EARTH MATTERS
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Ti p s t o greener driving
MAY 2012 | Issue 01
Beauty without the cruelty
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Leona Lewis’ shows support for Peta
High street style is it really a fair trade?
Water crisis & the meat industry
£2.99
This month... Hello! Welcome to the first edition of Earth Matters! We’re an ethical magazine, focused on all aspects of leading an environmentally friendly and happy lifestyle! This month our issue has something for everyone whether your car crazy or waste weary. We look at the world wide water crisis, the huge amounts of waste food dumped by supermarkets, cruelty free beauty on a budget and whether the Kindle is environmentally friendly, or not? Also we look at cheaper alternatives to High Street style and if it really is a fair trade ? I hope you enjoy this issue, see you next month!
On the cover: P14 - Beauty without the cruelty P16 - Water Crisis & the meat industry P12 - High Street style - is it really a fair trade? P4 - 7 Tips to greener driving
PLUS: P5 - Can’t afford a hybrid but still want to lower your carbon footprint? P7 - Supermarket waste - the impact P10 - Does money really make the world go around? P11 - Vegan recipes P16 - Worldwide water crisis - meat eaters know whats at steak P3 - Kony 2012 - How much do people care? P15 - H&M launch new eco range P18 - Do e-readers save our planet? P20 - 5 Tips to an eco-friendly home
Fiona x
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LEONA SHOWS HER SUPPORT The X Factor star protests against animal cruelty In the world of celebrity, looking good is key. Whether it’s the latest clothing trend, make-up look or a new hairdo, the rich and famous have to have it all to keep on top of their game. But this constant need to look good has an impact; many of the brands celebrities use to make themselves look good, or even use their name to endorse, test on animals. Many celebs, including ‘Britain’s sweetheart’ Cheryl Cole, are the faces of cosmetics company L’Oreal, known for its use of animal testing. However, many famous figures are taking a stand against animal cruelty, including our cover star, singer Leona Lewis. Leona, who won the X Factor in 2006, has been a vegetarian since the age of 12, and refuses to wear clothing made from animal produce. She has been in talks with Topshop about releasing an ethical line of clothing, and is often pictured wearing veganfriendly clothing. In 2008, Leona reportedly turned down a seven figure sum of money to open a Harrods sale in London. When
asked why she turned the opportunity down, Leona told the press that she refused the offer as Harrods are the only UK department store which continues to stock clothing made from animal fur. She said: "It wasn't a million pounds that I was offered, as the papers reported, but even if it had been, I still would have turned it down. I got a lot of flak for that. There were people who said I should have done it and given the money to charity, but that would have been such a contradiction." She has been named PETA’s (People For The Ehtical Treatment of Animals) ‘Sexiest Vegetarian’ two years running and was awarded the charities ‘Person of The Year’ award in 2008. Leona joins a host of celebrities, including comedian Ricky Gervais and former Pussycat Doll Kimberley Wyatt, on a mission to end cruelty to animals. She is a supporter of the World Society For The Protection of Animals, and is a patron of the Hopefield Animal Sanctuary in Brentfield, London.
Leona in an anti-animal testing campaign.
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u m w o H t s Ju I’m sure there’s no need for me to condescend by telling you about Kony 2012. We all know what it is, we all know what it was designed to do, and we are all aware of the various repercussions. However; the thing that became abundantly clear was the incessant human nature instilled in the majority of Facebook and Twitter’s masses the need to cast an insincere false image of the knowledgeable saintly self. So, how many really empathised? Is it just a front, perhaps a sedative for societal guilt? Take, for example, the Japanese tsunami, or the earthquakes in Haiti, people heard about it, people gave some money, and people
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? e r a c e l p o e p o d h c
forgot. The shocking thing about Kony 2012 wasn’t the content, but the ignorance of most if its recipients – many of whom were oblivious to any such crimes beforehand. The rallying call of those who took umbridge with the twenty mintue long video has taken the form of Cover The Night - A plan to cover some of the biggest cities with Kony Awareness posters. However, this planned rebellion against Kony’s evil crimes has been scheduled to take place a month after the video spread. Bearing in mind the method which gave the video such a base of attention: is it likely to remain poignant among the wouldbe revoutionaries? When asked about the
reactions, Ben Blankley (of warchild.org) said: “Sure, it’s great that people are finally aware, but it shouldn’t take this long to evoke such enthusiasm.” Think for a second about the potential number of other war criminals, who aren’t given such a Social Network style publicity campaign; when will their comeuppance arrive? “The planned poster campaign is a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done for causes like this. On the eve of Cover The Night (a poster campaign in accordance with Kony 2012) I put it to you: Posters fall, but true compassion for a cause will always weather the storm.
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Tips to greener driving
Plan ahead Unless you’re out a spontaneous drive (which wouldn’t be green at all) you will have a rough idea where you want to go, so plan your route before you leave. Try avoiding busy town centres where you’ll be forced into stop-start traffic and traffic jams. It’ll make for a less stressful drive too.
Rev less
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As the cost of fuel continues to rise, even boy racers can’t afford to rev away fuel unnecessarily. By changing gear when your car revs between 23000 rpm you’ll burn less fuel and also notice your fuel gauge falling slower than usual.
Service regularly
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Many people skip services to save money but this is a corner you should not cut. By servicing your car at the indicated intervals you will keep your engine in top condition and make break-downs less likely.
Lose unnecessary weight
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Basically, if you don’t use it lose it. Driving around with unnecessary objects in the car make the car heavier and increase the amount of fuel you use. Also take roof racks off when not in use as they create extra aerodynamic drag.
Slow down
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Remember the speed limit is the limit, not something you need to constantly match. For instance on motorways you’ll use 10% less fuel driving at 50 rather than 70. Also anticipate your surroundings well to avoid unnecessary braking/acceleration.
Turn it off If you’re going to be sitting waiting for more than a minute or two, you’ll save fuel and emissions by turning off your engine rather than leaving it idling.
Keep your tyres pumped up
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Under inflated tyres cause more drag and therefore use more fuel. By keeping them pumped up to the correct PSI you’ll save money and lower emissions. Lots of petrol stations have air stands you can use and the recommended PSI for your car will be in your handbook.
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Eco Super Can’t afford a hybrid but still want
By Jack Walsh If you can’t afford a hybrid but naturally frugal. And thanks to the 95bhp 1.6 TDCi engine as still want to do your bit for well as some aerodynamic clever engineering we now the planet, these superminis have cars capable of 80+ mpg tweaks. The engine feaThtures are just a few examples of stop-start, which cuts the enwith a miniscule co2 output. what can be had for an afgine out when the car is put One of the best examples is fordable price. These city the Ford Fiesta Econetic. It into neutral in traffic, clever recars offer low co2 emissions generative braking and revised emits a minuet 87g/km of as well as cheap running gear ratios which are just a CO2 and can achieve a comcosts. Here we highlight the bined fuel consumption of few of the things that help it best of this competitive sec85.6mpg. It achieves this reach these impressive figtor. through a variety of tweaks to ures. Thanks to these figures As fuel prices the frugal fiesta continue to is exempt from soar the small road tax and car sector has the London connever been gestion charge, more competiadding to its aptive. If you’re peal. However looking for an all of this techeco-friendly car nology comes without the at a cost. But if hefty price tag, you can afford a supermini is to spend the way to go. £14,445 this is Thanks to where we would their small diput our money. mensions, Thankfully The fiesta’s controls are clear and easy to use these cars are there are
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The Hyundai’s inte cheaper alternatives available that boast green credentials. Take the Fiat 500 Twinair for instance. It uses a clever 2 cylinder turbo-charged 0.9 litre engine, which emits just 95g/km of CO2 and yet delivers 23% more power than the traditional 1.2 power plant. It costs from £11,660 brand new but if you look about you could pick up a 1-year-old model from as little as £8,995.
rmini heroes to lower your carbon footprint?
99g/km of CO2 making it too exempt from paying road tax as well the London congestion charge. Add mpg figures of 67.3mpg and we've got another frugal supermini, which is sure to keep costs down. Unlike the first two, we are not recommending the 'eco ver-
erior is very practical Because this car emits so little CO2 it is exempt from road tax and the London congestion charge. Add group 1 insurance, the lowest possible band, and you’re looking at truly cheap and eco-friendly motoring. Cheaper still is the Hyundai i10. There is a blue version which is powered by a 68bhp 1.0 litre engine and emits just
sion' of the model as the standard 1.2 litre engine is still very economical and is far cheaper to buy. It's no hazard to the environment either with CO2 figures of 108g/km and you'll only pay £20 on road tax for the year. The 1.2 is capable of 60+ mpg and when you consider that you can pick up a brand new 1.2 from as little as £8,345 it really is an eco-bargain. Any one of this trio of city cars will cost you pennies to
run and ease your environmental conscience.The fiesta is the most capable motorway cruiser here, so if you do a lot of motorway miles its the car to go for. Meanwhile the Fiat and Hyundai are at their best in town, zipping through city streets and making light work of tight parking spaces. The main thing to remember is that all 3 of these cars are
good in their own ways and it depends on what you use your car for. All three cater for different needs whilst maintaining an enivronmental conscience. These superminis’ prove there is life in the conventional engine yet and that there are far cheaper alternatives to plug in hybrids or electric cars readily available. One thing is certain: the petrol era has life in it yet.
The Fiat 500’s retro cabin is full of character 6
Supermarket Waste - THE IMPACT Earth Matters lifts the lid on the amount of food needlesly thrown away in the UK each year By Greg Thomson It would seem that Benjamin Franklin’s famous ethos ‘Waste not, want not’ has gone completely unnoticed these days, as the world teeters on the brink of drowning in its own refuse. An alarmingly high rate of total world waste is food; fresh, clean and ready to eat - the United States food waste in one year alone would feed the world’s hungry many times over. Here in the UK the statistics are just as shocking: the UK wastes around 16 million tonnes of food each year, with a high percentage of that waste coming from our supermarkets. This is perfectly good food, with a value of around £20 billion, sometimes with little more than packaging faults, which fills our landfills each year, emitting millions of tonnes of methane. Needless waste of food contributes to masses of
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wasted energy and resources, with much of the waste coming down to consumer negligence, but with a lot of it being tied up in supermarket policies and health and safety bureaucracies that stop tonnes of food as it comes off the production line. Some of the nit-picking displayed by supermarket chains when it comes to judging a food by its appearance is completely baffling. From bent carrots and curvy cucumbers, to potatoes with too many eyes, anything that doesn’t meet the particular criteria is sent away, either to landfill sites, or as is becoming increasingly common, back to the farmers who grew the food to sell in the first place. Another seemingly needless practice carried out by several of the big supermarket chains is to throw away the crusts and the first two inside slices of their loaves, re-
sulting in millions of slices of good bread being thrown away every year. WRAP (the Waste and Resources Action Programme) estimate that bread is the most wasted household item in the UK. WRAP spokesperson Mark Newman recognises the seeming lunacy behind some of the standard operating practices: “It is true that a lot of the big supermarkets have specific policies when it comes to the presentation of their bread, as well as other foods. They tend to say that this is what the customer wants although we have yet to see any research that backs up this assertion. People are throwing away up to thirty percent of their bread at home, and the retailers are binning almost a quarter of a loaf before it reaches the customer, it makes for some pretty miserable reading.”
When we consider bread wastage alone, and the amount of time, energy and resources that goes into, first of all producing, packaging and transporting the bread, and the amount that then goes into dumping it for no good reason, it certainly highlights the extent of our collective ignorance. Although there are people out there trying to salvage all the food they can, even if it means resorting to desperate measures. Bin-diving is fast becoming a cheap alternative to paying over the odds for food, food that in all likelihood will be in the supermarket bins the following day. Rummaging through bins for food is nothing new; people have been doing it for as long as there were bins to rummage through. These days however it is a big part of many people’s lives, and is a major tenet of ‘Freeganism’. Freegans take what they can from wherever they can, they try to live as eco-friendly and as inexpensively as possible and although many are activists at heart who are trying to
make a statement, many different people from all walks of life are adopting freeganism as a viable solution to paying for food. Glasgow based freegan James Merchant has been diving for three years, stumbling across the idea when university costs became too much to bear: “It was when I was at uni in London that me and my mates first did a bit of bin-diving. At first it was a bit of a thrill and a bit of a laugh and it also saved us a lot of much needed money, but it soon became an everyday thing for me. I mean once you get used to getting food for free, why would you want to change that?” James swears by bin-diving and has had better meals from bins than he could ever afford to buy in the shops: “Yeah I’ve had lots of good meals, I don’t think people realise, it’s not bits of crust we’re talking about, its good quality food, with nothing wrong with it. I’ve had salmon,
steaks, all kinds of dry and frozen foods that have just been chucked out that night. There’s always been lots of vegetables, I’m probably healthier now than I’ve ever been.” He now works as a volunteer in Glasgow and says bin-diving helped him break free from the financial web he had found himself stuck in: “I did start bin-diving out of basic necessity but it helps you realise just how much we’re wasting and you start to notice other ways that you can free yourself up from some of the pressures of modern living. I hate even thinking about all the money I used to spend on food every day, your money just disappears. And I don’t need to go out for food every day, once or twice a week in general, there’s times when I’ve found enough to last me for weeks. I even found a brand new dvd player one night.” Ultimately, bin-diving does nothing to stop supermarkets being wasteful with the food that they stock, however it is an effective way of diverting
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the good food that goes to landfill sites. According to WRAP, the greenhouse gasses produced by our food waste alone in landfill sites account for around five percent of the UK’s total yearly emissions. WRAP’s Mark Newman says: “If we could eradicate all food waste from landfill sites, it would be the equivalent of taking a quarter of the cars in Britain off the road.” As well as landfill sites, the other preferred option in the UK for dealing with food waste is another contaminant of the earth’s atmosphere. Anaerobic digestion, where food is converted into energy emits up to 500 times the amount of carbon dioxide that would have been emitted if the waste had been fed to pigs – a practice that is mandatory in Asian countries, but illegal in the UK and Europe. What is more worrying still is the supermarkets reluctance to release the official data regarding just how much food they actually throw away. All figures and estimates up till now have been the result of chasing up secondary sources by various campaign groups - how much food waste enters landfill sites; how much is taken in at the anaerobic digestion plants; how much is sent back to the suppliers and how much is refused on aesthetic grounds before it has even reached the supermarket? These are just some of the various avenues that had to be explored in order to present the public
with the rough estimates that we have today. In a recent Channel Four investigation into the lack of solid figures provided by supermarkets when it comes to food waste, only one supermarket giant out of the big four: Asda, Tesco, Morrison’s and Sainsbury’s, released their food waste numbers – Sainsbury’s revealed their total food waste to be 44,000 tonnes per year. The other three either refused to explain why they wouldn’t release the figures, or branded it commercially sensitive. The picture painted here of our current state of affairs regarding food waste may seem like a gloomy one, and it is. But there are many campaign groups and charities that are doing everything they can to try and spread the wealth, or at least spread the rubbish. London based charity organisation Fareshare works to get its hands on all of the edible food waste that retailers throw away and to distribute it among the poor and the homeless surely a scheme that could have been implemented long ago. However even with mouths to feed and charity workers willing to distribute it, supermarkets are still not taking to the idea wholeheartedly. Many still refuse to give away anything that is past the best-before-date, resulting in tonnes of food lying in waste. Sainsbury’s currently give their entire in-date food surplus to charity. But it would be wrong to moralise
the supermarket industry for its waste while we as a group of individuals squander more food than they do. Some say the average British household wastes nearly 40 percent of all food it buys. This culture of excess, greed and mindless waste is something that has been allowed to grow over time, and it will take just as long to bring it to an end. Until then, the worms in Britain’s landfills will remain better fed than the people on its streets.
Food Waste Facts: In one year UK households produce enough bread and cereal waste to feed 30 million of the world’s hungry. We throw away more than 7 million tonnes of food and drink every year from our homes - most of which could have been safely consumed. 10% of rich countries' greenhouse gas emissions come from growing food that is never eaten. All the world's nearly one billion hungry people could be lifted out of malnourishment on less than a quarter of the food that is wasted in the US, UK and Europe. Globally, over half of the food produced today is lost, wasted or discarded as a result of inefficiency in the human-managed food chain.
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“Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pound ought and six, result misery.” – Charles Dickens
Greg Thomson asks:
Does money really make the world go round? Translated to the modern vernacular, what Mr Dickens was saying was, that if you spend more money than you make, you will be miserable. This might seem like an obvious statement to many people, but if happiness really is balanced so precariously on the edge of your last pound coin, might it not be a good idea to start looking for real inner wealth rather than putting all of our stock in the material world? The financial crash of 2008, coupled with a growing division between rich and poor, has brought the subject of the evils of money back to the fore. But can money be escaped entirely? Freeshare seems to think so. The site is home to a group of people who are, getting the most out of their money by using it less. By giving away old or unneeded items instead of throwing them out, the ‘sharers’ are making their money travel – but for the good of lots of
other people. One sharer, Stephanie Mackay, channels the enthusiasm of the site: “Since becoming aware of the group I’ve had a pair of ankleweights, a bedside lamp, a rug for my living room and a vinyl record player with a stack of old vinyl’s. I’ve given away an old couch and television that were here when I moved in, and a broken typewriter that someone used for parts. “It’s a relief knowing that I might not need to spend daft amounts of money on all those little things that you tend to buy over time. I’d say I’ve probably saved more than a hundred pounds already.” Local swap-shops are another good way to do your bit for the environment by reusing that which would otherwise be thrown away, and will help free you up from some of life’s financial strains. However not everyone adheres to modern life’s biggest boundary. One such hermit of the modern
day is 69 year-old German woman Heidemarie Schwermer, who has lived without money for 16 years. She began by initiating a swap-shop in her home city of Dortmund where people would swap not only goods but skills and services. After seeing how well this worked Heidemarie gave up her job, sold all of her possessions and left her flat. Now she lives completely without money and constantly travels, trading her own skills and services such as housekeeping and gardening, and even psychiatry sessions (she used to be a psychiatrist) in return for food. Too many people today put money straight in at the top of their list, and then struggle and strive all of their lives to reach that happiness which was never there in the first place. Maybe its time that skills and experience take pride of place over the restrictive bonds of modern day finance.
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Eat Green Embrace Veganism Living as a Vegan is a lot easier, fun and inexpensive than people often first imagine. Put simply, vegans do not eat anything which derives from animals.
Far from being restrictive, a vegan diet can open up a new world of taste sensations, new dishes and flavours. Fancy trying it? Heres a simple three course vegan meal:
Spinach, Smoked Tofu and Tomato Salad (Serves 4) You will need: 2 handfuls of leaf spinach. 2 oz (55g) smoked tofu, finely crumbled. 4 cherry tomatoes. 1 very small clove of garlic, crushed. 1 tbsp olive oil. 1/2 tsp vegan red wine vinegar. Squeeze of lemon. Freshly ground black pepper. 1.Wash and finely chop the spinach. Place in a bowl and add the smoked tofu and the tomatoes. 2. To make the dressing, mix the garlic, olive oil, vinegar and lemon juice. Adding freshly ground black pepper. 3. Pour the dressing on to the spinach, smoked tofu and tomatoes. Toss and serve.
Lime and Coconut Cheesecake (Serves 8) You will need: 9 oz (250g) vegan ginger biscuits 2 dssp vegetable oil 5 oz (145g) block creamed coconut 2 limes 12 oz (350g) firm silken tofu 1 avocado 2 1/2 oz (70g) caster sugar Coconut shavings and lime slices to decorate 1. Break the biscuits to fine crumbs using a plastic bag and rolling pin. 2. Place vegetable oil and 45g/1 1/2 oz of the creamed coconut in a saucepan, heat gently, and stir continuously, until the coconut has melted. 3. Remove from heat and add the crushed ginger biscuits. Mixing well and transfer to a lightly oiled 7-inch cake tin with a spring bottom. Press down firmly and leave to cool in a fridge. 4. Using the saucepan again, add the juice and pulp of the two limes and the rest of the creamed coconut. Heat gently until the coconut has melted. 5. Transfer to a blender and add the tofu, avocado and sugar. Blend until well mixed and smooth. 6. Remove the biscuit base from the fridge and pour the tofu mix into the tin. Decorate with coconut shavings and lime slices. Place in the fridge and leave to set for approximately 3 hours.
African Stew (Serves 4) You will need: 2 1/2 pints (1.4 litres) vegetable stock. 3 cloves garlic, crushed. 2 onions, chopped. 1 lb (450g) sweet potato, peeled and diced. 1 x 400g tin chick peas. 6 oz (170g) millet. 1 tbsp soya sauce. 4 oz (115g) peanut butter. 3 oz (85g) chopped kale. Juice of 1 lemon. 1. Heat a large saucepan with 1-2 tablespoons of vegetable stock. Add garlic and onion and sautĂŠ until soft. 2. Add the rest of the stock, sweet potatoes, chick peas, millet and a few drops of soy sauce. Simmer for 20 minutes. 3. Remove some of the stew liquid from the saucepan, blend with peanut butter and return to the saucepan. 4. Add the kale and cook for 5 min. Season to taste with lemon juice and soya sauce.
e d a r t r i a F n o i h Fas
High street style - is it really a fair trade? Lauren Sneddon investigates the use of sweatshops by the UK high street In the pursuit of being more eco-friendly many of us have made alterations to our homes and lifestyles, however our wardrobes are the one place that shut the door on us living a more environmentally friendly lifestyle. After constant awareness throughout the past few years on measures we can adopt to living a more ethical lifestyle; such as recycling house hold waste, washing clothes at 3O0c, using energy saving bulbs, to name a few. The one industry lacking ethical awareness is the Fashion industry. The UK high street fashion industry is worth an estimated £44.5 billion fuelled by trend following Brits who can’t get enough of looking good.However, what goes on behind the attractive shop window displays is far from glamorous. Last year the International Textile Garment and Leather Workers' Federation (ITGLWF) revealed a shocking report that factories in Asia are still working in sweat shop style environments supply-
ported that workers in a factory making Adidas products were earning around 7 Indian Rupee an hour– the equivalent of nine pence in British sterling. When interviewed workers admitted during some shifts that they had their hair pulled, were slapped and refused permission to go to the toilet. War on Want a charity against sweatshops found that in 2008 ‘cheap chic’ store Primark were exploiting its workers in factories in the Bangladeshi High street shop windows hide the capital, Dhaka. The charity discovered truth of sweatshop usage that workers were working for as little as inhumane working practices in 7 pence an hour. factories in Bangladesh, India, Paul Collins, a spokesperson at who supply goods for sports the anti-poverty charity War on brands Nike and Adidas. Want, said: "Our support for exOrders are of high demand as ploited garment workers making sports companies like Nike are UK stores' clothes have helped selling branded clothing and win important gains. These inmerchandise for the London clude substantial rises in minimum wages, compensation for 2012 Olympics. It has been re-
ing clothes and footwear for international brands. In March this year The Observer and anti-sweatshop campaign group ‘War on Want’ unearthed
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factory blaze victims and new High Street favourite Topshop, certified mark is an international safety measures. Like us, visit: www.peopletree.co.uk to label that provides consumers shadow Olympics minister Tessa see the eco fashion ranges avail- with a guarantee that the prodJowell has urged the Games able. uct they are buying supports sportswear partner to improve High Street supermarkets Sains- third world producers. Cotton pay and conditions for its bury’s and Tesco have also has a huge carbon footprint for Bangladeshi clothing plant work- joined the fight against sweatproduction and manufacturing ers. And many thousands of shops by selling fair trade cloththerefore supporting cotton people in Britain have backed ing ranges and fair trade food farms is important. our campaign ‘Love Fashion products within their UK stores. However because of the high Hate Sweatshops’”. For more in- H&M have also defied criticism demand of clothes expected by formation visit the website: retailers, cotton is www.waronwant.org. usually genetically Swedish fashion retailer H&M modified (GM). This have been shamed in the means that pesticides press over recent years after and fertilisers are a number of incidents linking used in cotton prothem to unfair practices. In duction, which is 2010, 21 of thier workers died harmful to the enviin one of thier factories in ronment. Bangladesh as they were unThe land used to grow able to get to safety as the GM cotton becomes fire exists were blocked. damaged therefore Unsafe buildings and harmful farmers become debt chemicals are just some of the -ridden and often components that make up the commit suicide as a machine that is the sweatshop PROTEST: War on Want campaigners result. The fair-trade protest with anti sweatshop slogans Foundation has aimed industry. The input of the workers hard from eco campaigners by for at least 10% of cotton clothyet unrewarding labour is conlaunching a spring/summer con- ing sold in the UK to be fairstructed in a cheap way and the scious collection in all their intrade material by this year. end result of the clothes are sold ternational stores this April. Martine Perry, media and PR for a low price tag in the High Sarah Cordey, press officer for manager for the Fair-trade FounStreet with the big bosses of the British Retail Consortium dation said: “Cotton sales companies receiving the fairest said: “Even though awareness peaked in 2009 with over 18 trade as they reap the rewards surrounding fair trade fashion is million units being sold in the UK of a tidy profit. growing there is still a lack of market alone however since British people are not expected presence of fair trade clothes 2009 we have seen a decline in to work in conditions so decompared to high street labels in sales which we put down to the meaning yet are happy to buy the high street which may be recession but also pressures on clothes in the UK High street down to price. margins as higher costs have which are made by people who There is less consumer demand forced many companies to cut work in exhausting conditions for fairtrade clothes as the cost back on sustainable product opwhere their basic human rights of fair trade clothing are higher tions. We are launching an excitare overlooked. than the popular high street ing new campaign on cotton this Despite several newspaper intrends as fair trade clothes are June which aims to boost sales vestigations exposing high street made from organic cotton which of fair-trade school uniforms, stores and a growing number of costs more to produce.” The which is growing category for anti sweatshop organizations, high street sells a huge variety us.” the fight against unethical work- of clothes made from other maIn times when eco awareness is ing practices is still to reach a terials other than cotton e.g. a growing issue amongst housevictory stage. One development lace and silk therefore fashion holders all aspects of clothing that has emerged within the forward consumers are preavailable should have a fair fashion industry over the last sented with more choice of trade option so that third world few years is the number of fair trends that they can wear producers receive the benefits trade organisations selling eco whereas with fair trade fashion they deserve. friendly fashion. People Tree, an there look is limited. Less than More awareness and campaigns ethical clothing organisation set 1% of cotton fashion sold on the will ensure consumers get the up in Japan in 1991 launched message loud and clear that fair high street carries the fair-trade the UK branch of its company in trade fashion should be seen as certified mark therefore almost 2001. In 2006 it launched its fair all clothes sold on the high the best trend around, one that trade on the high street camis made to last. street are not made with fair paign by launching ranges at trade materials. The fair trade
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Cruelty Free Beauty
With hundreds of beauty brands sold in the UK, it’s hard to know if you’re buying cruelty free products or not. But today, more and more cosmetic companies are going cruelty free and more affordable products are becoming available. Many companies will claim that their products are cruelty free, when in fact only their ‘finished product’ hasn’t been tested on animals, but the ingredients used to make the product have been. The British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV)’s ‘Go Cruelty Free’ campaign aims to abolish animal testing in the UK, and several companies have already signed up to carry the charities ‘Leaping Bunny’ logo on
their products. BUAV say: “While some products carry labels claiming that their brand is ‘not tested on animals’ or is ‘against animal testing’, these are often confusing and do not guarantee that the product is actually free from animal testing. Only the Leaping Bunny can provide peace of mind.
free’ under the internationallyrecognised Humane Cosmetics or Humane Household Products Standards.” Some cruelty free beauty brands in the UK include Superdrug’s own products, MUA, Sleek Make Up, Barry M, John Frieda and Urban Decay, some expensive brands, some not, but all 100% cruelty free. But behold! Days of parting with insane amounts of cash to ensure your make-up is cruelty free are gone. By all means, enjoy indulging in expensive beauty products knowing no animals were harmed making them, but for those who are feeling a little frugal in the current economic climate, there are now cheaper options.
Products bearing the Leaping Bunny mark are certified ‘cruelty
Barry M Nail Paints - £2.99
MU A
Ey es ha do ws
Sleek Pout Polish - £4.30
-£ 1. 00
Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette- £36
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H&M go green with new eco ‘Concious Collection’ H&M have launched an eco friendly fashion collection with a huge promo called ‘conscious collection 2012’ after vowing to go green after recent public scandals relating to unfair trade practices. The Swedish fashion retailer suffered a bad year in 2010 when it was accused by a german newspaper of organic cotton fraud after clothes samples in a lab in Germany were tested and found to have traces of genetically modified cotton. H&M labelled their cotton clothes with organic cotton labels tricking shoppers into thinking they were buying organic cotton when really they weren’t. Their eco friendly fashion collection is available in shops from April 12 2012 and makes use of some of the best spring/summer trends out including tropical print playsuits, floral dresses and the mid maxi skirts. The clothes have been made from 100% cotton, hemp and recyled polyester. As well as selling trends H&M may be starting its own trend in the fashion production industry by ‘ upcycling’, which is when clothes are made from existing pieces to make new ones. This collection is a positive move forward in promoting eco friendly
h Lime green thig split dress
£162.00
fashion and is already popular among celebrities. (See actress Michelle Williams wearing H&M below, right). Get your hands on the collection now from H&M stores on your nearest High Street or visit www.www.hm.com/gb.
ganic la Pale green or
£
Michelle Wil liams in mon ochrome gown from H &M Consciou s Collection
h Fuschia pink thig split dress
£245.00
Lime green embelleshed dress
£57.00
ce top
14.99
ite isted Wh a W h ig H
White lace
Shorts
£14.99
sleeved top
£7.99
15
WORLDWIDE WATER CRISIS MEAT EATERS, KNOW WHATS AT STEAK
By Kimberley Winning
Water is a resource that most of us in the UK take for granted. When we consider issues of water and food security we are likely to conjure up images of third world countries. However, some environmentalists claim that we are in
the midst of a global water crisis. Worldwide water consumption rose six fold between 1990 and 1995, double the rate of population development and this continues to rise as demands on farming, industries and domestic life continue to grow.
One of the main perpetrators of global water loss is the meat industry, and with the water equivalent of 50 baths needed to produce just one steak, vegetarianism could be the answer to this looming crisis. One third of the world’s population currently reside in countries with limited water resources. Worryingly, this number is expected to rise to as much as two –thirds by 2025.
The bathers held up signs reading : "50 Baths = 1 Steak. Clean Your Conscience - Go Vegan,” Vegan PETA supporters Marika Rea and Helaine Murrin took part in the Dublin protest. Helaine said, “"Not only is the meat industry cruel, it also wastes huge amounts of water and damages the planet." "You can't eat meat and be an environmentalist” Sandra Smiley of PETA said, “The action, organised by PETA, aimed to show people that the best way to fight the worldwide water crisis and clear their conscience is to stop eating meat. It takes about 15,500 litres of water to produce one kilogram of beef, compared with just 1,000
It takes 15,500 litres of water to produce one kg of beef
Boutros Boutros Ghali, former UN Secretary General goes as far to say; “ Water will be more important than oil this century.” A strong statement to make, but as populations continue to grow at a rapid rate, with all we eat depending on water to grow, he may be accurate in his assumption. World Water Day was sanctioned by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in 1992. Held annually, it focuses global attention on the significance of fresh water, and also promotes the need for sustainable management of fresh water resources. The lead up to World Water Day 2012, sparked numerous half naked protests around the globe, arranged by People for the Ethical Treat ment of Animals (PETA). A UK based animal charity dedicated to establishing and protecting the rights of all animals. Half naked beauties frolicked in bath tubs in the centre of London, Edinburgh, Dublin and Hollywood, in order to promote the meat industries drain on the world’s water resources. They sent one clear message, you cannot be a meat eating environmentalist.
Vegan supporters Marika Rea and Heliane Murrin protest in a bath in Dublin on World Water Day 2012
litres of water to produce one kilogram of wheat. As well as giving you a clear conscience, there are many health benefits to giving up meat, leading to a slimmer, healthier and happier you. Sandra continues, “Vegetarians and vegans are, on average, significantly trimmer than meat eaters are , and they are less likely to suffer from heart disease, cancer, strokes and diabetes.” Elisa Allen of PETA stated: “A recent United Nations report found that the meat industry is "one of the top two or three most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global". It is time for us to consider what we can do as individuals to support our future water resources. Not just for the future of the human race, but for all species who rely on , and reside on the blue planet alongside us. 17
Do e-readers save our planet? Philip Wilson investigates the eco-claims of digital literature
When the subject of pollution is brought up it is predominantly thoughts of car fumes, refineries and power stations that spring to mind, however, the paper and pulp industry is one of the world’s largest sources of pollution. The main cause for concern presents itself through the dangers of deforestation. Trees are regarded as a ‘renewable’ resource – when a forest is harvested, another is replanted in its place. See various advertising campaigns for toilet paper for reference – However, just how renewable is it? The majority of paper companies take their stock from private farms, grown especially for harvesting and subsequently an afterlife in the paper industry. This concept seems fine at base level, before the demand outweighs the supply, and the companies must harvest natural old forestry to meet their paper quota – which begins to take some of the strength from the ‘renewable’ argument. The production of paper subsequently consumes large volumes
of water, and releases a host of toxic chemicals into the atmosphere – equally as threatening as that of the ever feared refineries and motor vapours. Enter Amazon’s Kindle – the world’s favourite e-reader and the number one substitute for physical literature. Compact, small, intelligently hooked up to the ,increasingly present, world of the web. Human communication is one of ceaseless evolution; from the early beginnings of paintings on cave walls, to the leap to paper, radio, television and now the internet - the e-reader was inevitable. The Kindle uses zero paper, no toxic inks and above all, grants the user the ability to carry multiple works, regardless of any added weight. So surely, it’s the better option. Perhaps not. There can be no denying the beneficial elements of E-readers, particualrly deforestation and paper waste. Not to mention redundancies of various harmful chemicals used in the inking process of physical publications. Factors that are often overlooked are that of the
materials used in the creation of these devices and the cost of their upkeep. E-readers gain their base materials through extensive mining and use of potentially harmful plastics, often this mining process will incorporate non-renewable substances such as ‘columbitetantalite’ and not to mention the ever precious, lithium (which powers the devices’ battery). Following from this, we have the perpetual need to charge the battery of a Kindle (studies have proven that in North America alone, the dedicated servers themselves use more energy than the entire paper industry). Suddenly the pulping process and energy autonomous paperbooks seem slightly less daunting. Recent figures display that around 70% of the energy used in pulping, producing and distributing from the traditional tangible works is recovered, as opposed to the 18% recovered from electronic means of media. However, a report produced in 2009 by Cleanteach, detailing
>> 18
the environmental effects of the Kindle showed astounding numbers in the e-reader’s favour. Emma Ritch, author of the report, stated: “It’s not just buying e-books that matters, the key is that they displace the purchase of 22.5 physical books.” Therefore, 22.5 regular tangible books equate to the total carbon footprint of one Kindle. Ms Ritch argues that, taking the example of a normal book carbon emissions are present by the fossil fuels needed to deliver them, and the fact that, on average 20-30 of those books will be returned to the publisher. The publishers will then either incinerate, or (hopefully) recycle them. The report adds: “Multiplied by millions of units and increased sales of ebooks, e-readers will have a staggering impact on improving the sustainability and environmental impact on one of the world’s most polluting industries: the publishing of books, newspapers and magazines.” Both sides are not without
50% of the paper industry’s raw materials come from recycled paper!
dying on its feet. Environmental 1.Print on both sides of the page or arguments will print two pages to a single side. always come down 2.Use an eletronic diary, for to one verses the example; Google Calender. other, and in the 3.Be ruthless! When deciding what case of the Kindle needs to be printed and what and its associates, doesn’t. the answer relies 4.Proof read on screen before upon the user. The printing - most paper waste comes threatening from reprinting documents! environmental 5.Recycle! Most offices will have impact of e-readers recycling points. Make use of them! will only break if Recycling at home is no more the user is an avid difficult than throwing away your reader, i.e. saving weekly rubbish. So make sure to get on potential inking into the habit. and pulping damages of purchasing a series of new titles on a ferquent basis. Time is the main factor in ensuring benefits of e-readers. So there’s your answer, albeit a slightly unorthodox one;e-readers toss us in a hole and their faults, and with the hand us a shovel - they may just ongoing popularity of e-readers, save the planet if used regularly. traditional print appears to be Top 5 paper saving tips
5
Top Tips For An Eco-Friendly Home
1
Solar Panels
Solar Panels of rooftops can generate energy or even just heat for water. As far as water heating is concerned, solar heating panels can save up to 50% of annual bills.
Low Wattage light bulbs can save energy in all rooms around the home and lower energy bills by around £55 per year.
3
2
Energy Saving Lightbulbs
Using the shower instead of taking a bath can save money. A quick shower only uses around 35 litres of water, compared to a whopping 80 in the tub!
Take a shower!
If you’re not using it, switch it off! Don’t just leave things on standby; switching electrical products off at the wall can save you around £70 a year.
5 Recycle!
4
If you can recyle it, do it. Up to 60% of rubbish in your bin could be recyclable, all of which can be re-used and can save energy - check online for your local recycling centre, there are plenty around!
Switch off!