Environmentalists should take some reassurance from the fact that every property on the market in the UK must have an energy efficiency study carried out and a certificate or EPC printed on the particulars, grading the property A-G, much the same as any household appliance. This EPC should reflect the ‘predicted’ costs for heating, domestic hot water and lighting of the property. It should allow the prospective buyer to compare the energy efficiency of one property against another. Buying a property with a poor EPC means that the new owner will have to invest more in upgrading the efficiency of the house, be that in loft insulation or a new boiler. Some say this could give them a better bargaining position when discussing the eventual buying price.

 Disturbing news then, that the EPC is constantly being overlooked. A recent report from Consumer Focus, reported in the Guardian, claims that only 1-5 of the 2,000 house buyers interviewed, were influenced at all by the EPC in their final choice of property. The same survey found however that after price and size, 1in7 people put energy efficiency at the top of their list of priorities when buying a house.

Clearly energy efficiency is important and the running costs of a property are increasing year on year.  Could it be then that the EPC itself is failing? Is it simply too difficult to understand? Many landlords complain that they pay out for the reports but tenants never ask to read them. Do any of us realize that the EPC in the particulars is merely a summary and the corresponding 6 page report has much more detail?

Next year, the government’s Green Deal will be added to the EPC report letting buyers know that the property has been substantially improved and should cost far less to heat, but it does carry a ‘Green’ loan. When you take on a property like this you will also be taking on the loan. The concern here is that the improved energy efficiency of a property will be overlooked and buyers will simply be put off by the added cost of the Green loan.

Perhaps it is time to take another look at the certificate itself and find a clearer way to inform a buyer about the running costs of the property and to incentivize the purchase of those houses that will keep us warmer for less.

Gecco Interiors Limited is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

The trafficking of women and children for sexual exploitation is a high-profit, low-risk trade for those who organize it, but it is detrimental to the millions of women and children exploited in slavery-like conditions in the global sex industry. This trade is conducted throughout the world with near impunity, in many cases carrying penalties far less severe than drug trafficking. Though people often associate it with Eastern Europe or Asia, the trafficking of women and children for sexual exploitation, with its concomitant human rights abuses and health consequences, is a significant problem in Latin America. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has estimated that sex trafficking in Latin America generates some US$16 billion worth of business annually. Sex trafficking is considered by the United Nations as the third most lucrative illegal business in the world after drug and arms trafficking.

Continue reading here

Volunteer Latin America is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

GREAT NEW PRODUCT RANGE!     Just launched on Green Bear is the new Paul Penders range of 100% Natural Organic Cosmetics along with the Caribbean Blue Sun treatment range.   Paul Penders – hailing from Holland, is an active environmentalist and avid animal rights activist who incorporates his beliefs into his skincare and cosmetics. His philosophy of “No chemicals” and “No animal testing” started with shampoos and later on evolved into a bounty of new skincare products for people of all ages.   Paul created “LevensESSENTIE” (meaning “life’s essence” in Dutch), an intensly concentrated herbal extract containing 23 organic or wild herbs collected from around the world, incorporating this into his range of products.   All Paul Penders skincare is: Cold Blended to retain full strength of ingredients Free from artificial preservatives, colours and perfumes Free from petrolatum, SLS and propylene glycol    10% off introductory price  Just enter pencar03 at checkout valid until 14/03/2011   A selection of the newly available products:   Natural Skin Toner (Chamomile, Orange & Moringa) - £15.50 For all skin types. This unique alcohol-free herbal skin toner has been specially formulated for all skin types. Chamomile and Moringa extracts effectively restore natural moisture balance whilst removing impurities from the surface of the skin. more info   Natural Cleansing Milk (Rosemary & Calendula) – £15.95   For normal to dry & sensitive skin. With fine plant-derived oils, certified organic herbs and uplifting rosemary essential oil that gently cleanses skin; this natural facial cleanser effectively removes dirt and impurities to leave skin soft, smooth and fresh. more info     Natural Plantago Essential Eye Gel – £27.50 Plantago is known as the ‘wonder herb of the 2lst century’ and not without reason! Paul Penders Plantago Essential Eye Gel helps lessen eye bags, dark rings, shadows, signs of fatigue, lines and wrinkles in the eye area and helps reduce puffiness. more info   Natural Herbal Citrus Fruit Exfoliant – £19.95 Clarifies & Refines. Regular use of this non-abrasive herbal exfoliant will reveal soft, fresh, healthier-looking skin. Formulated with natural AHA’s & BHA’s that gently remove the outer layer of dead skin cells, this all-natural exfoliant will gently unclog pores and sweep away dead skin cells, leaving the skin softer and noticeably clearer. more info           For more products, moisturisers, shampoo etc… go to our beauty section Caribbean Blue – 100% Natural Sun protection Caribbean Blue believes in using only the best, natural ingredients, which add value to your health, and never using anything which burdens it. Developed by two Doctors in St Lucia for the benefit of their new baby. The just wanted to ensure that only the best natural products would be used on their first born baby boy.     Caribbean Blue Baby SunShield SPF15 – £13.95 Baby Sun Shield can help reduce prickly heat rash and is a unique 100% all-natural formula developed for the health conscious consumer & for the most sensitive skin types. Instead of synthetic chemical ingredients, it contains natural zinc oxide to soothe and protect the skin. more info       Caribbean Blue After-Sun Aloe SpritzAfter-Sun  – £11.25 Aloe Spritz uses 100% Aloe Vera gel (many leading brands use as little as 15% which is only a token gesture for advertising) with pure essential oils of lavender and peppermint to enhance the soothing and refreshing properties. This is an ideal aloe product for excessive sun exposure and burns. more info  You will find more information in the product info page. Check back as we are currently updating pages on both Caribbean Blue and Paul Penders. www.green-bear.co.uk

Green Bear UK Limited is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Croft Farm Bed and Breakfast provides comfortable accommodation in a quiet and beautiful setting on our sixty acre farm in the heart of Dorset’s Blackmore Vale [between Shaftesbury and Blandford Forum]. We offer one double and one twin bedded room in our new outbuilding, with lovely views across our organically farmed land to the hills beyond. We have recently installed photovoltaic panels and so make some of our own electricity [when the sun is shining and there is a surplus, some goes back into the grid]. The farm is crossed by several footpaths which provide lovely walks, including access to Fontmell Down with its spectacular flora and butterflies. We would be pleased for our guests to enjoy our recently planted woodland and pond. http://www.organicholidays.co.uk/at/2939.htm

Organic Holidays is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Spring is springing in deepest Somerset, although we’ve been working so hard it is rather passing us by. Over the last week we’ve been busy processing plug plant orders from our offer for Butterfly Conservation. The dogs need walking more and I keep putting off writing a book outline I MUST do. I did manage to get my act together enough to write a piece for the FT last weekend, which is always super exposure. I have also finally added some lovely lavenders on the website from Downderry Nursery.

Ethical Retailer awards

We have entered the Observer ethical retailer awards – go on – vote for us as an online retailer!

Ponds

We’ve finalized a day for this year’s wildlife pond creation day – 12th May. The course will again be tutored by pond guru Hugh Roberts, and we have a fab site in Redlynch, southeast Somerset, to develop. I’ve also posted a video of Matthew “Landscape Man” Wilson working on a project with our coir rolls and native marginal plants, which gives a helpful idea as to what we offer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW7pA0FHV7U

Meadowtastic

It’s the time of year to be thinking of wildflower meadows – plugs and seed. Our wildflower and grass seed mix, launched with Hilliers last month and featuring at Chelsea, is going really well. We’ve had extensive media coverage and interest from other retail partners.

Education for sustainability in the 21st century

Contemporary debates on sustainability increasingly recognise the importance of education, suggesting that greater participatory involvement of stakeholders in discourses leads to greater empowerment and increases knowledge generation for key groups within education economics, environmentalism and social activism.

There is an urgent and unprecedented task in enabling learning around the many complex issues involved in sustainability.

Making inroads into these complex issues without support can be a daunting task, consequently finding a suitable course to establish a good theoretical and practical understanding of the issues is vital for any educators who wish to incorporate sustainability into their teaching and practice.

A centre of learning for sustainability

Now celebrating 20 years, internationally renowned Schumacher College continues to host its highly successful Ecoliteracy course, which provides participants with a comprehensive overview of the key concepts within sustainability including systems theory, complexity theory, economics and ecological design. The course empowers participants to view all aspects of their work and private lives from a sustainability perspective, and to understand how those ideas can be applied to their actions at work, at home and in the community at large.

“I can think of no more important mission than helping students acquire the knowledge, skills, and values to participate effectively in creating sustainable communities.” (Fritjof Capra)

Course facilitator Emily Ryan notes that the course gives a broad sweep of key subjects, allowing participants to discover and focus their own interests.

Learning as a community

Teaching on the course is very much about community learning. Participants, teachers and staff work together to combine and learn from their diverse experiences and knowledge, in this way individual and group learning provides a powerful platform for deep and holistic engagement with transformative learning for sustainability.

“Professionally, the teachings inspired me to find ways of incorporating experiences of nature and the wild into my work with youth and small enterprises.” (Jess Schulschenk – Programme Coordinator, Sustainability Institute, South Africa)

Experiential learning

Throughout the course Emily Ryan leads the group through a dynamic process where practical work, contemplation and the development of community are all important parts of the learning experience. As a facilitator specialising in the design of unique learning environments in the fields of transformational education and sustainability Emily notes that one of the course’s key strengths is that participants gain access to a variety of Schumacher’s on-site projects and the associated experts who run them. This helps to render abstract concepts more meaningful and engaging.

Inspiration and transformation at the heart of learning

Caroline Harlow, a Brain Injury Case Manager from Exeter, attended the course last year and found the teaching and content of the course inspirational: ‘Emily was the most charismatic, funny and inspirational facilitator, and has a great sense of ‘joie de vivre’. Like many past participants Caroline says that the course has led to a change in the way that she lives her life. ‘I used to be tied up with wealth and growth, but through Schumacher I have changed the way I interact with myself, the people around me and the planet I live on.’

An international panel of experts

A unique strength of this course is in the calibre of the course teachers who have the knowledge and experience to answer difficult questions and guide course participants to answers that invariably lead to exciting and transformative practices.

What is systems theory and how does it apply to my life/work?
Dr Fritjof Capra, physicist, systems thinker and founding director of the Centre for Ecoliteracy in Berkeley, has lectured extensively on the importance of sustainability education and provides insights into the theoretical underpinnings of systems thinking.

How does changing the way I interact with the wider environment make a difference?
Dr. Stephan Harding, ecologist and author, has worked alongside many of the world’s leading experts on ecological thought and action, including Jonathon Porritt, Brian Goodwin and James Lovelock. His contribution to the course focuses on the importance of understanding the ecological mechanisms which surround all our futures.

How does creativity and innovation, which is so integral to education, feature in sustainability?
Anne Miller is an authority on creativity and innovation, having spent 20 years developing and inventing innovative products for the world’s leading companies. In 2000 she founded The Creativity Partnership, providing consulting and training for some of the world’s most successful organisations. She is also author of ‘How to get your ideas adopted (and change the world)’.

It seems like such a complex issue, how can we achieve a sustainable future?
Satish Kumar, world renowned environmental campaigner, co-founder of Schumacher College and editor of Resurgence magazine, ensures participants also take away with them a greater sense of the importance that hope and inspiration play in developing new and innovative work/life practices.

‘Schumacher always gives that wonderful feeling of hope and I think that’s so refreshing.’ (Caroline Harlow, Brain Injury Case Manager, Exeter)

Course details

The popular two-week course runs from March 28 – April 8, 2011 and provides participants with all teaching, accommodation, meals, and field trips. For those new to the college this course is also an exciting and valuable introduction to the central themes of Schumacher College and to its other courses in areas such as new economics, business, design and science.

The course fees are: one week £750, two weeks £1,450. A limited number of bursaries are available. Details of the course can be found at www.schumachercollege.org.uk/courses/ecoliteracy-first-principles-for-radical-change or contact +44 (0)1803 865 934 to make a booking.

Schumacher College, Dartington is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Ethical and eco fashion have become big news in recent years with plenty of coverage of the environmental and ethical impacts of clothes manufacture and waste. But shoes and their sustainability is something that is not considered so often.

Have you ever considered how sustainable your shoes are? As a fashion item, whilst we expect our shoes to look great and be comfortable and functional, they are often considered throw away products which are discarded after just a few wears purely because they have gone out of fashion. The most sustainable shoes are not only incredibly comfortable but are also well made so that they will last for a long time. Classic and versatile styles are also the most sustainable as they won’t go out of fashion.

No matter how long lasting a pair of shoes is, it will eventually reach the end of its useful life and will need to be disposed of. Synthetic materials pose the biggest problems for disposal as they do not easily biodegrade so will remain in landfill for years to come. But even natural materials will cause carbon dioxide emissions as they decompose which contributes to global warming.

Another key factor in deciding how sustainable you shoes are which materials are used to make them and how they are made. Synthetic materials use non renewable fossil fuels in an energy intensive manufacturing process and can also create significant pollution. Leather has environmental impacts as the rearing of livestock creates carbon dioxide emissions and the process of tanning the leather is damaging to the health of the workers and the environment.

Finally the manufacturing of shoes often creates waste and pollution and the glue used to hold the shoes together is highly toxic for people and the environment.

Some of the most sustainable and ethical shoes are made using natural materials like organic hemp and cork, both of which are biodegradable, sustainable and grown without the use of chemical pesticides. Leather has been tanned with natural chemicals which are not toxic is also a better alternative than conventional leather. Organic wool is also another potential material for sustainable shoes, it better for the environment than conventional wool and possibly other synthetic alternatives. Shoes can also be sewn together with natural fibres for a less toxic alternative to glue.

When buying shoes you should try and buy shoes to last. Think how well they will go with the clothes in your wardrobe and be sure that they are really comfortable before buying.

This article was written by Ceri Heathcote. Ceri is a fashion writer with a particular interest in ethical and eco fashion. She enjoys writing about a variety of topics from vegan shoes and natural footwear to sustainable accessories.

Po-Zu Ecological Shoes is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

With clothing design both fashion and function come together. In recent years there has also been a focus on sustainability in the fashion industry which goes way beyond just using organic cotton fabric instead of conventional cotton or manmade fabrics. Sustainable design is the term that is used to describe the philosophy of designing objects to comply with the principles of ecological, social and economic sustainability.

Whilst in some ways fashion contradicts sustainability because the very nature of following constantly changing trends and fashions can be wasteful and also create much waste, there are some ways that fashion and sustainability can go together. Designers are implementing exciting new initiatives to help reduce the impact of clothing on the environment whilst still making it beautiful to look at and functional to wear.

The most innovative designs turn the sustainable features of a piece of clothing into the very thing that makes it desirable, fashionable or stylish. An example of this is the beautiful fabrics that are recycled into new pieces of clothing. It is the vintage nature of the fabrics that make the clothing so beautiful. Recently Christopher Raeburn has used surplus military parachute silk to make very on trend pieces of clothing. There are also various designers pioneering methods to reduce waste in the fashion industry including innovative new pattern cutting techniques which give the garment a characteristic look.

The use of sustainable fabrics is also a key part of sustainable fashion design. There are a number of different sustainable fabrics to choose from each having its own unique look, feel and properties. Bamboo is super soft, warm and comfortable and has been likened to cashmere that drapes like silk; it is perfect for leisure wear and also for draping. Designers are also constantly coming up with new materials that look great and are also good for the environment. Innovative dying techniques and use of natural coloured fabrics have also been used to create beautiful designs.

Sustainability is not just about what the clothing is made of though. It is about the overall and lifecycle of the product. How long will it last and when it reaches the end of its life can it be easily disposed of?

Biodegradable materials are key to reducing waste in the fashion industry but there are also more interesting projects happening for example where shoes can be deconstructed at the end of their useful life and some parts recycled. Any clothing, shoes or accessories can be made more sustainable by designing them to last and for maximum usage. This can include classic and versatile styles that won’t go out of fashion quickly and multitasking pieces of clothing that can be worn in a number of different ways.

Sustainable design is not just about one factor or aspect of clothing that reduces the impact of a piece of clothing on the environment. It is about designing a piece of clothing that takes into account all aspects of the garment from design to sourcing of materials to sale of the product and beyond. In order to be truly sustainable designers also need to take into account social and economic factors.   By embracing this philosophy whilst still ensuring beauty and functionality of the clothing, designers are helping to make the fashion industry more sustainable.

This article was written by Ceri Heathcote. Ceri is a fashion writer with a particular interest in ethical and eco fashion. She enjoys writing about a variety of topics from vegan shoes and natural footwear to sustainable accessories.

Po-Zu Ecological Shoes is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

We offer bed and breakfast on our small organic farm in Catalonia [North East Spain]. It is situated between Montblanc and L’Espluga de Francoli on the Cistercian Route, ten minutes from Poblet Monastery. The farm borders the River Francoli and contains about a hundred fruit trees, vegetables and herbs. Maset de les Talaveres is a project of sustainable livelihoods. The house and daily life are integrated with the farm according to the precepts of permaculture, or permanent agriculture, namely the conscious design and maintenance of productive agricultural ecosystems with diversity, stability and resilience of natural ecosystems. The house is more than fifty years old, and has stone walls a metre thick to protect the interior temperature changes. http://www.organicholidays.co.uk/at/2938.htm

Organic Holidays is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

So it seemed like a good idea over a glass of wine. There we were, Paul Hayman (managing director of MA Assist) and me, having a glass of wine after a successful meeting with an MA Assist client. “I have always wanted to do something useful for a good cause” said Paul, “I want to make a difference, not just hand over cash”. “Why not go to Georgia and renovate the school in Tlugi” I said. “With your trades network and client base it should be easy to raise the money and organise it”. Sounded simple at the time!

How did I end up persuading the MD of a repairs network to do this? Well, it’s quite simple – I am his part-time “Finance Director”; I oversee the finances of his company MA Assist, an insurance repairs specialist with network of tradesmen all over the country and some very large insurance clients. Paul Hayman is an old friend and we worked together many years ago before I had children. Following his management buyout at the start of 2009 he called me asking for help with his finances, and in a weak moment I agreed. So now I have 2 small children, a part time finance job and I run my own business, Fairwind – who needs sleep anyway?

So when I started talking to Paul about the Fair Treesâ project Paul was very interested. He had been looking for something he could support through his business and this seemed perfect. And I have bored him so often about the issues surrounding the Christmas tree industry and my campaign to change things in the UK, that maybe he had a weak moment too and agreed to support it. Who knows! But here we are, planning and organising a DIY SOS style trip to Georgia where we will have a week to completely renovate a school for 600 children in a remote and deprived part of Georgia, called Ambrolauri.

It sounds simple, but it will be quite a challenge. Not only do we need to raise at least £10,000 to fund the project, but we need to get the right materials and labour to Tlugi, right up in the mountains of Ambrolauri. And we need to get it all there at the right time and get the job done before the return flights home. This is going to require some careful planning.

Paul is going to Tlugi towards the end of March to survey the job. He will be working with the school director to agree what works are to be done and then doing a lightening fast survey to work out what is needed. He will only be in the country for about 48 hours and it takes 5 hours to get to Tlugi from the airport in Tblisi. So no pressure then!

Once he gets back we will have a good idea of how many people we will need. We will then have to start persuading some tradesmen to give up a week of their time to come to Georgia in September. We will try to use local labour and materials wherever possible, to make sure that the improvements can be maintained in the future and to provide some income for locals. But the bulk of the labour and materials will need to come from the UK, and the shipping and flights will be the most expensive parts of the project.

MA Assist is donating £1 for every insurance claim with value received from its clients – a very generous donation indeed. But we will need donations from MA Assist’s clients and suppliers and some fundraising by staff to get all of the funds we need. So we are starting to appeal to MA Assist’s insurance clients and their corporate social responsibility departments, while fair trade is at the front of people’s minds during Fair Trade Fortnight.

And the final big challenge is to get some media coverage of this renovation to help raise the awareness amongst consumers and the Christmas tree industry about the issues in Georgia. Every September the locals in Ambrolauri climb 30 metre high trees to collect cones from which the seeds are extracted for growing Nordmann Fir Christmas trees in Europe. The Nordmann Fir is now the most popular Christmas tree in Europe, with 5 million sold in the UK alone. But every year cone pickers in Georgia get injured, or even die, collecting the cones. Until now they have had no safety equipment, no health insurance and have been paid a pittance. Fair Treesâ is changing all of that by paying its cone pickers fairly, giving them modern safety equipment and training and by providing health insurance. Fair Treesâ grows the only fair trade Christmas trees in the world, with accreditation from the World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO).

Through the Bols Xmas Tree Fund, a Georgian based charity, Fair Treesâ is investing in the community in Ambrolauri using a percentage of the proceeds from the sale of Fair Treesâ and Fair Seedsâ. For more information about the Fund you can go to http://www.bolsxmastreefund.com/index-en.php

So this is Part 1 of the great Fair Treesâ school renovation story and I will keep you updated on developments as they take place. This is going to be mad, fun and hopefully incredibly rewarding.

If you would like to know more, or are interested in supporting Fair Treesâ or the school renovation, then please get in touch – info@fairwindonline.com.

Teresa Owen, Fairwind

Fairwind is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more