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The issues facing luxury goods companies are numerous. They include concerns over human rights, conflict, corruption, labour rights, and environmental degradation throughout their supply chains, as well the trade in wildlife. The opportunities, on the other hand, are huge, if you happen to be a “sustainable” luxury brand.

US residents can now check out what they’re being poisoned with by checking out this new tool provided by the US Environmental Protection Agency and Google Earth. Check for levels of carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen oxides, VOCs, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide; and identify big emitters. A handy tool for deciding where to live if you're moving.

Here you are folks, a random assortment of things you can make for people you love. Things that are better than things you can get in shops because: a) they’ve been made locally, b) they’ve not cost you much, and c) they’re made with love. If you’ve taken the pledge to buy handmade this xmas, you can take it a step further by making handmade yourself.

There benefits to both the environment and ourselves of buying organic cotton, but some of these benefits are negated if, for the remainder of the garments life, it is washed in detergents and chemicals which are damaging to our environment and ourselves. So here are some of eco-friendly non-toxic methods of stain removal that you can use. Some may have been well known to your grandmother and she may have passed them on, but some will be new.

London based boutique electronics company Hulger has designed the Plumen low-energy light bulb to counter the ugliness of CFLs that are currently available. No need to hide these babies under a bushel, or even a lampshade.

Although somewhat dubious, there is an argument for the ethical shopper to visit Primark: with the often stupid amounts of money saved on their goods, you can put more into your fund for the groundbreakingly green products that are inherently more expensive; things like Worn Again shoes.

All over the world, people are registering at the freeconomy community. They’re all tired of the lack of community in their areas and the focus on money, and have decided to do something about it. By signing up to freeconomy, you are able to contact, and be contacted by, others in your area and share your skills and to help one other for free. It’s a fantastic way to get to know people in your vicinity, and to make a real contribution to your community.

From the article: “We know the risks (to children’s health) but we are forced to give up the children for cotton each season otherwise we will starve”. This post examines some of the issues concerned with the employment of children in the production of cheap textiles in the third world.

The lines are closed, the votes have been counted and I can now reveal that the winners of the British Environment and Media Awards 2007 are...

As we gear up for the holiday season, don’t get drawn in to the shopping frenzy with all the plastic, the sparkles and the tat. Here’s an idea: only give handmade gifts this Christmas.

Greenzone tv is a green shopping service using short video clips to give product information and humorously enliven the shopping experience.

Eski Thomas and Julien Temple are behind this great idea, so you’d be right to think that these clips are a tad more entertaining than those of regular QVC.

Social networking, everybody’s doing it. We all know who the big guys are, but some prefer a space for online interaction with others of like mind. Here are our favourite green social networking sites.

South Africa’s state owned electricity provider Eskom leads by example in this cool advertising campaign.

The Mayor of London is giving away a free DIY Planet Repairs toolkit to all residents of Greater London. The free kit contains a few things to help you make small but important changes around the home.

Google has launched the UK Carbon Footprint Project to help people in the UK to calculate, track and compare our carbon footprints with others living in the UK in 3 steps: calculate your carbon footprint, learn what you can do to reduce your carbon footprint, and then add your footprint to the UK Carbon Footprint Map.