Selected stories from EC98, January/February 2006

The UK’s most polluting power companies
If you need convincing about the need to switch to green electricity, Friends of the Earth is now urging consumers to start pulling the plug on the country’s polluting nuclear and fossil-fuel power companies. The environment group’s call comes as, for the first time, all power companies are obliged to tell their consumers how polluting their electricity is.
As a result of new European-wide rules, from October, companies supplying electricity have to say how much pollution is generated by coal, gas, nuclear and renewables, and how much carbon dioxide and nuclear waste results from their activities.
The table below shows the percentage source of each company’s energy and the resulting environmental impact (carbon dioxide and nuclear waste generated).

*Units used: carbon dioxide (grams per kilowatt hour); nuclear waste (micrograms per kilowatt hour)

The figures reveal that Powergen and ScottishPower generate the most carbon dioxide emissions for each unit of electricity supplied while British Gas and EDF Energy (SWEB, Seeboard, London Energy) generate the most nuclear waste per unit. The data also highlights a number of companies who rely instead on non-polluting renewables such as wind power. Good Energy and Ecotricity were best buys in our green electricity report. Visit www.ethiscore.org to see the comparative report on all the green electricity suppliers.
Friends of the Earth’s Chief Executive, Duncan McLaren, said: “Consumers wanting clean energy should stop propping up polluting power companies, vote with their purses and switch suppliers. Armed with this information consumers should begin pulling the plug on polluting nuclear and fossil-fuelled power stations. Telling power companies why you are switching will help stimulate demand for less-polluting alternatives.”
Visit www.electricityinfo.org which lists all the UK domestic electricity suppliers and how they generate their electricity.

Orang-utans Go Ape in Tesco
In October, 90 protests against Tesco took place around the country to raise awareness of the plight of the orang-utan. The apes are at risk because rainforests in South East Asia are being destroyed to make way for palm oil plantations, with palm oil now found in one in ten supermarket products in the UK.
Friends of the Earth wrote to Tesco, Britain’s biggest supermarket, at the beginning of 2005 and asked them to trace their palm oil and adopt minimum production standards. But Tesco refused. Their failure to act means that Tesco shoppers are unwittingly contributing to rainforest destruction and the extinction of Asia’s only great ape. Research published by Friends of the Earth last month found that the species could face extinction within just 12 years unless urgent action is taken to prevent their habitat being destroyed.
Campaigners, wearing orang-utan masks, asked members of the public to send postcards to MPs urging action to stop UK companies contributing to environmental destruction overseas. The UK Government is about to introduce a bill to Parliament on company law and Friends of the Earth wants the Government to ensure that company directors have a duty to minimise the destructive impacts of their activities on the environment. You can email the Minister for State and Industry or your MP from the ‘Press for change’ section of the Friends of the Earth website.
Friends of the Earth Palm Oil Campaigner Ed Matthew said: “We want Tesco and other supermarkets to find ways of sourcing palm oil which do not destroy precious rainforest. And we want the UK Government to act to stop British companies profiting from the destruction of the environment overseas.”
See ‘The Oil for Ape Scandal: How palm oil threatens orang-utan survival’ at www.foe.co.uk/resource/reports/oil_for_ape_full.pdf.

New FSC windows
Green Building Store’s new Ecoplus System range of windows and doors offers a truly sustainable option for households wishing to minimise their ecological footprint. The range is manufactured entirely from FSC 100%-certified timber, including European oak or redwood, making it the first UK manufactured range of FSC 100% windows and glazed doors. It also uses ultra-efficient double (and triple) glazing and minimal use of chemicals in manufacture.
More info: Telephone 01484 854898, www.greenbuildingstore.co.uk


Curious incidents in the garden
at night-time
‘Curious Incidents in the Garden at Night-time’ is the first UK gardening book to focus exclusively on nocturnal plants and animals. Part practical gardening book and part fable, it combines this unique approach with a look at the likely impact of climate change on our gardens and the things that inhabit them. Its inspiring storyline makes it an easy read that stops you feeling powerless to change the course of events, and shows you how to make a positive difference.
Curious Incidents in the Garden at Night-time: The fantastic story of the disappearing night (£8.99; ISBN 1-90217-525-5) is available from CAT
(01654 705959; www.cat.org.uk/catpubs) and from book stores.

Buy peat-free
The Wildlife Trusts are urging everyone to help protect peatlands by purchasing peat-free composts for all their gardening needs. They have produced a leaflet ‘Where to buy peat-free’ which gives details of which major retailers stock peat-free products. You can download it from their website (www.wildlifetrusts.org) or, if you don’t have access to the web, you can send an A5 S.A.E to your local Wildlife Trust and a copy of the leaflet will be posted to you. Telephone 0870 036 7711 to find your local Trust.

Fairly traded Palestinian gifts – online!
Olive Co-operative is delighted to announce that its online shop, selling a range of fairly traded Palestinian products, is now live. Highlights of the site include books, candles, ceramics, glass, carved olive wood, soap, textiles and embroidery. The site can be found at www.olivecoop.com/catalog or by going to www.olivecoop.com and clicking on ‘shop.’

Safer shopping - from basics to bling
WWF have recently launched The Safer Shopping website which is based on research provided by the Ethical Consumer. From soap to surfboards, Swiss balls to deodorants, the aim of the Safer Shopping website is to help UK consumers identify everyday products which do not contain the chemicals that WWF are concerned about or are produced by suppliers who are actively taking steps to phase out toxic chemicals from their products. The site also allows people to find out where to buy these alternative products and, in doing so, put pressure on other companies to address the issues. Visit the site at safershopping.wwf.org.uk

EC ambassadors
Would you like to help us spread the message of ethical consumerism? We are looking for volunteer ‘EC ambassadors’ who would be able to promote us at talks and stalls. We could supply leaflets, posters and magazines if you could supply the time. If you are interested, please ring or email us to give us your contact details. Ring 0161 226 2929 or email and quote EC Ambassadors.

Homes for Good exhibition
A three-day event showcasing exhibitions, presentations and demonstrations of natural and recycled building materials and home furnishings will take place 17th to the 19th February at the Somerset College of Arts and Technology campus, Taunton. Learn about designing, building, refurbishing, decorating and furnishing your home in ways that won’t cost the earth, including rainwater harvesting, landscape design, architects, solar power, wind turbines, natural paints, cob walls, energy efficiency, timber frames, water saving, local food stalls, FSC timber, books, energy efficiency advice, furniture, car clubs, interior furnishings and fair trade.
Admission is £3 (children under 18 and full time students go free) and is open to both professionals and the general public. Contact the Somerset Trust for Sustainable Development on 01458 259400 for further details or keep your eye on www.sustainablehousing.org.uk/h4g.html.

Don’t bottle out of glass returns
Remember the traditional glass milk bottle? Did you know you can still buy milk this way and the bottles can be returned to the shop, preventing waste? Most people don’t realise they can take the bottles back but much more could be done to encourage them, concludes Empty Isn’t the End, a new report from Women’s Environmental Network (WEN).
Maeve Murphy, waste project officer at WEN, said: “The message to householders is, consider buying milk in glass bottles. You can get it delivered or pick it up from your local shop, then get into the habit of bringing the bottle back next time you go. If your local shop doesn’t stock milk in glass bottles, ask why not and suggest they do; this is a good way they can do their bit to prevent waste.”
‘Empty Isn’t the End’ can be downloaded free from www.wen.org.uk/waste/resources.htm.

Can you help with research?
Glasgow Caledonian University has been at the forefront of research on ethical consumption for over a decade. Not only is the team of researchers dedicated to investigating this area, they also have the personal convictions which initially aroused their interest in this field.
All the research which comes out of this focused team ultimately aims to promote ethical consumerism and sustainability within consumer society. Ethical Consumer magazine readers have helped Glasgow Caledonian University research over the years and they are asking for your help again: “If you either subscribe or simply read this magazine, we would very much like you to help our research by filling in an online questionnaire. You can access the questionnaire by logging on to the website at www.caledonian.co.uk/ethicalconsumer/
“If you do not have access to the web, Glasgow Caledonian University will be happy to send you a paper version. Please leave your name and address after the message on: 0141 331 8263 or send a note with details of your name and address to: Lindsey Carey, Glasgow Caledonian University, Milton Street Building, Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow G4 0BA
“You will also be entered into the prize draw for a hamper full of fair trade and organic products when you complete and return the questionnaire.
(Also see the advertisement in this issue).”