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Category: Eco and ethical

  1. Our Pledge for 2014

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    NapNap logo 

    THE REALLY ECO BABY PLEDGE 2014 

     

    • We offer a high quality service to our customer: this means good manners, answering all queries, dispatching your order as quickly as possible. Simply doing our very best to leave you with a smile on your face.   
    • All our products are described truthfully.
    • We make sure that all our products are either fairly traded, organic, recycled or ethically made. If they are none of those, you won't find them on Really Eco Baby.
    • We use local printers and local stationery shops.
    • We always favour UK based companies.
    • We always work with companies who care about their products and the way they are made: both on an environmental and human level.
    • We reduce and re-use: we send our parcels in recycled boxes, re-use every scrap of paper, use recycled stationery...
    • We deliver our local parcels by bike (even in the rain and snow if we can bear it).

     

    Feel free to let us know if we break our pledge: we are not superhuman but the above is not rocket science. We feel we have a responsiblity towards both our customers and our suppliers.

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  2. A Green Christmas

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    We can't take credit for the following tips: they have all been thought by Charlotte from Garden Resources, a new blog from Tiger Sheds.

    This is only an extract so if you are trying to make a difference to your Christmas, please read the full article here.

     

    green xmas

            Top 10 Tips for a ‘green’ Christmas

    Christmas is a wonderful time of year, the air is thick with excitement, the smell of cinnamon emanates from the coffee cup and the excitement of the kids reaches a fever pitch level. The one thing that sometimes gets lost along in this excitement, though, is the environment. Did you know that 230,000 tonnes of food is thrown away on average over the Christmas period, and it is estimated that 1 billion Christmas cards could end up in bins during the festive season? With this in mind, here are 10 top tips on how to be a bit more eco friendly this Christmas:

              1) Buy a real tree – People are generally mistaken in thinking that artificial trees are better for the environment when, in actual fact, most artificial trees are made of metal and plastics which are non-biodegradable and transporting them from the Far East (where they are typically manufactured) adds to their carbon footprint.

              2) Choose a live tree – Live trees are largely considered to be ideal for the eco enthusiasts among us as these trees usually still have their roots intact and can be replanted in the garden after use over Christmas.

              3) Make sure your tree is sustainable – If a Christmas tree is sustainable, this means that a new tree is planted for every one which is cut down.

              4) Use natural decor – Although there is no harm in using existing decorations, you might want to think twice before buying new ones. Decorations are generally made from unrecyclable plastics, metals and materials and are made in high volumes year after year. Using natural decor such as holly, pine cones and fruit is much better for the environment and looks traditionally festive, too.

              5) Switch to LED lights – LED lights are 90% more efficient than traditional holiday lights so it is advised that you make the switch this Christmas. They also last longer and release less carbon dioxide into the air.

              6) Use candles – Candles are a great Christmas alternative to lights as they look fantastic and really festive. Try and remember to choose ones made from natural ingredients, though, such as beeswax and soy as paraffin candles contain toxins which are bad for the environment.

               7) Go organic – Try and eat organic this Christmas if you can, the meat is more ethically sourced and reared and it tastes nicer too.

               8) Recycle – Instead of throwing them in the bin, recycle all cards and wrapping paper either by using the embellishments for crafty DIY projects or by taking them to your local recycling bank. Unfortunately due to all the glitter, wire and embellishments cards and wrapping paper can’t usually be recycled through your usual kerbside collection.

               9) Recycle your tree – Once the festivities stop, the eco awareness shouldn’t. Make sure to properly recycle your tree as it can be chipped for use in parks and playgrounds. Find your local tree recycling centre here: www.recyclenow.com.

               10) Re-gifting – Instead of throwing any unwanted presents away, why not re-gift to people who would appreciate them? If you can’t think of anyone else who would want it then try and get it to a charity shop.

    For more information about the above information please see this article on the Garden Resources blog.

  3. Eco tips to keep warm this Christmas

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    It is the season to turn on the heating. And if you are lucky enough for the boiler to start first time round (without calling the plumber), you might start to worry about energy bills.

    Here are a few tips to avoid frostbites in the house:

    • Let's start with the obvious: wear a jumper. But if you are already wearing half your wardrobe, you might need a bit more help.
    • Foil the cold: it may sound a little “Starship Enterprise” but putting tin foil behind the radiators can make your heating more efficient as it reflects heat back into the room, rather than allowing it to escape through the walls.
    • Use heavy curtains to avoid the heat escaping from your windows: really efficient!
    • Are you working from home? You might want to read this column from Guardian Money.
    • Another great tip if you need only one room heated: the tea light heater. An ingenius system using tea candles and flower pots to heat up the room.

    And if you feel like enjoying fresh (=cold) air from your garden, we love those outdoor lanterns made out of recycled tin cans.

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  4. The Girl Declaration

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    READ IT. SUPPORT IT. MAKE IT FAMOUS.

    Girls were left out of the original Millennium Development Goals. The Girl Declaration has been written to make sure that doesn't happen again.

    The declaration – bringing together the thinking of 508 girls living in poverty accross the globe with the help of experts from 26 international organisations – aims to put the needs of adolescent girls squarely on the development agenda for the post-2015 goals, which will succeed the Millennium Development Goals.

    Believed to be the first document of its kind, the declaration lists seven guiding principles and five goals designed to provide decision-makers and global leaders with information to guide action and investment in improving the lives of adolescent girls. The girls' own language is used in much of the document. 

    Pakistani girl activist Malala Yousafzai, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Queen Rania of Jordan, Barbara Bush, United Nations Foundation CEO Kathy Calvin, Care CEO Helen Gayle, Microsoft and the Intel Foundation have all signed the Declaration.

    So read the Girl Declaration and add your support on the "Girl Effect" website.

      

    Really Eco Baby supports the "Girl Effect" by stocking Askeyprint Sew & Tell dolls:  10% of every sale goes towards the Girl revolution, where girls all over the globe are given the support they deserve to realise their unique worth.

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