Cradle to grave

Waste watcher
17 February 2011

Here's 10 quick tips to waste less and green your shopping basket.

1. The book: The Good Shopping Guide

How ethical are high street brands? Check out over 700 in the latest edition of The Good Shopping Guide for £12.95. Also available as a mobile phone app.

2. The website: http://www.junkk.com/

So fabulous this deserves a mention of its own. Before you bin anything, find out if there's another use for your junk. Or you might have your own suggestions.

3. The storage solution: Tubtrug

One of many fabulous items from the Natural Collection, which donates some of the profit from your purchase to Friends of the Earth. Lightweight and water- and frost-proof, these tubtrugs are perfect for storing, pouring, mixing and washing. They come in various colours and sizes from £5.95.

4. The home: Green cleaning

Time for a spring clean? We love Ecoforce's range of recycled sponges, scourers, clothes pegs, cloths and dusters.

5. The office: Envelope reuse labels

Lick it. A bargain printed on 100% post-consumer waste. Order from our Shop.

6. The wedding: Ethical nuptials

As royal wedding fever reaches, er, fever pitch, are you thinking of tying the knot? Suppliers of down-to-earth weddings can be found at GreenUnion and there are loads more ideas here.

7. The holiday: Free holiday homes

Cut expense and your tourism footprint by swapping your flat or house in the summer. See Home Exchange or Guardian Home Exchange.

8. The weekend: Car boot capers

Sell unwanted treasures or get a bargain at a car boot sale - find out more from Car Boot Junction. Prefer to stay indoors? There's always Freecycle.

9. The kitchen: Stale bread

Make stale bread history with croutons, bread and butter pudding, breadcrumbs (store in airtight jar or freezer), panzanella, crostini, bruschetta or Pappa al Pomodoro... Find recipes online with a quick search.

10. The bathroom: Eco tootbrush

The UK has over 60 million toothbrush users - that's a lot of plastic for landfill. Try brushes with replaceable heads for £2.95. See the Natural Collection.