Ethical Pulse RSS Feed
Win Red Robot and Camping gear in time for the summer worth £200. The competition ends 12th July.
Offers
Save £10.00 on any Red Robot Men’s Sweatshirtuse offer code MENSUMSW (terms apply)
Save 25% on any Red Robot Women’s Sweatshirtuse offer code WMSUMSW (terms apply)
Save £5.00 on any Red Robot Men’s T-shirtuse offer code MENSUMTS (terms apply)
Save £5.00 on any Red Robot Women’s T-shirtuse offer code WMSUMTS (terms apply)
The Honda Insight, a new family-sized hybrid that is already providing stiff competition for the ubiquitous Toyota Prius, has been named Green Car of the Year 2009 by the Environmental Transport Association (ETA).
The least green car was found to be the 8-litre Dodge SRT-10 sports car. A year’s driving in the Dodge emits the same amount of CO2 as is absorbed by 322 mature trees – the equivalent of an acre of oak forest. *
The ETA examined over 1300 models of car currently on sale in Britain and compared their power, emissions, fuel efficiency and even the amount of noise they produce to create a definitive guide to buying the greenest vehicle.
A fully searchable database of the results and full details on each car will be published at www.greencarawards.co.uk on Wednesday 17th June 2009.
Green Transport Week is (13th – 21st June 2009)
Best and worst by category (C02 g/km)
Greenest car overall: HONDA Insight 1.3 IMA ES (101g/km)
Worst(least green) car overall: Dodge SRT-10 (488g/km)
Large Family – best: BMW 3 Series 320d with particulate filter (144g/km)
Large Family – worst : BMW M3 (309g/km)
Supermini - best: TOYOTA Yaris 1.4 D-4-D 6-speed (109g/km)
Supermini - worst: RENAULT Clio Renault Sport 200 (195g/km)
Small Family – best: Honda Insight 1.3 IMA ES (101g/km)
Small Family – worst: VOLKSWAGEN Golf R32 4MOTION (255g/km)
City – best: TOYOTA iQ 1.0 VVT-i (99g/km)
City – worst: FORD Ka, Post 2006 1.6 Duratec Sportka (182g/km)
Sports – best: VAUXHALL Tigra 1.3CDTi 16v (124g/km)
Sports – worst: Dodge SRT-10 (488g/km)
MPV – best: S-Max 1.8 Duratorq TDCi (164g/km)
MPV – worst: MERCEDES R-Class R63 AMG (387g/km)
Small MPV - best: RENAULT Modus 1.5 dCi 86 Quickshift 5 (119g/km)
Small MPV - worst: MERCEDES Viano 3.5 (284g/km)
Executive – best: BMW 5 Series 520d saloon with particulate filter (136g/km)Executive – worst: CADILLAC CTS-V (350g/km)
Off road - best: SUBARU Outback AWD (153g/km)
Off road - worst: CADILLAC Escalade 6.2 V8 (383g/km)
Luxury – best: JAGUAR XJ 2.7L Diesel Saloon (209g/km)
Luxury – worst: Bentley Brooklands Coupé (465g/km)
Andrew Davis, director at the Environmental Transport Association,
said: “The discrepancy between the greenest and the least green cars
in Britain today is striking, but the market is changing and a combination
of consumer pressure alongside government leadership will result in
an increasing choice of environmentally-sound cars.”
“The big problem is not the Dodge SRT-10s and Lamborghinis because
there are not many of them on the road,” explains Andrew Davis, director
of the ETA. ”The concern is that people are continuing to buy cars
that are much too big for their real needs. “
The popularity of large 4×4s like the Porsche Cayenne, which is many
times more damaging to the environment than for example a BMW 320d,
winner in the Large Family Car category, is already on the decrease;
a new system of emissions-based road tax means owners of gas guzzlers
pay over £400 per year.
“With the increasing costs of motoring and the threat to the environment
there has never been a more important time to choose greener cars.”
Why do diesels do well in this survey?
Half an hour of sniffing diesel fumes in a busy city street is enough
to induce a “stress response” in the brain, according to scientists
who measured volunteers. The response continued to increase even after
they had stopped breathing the fumes. There is speculation that the
changes in the brain may trigger other body responses to diesel fumes,
such as oxygen deprivation in the heart. Previous studies in rats
have shown that minuscule soot particles can make their way directly
to the brain via nerves in the nose.
There is a popular belief that because of their lower average CO2
emissions, diesels are better for the planet. Unfortunately it appears
that it is people, particularly those in built-up areas that might
be paying the price.
However, the advent of diesel particulate filters (DPF) such as fitted
to some of the category winners heralds a dramatic improvement in
the environmental rating of diesels. DPFs remove all trace of soot
form the exhaust gases.
How many of these cars are eligible for the scrappage scheme?
Many of the most-polluting cars on British roads, and most of the
worst-performing vehicles in this guide, are signed up for the
government’s scrappage scheme, an initiative described as ‘green’
because it aims
to replace older vehicles with new, fuel-efficient models. In theory
it means someone who scraps a 1999 Volkswagen Lupo TDi 3L, (81g CO2/km)
and buys a 2009 Bentley Arnage (465g CO2/km) would receive a £1,000
taxpayer-funded payment. The Bentley produces over 5 times as much
CO2 as the smaller car.
‘Ethical Nutriceuticals’
Fushi a leading ethical health and beauty brand introduces a pioneering nutriceutical range that targets five most
common health concerns; skin repair, energy, stress,detox and anti-aging.
Termed as the ‘honest’ supplement, Fushi’s nutriceuticals come completely free from added fillers, bulking agents, and nasties that many mainstream brands often tend to use. They are vegetarian friendly and professionally formulated with 100 % pure ingredients in bio available form for the best absorption.
An ethically accredited brand and environmentally conscious, Fushi embarks on a ‘tree for eternity’ project ensuring a portion of the profits goes towards planting of more trees in the UK and abroad. This is to inspire customers to ‘consume with a conscience’.
Youth Totale Superfood
This potent certified organic formulation contains 10 Superfoods perfect to add to your favourite juice or smoothie. The unique blend including Spirulina, Kelp and Bilberry and is great to include in your anti-ageing regime, to maintain good health and as a potent anti-ageing food supplement.
RRP: £9.95 10 x 10g sachets
Beauty Totale
A unique complex with 24 essential nutrients, Beauty Totale has been designed to penetrate cells at a deep level to promote a radiant complexion, healthy hair and nails. It contains the key essential nutrients Alpha-lipoic acid, biotin and silica, to ensure glowing results within weeks.
RRP: £14.95 60 caps
Calmaid
As the name suggests Calmaid is a calming formula to promote a zen like feeling to the body. The essential nutrients L-tryptophan, inositol and magnesium help to promote mental calm and nourish the nervous system particularly in times of stress. It also contains individual amino acids that help regulate mood and the sleep wake cycle. Perfect for stressful lifestyles no doubt.
RRP 9.95 60 caps
Energiplex
A pioneering formula for energy, Energiplex offers a caffeine free alternative to boost energy levels and create a zestful feeling in the body. Combining Alpha-lipoic acid, L-carnitine and B group vitamins the formula ensures optimum energy levels and is particularly formulated for people with busy and active lifestyles.
RRP: £9.95 60 caps
Detoxipure
This advanced natural formula has been designed to help cleanse toxins and pollutants that come from modern living. Rhubarb root, L-glutamine and L-methionine combined with other essential nutrients work to repair and regenerate the liver and digestive function and is the perfect supplement to combine with a detox programme.
RRP: £14.95 60 caps
Available at www.fushi.co.uk and selected healthfood
stores and pharmacies nationwide.
The manufacturers of some of the most-polluting cars on British roads, including Bentley, Porsche and Rolls Royce, have today signed up for the government’s scrappage scheme, an initiative described as ‘green’ because it aims to replace older vehicles with new, fuel-efficient models.
In theory it means that someone who scraps a 1999 Volkswagen Lupo TDi 3L, (81g CO2/km) and buys a 2009 Bentley Arnage 465g CO2/km)
would receive a £1,000 taxpayer-funded payment. The Bentley produces over 5 times as much CO2 as the smaller car.
Director at the Environmental Transport Association (ETA), Andrew Davis, said: “Buying a green Bentley does not make this scrappage scheme environmentally-friendly”
A British supermarket chain is beating traffic congestion and reducing its carbon footprint by using a non-motorised, hand-drawn truck for deliveries of less than a mile.
Hand carts are thought to have been used first in Sumeria over 5,000 years ago, but Waitrose is using an up-to-date version to make deliveries that would normally be undertaken by a diesel-engined lorry.
Director at the Environmental Transport Association, an organisation that campaigns for sustainable transport, Andrew Davis said: “In this case, ancient technology is a perfect solution to today’s problems of congested streets and polluted air.”
“If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe then man would only have four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man.” Albert Einstein
Billions of the UK’s bees are dying from unknown causes and one in
three of honey bee colonies in the UK were lost last winter alone.
Honey bees are vitally important for everyone. In all, they are
responsible for pollinating one-third of all the foods we eat!
Join the Save Our Bees Campaign > > >
Coordinated by the British Science Association, in collaboration with the British Beekeepers’ Association, supported by the
Bumblebee Conservation Trust and sponsored by Rowse Honey. NSEW is funded by the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills.
A combination of cold weather and cost cutting by as many as 3 million motorists is likely to result in a record number of stranded drivers on Monday 5th January 2009, according to the Environmental Transport Association (ETA), a not-for-profit breakdown company.
December’s cold weather is forecast to continue through the New Year period and this will exacerbate the problem of flat batteries – traditionally the main cause of car breakdowns on the first day back at work after Christmas because vehicles have been left unused.
It is feared that the number of stranded motorists this year may be higher because people are trying to save money by cutting back on what they regard as non-essential services – the equivalent of 3 million drivers are prepared to go without breakdown cover in order to reduce their motoring costs, according to a poll of British motorists conducted by the ETA earlier this month.
Director of the ETA, Andrew Davis said: “It’s not just people who can feel flat following the New Year festivities; the sub-zero temperatures predicted for early January mean many car batteries will fail on that first Monday back to work.”
The ETA will employ a fleet of 8,500 recovery vehicles to rescue motorists this January. It offers the following tips to avoid a breakdown:
1. Most breakdowns at this time of the year are due to flat batteries rather than mechanical failure – try and avoid leaving your car unused for days at a time during the current cold snap.
2. If you already have breakdown cover, make sure it covers you at home as there is a good chance that is where a car battery will fail
3. Doing without breakdown cover can be false economy – prices range from £30 a year.
Visit www.eta.co.uk
Don’t let a breakdown ruin Christmas – get 10% off green breakdown cover
The festive period is the time when a car is most likely to breakdown, so make sure you’ve got a breakdown policy you can trust. ETA’s award winning, green breakdown cover starts from as little as £30, and Ethical junction members get a further 10% discount. Don’t let a breakdown spoil your festive plans.
Click here to claim your discount.
The The Environmental Transport Association (ETA) was established in 1990 as an ethical motoring organisation and sustainable travel lobby group. The ETA is now Britain’s largest charity focused on transport and the environment.
Our aim is to raise awareness of the impact of excessive car use and help individuals and organisations to make positive changes in their travel habits.
We are a not-for-profit organisation – our green transport and environmental projects are funded by the revenue from the services we provide and donations from individuals.
A new type of road that generates electricity as traffic drives over it could mean British motorists will one day become a source of cheap power, according to green breakdown provider, the Environmental Transport Association (ETA).
The Israeli engineers behind the project claim that a 1km stretch of the power-generating asphalt will generate 400 kilowatts – enough power to run 8 small cars.
If the system was installed on every stretch of British motorway, it would generate enough energy to run 34,500 small cars.
Director at the ETA, Andrew Davis said: “The government predicts a massive shift to electric cars, and it may be that roads themselves will provide some of the new fuel – certain vehicles could be powered entirely by the roads on which they drive.”
“If these electric roads can be put in place without harm to the environment they would be a silver lining to the problem of heavy traffic.”
The new ‘electric road’ will be tested next month when engineers in Israel drive over a road embedded with tiny crystals that produce energy when ’squeezed’ by passing vehicles.
Red Robot launch first urban street wear collection and it’s 100% organic!
London, UK. Designers Red Robot launch their first collection of urban fashion this month. The new collection includes edgy t-shirts and hoodies influenced by current events, cult films and cool music to give them a really distinctive look. The 100% organic range has a mainstream urban street feel with prices ranging from £17.99 for a T-shirt and £39.99 for a hoodie.
The limited edition range of t-shirts feature uber- cool designs based on current news trends such as the fuel crisis. The music and movie collection draws influences from cult films such as Donnie Darko and the Manchester music scene’s Joy Division and the Happy Mondays.
For a great wardrobe staple, check out the Red Robot hoodie in grey marl. This zip-through hoodie is made out of 100% organic cotton with Robot appliqué on sleeve and Red Robot logotype embroidered on the hood. It’s a fashion front runner and a season must.
The team has designed the range with the belief that you don’t have to compromise performance and style to do your bit for the planet. All clothing sold by Red Robot is assessed against a set of ethical criteria covering areas such as environmental impact and working conditions.
Director, Gavin Wynne says, “We aim to develop our brand with the most interesting and coolest designs around. Our first collection brings together our love of music, film and current affairs with fashion that cares. Red Robot is one of the first fashion labels internationally to develop a brand philosophy with sustainable development at its core.”
The collection is available online at www.redrobot.co.uk and at selected retailers.
