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The Natural Collection: household goods, toys, clothing, toiletries, all with a more sustainable character. The Natural Collection, Eco House, Monmouth Place, Bath BA1 2DQ, tel [phone], www.naturalcollection.com
Ecozone: as Natural Collection, paper catalogue is smaller. Eco-co Products Ltd., Unit 1, Tannery Close, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 4BY. Tel [phone], www.ecozone.co.uk
Spirit of Nature Ltd: mail order food, clothing, bodycare and household chemicals. Tel [phone] for free catalogue, www.spiritofnature.co.uk
The SimplyOrganic Food Company produce a catalogue from which you can order by telephone, fax or internet. As well as food, their range includes homecare, personal care and disposable nappies. Delivery is by Express Dairies. Contact SimplyOrganic Food Company, Olympic House, 196 The Broadway, London SW19 1SN, tel [phone], fax [phone], www.simplyorganic.net

And Albert, an affiliation of seven shops, They operate with associations and individuals dedicated to relieving poverty in less developed countries and preserving the crafts and skills of their indigenous communities. They stock hand made British crafts and fair traded goods from poorer countries. And Albert, 11 Eastgate Row, Chester, CH1 1LQ, tel [phone]

Flea Killers for Pets. These are pesticides, harmful to man, beast and flea. Other solutions include a growth inhibitor which stops flea eggs hatching; these also have side effects. Herbal remedies are likely to be what the animal would choose to rub against in the wild; some include garlic, for spraying on the fur or including in the food. There is also a DIY herbal solution whose recipe is included in a factsheet: “Pests in the Home” (current price £2.50) by The Pesticides Trust, Eurolink Centre, 49 Effra Road, London SW2 1BZ, tel [phone], www.gn.apc.org/pesticidestrust . Finally, there are electric traps available, attracting fleas by heat and smell, available from Traps (UK), 49 Dorothy Avenue, Peacehaven, East Sussex, BN10 8HT, tel [phone].
Kath Lloyd, 60 Bocaswell Village, Pendeen, West Cornwall TR19 7EJ has a range of herbal and homeopathic remedies (but she advises you to consult your vet first).
Pascoe’s Ltd supply organic, GM-free pet food. They’re at Dunhall Wharf, Bridgewater, Somerset, TA6 4TA.

Cleaning
Washing Powders/Detergents usually contain phosphates to soften the water. Phosphates are mined from finite deposits, and when they get through sewage treatment works they can cause algal blooms resulting in the death of fish and other waterlife. Phosphonates are derived from phosphates, so should also be avoided. Some products use polycarboxylates, synthetic phosphate substitutes, which are petroleum-based and non-biodegradable. EDTA, also used for water softening, is also to be avoided. It is slow to biodegrade and can pick up toxic heavy metals in the sediment of industrial rivers, allowing them to enter the food chain. Optical brighteners also are poor at biodegrading, and are toxic to fish.

Washing-Up Liquids come in various strengths. Looking at the list of ingredients will give you a vague clue – it’s the percentages of the various types of surfactants are what you’re after. Compare various brands and avoid bottles of “tainted water” that are a waste of plastic bottle. Most surfactants are synthetic and may possibly cause skin problems. It’s prudent to rinse your washing; surfactants natural or synthetic can upset digestion. Minimise use of washing-up liquid by the cunning use of less utensils when preparing food, and by encouraging empty plates.

Using Hydrogen Peroxide bleach instead of a chlorine-based bleach avoids the chance of producing dioxins in the sewerage and effluent treatment plant. (Dioxins are chlorinated hydrocarbons: they’re made when chlorine (from bleach, PVC, salt etc.) reacts with plastic, wood or other fuel. Dioxins are carcinogens: there’s no safe minimum limit to exposure, so watch it!)
Similarly, be careful what you put on bonfires - avoid plastics, treated wood, chemicals and general waste. Do yourself and your neighbours a favour and avoid making smoke, whether it creeps across gardens or ascends to pollute the area. A clean, hot burning fire using dry materials puts fewer nasty chemicals into the atmosphere.

Chemicals

Smoke and fire are bad for you and the environment, and many modern products release some very nasty chemicals on burning: Cheshire Fire Safety Department offer a free home fire safety check and/or free smoke alarm. Contact them at your local Fire Station, phone [phone] or visit www.cheshirefire.co.uk

There are some nasty chemicals in common use in the home, including hormone disrupting and bioaccumulative (you hoard these in your body, and women can pass them on to their babies) chemicals. Friends of the Earth have a free advice pack on what they are and how to avoid them: request it from Karina Pellaumail, Safer Chemicals Campaign, Friends of the Earth, 26-28 Underwood Street, London N1 7JQ; email ku.oc.eof|penriak#ku.oc.eof|penriak

Sick building syndrome: The Pesticides Action Network, tel [phone], e-mail gro.ku-nap|nimda#gro.ku-nap|nimda may be able to give advice about curing Sick building syndrome in the home. Some may be due to formaldehyde, a naturally occurring chemical used widely as a preservative in household cleaners and also released from glues, new furniture and composite wood products such as chipboard. Some chipboard is available formaldehyde-free: try Clarks Wood Company (tel [phone])

For those with internet access, Greenpeace have an interactive website where you can learn how many persistent toxic chemicals you have in your cupboards, that are capable of building up in our bodies and in the environment. Go to the Greenpeace Chemical Kitchen at www.greenpeace.org.uk

Furniture

Choose furniture made from natural materials. Look out for wood with the FSC logo, and ideally choose fast-growing softwoods like pine, larch and spruce. Even better, and possibly cheaper, is to consider second-hand or antique. For Furniture Schemes see the Recycling section. Avoid tropical hardwoods, as logging is still destroying the rainforests at a terrifying rate.
Pendlewood make bespoke outdoor furniture from reclaimed and locally produced timber. Contract Alan Pendlebury, 0161 789 4441, fax [phone].
Stewart John Buckle is a Master Cabinet Maker and French Polisher, making furniture from native woods such as English Oak and English Walnut. Tel [phone], mobile [phone], email moc.loa|BnhJtrwtS#moc.loa|BnhJtrwtS
Made-to-order mattresses and pillows made from organic wool inside organic cotton are a great start for babies and allergy-prone adults. Contact Willey Winkle, The Coach House, Gaol Street, Hereford HR1 2HU
Some people are hypersensitive or allergic, and although initially brought on by, perhaps, pollen, your home environment may not be helping if you’re bombarded with modern chemicals. By reducing use of chemicals and using natural fabrics (or no fabrics) you nay help yourself. The following sells a wide range of products for hypersensitive people:
The Healthy House, tel [phone], email ku.oc.esuoh-yhtlaeh|ofni#ku.oc.esuoh-yhtlaeh|ofni
The Green Shop have an extensive range of environmentally friendly products for everyday use, including natural fabics and furnishings. The Green Shop, Bisley, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL6 7BX. 01452 770629, fax [phone], email: ku.oc.pohsneerg|redroliam#ku.oc.pohsneerg|redroliam
http://www.getethical.com/: on-line mail order and magazine produced by the Big Issue and Red Pepper, offering sustainable products (fair trade food, clothing, household etc.) and articles respectively.

Ethical Consumer is a consumer magazine that gives guidance on ethical issues, suggesting products that minimise impacts on the various issues you may be concerned with: environmental, arms trade, tobacco, human or animal rights… They also research the backgrounds of the manufacturers. The magazine comes out six times a year.
For subscription details telephone [phone] (midday - 6pm weekdays) or write, with your name and address to: ECRA Publishing Ltd WEB-SUB 31, FREEPOST NWW978A, Manchester M15 9EP (no stamp needed) or visit www.ethicalconsumer.org

When buying a fridge or fridge-freezer, aim for efficiency “A” for lowest running costs, and one cooled by propane/butane mix rather than CFC’s, HFC’s or HCFC’s, all of which deplete the ozone layer when released so have ultimately have to go through a difficult recycling process.

Lady Heyes Craft Centre, Kingsley Road, Frodsham: various crafts, including:
Bespoke Picture Framing, picture framing using conservation standard wood.
African Fantasy, glass animals made from recycled bottles.
Cheshire Books, bookbinding, restoration and repair service - free quotations. Also second-hand books. Tel [phone]
CAS Design Interiors, reupholstery, French polishing, furniture restoration.
Dutton Hall Workshop, new furniture from old wood (Sat & Sun, 11am - 5pm). Tel [phone] or 01606 889491. Also at Dutton Hall Workshop, Northwich Road, Dutton
Brian Booth is a woodturner, who might use local wood: tel [phone], email ku.oc.oohay|htoob_tb#ku.oc.oohay|htoob_tb
There are also various second-hand and antique units
The Craft Centre is open 10am - 5pm daily except Sunday - 11am start.

Use your libraries: for information, books, recordings, newspapers…save money, save trees, save space in the home. Borrow videos from video shops, tools from tool hire shops. (Check your yellow pages or Thomson Directory for addresses.) Alternatively, ask likely friends or neighbours. Some members of the Salt Exchange have tools, bikes, etc., for hire.

Save a tree and cut down on junk mail by writing to Mailing Preference Service, Freepost 22, London W1E 7EZ, requesting removal of your name and address from mailing lists and that you no longer wish to receive unsolicited mail. A note on your letterbox saying “No unsolicited mail” should eliminate other items.

To get the most out of your computer, it can be repaired and/or upgraded.
Technol do repairs, upgrades and stock parts. Technol Ltd., 5-7 Chester Road, Castle, Northwich, CW8 1EZ, tel [phone], fax 784055, technical 01606 784447, email ku.oc.nomed.lonhcet|lonhcet#ku.oc.nomed.lonhcet|lonhcet
Elite Personal Computers conduct computer repairs and upgrades, and can supply refurbished machines. They’re at 86 Wheelock Street, Middlewich; tel [phone], fax [phone], email ku.oc.oohay|kusretupmocetile#ku.oc.oohay|kusretupmocetile
Claymore Business Machines, New Road Business Centre, New Road, Winsford, Cheshire CW7 2NU. Telephone: [phone] Fax: [phone], email: ku.oc.mberomyalc|ekim#ku.oc.mberomyalc|ekim offer computer repairs, along with environmentally friendly copiers and other items for business and the home office.
A regular Computer Market is held in Winsford Civic Hall, with many refurbished second-hand machines and items to upgrade your old kit.

Many other small computer traders do repairs (you may get some sales talk: be firm with what you want from your computer, and your budget.) There are also specialist repairers advertised in the press and Buy Sell, and local colleges offer computer maintenance courses. For more on computers, see under “Recycling”.
Traditional (cathode ray tube, CRT) screens use much more electricity than the rest of your system. CRT screens that turn themselves off after a period of non-use can save electricity; but preferably arrange your work so that your computer’s never on and idle.
Flat screen LCD computer monitors use less electricity and don’t flicker in the same way as the traditional Cathode Ray Tube versions, so as well as saving energy and not being so difficult to recycle, they’re also better for epileptics, migraine sufferers and others sensitive to flickering light. Though more expensive, they can save money for regular users. (A typical CRT screen is rated at 360W, while an LCD screen can be 30W)

Daniel’s Electrical Services Ltd. repair microwave ovens, also videos, hi-fi’s and audio and vacuum cleaners. They’re at 3 Moss Lane, Altrincham, WA14 1BA (close to the station); tel/fax [phone]

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When buying anything, remember, sometime you’ll be saying goodbye to it. So how many points will it score from:
Will it last a long time?
Can you use it, maintain it, and repair it easily,
with minimal environmental effect?
Has it been made using renewable resources,
locally,
and the workers paid a wage they can live respectably on?
Can you
and others, make good use of it?
Can the final owner dispose of it so that it gets composted or becomes a raw material for something else?
Can you similarly dispose of any packaging?
Can you say the same about anything you need in order to run it and care for it?
You worked hard for the money to pay for it, and somebody lovingly crafted it, so don’t waste it!