bemoreeco

If you are anything like me  and the team at This is Green then you might be slightly annoyed when you come home from work to discover yet another directory has been left on your doorstep, whether it’s a yellow pages, a BT phone directory or a Thomson Local – All of these services can be used easily online – so if you would rather be green and not have these delivered anymore then you can cancel them easily, here’s how…

‘This is Green’ advises that If you call 0800 671 444 for Yellow Pages and request they stop delivering they will do so and then phone 0800 833400 (option 5) for BT to do the same, you might also want to stop Thomson Local delivering – Call 01252 555 555 to cancel that one.

It’s astonishing how many of these directories don’t even come out of their cellothane and when you think of the amount of paper and ink and energy that’s involved in the printing process and then the distribution it all helps.

The planet is headed for an ecological “credit crunch”, according to a report issued by conservation groups. The document contends that our demands on natural resources overreach what the Earth can sustain by almost a third.

The Living Planet Report is the work of WWF, the Zoological Society of London and the Global Footprint Network. It says that more than three quarters of the world’s population lives in countries where consumption levels are outstripping environmental renewal. This makes them “ecological debtors”, meaning that they are drawing – and often overdrawing – on the agricultural land, forests, seas and resources of other countries to sustain them.

Read the full article at the BBC

We had five minutes with with Lula Braithwaite from LoveLula so we were very specific with the question we asked.

Tell us about your business?

LoveLula.com is an online organic apothecary where you’ll find over 800 organic and natural beauty products (all free from ingredients such as sls and parabens) by brands including John Masters Organics, Spiezia, Dr Alkaitis and suki

What makes the company a great place to work?

We’re all passionate about what we do and love the products. It doesn’t really feel like work!

Who do you most admire in the green industry?

Craig Sams (founder of Green & Blacks) for his integrity and passion for his beliefs

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

Being in a position to advocate and promote organic beauty and to make these amazing products available to a wider audience

What is your vision for an eco Britain ?

I’d love to see us as a nation of people more in touch with nature and with our instinctive sides; something that modern life seems to have separated us from. We’d be much happier and healthier as a result and we’d automatically make lifestyle decisions that were more eco friendly.

What is your number one Eco Christmas Idea?

My new in-laws do a ‘present fuddle’ (don’t ask me where the name came from!). Everyone buys just one gift for the family member who’s name they draw from a hat. The gifts are then given out by the youngest member of the family and everyone opens their gift together. Now that I have 16 brothers (in law) & sisters (in law) and 17 nephews and nieces I’m rather glad of this tradition!!

What is the most important piece of information you have ever been told?

Eat your greens

If you were prime minister for the day, what one thing would you do?

Increase investment in technologies that will help us move away from our crippling dependence on oil. 

If you haven’t shopped at LoveLula before <click here>

Organise the perfect green Christmas this year and save money with our guide; reduce your carbon footprint and have a more eco friendly and sustainable holiday season.

1. Serve local, healthy and seasonal December foods at your events and xmas parties.  Choose vegetables that are in season and do not have to be flown in from abroad.  Broccoli, cabbage and onions can all be grown without the aid of harsh chemicals so you can spend your organic pounds elsewhere. Buy loose vegetables rather than packaged from a farmers market or try a vegetable box from Abel & Cole which are packed with the season’s best foodstuffs. Choose an organic Turkey or Goose. If you are a vegetarian or vegan go for a substitute from www.Ecotopia.co.uk or www.ethicalsuperstore.com Check out www.freerangereview.com to find local food to you! Click here for all foods that are in season. (located at the end of this post)

2. Decorating your house can be one of the most enjoyable parts of Xmas. Go for ethically made and traded decorations. Natural Collection, Big Green Smile, Nigel’s Eco Store and Vita Etica  all have a great range. Kids really enjoy making their own green decorations out of old scraps of material and leftovers. Try popcorn garlands – which are really fun and cheap to make and scour a woodland floor for fallen pinecones and twigs that are great for decorations!

3. E-mail party invites and Christmas cards rather than post them. There are loads of free Xmas themed party invite e-cards around or alternatively make your own out of scrap and recycled products. If you really want to send cards, choose charity ones or check out these really funky recycled ones. After the big day, make sure your Christmas cards don’t go to waste – take them to a Woodland Trust recycling point.

4. Christmas heating and lighting bills can be huge! Save cash and protect the environment by using energy saving devices such as standby busters and radiator boosters. Don’t forget to turn off the tree lights or better still try these solar powered ones.

5. Use recycled paper, gift bags or even colorful cloth to wrap the Christmas presents and instead of tape, use colorful ribbon to tie up the gifts.

6. Make a green statement this xmas! Send a message to the manufacturers of consumer goods by shopping for & buying only natural, non toxic, eco friendly, organic presents this year. Shop through www.moreeco.com for the largest selection of green retailers on one site and earn rewards and offset carbon at the same time.

7. Which makes a better tree? Artificial or a real one? Simply real ones are as they are great for the environment and can be replanted after use. If replanting isn’t an option, most local councils run Christmas tree recycling schemes. Contact yours or go to http://www.letsrecycle.com. If you need to use an artificial one avoid those made in China or Tawian which have transport costs associated with them. They also can be made with nasty chemicals, metals and plastics which can emit into our homes. Adorn with fair trade and ethical traded decorations or again make your own.

8. How do we give children what they desire but without poisoning our planet? Take electronic toys for instance. There are 900 million batteries used each year in the UK alone and many are in toys. But only 2% of batteries are currently recycled – the rest end up in landfill sites and are poisoning our planet! So what do you do? Choose an eco toy. Green and eco-friendly toys shouldn’t cost the earth so choose from a great selection here that don’t require batteries. Alternatively go for rechargeable batteries which will save you pounds throughout the year.

9. Recycle your unwanted presents. Unfortunately everyone receives at least one unwanted gift at Christmas. Many recycle their unwanted presents to charities. Local hospitals and hospices are often very pleased to receive unwanted smellies to give to patients. Or you could try Nigels Eco Store’s regifting forum  or www.freecycle.org and swap them for other people’s unwanted gifts.

10. Don’t go overboard especially in the current climate and remember -  reduce, reuse and recycle.

December Food In Season

VEGETABLES:

Artichoke

(Jerusalem), Brussels sprouts, Broccoli (purple sprouting), Beetroot, Cabbage(red), Celeriac, Celery, Carrots, Cauliflower, Chicory, Chard, Celeriac, Cardoons, Cabbages, Endive, Garlic, Kale, Kohlrabi, Lamb’s, Lettuce, Leeks, Onions, Parsnips, Potatoes, Pumpkin, Rocket, Shallots, Spinach, Swede, Turnips, Watercress

FRUIT & NUTS: Apples, Chestnuts, Pears, Pomegranate, Quince, Rhubarb

MEAT, POULTRY & GAME: Goose, Grouse, Hare, Mallard, Partridge, Pheasant, Rabbit, Snipe, Squirrel (grey), Turkey, Venison, Woodcock

FISH: Bream (black), Herring, Mussels, Oysters (native), Scallops, Turbot

CHEESE: Stilton, Wensleydale

List courtesy of www.naturalmatters.net

The team at BBCGreen have carried out some investigation on the myths surrounding Green cars.  My wife is pushing me to replace our current car with a more Eco-Friendly one, but I am not to sure what is the best path to take. Hopefully this 5 part series we have put togther about the myths of buying a Green Car will help. Below is green car myth number 3.

Biofuel is perfect - Biofuels certainly sound great – after all, they’re a renewable solar energy store made from plants. The problem is that much bioethanol (the petrol substitute) is grown using land that might otherwise be feeding people and is refined in energy-inefficient factories. So far, it is also available in very few parts of the country – no fuel is green if you have to drive miles to buy it.

As for biodiesel, a high proportion is derived from palm oil, often in damaging monoculture on slashed-and-burned ex-rainforest land.

In a decade or so, it’s likely we will have biofuels produced with efficient processes from waste organic matter, or made by bacteria. The field is wide open and hopeful, but we’re talking mid-term for a solid answer.

BeMoreEco will be publishing a new myths each Monday over the 4 week so come back .

In our second look at Green City Guides by planet green we have decide that after the looking at the Green London guide, we should sail across the North Sea and take a look at the Amsterdam Green City Guide by Leonora Oppenheim and list our favourite bits.

Most destinations are easily accessed by foot in the compact city. Which is a good thing: Trying to find a parking space is no easy task. Cyclists benefit from the numerous bike lanes and public transportation is efficient and easy to navigate.

Amsterdam is the 5th busiest tourist destination in Europe and these tips will direct you towards the eco-gems. For the most recent green happenings in Amsterdam, scroll through TreeHugger’s Amsterdam Archives.

1. Rent a Bike from Mac Bikes
   Biking is really the quickest and cheapest way to get around this city. There are several reputable bike rental companies, but the distinctive red Mac Bikes are the most well known. Only two things you need to remember: back pedal to brake and always always lock your bike!
2. Take Public Transportation: Travel by Tram
   The city’s GVB tram system is an efficient and comfortable way to see the sites. Buy a strippenkaart from the train station when you arrive and receive discounted fares on multiple rides around the city. Fifteen strips (each ride is at least two strips) are about seven euro. The tickets are valid for the metro and bus as well.
3. Stroll through Amsterdam’s Parks: Vondelpark, Oosterpark, Westerpark, and Sarphatipark
   Biking or walking through one Amsterdam’s thirty or more leafy parks is a real pleasure. The Vondelpark is the biggest park in the city covering 120 acres. 
4. Dine at Organic Restaurant De Kas
   Not too far away from De Hortus you can find De Kas on the east side of town. This celebrated organic restaurant is housed in an old greenhouse saved from demolition by De Kas’s creator and chef Gert Jan Hageman. 
5. Shop for Cheese and More at Noordermarkt, the Local Farmers’ Market
   For self-catering — or to sample some local delicacies — head to the Noordermarkt in the Jordaan district. This is a local farmers’ market with delicious organic food. On Saturday mornings you will see Amsterdammers riding their bikes to the market.
6. Shop at Eco Clothing Store Nukuhiva
   One of Amsterdam’s best shopping streets, the Haarlemmerstraat is home to the city’s only eco boutique:Nukuhiva. Just around the corner from the Noordermarkt, this little store is the place to find your favorite ethical fashion brands including Dutch brand Kuyichi, which uses organic denim, and other hip eco labels such as Edun, Loomstate and Worn Again.
7. Visit an Organic Brewery and Bar: Brouwerij ‘t IJ
   After biking, gardens, food, fashion, and design you might be craving some liquid refreshment. Brouwerij ‘t IJ is a small local microbrewery with an impossible to pronounce name producing delicious organic beer. 

To read teh Full Green City Guide on Amsterdam <click here>

Which city will be our next green stop, come back next week.

Lets face it. We all should be recycling. What used to be simple; “metal goes here, paper goes there, and plastic goes in over there,” is now a bit more complicated. For example did you know not all plastics and metals can be recycled? If you look for the recycling symbol on most packaging, it’s often filled with a number value. They denote what can and can’t be recycled. That’s where the Barcode Trashcan comes in. It makes being “green” a lot easier.

There’s one bin for each type of recyclable material. Just swipe the item in question over the top and the bin that opens is your winner. Easy breezy covergirl for real!

A lot of people nowadays are questioning the quality of the food that they buy at the supermarket.

Green Clothing Is The Latest Eco Friendly Fashion Trend By Sara Metz

Green clothing is the latest eco friendly fashion trend that combines high quality designs with socially conscious environmentalism. Green clothing is typically made with one hundred percent organic material like hemp and soy, but some designers have found very creative materials and ways to make these fabrics look and feel like traditional less eco friendly fabrics.

Green clothing is a trend that has Hollywood reeling with social consciousness with stars and designers alike making a serious commitment to safe manufacturing methods and organically made apparel. Green clothing designers have gone from the back of the store to the front of the pack with unique creative tops and bottom for men and women in flattering styles and vivid colors.

To read the full article at ezinearticles.com <click here>

This Halloween think of the planet and have a green halloween. Putting together an eco celebration of all things spooky is as easy as having a traditional orange and black one – especially for children. Here are our top 10 tips to get you started:

1. E-mail party invites rather than using the royal mail. There are loads of free Halloween themed party invite e-cards around or alternatively make your own out of scrap and recycled products. Try www.halloween.co.uk for a great selection

2. Serve local, healthy and seasonal October foods at your events. The options are endless. Remember pumpkins are not just decorative items. Make use of all pumpkin parts. After carving a pumpkin, make sure to save the seeds. Bake them and serve them to party guests or feed them to the birds. Pumpkin flesh is great or making pies, soups and even lasagna! Check out www. freerangereview .com to find local food to you! Apples also are at their best this time of year. So make use of the nation’s favourite crunchy fruit. Fill party bowls with several varieties of fresh apples, from granny smiths to pink lady’s. Bake a few apples for healthy, tasty dessert.

3. Use re-usable plates, cups, utensils, napkins and tablecloths. Paper party goods can be expensive and just add more clutter to our nation’s landfills. Check out www.ecotopia.co.uk’s extensive range of eco tableware !

4. Make your own costume or buy one at a second-hand shop. An old favourite a charity shop cotton sheet still makes a great ghost. Can’t find anything suitable in the house? Try www.freecycle.org for a great selection of second hand clothes, costumes and materials.

5. Autumn is great so experience nature. Visit a local farm. Pick fresh apples. Talk a long walk outside. Look up at the sky. Notice the moon. Remember, it’s Halloween and take this great Bat Torch with you.

6. Give kids a reusable bag instead of a plastic or paper one to collect their goodies. Plastic and paper ones are bad for the environment and can tear easily.

7. Give away eco friendly treats such as organic sweets or fairtrade chocolate.

8. Instead of buying materials for decorations, gather supplies, arts and crafts throughout the year. Reuse and Recycle! For instance:
- Turn old tights into spider-webbing
- Paint foam peanuts (packing materials) and turn them into worms
- Turn old cardboard boxes into tombstones
- Reuse your decorations from the previous year

9. Facepainting? Use organic and eco friendly facepaints!

10. Recycle and reuse as much as possible after your party or celebration. Put all costumes, decorations and anything save-able away for next year.

Be safe and have great green halloween.