Welcome

Welcome to NewGreenConsumer.com – the official online companion to The New Green Consumer Guide, published on 21 May 2007.

The New Green Consumer - Book CoverWriting The New Green Consumer Guide has been both exciting and challenging. And very different to when John Elkington and I wrote the original Green Consumer Guide back in 1988. Then we had to search for examples of good green practice – now I’ve had to select the best green options from a myriad of choices.

I realise that everything doesn’t just stop when the book appears on the shelves. There are more green initiatives, products and ideas going on all the time. That’s what NewGreenConsumer.com is about. I wanted to pick up on some of the themes in the book and take them further – with both updates from me and - importantly - input from you.

All the main areas of the site include a forum for discussion where you can say what you think – and when I can I’ll respond with my thoughts. As well as identifying current Green Themes for discussion there’s a section for Green Gripes, where you can have your say about things that really bug you and another called Green Lens, where I’ll comment on some of the stories in the press or pick up on some amazing green gizmo that’s now available.

We’ll also be including an extensive links section to relevant websites. Let us know if you’d like to be included. Of course, we’d like you to include a link to us too if you can. And don’t forget to give me feedback about what you think of The New Green Consumer Guide – even if you fervently disagree with something I’ve said.

- Julia Hailes

Green Themes

Green Death

I recently met a Canadian who said his wife spent $500 on burying a hamster! Now I’m not anti hamsters but...

Green Death link (angelic hamster pic)

Biofuels

I’m not a great fan of biofuels – I worried that a massive switch to fuels from crops could be absolutely horrendous, even in relation to climate change...

Biofuels link  (petrol pumps)

Green Washing

‘Green detergents’ were one of the first ‘green’ products on the market. Their main selling points were ‘no phosphates’ and good biodegradability...

Detergents & Cleaning Products link (detergent bottle)

Lighting Your Life

When I was a child there weren’t many people who had more than two lights in their kitchens. Now it’s unusual to have less than 10 and many people have 20 or even 30...

Lighting you Life link (pic of light bulb)

Plastic Bags

If there's one thing that really seems to get people fired up about "green issues" it's plastic bags. Apparently we use 10 billion of them in the UK every year...

Plastic Bags link (pic of bag)

Cheap Flights

A few years ago I flew my family to Sweden for a holiday with friends. We paid about £7 each way for our tickets. That's ridiculous. It cost five times more...

Cheap Flights link
Enf of Key Topics
New Green Consumer Guide & Amazon

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THERE IS A LIGHT AND IT NEVER GOES OUT...
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