Category: Eco and ethical

1. Eco tips to keep warm this Christmas

   Posted on 2:12pm Tuesday 26th Nov 2013

   It is the season to turn on the heating. And if you are lucky enough for the boiler to start first time round (without calling the plumber), you might start to worry about energy bills.

   Here are a few tips to avoid frostbites in the house:

   • Let's start with the obvious: wear a jumper. But if you are already wearing half your wardrobe, you might need a bit more help.

   • Foil the cold: it may sound a little “Starship Enterprise” but putting tin foil behind the radiators can make your heating more efficient as it reflects heat back into the room, rather than allowing it to escape through the walls.

   • Use heavy curtains to avoid the heat escaping from your windows: really efficient!

   • Are you working from home? You might want to read this column from Guardian Money.

   • Another great tip if you need only one room heated: the tea light heater. An ingenius system using tea candles and flower pots to heat up the room.

   And if you feel like enjoying fresh (=cold) air from your garden, we love those outdoor lanterns made out of recycled tin cans.

   

   

2. The Girl Declaration

   Posted on 9:59am Thursday 24th Oct 2013

   READ IT. SUPPORT IT. MAKE IT FAMOUS.

   Girls were left out of the original Millennium Development Goals. The Girl Declaration has been written to make sure that doesn't happen again.

   The declaration – bringing together the thinking of 508 girls living in poverty accross the globe with the help of experts from 26 international organisations – aims to put the needs of adolescent girls squarely on the development agenda for the post-2015 goals, which will succeed the Millennium Development Goals.

   Believed to be the first document of its kind, the declaration lists seven guiding principles and five goals designed to provide decision-makers and global leaders with information to guide action and investment in improving the lives of adolescent girls. The girls' own language is used in much of the document. 

   Pakistani girl activist Malala Yousafzai, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Queen Rania of Jordan, Barbara Bush, United Nations Foundation CEO Kathy Calvin, Care CEO Helen Gayle, Microsoft and the Intel Foundation have all signed the Declaration.

   So read the Girl Declaration and add your support on the "Girl Effect" website.

    

    

   Really Eco Baby supports the "Girl Effect" by stocking Askeyprint Sew & Tell dolls:  10% of every sale goes towards the Girl revolution, where girls all over the globe are given the support they deserve to realise their unique worth.

   

    

3. We love Fair Trade

   Posted on 10:28am Thursday 12th Sep 2013

   Our local town just celebrated its Fair Trade status renewal and we joined in the party!

   We are choosing all our products very carefully for their eco and ethical credentials and we are pleased to say that when it was time to bring our Fairly Traded products out, not many things were left behind (that would be our recycled home products).

    So here is a list of our Fairly Traded products:

   • GRASS ROUTES SOAP: palm oil free.

   • SUMA HANDMADE SOAPS: "Green Palm" certified palm oil. GreenPalm is a certificate trading programme which is designed to tackle the environmental and social problems created by the production of palm oil.

   • GREEN FIBRES: will not source products from companies that use or condone compromised working conditions or which contravene human rights in any way shape or form.

   • AKAMUTI: believe in trading ethically & responsibly.  Here are the sustainably sourced ingredients they use in their products: Organic Forest Beeswax & Honey, Wildcrafted Shea Butter, Virgin Red Palm Oil, Organic Wildcrafted Coconut Oil, Cold-pressed Tropical Oils.

   • EVEREARTH: is ICTI certified, which guarantees no prison labour, no child labour and no forced labour along with the provision of social insurance, fair pay and employee education.

   • ASKEYPRINT: support "Girl Effect where girls all over the globe are given the support they deserve to realise their unique worth.

   • KENANA’S KNITTERS: are a self-supporting knitting co-operative and pay themselves a fair wage. In addition their sales fund a range of welfare projects in Njoro, Kenya.

   • AVA & LUC: use an ethical manufacturer in India who pay their staff a fair wage, do not demand ridiculously long hours, and do not use child labour.

   • GOSSYPIUM: All cotton that they use comes from cotton farms certified by the worldwide Fairtrade Standard Setting and Certification Organisation.

   • LITTLE GREEN RADICALS: are proud to be pioneers in the Fairtrade field and the Fairtrade certified cotton they use in all their products is really important to them.

   • SIESTA: has been a member of BAFTS (the British Association for Fair Trade Shops) for over 10 years and are also a BAFTS recognised fair trade importer.

   • FLOWER KITS are Fair Trade. Nothing is wasted and the tissue is made by a project in Nepal which supports a school for Tibetan refugee children.

    

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4. Global Cool Feature

   Posted on 3:15pm Wednesday 10th Apr 2013

   Because looking as good as a supermodel doesn’t have to cost the Earth…

   Global Cool is an environmentally conscious charity which publishes an online lifestyle magazine. 

   Really Eco Baby is very proud to feature in their Weekend Treats section.

   This is a special article about the Grass Routes soaps we stock and how wonderful they are:

    

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   "We think real beauty is about what’s inside. But we also know that sometimes looking your best can give you just the boost you need to shine. So each week we’re bringing you our top pick of eco-beauty products. This week it’s The Really Eco Baby Shop and you can get a whopping 15% off when you sign up for Choose Green discounts. Enjoy…

   

   We can’t get enough of Grass Routes soaps from Really Eco Baby and we thought we should share them with you…

   Handmade with herbs grown locally (Herts), all the ingredients, with the exception of coconut oil are organic. No palm oil has been used and all packaging is made from 100% recycled and biodegradable materials.

   Because there are no nasties, they are soft for the skin and can be used everyday leaving your skin soft and clean. They’re also gentle enough to use on babies’ delicate skin too.

   Best of all, you can choose some really original scents:

   • Lavender & Camomile: soothing, relaxing and ideal for delicate and very young skins.
   • Calendula & Turmeric: a sensuous and beautiful soap for the face and body.
   • Tea tree & Nettle: an antiseptic bar great for nicks, scratches, blemishes and clumsy people.
   • Hemp wonder bar: feed your skin with hemp, rich in essential fatty acids and Omega fats. Very pure with the gentlest of ingredients.
   • Oat & honey: Creamy lather with a fresh citrus scent, ideal for smoothing out rough, dry skin.
   • Orange spice: warm, spicy and smells like Christmas; a great exfoliating bar for the body.

   So grab yours now and get lathering!! Just make sure you don’t use too  much…"

   Read the full article and plenty more here