Don't you dare to dust away those cobwebs - Halloween is almost here! At the end of the month it's time for trick-or-treating, scary costumes and sweets, lots and lots of sweets. A big business in America, this 'holiday' is catching on over here in England too but unfortunately can be one of the most wasteful times of the year. Just thinking about all those individually wrapped sweeties that get given out and the plastic decorations bought at the local pound shop only to be thrown out afterwards makes us feel bad. That said, we're not saying you shouldn't enjoy the festivities, so here are some tricks to have a greener Halloween.
If you're looking for something to do the first weekend of September why not head to London for the Urban Green Fair?
Returning to Brockwell Park, Lambeth, South London, for its fifth year the great people of the Urban Green Fair Community Interest Company (CIC) are putting on an array of cool events on 4th September 2011. The free fair runs from 11am to 7pm and offers things like films, poetry recitals in the new Poetry Tent, workshops, speakers, children's activities, yummy food and BMX races, which all offer practical cost-effective solutions for a greener living.
Powered using only solar and wind energy this is set to be one great day out in the green.
Shane Collins, Urban Green Fair director said: "As well as being a fun day out, whatever your age, the Urban Green Fair is a chance to learn about the changes coming to our society and how best to navigate them together. Forewarned is forearmed. Whilst climate change is the reason we should make changes in our lives, peak oil will force us to make these changes. This collective action can be achieved through events like the Urban Green Fair, which help educate and stimulate public support for green initiatives. It brings together local people, and those from further afield, to share knowledge and skills that can help us live more sustainable lives."
So get the date in your diary and prepare for a day of learning more about how you can make a difference - and chill at the Solar Cinema with some delicious food.
Visit www.urbangreenfair.org for more information.
Despite being stuck in the office for most of National Vegetarian Week, 23 to 29 May (shouldn't we all be out and about doing a bit of urban gardening or enjoying a glass of cold organic apple cider this sunny Wednesday 25 May - it is in London at least!), there are lots of things you can do to make it a bit more fun.
Share vegetarian recipes with your work colleagues. Not only is this a great way to spread the word about how fantastic vegetables are, but also a good way to try new dishes!
Use Google to locate a vegetarian eatery near your office and get everyone (or the colleagues you like best) to go for lunch together. Not only could it be a new experience, it will give you some time out of the office to chat to the people you spent most of your time with. Who knows, you might learn something new about them! If you live or work in the capital, check out our top 5 vegetarian restaurants in London.
Alternatively, head to your local Lush store during your lunch break and let the cheerful staff guide you through some of their products. Tip: they will give you a hand massage if you show interest in their massage bars! The perfect way to get rid of some stress and you might even find yourself leaving with a sample or two.
The last few decades have been dominated by urbanisation, digitalisation and an admiration for consumption. These days, you'll find a growing number of counter-movements springing up that advocating for a more sustainable and responsible way of dealing with our environment and bringing nature back to our cities.
My Green City - Back to Nature with Attitude and Style (Gestalten, £35.00) is a compilation of the ideas and projects from around the world that are promoting a more environmentally friendly lifestyle - from urban farming initiatives and architectural visions that are changing our cities, to furniture and other everyday objects that can make our streets and homes greener.
Among the many inspirational projects included in this book, some of our favourites are: Vacant Lot allotment garden by What if: projects (Shoreditch, London May 2007) which took use of vacant and unloved city spaces and turned them into temporary allotment gardens; the Ann Demeulemeester shop in Seoul, Korea by Mass Studies which is covered in grass on the exterior surfaces; the many varieties of seed bombs - the munitions of guerrilla gardeners in the fight against the neglect of public spaces. In fact, there are far too many great eco-friendly ideas to mention!
We liked the book so much that we have teamed up with Gestalten to give one lucky Hippyshopper reader the chance to add 'My Green City' to their book collection.
TO ENTER
To enter the competition simply Like Hippyshopper's Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/Hippyshopper and leave us a comment below telling us which city in the world you think is greenest and why. We'll pick the winner based on our favourite message, so don't be shy!
COMPETITION CONDITIONS
- Competition closes on Friday 27th May 2011 at 23:59.
- Only Hippyshopper Facebook page fans will be eligible to win the prize.
You might have head of green burial sites or maybe not, as most people don't think about funeral related issues until it's absolutely necessary.
Spanish designer Martin Azua has created an eco-solution to help people leave this world in a greener way. Reintroducing the human being to the natural circle of life, returning to nature, the Bios Urn is a biodegradable urn made from coconut shell, compacted peat and cellulose. Inside it contains the seed of a tree, so that once planted - with the remains of the person who has departed - the seed begins to grow.
As with the more traditional gravestones, you have the choice to pick the type of plant you would like to become.
Have you been thinking about installing solar panels on your house to produce your own energy? If you haven't you definitely should, because the benefits of solar electricity are many:
It will cut your carbon footprint: it is a green, renewable energy source that doesn't release any harmful CO2 or other pollutants. A standard home solar panel system could save around 1 tonne of CO2 yearly.
Your electricity bills will be slashed: sunlight is FREE! So once you've invested in a system, it could help cut your electricity bills with 40%.
You can make money of it: yes that's right. If more electricity than you need is produced you can sell it back to the Grid.
You don't need planning permission for most solar electricity systems as long as they're under a certain size, but check with your local planning officer before you invest in one.
Also ensure you have a nice sunny roof or wall to fix it on, as there is no point having the panels if the sun doesn't reach them.
And most importantly, once you've got your solar panels installed and ready, invest in some energy efficient appliances that will help you maximise the electricity that is produced!
Installing a solar panel system will set you back around £12,000 + VAT (The Energy Saving Trust). But there are also some companies that offer free solar panel systems in return for a cut of your income. Read more about it on the Energy Saving Trust's website.
Mrs Orlando Bloom, Miranda Kerr counts Rosehip oil as one of the essential products every woman should keep in their handbag.
The Australian model and mother-of-one finds the essential oil is particularly useful as a make-up remover and that it can also be a useful tool to protect against the effects of exposure to the sun and ageing.
Miranda said: "Essential Fatty Acids main function is their ability to counteract the drying effects of sun exposure and other environmental influences that lead to signs of aging and age related skin damage.
"I use this under my moisturiser of an evening and as a makeup remover around my eyes. I also use it more frequently if my skin is particularly dry at any time."
Miranda endorses a brand of Rosehip oil through her KORA Organics range, which she says has a particular blend of ingredients designed to give the optimum care for skin.
Looking in my bag there is no Rosehip oil to be found, but I have heard about its positive effects before so might just have to invest in some...
This year Mother's Day falls on Sunday 3 April. A celebration of mothers and motherhood since Roman times, UK tradition has it that Mothering Sunday was the day when young boys and girls working as domestic servants were given the day off to visit their mothers. In modern times, Mother's Day is more a day to dote on your mother and show her you appreciate her and the love she so unconditionally gives for the 364 other days of the year.
We love giving and receiving presents as much as the next person, but thought that this year it could be fun to put an eco-twist on it all. So we spoke with Nigel Berman from Nigel's Eco Store to learn his tips on how to show your mum that you care in an eco-friendly, sustainable way.
To celebrate mums all over the world - and in case you can't bake, pick flowers or make anything - we have teamed up with Nigel's Eco Store to give you 10% off your order for eco-friendly Mother's Day gifts.
Simply head on over to our Facebook page, like us and we will send you a discount code tomorrow 15 March to use online.
If you're planning on celebrating Valentine's Day this month, why not make it more eco-friendly. One way of doing it would be to create your own cards instead of opting for mass-produced cards with impersonal poems of love, or give a whole plant instead of a bunch of cut-off flowers.
If you are struggling for ideas of ethical gifts to get your love we've put together these handy gift guides for him and her.
But here are a few tips for a greener Valentine's Day:
- If you're buying a card, make it one made out of recycled paper. Or earn brownie points and make your own!
- Looking for flowers? Buy locally grown ones or if your sweetheart has green fingers why not give him or her a 'grow-your-own' set. Or buy a lovely plant that will bloom many times over.
- Buy fair-trade, ethically or locally produced chocolate - cocoa can be the big eco sinner so choose well.
We of course love presents - who doesn't - and with a bit of thought it is possible to buy or make something that truly shows your affection. Or you could do something romantic like going for a walk or running a bath for your other half.
Happy Eco Valentine's Day!
With news that several energy providers going to increase their electricity prices, it's time to have a look at how you can save energy - and money - at home. It doesn't take much to save a little here and there, and in the long run all small energy savings can help you reduce outgoings - and it is greener too!
Take a good look around your house or flat and note down where energy might be wasted on a piece of paper - that's your to-do list. Now you can reduce your energy usage in workable steps, and not get overwhelmed by everything that needs to be taken care of. First do something about obvious energy wasters (no, that doesn't include the cat that does nothing else than sleep on the sofa and eat): leaving the light on; heat escaping through the windows; a flat as hot as a sauna. Then work your way through the to-do list towards a more energy efficient home life.
Top tips for saving energy
1. Is your home hot as a sauna? Turn your thermostat down. Reducing your room temperature with only 1°C could cut your heating bills by up to 10%. Put any saved money towards your next holiday or a girl's night out.
2. Wear slippers and add another layer of clothing before you turn up the heat.
3. If you can, set your heating on a timer to go on an hour before you have to get up in the morning and off when you actually get up. The flat will then slowly cool down, and you'll be out the door before it cools completely! Do the same in the evening. Heating on for a few hours, and let the flat start to cool down 30 mins before you go to bed.
4. Check all windows and doors for drafts and place draft excluders wherever possible. Make it more fun by making your own unique draft excluders! If you don't have double glazing, invest in thick curtains that you can close at dusk to stop heat escaping.
5. Always leaving your TV / Kinect on standby, or laptop and mobile phone charging unnecessarily? This actually draws more energy than you may think, and will add up over the months. Flip the switch and you could end up saving pretty pennies.
6. Turn off lights when you're not in the room, and use energy saving lightbulbs wherever possible.
7. Love a cup of tea? Only boil enough water to fill the cup or cups of tea you're making.
If you like feeling toasty once in bed, swap the electric blanket for a hot water bottle and wear socks to bed.
8. Set your fridge and freezer to the right temperature. Not too cold and not too warm, just right as Goldilocks would say. Defrost food in the fridge overnight instead of microwaving it.
9. Only wash clothes when you have enough for a full load. Two half-loads uses more energy than one full load. And line dry whenever possible.
10. Towel dry your hair as much as possible. This will cut down the time you need to use your hairdryer for.
Got any helpful energy saving tips for Hippyshopper? Get in touch!
Read on for tips on how to reduce your household waste.
Source: Energy Saving Trust
Image: Home Gas Services
'New year, new beginnings', isn't that what they say? How about starting the new year with a look at our own consumption and how we can reduce waste on a daily, weekly and yearly basis?
In 2009/10 each household in England produced an average of 1,036kg of rubbish, of which 411kg - or 39.7% - was recycled, reused or composted. Almost 40% isn't bad, but what about the other 60%, could more be salvaged from the landfill?
There are many ways that you and I can help the environment, and the below are just some ideas to help you have a less wasted 2011.
A lot of household waste comes from packaging: plastic film, pizza boxes, milk cartons, glass jars and so on. It might not be convenient all the time but use reusable containers when you go shopping. Need meat? Head to your local butcher with reusable containers, and ask him to put the meat directly into these. Not only will you reduce waste from excess packaging, your freshly bought products will be ready to go into your freezer!
Some 13billion plastic carrier bags are used in Britain each year, so do your bit and Invest in a couple of solid reusable shopping bags to carry your groceries in. Not only will they make Mother Nature happier but are also much comfier for carrying heavy items.
Plan a massive spring clean of your life. That unworn dress you bought for when you finally slimmed down or the porcelain figurine from your old aunt, which is still in its box in the back of your wardrobe... Someone else might have better use of them, so find some jute bags and head to a charity shop near you with donations - they're always welcome!
Alternatively, use services like Freecycle. Find your local group and list any unwanted items. You never know who might be needing that old chair.
Only by refills of your most used items. If you switch brands, only buy a refill pack and keep on use the old bottle/jar.
What are your best tips for reducing your household waste?
Source: Defra
Photo of Reuse bag by Juliette McCawley via Shanghaiist.com
With Christmas Eve just one month away, and the British Christmas Tree Growers Association (BCTGA) warning of a Christmas tree shortage, it is time to think about which tree to get: real or fake?
Over six million real trees are bought every Christmas, manifesting Britain's unceasing love for the real thing. However, there has been an increase in the popularity of artificial trees over the years as they last season after season, as well as offer a solution to the 'needle drop' problem.
But when choosing whether to go for a real or a fake tree it is important to put your eco hat on and consider: which is most environmentally friendly?
Despite offering a quick solution that will last for years, most artificial trees are made of metal and plastics, and have been transported from the Far East. Most fake trees are also non-bio degradable, and are likely to end up cluttering some landfill for centuries after having been discarded for a newer, more fashionable version.
You may argue that real trees get cut down and also end up on some landfill come January, but being a bit eco savvy there are great options out there for those wanting to do their bit for the environment while still enjoying all that the festive season can offer.
Why root for British grown Christmas trees?
Christmas trees provide a great source for production of oxygen, each acre of trees producing enough oxygen for the daily need of 18 people, and for every tree cut this season at least one more will be planted in its place. All BCTGA growers subscribe to a code of conduct that ensures their crops are sustainable and do not cause damage to the local wildlife.
What are the greener options?
Choose locally grown Christmas trees that have been cultivated in a sustainable manner (visit www.christmastree.org.uk to source). If this is your choice, don't buy the tree earlier than 1st December to ensure that it keeps for the length of the festivities.
If the idea of cutting a tree down is unbearable, buy a container grown tree and replant it in January. If looked after properly, it could end up bringing Christmas cheer to the household for years - and perhaps save a couple of pennies too!
Alternatively, there are many rent-a-tree companies, like Trees for Rent, popping up these days to help make Christmas as eco-friendly as possible. Simply place an order via the website, wait for the tree to be delivered, keep it over Christmas and then watch it go back to the field it came from once the festive season is over. For as little as £35 a tree can be your year after year.
However, if you would rather do-good than buy a real tree, check out urban tree planting charity Trees for Cities to buy a gift that will keep on giving. Their green gifts are sustainable and will make a real and lasting difference to UK communities and around the world. Choose between an apple tree in Addis Ababa or an ice cream tree in Peru for £10, or give children in urban areas a tree-mendous experience trough Trees for Cities' community greening projects for as little as £15 .
Give your tree a bit of TLC
If opted for the real thing, keep in mind the tree is a living object that needs some tender loving care in the weeks it embellishes your house. Keep the tree in water (or the pot) outside until you're ready to bring it indoors, where it should be placed away from direct heat and keep watered throughout the season - it will drink at least a quarter of a gallon of water each day.
Remember to recycle
Hippyshopper readers of course know the importance of recycling, but unfortunately only 10% of real Christmas trees are recycled each year. This is truly a shame as there are so many great options available.
Last year, 33 London boroughs offered Christmas tree recycling schemes. Visit the Recycle for London website to find your nearest Reuse and Recycling centre.
Outside of the capital, local authorities, as well as DIY retailers and garden centres, offer recycling services. Look on www.recyclenow.com to find your local tree collection points.
Alternatively, if you have a garden, place your tree outside and let animals inhabit there, or chip it to create mulch that can be used around other trees and shrubs. If you have no need for mulch, your local authority would welcome it as they use it to create paths and hiking trails or at playgrounds.
Happy Christmas tree shopping!
This weekend bonfires and fireworks will take place across the country for Guy Fawkes Night, and while it is a great British tradition, it can have a negative impact on the environment. From burning toxic materials such as treated wood to using paper plates which create un-needed waste.
It can also be quite stressful night for pets, so make sure before heading out to keep some lights on, dampen the noise, and leave familiar sounds on. Keeping a light on will calm your pet and make it feel more secure. Similarly playing familiar sounds to drown out the noise of the fireworks such as music from a stereo or the TV can help sooth your pet. Just make sure not to play these sounds ridiculously loud as they can become bothersome themselves.
Before you head out to celebrate, make sure to check what bonfires have been organized for your community as as it will be safer, probably more impressive than a back-garden display, and the total impact on air quality and the environment will be less than lots of small bonfire parties.
To help you make sure your Guy Fawkes Night is fun and environmentally responsible, Elpis.com, has provided us with 5 easy tips. So before you arm yourself with thermals and get ready to march out into the cold, take a look at their recommendations
October 31st is fast approaching, and while it has long been big business in America, Halloween has now well and truly made its way across the Atlantic. A holiday hijacked by consumerism, it can be one of the most wasteful times of the year. Here are some simple ways you can reduce the impact on the earth, while still enjoying the fun this halloween.
Friendly Festivals
With line-ups being released, don't forget to factor in eco-friendliness when you're deciding which festival you fancy this summer. A Greener Festival weighs up festival's greenhouse gas emissions, waste management, land damage and more when awarding the friendliest festivals. Previous winners have included Camp Bestival, Glastonbury, Sonisphere and T-in The Park, and you can see the full list of 2009 winners here.
Festival Footwear
Festival footwear is probably the most crucial bit of packing you'll ever do; get it wrong and there can be disastrous (wet/muddy/frostbitten) consequences...
Seasalt 51% natural rubber willies
No Sweat high-top hemp pumps
Recycled tyre Haviana flip flops
From: WIN two tickets for Headstock Festival featuring Echo and the Bunnymen