If you want to save money and become more sustainable with your school related purchases, why not check out Sustainable School Shop.  You can view my video introduction on their web home page to find out how this online marketplace allows you to sell, buy or hand on practically that relates to education, extra-curricular activities, hobbies and interests.

Visit www.sustainableschoolshop.com.au

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Find out how you can go green and be fashionable by joining me at the Eco Luxe Fashion Expose as part of the Melbourne Spring Fashion Week.   The eco-fashion launch will be held on Wednesday 2nd December, 7pm til midnight at Alumbra, Docklands. 

Visit www.msfw.com.au to book tickets or purchase on the door.

If you’re looking for an easy way to source high performing, chemical free, natural beauty products, at a great price, check out the recently launched website -  Ikigai.com.au

The online boutique offers a variety of hand-picked ranges of luxurious natural and organic products, to customers in Australia and New Zealand, and internationally on request.  All products are free of parabens, phthalates, sulphates and synthetic colours and fragrances, and are not tested on animals.

I’ve trialed some of the products available for purchase on the website and have found them to work exceptionally well and be of more benefit to my skin that chemical– laden skincare products.  Give the Pure & True Organic Beauty range a try.  The potent skincare products contain ingredients such as Hawaiian deep sea water and spirulina, which are full of important nutrients and minerals; and organic extracts of bilberry, sugar cane and cranberry to deliver a powerful hit of antioxidants.

Visit www.ikigai.com.au

Handcut, in Willoughby, Sydney creates one-of-a kind fashion from reclaimed vintage clothing and fabrics.  

With the big hit across Europe and North America this year being simple tanker style-pullovers, handcut is bringing it back in 2009, but with one important difference….
By using premium reclaimed fabrics to make their tankers, they’re not only unique, but also friendly to the planet.
 
On April 1, Handcut showed off their latest designs at their autumn/winter 2009 fashion parade at Mumu Grill, with many well-known faces lending their support and joining in the fun.  

As well as the handcut fashion for men and women, the show also featured the footwear of Terra Plana. The sustainable shoe brand is the brain-child of the Clark shoe family, and features high-end fashion shoes for men and women made from natural and recycled materials.

Why not become one of the thousands of Handcut customers around the world that have already helped rescue more than 85,000 woollen jumpers, 52,000 pairs of woollen trousers, 11,000 men's dress shirts and 7,000 trench coats.

Visit www.handcut.com.au

If you care about the environment and your health, its now time to think about what you put on your body, not just in it.

The humble cotton t-shirt might not seem like an environmental hazard to wear, however the pesticides used on 'conventional' cotton increasingly threaten our health, wildlife and the environment.

Conventionally-grown cotton occupies only 3% of the world's farmland, yet it uses over 25% of the world's chemical pesticides and insecticides.

Let your t-shirt do the talking and help raise funds for Keep Australia Beautiful’s environmental programs at the same time, by purchasing one of their new Australian Made, Organic Cotton, Sweatshop Free t-shirts featuring the Keep Australia Beautiful logo.

Click here to find out how you can help spread the Keep Australia Beautiful message and show your support for organic cotton farming methods at the same time.

The candles you may be using to cut down on your electricity use may in fact be doing more harm to the environment than good.

Unfortunately the majority of mass produced candles are made using paraffin wax, derived from crude oil. When burnt, they release the stored carbon into the atmosphere, whilst the soot released & lead in the wick could be harmful to your health.  Those containing palm wax and oil may also be contributing to the threat of the Orangutans, with vast areas of habitat cleared for palm oil plantations every day.

A more environmentally friendly candle uses wax from renewable sources, such as beeswax or other plant oils including soya oil. Since the carbon in these oils was originally in the atmosphere before being absorbed by the plant, the burning effect on the environment is small.

If everyone used soya oil candles as a light source where ever possible, this would cut electricity use and greenhouse gas emissions considerably.  However, how far your candle has travelled should also be taken into account.

These beautiful Pompadour candles are individually hand poured and packaged in Melbourne. Their wicks are lead free, whilst their soy wax blend is free of paraffin wax, palm wax, animal by-products and chemical solvents. And with names like Bliss, Delight, Harmony they sound as good as they smell! Visit www.pompadour.com.au.

I was reading WHO magazine the other week and was disappointed to see Angela Jolie, who I think is great I might add, carrying her groceries in a plastic bag.  Surely, Ange should be carrying around one of these fabulous “I’m not a plastic bag” totes by UK designer to the stars, Anya Hindmarch. 

Given to me by one of my girlfriends, I’ve had countless comments on it by people who have been trying to get their hands on one.  Both stylish and sustainable I use it for carrying almost everything!  Check out Anya’s website at www.anyahindmarch.com.

As we all strive to reduce our individual impact on the environment, I wonder how many of us have thought about that final farewell party and the eco-footprint it will leave behind?

This is something I only recently gave any consideration too, when I read that the majority of coffins being used each year are made from chipboard covered with laminate.

When burned, they will pollute the atmosphere and, when buried, the surrounding earth.
So, regardless of what your religious beliefs may or may not be, why not consider a stylish and sustainable alternative to the traditional wood-based coffin.

Doing a quick search I came across OnEarth Australia which produces and supplies reliable and environmentally friendly funeral caskets directly to the public and to funeral directors throughout Australia.

Their caskets are made from 100% recycled cardboard and all paints and lacquers are non-toxic. They also provide a cost effective alternative to traditional wood-based coffins and have been tested to ensure they meet the OH&S requirements of the funeral industry throughout Australia

You can go for traditional colours or pick your own. And for a truly individual send off, they can be decorated too – though make sure (or leave instructions if you’re a planner) that any decorating is also eco-friendly.   Visit www.onearth.com.au for details.