Biome charity baskets!

Earlier this year, Biome was contacted by The St Vincent de Paul Society to supply some of our lovely handmade baskets. Every Christmas the students of Dominican College, Belfast organise food baskets which are then distributed to underprivileged families within the Belfast area. The college wanted the hampers to not only be fair trade but to be reused by the families for laundry and storage. The SVP is a voluntary organization dedicated to tackling poverty and disadvantage by providing direct practical assistance to anyone in need. Active in England & Wales since 1844, today it continues to address many people’s needs.

Biome Lifestyle were honoured to be involved with the project and thought we would share some photos of the students with our baskets below. As you can see, the baskets are stuffed full with food and supplies which will hopefully be well received by families. We hope to be involved with the Dominican College project again next year and want to say a big well-done to all the students involved!

Which Christmas Tree?

Every December, people buy a new Christmas tree which is lovingly decorated, then in January unlovingly thrown away!

This tradition has been followed for many years but if you are looking for a more ‘eco option’, what are the alternatives?

- Probably the least eco option is artificial trees. On the one hand, the good thing is they can be reused year after year. However, the material they are made from can be extremely bad for the environment and your health. The majority of artificial trees are made from PVC and even worse, lead is apparently used to stabilize certain PVC products, which is why you'll see a label on faux Christmas trees cautioning you to avoid inhaling or eating any bits of lead dust that may fall from the "branches”! On top of that, when their lifespan is finally over, artificial trees will not biodegrade easily. Plus think about the air-miles associated with most artificial trees as they are often made in South East Asia. All in all, not a great option!

- Cut real trees are at least carbon neutral, absorbing as much carbon dioxide as they grow as they will emit when burnt or left to decompose. Plus they do not emit any toxic nasties like artificial trees do. However, as the roots have been removed, re-planting a cut Christmas Tree is not a possibility…

- Therefore, the best eco-option would be a re-plantable Christmas Tree, i.e. one which is bought in a pot with its roots still in place. Then in January, why not plant the tree in your garden? I can remember my dad replanting our tree years ago! The tree is now thriving in the front garden and is always decorated every Christmas with fairy lights. If you don’t have anywhere to grow your tree after Christmas, maybe a neighbour or friend does? Alternatively, make sure your tree is recycled by your local council.Even better, try buying your potted Christmas Tree from a sustainable grower and/or make sure the tree has Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) accreditation; go to www.soilassociation.org/christmas for a list of suppliers.

Eco wrapping

Given the time and thought that goes into picking a Christmas gift, the standard wrap job -- a rumpled bow slapped on a store box or a bag and tissue paper picked up at the department store - rarely does justice to the contents. But visual appeal isn't the only reason to reconsider your wrapping habits. It is estimated that over Christmas as much as 83 square km of wrapping paper will end up in UK rubbish bins, enough to cover an area larger than Guernsey!

This year make gift wrap that's both gorgeous and green by creatively repurposing stuff others might toss. Here are some ideas…

Natural
Birch bark and fresh leaves are surprisingly pliable; just roll and secure with twine. Find them in Asian markets and outdoors.

Fillers
Biodegradable stuffing cushions small, fragile items just as well as plastic bubble wrap or Styrofoam peanuts, a recycler's worst nightmare.

Cloth
In Japan, the art of wrapping gifts in cloth is called furoshiki, and it's brilliantly ecofriendly. Secure open ends with a button, safety pin, or knot.

Paper
Easy to find and work with, vintage and repurposed papers add pop to presents. Layer several colors and textures, or add vintage beads for a finished look.

Herbal Fire Starters

Pinecones and dried herbs such as rosemary, sage leaves, and cinnamon sticks make fragrant kindling for a winter fire - and, unlike composite firelogs and lighter fluid, don't rely on chemicals to ignite the flame. Here’s how to do it: 1. Bundle dried herbs and small pinecones in a sheet of newspaper and secure the ends with raffia or cotton twine. 2. As you pile up logs for your fire, nestle the herb bundle underneath, with paper ends sticking out. 3. To start the fire, light the newspaper ends. As the paper burns, the herbs inside will ignite and incinerate, giving the logs a chance to catch fire. Sit back and enjoy the fragrance and your fire!

Paper-free Christmas cards!

Seeing yourself as an Elf, although a little disturbing, is also highly amusing!

Elf Yourself is a fantastic free alternative to sending out paper greetings cards. Last year, a number of my friends and family members sent out e-cards, and I couldn't help wondering how many trees must have been saved and pennies saved! Upload a photo of yourself, choose a dance, Take a look at Elf Yourself, or for something a little less ridiculous, you could go for a classical option via the Britsh Library's Selection who have a number of Christmas e-cards or www.hallmark.com

I know that sending e-cards, removes the personal touch from handwritten Christmas cards, but not only does it save time and money but it also saves on a huge amount of paper!

I think I will be sending a traditional card to my Nan and Grandad, after all they don’t use the internet, but for everyone else it will be e-cards all the way!

Supporting Social Enterprises

Biome Lifestyle have recently been working closely with a small social enterprise in Nepal.

FHC in Nepal was established in 2003 by two female entrepreneurs who committed themselves to helping many poor,vulnerable and socially excluded women through building their skills and providing vital opportunities to enhance their economic status.

After 5 years, the enterprise has provided space to enhance economic opportunity to 78 women working on a daily basis and has 8 permanent staff paid on a monthly basis.

The enterprise specialises in making products from felt. Such as Biome's fantastic Christmas Advent Calendars:

They hand produce their own chemical free felt from just hand soap and hot water. And then hand sew each decoration together and place it on a string ready for you to discover in December.

Their principles are as follows:

* Provide fare wages

* Provide employment to poor, vulnerable and socially excluded women

* Provide a friendly working environment

* Promote transparency and good governance

* Promote social inclusion

Biome are thrilled to be working with the enterprise - not only do they produce a high standard of work but it's great to know that every order we make is helping to benefit the lives of others. That's the way it should be!

Biome recommends...

I have found an easy and absolutely free way of supporting your favourite charity!

aGoodCause.com collaborates with more than 30 charities and relief organisations and more than 900 e-shops. When I shop with one of these shops via AidMaker, a small piece of software, I automatically donate money to my chosen organisation. Donating money in this way is completely free! The shops then send a fixed amount of the price paid for the goods to the charities or relief organisations. We can all make donations in this way by downloading AidMaker at www.agoodcause.com

Biome Lifestyle plan to join agoodcause.com’s e-shop members so we say download it today and help make a difference!

Eco Clubbing!

A new eco-friendly opened in London this summer called Surya, Islington. The club is so environmentally sustainable that it will even donate electricity to its neighbours!
That, at least, is what Surya's owners are claiming:

"Each week millions upon millions of exuberant human beings head out of their houses and into nightclubs to expend large amounts of energy on the dancefloor," Dr Earth said in a statement. "[But] clubbing remains one of the few areas of society untouched by the green message."
According to its statement, Surya is powered by sustainable energy - in particular, wind and sun power - and, in fact, generates enough electricity to pass on to its immediate neighbours.

Besides solar-energy panels, a wind turbine, waterless urinals, low-flush toilets and eco-friendly air-conditioning units, Surya also boasts a high-tech alternative energy dancefloor. It will, the club says, use "materials such as quartz crystals, ceramics, cutting-edge technology and the dancing motion of clubbers to generate part of the club's energy requirements". Fascinating!

Biome Lifestyle would be thrilled if the answer to the world's environmental crisis just meant putting your dancing shoes on and grooving the night away!!

Don't stop dancing - you'll make the lights go out!

Action Aids Child Poverty Day

On October 17th, ActionAid is holding Child Poverty Day. They are encouraging everyone to bring in their own packed lunch that day or hold a school dinner event at home or at work. Simply get together with colleagues or friends and tuck into a classic school dinner or make your own lunch and give the money you would have spent to ActionAid.

If joined with enough friends or colleagues, the event could be really good fun and I am sure will bring back lots of ‘school dinner memories’!

The Child Poverty Day site even has recipe ideas from celebrity chef Antony Worral Thompson for some great lunchtime ideas.

Biome Lifestyle will certainly be joining in on the day – although we’re only a small team, we know every little helps!

Untouched World

I feel ethical fashion still has a slight ‘hippy’ stigma attached. However, the range of ethical clothing brands are growing rapidly and some of my favourites include Ciel, Howies, Eco-boudoir and Noir (the latter though is a little out of my price range!).

However, whilst reading one of my favourite magazines Healthy and Organic, I was pleased to come across a fashion website I previously hadn’t seen Untouched World. Apparently it was the world’s first fashion company to be recognised by the United Nations.Looking round the site, they have some lovely items ranging from everyday wear, yoga wear and evening wear.
They say “Untouched World™ is an ethical lifestyle fashion brand based on the New Zealand lifestyle. It grew out of a desire to create a positive, sustainable future. Social, cultural and environmental sustainability is built deep within the DNA of Untouched World™. We believe you don’t have to give up quality, luxury and great design to be good to the planet and look after its people. We design ethical luxury fashion without compromising performance and style”

Great philosophy!

I think I know what I’ll be asking for Christmas now…!