The Observer Ethical Awards, in association with Ecover, are seeking out the initiatives, campaign and people that promote living and acting sustainability. Held annually the awards draw attention to those businesses and projects that make ethical living accessible while also highlighting the younger members in our society determined to make the world a better place for theirs and future generations. There are up to 10 award categories that celebrate all areas of sustainable living including retailer, travel, arts and culture and campaigner to name a few. (For the full list of the award categories visit The Guardian website). There are two categories that particularly caught my attention: Ecover Young Green Champion and the Well Dressed Award.
Ecover Young Green Champion Under 18’s have brilliant ethical ideas and this award is their chance to let everyone know about them. Previous winning ideas have include Fact Fashion that provoke thought through informative slogans on clothing, Savvy BOB Box promotes indigenous wildlife and the entrepreneurial The Recyclists have created a business by recycling for others on their bikes. Ethical and sustainable living is creeping into the curriculum more and more making children very aware of the pressures on our planet. Are you, your children or your pupils engaged in such an ethical project? The awards are offering youngsters a chance of winning £6000 to help fund their project. Not only will the award honour the Young Green Champion, but teachers, parents or Youth Group Leaders also have the chance to be recognised. By offering encouragement and support to their Champions to enter, the nominator could win a three night stay in The Coppice Woodland in Hertfordshire. Kids have fantastic imaginations making their ideas original and we should encourage them as much as possible. This award is certainly one to watch. I am slightly gutted I never got a chance to enter when I was a youngster. Well Dressed Teaming up with the FruGal Challenge this award is looking for someone who lives and breaths sustainable fashion and style. Sustainable fashion can be identified in many ways. Be you a vintage queen, a frequent swisher, an ethical label seeker, a home-made goddess, a made-do-and-mend fairy or a hand-me-down hunter you have the ability to put your ethics before you style yet still turn out the belle of the ball. Good on you.
Simply submit a picture in your favourite outfit along with the story behind it. You could officially be crowned the belle of the ball. Get involved Feeling inspired? The deadline for the Young Green Champion Award is 22 March so get your socks on kids and adults get your encouragement on!
For a splash of inspiration I leave you with the young winners from 2012 while I have a rummage through my wardrobe for my best sustainable outfit.
P.S. Tim Burgess is on the judging panel this year. How cool is that?
I have been researching sustainability projects recently for an assignment at university and came across two gems that I'd like to share:
Project 3090 An environmentally consious music festival held in New Orleans took place on 5th September 2009. The website states that the festival is 'the intersection of sound and sustainability'. Acts included (only US bands, I think) Ghostland Observatory and Grace Potter and The Necturnals.
Huge steps were made to ensure the festival maintained its environmentally friendly initatives, here are some of them:
The power for the two stages and lighting came from solar powered and wind turbine powered batteries.
Clearly labelled recycling, composting and landfill receptracles.
Paperless tickets.
Soy based printing for organic cotton t-shirt merchandise.
Biodegradable cups, plates and utensils.
Organic/biodegradable cleaning products used.
Pre-owned furniture on festival grounds.
Partnership with local recycling firm.
Green ambassadors to answer questions.
Education; kids village to reach children, labelling of green efforts for customer awareness, sponsers to explain to customers of green efforts.
I thought this sounded fantastic! I also read on the website that the organisers were influenced by Cradle to Cradle (from my previous post). After attending a handful of festivals in the UK, and reserching them on the internet, I have never came across such a transparent set of green incentives. I would have loved to have seen how the festival worked, however I don't think that i could justify travelling such a distance (airmiles++++), plus I don't know any US music!
The Uniform Project A fundraiser were one woman (Sheena Matheiken) has pledged to wear the same dress everyday for a year, each day styling it differently to create completely unique outfits. There are actually seven dresses, each one identical for every day of the week.
I think this is a great way of encouraging people to make the most out of what they already have in their wardrobe, and attempt to put a stop to over consumption. Also, perhaps its an opportunity for designers to create more functional garments rather than the seasonal, throw away fashion people have become accustomed to.
