The Green Providers Directory is the UK's leading resource for finding green, organic and fair trade products and services. We are a not-for-profit directory whose aim is to encourage more people to buy from ethical and sustainable sources. All the companies listed in our directory have been vetted so that you can be sure of their eco-friendly credentials. Our directory is free and easy to use - providing everything you need for sustainable living under one roof!
"We love your directory and have used it many times to shop and find green online services." - Paw Luxury
"Thanks to the Fair Trade market, our standard of living has substantially increased. With your support, we look forward to a more promising future." - Miguel Trigoso, APARM coffee cooperative, Peru
"The Fair Trade movement is growing as people realize that they can help alleviate poverty and protect the environment by choosing Fair Trade products." - Robert Alan
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Fair trade bags Perfect for shopping, the beach or picnic, or as a fashion accessory, fair trade bags are becoming ever more popular. Fair trade certified cotton bags are for life. They're sustainable and reusable and represent a stand against throwaway ‘carrier bag’ society. |
Plastic bags - shocking statistics! Five trillion plastic bags are maunfactured globally each year. It takes around 1,000 years for a plastic bag to break down. In the process, toxic substances leak into the soil and enter the food chain. Approximately 1 billion seabirds and mammals die each year by ingesting plastic bags (source: Say No To Plastic Bags).
"We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children." - Native American Proverb
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Organic health & beauty products do not contain harmful chemicals or pesticides. All the companies listed in our directory follow organic principles, offering everything from natural skincare products, shampoos, soaps and toiletries to bath salts and herbs.
Did you know? The skin is very permeable and most of the lotions you apply end up inside your body; this can include toxins and chemicals which are potentially harmful in the longer-term. |
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Nature's Boutique helps you leave high-street cosmetics behind, with more natural beauty products that will keep you looking good on the outside – and feeling good on the inside. |
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Do you know where your clothes come from? Many mass-produced clothes are made in sweatshops under very difficult conditions, usually where the workers have few rights. Some companies outsource production to third world countries because they can pay employees much less then they would have to pay for domestic labour. Sweatshops are created when individuals are exploited, working in hazardous conditions for long hours and very low pay. Often child labour is used to cut production costs. |
"Each time a person stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, these ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance." - Robert F. Kennedy
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Fair trade, organic clothing is both fashionable and ethical! Made with organic cotton by workers who are paid and treatly fairly unlike much of today's mass-produced department store clothing. There is a huge range to choose from in our clothing section. |
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Fair trade, organic t-shirts Did you know that conventionally grown cotton is the second most pesticide-laden crop in the world? It takes approximately 150g of chemicals to grow enough cotton to make just one t-shirt! Choose an ethically produced, trendy t-shirt instead. |
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The Fair Trade Clothing Shop offers ethically-made clothing for shoppers with a conscience, covering everything from cotton t-shirts, sportswear, evening wear and children's clothing to footwear and accessories. The site is continuously updated with the latest offers and ethical clothing information. |
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The Exotic Paper Company produces 100% recycled paper and paper products like stationery sets, jotters, journals, sketch pads and shopping lists all with the inclusion of elephant, reindeer or rhino poo. They also have a range of handmade and plantable papers as well as poo planters (grow kits with a difference!). They make unique and unusual gifts and their paper provides an innovative and ethical way of printing letters, invitations, menus, etc. Their products help support people and animals as well as helping to sustain the environment.
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“We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.” - Mother Teresa
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Tropical rainforests took up to 100 million years to evolve and are believed to be the oldest and most complex land-based ecosystem on earth, containing over 30 million species of plants and animals. That's half of the Earth's wildlife and at least two-thirds of its plant species!
Some interesting facts: A typical four square mile patch of rainforest contains as many as 1,500 flowering plants, 750 species of trees, 400 species of birds and 150 species of butterflies. Rainforests provide many important medicinal products, including those used in the treatment of cancer.
"A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people." - Franklin Delano Roosevelt |
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The Malay word orang-utan means "person of the forest" These long-haired, orange coloured primates are only found in Sumatra and Borneo. They are highly intelligent and close relatives in the evolutionary tree to humans. Click here to find out more about the orang-utan.
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Meat and climate change Links between meat eating and climate change have been widely known for many years, partly due to deforestation in the Amazon rainforest to make room for cattle grazing. Clearing these forests is estimated to produce a staggering 17% of global greenhouse gas emissions, more than the entire transport sector! |
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Water: The source of all life About 70% of the earth’s surface is covered with water and 97% of this is salt water. Although the salt can be removed (desalination), it is a difficult and expensive process. 2% of the water on earth is glacier ice at the North and South Poles while less than 1% of all the water on earth is fresh water that we can actually use. Click here to read more about 'embedded water' and how its affecting our environment. |
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Polar bears face 'tipping point' due to climate change The journal Biological Conservation has published research which suggests that polar bears face a ‘tipping point’ due to climate change. The research claims that there will be a dramatic and sudden decline in the number of polar bears, due in the main to falling pregnancy rates and fewer bears surviving during longer, ice-free seasons. |
| Eco friendly toys Fun to play, entertaining and with an educational content for both babies and children. All the toys listed in our directory are made from sustainable sources and recycled, recyclable and biodegradable materials. |
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Did you know? A baby's skin is five times thinner than an adult’s, which means it is easier for harmful toxins to enter their bodies. Organic cotton is softer, more durable and safer for your baby to wear whilst being less likely to trigger allergies. See our baby & children section.
"Now that I've got kids, it's become really important for me on the health front to try to buy as much organic produce as possible." - Jamie Oliver, UK celebrity chef, in BBC Good Food magazine
| Switch to a green electricity provider in minutes and it won't cost you a penny more than you already pay! The biggest cause of climate change is the CO2 emitted from power stations - reduce your carbon footprint today. |
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How green is your electricity company? Click here to find out.
"Humanity has changed the climate. We can have no doubt the world is warming." - Sir David Attenborough, Naturalist
The biggest offshore wind farm in the world? Gwynt y Mor will be one of the single biggest private investment projects ever seen in Wales, creating one of the largest offshore windfarm projects in the world, able to provide enough clean, green electricity to power the equivalent of around 400,000 homes [read more]
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Biggest solar power plant in the world? A solar power plant planned for Arizona may be the biggest in the world, with $2bn in loan guarantees designed to kick-start the US solar energy industry. President Barack Obama has said that the project would provide more than 5,000 new jobs. The Arizona plant should power 70,000 homes and cut carbon dioxide emissions.
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World population is projected to rise from today's 6.8 billion to over 9 billion in 2050
“Those who fail to see that population growth and climate change are two sides of the same coin are either ignorant or hiding from the truth. These two huge environmental problems are inseparable and to discuss one while ignoring the other is irrational.” Dr. Lovelock, Gaia scientist. |
“Only when the last tree has been cut down, Only when the last river has been poisoned, Only when the last fish has been caught, Only then will you find that money cannot be eaten.” - Cree Indian Prophecy
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Fair trade, sustainable furniture Always choose wood from managed forests, certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). FSC is an international, non-governmental organisation dedicated to promoting responsible management of the world’s forests. It was founded in 1993 in response to public concern about deforestation and demand for a trustworthy wood-labelling scheme. FSC is supported by NGOs including WWF, Greenpeace and the Woodland Trust. |
"For in the true nature of things, if we rightly consider, every green tree is far more glorious than if it were made of gold and silver." - Martin Luther
Did you know? Thousands of trees and tonnes of paper are used to produce telephone directories. You can now opt out of receiving Yellow Pages by calling 0800 671 444. Also, you can opt out of receiving unwanted mail by registering with the Mailing Preference Service. |
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Life on Earth is supported by the atmosphere The atmosphere absorbs the energy from the Sun, recycles water and other chemicals, and works with the electrical and magnetic forces to provide a moderate climate. The atmosphere also protects us from high-energy radiation and the frigid vacuum of space. Find out more
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"Only when I saw the Earth from space, in all its ineffable beauty and fragility, did I realize that humankind's most urgent task is to cherish and preserve it for future generations." - Sigmund Jahn, German cosmonaut
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Energy saving devices If everyone boiled only the water they needed, we could save enough electricity to run all the street lights in the UK! Plus, almost a billion pounds of electricity is wasted in the UK every year by people leaving appliances on standby! Save money and help the environment.
Buying electrical appliances? Look for products marked as Energy Saving Recommended. These must meet stringent low-energy standards set by an independent panel, so you'll be able to buy with confidence. |
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Do you know how much electricity each device in your home consumes? Click here to find out more.
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Looking for cheaper, carbon neutral car insurance? Many insurers are now offering discounts for low emission cars and low mileage drivers. For money saving tips visit The Green Insurance Directory. |
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"The issue of climate change is one that we ignore at our own peril. There may still be disputes about exactly how much we're contributing to the warming of the earth's atmosphere and how much is naturally occurring, but what we can be scientifically certain of is that our continued use of fossil fuels is pushing us to a point of no return. And unless we free ourselves from a dependence on these fossil fuels and chart a new course on energy in this country, we are condemning future generations to global catastrophe." - Barack Obama
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Some interesting snippets
Brazilian government gives the go-ahead for huge Amazon dam 27th August 2010
The proposal to build a hydro-electric dam on the Xingu river, a tributary of the Amazon in the northern state of Para, has long been a source of controversy. The project was originally abandoned in the 1990s following widespread protests both in Brazil and around the world.
Environmental groups say the 6km-long (3.75-mile) long dam will threaten the survival of indigenous groups, and the lives of up to 50,000 people could be affected as 500 sq km (190 sq miles) of land would be flooded.
If it goes ahead it will become the world's third biggest hydroelectric dam.
New predictions for rising sea levels 25th August 2010
New research suggests that up to 150 million people could be displaced as sea levels rise by 30cm to 70cm by the end of this century. This could result in flooding of low-lying coastal areas, including some of the world's largest cities.
The team published the study in the journal PNAS.
A sign of things to come? 16th August 2010
The abnormally warm and dry weather in Moscow, shrouded in a blistering haze of smoke from wildfires is another symptom of global warming according to experts from the environmental group WWF Russia.
The head of the climate and energy programme at WWF Russia, Alexei Kokorin, said the abnormal temperatures soaring to up to 40C increased the likelihood of wildfires around the capital.
"We have to get ready to fight such fires in the future because there is a great possibility that such a summer will be repeated. This tendency won't stop in the coming 40 years or so, until the greenhouse gas emissions are reduced," he said. "We can now say that the wave of abnormal phenomena that the rest of the world has been experiencing has finally reached central Russia," Dr Kokorin added.
Property prices soar in the desert 27th July 2010
The Thar desert spreads 200,000 square kilometres across North West India, abd land there has gone from virtually worthless to being very valuable almost overnight.
The reason? The Indian government recently launched its National Solar Mission - a $19bn plan to generate 20,000 megawatt of solar electricity by 2022. And the Thar desert is a vast place basked in sun with abundance, meaning that it is ideal for generating solar energy. The beauty of this project is that it uses land that would otherwise be barren.
The region's solar revolution is expected to get underway shortly when one of India's biggest energy companies - Reliance Industries - switches on its 5 megawatt solar plant in the nearby town of Khimsar.
Ice on Mount Everest disappearing 20th July 2010
Photos of Mount Everest comparing it in 1921 with 2010 shows that the ice mass is disappearing at an alarming pace.
"The photographs reveal a startling truth: the ice of the Himalaya is disappearing," an Asia Society statement said. "They reveal an alarming loss in ice mass over an 89-year period."
The Asia Society says that the findings are "vitally important" because the Himalaya is home to the world's largest sub-polar ice reserves. "The melt waters of these high altitude glaciers supply crucial seasonal flows to the Ganges, Brahmaputra, Salween, Irrawaddy, Mekong, Yangtze and Yellow rivers, which hundreds of millions of people downstream depend on for their livelihoods," the statement said.
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