MPs back personal carbon credits

At last! MPs have backed suggestions that the government should go ahead with a system of personal "carbon credits”.

The Environmental Audit Committee said the scheme would be more effective than taxes for cutting carbon emissions. Under the scheme people would be given an annual carbon limit for fuel and energy use - which they could exceed by buying credits from those who use less. Those who do not use all their carbon credits would be able to sell their credits. Ministers said there were practical drawbacks to the proposal but they were looking at other initiatives.

Committee chairman Tim Yeo said it found that personal carbon trading had "real potential to engage the population in the fight against climate change and to achieve significant emissions reductions in a progressive way". He said "green" taxes, such as a petrol tax, cost poor people more because everyone - "billionaires and paupers" - paid the same amount. "Under the personal carbon trading, someone who perhaps doesn't have an enormous house or swimming pool, someone who doesn't take several holidays in the Caribbean every year, will actually get a cash benefit if they keep a low carbon footprint." He also believes it could be administered by the private sector, following the model of supermarket loyalty schemes in which a complex computer system is accessed by a "single plastic card".

But Mr Benn believes there could be many problems with the plan: "It's got potential but, in essence, it's ahead of its time, the cost of implementing it would be quite high, and there are a lot of practical problems to overcome." Mr Benn said that the report found the cost of introducing the scheme would be between £700 million and £2 billion, and would cost £1bn-£2bn a year to run.

Environmentalist George Monbiot applauded the scheme. "It's more progressive than taxation, it tends to redistribute wealth from the rich to the poor; it's transparent; it's easy for everyone to understand, you all get the same carbon ration. t also contains an inbuilt incentive for people to think about their energy use and to think about how they are going to stay within their carbon ration”

Biome Lifestyle is a huge fan of the personal carbon credits scheme. Apart from the implementation costs, the scheme appears to have a good balance between not penalising the poor (which could happen with some of the suggested with the Green Car Tax, whereby tax is higher on second hand, higher emitting cars) and making the wealthier consider their carbon footprint. Biome Lifestyle thinks it will be a long time before such a radical scheme will be in place, but it will be welcomed with open arms on the day that it does! Fingers x…

Ramsay on the rampage

“I don't want to see asparagus on in the middle of December. I don't want to see strawberries from Kenya in the middle of March. I want to see it home grown” Gordon Ramsay

This was a statement made by Gordon Ramsay a couple of weeks ago regarding the food sold in British restaurant. Gordon apparently, has been having a chat with Prime Minister Gordon Brown about fining restaurants who use non-seasonal produce. Not just a slap on the wrist, but an actual fine. Apparently this would kill two birds with one stone; raising “levels of inspiration”, while cutting carbon emissions.

I think this is a good (if not a bit over ambitious) idea, however I very much doubt this will happen. Plus, Gordon has come under criticism as apparently some of his own restaurants serve out-of season produce…! The one good thing that this idea has brought is a big debate regarding seasonal and local food- the thread on the BBC

Have Your Say forum is already up to 1055 comments! Biome Lifestyle would love to see more local and seasonal food in restaurants, although would that mean I would still be able to enjoy some of the more unusual dishes I enjoy at our local Thai restaurant… what a dilemma!

Walking the talk

Whilst browsing the aisles of Topshop the other day, I came across some lovely shoes which will be perfect for the summer (whenever the sun comes out, that is). Then when I researched the company further, I found out my lovely summer shoes are in fact from a fantastic ethical company. Toms Shoes (www.tomsshoes.com) was established by Blake Mycoskie in March 2006, following a trip to Argentina when he decided to do something to help the disadvantaged, barefoot kids he had seen running around. He launched ‘Shoes for Tomorrow’ whereby for every pair of shoes sold, a free pair of shoes will be donated to a disadvantaged child. After just 8 months, Blake was back in Argentina handing out 10,000 free pairs. A year later he was in South Africa handing out 50,000 pairs.


Biome Lifestyle loves the ethos and dedication behind Toms Shoes. I adore buying shoes but now I can buy a pair in the knowledge a child will be given a free pair of shoes courtesy of my purchase! How very kind of me! Ethical shopping, what could be better?!

Could this be the perfect bakery?

Whilt visiting a friend in Hastings the other week, I came across this fabulous organic bakery called Judges, and I really think it’s one of my best finds in a long time! Everything from the Cornish pasties to the pink meringue pigs via the jam doughnuts and chocolate brownies is organically certified (by the Soil Association). The bakery stocks a wide-range of the usual white, wholemeal and malthouse English breads, from cottage loaves to ‘bloomers’ and French sticks. However, there is also a fabulous selection of artisan breads, including Parisienne baguettes (which are rolled overnight in French linen!), seeded loaves and rye bread, all created by an award-winning baker. Delicious!

I just wish Judges was local to Biome Lifestyle, however it is probably a blessing for my waist-line that it’s not!

Bank holiday picnic

The sun is shining (well a bit!) so how about taking a freshly packed organic picnic to the coast or local beauty spot this weekend? You could pack a hamper full of organic goodies – from freshly made sandwiches, cakes, cold meats, locally made cheeses and plenty of fruit. Our local Farmers Market and Whole Foods store in Stoke Newington has a wonderful selection of organic and locally-made produce – why not check out your local Farmers Market or health food/organic store near you this weekend to see what new ideas you can conjure up?

Once the food is prepared, then why not pack it all up in one of our very own Biome Lifestyle Eco Picnic Hampers? The sturdy wicker hamper holds 4 recycled plastic plates, 4 recycled plastic tumblers, 4 sets of recycled plastic cutlery, a fair-trade blanket and a fun recycled plastic Frisbee to enjoy a quick game when the food has run out!

We hope you all enjoy the long weekend! Please keep shining sunshine!

Celebrities doing their bit...

21st Century Leaders is a unique charity artwork project. The charity gather artworks from leaders in all fields; royalty, film, music, Nobel Peace Prize laureates, sports, literature etc. The range of celebrities who have offered artwork range include Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Gwen Stefani, Annie Lennox, David Bowie, The Foo Fighters, Christine Slater, Nicole Kidman, Amy Winehouse, Sir Bob Geldof and many many more…

The celebrity artworks are used to create Whatever It Takes products: 'merchandise with a meaning'. From wristbands to clothing, from tableware to cosmetics and footwear, each product is ethically produced and sold to raise funds for charitable causes chosen by each contributing leader. So far almost £540,000 has been raised, but the aim is to at least triple this figure in the nex couple of years. The money raised will help to fund charitable projects in developing countries, contribute to the protection of the environment and other charitable causes. A few examples of the products available are pictured below




Biome Lifestyle thinks it is a fantastic cause which is cleverly using the ‘power if celebrities’ to raise money and awareness for many fantastic projects. To read more, go to www.whateverittakes.org.

Feel good holidays

Whilst feeling blue about the recent ‘summer rain’, I decided to have a look at my options for a holiday in the sun this summer...I stumbled across this website, www.handsupholidays.com and I must say I am very tempted to book our holiday with them!

It seems like Hands Up Holidays offers the best of both worlds – a relaxing eco holiday with some volunteer work thrown in for good measure. The double feel good factor! As stated on their site Hands Up Holidays is all about giving you amazing holiday experiences that combine eco-sightseeing with a meaningful 'taste' of volunteering. These volunteer adventures are for you if:

- you are interested in having a break, want to explore a destination, and also give something back to the local community.
- you value meaningful interaction with other cultures - achieved through the medium of volunteering.
- you value low-impact, sustainable tourism practices that directly benefit local communities.
- you do not have specific skills, but have a lot of enthusiasm and a positive attitude (and if you do have specific skills, we will match these where possible)

Hands Up Holidays are a founding member of the Ethical Tour Operators Group, part of Tourism Concern that is committed to sustainable tourism that benefits local communities and the environment.

Although the airmiles used to reach some of the far flung destinations are worrying, hopefully the voluntary work will be of great benefit to the local communities and the eco-lodges will be a sustainable part of the environment. Now where is my passport..?!

Innovative tarp bags

At a recent Trade Show, the Biome Lifestyle Team came across this fantastic new company, Trashe Bolsas.

In the Philippines giant billboards promoting all manner of products and services line the highways. In offices, schools, hotels and shops, banners do the same. These billboards and banners are printed onto tarpaulins or ‘tarps’ made from canvas coated with polycarbonate. These tarps, designed to withstand the scorching heat and torrential rain of the tropics, are completely non-biodegradable. When the tarps are finished with, they either end up in landfill or are burned, thus releasing harmful greenhouse gasses – either way, they contribute to an ever increasing threat to the environment.

The community based company are salvaging the tarps from the side of the roads or landfill, which are then made into strong and innovative bags.

On top of that, a community of around 1,000 Filipinos lives in an area full of rubbish which is polluting their water supply. TrasheBolsas and EarthDay Village are providing a clean-up campaign together with solid waste management training. So each bag you buy will contribute to the scheme as well as preventing the tarps being dumped causing damage to wildlife, the landscape and the environment.

Natural beauty to your door

Whilst doing some research for Biome, I came across this website at the weekend www.lovelula.com and I am now an addict! I usual buy most of my body and skincare from either the great range at Whole Foods or Body Shop. However, seeing all these lovely organic cosmetics and skincare products, I am very tempted to spend some pennies on here too… The organic apothecary brings together a collection of some of the world’s finest and purest natural beauty & organic products, including skincare, bath products, makeup, haircare and baby care, made by experts equally passionate about natural and organic ingredients. Beautiful beauty products right to your door – hurrah!

Healthy Sustainable Mexican Food – Aye caramba!

Friday night I enjoyed a lovely meal at Wahaca restaurant, Covent Garden. Wahaca opened last summer and recently won The Observer Best Cheap Eats award.

The food was delicious and I especially loved the reclaimed wood bar, and the chunky recycled glasses. We enjoyed a mix selection of tapas, which was suggested by our very friendly and helpful waitress.


Wahaca offers fresh Mexican market food, which is unlike usual tex-mex of sizzling fajitas or cheesy nachos. The restaurant brings you a taste of the real food of Mexico with an evolving, seasonal menu. The fish is sustainable and served with a fresh, fiery green tomatillo sauce. The chicken is free-range chicken and is poached and served with delicious ingredients in a taquito, a quesadilla, an enchilada or in our Sonora salad with a slow-cooked chipotle chilli and garlic sauce. Delicious!


The restauant looks to promote natural produce and protect traditional, sustainable methods of growing food. The founder Thomasina Miers says “My aim was to see if I could work with small producers in Mexico to supply the restaurant in London with indigenous Mexican crops, but also to see how I could use English produce in the restaurant, thereby limiting the amount of imported food.”

We feel that Wahaca will be a huge success and judging by the long queues on Friday night, it seems like it already is. Here’s to more Wahaca restaurants opening soon!

Space saving eco furniture

This elegant wooden piece of furniture, titled Futaba Convertible Furniture is designed by Akemi Tanaka. The elegant multi-purpose furniture doubles both as a chair and a coffee table. Futaba is a Japanese word that means two leaves sprouting from one seed. The furniture is carved in Plyboo eco-friendly wood and is finished with Danish oil. The convertible piece of furniture looks very elegant. The furniture collection by the designer also includes Hollow Chaise lounge that is modern is design and looks great.

Eco chandelier

At last the Eco Chandelier has arrived! Chandeliers, for long have been good looking power guzzlers that are standard fitments in almost all the ballrooms across the globe. Now you can have the chandelier’s traditional good looks minus it’s high power consumption thanks to LED technology. This stunning LED Constellation Chandelier is courtesy Kenzan Tsutakawa-Chinn, a student from Pratt University.

This chandelier breaks away from conventionality to have a Starburst form by bunching together 394 LED’s on the tip of 91 copper tubes. Thus, you have a very good looking LED cluster that does away with complicated chandelier circuitry. You’ll be amazed to hear that the Constellation Chandelier runs on a 12 volt supply and consumes power equivalent to a 20 watt bulb. Phenomenal is an understatement. It definitely looks like LED technology has come of age with this very efficient, beautiful form of lighting.

News from Milan Furniture Show

The Milan Furniture Show is the place to go to catch up on the trends that are about to hit your home; it’s where designers’ names are made and big business is done – and last month’s show was no different.

Key trends emerged including adding quirkiness and individuality through standout pieces, introducing retro elegance (as illustrated by the 1930s Hollywood inspired Armani Casa’s collection) and the increased use of precious metals, with gold and silver extremely popular.

Colour was certainly a stand out this year, with bold and bright colours from tangerine to teal, aubergine to green used across the board - and they looked fantastic. Memorable pieces included Edra’s vibrant storage unit, which displayed the use of the colour spectrum at it’s best; some amazing bold seating presented by Modus; and the Established & Sons Stack drawers, which were the talk of the show.

Whilst we may not all be able to afford the latest designer pieces in our own homes, we can certainly build on their inspiration. Colour is easy to introduce into the home, and if you’re keeping green try bamboo – it’s a great sustainable material and can be lacquered in an array of bold and bright colours.

Straw furniture... is it possible?! Biome says yes!

I was recently contacted by this young, talented designer from Nottingham Trent University studying furniture and product design. The images below are from her final year project where she has designed 100% bio-degradable home furniture. This project was designed to help prevent the waste issues connected to our current ‘throw away society’.

The young designer, Sheryl Stephenson says “I have chosen to use strawboard which is a material currently being used as a formaldehyde free alternative to conventional wood based particle boards. As the name suggests strawboard is made completely of straw making it perfectly sustainable material. Each component would be constructed using simple jointing techniques and finished with an eco-friendly, water based varnish. With this furniture I want to illustrate to consumers how stylish environmentally furniture can look when designed well”

Biome Lifestyle loves her designs – well done Sheryl!

Luxury eco-furniture

I am sure we all say, if we won the lottery I would... Well if I did (although I never buy a ticket!) I would deck my home with this beautiful eco-furniture.

The furniture is by Brazilian designer Hugo França’s who offers beautiful, stylish and earthy furniture designs for the home. The Brazilian designer carves stunningly elemental furnishings from discarded Amazonian Indian canoes and fallen Pequi trees, some dating to 1,000 years old. The wide catalogue features low-slung coffee tables, chaises, and enormous room dividers. And, all this earth-consciousness would set you back for a incredible price tag as well that runs into tens of thousands of pounds. I best get saving...!

Recycled bracelets

Australian designer Craig Arnold has captured the beauty of contemporary design and sustainability with his latest bracelet collection, re:vision. Made from discarded camera parts, these bracelets are a must have accessory for photographers and eco-accessory fans alike. We are of course big proponents of recycling obsolete gadgets into new fashion statements, but Arnold’s fresh take on this eco-fashion principle is a great new idea, one from which we can all draw inspiration.

The organic dish

The US actor, Jake Gyllenhaal is planning to open an organic restaurant with a childhood friend. The 27-year-old reportedly wants to launch a high-class eatery in LA with chef Chris Fischer ...
The actor is said to be planning a cycling holiday in Tuscany with girlfriend Reese Witherspoon to help develop ideas for the menu.

If I ever visit LA, I shall be sure to pay a visit Jake!

Renewable Bikes

I think this is a fantastic idea! We all know the benefits of bamboo – strong, quick growing, highly versatile and we probably have all seen the wide variety of products that can be made from it. However, this is one product even on my Biome sourcing I have never seen...!
The bamboo bicycle has been designed by Craig Calfee, the man behind Santa Cruz-based bicycle shop, Calfee Design.

I believe it is this type of innovative thinking that will help shift is from over-consuming resources to using materials which are renewable and plentiful.

Craig Calfee built his first bamboo bike a few years ago – however, with all great designs the original needed work, in fact the first bike was too flexible and prone to splitting so Craig admits, "That first bike was kind of scary to ride!".

However, the bike attracted a lot of attention and he began building bamboo bikes for friends, relatives and employees, and the popularity and demand grew among both everyday riders and even racers... he knew he was onto something special.

Following a visit Craig made to Africa almost 25 years ago, Craig remembered three things: 1. There was a lot of bamboo, 2. People used bikes and didn't have enough of them, and 3. They needed jobs.

If these bamboo bikes were such a hit in Santa Cruz, maybe people in needy African communities and villages could build their own bikes to carry cargo. With these thoughts, Craig put a small notice on his website to seek out funding for a trip to learn what it would take to get the idea rolling. The Earth Institute at Columbia University decided it was worth trying, and so the Bamboo Bike Project was born.

The first Bamboo Bike Project trip took place last Summer in Ghana. Craig and his small team had to try and get the infrastructure set up and the supply chain worked out. Bamboo is everywhere, but what about epoxy? And resin? Epoxy and resin are two critical materials in making the bikes. They knew that there had to be a way to get these resources to the local villages if this idea has hopes of working.

Assuming the supply chain is set up, Craig needs to educate locals how to build the bikes, then he'll hand it over to them to run independently. The beauty of these bikes it that they require no electricity to build or fix, important features when resources are scarce.

"People spend 2-3 hours a day transporting water just for daily use and that’s a real drag on productivity," Craig explains. "So the bamboo bicycle will enable them to not only transport their own water, but they can do it for other people in exchange for goods to create commerce." These "micro-businesses" represent opportunity and the chance to be self-sufficient.

"If you travel in Africa and see the poverty and how much work has to be done just to survive, it makes anything you can imagine complaining about a joke. This is an incredible labour-saving device that can also become a desperately needed income-producing device."

"This has all the features of a successful idea, so I figured why not give it a shot?"

Good for you Craig, we wish the Bamboo Bike Project every success!

Love or loathe?

I can’t make my mind up about this lamp... Granted it is very unusual and original... but do I really want a shiny colander on my lovely vintage desk?? It is made by Fethi Atakol's who is a designer of functional recycled art. What do you think, love it or hate it??

Biome loves tea and teacups!

My friend invited me round for tea the other day and we drank from these lovely Ann Stokes pottery teacups! I can't think of a better way to enjoy a cup Tetley Organic! Ann Stokes is a talented 83-year old potter and her work is held by the Victoria & Albert Museum and featured in the open kitchen of the new Rebecca Hossack Gallery on Conway Street pictured below. She lives half in London and half in Tuscany, which has greatly influenced her animal-inspired creations, which include mirrors, lights, tableware, sculpture, and more.

I just love the ‘earthy, handmade’ quality to the designs. However, due to the high-kiln temperatures needed to fire pottery, it can’t be said that these designs are the most ‘eco-friendly’, but they are at least handmade within the UK. If only Ann’s kiln was fired using renewable energy, then these lovely teacups would definitely be one of Biome Lifestyle’s favourites!

Re-use art!

I stumbled across this young artist the other day and couldn’t resist buying myself a print! Olivia Jeffries designs are painted on old letters, notebooks or journals. I bought ‘Red’ the other day, but now have my eye on this beautiful picture titled Dancers, drawn on an old envelope. I really love the whole collection – just stunning!

What is a biome?

So many people do not understand what the word Biome means... This is understandable as it's not a word we use in everyday language. So to clear up any confusion, we decided to provide our own definition…

A biome is a ‘natural habitat’ (pronounced ‘by-ohm’). As Biome Lifestyle provides natural products for the home – the name Biome Lifestyle was created. Major biomes include deserts, forests, grasslands, tundra, and several types of aquatic environments. In fact, the world itself is one large biome. Each biome consists of many ecosystems whose communities have adapted to the small difference in climate and the environment inside the biome. All living things are closely related to their environment. Any change in one part of an environment, like an increase or decrease of a species of animals, plants or changes in the weather and atmosphere causes a ripple effect of change through other parts of the environment. Biome Lifestyle provides natural and eco home products which aim to be sensitive to the environment - from the environment they were made in to the environment or world as a whole.