Tip #157 – Simple tips to make Laundry more eco-friendly
Clothes Line
Everyone does laundry. Most of us hate it, but it has to be done. There are new washing products being developed that operate at really low temperatures. However, here are some other ideas to make your washing more eco-friendly.
Use the coldest possible water to do your washing.
Only do full loads of washing.
Buy eco-friendly, phosphate free laundry detergent
Dry your clothes outside when it’s good weather.
Dry your clothes indoors when it’s terrible weather (most of the UK then!)
Call instead of Travelling
A green eco saving scheme is to call or email your other offices, customers or business partners more, instead of getting in the car to see them and pumping more toxins into the atmosphere. Technology nowadays allows for things like meetings to be better orchestrated with the use of conferencing calls and internet meeting tools, so there is no need to travel halfway across the world or country to attend a 2hr meeting, saving the environment and your company money.
Further to this you can get free phone numbers like and 0800 number to give your customer an incentive to call you back on, instead of arranging meetings, saving them money and travel. Anything that we can do in order for a great Eco saving should be done and pushed through, as at the end of the day if there is no longer a sustainable environment due to pollution, then there is no business!
Tip #160 – Go by train rather than plane
Plane
Did you know that a Eurostar train journey between London and Paris requires just one-tenth of the energy compared to the corresponding flight!? A lot of time and money is being spent to make flying as eco-friendly as possible. However, given the vast amount of energy needed to get a plane into the air means that it will always require a large amount of energy. However, trains do require less energy as they have no need to take off.
Sure, sometimes it’s easier to fly, but if you have a choice, try to avoid it. In the UK, public transport has a long way to come in terms of frequency, reliability and cost, but somehow we need to find a way to make it better!
Tip #159 – Fit radiator reflective panels
HeatKeeper Radiator Insulation Panels
By now, you probably know that radiators expend a significant amount of heat by warming up the wall. The HeatKeeper Radiator Insulation Panels are speciailly designed panels that will reflect heat back in your rooms.
The panels are fitted behind your radiators, reflecting heat back into the room. The panels only take a few minutes to install since they are attached using double-sided tape. However, using these panels can result in a 20% reduction in your heating bills, and pay for themselves in less than a year!
Tip #158 – Use eco-friendly buttons on your clothes
Tree Buttons
TreeButtons are hand-crafted wood buttons that are made from cross sections of Cherry, Birch, Oak, Maple and Apple tree branches. The buttons are dried in a kiln, retaining around 6 to 10% of their moisture so that they don’t warp or crack.
The buttons are hand-finished with sandpaper, and then preserved with an exotic nut oil to leave a smooth and fashionable eco-friendly button. Using wood-based buttons avoids the need for any plastic-based buttons and is a completely sustainable product.
Tip #156 – Match the saucepan size to the hob ring
Cooking on a Gas Hob
When cooking, ensure that the size of the saucepan matches the size of the hob ring you are using. This applies to both gas and electric cookers.
This means you are not paying (as much) to heat the air. Gas flames should only heat the bottom of the pan and not the sides. This will also help prolong the life of your saucepans.
Tip #155 – Avoid using hotel toiletries
Hotel Toiletries
Don’t take the toiletries from your hotel, these are mainly plastics that will go to landfill. Instead, fill small bottles with your own shampoo from home.
You could even complain to your hotels to stop stocking plastic-based toiletries. Perhaps encourage them to source eco-friendly toiletries that use recyclable or biodegradable packaging instead (they could use it as a marketing ploy).
Thanks to this tip from Nik of Transition Southampton
Tip #154 – Reuse office printouts as notepads
Notepad
If you have unwanted A4 paper that’s only been printed on 1 side, then it tear or cut it up into halves or quarters. You then end up with A5 or A6 sized notepaper. I’ve got several wads of these around the home, and they’re clipped together using bulldog clips or staples.
Clearly, if you’ve got confidential material on the paper, it’s probably best to shred or burn it instead! You also might want to avoid printing too much in the first place!
Tip #153 – Organic and natural slug control
slug
I’ve recently started gardening, and one really annoying pest are slugs. They only come out when it’s dark and damp, when you rarely want to be outside. So here are some tips on controlling the little critters the eco-friendly way.
- Orange halves – these deter cats and attract slugs. You then just dispose of the slugs once they’ve been caught (chickens love them!).
- Coffee spray – make a weak coffee syrup with ground coffee and water, then lightly coat your plants. You might only need to do this near the base of the plants.
- Physical barriers – scatter crushed egg shells, sawdust or wood shavings around plants at risk. You also might want to try hot chilli powder!
- Slug hunting – this one is a favourite of my Dad’s. Simply go out at night with table salt and a torch, and pour it over the critters. It essentially turns them inside out by drawing out the water inside them.
Some of these Slug Control tips are from an article by Sustainable Echo.
10 Great Eco-Friendly Mother’s Day Gift Ideas
It’s almost Mother’s Day in the UK, have you thought about what you want to get for your mums? Well here are some fun and interesting eco-friendly gift ideas for Mother’s Day!
Plush Belgian Fairtrade Chocolates
For some chocolates that are that little bit extra special, these Plush Belgian Fairtrade Chocolates are ideal. The box features 32 hand-finished dark, milk and white chocolates in a recyclable box (with compostable inner trays).
Eco-Friendly Gerbera Flower Bouquet
The Gerbera Bouquet features a colourful collection of attractive flowers. The flowers are approved by the Fair Flowers Fair Plants initiative (FFP), which is an initiative that certifies flowers and plants are cultivated in a responsible and sustainable manner.
Happiness Tea
Happiness Organic Tea is a fragrant blend of hibiscus flower, rosemary and cardamon. Happiness Tea is a feel-good organic tea perfect for mothers around the world. Just £5 for 40 grams.
Recycled Apron – Tomato Sauce
The funky Recycled Tomato Sauce Apron is a wipe-clean apron made from recycled juice cartons that would otherwise be burnt or buried. Perfect for mothers who spend lots of time in the kitchen! Priced at just £9.99.
Nvey Eco-Friendly Make-up Bag Set
The Nvey Eco-Friendly Make-up Bag Set features Nvey Eco’s organic make up range, which includes Lip Gloss, Natural Eye Shadow Compacts, Powder Blush Compact and a make-up bag.
Divine Extravagance Kit
The Divine Extravagance Kit is probably the ultimate in FairTrade chocolate selection packs, featuring 19 chocolate treats, 1 tub of cooking cocoa powder, and 1 tub of drinking chocolate powder! For £45, this is a lot of chocolate, guarenteed to keep any chocolate lover happy for a while!
Fairtrade Etched Glass Perfume Bottles
These attractive Etched Glass Perfume Bottles are handmade by a FairTrade company in Northern India that supports traditional crafts. The re-usable perfume bottles are available to purchase as a pair for £8.
Hedgerow Herbals Luxury Pampering Gift Box
The Hedgerow Herbals Luxury Pampering Gift Box is a luxurious collection of treats from Simply Soaps. This special gift box contains a nourishing oatmeal face wash, an orange cocoa butter bath melt and a moisturising night butter. All of the products are organic and non-toxic, and very affordable at £11.95.
Gardeners Bag
The Gardener’s Tool Bag is made from jute and cotton, giving you a handy hard-wearing bag to keep all of your gardening tools close to hand. The bag is made by a FairTrade-like company in Bangladesh.
Zzz Herbal Bath Bag
The Zzz Herbal Bath Bag contain 3 over-sized tea bags filled with herbs, petals and essential oils. Just leave them to brew in a bath of hot running water. Once the bags have been used, they are 100% biodegradable, and can be composted.
10 Great Eco-Friendly Mother’s Day Gift Ideas
by Dan | March 11, 2009 | In Celebrations, Health |
It’s almost Mother’s Day in the UK, have you thought about what you want to get for your mums? Well here are some fun and interesting eco-friendly gift ideas for Mother’s Day!
For some chocolates that are that little bit extra special, these Plush Belgian Fairtrade Chocolates are ideal. The box features 32 hand-finished dark, milk and white chocolates in a recyclable box (with compostable inner trays).
The Gerbera Bouquet features a colourful collection of attractive flowers. The flowers are approved by the Fair Flowers Fair Plants initiative (FFP), which is an initiative that certifies flowers and plants are cultivated in a responsible and sustainable manner.
Happiness Organic Tea is a fragrant blend of hibiscus flower, rosemary and cardamon. Happiness Tea is a feel-good organic tea perfect for mothers around the world. Just £5 for 40 grams.
The funky Recycled Tomato Sauce Apron is a wipe-clean apron made from recycled juice cartons that would otherwise be burnt or buried. Perfect for mothers who spend lots of time in the kitchen! Priced at just £9.99.
The Nvey Eco-Friendly Make-up Bag Set features Nvey Eco’s organic make up range, which includes Lip Gloss, Natural Eye Shadow Compacts, Powder Blush Compact and a make-up bag.
The Divine Extravagance Kit is probably the ultimate in FairTrade chocolate selection packs, featuring 19 chocolate treats, 1 tub of cooking cocoa powder, and 1 tub of drinking chocolate powder! For £45, this is a lot of chocolate, guarenteed to keep any chocolate lover happy for a while!
These attractive Etched Glass Perfume Bottles are handmade by a FairTrade company in Northern India that supports traditional crafts. The re-usable perfume bottles are available to purchase as a pair for £8.
The Hedgerow Herbals Luxury Pampering Gift Box is a luxurious collection of treats from Simply Soaps. This special gift box contains a nourishing oatmeal face wash, an orange cocoa butter bath melt and a moisturising night butter. All of the products are organic and non-toxic, and very affordable at £11.95.
The Gardener’s Tool Bag is made from jute and cotton, giving you a handy hard-wearing bag to keep all of your gardening tools close to hand. The bag is made by a FairTrade-like company in Bangladesh.
The Zzz Herbal Bath Bag contain 3 over-sized tea bags filled with herbs, petals and essential oils. Just leave them to brew in a bath of hot running water. Once the bags have been used, they are 100% biodegradable, and can be composted.