The Observer Ethical Awards

Now in their fifth year, The Observer Ethical Awards reward those that have an innovative way at looking at and tackling ethical issues be that in a business sense or a community project. Sponsored by Ecover, ff you have an ethical initiative, project or product you can enter.

In previous years the awards have attracted a diverse selection of winners from politicians such as Ken Livingstone and Caroline Lucas to community projects such as Lomeshaye Marsh Local Nature Reserve Stockbridge Junior Rangers, winners of the Ethical Kids award and bursary.

You can also nominate entries that you think deserve it, in the following categories: campaigner of the year, politician of the year, online retailer and local retailer. Those that nominate will be entered into a draw to win a Warren Evans bed, a rail break to Provence courtesy of Explore, cosmetic gift sets and an organic food hamper. To enter, vote or for further information visit Observer Ethical Awards (on the Guardian website).

The judging panel includes Colin Firth; Ben Fogle, TV presenter; Iwan Thomas, Olympic athlete; Bonnie Wright, actress; Rick Edwards, T4 presenter; Sue Perkins, comedian and presenter; Ben Okri, poet and novelist; Deborah Meaden, businesswoman and Dragon’s Den star; Kate Humble, TV presenter and Jo Wood, Jo Wood Organics.

Voluntary Simplicity by Duane Elgin Review

Originally published in 1981, and began to be called ‘the bible of the simplicity movement’ shortly thereafter, Voluntary Simplicity by Duane Elgin apparently is “not a book about living in poverty, but living with balance. Elgin illuminates the changes that an increasing number of Americans are making in their everyday lives – adjustments in day-to-day living that are an active, positive response to the complex dilemmas of our time. By embracing the tenets of voluntary simplicity – frugal consumption, ecological awareness, and personal growth – people can change their lives and, in the process, save our planet.”

The book was apparently in much need of an update, the ecological landscape has changed much in twenty years, an the author has done much since, including winning the 2006 international Goi Peace Award. It’s a relatively short book, and with two forewords and an introduction to the second edition it gets a little shorter but they do explain the context of the book and sever as a good platform for what is to come.

Split into seven basic chapters it’s an relatively easy read, covering what simplicity really means (in his terms), and the lifestyle choices it can involve. However it’s not the strongest book on the practicalities of making such changes, but provides a thorough understanding of what choices there are.

It’s an interesting book but I’m struggling for more to say about it as it delivers what it offers. The resources section at the end is pretty useful too. Take a look at the latest edition on Amazon.

Natural Beauty ‘Is Popular With Eco-Conscious Consumers’

Tanja from online eco-friendly shop Big Green Smile writes:

“Natural beauty products are becoming increasingly popular as more consumers are becoming concerned about their impact on the environment, it has been suggested.

“In an article for IslamOnline.net, cosmetic chemist Amanda Foxon-Hill said that 50 or 60 years ago, cosmetics companies relied on petroleum-based surfactants and mineral oil creams – a trend which consumers were happy to go along with.

“However, she argued that more recently, shoppers have begun to question the ingredients which make up the moisturisers and creams which they use on a regular basis.

“Nowadays, a number of people link oil-based products with the hydrocarbon industry – which she said in turn is connected to “pollution, environmental destruction and toxicity in relation to the chemical processes employed in refining the oil feedstock”.

“Elsewhere in the article, Ms Foxon-Hill pointed out that the cosmetics industry is currently divided over the definition of natural beauty products.

“This view is shared by Weleda’s export marketing manager Claudia Karle, who told the New Straits Times that the company has teamed up with a number of other brands to ensure strict standards are set over the contents of natural beauty goods.”

Book Of Green Launches iPhone App

Life Goggles appears in an ethical directory called Book of Green, which has now launched an iPhone App.

Available in Apple’s App store, the release includes:

- Mobile eco directory to help users find all their eco needs on the go
- News feeds not only from Book of Green, but also from Ethical Junction and King Lion Media, the publishers of National Geographic Green
– Book of Green’s Twitter feed, showing both Book of Green’s tweets and from those they follow

The Book of Green 2010 will be doubling it’s distribution next year to 60,000 copies and it will also launch a month earlier – June 2010. Its biggest distributors include National Geographic Green, Permaculture Magazine in WHSmith, Planet Organic, Suma Distribution, plus Eco Village events and Green-Events Distribution.

Canova Aromatherapy Candle Eco Product Review

Alas, this is the last candle we have to review from Scented Candle Shop. Each one has been pretty decent in its own right, from tea lights to floating candles and to ones like this, a premium glass aromatherapy candle.

Made by Canova, this is an eco-soy wax candle with natural essential oils and a natural wick. What’s also nice to see is the recycled glass, which may account for the premium price, and the box is also made from recycled cardboard.

Hand poured in the UK, this particular scent is called Brainwave and is designed to “achieve that extra genius in love, work or play”. To do that it includes rosemary (to produce “mental clarity)< lemongrass (to "induce a state of calm") and neroli (to "stimulate the intellect").

What it all adds up to is a lovely smell, sort of fresh and fruity. When lit the smell doesn't dominate a room and doesn't really work as something to mask bad smells, but within a few feet of it the smell is lovely.

I'm not sure whether it helped my grey cells out at all but I quite liked it and with 50 hours of burning time it'll be around for a while. It's melts quite slowly with a very liquidy wax as soy wax goes and the flame is nice and bright.

The Canova Aromatherapy Candle costs £11.69 from the Scented Candle Shop.

Energy Saving Trust: Householders Unaware Of Financial Support

Alasdair from online eco-friendly shop Big Green Smile writes:

“The Energy Saving Trust has found that the majority of householders would like to make their homes more efficient but are being put off by the perceived costs.

“According to a survey carried out in Scotland, 74 per cent are in favour of installing energy saving measures such as solar panels on their homes but fear it would be too expensive to do so, the BBC reported.

“However, the group pointed out that grants are available to meet these costs and that substantial amounts of money could be saved in the future through cheaper fuel bills.

“Some 70 per cent of residents were not aware that initiatives to help fund household energy saving existed.

“Director of Energy Saving Trust Scotland Mike Thornton said: “People like the idea of generating their own energy, and if they only knew they could get help to meet the costs, they might be more likely to install the technology.”

“This news comes after the Conservative Party revealed plans to provide financial support to help more than three million properties become more efficient.”

Can Domestic Wind Turbines Be Attractive?

Although councils are becoming more receptive to people putting up domestic wind turbines, they are still quite unattractive and that’s where RidgeBlade comes in.

RidgeBlade is a wind-power system that can be fitted to buildings, including houses, with a minimum visual impact. The system works with the slope of the roof channelling the wind into the ‘micro-generation system’ which is amde up of cylindrical turbines positioned horizontally along the apex of a sloping roof.

Designed by a former Rolls Royce turbine engineer under the wing of UK-based The Power Collective, RidgeBlade works in even low wind conditions it won the EUR 500,000 Green Challenge Prize Picnic ‘09 in Amsterdam.

Spotted via: Springwise.

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