Here at ethicTrade we think our mums are special. Then again, who doesn’t? That’s why every year, we come up with a fantastic range of ethical and fair trade gift ideas that you can purchase right from ethictrade.com.

We also think the people around the world who design and produce the lovely things we give our mums also deserve a break. That’s why we only buy from projects, cooperatives and companies who pay a fair price to their workers, don’t exploit them in any way, and provide clean and safe working conditions.

Just take a look at some of the moving stories behind the fair trade gifts ethicTrade sells.

Here are our Top 10 hot picks from 2012’s Mother’s Day Gift Range:

‘Carnaby Scarf’- A beautiful, muted stripe, eco friendly, bamboo scarf

‘Bamboozle Knee High Socks’ – Incredibly comfortable bamboo socks in a range of exciting colours

Citrus Scented Oil and Salts Gift Set -  A gorgeous bath gift set made with Fairtrade sugars

One of our bestsellers: ‘The World of Streetfood’ Recipe Book

Gifts for less than a tenner, like these great little Scented Candle Tins in a choice of four fragrances

Has your mum got a good sense of humour? Then she’ll love this funny ‘Diet Rules’ apron!

Or how about this classy square table platter – perfect for that beautifully presented dining table

We’ve got a huge range of high quality knitwear too, like this ‘Villarica’ Chullo Hat in a choice of designs

Or these matching gloves

And there are beautiful handmade knitted jumpers too, like this Chamonix Hoody

Mother’s Day in 2012 is on 18th March. Don’t be late!

Ethictrade LLP is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Fair trade retailer, Accessory Fair, is proud to announce that their new website has now been launched.

With a growing range of fair trade bags, hats, scarves, bracelets and necklaces – Accessory Fair aims to build an increasingly wide selection of bags and accessories that are not only fair trade, but also stylish and great value for money.

Visit us at http://www.accessoryfair.co.uk and see how we can help you provide those wonderful finishing touches to your outfit in an ethical way.

All the best – and happy fair trade shopping,

Colin.

Accessory Fair is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

At Gecco Interiors we have spent the last few years gathering all the fabulous, sustainable, chemical free products in our eco-friendly product range to help you to create wonderful design schemes for your own ‘green’ homes. We are often asked for information and ideas about how to create a safe, toxin free nursery or kids bedroom – after all the increase in asthma and eczema has its roots in off-gassing of new furnishings and children’s immune systems are much less developed than ours. We thought it was time to create a section on the website just for kids.

So how do you create an Eco-friendly, natural nursery? Here are the main things to think about:

Flooring – the main culprit in asthma and eczema is the dust mite, which lives in normal house dust. To keep this to a minimum choose a wooden, cork, rubber or vinyl flooring and then soften the look with rugs that can be washed regularly. Failing that, look for natural wool carpets in natural shades that have not been dyed, even though they will still have been treated with pesticide and often stain repellent.

Walls – there really is no excuse to use anything but natural paint these days as there are so manylovely shades to choose from. The natural paints are made using a mixure of plant oils and not petroleum. They have zero VOC emissions, are easy to apply and  smell fantastic! The best news is that the air will not be polluted by off-gassing for the first years of your baby’s life.

Furniture – look for wooden furniture that has been finished with natural oil or non VOC paints

Mattreses – there are many different natural and organic mattresses on the market today and the woollen fleece layer wrapped around them reduces the number of dust mites, whilst also regulating your baby’s body temperature (as recommended by FSID)

Bedding – look for bedding made of certified ‘organic cotton‘, in the UK the Soil Association has certified many gorgeous bedding ranges to fit all sizes of bed

Curtains & Blinds – don’t go and ruin the overall natural design by buying curtains made of fabric using chemical dyes and finishes, as they too will off-gas for some time. There is now a huge choice of organic and sustainable fabrics in vibrant or pastel shades that would compliment any kids room scheme.

For more inspiration, why not check out our new nursery and kids section, or call our in-house eco interior designer Angie Kraft on 01494 565459

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

With the sudden drop in temperature over the weekend, hope that most of winter might be behind us has been abandoned, and the fight to keep warm is back on.

Here at Boys&Girls, we thought we’d put together a brief guide to help you keep your kids warm this winter, the ethical way.

1- Layer up

Dressing your children with several layers instead of just a thick one is the key to keep them warm. Layers help trap warm air between each item, which acts as further insulation from the outside cold. Wearing layers will also help them regulate their body temperature better, by opening or taking off one layer when overheating, and putting it back when they’ve stopped running around. Tuck vests into trousers rather than pulling over the outside, and make sure that the layers are not too tight and don’t restrict movement so blood flow is not impeded.

2- Prefer natural fibres

Layering is even more effective if the layers are made of natural fibres, like cotton, silk or wool. Because natural fibres let the skin breathe better, if your kids work up a sweat, they won’t be cold later on.

It is even better if you go for organic clothes: with no harsh chemicals used in the production process, their skin won’t get irritated, which is especially important in the winter when they will be wearing more layers for several months.

3- Don’t forget their extremities

Remember that up to 40% of body heat is lost through the head, and that feet and toes usually get cold quicker than the rest of the body. Gloves, a hat and thicker socks are therefore indispensable in colder weather, and also allow you to add splashes of colours to outfits that tend to get a bit dark in winter.

At Boys&Girls, we createcool clothes for kidsthat are bright and cheerful, but also made of 100% organic and fairly traded cotton. With our range of colourful long-sleeved t-shirts, hoodies, leggings and sweatpants available on sale, you will be able to keep your kids warm with an on-trend, funky look that doesn’t cost the earth. And for extra coziness, all our Autumn/Winter hoodies and sweat pants are made in our SuperSoft fabric, a brushed sweat providing ultimate comfort.

Boys&Girls is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

We all know that vitamins and minerals are good for our body when we take them in our diet.  They are also outstanding for our skin when applied topically.  Many natural beauty products contain vitamins and so are a great source of nourishment for the skin.

Vitamin E is an antioxidant and plays a role in helping to reduce the signs of skin ageing, such as wrinkles.  Many natural beauty products contain Vitamin E for this very reason.  Vitamin E is highly recommended for healthy skin because it also helps to reduce damage caused by UV rays and the environment.  Without sufficient Vitamin E you may find your skin becomes dry and cracked, and more prone to damage.  Therefore it is important to ensure your skin receives a good amount, and using natural beauty products containing Vitamin E are an ideal way to do this.

Another key vitamin is Vitamin C, which is also an antioxidant and one of its key roles is to make collagen which helps to increase skin elasticity and strength.  Vitamin C promotes skin hydration and is also an antioxidant.  When it is applied topically through natural beauty products, Vitamin C is easily absorbed by the skin and can bring benefits to it quickly.  Another benefit of Vitamin C is that it can help the skin to recover from sun damage, so is especially recommended if you enjoy spending a lot of time in the sun.

Cleansers, toners and moisturisers are an essential part of a good skincare routine.  Because natural beauty products are designed to nourish your skin you will often see that pure natural extracts containing these key vitamins and minerals are included within them.  With natural beauty products you can rest assured that your skin is being well taken care of and nourished.

Lush Duck is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

The debate regarding the best fabric for upholstery goes on and there are many factors to consider. Here are a few useful facts that may help you decide between the two main options Wool or Polyester.

The facts behind Polyester

This man-made fabric has been around since 1950’s and is made from an derivative of oil, here are some key facts

*non-renewable

*made from oil

* non-degradable

* non-absorbent

* prone to diryting

* dulls and flattens over time

* less inherent stretch

* needs toxic FR treatments

* upholstery limitations

Wool on the other hand has been around for millions of years and has many hidden qualities that our ever growing customer base love, such as

* rapidly renewable

* Grown, not man-made

* Totally bio-degradable

* Low energy footprint & Low CO2 impact

* Inherently soil hiding

* Does not attract dust & dirt

* Stretches and recovers

* Breathable

* Insulating

* Inherantly fire retardant

* Low smoke toxicity

* Low flame spread

* Self Extinguishing

Did you also know that the average wool fleece produces up to 4kg of fibre which can in turn make up to 10metres of fabric – enough to cover a large sofa or 15 work chairs.

Did you know that there is now a British Campaign for wool backed by The Prince of Wales, M&S, Harvey Nichols and Paul Smith among others.  Last year Savile Row, London was turfed over and given over to a herd of sheep to launch the Campaign.

For us the decision is clear, polyester is made from oil, oil is a precious commodity and there is no need to waste what is left on seating when we have a perfectly good alternative that actually out performs polyester and will be around long after oil reserves run out.  So, do the right thing and choose wool.

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

A new environmental blogger has hit the web and his name is Steve Waller. Bringing a new twist on traditional eco blogs, GreenSteve positions himself somewhere between consumer advisor and newspaper as he brings a vast array of topics to your attention.

He’ll advise you on ways to use less energy, create less waste and contribute to an ever growing movement of like-minded people determined to bring about real change through coordinated action.

GreenSteve also doles out the advice to business and gives his own opinions on the role of governments both here in the UK and around the world in tackling climate change. He believes in a holistic approach to bringing about action and knows that it will take consumers, industry and politicians working together to acheive the right end goal.

Some of his best posts so far in his brief blogging career include advice on how to stay warm this winter without burning the cash, ways to become a waste conscious shopper and an investigative approach to supermarket sustainability.

To get the latest updates from his blog sent directly to your inbox, you can sign up to his newsletter or follow him on Twitter or Facebook.

There is plenty more to come from this ambitious young guy and he hopes that his blog can convince people to change their habits for the good of the environment.

GreenSteve is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

At Market Royale ‘www.marketroyale.co.uk’ we sell Environmentally Friendly Super-Soft Bamboo Towels, Bathrobes and Bathmats. We believe in making it easier for people to become more environmentally friendly, not by telling them, but by offering a competitive and better alternative where no compromise is required. We believe in sharing our learnings so everyone can benefit. Making people aware is the first step to making a change. We believe in supporting others who want to deliver a healthier planet and better working conditions, from the bank we use, to the people who make our products. Help Us Help You.

Market Royale is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

A family run boutique hotel with nine rooms in the historical centre of Luz St Sauveur. Our buffet breakfast is essentially organic [bread, cereal, jams, butter, hot drinks, milk, juice, yoghurt, fruit] or locally sourced [honey, cheese]. There is a restaurant on site – the managers use organic flour for crepes and galettes and offer organic tea, coffee and hot chocolate. Meat is from the local butcher, meaning the lamb and beef is entirely raised within the valley. All renovations have been undertaken with environmental considerations in mind, and all cleaning products are ecological. We encourage our clients to come by public transport and are happy to help facilitate this if needed – the buses are regular and reliable. http://www.organicholidays.co.uk/at/3062.htm

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

We offer accommodation in a small hotel built in an old neighbourhood in the beautiful town of Bansko. Breakfast includes 100% organic milk, cheese, jam house made with our own fruits, apples and pears grown in our own yard. For lunch and dinner we offer traditional meals made with meat and vegetables bought from local farms. The hotel is run by our family and we are known for our hospitality and smiles. We support our local producers and are members of EuroGites, ECEAT International, and the BAAT organisation. We are also part of the Green Lodge project. We are situated in the heart of the town on a quiet street with traditional architecture, ten minutes from the centre and fifteen minutes from the ski lift station. http://www.organicholidays.co.uk/at/3061.htm

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