If you’ve been one of the many who has chosen to go with the plastic Christmas tree option, because you think it’s better for the environment, here’s some food for thought. Plastic trees might not be all that after all – the reality is that most plastic trees end up on landfill sites, where they take hundreds of years to degrade as pointed out by ethical living journalist Lucy Siegle.

According to Siegle, one acre of Christmas trees produces enough oxygen for 16 people to live on for a year before they are cut. You just need to get the right type of tree. So here’s what to do:

1) Make sure your tree is as locally grown as possible. There are 400 UK registered with the British Christmas Tree Growers Association
2) www.xmastreesales.co.uk in Shropshire avoids unnecessary harvesting of trees on a sustainable plantation.
3) And go for the best-looking trees, as tall healthy looking trees tend to have been grown in good conditions – on good soil with lots of space between them.
4) Buying a tree with roots means you can replant it in the garden. To do this successfully you need to find a tree with a good root ball. Plant the tree with lots of space around it and make sure you continue to water it (many trees die in summer as people forget to do so).

One of the loveliest things about Christmas is all the sparkly, glinting Christmas lights on trees inside and out. It really gets you in a jovial and seasonal mood. But it’s not so heart-warming when you realise that an ‘extravagant light display’ could be responsible for producing 400kg of carbon dioxide, according to the Energy Saving Trust. What to do?

Well, the solution is to get your hands on some LED lights like these energy saving decorative lights from IKEA, lights that are powered by solar power or rechargeable batteries, or install an energy-saving bulb to offset the energy usage.

And here are some tips from the Co-op on how to stay eco-friendly this year:

1) Plant a rooted Christmas tree in your garden to help offset CO2 emissions
2) Turn Christmas lights off overnight or when you’re not at home
3) Turn the thermostat down by just one degrees to cut as much as 10 per cent off your heating bill
4) Don’t leave your TV, video and hi-fi on standby. Turn them off completely at the set when you’re not using them
5) When cooking Christmas lunch, keep lids on your saucepans - your sprouts will cook quicker and you’ll be saving energy too
6) Avoid keeping the oven door open when checking the turkey. It is better to remove the turkey to check it and close the oven door, saving heat in the oven and energy as well
7) We always cook too much at Christmas - ensure all spare food has cooled before putting it in the fridge as this will help save energy
8) Christmas dishes can be a nightmare but waiting until you have a full load in the dishwasher and using a low energy or economy programme will help keep costs down
9) Boil water using a kettle instead of on the hob
10) At night, draw curtains to keep heat in the room

No doubt kids’ Christmas lists this year, as every year for the last few decades, will be calling for the latest must-have Barbie and Action Man equivalents for 2008. But with ‘toxic toys’ having hit the headlines this year – Mattel recalled more than 19 million toys manufactured in China earlier this year for a range of reasons, from unsafe magnets and lead-based paint – and the increasing number of unsustainable plastic toys and those with electrical components, it does make you want to seek out more eco-friendly alternatives.

Ethical columnist Lucy Siegle muses on just this and believes that the toy industry is capable of reform: in 1997 study of 71 toys from 17 countries found they contained high levels of phthalates (a plasticiser linked to childhood asthma and reproductive disorders). Emergency legislation was brought in to ban phthalate use in baby products such as teething rings. However, phthalates can still be used in toys for over-threes, except in California, where Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has banned them in all children’s’ products from 2009.

Short of moving to California and until legislation follows suit here, the best thing to do is to track down some ethically sustainable toys for the little ones. You can find toys with certified ethical standards at www.toys-to-you.co.uk and wooden toys at www.holz-toys.co.uk. And at Your Tomorrow, we’ve got a great cardboard playhouse, free from bleaching chemicals and plastics and sourced from recycled materials and is biodegradable – perfect for playing house or doubling up as a space capsule! We also have an air engine racer which is powered with a hand pump and handcrafted papier mache animals, made from recycled paper, which the kids can paint and decorate themselves. Enjoy!

Need some standby ideas for prezzies? Well, there’s nothing more cosy than settling down with a good book after a delicious Christmas dinner. So here’s our pick of the best eco and organic themed books around.

The Organic Directory 2007-2008
It’s all very well deciding to go organic in all aspects of your life, but more often than not you’ll find yourself up against a brick wall when you realize you have no idea who does local veg boxes in your area. Or where the nearest farmers’ market is or where can you possibly find organic baby food? This guide is brilliant for anyone interested in pursuing an organic lifestyle. It provides names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses and websites of retailers, producers, wholesalers and manufacturers of organic goods in the UK.

Organic Places To Stay In The UK
Get planning next year’s hols this Christmas! From camping to luxury hotels, this book covers England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Accommodation is split by county and is full of essential details such as organic meals, how far to the nearest pub, pet friendly bed and breakfasts and where’s good to stay with children.

The Little Green Book of Big Green Ideas
With more than 120 facts and handy hints and tips, this guide is perfect for anyone who wants to save the world but just doesn’t know where to start!

Save Cash & Save The Planet
Just what we all want to know – how to go green and go easy on the purse! With advice on how to make a difference as a citizen, shopper and voter this book includes simple tips on how to save energy, detox your house and be a smarter shopper.

Recycle
Want a stylish and unique home? Then go down the salvage route with interior designers Moira and Nicholas Hankinson who are masters of fashioning the coveted from the cast-off. 60 practical projects for the home and garden.

Shopping for Vintage: The Definitive Guide to Vintage Fashion
One of the most ethical ways to shop for fashion is to buy second hand or vintage. But if you don’t know your John Galliano from your Prada then this book will help turn you into the most clued up vintage fashionista around.

Green Is The New Black
Not just a compendium of where to buy ethically produced clothes, this book tells you how to shop ethically on the high street, how you can create your own DIY style and even how to organise a clothes ’swishing’ (swapping) party with your friends.

If the weather’s temperamental behaviour has been getting you thinking, then perhaps it’s time you made a stand and stepped out for the Campaign Against Climate Change http://www.campaigncc.org march this December. On Saturday 8 December, coinciding with the United Nation’s Climate talks in Bali, Indonesia, synchronised marches will be taking place in countries all over the world, calling on world leaders to take urgent action on climate change.

According to the Campaign Against Climate Change website:
“Global average surface temperature has risen by about 0.6 degrees C in the last hundred years. This might not sound much but already the global ‘physical’ impacts have been considerable, including a 10% reduction in snow cover and a 40% decrease in the thickness of Arctic sea ice (at its seasonal thinnest). The 1990s were the warmest decade on record.”

With the US responsible for about one quarter of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, with only about 4% of world population, it’s imperative that the US finally gets on board with cutting greenhouse gas emissions after dropping out of the Kyoto Treaty in 1997 (when industrialised nations agreed to cut their emissions by 5%). Since 1990 emissions in the US have increased by 20% while experts have warned that industrialized nations must reduce their CO2 emissions by 60% by the middle of this century. Furthermore, while other countries are working to reduce their emissions, Bush’s current energy plan ensures that US emissions will continue to rise

The London march is on Saturday December 8, meeting at midday in Millbank and gathering in Grosvenor Square at 2.30pm for speeches. The Glasgow march, on the same day, starts at the Ski jump ramps at 12.30pm and there will be another meeting point in George Square at 2pm. For more information or to get involved visit www.campaigncc.org

Is it ever too soon to get ready for Christmas? As ever, it seems the onslaught of baubles is getting earlier and earlier. But if you can’t fight ‘em, join ‘em! And what’s wrong with getting in to the Christmas spirit and making sure you’ve got a head start on prezzies and stocking-fillers. With Christmas being such a crazy consumer affair all around, the least you can do is make sure a certain number of your gifts are ethically sourced.

So here are the results of our first foray into stocking filler possibilities. For the kids, here are some gorgeous little handcrafted papier mache animals which can be painted and decorated (a guaranteed 45 minutes of fun!) and this pretty little beaded frog, made in South Africa, will nicely adorn any the top of any stocking. The Apothecary’s Garden Sweet Jar contains 200g of candied sweets in a variety of flavours – orange and lemon, chamomile and honey and special Hangover Drops for the grown-ups!

These wildflower seeds, which can be sown at any time of year, will bring a smile to your loved ones’ faces and for the ladies who will appreciate some good quality organic beauty care products, here are some of some of our favourite products around at the moment:
Olive and Almond Hand Cream from Trevarno
Cleansing Facial Oil from Nude
Rose and Jasmine Body Oil from The Organic Pharmacy
Organic Lip Formula from Neal’s Yard

And to wrap all these goodies up in look out for fab Christmas stockings from ethical fashion label Pardess, specially made for soon to be launched beauty website Cult Beauty – sign up to enter their Christmas goodie bag giveaway – what a treat!

How we love the web and its infinite supply of new sites bursting with information on all things ethical. The latest online magazine to hit our browsers is just-launched ETP magazine. Standing for Empowerment Through Positivity, the ezine claims to be a reaction to negative perceptions surrounding women and ethical lifestyle. Set up by Charlotte Fairburn, in her final year at Birmingham University, the site is chock-full of articles on lifestyle, health, beauty and fashion. Have a look through for yourself but here are some pieces that caught our attention:

Org-E (New healthy living café)

The Mosquito Challenged With Enthusiasm (Tribute to Anita Roddick)

Meat-eating Vs Vegetarianism: The Ethical Debate

Another recent start-up that we quite like the look of, with its very magaziny collage design, is www.fashion-conscience.com. Set up by a fashion editor, the site claims its sole purpose is sourcing ethical clothes for stylish women. And they really have managed to find some glorious ethically-made garments, from elegant high-waisted wide trousers by Wildlife Works to cool skinny jeans from Serfontaine and gorgeous recycled leather bags from Ashley Watson.

We’re also loving the range from new online fashion boutique, Pardess. Using only internationally certified organic fabrics, all garments are made in designer Mimi Rogers’ London studio. Recycled packaging materials, printing on Soil Association-approved organic printers and cleaning with organic, biodegradable products, this is really impressive from a start-up ethical business. Check out the merino wool TOCC collection of winter coats – cosy and sumptuous, these are perfect for cold wintry days!

Were we to happen upon a little extra cash, no doubt a lot of us these days would wonder whether to spend it on eco home improvements. By eco home improvements think solar panels and small wind turbines. In particular, small wind turbines of which David Cameron is a big fan and which were introduced to the mass market via B&Q last year. Placed on the roof the energy-saving turbines convert wind energy into electricity for the home, generating 1kW of energy and all for just under £1500.

Sounds like a great idea. Though, as The Observer’s eco journalist Lucy Siegle points out this week, “When the wind drops (as it does), they don’t exactly earn their keep.” Which doesn’t bode well in light of the supposed rumours going round about the turbines: that small turbines give small energy returns and that they can cause damage to buildings due to vibrations and noise levels. If this has got you thinking then the best thing to do before drawing any conclusions is to wait for two forthcoming reports on the turbine efficacy by The Warwick Microwind Trial Project and the Energy Saving Trust, due out later this year.

Hopefully the results will be positive and any teething problems will be ironed out by manufacturers. It would be nice to see domestic energy production keeping in line with the DTI’s estimation that by 2050 up to 40 per cent of electricity generation in the UK could be produced by small and microgeneration technologies, including 6 per cent from small wind-energy generation. In the meantime, as Lucy Siegle suggests why not test windspeed out for yourself with an anemometer from www.weathershop.co.uk? Enjoy!

Autumn’s kicking in, bringing colder, chillier days. What better excuse for taking a look at all the fab autumn fashion out there? And what’s more, each season there seems to be more and more available on the ethical fashion front. Long gone are the days when all you could find were slightly dodgy-looking websites selling sack-like, hempy t-shirts. Ethical fashion has finally made the style grade.

Penny Cooke, founder of London’s first ethical fashion boutique, Equa, has some great autumn style suggestions just for Your Tomorrow. Here are her autumn pointers:

1. The Edun Midnightbreak Shift is a lovely and stylish silk shift dress that is perfect for the party season. Wear it as a dress with a waist belt, or dress it down over jeans for a more casual sassy look.
2. The new People Tree capsule collection, due in next week, is fabulous, I especially love this frock style coat.
3. Our best selling slim leg jeans from organic company Delforte - I live in these!
4. Annie Greenabelle is currently our best selling designer and is new this season. This dress is fabulous, so contemporary and for so many different age groups, I wear mine over jeans or leggings with my Terra Plana Wood boots.

And if all this is making you feel a wardrobe revamp is in order, why not book yourself a session with Equa’s professional ethical stylist, Elizabeth Laskar. Elizabeth will advise you on your best key colours and what silhouettes best suit your body shape. She will then help you pick out some great outfits and even more exciting there’s a 20% discount on anything you buy in the boutique. Check out the website for more details.

And as every outfit needs a pair of fabulous shoes to go with, get the low down on the latest ethical fashionable footwear from The Guardian’s deputy fashion editor, Hadley Freeman. Enjoy!

With this year’s Energy Saving Week soon upon us (22-28 October) that venerable institution that is the Women’s Institute is getting all geared up to promote their WI Carbon Challenge with the help of Marks & Spencer. The WI, in conjunction with Café Direct, will be holding a Women’s Day on Monday 22 October and WI federations all over Britain will be helping set up farmers’ markets to promote the Carbon Challenge – the aim of the Challenge is encourage and help individuals to reduce their carbon footprint by 20 percent a year. The markets will also be attended by EST energy doctors from local Energy Efficient Advice Centres who will demonstrate carbon saving measures and offer advice and information.

In its 11th year, Energy Saving Week, held by the Energy Saving Trust, challenges eight communities, known as the C8, to encourage members to adopt energy saving practices in order to reduce their C02 emissions. A recent EST report, the Green Barometer Report, found that while 80% of people believe climate change is having an impact on the UK right now, 40% of them are doing nothing to reduce their energy usage.

As well as the WI, the C8 includes Royal Mail employees, families, gadget enthusiasts and home improvers – so if you’ve been thinking about making changes now’s the time to get motivated and get involved. Sign up online for the WI’s Carbon Challenge at www.theWI.org.uk and for more information on Energy Saving Week, visit www.est.org.uk.