From edicures to utilitarian up-dos: seven fashion trends from the Festival...
Wayne and Gerardine Hemingways second Festival of Thrift this weekend saw 40,000 people descend on Darlington for a weekend of upcycling, recycling, make do and mend, discothrift and edible manicures....
View ArticleClothing bin wars: the battle over your charitable used donations
As charities like Goodwill and stores like H&M fight for discarded clothes, a growing army of rogue operators snatch up donationsThe US government estimates that about 85% of the textiles that are...
View ArticleThe footwear industry is taking steps towards sustainability
From shoes inspired by Japanese Shinto temples to grinding old trainers into pellets for running tracksA 5,500-year-old leather shoe was discovered in a cave in Armenia in 2010. Recycling experts cant...
View ArticleTraidRemade launches two limited-edition collections in pictures
The ethical fashion label TraidRemade has collaborated with Percival menswear and Olivia Hegarty on two limited-edition men and womens collections. Every piece is made in the UK from reclaimed...
View ArticleBill Tippett obituary
My friend, Bill Tippett, who has died aged 70, was a passionate environmentalist who worked for Milliken, the carpet manufacturing giant that aims to produce zero waste, in Britain and the US. He...
View ArticlePrada, Dior and Nike are finding a fashionable new purpose for fish skins
Fish leftovers are often turned into meal for animals, but top brands are turning fish skin into leatherDuring the past three decades, capture fisheries production has increased from 69m to 93m tonnes,...
View ArticleGovernment urged to tackle stalled recycling rates in England
More political action is needed to reduce waste and improve recycling rates to meet EU targets by 2020, says report by MPs Ministers have stepped back from efforts to encourage people to recycle their...
View ArticleHow councils are using clever and innovative ideas to increase recycling...
Frequent waste collection and knocking on doors of those who contaminate bins is reducing what goes to landfill A report last week by the environment, food and rural affairs committee said more...
View ArticleFive countries moving ahead of the pack on circular economy legislation
Denmark has banned the construction of incineration plants, Scotland is charging for plastic bags and Sweden is aiming to increase its metal recyclingLast month, the European Commission adopted a...
View Article8 ways to rethink resources: nappies to benches and food waste to biogas
Businesses are using circular economy thinking to find radical new ways to repurpose waste and save scarce resourcesConscious consumers know not to use disposable plastic bottles, or single-use plastic...
View ArticleCan sport change the way we think about the energy crisis?
Manchester United has pledged to turn its supporters into friends of the environment and its not aloneFriends argue in a bar about who the best ever conservationist is. Work colleagues passionately...
View ArticleZero Waste Week: a challenge to send nothing to landfill
Concerned about dwindling resources and that children inherit a sustainable future? An ongoing campaign could be for youPass to all emergency services. This is a major incident. I repeat; this is a...
View ArticleWould shopping vouchers make you more likely to recycle?
Eric Pickles has plumped for the 'carrot', rather than 'stick', approach by rewarding households that recycle more with shopping vouchers, in lieu of 'draconian fines'. Would it encourage you? Continue...
View ArticleNo cash for the train fare? Beijing takes plastic ... bottles
City links: This weeks best city stories explore a surprising transit initiative in China, successful green activism in Beirut and reveal the city that tweets more than any otherThe best city stories...
View ArticleThank you for signing up to the Live Better community challenge
This month its all about community and were challenging you to get involved with projects in your local area or to even set up one of your ownIts official! Youre now part of the Live Better...
View ArticleWriter's community challenge: how I helped bring in the harvest
Patrick Barkham took up this months Live Better challenge to get involved. How did he do on Oak Tree Low Carbon Farm?Oak Tree Low Carbon Farm essential informationOoh, youve taken a lot on, exclaimed...
View ArticleBicycle repair: taking it apart is the first step to putting it back together
Carlene Thomas-Bailey couldnt even identify a bike pump when she went along to a Broken Spoke Co-op workshop (the second in our community project series). Did she work it out?How to set up your own...
View ArticleHow to set up a bike repair co-operative
The Broken Spoke Co-operative is the second in our series on community projects; heres how they set up, and information about how you can do the same Carlene Bailey-Thomas went along to a repair...
View ArticleRecycling in the home: how to break down the barriers
Despite good intentions, only half of plastic bottles in Britain and France are recycled. Creativity is needed to change habitsGovernment, industry and consumers in the developed world have known about...
View Article'We made a wooden table then ate a meal on it people were amazed'
Kilfinan Community Forest in Argyll, Scotland trades in timber and teaches visitors sustainability, forest and woodworking skillsHow to buy and grow a forestSome people, says Rob Borruso, are more...
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