At Earthwise Girls we don't just sell you lovely eco-friendly products - we're committed to making sure that our own ecological footprint is as small as possible.  Some of the things we're already doing are:

• using a green electricity supplier
• using low energy light bulbs (and turning them off when not in use!)
• carefully researching all products before agreeing to stock them, to ensure they are being made ethically and in an environmentally sound way
• using recycled paper, and only printing when really necessary
• re-using packaging we receive if we can, and recycling it if we can't
• recycling printer cartridges through a local charity scheme
• using recyclable packaging
• opting for paper-free billing from our suppliers
• sourcing products from the UK as far as possible
• where products are sourced from outside the UK, keeping air miles down by placing a few large orders a year rather than lots of little ones
• working with local councils, schools and health professionals to promote awareness of more environmentally sustainable options
• providing a free advice service to assist our customers to choose wisely, and use their chosen products properly and effectively - we product test everything we sell on ourselves to enable us to give helpful, genuine advice

We know there is always room for improvement, and we are always looking for things we can do to reduce the impact our business has on the environment.  Some of the things we're working on for 2009/10 are:

• sourcing biodegradable and/or recycled packaging - ACHIEVED!
• reducing energy usage by finding a way to have the computer equipment turned off when not in use (the sockets are not easily accessible)

We did recently read of a suggestion for a cheap, lightweight, biodegradable packing material to protect products in transit - Popcorn!  However as we quite like eating our popcorn, for the time being you'll be receiving your products packed in reclaimed packaging sourced from other local businesses.  Sometimes this is biodegradable, sometimes not, but by re-using it we're reducing waste sent to landfill, which is all to the good.

This environmental policy was written in May 2009 and will be reviewed annually.

Christine McRitchie - Earthwise Girls