Design & furniture
I don’t know about you, but I love to sleep. If there were an Olympic sport for sleeping I would be in training for it 365 days a year! Which brings me nicely to the main component needed for good sleep – a good mattress. DoJo Ecoshop make a range of natural mattresses and futons to not only help you sleep well, but sleep in a natural and organic environment free of chemicals and toxins. The mattress range has firm and medium types and the futon range includes traditional and springy types. The mattresses are made with natural ingredients like organic cotton, organic British wool, coconut fibre and natural latex (which is 94% natural latex sap from rubber trees). With prices starting at £395 for a single size up to £550 for a king size, you won’t be losing sleep over the cost. You can buy organic mattress overlays/protectors to keep your mattress clean and fresh and with their FSC timber bed frame you can complete the package. A great way to sleep safely, organically and ethically.
Fashion & accessories
Green Apple offers a range of ethical and stylish products to adorn yourself and your home beautifully. You can rest safe in the knowledge that these products have been created without harming people, animals or the environment. 1% of their pre-tax profit goes to charity. Here are my five hot buys from Green Apple.
1) Maxi Handbag Chardonnay, £140 – handcrafted by designer Sarah Donegan from vintage textiles and trims.
2) Recycled Pipe Bangle, £22.50 – made by Jordan Moody from recycled copper pipe, beaten flat and decorated with stripped out copper electrical cable.
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Arts & information
This is a beautiful, and functional, book from Little Otsu. It's divided into 3 sections - the first is two sets of to-do lists, with origami instructions at the back so you can make art from your lists, once the tasks have been ticked off. Second is a set of pages where you can doodle and draw to your heart's content, and third is four different note page designs (three lined and one graph). The artwork is by talented young artist Lart Cognac Berliner, and her drawings run through the book from front to back. It has been printed using vegetable based inks on 100% post-consumer recycled paper. If you're a sucker for cool, functional stationery then this is the book for you. US$12.99.
[via greatgreengoods.com]
Related: Latest recycled paper stationery designs from Ecojet | Recycled business stationery sale
Green News
A funeral director in Dundee has helped revive the local jute industry by creating jute coffins. The Company, J Funerals, have been making urns, linings and shrouds from the biodegradable material for years, and now they have added coffins to their collection. The Managing Director said it's been a dream of hers for many years, not only to help the dying jute industry in her home city, but also to respond to the demand for more eco-friendly funerals.
The coffins are made by layering and compressing felt jute and the outcome is as strong and tough as traditional woods. Although jute is not yet a fairtrade product the company have confirmed they are using an ethically managed factory in India to produce their coffins.
Related: Putting the 'fun' into funerals with Ecopod | A green and modest death with the Acorn Urn
Events and happenings
We all know how celebrities love putting their names to good causes, especially ones that help the environment. The latest gesture sees celebs designing deck chairs, which will grace the grounds of London's royal parks this summer. The likes of Damien Hirst, Anthony Worrall Thompson and Will Young have come up with designs inspired by nature. The general public can rest their tired behinds on the chairs for a small fee of £2, and all funds raised will go to raising funds for London's green spaces.
From the 7th June you will be able to limited edition copies of the chairs for your own garden for £38. The chairs will be out in the parks from mid June to late September.
[via newconsumer.com]
Related: Giant Seed sculpture set for final journey to Eden | More events and happenings
Design & furniture
It's nice to have furniture that's kind to the planet, as well as being pleasing to the eye. This chair by Whit McLeod is made from recycled 70 gallon oak wine barrels. It folds down into a slight, but perfect curve, with each individual slat fitting seamlessly with the next. Each chair has the vineyard's name branded on the underside, so you know exactly where your chairs have come from. They come in a variety of naturally stained wood finishes, including ebony and mahogany, and are varnished with linseed oil to give it a sleek look which makes it a great piece of furniture for inside, or outside your house. Each chair costs US$159 and they are available from Bluehouse.com
Related: Reel rocker chair by David Meddings Design | Connection introduces UK’s first carbon neutral chair | Myakka fairtrade furniture
Design & furniture
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...
Related stories: Slash your heating bill | Jaga hot rocks
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