Do you have a Green Office?

This week has been Green Office week, hoping to empower employees to be able to make a positive impact on the environment while in the office, and to unite offices up and down the UK in an effort to change the way we work.

Click here to see Oliver's top tips for an eco and stylish office.

Whilst it is an incentive to know the way we are working is not having a negative impact on the environment, I mostly am affected by the way a greener workplace is a happier one.

I love having plants around the place - makes it look nicer and plants in enclosed spaces can help absorb the nasty emissions from computers, moblie phones etc. The cactus next to my pen pot also is a deterrant to anyone who may be thinking about 'borrowing' a pen from my desk... You can get some great ones that can be grown in pockets - fresh strawberry anyone?

I cycle to work, meaning I arrive in a more positive frame of mind (no pushing and shoving on the tube!), am healthier and have already had some great exercise by 9am. You can get a bike tax free through the government initiative set up to encourage cycling - check it out here. Also, think about all the savings on tube/bus fares...


I once worked somewhere for 2 weeks (a temp thing) and in that short time I had revolutionised their non-existent recycling system... I'd like to do that 'one year on' thing where tv cameras go back to the room that was made-over to see if they kept any of it...

Perhaps the Ovetto recycling bin would have been good for them - a stylish visual reminder to recycle.

If you have any ideas for a green office, or leave us a comment...

Are eco-homes ugly?

No! I hear you cry...

Join the controversial debate at EcoBuild this week at Earls Court...
Germaine Greer, Bill Dunster, TonyJuniper and David Orr will be debating the aesthetics of low carbon design for new homes and communities tomorrow in the main arena at Ecobuild from 17.00 - 18.00.

Ecobuild is always worth a visit and is also free but you should register at http://www.ecobuild.co.uk/

Ecobuild is the world’s biggest event dedicated to sustainable design, construction and the built environment, so if you are renovating, doing an eco self-build or just interested then get yourself along for the best showcase of sustainable construction products anywhere, plus dozens of inspiring attractions and more than 100 free conference and seminar sessions.

But hurry, the show finishes on Thursday!

Win tickets to the Eco Chic Wedding & Home Show plus a pampering session

With just under a week to go until the first ever Eco Chic Wedding & Home Show this Sunday 8 March the organisers have 25 pairs of free tickets to give away plus 3 free pamper treatments to be enjoyed on the day. Even if you don't win you can get 2 for 1 tickets by quoting ECWHS-EW09 when you book online or by phone.

To win the tickets visit the ethical weddings blog

Eco and ethical considerations are growing amongst couples getting married, but finding trusted suppliers of services and products for the big day is relatively difficult. I know when I got married in 2006 I spent a vast amount of time researching on the web and trying to make informed decisions - as if the planning wasn't stressful enough already! But it was important to us that our wedding, and setting up our new home, was as ethical and environmentally sound as possible.

We had our wedding list with EcoCentric, as well as with a few other eco companies. when we have guest round they love our dinner set and cant believe it's recycled glass!

The Eco Chic Wedding & Home Show takes place this Sunday (8 March) from 11am - 4pm at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. This exclusive wedding and home event offers ideas for couples for green & ethical weddings and living. It will be the perfect opportunity to see, touch, taste and try before you buy all the essentials for your Big Day - check out dresses, occasionwear, accessories, photography, flowers, gifts, honeymoon destinations, venues, cakes and much much more.

Home & gifts and the fairtrade mark

We are currently in the middle of Fairtrade Fortnight. You will no doubt recognise the logo as you go around the supermarkets and when clothes shopping, but it is hardly ever seen on crafts, gifts and homeware items.

Why?

The Fairtrade Certification and its system of minimum pricing were designed initially for commodity products. It is technically difficult to adapt this model of standardized minimum pricing to crafts and other products made by small-scale artisans, which are each unique, made of varied materials and have highly varied production processes and costs. However the International Fair Trade Association (IFAT) is currently conducting a global research project on the potential for a Fair Trade label for crafts. We await the results with interest. (source: Pinkdoodle)

Across the EcoCentric range you will see that we have many products that are 'fairly traded'. This means they have been produced in a closely regulated environment which is fair to workers in pay and working conditions.

The range of home products that are certified fairtrade currently include fairtrade organic cotton bedlinen - dont forget you can get 20% off until the end of fairtrade fortnight which ends next Sunday 8th March - just enter voucher code 3209 at the checkout

Fair Trade Fortnight is here!

Fairtrade fortnight starts today, and there's hundreds of great events going on to promote Fairtrade around the country. From free smoothies in Norwich, to hot chocolate tastings in Brighton and a Fairtrade pancake race in Cornwall, there's sure to be something going on in your area. And don't forget the Fairtrade Taste Fair (see my last post) run by Cafe Direct in London's Whole Foods Market - Oliver Heath will be dispensing his wisdom about eco re-styling old furniture which could give you some great ideas for a new look for your home. Check out the events list on the Fairtrade Foundation website for an event near you and get down there!

Fairtrade has really come on leaps and bounds in the last few years - from the very first Fairtrade Chocolate and coffee, the Fairtrade label has now been certified for use on over 3,000 products, meaning making the ethical choice is increasingly easy and accessible. Today sees the launch of the first Fairtrade olive oil, made by a co-operative of 265 farmers in Palestine. The co-operative are already planning how they can use the Fairtrade premium paid to them to improve their lives and agricultural farming in Palestine. You just have to plan which delicious and quality Fairtrade products to buy to celebrate Fairtrade fortnight, or why not make it your habit all year round?

Tastefair - a quick heads up...

Fairtrade Fortnight (23rd February to 1st March) is fast approaching, and to celebrate Cafe Direct have set up Tastefair. A two week celebration of all that is eco and ethical, Tastefair features a great selection of workshops as well as top celebrity speakers. Oliver Heath will be there, speaking about how vintage items can add heaps of style to your home as well as being eco friendly. Red or Dead's Wayne Hemmingway will also be sharing his wisdom on eco style, and Tom Madden from River Cottage will be discussing seasonal food. There's also live music, and workshops on how to make great coffee and the journey that the coffee goes through 'from seed to cup'.
I'll put more on the blog about this in the next few weeks, but just thought I'd put a quick 'heads up' out there so you can get your tickets in time!

Bed Luxury to stay in bed for

I spent an awful lot of time (although never quite enough) in bed, and I'm always keen to make my bedroom environment as peaceful, heathly and eco-friendly as possible, without compromising on style. So I'm pretty excited about the gorgeous new luxury organic cotton bedding available at EcoCentric. It's exceptionally high thread count and sateen finish mean that it's super soft and reflects the light really beautifully. For the ultimate in luxury, I'd use it on top of a pure silk duvet and pillow and in a FSC sourced Cherry-wood bed from Crate and Barrel.

The benefits of using organic cotton really are phenomenal. Conventionally grown cotton accounts for around 17% of the worlds pesticide use, which largely ends up in waterways and the eco system. Because organic cotton is grown without these chemical nasties, it is not only kinder to the environment, but also better for you, as you are minimising the amount of toxins and chemicals that you're bringing into your home. And since organic cotton is often also fairly traded, like the bedding above, it means that producers are getting a fair deal and, consequently, have a better standard of living than if they were at the mercy of the fluctuating market price.