Green News
I most know Natalia Imbruglia for being a singer (and sometimes an actress) but it seems she's also a campaigner for environamental issues! She's teamed up with Ecover to make the film below about the importance of water cycles.
Natalie said: "There's often an abundance of water in the UK, so it's easy to forget the very real issues of water shortage and pollution in other parts of the world. The video is a great way to learn more and offers some really simple tips on how we can all make a difference.
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Please visit Natalie's guest spot on Water Aid's site, where you can also order a free watercare pack to find out how hard your money can work to solve problems of safe water and sanitation in Ethiopia
Green Tips
It's definitely picnic weather this weekend, and in many ways there's no greener way to eat. Here are a few tips on how to ensure your al fresco adventures are as green as possible!
• Before the fun starts, make sure your guests are all well versed in appropriate litter disposal: nothing like strewn coke cans and plastic plates to ruin a nice walk in the park.
• Don't forget to bring different bags for a temporary, mobile recycling scheme - labelled if you want to be really organised! Your supermarket bags for life should do the job.
• Some collateral cutlery damage hard to avoid with larger groups, so to ensure minimal impact on the environment, consider buying the biodegradable sort like this set from Ethical Superstore. You might also want to let your friend know in advance that you'll be providing cutlery so they don't bring their own.
Read on for more picnicking tips!
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Green Tips
This stylish and funky hemp bag is more than just your average eco friendly shopper (and heaven knows we've already got enough of those lying around!): it's a wearable loyalty card too, which helps you save money whenever you shop responsibly.
Pick one up for £14.99 at Bags of Change, and you'll have instant access to great discounts in a network of ethical independent retailers approved by the scheme. You'll also benefit from bargains at several of our favourite online retailers, including Nigel's Eco Store, Greener By Nature and more. The site adds new retailers every week, and profiles loads of interesting places to indulge in a spot of hippy shopping. Check out the listings section here for more info.
Related: Interview with Wedge Card founder Diana Bird
Green Tips
If you're wanting to reduce carbon emissions at home, the kitchen is a good place to start as it's the room with the most things that heat up and burn their way through the most electricity and gas. It's also where most of our cleaning products live and is the best place to handle recycling, so this post is all about how you can do that in style.
Follow the jump to find out about some of the shiny new products currently available to help green up your kitchen in time for spring.
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Green Tips
With Valentine's falling on a Saturday this year, there's no excuse not to pamper your lover silly, from breakfast 'till bedtime. Here's my idea of the perfect, earth-loving valentine's experience; you can pick and choose as much or as little as you like.
Breakfast in bed
Start the day with some buck's fizz using fairtrade, organic champagne and a soft and runny free-range boiled egg with dippers made from freshly-made bread. Finish off the meal with some delicious and wholesome muesli; Alara's fairtrade muesli, which is spiced with cinnamon and honey, is particularly scrummy.
Fair and floral
It should soon be about time for your delivery of a dozen fairtrade red roses to arrive: you can choose from loads of beautiful bouquets here.
Follow the jump for more eco-friendly valentine's fun
Related: Green Valentine's treats for her | Green Valentine's treats for him
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Green Tips
Believe it or not, the end of January is just over a week away, and it's about this time of year that many of us really start to struggle with resolutions. I've tried to get around this problem by setting myself longer-term 'life goals' so I don't beat myself up too hard when I slip, and have found it's far easier to stick to these plans when they're not too rigid. And I've also found that this is also the best way to approach green living, since in an age of excessive packaging, cheap clothes and shiny toys it's impossible not to slip up occasionally. So forget those unrealistic goals and check out our guidelines to a greener life.
Follow the jump for some more lifestyle changes that will really make a difference
Related: Green goals #1-5 | Green Goals #6-10
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Green Tips
Do you have a favourite spot on the web or high street for buying eco-friendly and ethical products?
I already have an extensive list of shops and portals dedicated to selling green goods, from food and drink to fashion and beauty products, and these will be appearing in a shiny new shopping directory later on in the week. But it won't be a complete list without your help, and I'm keen to hear about any great businesses - on or off-line - that you think I should include.
Follow the jump to see a list of categories, and please email me with your suggestions. Shops should either be based in (or offer reasonable shipping rates to) the UK.
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