Find out more about Auro here.

Auro
UK have been supplying natural paints for over twenty years, their
new labels and CO₂
neutral accreditation firmly puts them as leaders in true Natural
Paint distribution.

Auro
UK Natural Paints are pleased to announce the launch of their new
look label that incorporates Ethical
Consumer Magazine’s
new ‘Best Buy” logo.

Auro
321 emulsion paints were first listed as Best
Buy
in the 2006 paint edition and retains top Ethi-Score
in their review of paints. Auro products have also previously won
Ethical Consumer readers’ favourite DIY product award. We are
pleased to have recognition from Ethical Consumer Magazine who lead
the way in reviewing products and companies based on their ethical
and ecological ethos. This allows people to make clear decisions on
what products fits within their personal ethics and is often a
valuable eye opener. Ethical Consumer editor Rob Harrison said:

“By
identifying those companies such as Auro who consider ethics
throughout their entire operation, the Ethical Consumer Best Buy
Label gives shoppers the confidence that they are making the best
possible ethical and environmental choice. The label is the
definitive endorsement for people who want to put principles at the
top of their shopping list.”

Auro’s
new labels also easily points to their CO₂
neutral status in the manufacturing process of their paints. Not only
does the factory incorporate rain-harvested water for washing down
machinery, it also uses wind and solar technology to reduce energy
consumption at the factory in Braunschweig, Germany. Further CO₂
emissions gained through energy use, transport, business trips etc.
are offset annually through the Climate Neutral Group who finance
renewable energy, fresh water schemes and rainforest projects, not
monoculture tree planting in an effort to offset carbon – this is
not a responsible method of reducing companies carbon footprints.

Hand Up Media is the Edinburgh based ethical media, publishing and
events company that engages people to ethical lifestyle issues

Since
setting up three years ago, Hand Up Media has printed almost 3 million
publications about fair trade, ethical & sustainable lifestyle
issues, organise events such as The Edinburgh Ethical Christmas Fayre
which had over 20,000 visitors in 2008, The Fair Trade Experience, the
UK’s biggest weekend Fair Trade event and The Ethical Emporium on
London’s South Bank. We also provide PR, web and marketing services to
ethical businesses and organisations.

The latest and exciting Hand Up Media development is the launch of  www.ethical tv  the first global online TV website dedicated to films, stories, news and views about ethical lifestyle issues that affect people across the world.

ethical tv aims to encourage and inspire active participation and empowerment through this first dedicated ethical online TV website.

Channels include:

• Fair Trade
• Health
• Education
• Investment
• Environment
• Campaigns and News
• The Co-operative TV (first dedicated channel on ethical tv)

Why ethical tv

Tania Pramschufer, Co-Director of Hand Up Media says “We’re passionate about promoting sustainable and ethical lifestyle issues in positive, stylish & empowering ways to help individuals to make positive changes. ethical tv aims to provide individuals, organisations and businsess with a comprehensive one stops online library of films on ethical issues. More than ever, people are actively seeking information on ethical lifestyle issues. We will be constantly updating the site with new films, views, news and campaign updates to help keep viewers abreast of ethical issues”.

ethical.tv will be providing film and production services to ethical organisations and businesses and can also offer their own dedicated online TV channel on www.ethical.tv

Co-operative tv

‘The Co-operative is delighted to be the primary sponsor of Ethical TV. By bringing together experts on a range of ethical issues, Ethical TV provides a unique space to view films that will generate enthusiasm, engender debate and motivate people to take action and drive change’.

Michael Fairclough, Head of Community & Campaigns

Send your films and news

If your ethical business or organisation have films and news for ethical tv please get in touch with tania@ethical.tv

Send your films on DVD, good quality Quicktime MOV and MPEG files are best.

All films and news will be vetted before being uploaded, for more information see our content policy on www.ethical.tv

Children can learn more through practical fun than textbooks. The
launch of educational games kits to demonstrate renewable energy will
provide children with the start that could simultaneously address two
new government objectives. Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children,
Schools and Families, is determined to improve educational standards
and also wants parents to take a more practical involvement in the
schooling process.

Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for the Department of Energy and Climate Change, wants UK homes to concentrate on renewable energy to have virtually no carbon emissions by 2050. Ultimately passing the responsibility to our children we need to make sure their education includes practical experience of renewable energy to help meet this laudable objective.

Children need to see renewable energy devices in action and understand how efficient and essential these are for the future. Introducing them to alternative energy sources will fire their interest and commitment to both Ed’s policies.

The educational games website www.keen2learn.co.uk has just introduced a new range dedicated to renewable energy. Already selling a comprehensive range of educational games to schools and parents in support of the National Curriculum, the new energy resource games allow children to see wind, solar and fuel cell power in action.

Alistair Owens, managing director of keen2learn, explained, “These educational games kits give children first hand fun experience in seeing how a wind turbine or solar photovoltaic cell works. The kits are supplied with measuring equipment and worksheets to follow a variety of experiments”.

The renewable energy kits are not toys and need adult supervision making them ideal as a teaching resource in school, at home with parents or as a central theme through local councils or energy associations.  

Click here to visit the renewable energy page > > >

Ends

Keen 2 Learn Profile:

Research reveals that 75% of learning retention comes from practice compared to 30% retained from classroom teaching. Keen2learn is an Intel™ and Design Council award winning website established in 2006. Selling educational games, toys and board games developed by educationalist and ex-teachers to give a practical support to teaching.

The games meet the National Curriculum and bring fun into education. Keen2learn’ s by line is “Learning In Disguise.”

The games are played in class but also meet a growing demand to be played at home to support progress back in class. Covering all areas of the National Curriculum they provide a highly practical opportunity for parents and grandparents to give dynamic support to their children.

The products are sourced from over 50 suppliers and there is a growing demand from overseas.

For further information contact:

Alistair Owens
Managing Director Keen2learn
Tel :       01302 700962
Mob:       07716 515 808
Email:  alistair@keen2learn.co.uk
Web:    www.keen2learn.co.uk
Renewable Energy section:

A revolutionary new eco-friendly paint tray is to be stocked by Travis Perkins, one of the UK’s leading builders’ merchants.

The Ezee paint tray is fully recyclable, unlike conventional plastic or
metal trays, and has been created to make painting a pleasure not a
chore.

Manufactured from recycled waste paper, the tray and can be reused again and again, its special design is pleasing decorating professionals too. Research has confirmed that they can carry out their work faster and more efficiently, as the tray allows them to use less of the roller head to pick up an even covering of paint.

Cleaning the tray is easy too and requires no water. Excess paint can simply be wiped out and the tray left to dry for reuse.

Linda Doughty, trade marketing director, Travis Perkins, commented: “We are delighted to introduce the Ezee Paint Tray to our product range, not only because it’s an innovative alternative to the products traditionally used by decorating professionals, but because of its outstanding environmental credentials.”

Natalie Barnwell, managing director of Eco-Ezee Ltd, commented: “The Ezee Paint Tray is so much more efficient to use than the plastic or metal products currently available, and as it is made from recyclable paper pulp, the manufacturing process and product disposal has a far lesser effect on our natural resources and the environment, especially landfill. We are incredibly proud that this is a truly ‘green’ product and are pleased that Travis Perkins has taken the lead in promoting it to trade professionals.”

ENDS

For press enquiries about EcoEzee please contact: adam@crimsonpoint.co.uk
Website: www.ecoezee.com

More information on Travis Perkins from David Manning
Tel: +44 (0) 1604 683197 Fax: +44 (0) 1604 683164
E-mail: david.manning@travisperkins.co.uk

More press information from:
Ayleen Dunbar or Duncan Gallagher at Publicasity on Tel: 01442 261199 or Fax: 01442 236401 or e-mail travisperkins@publicasity.co.uk

Travis Perkins
Travis Perkins supplies more than 100,000 product lines to the trade, including general building materials, plumbing and heating products, landscaping materials, timber, kitchens and bathrooms, and tool and equipment hire, along with a wide range of services including its trade-dedicated website, Trademate, www.trademate.co.uk.

Travis Perkins continues to follow a successful growth strategy of acquisition and organic investment: its branch network has increased to 581, making the company one of the largest timber and builders’ merchants in the UK.

Travis Perkins plc
The Travis Perkins Group includes some of the leading companies in the builders’ merchanting and home improvement markets. Its brands include Travis Perkins, Keyline, City Plumbing Supplies, CCF, Benchmarx Kitchens and Joinery, Wickes and Tile Giant. The company has over 1,227 branches nationwide.

Bambienti unveil ‘Bamboo Chic by Bambienti’, a Shabby Chic range of interiors that is naturally sustainable.

The popularity of Shabby Chic style interiors, particularly furniture
and accessories continues unabated in 2009. However the problem for
many is that the original sources for this overtly neutral look, namely
antique shops and flea markets have grown aware of this trend and
increased their prices substantially. The result is that more and more
people have started to buy new furniture and accessories that replicate
the Shabby Chic look at cheaper prices but in many cases the source of
the wood used is unknown and can often be found to be unsustainable.

Bambienti have addressed this situation by unveiling a new range called ‘Bamboo Chic by Bambienti’. This white range is hand-made in small to medium sized workshops entirely out of Bamboo, a material that offers strength, style and natural sustainability.

There are five key reasons that make Bamboo a viable alternative to conventional timber.

(1) Bamboo requires no replanting after harvesting and is naturally sustainable because of a unique rhizome.

(2) Bamboo grows extremely quickly. Up to one metre a day in some instances.

(3) Bamboo provides natural resistance for a planet with increasing CO2 emissions. It releases more oxygen than the equivalent strands of trees, as much as 35% in some instances and is capable of removing up to 12 tons of carbon-dioxide from the air per hectare (10,000 m2).

(4) Bamboo can be grown comfortably in the top soil of degraded land. This is something that is not easy to do with conventional trees. Bamboo can therefore be used to counteract the soil degradation caused by illegal logging.

Describing the thinking behind Bambienti founder and director Charles Colbourne suggests that “by designing and making products using Bamboo we hope to support a necessary process that reduces our over reliance upon already limited conventional timber resources”.

Bamboo is appearing increasingly in peoples homes particularly in the form of mass produced products such as Bamboo flooring and kitchen and bathroom accessories. However the emphasis at Bambienti has continued to focus upon “hand made, low impact products, using low carbon processes that are rich in human creativity and ingenuity. We avoid mass manufactured products that rely upon carbon intensive processes and are produced in large factories where the artisan is liable to find themselves marginalised”.

In addition to selling online Bambienti are actively looking to establish new retail partnerships with independent retailers throughout the UK.

For more information and to view their Shabby Chic collection ‘Bamboo Chic by Bambienti’ please visit www.bambienti.com

Click here to enter a prize draw for a £169 Samson 6-in-1 Juicer from Energise Your Life > > >

The Samson Juicer was recently voted “Best Buy”
Masticating Juicer by Which? magazine. It now also comes with an upgraded augur and strengthened juicing screen.

Energise Your Life supply quality products that help you live a healthier life. Visit their website to find our more > > > 

Fou Furnishings’ Organic Cotton Boutis

Traditional Boutis is a unique, quilted fabric, usually cotton, which was worked on both sides by expert fingers embroidering carefully chosen symbolic motifs such as hearts, animals and flowers to carry a message of happiness, luck and prosperity; initially for clothing then for bedspreads and cushion covers. Boutis takes its name from the special needle which was originally used for the delicate embroidery work, in which a layer of filling is inserted between two layers of cotton sewn together. This decorative technique gives a ‘relief’ effect to Boutis pieces and adds substance, literally and metaphorically, as well as rich texture.

Heritage
The decorative art which is Boutis originated in Sicily in the Middle Ages and travelled to France, where it became a popular decorative art. The heritage of Boutis is now strongly anchored in the customs and fashion of the women of the Provence region. Boutis pieces were considered precious and not intended for every day use, but reserved for wedding trousseaus, births or baptisms and are now considered almost as Provencal artistic heirlooms.

Today
The artistic needlework of this traditional technique has been revived and is alive today through classes, exhibitions and books as well as through the result of refining and blending this historical craftsmanship with modern technology.

Fou Furnishings’ Boutis
Our Boutis are beautifully crafted timeless pieces, a richly textured bedspread with matching cushion covers, in a soft cream, edged with ribbon. Made with 100% organic cotton, from long staple Egyptian yarn, woven, dyed and finished in Italy, echoing its original roots and today certified by the UK Soil Association. The dye used to colour the fabric is of vegetable origin and all treatments used in the finishing process are biodegradable.

Our organic cotton Zafferano Boutis is the result of refining this technique that today blends historical craftsmanship with modern technology to create rich, substantial texture and contemporary design which could grace any room.

The bedspread measures a generous 260cm by 260cm and the cushion cover 40cm by 40cm.

Visit Fou Furnishings online > > >

Auro UK have been supplying natural paints for over twenty years, their new labels and CO2 neutral accreditation firmly puts them as leaders in true Natural Paint distribution.

Auro UK Natural Paints are pleased to announce the launch of their new look label that incorporates Ethical Consumer Magazine’s new ‘Best Buy” logo.

Auro 321 emulsion paints were first listed as Best Buy in the 2006 paint edition and retains top Ethi-Score in their review of paints. Auro products have also previously won Ethical Consumer readers’ favourite DIY product award.

We are pleased to have recognition from Ethical Consumer Magazine who
lead the way in reviewing products and companies based on their ethical
and ecological ethos. This allows people to make clear decisions on
what products fits within their personal ethics and is often a valuable
eye opener. Ethical Consumer editor Rob Harrison said:

“By identifying those companies such as Auro who consider ethics
throughout their entire operation, the Ethical Consumer Best Buy Label
gives shoppers the confidence that they are making the best possible
ethical and environmental choice. The label is the definitive
endorsement for people who want to put principles at the top of their
shopping list.”

Auro’s new labels also easily points to their CO2 neutral status in the
manufacturing process of their paints. Not only does the factory
incorporate rain-harvested water for washing down machinery, it also
uses wind and solar technology to reduce energy consumption at the
factory in Braunschweig, Germany. Further CO2 emissions gained through energy use, transport, business trips etc. are offset
annually through the Climate Neutral Group who finance renewable energy
and forestry projects. The amount of carbon offset by Auro is equivalent to the growth of over 13000 trees over a year.

Auro Distribution in the UK is done through the Greenshop Group from
their new Ecobuilding which uses the latest light weight timber frame,
solar thermal store and green roofs, designed by the award winning
eco-architects Architype. The business is, of course, run and managed
as sustainably as possible – more info can be viewed at
www.greenshopgroup.co.uk

In this day and age many companies are jumping on to the Green
bandwagon and you can’t move for new Eco products. We believe a line
should be drawn between Eco and Natural products. Many new ‘eco paint’s
for example use a minimal VOC acrylic (petro chemical) binder, and are
called eco because they have less smell to conform to EU regulations,
which we all have to do. This does not, in our opinion, make them an
ecological product especially if you define ecology as incorporating
sustainability. We believe producing sustainable products based on
natural, grown and ethically mined material is key in creating true
ecological products and it is this that makes Auro stand out from the
crowd. Auro paints are in fact 100% biodegradable and can be composted
together household waste.

Our new label and re-branding points some of these differences out and
also positions Auro within the growing designer paint market.  We now
offer three times the amount of colours than we did last year and
continue, as we have done for the last twenty years, to promote
sustainable, great quality paints and wood finishes and meet the cry
from demanding and environmentally conscious customers. Auro publish
and list all their ingredients for all their products and have a full
carbon report available on their website – www.auro.co.uk

Free Personal Coaching for a Healthy New Year

Fed up of New Year’s resolutions that fail before February? For 2009, why not choose a tasty and healthy new way to eat – with a little help from some friends?

Get personalised support, recipes, nutrition guidance and much more – all free, with The Vegan Pledge. The Bronze Vegan Pledge is to eat only vegan food for one week; Silver, for two weeks; and Gold, for one month.

A well-planned plant-based diet can support a healthy lifestyle at
every stage of life. Eating more fruit, vegetables, nuts and whole
grains can help to prevent heart disease.

A satisfied Gold Pledger said, “I know that taking the Pledge made me
more committed … my reasons for this choice are compassionate living,
environmental benefits, and good health! There was lots of information
provided … I am very thankful for all the help.”

Nigel Winter, Vegan Society CEO said today, “Clear your mind of
preconceptions, and think of delicious food that is kind to your heart
and to your waistline. Why not make The Vegan Pledge your New Year
Resolution, and ask for your personal vegan coach today? Explore this
tasty, guilt-free cuisine for yourself – you may never look back!”

Sign up by email or post for your free Vegan Pledge Pack, full of tips,
product suggestions and answers to common questions. We will then put
you in touch with your own mentor.

The Vegan Society Pledge is part of the ‘Vegan Catering for All’
project. Good vegan food is tasty, healthy, ethical and can cut your
carbon footprint. Free copies of the full-colour ‘Vegan Catering for
All’ booklet are also available from The Vegan Society.

Contact: Amanda Baker: media@vegansociety.com – 07847 664 793 – 0121 523 1737

Notes for Editors:

1. To start your Vegan Pledge, call 0121 523 1735/6 or 0845 458 8244
during office hours, or email info@vegansociety – visit
http://www.vegansociety.com/ at any time for more information.
2. Nutrition advice from The Vegan Society is based upon scientific
research, summarised in our book, ‘Plant Based Nutrition and Health’ by
Stephen Walsh PhD (ISBN 978-0-907337-26-3) and explained for parents in
‘Feeding your Vegan Infant with Confidence’ by registered dietician
Sandra Hood (ISBN 978-0-907337-29-4).
3. Founded in 1944, The Vegan Society promotes vegan lifestyles – which
exclude, as far as is possible and practical, all forms of exploitation
of animals for food, clothing or any other purpose. Registered Charity
No. 279228, Company Registration No. 1468880, VAT Registration No. 448
5973 95

Ideas For Greener Living

UK AWARE is a social enterprise events organiser staging the UK’s largest Greener Living Expo of this generation.

UK AWARE will save you money, help you make positive lifestyle changes and inspire you. Our show presents options in a simple and understandable way. 

Low-carbon living will save you money and you’ll feel good about doing the right thing. UK AWARE illustrates how modern life and low-carbon living can work together, without a single mention of yoghurt weaving techniques. 

Come and talk face to face with people who know the answers to your questions and can give you simple solutions.  Our exhibitors have some really exciting things to show you and tell you about and our speakers are some of the best in the world and we promise they will talk in a language we can all understand.

Feel free to drop us an e-mail or give us a call. We’re always interested in what you have to say.

Danny, Jodie and the UK AWARE team.