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).
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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.
Peau-Ethique is a small and friendly family-run French business specialising in lingerie, night clothes, accessories and socks, all from sustainable sources and using organic materials.
The company has just extended its range to include opaque tights, made from 100% organic cotton. Available in natural, black and chocolate, the selection could see you through all the season's trends. All products in Peau-Ethique's catalogue are fairly traded, made in partnership with a small Turkish workshop. Visit the site for more information, including detailed accounts of the manufacturing process, and pictures of the company's workers.
In a textbook example of conflicting 'green' motives, the proposed ban on air-freighting for food certified organic by the Soil Association has thrown up a new debate: could such a ban harm producers in the developing world?
At present, many of these producers rely on profits made by selling their products to the West, but a ban on air freighting would make this difficult, and in some cases impossible. The International Trade Centre (ITC) has painted a grim picture for developing world exporters, claiming that they could lose their share of an estimated $66 million in annual retail sales if Britain’s leading certifier of organic produce goes ahead with its proposal and refuses to certify air freighted food.
The Soil Association is due to announce its decision on air freighting on 25th October, but whichever way it chooses to go, the dilemma remains for consumers. Do you support the ban, which could cut down significantly on C02 emissions and take away the hypocrisy of buying earth-friendly, organic food that has been flown in, or do you think the cost to the farmers is too great?
[Via New Consumer]
If you'd like to sleep even easier at night, and take your ethical beauty purchases one step further, then this post is for you. There are a number of ethical beauty companies out there donating a portion of proceeds from the sale of various products to charity. Indeed, Cosmopolitan has even run a feature on the phenomenon, illustrating that the idea is catching on in the mainstream.
There are a number of causes and companies out there to choose from. Dr Hauschka donates proceeds from sales of its Minnie Driver Limited Edition Beauty Box to Trade Plus Aid, an organisation working to alleviate poverty, and proceeds from sales of its Lady Shakira Caine Limited Edition Beauty Box to Anti-Slavery International. Green People supports holistic cancer care trust Penny Brohn Cancer Care by giving them 10% of their net profits each year. PETA-approved MAC cosmetics channel the entire proceeds of sales of Mac Viva Glam lipstick into their MAC Aids Fund. Lush donates proceeds from sales of its Charity Pot to a number of different charities, which are listed here. The Body Shop sells a Stop Violence in the Home campaign lip gloss, with proceeds going to local campaign partners.
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