Land Rover promote ‘Our Planet’

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Land Rover has taken major steps in trying to promote environmental awareness on a global scale. In recent times, it has become the preferred motor vehicle for environmentally conscious explorers, conservationists, environmentalists and scientists the world over.

Due to various factors influencing the environmental heritage of our planet, including the significant change in climate, they have decided to focus on four key elements - Environmental Technology, Sustainable Manufacturing, CO2 Offsetting, and Conservations and Humanitarian Projects.Environmental Technology – Land Rover has taken on the mammoth task of designing vehicles that are lighter, more compact, and more aerodynamic than most vehicles available today. These vehicles combine environmentally focused technology and can deliver CO2 emissions of 120g/km.

Sustainable Manufacturing – Land Rover has, over the years, worked hard to reduce emissions with each new vehicle in its range. Also, they are in the process of developing technologies to further improve emission reduction.

CO2 Offsetting – This is a leading initiative, and the most comprehensive to be taken on by an automotive manufacturer. Projects will include a wind farm in China, hydro-electric generator in Tajikistan, and efficient cooking stoves in Uganda.

Conservation and Humanitarian Projects – Land Rover participates in various conservation projects that reap long term rewards. They are also a dedicated sponsor to the Born Free Foundation, Biosphere Expedition, Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), and Earthwatch.

Everybody has a responsibility towards the environment, and Land Rover has taken its first steps by investing in sustainable development by designing vehicles that is fuel efficient, and by reducing CO2 emissions during manufacturing. In this way, the negative impact on our environment is minimised.

With these innovative ideas, Land Rover has pushed hard to improve and sustain our precious environment for future generations.

Look Good While Helping the Environment

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While most of us might scoff at donning a cotton wedding dress, we do want others to think of us as humane, ethical and in touch with the zeitgeist. The paradigm shift has been made: we want to do our bit for the environment but still look good. It has never been an easy compromise. Until very recently, only bona-fide tree hugger companies were the purveyors of ethical or green fashion.

Consumers are demanding better products, and better treatment of the earth’s natural resources. And we are (mostly) getting it. Previous generations were content with cotton, also called conventional cotton; these days we demand organic cotton, which leaves a smaller eco-footprint on the earth.

Fifteen per cent of the respondents in a recent UK survey claimed that the use of organic fabric is ‘very important’ to them when buying clothing. Forty-five per cent of these respondents were concerned about the damage clothing production causes the environment and an even bigger percentage prefer retailers that do not use sweat shops or child labour.

But what is organic clothing, and is it worth the fuss? Also, what is the difference between organic and natural clothing? This is a good question and the answer might surprise you. Natural does not mean organic. The 100% Italian Linen skirt you sport may not be organic. Organic clothing, however, is made from natural fibres. Natural fibres include vegetable fibres (cotton, kapok, bamboo) and animal fibres (silk, wool, angora, mohair, alpaca, and cashmere). Now is a good time to learn more about natural fibres, as 2009 is touted as The International Year of Natural Fibres.

There are many different organic fabrics. Some of these are silk, hemp, organic cotton, bamboo and wool. I have always thought of silk as an organic fabric until I read about peace silk, which is also known as vegetarian silk. Normal silk worms are killed off to prevent them from harming the silk cocoons; vegetarian silk production allows moths to get out of the cocoon naturally. But this means the months break the silk threads, so workers spin the thread rather than reeling it onto a spool in one continuous strand. This type of silk is slightly coarser than what we may have become used to.

There are about eleven UK companies that certify organic farm practices, two of which are the UK Soil Association and Organic Farmers and Growers. SKAL International (Dutch) is another well-known organisation that inspects and certifies the production process.

Organic clothing is made from fibres that have not been treated with toxic insecticides, herbicides or fungicides. Prevention is the best strategy farmers have against disease, weed and insects.

To be certified as organic, farmers need to adhere to the following guidelines:

• avoidance of most synthetic chemical inputs;
• use of farmland that has been free from chemicals for a number of years (often, three or more);
• keeping detailed written production and sales records (audit trail);
• maintaining strict physical separation of organic products from non-certified products;
• undergoing periodic on-site inspections

If you want good reasons why you should buy organic, here are three: it is better for the environment; it is farmer friendly; and it is sustainable. Organic clothing does not contain any harmful chemicals, which means it is better for consumers as well as the workers who produce the products. People who are sensitive to chemicals can wear these products without their skin being irritated. Another major advantage to organic clothing is that Fair Trade policies are mostly adhered to.

You don’t want to feel guilty when reclining underneath luxurious bed linen or when dressing in a comfortable bath robe. Instead you can support companies such as The White Company that take the environment seriously.

These companies select items based on their ethical soundness and their pleasing aesthetic. The organic cotton available - grown without the use of any pesticides, chemical fertilisers and using only the most natural, ecologically friendly dyes and chemicals, have grown up during the last couple of years. These fabrics now sport gorgeous colours, which is a welcome change, and will surely compliment your wardrobe.

How to be a Green Kitchenista: 8 Easy Steps

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Creating my dream green kitchen would probably cost more than my yearly salary. What’s more, I’m still renting and doubt my landlord (or lady) would consider it to be an investment. Also, is it possible to go completely green, and is it worth the time and money I would spend if I were to have my own comfortable house?

There are easier ways to create a green kitchen suited to any domestic god or goddess. Most of these are easy to add to one’s schedule, and some do not need much will-power at all.

Add these changes gradually to become used to this new lifestyle.

Shop daily.

Resist doing a big, monthly shop. Shopping on a daily or even weekly basis may mean slight changes, but it can be very effective: you’ll waste less food. And what a waste there is! UK consumers throw away one third of produce, which means 6.7 million tonnes of food worth £9 billion hits the landfills. Buy two or three loose potatoes or broccoli heads and try to avoid items in plastic containers. And what about the two-for-one special that you can’t resist? Think about it: will you really use both?

Match your pots to the correct cooking surface

This is one trick my mom has taught me, but only because it makes so much sense. Cooking with the correct size pot makes a big difference: food cooks faster and you use less heat and time. If a cooking surface is exposed, it will radiate the heat into the air, not inside the pot or pan. Another good trick is to cook with lids on. This seals the heat inside and food cooks faster.

Buy Local

While I have read an article that dismisses going local as a mere fad, this is a worthy goal. Do this if there are fresh local produce available, but make sure it will not be too expensive.

Change the lighting

This has to be the easiest way to save energy in the kitchen. And why not do the same to the rest of your house or apartment? Changing to CFLs, which should fit into a standard light socket, use less energy and create less heat. It’s also lighter on your wallet. Your other option is natural lighting. One way to do this is to use a tubular skylight, which is not too expensive and it can bring in a great amount of light.

Make a compost heap

This might take a bit of planning to work for some people, but it can certainly be worth the effort. Home composting has become more popular and there are many techniques being used by composters. Some may worry that a compost heap gives off nasty odours. If the heap is well-maintained, it will not have a bad smell. If you live in a block of flats, why not get everyone there involved?

Making one big meal

Whether it is a big curry, spaghetti bolognaise, five loaves of bread or a massive macaroni cheese, it will not only work out less expensive, but it will also save you much time.

Kitchen Towels no more

Yes, they’re convenient, but do you need them that much? I find I use up one roll a week. It’s a drain to my budget, and just another item that clogs up landfills. Use dishcloths instead of kitchen towels, and keep them clean.

Break one rule

No-one wants to follow rules all the time. So feel free to break one of these rules when the alternative is just too costly, time-consuming or much of an inconvenience.

 

 

When Will World Leaders Step Up to the Plate

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These days, more and more celebrities are using their influence to highlight the plight of our planet. If they are not making documentaries about the effects of global warming, they are stripping down in a bid to create animal awareness, or using their clout in the industry to produce, direct and star in various TV shows dedicated to saving the planet.

And if all it takes is a bit of clout, why aren’t more world leaders stepping up to the plate to raise awareness about the state of our planet? Could this be due to the fact that many of us believe that if it doesn’t affect us directly, is it not our problem? The condition of our planet affects us all, and everybody should be doing their part towards making it a better place to live.

And communication should not be an excuse. We have always been developing ways to make communication easier. From the days when posting a letter was the main form of getting your message across, to presently, where email and internet have become a way of life, long distance communication has become child’s play.

Just look at all the communication channels we have available:

• Post – Even though sending a post card may seem a little outdated, sending a post is still a valid form of communication in most parts of the world. And with post offices springing up all over the place, sending a post is now faster and easier than it was in the past. Companies such as Royal Mail have dedicated themselves to offering the best postal service, affording people the opportunity to stay connected no matter where they are in the world

• Telephone – By far one of the most popular means of communication. And with the introduction of mobile phones, more people are able to communicate, wherever they may be in the world. Telkom, South Africa’s only landline provider, has taken great steps to make communication simpler, faster and cheaper. Not only are you able to make phone calls, you are able to connect to the internet as well

• Electronic Mail – Or more commonly referred to as email, which has in recent times exploded onto the scene. Email is fast becoming the leading forms of communication throughout the world, not just among the youth, but in business as well. Major corporations such as Yahoo, Hotmail and Lycos are continuously upgrading their services, offering faster and more efficient ways to communicate

• Internet – Websites, blogs, forums, online chatting, there are hundreds of ways to communicate and stay connected on the internet. Thanks to Google and Yahoo, the largest search engines in the world, online communication is easier than ever before. Even local companies like Vodacom have done their part in offering easier forms of communicating by offering WirelessG Wifi, which people can connect to from 110 000 hotspots across the globe. Can communication get any easier than that?

If connecting to people across the globe is as simple as sending an email or posting an article on the web, why aren’t more influential people spreading the word?

So if modern technology is wreaking havoc on our eco-system, why not use it for some good? Take full advantage of modern technology by voicing your opinions, concerns and thoughts through the various forms of communication tools at your disposal. You never know who might be listening.

How to get that eco-chic wardrobe you’ve been lusting after

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Just admit it. You like fashion as much as me and would not want to be seen in last season’s pants. But perhaps you have been thinking of making an improvement in your wardrobe, though you’re not sure how. Perhaps you are wondering whether you can be an eco-friendly fashionista. And I’m sure you have wondered what to do with those shoes, which are a size too big, that you bought for a song at the local barnyard sale. Would you miss the daily compliments on your quirky look? I know I would. And I don’t even consider myself to be worthy of the label ‘fashionista’.

Stop buying that much. Let quality be your focus, not quantity. Some of the best wardrobes are also the smallest. Try to keep your wardrobe under 100 pieces and, whenever you buy a new item, weed your closet for anything that no longer fits, is dated or gives you bad memories. This helps you to keep it manageable, and more eco-friendly. It will also force you to mix and match your pieces, which means you’ll be able to create far more outfits with fewer pieces.

Do not wash clothing items too much. And ditch the fabric softener. They’ll last longer and you’ll save on your water bill, detergents and time. Fabric softener is not needed; it is not good for the environment and does not benefit our clothing, unless you are wearing polyester. Instead, add half a cup of white vinegar or baking soda to the rinse water as a fabric softener substitute. I have found great lists on gathering, storing, and sorting laundry, on eco-laundry and an excellent one on how to get a longer lasting wardrobe.  These article explain how often one should launder clothing and give great tips on how to launder the ecologically friendly way.

Buy organic clothing where possible. Failing that, buy natural fabrics. Most organic clothing do not have a massive carbon footprint. However, this may not be true of Bamboo, which is chemically processed.

Visit thrift stores. You can sometimes find great quality clothing at low prices; however, limit the amount of clothing you buy. Blowing your monthly budget on clothing won’t help you in any way. This type of buying does not add to the ever-growing network of clothes. Instead, you are buying what has already been made. And it’s fashionable, too. It allows you to re-invent yourself as often as you like, for much cheaper.

Re-use, re-cycle and re-invent. Sort through your wardrobe every couple of months for items to alter. Get creative and turn too tight dresses into skirts or tube tops. Add sequins to drab tops or raise an old skirt’s hemline. Or, find someone to do it for you.

Grab a couple of girlfriends who are about the same size as you, some organic vino and have a stylish clothing party. You may think that suede blazer is boring and old-fashioned, but some of your friends may have been coveting it for months. Anything that is left over can be given away to a charity, your local church, or posted on Freecycle.

Try to stay away from dry cleaning. There are many other ways to clean clothing that does not involve complicated chemicals. One of these chemicals involved in normal dry cleaning, according to TreeHugger, is perchloroethylene, which may cause one or more of the following symptoms: depression of the central nervous system; damage to the liver and kidneys; impaired memory; confusion; dizziness; headache; drowsiness; and eye, nose, and throat irritation. Makes you think twice, hey? If you absolutely must, look for dry cleaners that use a carcinogen-free process.

Hand washing garments is absolutely fine, though you could also wash it on the softest setting in your washing machine.

Buy locally produced goods. This may be a challenge at first; however, once you find local stores that sell sustainable clothing, you may not want to support those who do not care about the environment. You’ll help to keep your money in your community, which will boost your economy and give young local designers an opportunity to gain a following.

Do not chuck out the old wardrobe. You do not need to start from scratch. Do this only if you can afford to and if you know what to do with the old wardrobe. You do not offset any carbon footprint by dumping your old wardrobe.

 

How to Have an Eco-Friendly Easter

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With Easter just around the corner, many people are scrambling to stock up on Easter eggs and decorations. But what many of us fail to realise is what impact Easter has on the environment. Over the years Easter has become highly commercialized and mass produced, and hardly the season to think about the environment. It is not too late to start thinking green ahead of the festivities.

Buy eggs with minimal packaging - Think of all the cardboard, foil and plastic that is used to wrap a single Easter egg. Opt for eggs with as little packaging as possible. A good idea is to create wonderful papier-mâché baskets and purchase some eggs with no wrapping. Place the eggs in the baskets for a wonderful Easter treat.

Recycle - If you do get Easter eggs wrapped in cardboard, plastic and foil, look for recycling facilities in your area.

Purchase fair trade or organic eggs - If you absolutely have to go the traditional way and buy Easter eggs, purchase the fair trade or organic varieties. Search for stores that are available in your area.

Environmentally friendly decorations - This Easter, why not make your own decorations? It is good for the environment and makes a great family activity.

When decorating eggs, make your own dyes using natural materials and stay away from the pellets that come with traditional decorating kits. You will also have a wider variety of colours to choose from using natural dyes. Some examples include purple grape juice (for lavender), spinach (green), beets and cranberries (pink) and red onion skins (red).

If you plan to paint eggs, purchase ones that are free range if possible. This means that the hens were raised in a comfortable environment and no antibiotics or hormones were used. And the baskets? Try making your own Easter baskets this year. Read some books on basket weaving and instead of plastic grass, use real grass.

Going away for the holidays - Easter is a time when many people go away for the weekend. This equals more cars on the road traveling for longer distances. If you are planning to go away for a holiday break with the family, try to use as little vehicles as possible. Minimise your luggage as well, and make sure your vehicle is properly checked before you leave. This will minimise the amount of carbon emissions you expose into the environment.

As we all know, the holiday season is a time to be enjoyed. By thinking about the environment ahead of your holiday plans we are closer to saving the environment for future generations. So think green during this festive season, and Happy Easter.

What the Environment Has Taught Me About Blogging

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The environment can teach you many things. By simply watching the world around you, you are able to draw inspiration. When it comes to blogging, the environment can help you in many unexpected ways.

Plant seeds – As people we plant seeds in the hope that beautiful trees and flowers will grow. As bloggers you should get involved with what is happening on the web. Join social networks and forums and start spreading yourself all over the web, even things like leaving comments and guest blogging. This way you will get noticed and start to grow your roots.

Take your time – Cubs take time to grow into dominant lions, it doesn’t happen overnight. Blogging is all about writing interesting and compelling content that other people would actually want to read so don’t rush an article simply to get done. Take your time and produce some quality pieces. Just like you won’t grow into a rockstar blogger overnight, patience is key.

Surround yourself with others – Take a look at the animal kingdom. They form groups and depend on each other for survival. When creating a blog, you should surround yourself with pro-bloggers and authors within your niche. Learn from them and gain experience. You will be amazed at how much you can learn from other bloggers, especially experienced ones.

Other things I have learnt:

• Dominate Your Niche – Notice how the dominant animals in a certain species always get the prey or the females. Don’t settle for just being another blogger in your niche; set yourself the goal of being an authoritative blogger.
• Be Willing to Adapt – Plants always have to adapt to their surroundings when it comes to food, weather and temperatures. Don’t be a blogger who isn’t willing to grow and change as you become more experienced.

Simple Ways to Reduce Global Warming

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Global warming is an issue that affects us all. For a long time many of us have been turning a blind eye to saving the environment and doing our part. Now, with panic rising the world over, more people are opting to live a greener lifestyle in a bid to reduce global warming and save our planet. Here’s what you can do:

Recycle and re-use

Reducing the amount of disposable products you buy can greatly influence the amount of waste to the environment. Buy products with minimal packaging to help reduce waste. Start recycling all bottles, plastic, paper, aluminium cans and glass. Try to start a recycling programme at your school, college or workplace and encourage your peers to do their bit for the environment.

Change that light bulb

You will not believe how much energy you can save by simply switching from incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. CFLs also last up to 10 times longer than regular fluorescent bulbs and use two thirds less energy, saving you money in the long run.

Be an environmentally friendly driver

The less you drive, the fewer emissions you expose to the environment. Take public transport as often as possible or organise a carpool at school or work. This will not only save you money, but it will help save the environment as well. Also, make sure your car is running efficiently. Check that your tires are inflated properly as this can drastically improve your petrol mileage. Every time you save on petrol you are preventing carbon dioxide from entering into the atmosphere.

Use fewer electrical appliances

Try to use as little electricity as possible. Insulate your walls and attic and turn the heat down at night and when you are away. Keep temperatures in your home moderate at all times. During the summer, open windows and enjoy some fresh air instead of operating the air conditioner. Switch off all electrical equipment when you leave the room. By saving electricity usage you are saving the environment. Every bit helps.

Buy energy efficient products

When next your purchase a car, try to get one that offers great gas mileage. If you are really serious about the effects of global warming, why not opt for a hybrid model? Home appliances also come in a range of energy efficient models and CFL bulbs are designed to produce less energy and natural lighting.

Plan your trip

If you must drive, plan your trip in advance. Try to do as much errands in one trip and save yourself and the environment the energy. Walk or ride a bike as often as possible. This is not only healthy for you but also for the environment.

Use less hot water

Try to use as little hot water as possible, and only when necessary. Buy low flow shower heads to save hot water. Wash clothes in warm or cold water only.

Plant a tree

Plant a tree and make the world a greener place. During photosynthesis, trees and other plants absorb carbon dioxide and emit oxygen. Trees are an important source of the natural exchange cycle on earth. However, there are too few trees to counter all the pollution created by traffic, factories and human activity. So start digging.

For more reading pleasure on environmental issues visit the Planetsave blog.

How to Make Your Office Greener

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There are many ways in which to introduce a more environmentally friendly approach to the way you run your office. Many business owners have opted to go green in an attempt to create a more eco-friendly environment; here are a few tips you may want to put in place to make your office more environmentally friendly.

Update: If you like this, feel free to Digg it!

Enjoy the breeze - Open the curtains and windows and let the sun shine in. Use the natural light of the office instead of switching on the electrical ones. This will also prevent the office from becoming stuffy and eliminate the need to turn the air conditioners on.

Double check - Make sure that you double check all documents for mistakes before printing them. This prevents you from re-printing and wasting paper.

Put a pause on the printing - Print only as many documents as you need. During a meeting, ask staff members to share documents instead of giving each individual their own copy.

Recycle - Encourage staff members to recycle and re-use anything they can. Make it a fun office policy to recycle and reward those individuals who do well.

Put the lights off - Make sure that your computer and any other office equipment is turned off before you leave at the end of the day. Make it a rule that the last person to leave should make sure that all lights, plugs, air conditioners and other general office equipment is turned off before they leave.

Don’t chuck it - Supply the office with coffee mugs, plates, forks, knives and spoons, or ask staff members to bring them from home. This means you do not need to use Styrofoam cups or any other sort of plastic or paper utensils.

Double up - Try to use both sides of the paper when printing, or use documents that are no longer important as scrap paper on which to jot down notes or reminders. Place boxes around the office and encourage staff members to fill it with any re-usable scrap paper.

Switch off equipment in common areas - When common areas are not in use, turn off any electrical equipment in that room. During the day the kitchen and bathroom lights can be turned off, as well as any TVs and computer equipment in the boardroom.

Plants are pretty - Adorn your office with some small indoor plants. Open the window and let the plant enjoy some sunshine. The fresh air and greenery will do wonders for the office environment.

Read environmental blogs - Encourage your staff members to read environmental blogs such as this one to encourage pro-active environmental awareness.

Land Rover Pushes the Green Revolution

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Land Rover has, over the years, managed to garner a reputation as one of the few motor vehicle companies interested in environmental awareness and sustainable development. Land Rover is one of the leading all-terrain vehicle manufacturers in the world, and a chosen means of transport for explorers, conservationists, environmentalists and scientists all over the planet.

Land Rover is designed to tackle all types of terrain, and because of this, many are used in conditions that are just too tough for other vehicles. Due to the changes in the climate and the environment in the past few decades, the earth has become more sensitive and prone to destruction. Land Rover has had to change many aspects of the way they manufacture vehicles and plan for the future of the environment by focusing on four key aspects, namely Environmental Technology, Sustainable Manufacturing, CO2 Offsetting and Conservation and Humanitarian Projects.

Land Rover has had to base technology around the environment. By combining the design that Land Rover is known for with environmental technology, Land Rover has been able to take some innovative steps towards environmental awareness on a global scale. Land Rover has been working hard to improve and sustain the environment for future generations. And thanks to their state of the art facilities and innovative ideas, the results for improving the manufacturing of vehicles has become quite successful.

Land Rover has also helped fund various projects around the world aimed at protecting the environment. With the help of Land Rover, many ground breaking projects are been developed around the world. Land Rover is definitely making its mark on the environment, and not in a bad way.