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We've been bombarded with great news today and these are the best snippets, from Unilever's decision to use sustainable palm oil to designer clothes at Oxfam.
M&S' lingerie factory goes green
Just as we decided never again to buy anything except organic and Fairtrade clothes after watching BBC Three's Blood, Sweat and T-shirts, M&S announced that its lingerie supplier, MAS Intimates Thurulie, has just converted one of its Sri Lankan factories into an eco operation. It has been refurbished to save around 40 per cent on electricity, reduce its water usage by 50 per cent by capturing rainwater, and has installed solar panels and low-energy cooling systems to replace air-conditioning. In addition to the green measures, both M&S and MAS assure us all workers are paid and treated well, too.
Oxfam launches designer boutique
Other news that warms out greenie hearts -- and excites the fashionista in us -- is Oxfam's announcement that it's launching three fashion boutiques in London over the summer with one-off designer pieces made from Oxfam's second-hand clothing and fabrics. There'll be different lines including organic, Fairtrade vintage and an eBay auction range designed by the likes of Giles Deacon, Henry Holland, Christopher Kane and Jonathan Saunders. Fashion guru Jane Shepherdson, the project's consultant, says: "These boutiques are all about creating a great shopping experience. Oxfam has always been a place where stylish people hunt for interesting items to create their look, [and] the boutiques are set to make that even easier." All profits obviously go to fighting poverty around the world through Oxfam's projects.
Dirty Pretty (good)
Another alternative to fast and unethical fashion has arrived. Luxury vintage clothes brand Dirty Pretty has just launched an online shop where it sells unique outfits made from good quality vintage and reclaimed fabrics and trims in the West Midlands. Dirty Pretty goes one step further than just making sustainable, pretty clothes. It educates us shoppers on fast fashion and its negative effects on people and the environment and gives us the ethical and green alternatives, too.
Beautiful boards
Ecocentric has again managed to make us look forward to Christmas -- this time with its brand new chopping boards. The English hardwood and hand-crafted boards are really the most beautiful chopping boards we've ever seen. The solid oak cheese board and knife is our favourite (below). All the wood comes from sustainably managed forests in the UK and the boards are finished with a coating of olive oil rather than varnish. Available from Ecocentric from £50.
Fun for green parents
At the end of June, Green Parenting Show will make sure that parents in London get a day of fun. There'll be everything from information and advice on how to grow your own food, use real nappies and on what is good or bad for you baby's skin. There will also be kids' activities like arts and crafts, yoga, dancing and face painting. Maybe more importantly, there's also going to be a 'parents pampering zone', where you can relax while your kids are running around. On the day, the show is offering the first five people to quote "Green SmartPlanet" a free pair of tickets. If you're not among the first five, you will still get a discount of £1.50 on your ticket. Children go free.
Nokia's next green steps
Nokia seems to be all over the place at the moment trying to do green -- or seemingly green -- stuff. It's moved on from the Nokia 3110 Evolve and into extremely long-lasting phones and clever energy-saving chargers. We've watched NokNok's video of the phone that can potentially live for 25 years and must say that if that's going to turn into more than and idea and actually work in real life, we'll be applauding Nokia all the way. Good initiative, Nokia.
Greenpeace on palm oil and Unilever
Greenpeace just gave us, and we dare say a good few orangutans, some hope by announcing that massive multinational, Unilever, is finally supporting the protection of the Indonesian rainforest, which is under threat of destruction because of the ever-growing palm oil industry. According to Greenpeace, Unilever's suppliers are directly involved in rainforest destruction and the activist group has been putting pressure on it for years to adopt a sustainable palm oil policy. Now Unilever has said that all of its palm oil will be sustainable from 2015. Greenpeace will no doubt be keeping an eye on the multinational to make sure it keeps its word.
Hand-crafted oak chopping board from Ecocentric
07 May 2008 01:55pm
Unilever plans to source sustainable palm oil by 2015 - crack open the champagne! no doubt there'll be lots of rainforest to save by them. Too little too late I fear :(
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