Every purchasing decision we make has an impact on the environment. By choosing an ‘Ethical Retailer’ you may be able to reduce your own impact. We have prepared a list of Green/Energy Efficient retail sites below. Please let us know how you get on.

• Centre for Alternative Technology – Practical solutions to 21st century problems
• Ecology Building Society – offers ethical savings accounts and green mortgages for properties that benefit the environment
• Greener Style
• Homes in Harmony – A website dedicated to the natural home, offering ideas, advice and information, coupled with a selected range of products and materials.
• The Green Shop

For further information on ethical suppliers please follow these links:

• Corporate Critic
• Ethical Consumer

If you are a Green/Ethical Retailer and would like to appear here please contact us now.

Concerned about Global Warming? Take a look at these campaigners sites:

• Envocare
• Transition Network
• Green Choices

Green directories and link sites:

• My Green Directory
• The Green Providers Directory

Are you looking for a different venue for your next conference?

• Green & Away is Europe’s only tented conference centre – a fully serviced event venue, in the form of an inspirational and environmentally sustainable village – available for hire.

Many floorings contain toxic chemicals which appear on the EU’s list of chemicals of ‘very high concern’. Vinyl floor coverings are probably the worst culprits as they can contain compounds which have been linked to all kinds of health and environmental problems. This also has implications for how these floor coverings are disposed of. If in doubt, contact your local authority.

Cork tiles appear to be free of harmful chemicals and lino is made from natural raw materials. Wood flooring should always come from sustainably planted forests.

Carpets

Carpets come in so many materials, but be wary that just because the main material used may be wool, for example, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s safe. Often carpets are treated with chemicals of ‘very high concern’ such as brominated flame retardants.

Other treatments to avoid are synthetic dyes, synthetic latex and organotins – these can all be hazardous to human health.

Just because wood is natural doesn’t always mean it’s the best option. It’s only a renewable material if more trees are planted!

For example, mahogany and some exotic timbers come from long-established tropical rainforests rather than sustainably planted forests. It’s worth checking the Good Wood Guide run by Friends of the Earth. Also look for the Forest Stewardship Council mark on wood products to show they have been produced from responsibly grown timber.

Also look out for businesses which reclaim and re-use wood – or buy quality second hand furniture at local auctions.

Materials

Upholstered furniture, mattresses and bed linen can contain chemicals on the EU’s list of chemicals of ‘very high concern’ so do check these things out.

Bed linen, towels and other furnishings are all now available in organic cotton grown without using pesticides. Bamboo fibre is also increasingly being used. Try to look for natural, organic materials grown in a sustainable way.

Many household goods are now also made from recycled materials, including recycled glass. And if the labels don’t tell you enough about the product, don’t be afraid to ask!

Water is precious. In fact it’s becoming even more so, with rivers experiencing significantly less flows due to climate change. Reservoirs too are struggling to maintain supply as rainfall and the weather becomes more unpredictable. Plus, it costs money to purify water.

So saving water makes sense on every count. Toilets typically account for 30-40% of total household water use. Older toilets can use as much as 9 litres of water per flush. Even modern ones can average around 6 litres. Try using Save-a-flush sachets or Hippo Water Savers in your cistern – they can reduce the amount you flush by one litre without losing efficiency.

Water saving devices (e.g. Variflush) are also available free from many water companies. And if you’re considering replacing your toilet, look for one that uses less than 5 litres to flush.

Tap it

Various water saving taps and water-efficient taps are now on the market. Or you can fit a device like Tap Magic on your existing tap – it can reduce wastage by up to 70% while still giving you the normal full flow.

Rainwater

A water butt is a great way of collecting rainwater to use on the garden and can save many gallons of water.

It’s possible to collect rainwater in underground tanks for use in flushing toilets and general cleaning. Construction Resources have information on this.

365 days a year, 24 hours a day, fridges and freezers have to be on all the time and can use a lot of energy (about 17% of all energy used in Britain today). So when you buy a new model, make sure it’s energy efficient.

By law, new fridges and freezers must carry the European Energy Label rating each one from A++ (most energy efficient) to G (most energy inefficient). Larger models tend to use more electricity and chest freezers tend to be more energy efficient than upright ones. Frost Free freezers use more energy than manually defrosted ones. Use this site to find the best products on the market today.

Emissions

Thankfully most of the refrigerants of the past that were harmful to the ozone layer have been phased out. These included CFCs, HFCs and HCFCs.

However, it’s still possible that some cheaper fridges and freezers may use HFCs, so do check which refrigerant is used when buying your new product. Most modern products use Greenfreeze technology, which is not harmful to the atmosphere.

When should you replace old fridges and freezers?

The energy efficiency of kitchen appliances has improved dramatically in recent years due to stricter regulations and improved technology. Use our electricity cost calculator for Fridges and Freezers to see how much you could save per year.

Disposal of old fridges and freezers

Fridges and freezers need to be disposed of properly. Your new supplier may be prepared to take away your old appliances, or contact your local authority. Also see our guide to the (WEEE) Directive.