It can be a real pain getting lighting to work well in the garden, particularly when there are no mains points to choose from. And this is where these cordless, solar lights really come into their own: they can be picked up and placed wherever you like.
Handy and eco-friendly, the new 'Solar Mate point 5' lights from Solar Technology can be set up in minutes, making them perfect for camping and festival trips as well as al fresco dining. They're also designed with drizzly British weather in mind, as the solar panels are designed to store sunlight even on dull, cloudy days. The lights work via thin film solar cell technology which powers three internal, rechargeable AA batteries during the day to provide power for 10 super bright LEDs, powerful enough to illuminate up to 9 Sq Metres for 3 hours. £9.99 at Solar Technology
Want to look like a domestic goddess? Even if you can't whip up a soufflé in five minute flat or sew for England you can at least look the part in these adorable aprons from eco-friendly and socially responsible collective Callie Micks.
The aprons themselves are hand-sewn using recycled fabric that is bought locally by the makers; there's no doubt that they're the genuine article in greenness. But what I most approve of about the pair behind these items is their attitude: anyone who believes it's ok to go directly from yoga class to the pizza place and that we should find any excuse to celebrate with those we love is worthy of support in my book!
Plastic that lasts for years in your bathroom but biodegrade completely on your compost heap may sound like something out of Star Trek, but it's actually available right now, here in the UK.
The magic material, which has never been used comercially before, is called Ecogen and it can be bought in the form of anything from toothbrush holders to bathroom sinks. The plastic, which is non petroleum-based will compost in a matter of months, rather than the centuries it takes normal plastics to return to the earth. And it looks pretty smart too: the range above is just part of a collection coming to John Lewis and HomeArama.
Your saucepans are going to have an intimate relationship with the food you eat for years or even decades to come, so it's reassuring to know you can now buy pans made from non-toxic, earth friendly materials.
The 5-piece Marco Pierre White range, from Russell Hobbs and Green Pan uses Thermolon non-stick technology, a ceramic coating that never releases CO2 into the atmosphere when the pans are in use. For keen cooks, these pans make excellent tools to work with, as their pot-belly design ensures heat is distributed evenly.
I've been checking out a new range of natural cleaning products by the fabulous Isabella Smith Apothecary. The Maison Belle range is green as they come, but it still dealt admirably with our very messy kitchen...take a look in the video below.
Remember the furore that erupted when satellite TV dishes started to appear on the nation's houses, popping up 'like alien fungus'? Well this new concept in solar tiles should ensure that no such aesthetic controversies arise as renewable energy becomes part of everyday life: the tiles are completely invisible.
Available to buy at this UK site the tiles won't frighten the neighbours but are capable of generating enough leccy to power your 21st century life. They've been designed specially to blend in with existing architecture of most UK properties and can be easily installed. If you think you might be keen to make the switch to solar powered energy, remember there are government grants available, which should cover the £8,000 price tag on these panels.
I'm in no way obsessive enough to do wrench rubbings on my back pocket with sandpaper but I do care about how my jeans look. This basically means that for certain pairs I try not to wash them until the smell makes me dry-heave. I've also had to get out of my favourite habit of wiping my hands on my jeans so I've reacquainted myself with hand dryers and kitchen aprons. BluWash is special denim softener ($26) which promises to neutralise chlorine and apparently bonds to the fabric to minimise friction and protect the denim. What's more it's eco-friendly and biodegradable so even though you'll be washing your jeans more hopefully it wont be making too much differenceto the environment.
It can be a real pain getting lighting to work well in the garden, particularly when there are no mains points to choose from. And this is where these cordless, solar lights really come into their own: they can be picked up and placed wherever you like. 
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I'm in no way obsessive enough to do wrench rubbings on my back pocket with sandpaper but I do care about how my jeans look. This basically means that for certain pairs I try not to wash them until the smell makes me dry-heave. I've also had to get out of my favourite habit of wiping my hands on my jeans so I've reacquainted myself with hand dryers and kitchen aprons.
