It’s actually true! Scandanavia is really ticked off with us for letting our pollution drift over to them. Check out how Morsø, a Danish company who has been making traditional wood burning stoves for 150 years, prove the point that their products are environmentally friendly...

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We all spend a great deal of our lives in bed, so it makes sense for us to be surrounded by the most natural materials rather than a cocktail of chemicals. Unfortunately, cotton is one of the most heavily sprayed crops, with both insecticides and pesticides. That’s why organic really is best when it comes to sheets, pillows and duvets. The thing about organic is, it not only protects the planet, but, it is much better for us too.

The Huddersfield based furniture company, Connection, is not sitting on its green conscience, well actually it is. The EcoStart is the UK ’s first carbon neutral office chair made with 52% recycled materials it is also 98% recyclable by weight. But the big development here is that Connection had their manufacturing process analysed by one of Europe’s leading sustainability consultancies to ensure that its carbon footprint was as low as possible. This analysis took into account the product’s materials, manufacture, transport, use and disposal at every stage of its development. That’s a pretty committed company. The EcoStart is also made with interchangeable upholstery pads so your boss doesn’t chuck out the chair when it gets a bit tatty. It’s another proof that looking after the environment can be cost effective for business too.

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Green welly brigade

Ever wonder what happens to your old yoghurt pots, or your plastic coffee cups once they're sent off for recycling? Well, the lucky ones they end up in one of Milestone Eco Design's recycled kitchens. They have created a modern, functional and attractive kitchen using everyday items which end up in our recycle bins. For example 700 yoghurt pots will make one cabinet door, and 2400 plastic coffee cups make up one metre of worktop!

Milestone are part of a growing number of companies who are using renewable and sustainable materials in the manufacturing of household furniture. A standard sized kitchen will cost you around £3200.

[via newconsumer.com]

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Having recently swapped my city centre flat for a house in the country, I am now faced with the search for the perfect garden furniture. I want something eco friendly, which is also stylish and unique.

So how excited was I when I found this chair by Reel Furniture? It's made using a reclaimed cable reel, which is already seasoned and waterproofed, so no nasty chemical lacquers are required. The wood is gnarly and knotted, which gives each seat it's own individual character. Perfect for lounging around outside in style.

At £435 it may not be the cheapest garden chair you'll find, but what price great design?

Related: Reviewed: Reel's recycled bookcase | Crocus sustainable relaxer chair

The sun is out, the birds are singing, and if you fancy brightening up your home as spring kicks in it may be good to know that Love Eco currently have a 20% sale on a range of goods, including this cheerful Summer Glory cushion (pictured).

The cushion is made from vintage fabric remnants to stop them from going to waste, and to celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight Love Eco are offering free delivery on all orders placed before 11th March.

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The fine detail and enormous work involved in creating hand-woven rugs makes it a prime area for child labour, so it's important to know the ethical background on one before buying it.  Not only does Tufenkian Outlet vet all their products before selling, they let you do the same: pay the shipping and you can "test drive" their rugs for up to two weeks before making a final decision.  This is also time for their semi-annual display model clearance with rugs at up to 75% off.  [GT]

Tufenkian Outlet

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Traditionally, a maibaum is a tree placed in the center of a village and then reshaped in a ritual at the end of April.  Building on the idea, this Claasen & Partner Maibaum is bark shaped into organic storage shapes which can be stacked atop each other.  Get tired of it?  Throw it in the garden, it'll compost itself.  [GT]

Claasen & Partner Maibaum

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The Barier house is a prefab shaped like an ovoid football (that's egg-shaped for you non-eggheads). It has great natural temperature control in its design, keeping cool in the summer and warm in the winter. It also floats, making it suitable for quick setup in flood zones, isn't subject to damage by earthquakes, and is resistant to snow damage. Naturally a dull metallic colour, it can be painted any shade you like, and the panels replaced with windows to give as much natural light as you want. Available now! [GT]

Barier prefab house [via Treehugger]

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Tiffany Burnett did a pretty and telling piece of art showing the future of polar bears. She sandblasted polar bears onto antique blue medicine bottles, showing the ratio of bears now, to 2036, 2066, and 2106. How many in 2106? None.  [GT]

Future of polar bears [via Treehugger]

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Look closer at the seemingly random cutouts on the Delight Shade: they're butterflies! Made from 100% natural felt and available in the most melting pink, sky blue or cream, the Delight Shade is made and designed (by Nahoko Koyama) in the UK. Be sure to use only with an 11 watt energy saving bulb; a 60 watt bulb will scorch the fabric. £65. [GT]

Delight Shade

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Moppels, while competely adorable, should not be mistaken for pets. They are, in fact, lovely LED lamps which give low-energy light either from 3 AAA batteries or a USB port.

Bendable, you can position them any way you want and shed light in a variety of settings - in the car or in bed, perhaps.

They come with either suckers or magnets, and I want one to sit on my iron bedstead and illuminate my bedtime book. Just $25 from here.

[Via UberGizmo]

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Reminiscent of the Lago Tangram shelves from last year, Chris Burton's Upcycling exhibition used construction waste as the basis for his art and craft pieces.  Burton said: "Despite construction and demolition debris being the highest percentage of waste entering landfills today, there is a lack of effort by residential contractors and construction companies to take responsibility of this growing problem." Burton hopes his exhibition will create social awareness, encouraging individuals to act locally and think globally when it comes to finding ways to divert waste from landfills.  [GT]

Chris Burton's Upcycling exhibition [via Inhabitat]

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Why not install a urinal at home? After all, they don't take up much room and use less water than a toilet. Clark Sorensen has even gone to the trouble of designing pretty scary models, so you can have the weirdest nicest bathroom on the block.

Alternatively, you can save even more water by installing this waterless urinal from Duravit.

Okay, if you're female, you may need to practice a little, but still...

[Via Treehugger]

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These curtain panels from DOC (Draper's Organic Cotton) are made from hemp and have a natural, uneven weave which filters sunlight gently into your room.

The tabs feature pretty embroidery and there are four colours available; natural (pictured), deep olive green, aubergine or duck egg blue.

The curtains coordinate with DOC's matching hemp table linen and cost £40 a panel.

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