If you were hoping that a total wet lettuce of a summer would mean a dryer winter, the time has come to admit you were wrong. Probably. Who knows what meteorological madness lurks around the corner now the climate is in such a bad way?

All we do know is that the cold, wet weather is not showing any signs of moving on, and waterproof, warming wardrobe is a necessity. Here's a roundup of some of the best green and ethical gear I've seen this autumn to help you stay dry.

Brolly
The recycled umbrella uses the power of sweet-wrappers to keep the rain away. Those sweet wrappers would otherwise end up in landfill, where they would remain for centuries. It's made by the Monsoon Group and costs $65. If pink isn't your thing, the website says it comes in seven different colours. If you like the idea but not the price, there's a mini folding version here (in understated black) that's 100% recycled for £16.

Follow the jump for the best eco coats, scarves and socks...

At Shiny Towers, we're lucky enough to work just round the corner from Neal's Yard, so there are oodles of yummy scented Neal's Yard Remedies on offer. I recently had a chance to have a look around after hours and check out the Christmas gift sets. I quickly discovered that the big watchword at NYR is still "organic". The products are not yet all 100% certified, but every bottle and jar carries a percentage to tell you what the proportion of organic ingredients is. The aim, I was assured, is to use the success and expansion of the company to invest in more sourcing of organic ingredients. And, as ever, the company doesn't use controversial commercially used chemicals or fragrances, basing everything on pure essential oils.

Blowing all your hard-earned cash on organic food and wondering if it's really worth it? Tempted to switch back to cheaper alternatives? Well here's a bit of news to cheer you up - the case for organic food is really on a roll at the moment.

Following the news that organic veggies are better for you than the other sort, it's now time for organic milk to get its moment of glory: it's been shown to reduce eczema in kids. And if you're a new Mum, not only will drinking it do your baby good, it'll help you produce more 'organic' milk of your very own!

Follow the jump for the 'science bit'!

Natural Collection may be good as gold when it comes to ethical credentials, but they want to tempt you over to the dark side with this scrummy organic Chocolate Covered Ginger by the Chocolate Alchemist - it's pure, organic chunks of crystallised sweet root ginger generously covered in delicious dark organic chocolate.

The device you're looking at is the Batter Blaster pancake spray. 'Just shake, point, blast and cook!' say the makers. Not words I'd EVER want to here at the start of a meal...

So imagine my surprise when what is surely the laziest and least nutritious method of food production yet known to man turned out to be certified organic in the States, by respected National Organic Standards Board. I'm not sure I can quite bring myself to nominate it as organic treat of the week, but if anyone's tried making one I'd be interested to know if it's really as easy to use as the video suggests. Follow the jump to see the Blaster in action! [Via Shiny Shiny]

Sainsbury’s Organic You skincare and body care collection is the latest move in Sainsbury's commitment to going organic. The range is certified by the Soil Association and all products contain a minimum of 70% organic ingredients. The organic ingredients are sourced from around the world and include soya bean, paprika and essential oils. It's very reasonable for an organic range with all prices £8 or lower - a good sign that what used to be a prohibitively expensive luxury is now hitting the mainstream.

Particularly tempting-sounding is the Rosewater Toner (£5) and the Soothing Sugar Scrub (£8), created from Coconut Oil and Demerara Sugar from Paraguay. [Via Kiss & Makeup]

A new British study has found that many organic products contain higher antioxidant levels, adding further weight to the theory that organic is healthier.

The four-year, £12m study has shown a clear, general trend showing that organic foods contain more of these health-promoting substances. Earlier in the year, similar research proved that organic tomatoes had a significantly higher flavenoid content; a substance that has been shown to fight some types of heart disease and cancer. But the new study goes further, showing benefits to organic fruit, milk and vegetables of all types.

Earlier this month, the Soil Association found itself in an awkward position over its proposed ban on certifying air freighted food. A decision has now been reached on how to end the standoff between lowering C02 emissions on the one hand, and risking the livelihoods of third world farmers on the other.

In future, it was decided, air freighted food can only be certified organic if it can be shown to meet the Soil Association’s own Ethical Trade standards or the Fairtrade Foundation’s standards. This essentially means that the Soil Association will certify flown-in products, only if it can be shown to deliver genuine benefits for farmers in developing countries.

At present, less than 1% of all organic imports coming into the UK are air-freighted, but bearing in mind that air freighting generates 177 more greenhouse gases than shipping, the Soil Association was right to raise this potentially problematic issue.

Dam Tam is a London-based company specialising in organic, ethically produced, eco friendly baby clothes. Their styles err more in the direction of minimalist baby fashion - using block colours and simple patterns - than the cartoony side of baby fashion, but this is no bad thing... I defy anyone not to adore these fairtrade organic cotton spotty trousers, or this organic cotton pink banana beany hat! This is baby fashion to appeal to stylish adults as well as babies (it's just a shame their gorgeous stripey organic babygro doesn't come in my size...).

It is evident throughout the site that the company is run exclusively by mothers - they even offer washing advice for their clothes tailored for babies with sensitive skin, as well as a links page full of useful sites for the green-minded mother.

Related: Kit N Kin street style baby gear

I've heard of organic search engines before, but Google has decided to go organic in the more eco-friendly sense, with the launch of a fun clothing and accessories line. Not only have they chosen organic fabric in the new range, but much of it is also made from organic bamboo, of which we heartily approve!

The ladies' tees pictured above are 100% organic bamboo and cotton, while the travel organiser is organic cotton and hemp. All are available via the Google store. [Via EcoFriend]

Want to make sure you don't get the requisite garish pair of socks and large box of non-vegan chocolates for Christmas this year? Fed up with people forgetting your birthday? You could do a lot worse than making your way to the award-winning Natural Collection website. Once you're there, you can browse the fabulous range of products and make yourself a Gift List filled with deeply desirable eco-friendly treats.

With goodies ranging from beautiful items of fairly traded jewellery to handy and affordable eco-gadgets, and from eco-friendly baby accessories to green accessories for the office or study, I defy anyone not to find something they want on this site. Start securing yourself a Cool Yule now, and ward off the mouldy old Quality Street and the nasty socks before they're even a twinkle in the mother-in-law's eye!

The name 'McCartney' is to be associated with things organic once again, but this time it's designer clothes, not veggie sausages.

Stella McCartney is to create an organic resort line for upmarket New York store Barneys. Launching an eco-initiative plan in February the store has signed up several designers to create ethical collections. McCartney has created an 18 piece collection which is not simply organic but also made from sustainable fabrics.

Key features from her current collection appear in the eco range including novelty knits, oversized coat, and little dresses. There are limited supplies and Julie Gilhart, Barneys' fashion director, says "We're going to sell all of it." The collection uses trims and recycled fabric from previous collections and uses a low impact process to dye the clothes. Gilhart explains, "Stella is the most perfect person to start this with." [Via Catwalk Queen]

It's Friday, which means beer day, and after spotting a post on the Guardian about how enviromentally friendly whisky is, it seemed only apt to consider how ethical another beverage is, namely Perry.

Now I must admit, coming from Hereford, I have a vested interest in all things cidery, but what many people don't know about proper perry is that it's created solely by the pressing of pears. At this time of year, the roads around Hereford are jammed with lorries filled with fruit and, unlike beer, no yeast or sugar, or in fact anything else is added to the mix. Squish perry pears, let them ferment and you have perry - period. Now if you consider that, the opportunities for a truly environmentally friendly and ethically sustainable product are in place.

In my search for organic perry, however, only the one producer crops up. Dunkertons is a Herefordshire company, and a wonderful antidote to the massive Bulmers factory just down the road (which, as well as making Bulmers Original cider and Strongbow, also, peculiarly owns arch enemy Magners).

I'm told it's National Chocolate Week, which seems as good an excuse as any to pig out on Dubble (for your inner child) and Green and Blacks (for your inner, oh-so-sophisticated side).

If, however, you care about calories and things like that, you don't need to miss out on all the fun. Organic chocolate can now be put on your body as well as in it. Personally, I'll be taking both.

Chocolate Sun is an eco-friendly, organic range that capitalises on our love of chocolate and our desire to be tanned. Everything in the range looks more than good enough to eat, and comes in bottles that would enhance the view in any bathroom. Shown is Cocoa Illume for the face, which gives a subtle glow while moisturising and perfecting your complexion (and smelling yummy). [Via Kiss and Makeup]

If the idea of using a Mooncup or washable sanitary pads makes you feel slightly squeamish, but you still worry about the levels of non-biodegradable waste you generate at your time of the month, then you might want to investigate the Natracare feminine hygiene range.

The entire range is 100% biodegradable, with no apertured plastic coverings, and containing no chlorine-based whiteners, surfectants or additives. The tampons are available in both applicator and non-applicator styles, and the sanitary towels are available in ultra slender, regular, super and night-time thicknesses, as well as with wings. Panty shields are also available, as are bladder weakness pads and intimate wipes.