Make the washday blues disappear with Violet’s Magic Laundry range!

The success of Violet’s Magic Laundry Powder has inspired a new extended range of eco friendly and hypo-allergenic laundry products which has just been launched by Home Scents, www.homescents.co.uk

Demand for Violet’s Magic Laundry Powder has been so great that Home Scents has now developed three further laundry products which leave clothes and fabrics clean, fresh and gloriously scented, without the use of harsh or synthetic chemicals. The new product range now includes: Violet’s Magic Laundry Liquid, Softener, and Stain Remover which are scented with essentials oils: lavender flowers or grapefruit and hemp.

The Violet’s Magic Laundry Range is:

Made from pure plant and natural ingredients, Vegan certified

Biodegradable, kind to the planet and never tested on animals

Hypo Allergenic – ideal for babies and young children or those with sensitive skin or allergies

Super Concentrated and offering value for money

Violet’s Magic Laundry Liquid is perfect for machine or hand washing. It is made from botanical and natural minerals, scented with essential oils.

Available in 1.5 litre bottle (39 loads)

£7.65

Violet’s Magic Laundry Softener naturally scents and softens laundry to make ironing easier.

Available in 750ml bottle (50 rinses) £6.95

Violet’s Magic Stain Remover for naturally effective whitening & stain removal, recommended for “real or cloth” nappy wash and pre-soak. Sanitises and removes odours.

Available in 450gm tub (30 laundry boosts) £7.30

Violet’s Magic Laundry Powder

Available in 500gm tub 20 standard machine loads  £8.35

Or 1kilo tub 40 standard machine loads  £ 15.30

Violet’s Magic Laundry Range is guaranteed free from synthetics and it does not contain: opticial brighters, enzymes, phosphates, petrochemicals or artificial fragrances.

The range does contain: Northumberland Water, natural soap, sodium sesquicarbonate, washing soda, earth-friendly bleach, natural zeolite, food grade xanthum gum and pure essential oils.

The laundry range is packaged using recycled and recyclable materials, and refill packs will soon be available.

Home Scents also offer a range of cleaners scented with 100% pure essential oils, from room sprays and hand washes through to kitchen cleaners, laundry enhancers and furniture polishes.

For more information visit www.homescents.co.uk or www.babyscents.co.uk.

Tel 01434 607722 or email sales@homescents.co.uk. for images.

June 2011

Home Scents is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Our World, Climate Change and Carbon Credits

Many scientists, naturalists and well-established mainstream ecological foundations believe our world is threatened by global warming and the effects of CO2 emissions and acceptance of this concept has become more widespread in recent years. These scientists believe that reductions in carbon and greenhouse gas emissions are essential if we are to minimise our impact on the environment.

In response to the impact that industrialised nations are having on the global environment, the Kyoto Protocol of 1997, since signed by 187 countries, introduced various measures and an infrastructure has evolved which, mainly through the media of Carbon Credits, rewards organisations making a valuable contribution to reducing carbon emissions and charges those whose carbon footprint is considered excessive.

A single carbon credit equates to one tonne of CO2 being removed from the atmosphere or no longer emitted.

Verified Sources

The sources of these Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) tend to be companies and organisations, often in developing countries, which are involved in environmental projects and are therefore able to be independently verified as ‘creators’ of carbon credits in that they are removing carbon from the atmosphere, for example by planting woodland, or replacing a carbon-emitting technology with an environmentally-friendly one, say by using a wind turbine instead of a diesel generator. Each carbon credit source is verified by independent third party auditors who quantify, approve and certify the related project is genuinely of environmental benefit.

An Asset to Trade

This means that, for example, a biofuel plant which has been verified as taking 1,000 tonnes of CO2 out of the atmosphere can sell the 1,000 carbon credits to another company whose factory creates 1,000 tonnes of CO2 a year. The company buying the credit to offset its own CO2 emissions would likely be in an industrialised country seeking to lower its overall greenhouse gas creation to meet targets. Once verified by an authorised independent third party, these saleable certified emission reduction, CER, credits can be sold to other companies and individuals who thereby can offset their own CO2 emissions.

There are two types of markets on which these carbon credits are traded – the Compliance Market and the Voluntary Market.

As the carbon credits traded on the compliance market are to satisfy a legal obligation to control emissions it is understandable that the certification process for these tends to be more rigorous than those traded on the voluntary markets.

MH Carbon deals in the physical delivery of carbon credits only operating mainly in the Voluntary credit market. MH-Carbon use carbon credits from recognised and independently verified projects to ensure the emission reductions are effective.

A carbon credit is a generic term for any tradable certificate or permit representing the right to emit one tonne of carbon dioxide or carbon dioxide equivalent.

A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land,
purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.
Franklin D. Roosevelt

If you are interested in signing up for a FREE Trading Account which enables you to :

then please visit us at http://www.mhcarbon.com/register.php

MH Carbon is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Consumers are now demonstrating a smarter attitude when it comes to going green and are even showing an interest in sectors such as auto, energy and technology according to a survey.

The study of 9,000 people in eight countries found that household products had the highest adoption rates of consumer goods according to WPP companies Cohn and Wolfe, Landor Associates and Penn Schoen Berland who carried out the study in partnership with Esty Environmental Partners.

Online interviews were held between April 2, to May 3 in Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, the U.K and the U.S.

The way people perceived green products shifted, with consumers thinking beyond products they would put into their body or on their body.

Russ Meyer, the chief strategic officer at Landor Associates said: “Consumers are really getting wiser about green brands. You look at the first study, and there are brands that were there because their logo was green. Today, when you look at the top five brands in the U. S. survey, consumers have been able to sort out the ones that have been solidly green from birth.”

There was a clear distinction in what areas had more importance to the countries surveyed. The economy was more of a concern to developed countries, while developing countries and Germany felt the environment was more important.

That doesn’t mean that developed countries aren’t aware of environmental issues that plague the world. There is more concern this year than last year about the environment with a lot of those surveyed believing that the planet is on the wrong track to tackling issues such as climate change and reducing carbon emissions.

Concerns were again split with China, France, Germany and the UK more worried about energy use and toxic the most compared to the other half of countries who ranked climate change as their top worry. Brazil was the only country to tie both climate change and use of chemicals and toxics.

Results also showed that people are willing to buy more environmentally friendly products from the auto, technology and energy sector. Brazil, China and India ranked cars as their top purchase, whilst France and the U. S. opted for technology. Australia tied automotive, technology and energy products and consumers in the U. K. placed technology and energy at the top of their list.

In terms of buying green products there was also a split between the developed and developing countries. Whilst cost was a challenge for those buying into eco-friendly products in developed countries, developing nations found that labeling and selection was much more important.

Globally known companies didn’t make it into the top five greenest brands in the U. S to which Meyer said: “I find it an interesting split.” The big brands that ranked from five to ten included Walt Disney Co., S. C. Johnson, Dove and Apple. Starbucks and Microsoft were tied at number 10.

Meyer questioned whether they were “getting a halo from being a big brand.” He also pointed out that “big brands tend to get credit for a lot of things that aren’t necessarily in their sweet spot. The thing is, if you’ve got that perception, you’d better be able to live up to that and demonstrate you’re worthy of that credit.”

Although sectors such as auto, energy and technology were included within the survey, more corporate industries such as finance, investments and forestry are thriving in the current climate given the rise of the emerging markets in Brazil, Russia, India and China.

Businesses know that taking a green approach in the way they operate is vital what with endless work being done to tackle environmental issues. Global Forestry Investments is a prime example of zoning in on the timber and teak industry and guaranteeing not only returns, but also making sure that the land invested in will remain forest land for its foreseeable future.

Global Forestry Investments is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Sustainable Finance: What’s your money doing behind your back?

Do you know what your bank does with the savings you entrust to it? Have you ever even wondered?

Recent research shows that 30% of bank customers admit having no idea what their bank is doing with their money. Amazingly, one in three customers believe their bank would simply add occasional interest to their savings or just lock the money away in a vault. Only four in 10 of us are aware that our money may be lent out to a range of companies and organisations, and just 45 per cent of us recognise it may be used to fund banks’ investments elsewhere.

How banks put your money to work

Money does not stay still, it is passed around the global system, being lent and invested. This activity seems a far cry from handing over hard-earned cash at a local bank branch for safe-keeping.  But the fact is that, once out of your hands, your money enters a system which is far from transparent. High Street banks’ lending and investment decisions could see your savings helping to fund businesses and organisations you do not approve of – for example, tobacco firms, arms manufacturers, undemocratic regimes, businesses with appalling records on pollution. The list goes on…

Of course, these same banks also support ethical businesses, and individuals – the problem is that in today’s interconnected global financial marketplace you cannot be sure that your savings are not doing harm.

You won’t be surprised that there aren’t a lot of ‘ethical banks’ around. Some simply screen out negative impact businesses and organisations from their lending and investments, while at Triodos we only invest in positive impact businesses and organisations.

Of course it would be naïve to expect the big banks to adopt this level of transparency any time soon;, but surely any step towards better transparency on lending and investment decisions, using your money, would be a step towards empowering savers.

Consumer choice

Increasingly, British consumers want to know how the products they buy are sourced and produced, from fishing to clothing to coffee.  If as a consumer you take an interest in, for example, how the food you eat reaches your plate, and make purchase decisions based on this, why not also challenge and understand how the money system works?

Ask your bank how they are using your savings, and ask them whether they lend to or invest in areas you may disagree with, be it arms, polluting companies, tobacco firms, or undemocratic regimes. Show that you are interested, show that you need them to be accountable to you, their savers, on ethical issues, in just the same way as many other big companies now are to their customers.

And if they can’t or won’t answer, or you don’t like what you hear, why not make your voice heard and move your savings to an ethical bank that can, and will.

Huw Davies is Head of Personal Banking at ethical and sustainable bank Triodos

You can see all the places where Triodos puts savers money at
http://www.triodos.co.uk/en/about-triodos/what-we-do/who-we-lend-to/

Triodos Bank is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

If Kate and William are suffering from ‘post-nuptial depression’ (PND) – a recognised condition would you believe?! – they can take comfort from the fact that there are many fabulous lightweight shopper bags, emblazoned with their  happy faces, now decorating our streets.

While most plastic bags are used on average for 20 minutes, we hope that Kate takes the lead in using one of her  handy, reusable shopper bags (we saw ones made from 100% woven or non-woven polypropelene) on her next trip for a mooch around the shops to give her a constant reminder of her happy day.

We know William and Kate are into recycling as Kate wears Diana’s engagement ring, so we look forward to  seeing them embrace reusable bags and consign the plastic bag to the bin of eternity.

For more information on ordering reusable shopping bags, contact leanne@smartabags.co.uk or visit  www.smartbags.co.uk.

Smart Bags is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Two domain names for sale to a good organisation:

www.green-edge.org
www.sustainabilityleaders.co.uk

I’ve bought these two domain names for clients that now don’t need them. These could be great domain names for a green organisation (I will only sell them to ethical organisations). Please contact me to discuss a small fee.

Mark Epton
Brand Design Consultant
Advocate

mark@advocatedesign.co.uk
www.advocatedesign.co.uk

Advocate is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

When you buy a freezer with an ‘A’ energy label, you expect it to be just that and perform accordingly.  So finding out that another company had been prosecuted for misleading energy labelling, didn’t fill me with joy. It did, however, give me some reassurance that the checking up of energy performance claims is being taken seriously. This is especially true when the company in question, Icetech, who incorrectly labelled their Norfrost Freezer (C4AEW) an ‘A’ when rigorous tests by the National Measurements Office (NMO) found it to rate as a ‘F’, is still claiming on it’s website that their ‘range has been developed to be the most energy efficient freezers in the World’.  And that the Energy Saving Trust has designated a selection of their appliances as “Energy Saving Partners”.  Something I could find no reference to on the EST website. Under the same investigation by the NMO in 2010, an Ice-king chest freezer, manufactured in China, but sold in the UK by John Gilman and Sons, was mislabelled as A+ (B on the web), but performed as an ‘E’ or ‘F’ in tests.  See sust-it’s press release.

So who cares if these products are mislabelled, if we’re getting a bargain?  Well, not only are these appliances creating more CO2, their lifecycle running costs could end up costing the consumer up to £200 more to run.  Both the models mislabelled were sold at the lower end of the market, making them attractive on price, especially if the shopper thinks they are comparing them with other ‘A” rated models.  This is a real issue and let’s hope that businesses take note, particularly as the government has announced plans to ensure that the Green Deal won’t rip off consumers.  And that Icetech have learnt from there £12,000 fine and £28,000 costs and have, as they state is the press release carried out a “… complete reassessment of production and testing procedures”.

Sust-it is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Presenting our small but very powerful Natural Bath Melts. These little beauties are our unique recipe of cocoa butter, almond and essential oils with a coconut dispersant which ensures the oils blend with the water so that you get the benefit of the oils and not the bath!

Just one tiny melt is the perfect size for a good deep bath.

Available in four fragrances, they are beautifully packaged in a clear carton which shows the product off to the max.

Retailing at £4.50 inc Vat, these melts are a great buy and to tempt you further we can offer 20% to Ethichal Junction readers just add ETHJUNC06 in the shopping basket.

The Celtic Herbal Company is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

We offer a warm welcome to Stonepits Farm, a smallholding set in the rolling Leicestershire Wolds close to Melton Mowbray and the beautiful Vale of Belvoir. Our luxury self contained bed and breakfast accommodation has its own entrance, dining room and sitting area, so you may come and go as you please. We are central for exploring this very picturesque part of hidden England, with its many excellent visitor attractions for both children and adults. Organic and local food is used whenever possible, including home produced sausages, bacon, eggs and beef from our own free range animals. Relax and unwind and enjoy our hospitality. Good home cooking, delicious cakes and biscuits. Evening meals are available by arrangement. http://www.organicholidays.co.uk/at/2973.htm

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

The Roundhouse is an authentic replica Celtic roundhouse and was built in 1999 to help people engage and connect with their Celtic ancestry, evidenced by Bodrifty Iron Age Settlement [600 BC to AD 43]. The Roundhouse was built near our farmhouse about 400m away from the settlement on our 100 acre organic farm. Sleep in a handmade four poster bed, with flowers woven into the willow headboard, and wake to the sound of birdsong. After breakfast in the Garden Quarters, a few steps away, get ready to stroll across the moors, scattered with ancient monuments, to one of the many stunning beaches nearby. We provide some provisions to get you started. Fresh vegetables, herbs and salad leaves grown in our polytunnel are available to buy in season. http://www.organicholidays.co.uk/at/2972.htm

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