wives and girlfriends will actually want to wear; a topic that becomes especially pressing at this time of year. Of course, if you're an eco-concsious sort of couple, you'll be sorted because pretty much every example I've seen of sustainable lingerie is both tasteful and well made. Take Enamore's collection, for example. It isn't cheap, but that only reflects the work that went into it (and the sweatshop labour that didn't). And your green goddess will love you forever for that.
But another way to buy undies-with-a-conscience is to go down the charity route. Pants to Poverty have been doing this for years, but if you want something a bit sexier than boy-shorts, you might want to check out Lost star Evangeline Lilly's lingerie auction. I don't think any of it's actually been on Lilly, but it's all good, gift friendly stuff and proceeds go to Task Brazil, the Brazilian street kids' trust.
Emma Thompson has become the most vocal celeb-campaigner against the proposed and approved expansion of Heathrow, supporting Greenpeace in their Airplot scheme, which encouraged opponents of the plans to buy plots of land near the development site.
Thompson has spoken out against the plans, making the very reasonable point that any government claiming to have the planet's best interests at heart is somewhat hypocritical to allow such a polluting scheme to go ahead. But it's not Thompson herself who's being branded a hypocrite; not only by Geoff Hoon who one might expect to have a problem with the actress's position, but by fellow environmentalists as well...
As the sales draw to a close, it's out with the cashmere and in with the floaty, light fabrics in all of our favourite ethical boutiques. Today's outfit includes picks from Devidoll, Adili and Traidcraft, with all items made to the highest ethical standards.
Follow the jump for details
Remember that promise you made to yourself about a month ago that you'd spend 2009 cramming as much fruit and veg into your poor, punished carcass as possible? Well, if you've already 'forgotten' all that on the not-unreasonable basis that buying fresh smoothies daily is wholly incompatible with any cost-cutting strategies you've probably also introduced, then Ecoutlet could just have a solution for you.
It's almost the end of January which also, of course, means the end of the January sales. But don't dispair; there are plenty hanging on right up to the end of the month.
Puresha is one of my favourite spots for finding natrual beauty products, as it brought me Duchess Marden facial oil, Tsi-La organic perfume and Jo Wood bath oil. To see what's still left in the sale, and grab some great discounts for yourself, check out the selection here. It'll all be over by the end of the month...
Let's get one thing straight here: KFC is a bad company. There's no getting around the fact that they kill 850 million battery-reared chickens every year, sell nutritionally-dubious, fatty fast food at dirt cheap prices and regularly make buses and tube carriages smell revolting...
But KFC UK has been getting on the green bandwagon latelty, by introducing a new, more eco-friendly type of packaging that could reduce the amount of waste it generates by 588 tonnes.
Related: Bad companies doing good stuff: Nike's 'Considered' range
Even if you've never been to London, the odds are you'll know about Covent Garden, and will most probably regard it as being tourist central. But having worked here for years I can personally vouch for the fact that there's more to the place than meets the eye, and it's been a centre of craft in the capital for hundreds of years.
The Apple Market is the best place to find hand-made goods; it's packed with jewellery, clothing and gifts, all of which are made within the UK. And you can now browse sellers online so why not check it out for some valentine's ideas?
If you caught Chickens, Hugh and Tesco Too on Channel 4 last night, you'll probably have a good idea now about the lengths that supermarkets go to to distract poultry-loving shoppers from the realities of how their favourite dish started life. Even when they're not telling out-and-out lies, it seems, shops are using packaging that includes "reassuring waffle" -- or images which imply that chickens live a healthy, outdoor life. All message that are easy to misinterpret as you battle your way through the weekly shop.
So what can you do to stop them?
There are certain things that are great for the environment and your wallet at the same time: turning down the heating, for example. Or not taking too many flights. Buying stylish and ethical fashion, unfortunately, is not one of them...
Koodos is making a good effort to remedy the situation though, adding ten eco-friendly lines at up to half original price. They include my own personal favourite, Ciel: the label's organic silk chiffon dress pictured above left is now £138, reduced from £276.
Follow the jump for info on more reductions
The trend for 'green' PCs continues apace, with this new model from Fujitsu Siemens that achieves its stated aim of rock-bottom energy consumption primarily through its lack of a standby function. That's right: once it's off, it's off, and there's no need to yank the plug out at the mains when you finish using it.
Related: Green Tech: Advent's new 'Eco' PC | New Dell PC is made of 'bamboo, bottles and jugs
Londoners had a bit of a shock today when what appeared to be a stranded polar bear and cub was seen floating along the thames on a detached iceburg. Thankfully, climate change hasn't quite taken hold so badly as the duo's presence might suggest, as both bear and cub are lifelike sculptures. But they're here to remind us of those melting icecaps and also to mark the launch of a new TV channel Eden, which starts today and features programming including Planet Earth and Attenborough Explores Our Fragile World.
Of course, the changing conditions of our rivers and other waterways have led to sea creatures being swept far from home before, as the tragic tale of the Thames Whale poignantly illustrated back in 2006. Let's hope that our collective efforts will help to ensure there won't be any more bodies washing up any time soon!
Great news for fans of Hetty Rose, by far the coolest recycled shoe label on the planet! The stylish, green designer has found even more fabulous kimono fabric to make shoes from, and has come back with some new styles for 2009, and just looking at them makes it feel like summer's here already. My favourites are these 'Kaiko' sandals. Visit the site for more info.
Related: GALLERY: Best of 2008 eco-friendly and sustainable shoes | Hot, handmade eco-chic shoes by Hetty Rose
Heads up, Lushies! If your Christmas supply of Lush goodies has already disappeared in a puff of patchouli-scented glitter (or is getting past its use-by date - damn the downsides of paraben-free cosmetics!) then you might want to head down to your local branch today. They're having their traditional 'grab bag day', which sees all remaining Christmas stock stuffed into bags and sold off super-cheap.
Related: Lush introduces popcorn packaging | Lush and Sea Shepherd want you to save our sharks
Whether you're a seasoned 'twitcher' or just someone who'd like to get out in the open and learn a bit about our feathered friends, The RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch is a fun and worthwhile project to get involved with -- and it starts up again this weekend.
Now in its 30th year, the BGB is the world's biggest bird survey, which provides the RSPB with a vital snapshot of the UK's birds each winter. Follow the jump to find out how you can take part...
From: BEST OF 2008: Eco-friendy and sustainable shoes