What she did really want over the Christmas holidays, was entertainment. Getting outside, drawing, making and baking things. Thanks to the crappy weather we spent quite a bit of time inside, so finding things to do to entertain her was quite a challenge. Luckily there are websites like http://www.lovelytrash.com/ to go to for inspiration. Lovelytrash takes recycling to a new level with creative ideas for making great toys, decorations, furniture and all sorts using the contents of your recycling bin.

Wood can be considered a fairly green construction material. However, there can also be significant environmental and social impacts associated with logging. With the help of Greenpeace’s ‘Good Wood’ guide it is easier to see the wood for the trees so to speak. Whilst it advocates using wood sourced from certified schemes such as the Forestry Stewardship Council, there is a load more advice in relation to which wood is good, the five best and worst imported timbers in Australia and questions to ask before buying timber products. An essential read for any eco-conscious renovator.

The Good Wood guide has implemented a green, amber and red coding scheme. According to the Good Wood guide, the best timber to buy is:

Green-Good Wood

• From FSC-certified forests

• Verified Pacific ecotimber and community forest operations

• Verified recycled, reused and urban salvage

Amber-Second choice

Includes sources that are in transition to Good Wood or from non-controversial or neutral source. Question the supplier, if they can prove the wood comes from one of the following sources it is OK to buy. Amber wood status is:

• Verified from a forest or plantation in transition to FSC certification (e.g via stepwise schemes such as Tropical Forest Trust (TFT) or SmartStep)

• Certified by standards other than FSC. CSA standards are okay but MTCC, PEFC, AFS and ISO are not.

• Verified legal by the credible third-party Smart Wood VLC (verification of legal compliance).

• Verified community small-scale sawn timber or Community Timber

• Plantation wood (not preservative treated) verified as not coming from an area where the forest was cleared to make the plantation after 1994, including rubberwood, eucalyps, cypresses and acacia

• Non-verified recycled, reused and urban salvage

• Bamboo, coconut wood and recovered orchard trees like mango wood.

Red-Bad Wood

Timber species to be avoided.

Generally timber from Papua New Guinea or Indonesia is not Good Wood as it is logged destructively and/or illegally. 70% of Indonesian timber and up to 90% of PNG timber is illegally logged. Timber products imported from China are likely to be made from these timbers as well.

It’s a jungle out there in terms of working out what you should and shouldn’t avoid. There is a lot more advice and frequently asked questions available on Greenpeace’s Goodwood website.

We’ve been putting our heads together to come up with ideas on how to have an eco-friendly halloween and to finish off October having bought nothing new. Here’s the summary.

• Forget plastic lanterns, go for the real deal and carve up a pumpkin lantern or if you can find a big enough one use a more traditional swede or turnip. Use the pumpkin to make pumpkin pie or pumpkin soup and the lamp can go in the compost bin afterwards.
• For costumes rent them or get creative with stitching or scissoring. Use an old sheet or reassign some old clothes.
• The parents will love you for it but the kids might not – giving fruit as the treat instead of chocolate and sweets. This will avoid wrappers and waste. Or make some ghoulish cup cakes, or toffee apples to hand out when the hoards come trick or treating.
• Put some candles on the porch or verandah instead of leaving the outside lights on.
• Give the kids recyclable bags to carry their haul.

Great halloween games for the kids:

As well as the typical party games, limbo, pass the parcel, hula hoop, musical statues etc try these.

Ghastly lucky dip. Put potato peel or something similar in a bucket along with some items/prizes and get the kids to delve their hands into it to find them.

Apple bobbing. A bowl full of water with apples bobbing around in them. Kids have to try and take bites out of the apples without using their hands. Or apples hanging on a string, again you have to try and eat the apples which are dangled in front of you without using your hands.

]]> http://greenbeings.com.au/greenroom/index.php/2010/10/15/eco-friendly-halloween/feed/ 0 http://greenbeings.com.au/greenroom/index.php/2010/07/15/want-free-time-and-money-this-october-buy-nothing-new/ http://greenbeings.com.au/greenroom/index.php/2010/07/15/want-free-time-and-money-this-october-buy-nothing-new/#comments Thu, 15 Jul 2010 01:00:48 +0000 admin http://greenbeings.com.au/greenroom/?p=641 Old is the New New this October, with Salvos Stores’ first ever Buy Nothing New Month. Get on board for more money in your pockets, time on your hands and a lighter carbon footprint. Instead of a short‐term, throwaway attitude to ‘stuff’, Salvos Stores Buy Nothing New Month extends the life cycle of goods, maximises the embedded cost and resources in the stuff we buy and gives an introduction to the re‐cycled, free‐ cycled, upcycled , secondhand, ‘swishing’ and sustainable alternatives that are better for you, your wallet and the planet]]> Old is the New New this October, with Salvos Stores’ first ever Buy Nothing New Month. Get on board for more money in your pockets, time on your hands and a lighter carbon footprint.

Instead of a short‐term, throwaway attitude to ‘stuff’, Salvos Stores Buy Nothing New Month extends the life cycle of goods, maximises the embedded cost and resources in the stuff we buy and gives an introduction to the re‐cycled, free‐ cycled, upcycled , secondhand, ‘swishing’ and sustainable alternatives that are better for you, your wallet and the planet.

Salvos Stores Sustainability Manager, Donald Munro says, “Buy Nothing New is about seeing the value in existing stuff and reflects a growing movement of people switching off from shopping and tuning into life.”

But Buying Nothing New doesn’t mean going without. Make a Buy Nothing New pledge and you can beg, buy, barter and swap for whatever you need, as long as it is pre‐loved, but with the exceptions of necessities (including food, drink, medications and hygiene products) you can’t buy anything new.

Salvos Stores Buy Nothing New Month also shows going green doesn’t have to be expensive, but that by adapting our attitudes and approach, can be a money saving path to socially responsible consumption.

According to Affluenza author and Buy Nothing New Month supporter Clive Hamilton, “Consumption today often involves buying things we don’t need, with money we don’t have, to impress people we don’t like! Buy Nothing New Month is about spending our time and money more thoughtfully.”

In October, selected Salvos Stores featuring plasma screens sponsored by Radio Rentals/Rentlo will show the viral phenomenon ‘The Story of Stuff’, an animation on the lifecycle and impact of the goods we buy.

Shane Wakelin, Clive Hamilton (Affluenza, Requiem for A Species) Sarah Wilson (Sunday Life columnist & LifeStyle YOU presenter), Chrissie Swan, Gorgi Coghlan (The Circle), James Tobin (Cleo Batchelor of the Year, Ch 7 Sunrise), Monique Wright(Ch7 Sunrise), Damian Walshe Howling and Caroline Craig (Underbelly) are on board. Are you?

This October, think about where stuff comes from, where it’s going, its embedded costs and what are the alternatives. Get into Salvos Stores, markets, swap parties and online second‐hand selling sites to experience the joys of a life less wasteful. Plus there’s a prize for the most creative Buy Nothing New pledge. Logon to www.nothingnew.com.au when the site goes live on September 1^st for entry details.

Glossary

Top Tips to Buying Nothing New

Buyers Checklist

Before handing over your hard earned cash, ask yourself:

• Is the product really necessary?

• What is its lifecycle and embodied energy?

• What are the alternatives?

• Where did it come from? How did it get here?

• What is its environmental and social impact?

• Who benefits from the purchase? What will it do for me?

• What is in it? Who made it?

Top Tips for Salvos Stores Shopping

• Best buys are gifts, clothes, homewares, kitchenware, books, toys and furniture.

• Don’t shop Mondays. Stock gets wiped out over the weekend. Those in the know go Tuesday or Thursday

• Watch your gift budget dive!Buy homewares like vases and frames, and store them for when you need a last minute gift.

• Keep an open mind. Imagine the item out of the store and in a different setting.

• Get over ‘second hand phobia’. Restaurants and hotels serve you from secondhand cutlery and secondhand sheets!

• ‘Up the hip ante’ of dresses by cutting short and sewing on mismatched patches and buttons.

• Look out for jeans; you’ll get great brands, dirt cheap. Cut them into shorts or remake into skirts. It’s easy, cheap and they’re already worn in for you!

• A quick test if jeans fit: Wrap the waist around your neck and the ends should touch. If you can’t fit the length of your fist to your elbow inside the waistband, the jeans are too small.

• Every store differs if you don’t find what you need, try another. And new stock comes in everyday.

• Ignore sizes. Second‐hand clothes may have shrunk, or designers may have changed their sizings so your frame of reference could be off. Try before you buy.

]]> http://greenbeings.com.au/greenroom/index.php/2010/07/15/want-free-time-and-money-this-october-buy-nothing-new/feed/ 2 http://greenbeings.com.au/greenroom/index.php/2010/05/07/eco-beauty-tips/ http://greenbeings.com.au/greenroom/index.php/2010/05/07/eco-beauty-tips/#comments Fri, 07 May 2010 06:11:13 +0000 admin http://greenbeings.com.au/greenroom/?p=566 Lets face it we are all intrigued by the claims made by beauty products that they will make us look smoother, more toned, younger or brighter. The ingredients lists are hard to decipher, so how do we work out which products are best for our body and the environment? We have been investigating what to look out for when buying beauty products and what you can do to go green and look great.]]> Lets face it we are all intrigued by the claims made by beauty products that they will make us look smoother, more toned, younger or brighter. The ingredients lists are hard to decipher, so how do we work out which products are best for our body and the environment? We have been investigating what to look out for when buying  beauty products and what you can do to go green and look great.

Ingredient lists are often as long as your arm, with numerous unpronounceable terms. There are some ingredients that are a regular feature of soaps, perfumes and deodorants. Ingredients such as pthalates, parabens, sodium laureth sulphate and triclosan are currently subject to some controversy.

Pthalates, chemicals used in fragrances and parabens derived from petrochemicals are widely used in cosmetics and deodorants. These are hormone disrupters. Switch to a natural deodorant without these chemicals.

Bubbles and foam is created by sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) or sodium laureth sulphate (SLES). SLS and SLES have a negative impact on the layers of skin cells, so avoiding products with SLS or SLES will benefit your skin.

Triclosan and triclocarbon is an antibacterial agent used in many hand washes and lotions. It is a pesticide and part of a class of chemicals suspected of causing cancer in humans. It is also a persistent bioaccumulatory organic pollutant. Animal tests have also shown that it is an endocrine disrupter affecting thyroid hormone metabolism.

The Environmental Working Group identifies specific ingredients and products to avoid to minimise the impact to your health. You can download their quick guide.

What about the impact of our beauty choices on the environment? We’ve come up with our own quick guide to reduce the price to the environment.

Packaging – many products are double packaged, make sure it is reusable (choose products from companies that take back the empties e.g. Origins), recycled or recyclable.

Reusables – use a bamboo facecloth or ordinary flannels instead of disposable wipes, and get hold of a reusable razor.

Ingredients – look for products containing natural or local ingredients.

Company – support companies that actively consider the environment, such as BodyShop, Burts Bees etc.

Essential oils – don’t underestimate these natural fragrances that can be applied to clothes, bodies, laundry, in the home, and more.

Heating options, like installing reverse cycle air conditioning and underfloor heating require significant investment and might not be appropriate if you are renting or strapped for cash. We have researched  your heating options to help you keep warm and maximize the efficiency of your heater.

Air conditioning

Reverse cycle air conditioning (or heat pumps) are electric heating systems that can also provide cooling. To heat these systems extract heat from the outside air, which is then released into the home. The cost of running reverse cycle air conditioning for heating can be as low as a third of the cost of direct element heaters. This is considered a medium efficiency system.

Ceiling fans can improve the efficiency of your heating system by recirculating warm air. Fans use as much power as a 10 watt light bulb. Energy Star ceiling fans are the best as they can circulate an average of 15% more air than other fans.

Portable  heaters.

There are two types of portable heater:

• Radiant which emits heat from a hot surface (e.g. glowing red bars in a radiator), most appropriate in rooms with large open spaces, high ceilings or draughty areas, or;
• Convection heaters which best heat small to medium draught free rooms by filling them with warm air.

Portable heaters range in size from about 1KW up to 2.4KW and gas heaters up to the equivalent of 6KW.

Electric heaters are cheap buy (compared to permanent fixed heaters) but expensive to run. Gas heaters are available with much larger heat outputs, are more expensive to buy but the running costs are lower.

Electric heaters emit 3-4 times more greenhouse gases than gas (although the impacts are less if you are using Green Power). Compare the energy ratings of gas heaters here.

The efficiency of all portable electric heaters is about the same. The impacts and costs of operating portable heaters can be reduced if only used for short periods of time

In bar heaters the in-built surface reflects the heat towards you, ensuring this is kept clean maximizes the efficiency.

Oil heaters

Oil filled columns use electricity to heat oil within an upright radiator. These take a while to heat up, but they emit heat for some time after they are turned off. LPG heaters area also available and the running costs are similar to that of portable electric heaters.

Fireplace

Wood fired heaters and stove are considered to be carbon neutral as they release the carbon dioxide absorbed by the tree when burnt.

The most eco-friendly and energy efficient type of wood heaters used pellets made from waste materials. Check out our article for more info.

Hot water radiators

Not used much here, but a regular feature of homes in the UK and Europe are wall mounted hot water radiators. Water is heated with gas (most efficient) or electric boilers and piped around the house. Using solar hot water heating for these would increase the efficiency further, however, hot water from a standard solar hot water tank will not be enough to heat the whole house.

Ground source heat pumps

Again not used much in Australia these systems pump air or water from underground where temperatures remain pretty constant, either into your home or into a heat pump to heat it further.

Increase your heating efficiency

Reduce the amount of time you need to keep the heater running by:

• Insulating the roof, walls and using double glazing to reduce overall heat loss.
• Passive design to maximise heat from winter sun.
• Close internal doors and only heat a room or two at a time
• Seal draughts. Put snakes under doors.
• Heavy curtains can be closed to keep in the warmth.
• Consider the materials used. Cork floor tiles feel warmer under foot than ceramic.
• Only heat the rooms you are using.
• Invest in a hot water bottle or an electric blanket and switch on just before you go to bed.
• Buy a heater that best suits the conditions of your home/room. If immediate heat is required a bar heater may be a better choice, or if you are using for long periods a thermostatically controlled heater would have lower emissions overall.
• Choose a heater with a range of heat settings.

Choosing the right heater

The following table outlines the advantages and disadvantages of the different heaters discussed.

Adapted from information provided by Sustainable Energy Authority Victoria 2004

Over half the world’s tuna comes from the pacific. Of the seven species of tuna in the Pacific, six are over exploited. Stocks of Southern Bluefin tuna have collapsed, and Bigeye, Yellowfin and Albacore tuna are overfished.

Industrial fishing methods mean that tuna is scooped up using huge purse seine nets, or caught on baited fishing lines which can be as long as 100km. Both these methods result in a significant bycatch of around 10% and 35%. The bycatch includes turtles and sharks as well as juvenile tuna.

Skipjack is the only healthy tuna species left in the Pacific. It is considered sustainable if it is caught using selective fishing methods. When Skipjack is caught using pole and line or troll fishing, from healthy stocks along coastal states it is considered both fair and sustainable.

No Australian tuna brand uses sustainable tuna. Even the top brands use destructive fishing techniques. GreenPeace is leading the fight to urge supermarkets to switch to sustainably caught Skipjack tuna.

GreenPeace’s guide ranks the typical canned tuna brands in terms of their sustainability and recommends a number of actions to enable us to make informed decisions about the fish we eat.  In order to do this we must be able to see what it is we are buying. Therefore labelling should show:

• The species in the can (e.g. skipjack tuna, Katsuwonus pelamis)
• The area where the catch came from and the name of the stock
•  The production method and fishing technique (e.g. wild caught, purse seine net with fish aggregating device)

Waitrose, Sainsburys and Marks and Spencers in the UK have all moved to pole and line caught tuna. It’s time to do it in Australia.

According to the KeepCup website the disposable paper cup is made from various materials including bleached paper sprayed with a polyethylene coating. The cup is often impregnated with dyes which makes it difficult to recycle.

In the first six months, since the launch in June 2009, KeepCup has sold over 100,000 units. According to Bluebag, the makers of KeepCup, if everybody who owns a KeepCup uses it regularly, there would be 100 million less disposable cups used, saving 17,000 trees and keeping 307 tonnes of plastic lids from landfill.

The KeepCup is recyclable (it has an estimated lifespan of four years) and replicates disposable cup sizes so you get the correct and consistent portioning of coffee and milk. Small and medium cups fit directly under the coffee machine. The plastic used is BPA free and the lid means less likelihood of spillage.

Designed and manufactured in Australia, the key features which make the KeepCup so functional include:

• A band around the body of the cup where coffee preferences are embossed. Highlight this to prevent mix up and to identify your cup at the machine.
• A sealing mechanism to make the cup splash-proof in transit. This is removable so it is easy to clean.
• Stackable, dishwasher safe and microwavable.
• Low embodied energy, reuseable, unbreakable and recyclable (polypropylene)

The KeepCup can be branded which makes it great company merchandise and a great gift for the afflicted addicted coffee cravers.

According to recent research, food and drinks contained in plastic containers or bottles can contain trace amounts of bisphenol A (BPA). Scientists have found that, in animals, BPA mimics the hormone oestrogen and has been linked to breast and uterine cancer, an increased risk of miscarriage and decreased testosterone levels. It is also believed that BPA can cause early puberty in children, cancer, diabetes and obesity.  The amounts leaching into food and drink are small, but it is the cumulative effect of these small doses that are of concern.

What is BPA?

BPA is an industrial chemical used for production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Polycarbonate plastics are high performance transparent, rigid plastic used for food containers such as most transparent drinks bottles, infant feeding (baby) bottles, tableware (plates and mugs) and storage containers.

Epoxy resins are used to make protective coatings and linings for food and beverage cans and vats.

How do you know what has BPA in?

On the bottom of plastic containers there is generally a mobius loop symbol with the number 1 to 7 inside. For details of what is in each category check out our waste essentials article.

Current advice is, if you are concerned about BPA then to avoid category 3, 6 and 7 unless it specifically states on a separate label that the product is BPA free. A number of products labelled BPA free are in Category 7. This is a catch all for several different types of plastic including those that contain BPA as well as those that don’t.

Disposable drinks bottles

Like many people I regularly reuse water bottles. These are typically in the category 1 plastics (P.E.T). There is no BPA in PET bottles. These water bottles are designed to be recycled after use. However, reuse of these bottles is safe providing they are washed well.

Baby bottles

BPA has been banned from use in products for babies in Canada and many US states due to the health concerns. Many baby bottles will contain BPA unless it is specifically stated on the packaging that they are BPA free. This includes the major brands. However manufacturers such as Avent, Tommee Tippee and Pigeon have brought out BPA free alternatives. Although this is not always mentioned on the product itself so look for it on the packaging when you buy it.

How to reduce your exposure

• At your desk drink out of glass instead of clear plastic cups and bottles.
• Get hold of a BPA free plastic or metal drink bottle and refill from the tap.
• Buy from your local greengrocer and butcher. This way you can buy fresh and avoid products which have sat around in plastic packaging.
• Packaging with a category 2 HDPE (high density polyethylene), or a category 4 LDPE (low density polyethylene), or a category 5 PP (polypropylene), labels contain no BPA.
• Choose fresh or frozen food over tinned foods and food in polycarbonate containers.
• Don’t use polycarbonate plastics for warm food or drinks.
• If using baby formula, avoid liquid formula in cans. Powdered formula is better in terms of BPA exposure.

But there have been some significant changes that ought to be celebrated. One major one that has been seen over the last decade is the massive increase in global awareness, of community concern and best of all, action. The next decade from 2010-2020 is being heralded as ‘The Transition Decade’ or T10. The T10 vision is a mass community movement set to launch on Valentines Day with the aim of engaging the widest audience possible to provide governments with clear direction to enable structural transition and roll back the policies which will cause further impact. The overall aim is to drive greenhouse gas emissions to (net) zero in an effort to create a safe climate future.

So with exciting times ahead, Green Beings, and sites like ours, will have an increasing role to play in promoting this grass roots movement. So as we close off the noughties here are a few eco efforts from this last decade that are worth celebrating.

1. Australia’s Earth Hour initiative has now gone global.
2. Establishment of carbon credits and offsetting.
3. Eco rating labelling on buildings (NABERs etc) and appliances.
4. Release of the Toyota Prius and a new generation of hybrid cars.
5. Government support for green initiatives including waste separation and collection as well as rebates for water tanks, solar panels, roof insulation etc.
6. Retail sales of Fairtrade labeled products in Australia and New Zealand passed $70 million since the introduction of Fairtrade in Australia and New Zealand in 2003.
7. Emergence of eco directories such as Green Pages and the Eco Directory.
8. Towns take the initiative banning plastic bags and plastic water bottles.
9. The internet has made it easier to recycle through sites such as eBay or Gumtree.
10. Organic produce is easier and cheaper to obtain and farmers markets have seen a resurgence.

1. Get a compactable recyclable bag and make a habit of keeping it with you at all times. That little gem at the bottom of a handbag (or manbag) can save over 120 carrier bags per year. If you find a good design, get some spares to give to your friends.
2. Plant a tree. Commemorate the end of the noughties by growing a native tree that will take up some carbon dioxide and encourages wildlife.
3. Get used to fragrance free. Non toxic or ‘eco friendly’ cleaning products have less fragrance than mainstream brands. Just because you can’t smell the strong lemony fresh fragrance does not mean its not clean. Alternatively, just add natural fragrances like lavender oil.
4. Make your lunch and take it to work (in reusable containers). You get a better idea of the fat and calories you are eating and can help reduce food wastage at home. It can also save you well over $100  every month.
5. Get into vegetables and try to eat vegetarian for one meal a day (breakfast is cheating!). If you are buying meat, buy organic and free range.
6. Avoid unnecessary purchases – only buy if you are sure you need and will use an item. Consider swapping, borrowing and lending. Shop around for pre-loved items from charity shops or through online auctions like eBay and Gumtree.
7. One day a week use public transport, bike to work or work from home.
8. Get obsessive about standby. Don’t leave TVs, monitors, or even phone chargers on standby. Turn them off….and anyone else’s you see.
9. If you haven’t already, learn to love worms. Cultivating a worm farm can reduce your household waste by a third or more.
10. Get green fingered. There is nothing better than eating the fruits of your labour. Zucchini, pumpkin and tomatoes are particularly easy to grow and they all benefit from a bit of diluted worm-juice from the worm farm (see item above).
11. Save up for an eco treat for your home.  Install a water tank, replace an appliance with an eco friendly update, look into solar hot water, solar voltaic panels or a dual flush toilet.

Research has found that purchasing ethical and green products is about more than just the cost. Even though countries such as the UK and US have been harder hit by the current recession, people are still finding ways to keep up their ideals. Not as much research on ethical spending has been conducted in Australia, however,  it is likely that this is the case here too.

There is continuing pressure on producers to be greener and offer cheaper green goods, not least to get a competitive edge, but many green initiatives save money through reducing resource use and saving energy. A recent reuters report identified that consumers are still putting environmental and ethical issues at the heart of their spending decisions in the recession, even if they have to cut back on some of the higher priced ‘green’ goods like organic food. It is also likely that consumers may trade off price with a slightly less green option.

Consumers are also likely to pay higher prices for eco-products which provide long term cost savings (in terms of energy savings) or that last for years. Ethical and green spending will also be maintained where eco-products are sold at competitive prices,  where there is little difference in cost between standard and greener products.

Tightening the purse strings does encourage people to spend less and to find more economical ways of purchasing. eBay and sites selling pre-loved goods fare particularly well in a recession where products can be bought for a fraction of their original cost.

Even when purse strings are tightened there are ways to shop green. If things are tight, here are some actions which contribute to green spending, which are also easy on the hip pocket:

• Cultivate the veggie patch, share any excess with neighbours and preserve excess through freezing/pickling etc.
• Go for products with the least packaging and actively avoid putting things in bags where you can – especially in the fruit and vegetable aisles.
• Read the labels on goods and choose ones produced locally or which have better eco-credentials.
• Buy pre-loved. Check out eBay, Gumtree or local newspapers.
• Patronising local shops, farmers markets or organic food fairs.
• Opt for products with eco-labels such as fair-trade or marine stewardship council.
• Buy locally made products where possible.
• Buy refillable containers for soap etc to reduce waste and save.
• Use less!