Shower With Bob!

We have a great new product here at Ecotopia.co.uk that we think you will love. It’s a simple idea – the best ones always are – that will save you water and money!
I give you.... The ShowerBob.
The ShowerBob is a shower timer that does not use batteries. Using an ‘egg timer’ sealed in a waterproof unit that just sticks onto the side of the shower, the ShowerBob will make sure you don’t spend too long in the shower. Simply turn the unit to start the timer sand moving and it will run for four minutes. When the sand has run out, it’s time to get out!
Save water and money – shower with Bob!

Clean Air Tree Kit - You plant one, we plant one!

Clean Air Tree Kit - You plant one, we plant one!

Ecotopia have teamed up with the World Clean Air Forest Initiative to supply this great Clean Air Tree Kit. This kit contains one potent object for producing one tonne of clean air with no adverse impact on the environment - A Tree!
The Clean Air Tree Kit is designed to get you involved in environmentally focused activities that will have a direct effect on local and global communities and hopefully bring us all closer together
Inside the Clean Air Tree Kit is everything you need to grow and plant your own tree. This will help to produce a whopping one tonne of Clean Air across the course of the tree’s life!
You can plant your tree in your own garden, or in a locally designated planting area (Local Forest), then use the special PIN code inside your tree kit to register on our website and map.
For every Clean Air Tree Kit you buy WCAFI will plant another tree with our tree-planting partners around the World. Current planting locations include: Haiti, Malawi, India, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Ghana, Senegal, Uganda, Kenya. Essentially, you buy one tree kit, you plant two trees.
The Clean Air Tree Kit's white globe is made from potato waste and is 100% biodegradable. In fact every element is either biodegradable or compostable, from the PLA used in the shrink-wrap to the vegetable and water based inks used in the instruction booklet.
The Kit contains: 1 x growing pellet, which allows the roots to breathe, 1 x growing pot which will drain any excess water, 6 – 10 tree seeds and instructions for growing. We already have reports of 4 plus trees grown from the one kit! We find the best local seeds for your area, so you can be assured that when you plant your tree; it’s got the best chance of growing!
We’re very excited to be part of this at Ecotopia and think it’s probably one of the best products we have ever offered. At £4.99 there’s no excuse not to get growing! Go To Clean Air Tree Kit

Help the Humble Bumble

Ecotopia is on a quest to help the humble bumble bee!

Products available to assist the bumblebee.

Bumblebee Nester
Ceramic Bee Nester
Pollinating Bee Log

Bumblebees are among the most endearing and familiar of our insects. The sight and sound of bees droning methodically from flower to flower is a quintessential part of a summer’s day. Sadly, changes to the farmed countryside have not been kind to our bumblebees. The number of species found in most of lowland Britain has halved since 1950. Three species have gone nationally extinct and several more may follow in the near future unless we act quickly. The reason that bumblebees have declined in the countryside is simple. Bees feed exclusively on pollen and nectar, and there are far fewer flowers in the countryside than there once were. Hedges have been grubbed up and marshes drained. In particular, unimproved grasslands which are rich in wildflowers (haymeadows and chalk downland) have been almost entirely swept away, replaced by silage and cereal fields.
Bees in deline:
• Britain & Ireland have 25 native species of bumblebee
• 3 species have already become nationally extinct
• 5 are now designated UK Biodiversity Action Plan species, in recognition of their precarious situation with 2 more scheduled for inclusion.
• In total 15 have undergone major range contractions
• Several species face extinction unless action is taken.
Bumblebees are fascinating and beautiful creatures that deserve conserving in their own right. However, there are also pressing ecological and economic reasons to halt their declines.
Bumblebees are major pollinators of a majority of our flora. If bumblebees continue to disappear these plants will set less seed, potentially resulting in gradual but sweeping changes to the countryside. It may ultimately become dominated by an entirely different suite of plants that do not require bumblebee pollination. Clovers, vetches, and many rare plants may disappear. Indeed, there is evidence that this process is already underway. These changes will have catastrophic knock-on effects for other wildlife dependent on these plants. As such, it is often argued that bumblebees are keystone species, and that they are a conservation priority.
Bumblebees are also of commercial importance, being vital to the agricultural industry. Many arable and horticultural crops depend on bumblebees for pollination to varying degrees. Some, like oilseed rape, can set adequate seed without bumblebees provided there are sufficient honeybees, but others, such as broad, field and runner beans and raspberries are heavily dependent on bumblebees. Without them there would be little or no crop to harvest. There is already evidence that in some regions where fields are large and there are few hedgerows (in which bumblebee queens forage in spring and build their nests) crop yields are depressed due to a shortage of bumblebees.

NEW PRODUCT: Recycled cardboard paint tray

Eco Recycled Cardboard Paint Tray
Here at Ecotopia we are committed to providing practical and ingenious solutions to everyday ‘eco’ dilemmas! We realise that DIY is not necessarily the funkiest or most interesting topic but when a UK based company approached us with a brand new product that solved one of the DIY dilemmas and they had spent 2 years in the shed developing it we couldn’t say no.

This great new product is simply a paint tray that is made from waste cardboard and paper. Is it reusable, biodegradable, compostable and compliments Ecotopia.co.uk’s large range of eco friendly paints and DIY materials.

Here are the facts:
· Environmentally friendly.
· Is made from recycled material, thus not using natural resources.
· No need to waste water with washing out, simply wipe out any left over/excess paint and leave to dry for reuse.
· Saves time as no need to wash out, particularly useful if in location with limited or no access to water.
· Fewer rolls are required to pick up an equivalent amount of paint, thus saving time.
· Gap in end leg for unwanted contaminants or for other tools to rest.
· Due to a rougher base, does not slide around the floor as much as a plastic tray.
· No waste in the manufacturing process.
· Sustainable production process
· Sold unpackaged
Other Eco DIY Products
http://www.ecotopia.co.uk/product/146/eco-paint.htm

For print images and further information contact steve@ecotopia.co.uk

Show your love with ecotopia

Choose a valentines gift that will pamper your sweetheart without spoiling the planet with a whole range of ideas from www.ecotopia.co.uk. Choose one of these gifts and support an overseas project that helps disadvantaged people live and work sustainably in Asia and Africa.

Soapstone incense pebbles with inscribed words of love, hope and faith - 97p

These beautiful incense holders are hand carved from soapstone in Agra. This project supports 104 workers in 25 groups local to Agra, the traditional centre for soapstone and marble carving. In the shadow of the Taj Mahal each item is hand carved with incredible skill and patience. The project offers all artisans fair wages, a dust free environment in which to work, health insurance and life insurance. If the groups struggle with the cost of the raw materials, the project will give a helping hand, as well as offering design advice to sustain the work of each group. The project is actively involved in addressing the problem of child labour in the region and is a member of IFAT.

Red Apron with Hearts - £12.67

Made by a women's group in Mumbai, training and employing women with little education.100% organic cotton hand screen printed using vegetable inks.

Leather Heart Keyrings - £2.45

These are made from leather in a unit in the countryside near Kolkata. Their artisans are from nearby villages and are able to live at the centre during the week. The group provides them with meals made from organic food. All employees receive a provident fund, pension, medical insurance and a yearly bonus. This allows them to support their families and send their children to school. The group has established a charity, which provides; scholarships for widows and unemployed people living in Kamarhati, donates textbooks to students and has set up a centre for single mothers, widows and troubled wives.


Cotton Leather Notebooks – £4.88

These are made from handmade paper using recycled cotton rags. These are made in a rural place on the outskirts of Delhi. The company is a family firm and for many years was involved in the process of agricultural grain. When there was economic troubles for farming in India and the market for grain fell away, the boss of the unit decided to go to Jaipur and learn the craft of making paper from recycled cotton rags. He then returned to teach each and every one of his workers the new skills. This ensured their continued employment

Heart card holder - £7.78

These are made from iron and powder coated. The product is hand made at every stage. This group is a member of World Fair Trade Organisation; their staff receive health coverage, PPF and insurance. The group has built two schools and is working towards providing a water filter for all of its work units

- Ends –
For more information please contact Sara Hobbin on 07885975671

Green New Year?

Wipe your bottom on newspaper and nine other great New Year resolutions

Ok, we are only joking about that one but here at http://www.ecotopia.co.uk/ we want to help you become greener in 2009! Check out our top ten New Year resolutions to help you conserve the planet and the cash in your wallet this New Year.
1. Cleaning without toxic chemicals is a wonderful way to turn your home into a healthy and healing place to be in the New Year. Unfortunately, over past decades the ever-expanding store of home cleaning products has included a number of dangerous weapons, loaded with strong, artificial colours and fragrances and harsh cleansing agents like bleach, ammonia, alcohol and more.. There are a great range of green cleaning product ranges such as Ecover, Clearspring and Bio D available from http://www.ecotopia.co.uk/ that are as effective as the traditional chemical laden products you find on supermarket shelves. And don’t forget multi buy and bulk options to save you even more money.
2. Try eco appliances around the home –as well as doing a great clean they can cut your energy bills. For instance, check out the new Ecolectric PerformAir 1000w Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner from http://www.ecotopia.co.uk/ for a spotless and healthy carpet. This bagless upright is light, easy to carry, gets into places you wouldn’t imagine and has a huge 4.2 litre capacity for less frequent emptying. As well as being packaged in recycled and 100% recyclable materials, it has an economical 1000w low energy motor leading to a 50% energy saving, helping to reduce your energy bills but without compromising on performance. It is a great vacuum cleaner!
3. Every household in Britain produces more than a ton of waste annually, almost 80 per cent of which is buried in landfill sites, polluting ground water and producing gases that contribute to climate change and global warming. You may already recycle the waste you produce, but what about not producing it in the first place? Try and buy in bulk! http://www.ecotopia.co.uk/ sells many products in bulk quantities to save you money and reduce packaging by refilling old containers.
4. Shun at least one non-green product all year. Make it something that you really like, but can live without it but would purchase if it were more eco-friendly. You can always write to the company that manufactures this product and tell them why you now choose not to buy it
5. Not so fantastic plastic! Stop drinking bottled water. Drinking tap water reduces your carbon footprint, landfill rubbish and saves you money. Need water for the gym – buy a reusable bottle!
6. The best resolution to make for the earth is to use the car less or get rid of it altogether. Walk, bike, use public transit or car share. The emissions and money saved will be immense!
7. Make one day a week a meat free day! Meat farming produces enormous amounts of greenhouse gases. Sticking to vegetables once a week would have more beneficial effects than reducing car journeys.
8. Grow your own to beat the credit crunch. Make sure the only crunch you feel is the bite of your home-grown vegetables next year with Ecotopia.co.uk’s range of grow your own seeds, tools and accompaniments . As well as tasting great, you could save money, get fit, do your bit for the environment and be super-trendy all at once.
9. To make it easy to switch off chargers and electronic equipment when you’re not using them, get a standby buster to switch off all your machines and equipment. It will help you save electricity and money! Check out ecotopia’s range of energy savers here.
10. Use energy saving lightbulbs

House & Home -Bulk Buying -Eco Cleaning --Laundry --General cleaning --Toilet & Bathroom cleaning --Dishwashing --Floors & Carpets --Cloths & Brushes --Professional Cleaning -Household Wares --Bags, Sacks & Bins --Accessories --Tissues & Towels --Kitchenware --Furniture --Recycled Glass --Air Freshners, Incense & Candles --Eco Tableware --Water Saving, Jugs & Filters -Books & Entertainment -Eco Gadgets --Torches --Chargers & Batteries --Toys & Gadgets --Clocks --Appliances --Radios & Media Players --Energy Saving -Clothing & Accessories --Bags & Accessories --Jewellery --Sports Equipment --Musical Instruments -Eco Office --Rulers, Pens & Pencils --Notepads, Paper & Organisers --Eco Computing --Eco Stationery --Envelopes & Packaging -Lighting --Decorative Lighting --Low Energy Bulbs -Eco Paint --Gloss Paint --Primer and Undercoat --Interior Wood Finish - Water --Woodstain & Exterior --Interior Wood Finish - Oil --Cleaning and Wax Care --Interior Wall Paint --Preparation and Tools Gardens & Wildlife -Wildlife Camera Systems -Composting -Outdoor Accessories & Kits -Trees, Plants & Seeds -Houses Nests & Habitats -Feeders & Tables -Tools -Outdoor Lighting -Rainwater Harvesting --Water Butt Kits --Water Butt Accessories --Water Butts Parent & Child -Nappies & Accessories -Eco Toys & Games --Other Toys --Eco Wooden Toys --Creative Toys -Child & Baby Clothes -Wipes, Creams & Soaps -Maternity Bodycare -Cloths & Brushes -Soaps & Shower Gel -Skin Care --Sun Care & Tanning --Moisturisers --Lip Care --Wipes, Scrubs & Lotions --Eye Care --Foot Care --Hand Care -Cotton Wool & Tissues -Hair Care -Dental Care -Feminine Care -Wellbeing -Fragrances & Deodorants -Cosmetics -Shaving Natural Food & Drink -Snacks & Confectionery --Chocolate --Biscuits --Crackers & Crispbread --Crisps --Snack Bars --Sweets -Groceries --Baby & Infant Foods --Beans & Pulses (Cans) --Beans & Pulses (Dry) --Breads --Vegetarian Roasts & Mixes --Vegetables (Cans, Jars, Dried) --Breakfast Cereals --Desserts --Flours & Bread Mixes --Fruit (Cans, Jars, Dried) --Fruit Spreads & Jams --Grains --Sauces, Pestos & Stock --Herbs & Spices --Honey --Condiments --Nuts & Seeds --Oils & Vinegars --Olives --Pasta --Ready Meals --Savoury Spreads --Soups --Sugars & Syrups -World Foods --Chinese Food --Indian Food --Japanese Food --Mexican Food --Thai Food -Non-alcoholic Drinks --Coffee --Coffee Substitutes --Fruit & Vegetable Juices --Fruit Juice Concs & Cordials --Herb & Fruit Teas --Fizzy Soft Drinks --Non Dairy Milk --Teas --Cocoa Eco Gift Guide -For Him -For Her -For Kids -For Little People -For Gardeners

All we are saying is give Bees a chance!

Help fight the decline in the bee population with a range of habitats and homes from ecotopia.co.uk

While Albert Einstein did not say "if the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would have only four years of life left” there is a lot of truth in this comment. Here are Ecotopia we are seriously worried are the decline in the bee population and encouraging people this Christmas to consider that a bee is not just for summer, they are needed for life - Life of the ecosystem.

We are in serious trouble without our friends. Not only are they the only insects that produce food for humans in the form of honey, they pollinate more than 100 crops as well as 90 percent of all flowering plants. We couldn’t begin to duplicate the work accomplished by bees - every bee makes 10 or more flights per day and each flight lasts more than one hour, visiting between 50 to 100 flowers.

So what can we do to help the bee population survive the current climate? It isn't difficult to make your yard, garden or even patio space a haven for beneficial bees. You'll be helping these important insects, as well as bringing more nature to your backdoor.

We are now doing some great deals on bee habitats to encourage customers to support these beautiful creatures. Try our wooden Bumblebee Nester at £19.99 or the ceramic nester at £16.59. These nesters are ideal to attract bees to your garden. Check out our other bee homes like the solitary beehive at £19.53, the insect theatre at £29.31 or pollinating bee log at £14.67.

And don’t forget we have a whole host of Burt’s Bees’ Product for Bee lovers!