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Equa are sponsoring a fantastic ethical fashion show at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London on Sunday 9th November.

The show is part of the V&A’s Conscious Style day, an event to explore the growing popularity of ethical fashion, with swishing, styling workshops, talks and the fashion show, all taking place in the V&A’s new Sackler Centre for education.

The fashion show will feature high street and one-off pieces by labels such as Noir, Del Forte, People Tree, Stuart & Brown, Amana and Wildlifeworks.

All events are free. No prior booking is required; some events will be ticketed on the day as numbers may be limited. Tickets for the fashion show available from 1pm. For the full programme visit Conscious Style at www.vam.ac.uk/events.

>>> Please read the full article here

>>> For more information on green events click here

Plastic is a material with many advantages. But when plastic ends up in the wrong place it becomes a problem. To raise public awareness about this issue, Electrolux aims to gather plastic debris from vulnerable marine habitats – and produce a limited number of vacs out of it.

Check out the ‘Vac from the sea’ video here.

The maker of various home appliances is creating a limited number of vacuums made with plastic gathered from oceans and seas, through its Vac From The Sea initiative, to bring attention to how much plastic is ending up in floating around in marine environments and harming animals.

Not only does plastic that is in oceans kill birds and other creatures, but plastic out in the sea breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces over time, bringing with it worries that as fish and other animals eat the bits of plastic, that trash works its way back up the food chain until it ends up on our plates.

The issue of plastic waste in the ocean has now been documented and tracked by a number of groups and awareness initiatives, like 5Gyres and the Plastiki expedition, but this is the first time a company has fused that issue with its products.

Along with awareness of plastic in the ocean, Electrolux is using the campaign to note that the supply of recycled plastic on land is much lower than the demand, noting that is that plastic staying out of the waters, it would more easily find its way into recycled-content consumer products.

Read more: http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2010/06/29/electrolux-ocean-garbage-new-vacuums#ixzz0usIYENaj

Related Eco Pic’s, Articles & Video

• Other ECPOTD Plastiki pictures
• Pacific Ocean Contains 100 Million Tons of Garbage
• Voyage confirms plastic pollution.
• Voyage to Study Plastic Island
• A water sample from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch

More than 25 green buses have been launched onto the streets of Oxford today (July 15th) by the transport company Stagecoach.

The fleet of 26 double-decker buses cost £7.5 million to produce and emit around 30 per cent less CO2 than traditional bus models.

It is the first time that the environmentally-friendly vehicles have be deployed on a large scale outside of London and initially the vehicles will service the busy city centre routes.

Plans for the green buses were first announced by Stagecoach, the Oxford Bus Company and Oxfordshire Country Council in January.

Philip Kirk, Oxford Bus Company managing director, told the BBC: “We have kept a very close eye on the results from similar buses run by our sister company in London, and we genuinely hope that hybrid technology takes things forward.”

Transport minister Norman Baker announced earlier this month that £15 million in funding will be made available for the inclusion of 150 green buses in fleets across the UK.

It is thought that the project could save 50,000 tonnes of carbon emissions.

>>> Please read the full article here

The Global Green awards reward companies which have made contributions to environmentally friendly or sustainable business practices, consumers can find out about the green business practices of previous winners or follow this year’s awards on Twitter, Facebook and MySpace.

The Global Green awards, previously the Green Awards, are awarded to companies within the media and marketing industries which have undertaken creative work demonstrating the importance of corporate social responsibility, sustainable development and undertaking ethical business practices.

2010, the fifth year of the awards, is the first year in which all the categories in the Green Awards have been open to entries from around the world. Award categories include Best Green educational product, best green international campaign, best green product innovation and best green packaging.

The Green Awards are designed to drive others towards the sustainability agenda by celebrating environmentally friendly practices. Consumers can inform themselves of more environmentally friendly product choices by following past winners and their ecologically friendly products or campaigns on the Green Awards Website.

Examples of past winners include chocolate company Cadbury, which won the best green packaging awards in 2008 for their ‘eco-eggs’ – chocolate eggs wrapped with the minimum amount of packaging and using recycled material; and multinational mobile phone company O2, which received an award in 2006, for reducing packaging.

The competition officially opens on Monday, July 19, when entry forms are made available for any companies wishing to be considered for an award. Though entrants cannot be viewed by members of the public until the shortlist is announced in mid-October, the awards can be followed through social networking sites Facebook, Twitter and MySpace; more information can also be found about past winners at www.greenawards.com. The awards ceremony will take place in London later this year.

Previously this year the winners of the European Business awards for the Environment were announced on June 2. The awards have four categories, products, international co-operation, management and process, rewarding companies that pioneer green practices.

www.twitter.com/greenawards

>>> Please read the full article here

The leading trade show in the outdoor equipment industry, estimated to be worth €14.1 billion in Europe, opens in Germany where hikers spend 3.7 billion a year on jackets, day packs and boots.

OutDoor, the leading global trade show in the field of outdoor sports, is open to industry professionals July 15-18 in Friedrichshafen, Germany. A prominent theme of this year’s show will be environmental sustainability in the industry.

Approximately 19,300 specialist visitors from 72 countries are expected to attend; exhibitors include outdoor specialists Advansa, Craft, Contigo and Eagle Creek amongst others. A wide range of existing and newly developed products will be on show, and conferences on outdoor sports will also be held both in English and German throughout the duration of the event.
The ‘OutDoor Celebrity of the Year’ award will be presented on the first day of the show, to a celebrity judged to have made an outstanding contribution to the outdoor industry; previous winners include Bartmann and Thomas Lipke, CEOs of travel company Globetrotter.

A study by the German Hiking Association in May 2010, found that 56 percent of the 7,500 respondents, proportionally 39.8 million Germans, rated themselves as active hikers. The nearly 40 million German outdoor enthusiasts are estimated to spend €3.7 billion per year on hiking equipment alone. The study also found that jackets were the most popular purchase amongst German hikers, followed by day packs and hiking boots.

Reuters reported on April 9 that the European outdoor equipment market grew at a rate of 1 percent, to €14.1 billion, outperforming the sports market. Consumer trend specialists Retail Planet claim this growth is due to an increasing percentage of Europe’s aging population pursuing healthier lifestyles, and the recent economic recession forcing people to choose domestic camping and walking holidays over foreign luxury vacations.
OutDoor tickets for industry professionals are available to buy online at www.outdoor-show.com.

>>> Please read the full article here

1. Enjoy the fresh air. Grab the bikes, take a picnic and enjoy the great weather and fresh air. Whether you are with your family or by yourself you’d be surprised what a bit of outdoor activity and a good long walk will do for your brain and your boredom! Check out eco picnic ideas here.
2. Read a good book. Go down to your local second-hand or charity book store and grab yourself a good read. Settle down with a glass of wine and indulge in some ‘me-time’. Try and read something new and a bit different – this will keep your mind engaged and broaden your horizons!
3. Board games. Whether it’s an old Monopoly that’s sat covered in dust at the back of your cupboard, a game of twister found at your local charity shop, one of the fantastic eco-friendly games you can get online or your grandma’s scrabble set a board game is a great way to relieve boredom and engage the whole family!
4. Clear out those cupboards. Not only will this help remove clutter from your house it will also give you something constructive to do to remove that boredom! Sort out all your old clothes, books, CD’s, DVD’s and cuddly toys and take them down your local charity shop for a responsible and eco-friendly time-killer!
5. Research ways to make your life more eco-healthy. There are hundreds of fantastic websites that offer great advice on how to keep eco-friendly and eco-fit. Whether you’re after a responsible holiday, advice on how to stay slim or advice on ways to kick your life into eco-gear you can find articles and how-to’s online.
6. Dig out an old classic. Take a look through your collection of old DVD’s for a classic old favourite and enjoy some leisure time.
7. Get creative! Whether it’s fashioning new clothes out of old ones or helping your kids create dolls houses from boxes and ecover bottles (Blue Peter style!) there’s always creative ways to re-use your recyclables.
8. Think. We often have such hectic lives that we rarely just sit down and have a think. Grab a cup of tea and sit in silence – you’d be surprised just how relaxing that can be.
9. Do some exercise. I won’t bore you with the merits of exercise. Everyone knows it’s good for you http://www.moreeco.co.uk/news/top-ten-ways-to-keep-eco-healthy/ and helps you trim up. But if you are bored there’s no better way to feel better than get that heart pumping. Grab some of your favourite tunes and go for a jog for a sure-fire way to alleviate boredom and feel fantastic.
10. Eco-shop! Don’t forget you can always check out your favourite eco retailers. Whether shopping for a special occasion or just browsing there are always new products at our retailers. Check out some of MoreEco’s favourites here.

Volvo have launched a campaign to make people more aware of the dangers that car emissions pose to our health.

Did you know that as many as 50,000 people a year are dying prematurely due to toxic air emissions, linked to fossil fuel combustion? That’s more than 20 times the number that die in road accidents in the UK each year! [source: Environmental Audit Select Committee]

The most dangerous of these emissions NOx, Hydrocarbons and Particulates. But together, we’ll call them “Nasties”. Watch this animation to see the Nasties in action.

Find out more about the Fight for Your Right To Clean Air at www.facebook.com/insidevolvouk and join the debate at www.twitter.com/insidevolvouk

Below we have listed Eco Pic Of The Day (EPOTD) top ten most popular eco picture during June.

They are

1 – Eco Friendly Gold Porsche

2 – Plastic Bag Recycling – A new approach

3 – French Motorway Recycling Bin

4 – China Eco City – Dongtan

5 – Gulf Of Mexico – Oil Covered Pelican

6 – London Kew Bridge – Eco Village

7 – Dyson Airblade – Lookie Likie

8 – ABN AMRO – Electric Car Charging Station

9 – Dubai Recycling Bins

10 – Pacific Garbage Patch – Water Sample

Having been accused of lacking bottle in the past, Arsenal will have no excuses on that front this season – at least in the kit department

The club revealed their new strip for the 2010-11 campaign today and, as exclusively revealed by Telegraph Sport, they are going back to the Seventies, with an environmentally-friendly twist.

Arsene Wenger’s side will return to the familiar and popular block red body with a white round neck collar and white sleeves, and every shirt is made entirely from recycled polyester crafted from up to eight plastic water bottles as part of Nike’s ‘Considered Design’ programme.

The Dri-Fit fabric is claimed to be 13 per cent lighter than previous kits and one of those who will wear it, Theo Walcott, said: “The colours are very traditional, it feels nice and it’s made from recycled plastic bottles so what more can you ask for?”

Alex Song added: “The shirt is traditional, it’s red and white which the fans love, and it shows the history of the Club.

“I watched Arsenal on TV lots when I was young and just saw red and white. If someone told me six or seven years ago I’d be able to wear these colours it would have been unbelievable, so today I’m so happy to wear this shirt and to do my best for this shirt.”

Defemder Thomas Vermaelen said: “I really like this new kit. It’s the typical colours for Arsenal, white and red, and it’s really nice. Every club has their own traditional colours. For Arsenal it’s red and white and that’s the way it’s supposed to be.”

>>> Please read the full article here

Top fashion magazine Marie Claire have scoured the fashion world for the best in eco-fashion lines.

KUYICHI
Eco-fashion brand Kuyichi has adopted the mantra of ’style conscious’, on which it expands, ‘We create style. We are conscious of how we create it.’ This innovative denim brand was founded in 2001 and created the first all-organic and Fairtrade jeans to hit the market. Since then their range has expanded, keeping the ethical principles intact alongside contemporary cuts and design.

PEOPLE TREE
The self-named ‘Fairtrade fashion pioneer,’ People Tree is one of the original ethical fashion labels and can boast impeccable eco-credentials. Covering all areas of the spectrum, the company aims to use only organic and Fairtrade cotton, uses strictly natural dyes, sources locally where possible and chooses recycled products over synthetics. Plus, their Fairtrade endeavours span 20 developing countries. If that’s not enough, then the fact that they create beautiful clothing is just an added bonus. Check out designer collaborations from Thakoon and Bora Aksu amongst the delectable range.

STELLA MCCARTNEY
One of the true pioneers of eco-chic, Stella McCartney proves that fashion can be fair, without sacrificing style. She has long been an advocate of alternatives to animal products, with all her accessories being strictly cruelty free. The eco philosophy doesn’t stop there, with McCartney launching an organic capsule collection this year.

KATHARINE E HAMNETT
Katharine Hamnett is a true ethical clothing innovator, and a tireless campaigner for the use of organic cotton. After visiting Mali with Oxfam in 2003, the designer saw first hand the devastating effects of the conventional cotton industry, and immediately vowed to help drive the demand for the organic alternative. Her iconic slogan tees are the produced to the highest environmentally friendly standards and are the height of eco-chic.

HOWIES
For Howies, taking an ethical philosophy isn’t just about using organic cotton (although they do this as well!); it’s about making products that will last. This is why the brand’s selection of organic basics are some of the best out there, and are a good place to start if you want to make your wardrobe more eco-friendly.

EDUN
Founded by Bono and wife Ali Hewson in spring 2005, EDUN is far from being a celebrity fashion label. Created to encourage Fairtrade practise, the label fosters sustainable employment schemes in developing countries around the world. The fact that the clothes are some of the most stylish in the eco-market is merely a bonus.

CIEL
When Sarah Ratty established eco-fashion label Ciel she wanted to create clothing that would offer an ethical and environmental choice to fashion conscious women. She certainly succeeded, and her covetable collection garners as much attention for its beautiful cuts and colours as it does its’ impeccable eco credentials.

BEYOND SKIN
Proving an ideal example of how far the ethical fashion industry has come in the past few years, Beyond Skin’s designs are as stylish as they are ethically sound. Handmade in a family run factory in England, the company has a cruelty free philosophy, in terms of not only animals, but humans and the environment as well.

ANNIE GREENABELLE
Available at Equa, one of our favourite eco-boutiques, Annie Greenabelle is one of those labels that instantly debunk notions that ethical fashion can’t be both green and stylish. Combining organically grown and recycled fabrics, her party dresses are a must for green goddesses.

AMANA
Amana was one of our favourite discoveries at last season’s London Fashion Week Estethica exhibition, an area dedicated to the best eco-clothing labels out there. Marrying beautiful design with ethical production, the entire collection is created by a fair trade co-operative of women artisans in Morocco. On top of this, organic silks and cottons alongside hemp mix fabrics ensure that the collection has minimal negative environmental impact.

>>> For more information on each of these designers and to see Marie Claire’s top tens click here