Ever wondered what might happen to a bike when it goes to meet its maker? In keeping with the green credentials of cycling, it would seem that they are now being recycled and put to good use as... belt buckles.
At Re-cycled Accessories, you can find all manner of products from bangles to necklaces, and all of them come from the small parts of bikes. Unfortunately, you won't find a pendant made out of a saddle – as fabulous as that might have been – but there is a definite rugged chic to be gained from wearing parts of bike chains and gears.
So with Christmas looming, if you're looking for a present for a bike enthusiast who thinks they have everything, you can truly surprise them with a set of sparkling shimano earrings.
[via Great Green Goods]
Alpacas aren't just cute and slightly ridiculous-looking beasts; they have uses too. In fact, in some parts of the world, their presence is vital.
With this in mind, Practical Presents is inviting you to buy a friend or family member one wooly jumper they won't want to throw away. For £50, you can purchase an alpaca for a family in Peru, where the animals are a crucial part of the community. In the freezing andes, they provide a constant source of highly nutritious milk, and their wool can be sold by families struggling to make ends meet. And in a climate of -35 degrees, they also offer vital insulation.
So why not make this generous gift on behalf of a loved one? They may not get to meet their shaggy friend, but they will receive a rather splendid alpaca finger puppet...
Think carefully before you toss your trusty mobile aside; it could soon be being handed to you as your wedding ring!
A unique jewllery range, made by Australian designer Nic Cerrone, uses recycled mobile phone components to create unusual and striking pieces. His range is currently being auctioned here, and includes a men's ring and necklace, women's necklace, bracelet, earrings and cufflinks.
Rose Read, manager of Aussie mobile recycling program MobileMuster said she hoped the move would encourage more people to recycle their old handsets.
Related: 5 ways to recycle your mobile phone
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The art of excluding draughts is alive and well at ECOutlet.
These vintage print door snakes will keep you safe from the wind and the cold and increase energy efficiency in the home. And because they look so lovely, they'd make great gifts too. Made from recycled fabric and stuffed with biodegradable buckwheat husks, they're about as green as it gets. Available online at £19.99.
I know some of you super-organised people out there will already have started thinking about decorating your homes in anticipation of the festive season - and I imagine the suddenly rather wintery weather may well have been a catalyst! If you like to go overboard in the run-up to Christmas, but aren't so keen on the idea of the usual plastic, planet-pillaging decor, keep reading... Instead of tinsel and baubles, use potted poinsettias, rosemary, thyme and sage, branches of mistletoe and holly wreaths. Eschewing a tacky plastic tree is also better for the environment, as well as being far more aesthetically pleasing. If you look after it properly, you can use a living, potted tree year after year, and it won't get tatty round the edges like its artificial counterparts, or shed its needles like a cut tree.
If you need further inspiration on what to use and how, there's plenty of help out there. For instance, leafing (ho ho) through the latest Royal Horticultural Society Diary of Events this morning, I spotted a flower-arranging demonstration entitled 'A merry floral Christmas' taking place in Lawrence Hall on Greycoat Street in London on the 9th November - the demonstration takes place at 2.15pm, and is repeated at 4.15pm. If you're considering getting yourself a living Christmas tree, these tips should help you keep it healthy.
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Believe it or not, these pretty, festive giftwrap sets once came out of an elephant's rear end.
The 'poo poo paper' wrapping is made from the dung of Asian elephants. To get it looking so pristine, it is first rinsed, mixed with plant fibre into a pulp, then rolled out and dried to make a rough-textured paper. Everything from design to final packaging is done locally in Thailand and a percentage of profits go towards elephant conservation. And bad news if you were planning on sending this to an irritating relative -- it doesn’t smell!
Poo poo giftwrap is available at the Natural History Museum shop.
I could just about see my breath when I walked out of my front door this morning, and I'll admit I went back in for a coat, so I guess I feel OK making this post. Even I - one of those crazy masochists who usually buys most of their Christmas presents in a mad 6pm dash on Christmas Eve - feel ready to start talking about buying in gifts for the festive season.
The Green Store has certainly whet my appetite for Christmas shopping, perhaps even to the point that I will try and avoid the Christmas Eve scrums altogether this year. The gifts in the Christmas Gift section are handily divided into price range groups - £1-£5, £5-£10, £10-£15, £15-£20, and over £20 - which is extremely useful for those of us on a very small budget. My favourite items would have to be this gorgeous three-piece mauve Anna Roebuck necklace, which is made from recycled plastic bags, and this extremely funky Eco-Office Stationery Set - and I know I'm meant to be a grown up, but the Animache Animals in the Kids section look rather cool as well!
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