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!

great offer on camera system kit

Save £115 on Ecotopia.co.uk's Wildlife and Underwater Camera system kit now just £164.95

Limited stock

http://www.ecotopia.co.uk/product/4/bb0538/wildlife-and-underwater-camera-system---was-27995.html

This is the latest and most comprehensive underwater wildlife watch kit. Being entirely self contained it is excellent for the travelling enthusiast whether on land or underwater in a lake, canal or river.

This amazing product can be taken anywhere, is battery powered and self contained.

Features: Aluminium case with rechargeable screen case for mobile viewing
Waterproof construction colour and black and white infrared wide angle camera unit
Adjustable weight for different camera angle
Can be used above ground for wildlife surveillance
Ideal for frogs, toads, newts, koi, fish and general pond life, also river or lakes and even the sea Aluminium carry case with rechargeable battery unit and integral rechargeable 7inch screen ideal educational use, wildlife, rivers, ponds, sea or lakes
The ultimate underwater investigation tool
Also great for boat owners wanting to check under their boats

Be safe this winter

Our adult and kids jackets are available in five fluorescent colours -pink, yellow, green, red and orange. These jackets are fluorescent for day and near dusk, and reflective for night. They come with the stencil design with just "1 less car".They have an internal pocket. They are machine washable. They are 100% polyester. They have Velcro front fastening and a hanging hook on the collar.They come with a wide EN1150 quality encapsulated colour, microprismatic reflective tape strip. We’ve chosen a size which seems to fit most people.£14.95 - £19.95

And for every jacket sold we give 50p to the Waltham Forest Bike Recycle Centre. They rescue and repair old bikes, so they go back into the community.

Green Xmas Guide

Yes it is nearly November and our thoughts turn our favourite time of the year - Christmas! Organise the perfect green Christmas this year and save money with our green guide, reduce your carbon footprint and have a more eco friendly and sustainable holiday season.

1. Serve local, healthy and seasonal December foods at your events and xmas parties. Choose vegetables that are in season and do not have to be flown in from abroad. Broccoli, cabbage and onions can all be grown without the aid of harsh chemicals so you can spend your organic pounds elsewhere. Buy loose vegetables rather than packaged from a farmers market. Click here for all foods that are in season.*** Ecotopia.co.uk have a great selection of Xmas fayre , food staples and world foods .

2. Decorating your house can be one of the most enjoyable parts of Xmas. Go for ethically made and traded decorations . Kids really enjoy making their own green decorations out of old scraps of material and leftovers. Try popcorn garlands – which are really fun and cheap to make and scour a woodland floor for fallen pinecones and twigs that are great for decorations!

3. E-mail party invites and Christmas cards rather than post them. There are loads of free Xmas themed party invite e-cards around or alternatively make your own out of scrap and recycled products. If you really want to send cards, choose charity ones or check out these really funky recycled ones . After the big day, make sure your Christmas cards don't go to waste – take them to a Woodland Trust recycling point.

4. Christmas heating and lighting bills can be huge! Save cash and protect the environment by using energy saving devices such as standby busters and radiator boosters . Don’t forget to turn off the tree lights or better still try these solar powered ones.

5. Use recycled paper, gift bags or even colorful cloth to wrap the Christmas presents and instead of tape, use colorful ribbon to tie up the gifts.

6. Make a green statement this Xmas! Send a message to the manufacturers of consumer goods by shopping for & buying only natural, non toxic, eco friendly, organic presents this year.7. Which makes a better tree? Artificial or a real tree? Simply real ones are as they are great for the environment and can be replanted after use. If replanting isn’t an option, most local councils run Christmas tree recycling schemes. Contact yours or go to http://www.letsrecycle.com. If you need to use an artificial one avoid those made in China or Tawian which have transport costs associated with them. They also can be made with nasty chemicals, metals and plastics which can emit into our homes. Adorn with fair trade and ethical traded decorations or again make your own. Ecotopia.co.uk has a selection of seasonal trees in stock which make great gifts.

8. How do we give children what they desire but without poisoning our planet? Take electronic toys for instance. There are 900 million batteries used each year in the UK alone and many are in toys. But only 2% of batteries are currently recycled - the rest end up in landfill sites and are poisoning our planet! So what do you do? Choose an eco toy . Green and eco-friendly toys shouldn’t cost the earth so choose from a great selection here that don’t require batteries. Alternatively go for rechargeable batteries which will save you pounds throughout the year.

9. Recycle your unwanted presents. Unfortunately everyone receives at least one unwanted gift at Christmas. Many recycle their unwanted presents to charities. Local hospitals and hospices are often very pleased to receive unwanted smellies to give to patients. Or you could try www.freecycle.org and swap them for other people's unwanted gifts.

10. Don’t go overboard - reduce, reuse and recycle!

*** December Food In SeasonVEGETABLES: Artichoke (Jerusalem) Brussels sprouts Broccoli (purple sprouting) Beetroot Cabbage (red) Celeriac Celery Carrots Cauliflower Chicory Chard Celeriac Cardoons Cabbages Endive Garlic Kale Kohlrabi Lamb’s Lettuce Leeks Onions Parsnips Potatoes Pumpkin Rocket Shallots Spinach Swede Turnips WatercressFRUIT & NUTS: Apples Chestnuts Pears Pomegranate Quince RhubarbMEAT, POULTRY & GAME: Goose Grouse Hare Mallard Partridge Pheasant Rabbit Turkey Venison Woodcock FISH: Bream (black) Herring Mussels Oysters (native) Scallops TurbotCHEESE: Stilton Wensleydale, blue List courtesy of http://www.naturalmatters.net/