News from guest bloggers about green events, green products, charities and news of interest to parents and families!

• Eco Friendly Gift Suggestions

  As the movement towards environmental responsibility strengthens, more individuals are considering the impact of their carbon footprint. It is a natural progression to extend this social responsibility to gift purchases. As the holiday season approaches and we make our ways to the many retailers to find the perfect gift for our loved ones, consider expanding your green conscious into your gift giving.

  Linens and clothing can be produced out of sustainable resources, such as bamboo and hemp. Bamboo, being the fastest growing plant, is easily replaced and has a versatility that cannot be beat. Linens, clothing, and home goods are now produced out of these renewable resources and are often treated with low-impact dyes providing the same beauty and durability as traditionally produced items. Hemp and bamboo is also replacing many wood based items found in the kitchen, such as cutting boards, place mats, utensils and rugs.

  Tree free paper is now widely available. These products are normally made from 100% post-consumer recycled materials and agricultural waste. All natural pigments can provide delightful patterns with endless variations making this gift suitable for any person on your list.

  Quite a few companies have popped up recently producing leather like goods from recycled truck inner tubes and plastic. These items are durable, easy to clean and provide an alternative to animal based products. Wallets, handbags, belts, laptop carriers and backpacks are just a handful of items produced from recycled materials with a faux leather look. By producing items without the need of animal hides, the resources utilized for the care of livestock is saved.

  Children’s toys have to uphold a rigorous federal safety standard in the marketplace. However, bamboo can replace wooden and plastic parts for many toys. Bamboo based toys produced without toxic chemicals are increasing in popularity. Not only do these products stand up to wear and tear, they have the same appeal as traditional items. Eco-friendly stuffed toys are also available produced from organic hand picked cotton and hemp.

  The age of the disposable water bottle and paper sack lunch container are over. Not only do most many plastic items contain BPA, which allows toxins to leak into your food and beverage, their disposable impact on the environment is unmatched. The majority of landfill mass is made of plastic. By replacing these items with reusable water bottles, lunch containers and biodegradable ice packs, the reduction of landfill waste is significant.

  Solar energy is not just for the home. Solar chargers are available for IPods, IPhones and cell phones. With the use of the sun, you can charge your electronic device without the use of electricity. Not only are these great eco-friendly gifts, they are perfect for outdoor enthusiasts without a portable power source.

  My name is Muzammil Bashir and I am working with latelategifts.co.uk – Offering same day gifts delivery on many products.

  October 25, 2011

• The Rise of the Eco-Friendly Home

  The Rise of the Eco-Friendly Home

  With the severe realities of climate change becoming increasingly apparent, its no real surprise that
  more and more people are looking to make their homes more eco-friendly. This doesn’t necessarily
  mean that everybody should start dressing like hippies, eat nothing but vegetables and stop using
  electricity. There are many small steps that you can take to make your home greener and more eco-
  friendly.

  For instance, start by purchasing more energy efficient light bulbs. They may seem like the more
  expensive option but in fact they save money over time. Think of it as a long-term investment,
  where you get to help the planet.

  Try to recycle more, you may be sick of hearing about recycling but it does work! One of the easiest
  solutions is also by far the simplest (meaning you wouldn’t have to do much). Buy a small recycling
  bin for your home and place it next to your normal bin. It’s that easy! Use fewer plastic bags ( yes I
  am aware you know this already), every time that you go out to do the weekly shop and are about
  to use that plastic bag, remember that it takes 100 years for each one to break down, and then
  purchase a canvas bag for 5 pence (cents if you American).

  Think abut having solar panels installed, you may shake your head and think there’s no way your
  going to do that as it is far too expensive. However, there is a new scheme that is known as FIT
  ( Feed In Tariffs) that has recently been implemented by the UK Government which provides
  communities and individuals with free solar panels from private electricity companies with a set
  tariff for users !

  If you don’t believe this, ring up your local council or authority to find out more information. Also
  before installing remember to check with your home Insurance provider to make sure that you are
  covered for any damage that may occur to your roof. While this is highly unlikely, it never hurts to
  make sure that your buildings insurance is covered. This may seem like a hassle at first, but when
  you sit down and think about all the money that you will end up saving in the long-run, by using
  renewable source of electricity, it will make it all worth it.

  These are just a few tips on how you can make your home more eco-friendly without you having
  to do too much work or becoming a hippy. In the event that you become addicted to the eco-
  friendly lifestyle ( its not unheard of) then you may potentially want to look into water conservation
  plumbing and ultra-efficient insulation, but that’s a blog for another time.

  September 21, 2011

• Mums in business, plus those looking to start up, have the chance to apply for a scholarship

  Mums in business, plus those looking to start up, have the chance to apply for a scholarship to The BusinessMums Summit in Brighton, 10th October 2011. Deadline for entries: 1 July 2011

  The BusinessMums Summit is in its second year, and is an event for mums keen to launch their own enterprises, those already running new start-ups, directors of highly successful, global enterprises and everything in between. Organisers Suzanne Borrell, Nicky Chisholm and Antonia Chitty explain about the scholarship scheme, “We know that it can be hard to invest in the business training you need when you are starting a business and supporting a family. That’s why this year we’ve created the BusinessMums Summit Scholarship Programme. In 2010, some lovely business owners sponsored a few people to attend the conference. This year we have expanded the programme and made it open to as many people as possible. In this way we hope that it won’t just be mums with great connections who get a sponsored ticket but those who need it most and maybe wouldn’t shout out and ask.”

  The high profile event has already attracted top speakers including Kate Garraway and Laura Tenison of JoJoMamanBebe. Attendees will be able to network, get practical help from experts, learn business skills, set goals, celebrate with champagne at the ‘mum and working’ awards and leave with a plan to drive their business forward.

  It is simple to apply for a scholarship: just write about why you need a scholarship and how you feel the conference could help you start or grow your business and email to antonia@businessmumsconference.co.uk . All entries must be in by 1st July 2011. Scholarship winners will be announced by 1 August. See http://www.businessmumsconference.co.uk/scholarships/ for full details, terms and conditions.

  Antonia Chitty adds, “For every company we get on board to sponsor a ticket, we’ll match it with another sponsored ticket paid for by the BusinessMums Summit. We’re thrilled to have sponsors so far including Become a Mumpreneur, Tots to Travel, Baby Signing Mummy and BabyTod. We’re committed to getting as many mums as possible to this event as we know the benefits and breakthroughs experienced by those who attended in 2010.” There are still opportunities for businesses who would like to become a sponsor and help mums break through barriers to starting or growing her business – contact antonia@businessmumsconference.com before 1 July or visit http://www.businessmumsconference.co.uk/scholarships/

  June 7, 2011

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