Eco Living
About Us & Ecology
Our own EcoChic Collection and our suppliers are skilled artisans in the developing world, who have the smallest environmental footprints in the world. They live and work in communities without many our “essentials” and many do not even have electricity.
Their way of life is by consuming locally produced food and using hand production techniques to make a living. Our way of life in the West, with mass consumption and its affects on the environment is affecting the poorest communities in the developing world.
Our ethical UK collections have been selected for the environmentally conscious status of each of our partner organisations. Pleass see our blog for our partnership questionnaire.
Our ECO policies…
- The collections we hold are often handmade and so have the smallest carbon-footprints.
- We are one of the few companies with accredited Fair Trade products, sourced from BAFTS, IFAT & SA8000 which gives great attention to environmentally-friendly production methods. Our partnerships with UK producer organisations are chosen for their ethical trading initiatives and environmental concerns.
- The EcoChic team, “have a flare for fashion, but more importantly, a passion for people and our environment”.
- All our paper, business cards, boxes and tissue paper are recycled or from sustainable sources
- We recycle & compost our waste
- All our products are genuine Fair Trade, where possible we source organic, recycled and sustainable products.
- We source our products from BAFTS (British Association of Fair Trade Shops) or IFAT (International Fair Trade Association) or those Companies with the SA800 Certification only, who are the regulators of Fair Trade organisations and who have strong environmental policies.
- Our accredited Fair Trade suppliers are environmentally conscious and who often use shipping as an alternative to air freight to reduce their carbon footpriOur clothing and accessories product range is all handmade using less energy in its production process
- Whenever possible we source products that are naturally produced
- We support Organic Farming methods and source organic cotton whenever we can.
- Many of our suppliers avoid using damaging chemicals in the production process using recycled and biogradable substances instead and we strongly support this.
- Our suppliers also try yo recycle what they can and aim to protect water supplies and forests in the enviroments they work in.
- We don’t claim to be perfect environmentalists, but we do love nature and the countryside and do our best to recycle, reuse and switch off our energy supplies when not needed in our office.
Sources of Eco information (UK)
TREETAX
There is also an exciting new UK programme called TREETAX, which links Your Action to Right Action by asking you each year to donate towards planting trees which will, over their lifetime absorb tons of CO2 and produce tons of oxygen. See http://www.treetax.com/
Carbon offsetting
Many of our suppliers use shipping as an alternative to air freight to reduce their carbon emissions. Similarly, as many of our products are handmade and made in small quantities, this reduces the amounts of emissions that are produced in the production process.
However, should you be concerned about the carbon emissions that we all produce, please take a look at http://www.climatecare.org/ where you can make a donation to a number of carbon offset programmes
What is your Carbon Footprint?
Environment Agency
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/
BBC Nature Website
An introduction to ten key environmental issues facing the planet.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/environment/conservationnow/global/%20
Environmental Issues
Current, in-depth environmental news & info about global warming, renewable energy, biodiversity, recycling and other environmental issues.
http://www.environment.about.com/
Natural England
Works for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes & wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas.
http://www.naturalengland.org.uk%20/
Energy Saving Trust
http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/
