Bristol-based wholefood manufacturer and distributor Essential Trading has invested £100,000 in a new solar PV electricity system from Solarsense at its Fishponds warehouse in its latest effort to minimise its impact on the environment.

Essential Trading is an ethical company committed to the welfare of the planet. The installation of solar power panels at its factory HQ in Fishponds is the next logical step for this business that is keen to harness all environmentally friendly advances in technology.

Essential chose Backwell-based Solarsense to supply its 44.64 kWp system that comprises 186 solar photovoltaic panels mounted on the roof of its warehouse.  The solar PV (photovoltaic) technology captures the clean, natural energy of the sun.  When the sun hits the panels, it creates an electrical field within the layers of the panels.  This electrical field is converted to AC (usable) electricity and is taken up by the various demands for electrical power within the factory, warehouse and offices.

Essential is paid 32.9p/kWh for all electricity that is generated and is then free to use this energy. Any surplus electricity is then exported onto the grid and Essential is paid 3.1p/kWh for this.

The solar PV at Essential Trading will generate an estimated 38000 kWh of electricity per year.  This represents a saving of approximately 513 Tonnes of CO2 over the 25 year life of the FIT (Feed in Tariff – the Government scheme where businesses and home owners are rewarded if they invest in renewable electricity).  The cooperative borrowed the money to fund this project from ethical bank Triodos.  With the Government’s Feed in Tariff, the cash generated from the system will mean it pays for itself during the 10-year loan payback period and will thereafter be a source of income.

“We are delighted to have our solar power panels up and running now after all the months of planning,” says Eli Sarre, marketing manager for Essential Trading.  “We strive to produce the most sustainable food and non-food products and check the source of each ingredient rigorously,” she says.  “So it makes perfect sense for us to tap into the world’s source ingredient for life – the sun – to power our business naturally.”

If you would like a little cosmetic helping hand to look absolutely perfect for your wedding, treatments such as chemical peels, teeth whitening and botox are less expensive than in the UK and offered in professional state of the art clinics. After a day for pampering and lounging by the palm grove pool or on the miles of sand dune beaches there is always somewhere beautiful to sip a cocktail or dance the night away with friends.

The Gran Canaria Spa, Wellness & Health Association can tailor make packages making sure you get all the attention you deserve to make your girly getaway all you dreamed of and make sure you leave looking pummeled, polished and pampered ready for your big day!

Gran Canaria is also the ideal destination for an all year round summer wedding. The spa resorts are well equipped to host stunning weddings with beautiful vistas and the food is exquisite and the service exemplary. 

Spas include:

The Sheraton Salobre Golf Resort & Spa *****

A five star hotel built into the side of a mountain with a cutting edge Aloe Spa offering treatments of pure aloe straight from the plant. There is a mountain top infinity pool with stunning views and unparalleled tranquility, and celebrity guests include Jennifer Lopez.

The Lopesan Costa Meloneras Resort, Corallium Spa & Casino ****

An impressive four star resort with a wondrous spa inspired by the naturally volcanic Canaries, including a salt grotto, cave flotation pool and womb-like relaxation room.

The Lopesan Villa del Conde Resort & Corallium Thalasso *****

A five star resort with a stunning spa offering personal thalasso pools and spa treatments in rooms with floor-to-ceiling glass windows overlooking the sea.

The Seaside Hotel Palm Beach *****

A five star ‘Design Hotel’ recently refurbished with an ultra chic 1970’s influence is set in an impressive palm grove; a slick spa offering an array of luxurious treatments.

To Book a spa holiday in Gran Canaria go to www.grancanariawellness.com

•       More worryingly 55% of patients’ GPs and 46% of patients dismissed pancreatic cancer symptoms as nothing to worry about

Rare Survivor and Pancreatic Cancer Action charity head spearheads drive for greater awareness of symptoms in November Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month

In a recent survey carried out by Pancreatic Cancer Action of over 100 patients and carers, nearly half of patients hadn’t heard of pancreatic cancer before their own diagnosis. More worryingly nearly 2/3 of GPs dismissed patients’ symptoms as nothing to worry about and 46% of patients thought their own symptoms were nothing to worry about.

Pancreatic cancer is very difficult to diagnose and shockingly, survival rates haven’t changed for over 40 years.

Ali Stunt, is a rare survivor of Britain’s fifth deadliest cancer which kills on average 22 people a day. As founder of Pancreatic Cancer Action charity, Ali is determined to change the numbers and create greater awareness of the symptoms of this grim disease amongst both the general public and the medical community.

Ali Stunt explains, “Despite the grim statistics, many more people can survive pancreatic cancer but in order to do so they need to be diagnosed in time for surgery – currently the only potential for a cure. Those who are diagnosed in time have a chance of living beyond five years that is ten times greater than the overall average for the disease.”

Currently, 90% of people with pancreatic cancer are diagnosed too late for surgery, with the average life expectancy on diagnosis a mere three to six months. Relative survival to five years is only 3%.

Pancreatic cancer has also been chronically underfunded for decades and currently receives only 1% of total cancer research funding.

Ali Stunt, continues, “Decades of limited funding has meant that research into pancreatic cancer lags behind other cancers but there are many dedicated researchers in Britain trying their best with meagre resources. However, even if a novel therapy were developed for pancreatic cancer in a laboratory today, it could take at least 10 to 15 years to reach the clinical environment and possibly longer to benefit patients.

In the meantime, the only way forward to change the survival numbers for pancreatic cancer (in the short term at least) is to focus on early diagnosis by increasing the levels of awareness and education in both the general population and medical communities – all with the aim that more people are diagnosed in time for surgery.

As one of the few lucky ones I am determined that more people will have the same lucky outcome as I have.”

Classic pancreatic cancer symptoms are persistent or significant abdominal pain and/ or back pain, painless jaundice (yellow skin/eyes, dark urine), significant and unexplained weight loss. Other common symptoms are new onset diabetes not associated with weight gain, pain in the upper abdomen that typically radiates to the back, indigestion or abdominal discomfort, loss of appetite or nausea and vomiting, pain when eating and Steatorrhoea (fatty stools, often pale and smelly).

November is National Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month with a number of activities planned across the country.

Not many people have heard of pancreatic cancer and yet a number of well-known people have died from the disease including most recently Steve Jobs, head of Apple, Hollywood actor Patrick Swayze, Luciano Pavarotti, Gareth Hunt (New Avengers Actor), Magnus Magnusson (Broadcaster), Sir Nigel Hawthorne (actor), Bill Owen (“Compo” in Last of the Summer Wine), Joan Crawford (actress), Sir James Goldsmith (founder of The Referendum Party), Rex Harrison (actor) and Sir Alan Bates (actor).

Pancreatic cancer affects men and women equally and over a third of patients are under the age of 65.  While the causes of pancreatic cancer are not fully understood, approximately 25% of cases are attributable to cigarette smoking, 5-10% are hereditary and it is thought that obesity, diabetes and excessive alcohol consumption increases the risk of contracting the disease.

Be prepared for the Party Dress Season

This year prepared for the Christmas party season by turning on the chic at Titanic Spa.

Come November the Christmas party invites are flooding in… The excitement of bottles of bubbly, unlimited mince pies and getting all glammed up for the party season are soon followed by the dreaded fear of not looking our best in our favorite little black dress. Well not anymore, this year round up your friends and reward yourself to weekend of party dress preparation at Titanic, The UK’s first eco spa.

The overnight ‘time to sparkle’ package is the ultimate party preparation experience. Get the girls together and stay in one of Titanic’s luxury serviced eco apartments complete with private balcony, kitchen, dining area and plasma screen TV- sleeping up to 6 people – perfect for strutting around in those new outfits!

After a restful night of gossip and practicing hair techniques, spend the day taking advantage of Titanic’s extensive range of spa facilities including Club Titanic (15m salt regulated swimming pool, hydrozone, steam, sauna rooms and heat experience) before toning up those thighs in the fully equipped gym! Titanic’s personal trainers are always on hand to give top tips and advice on how to achieve the physique of your dreams.

After a powerful work to perfect that bod, you’ll undoubtedly need an indulgent massage to ease away the aches and pains… enjoy a target massage to release the tension and leave you feeling relaxed and revitalized. Finally enjoy a body polish or taster facial to give you glowing and confident for the party season ahead.

Prices from £145 Mon - Fri and £165 Sat - Sun. To be the first to hear about the latest offers from Titanic, sign up to their newsletter at www.titanicspa.com

For bookings or further information on Titanic Spa contact 0845 410 3333 or visit www.titanicspa.com

The Titanic Heat Experiences are based on the ritual of bathing where the body is heated and then cooled by a series of experiences. The heat experience area guides your body through a sensory journey with the ultimate aim of inducing deep relaxation.  Each ‘experience’ has a different effect.  Temperatures and instructions are clearly posted outside each area along with the recommended time to spend in each experience.  The Mud Chamber is inspired by ancient Egyptian bathing.  Organic mud is applied to the skin to exfoliate and nourish, whilst heated herbal steam fills the chamber culminating with a tropical rain shower inducing pure relaxation.

The perfect overnight trip for friends wanting to catch up and enjoy a spot of pampering at the same time, accommodation comes in the form of the luxurious Titanic Spa Apartments.  The Spa Apartments are spacious, have been fully fitted with modern appliances, have their own balcony (excluding one) and the panoramic windows offer views of the surrounding countryside. The apartments are fully serviced daily and are one or two bed roomed sleeping up to six guests.

To lessen the guilt of treating yourself (if there is any!) you can indulge safe in the knowledge that Titanic Spa unlike other spa venues possesses a wealth of renewable energy sources and eco-friendly strategies, employed at an additional cost of £1.5 million to ensure our planet benefits as much as you the guest.

(download)

Click here to download:

Get_ready_for_the_party_season.zip (11 KB)

Organic Beauty Entrepreneur Wins National Business Award

Eco venture forerunner, Laura Rudoe, founder of the evolve organic beauty range, has been recognised for her business success at the recent prestigious annual Mumpreneur UK award ceremony.  Laura, 33, was chosen out of over 700 entries to win the ‘Best Green Business’ award.

A panel of high profile business experts which included BBC’s Dragon Den star, Duncan Bannatyne, judged the awards.  On receiving the honour, Laura said,

“I’m very pleased the judges appreciated the strong green vision behind evolve and I’m truly thrilled to have won.  I set up the business as I knew I wanted to work for myself and, following a career as an ethical venture capitalist, was keen to build an eco brand which would benefit the consumer and the environment.”

Laura has spent much of her career in the ethical space.  Following an MBA at Harvard Business School, she focused her work on the challenges faced by the growing movement of businesses seeking to bring ethical products into the mainstream and was instrumental in developing the nude skincare range. 

evolve was launched when Laura found a niche for affordable yet desirable organic toiletries. This led her into creating her own range of beautiful and effective eco smart organic products for the face, body and hair.

The award win comes at a pivotal time for the business – this week evolve launched its new look website to coincide with the re-designed packaging and new product launches.  www.evolvebeauty.co.uk. 

(download)

Click here to download:

evolve_is_a_winner.zip (10 KB)

Celebrities don’t wash with the UK public

Wahanda Feel Gorgeous Health & Beauty Poll 2011

A nationwide poll reveals that while we may appear to live in a celebrity-obsessed world, 80% of us say we are not influenced by celebrity endorsement when it comes to purchasing health and beauty treatments.  Instead, over 70% of women surveyed said they trust online reviews posted by the general public and that they make their health and beauty purchases based on their peers’ recommendations.

The Feel Gorgeous Poll* commissioned by Wahanda, the world’s largest online health, beauty and wellbeing specialist, asked 1,700 women aged 25 to 54 about their health and beauty treatments.

The poll found that 68% of us are desperate for a lifestyle change to reduce our stress levels, although 80% of us didn’t feel we could give up alcohol to do this.  What’s more, we feel that modifying our eating habits can have a greater effect on our wellbeing than exercise.  It’s no surprise then to find out that our favourite treatment is massage (37%) because it is relaxing and helps us to unwind.

The poll further reveals that we believe in the power of ‘good hair days’, with the majority of us booking a haircut or colour every 9 weeks. However, when it comes to body hair, while we might think a Brazilian or Hollywood is now the norm, we are instead opting to be a little more hirsute by stretching out our professional hair removal to just 2 or 3 times a year. 

Commenting on the poll, Lopo Champalimaud, CEO of Wahanda said: “This shows the power of online reviews and forums and their reputation as a trustworthy source of information. People want to engage with like-minded people and sites like Wahanda provide this facility.  Furthermore, it gives users a feeling of belonging and wanting to share their own experiences to the benefit of others. We created Wahanda as a space to inspire, advise and fulfill our visitors’ health, beauty and wellbeing requirements and we’re delighted to see so many people benefiting from this.” 

Voted ‘Best Online Beauty Site’ by ELLE UK, Wahanda is the world’s leading marketplace for health, beauty and wellness attracting over 750,000 UV a month. With more spas, salons, treatments and practitioners listed than any other site, Wahanda offers an interactive community allowing customers to voice recommendations, write reviews and connect with industry experts. As well as inspiring content, Wahanda offers savings on spa breaks with real-time booking functionality, thousands of health, beauty and fitness offers, daily MobDeals plus their signature Beauty and Spa Gift Vouchers, which are redeemable at over 900 destinations nationwide.

Between 10^th and 16^th October 2011, Wahanda hosts ‘Feel Gorgeous Week’, a celebration of all things wellbeing with seven days dedicated to making the nation look and feel its very best.

For further information visit www.wahanda.com. 

A national nutty recipe competition is being launched to celebrate the deliciousness of nuts for National Nut Day (October 22^nd 2011 www.nationalnutday.com).

TV presenter and homes expert Aggie MacKenzie – who has just brought out her first cookery book, Aggie’s Family Cookbook (Pavilion) – will judge the best recipes. The winner will receive a personally signed cookbook from Aggie plus a delicious nutty hamper from Fairtrade nut company Liberation Foods, Divine Chocolate and Olives Et Al.

Aggie will be looking for flavour, texture, appearance and general more-ishness from the recipes sent in. She says: “Nuts add so much to so many dishes. They can add crunch to dinners and vitamins and minerals to puddings and biscuits. I’m really looking forward to seeing what people come up with.”

Recipes should be e-mailed to recipes@nationalnutday.com or sent to

National Nut Day, c/o Liberation Foods CIC, 1 Curtain Road , London EC2A 3JX by October 22^nd 2011.

National Nut Day was launched in the UK last year on October 22, the same day as National Nut Day in the USA , by Liberation Foods (www.chooseliberation.com), the farmer-owned Fairtrade nut company which has developed Fairtrade nuts, now available in most supermarkets. Liberation works with Harry Hill on his Fairtrade snack nuts range ‘Harry’s Nuts!’.  The day celebrates nuts as a tasty source of vital fatty acids, omega fats, protein and many vitamins and minerals. They are also good for the environment; if eaten as a main source of protein, so cutting down our consumption of meat.

MD of Liberation Foods, Kate Gaskell , says: “This is an opportunity for us all to explore the many ways that nuts can enhance our cooking and our diets.”

Last year, during the UK ’s first National Nut Day, restaurants and cafés placed at least one nutty dish on their menus.

Aggie’s family cookbook can be bought from http://www.amazon.co.uk/Aggies-Family-Cookbook-Save-Money/dp/1862059314/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1316612027&sr=1-4

TerraCycle® Celebrates Two Year UK Anniversary 

Recycling Fundraising Scheme has saved over seven million units of waste from landfill so far

29^th September 2011: TerraCycle today celebrates the second anniversary of its recycling fundraising schemes in the UK.  Having launched in the UK in September 2009 with recycling Brigade’s for two waste streams, TerraCycle now offers seven recycling Brigades for a variety of waste streams that local councils can’t recycle and so would otherwise end up in landfill.  Today TerraCycle has over 174,000 people participating across the UK, has saved over seven millions units of waste packaging from landfill and raised over £75,000 for UK schools and charities in the process.   

The TerraCycle Brigade programmes are free schemes that incentivise the return of particular types of waste packaging that could otherwise end up in landfill as most local councils in the UK are unable to recycle it.  Free postage labels can be downloaded from the www.terracycle.co.uk website and for each item sent back 2 points are earned which can be redeemed for a 2 pence contribution to the school or charity of the collector’s choice or against a range of charity gifts.

In the UK TerraCycle currently run the following collection programmes that are open to schools, individuals and organisations:

-       Danone Yogurt Brigade® (for Danone Activia, Shape and Actimel yogurt pots)

-       Kenco Eco Refill Brigade® (for Kenco coffee eco refill packs)

-       Tassimo Brigade® (for Tassimo coffee t-disc pods)

-       Ella’s Kitchen Brigade® (for any brand of baby food pouch)

-       JOHNSON’S®  Baby Wipes Packaging Brigade® (for any brand of baby wipes packaging)

In addition, two brigades are currently specifically for:

-      Schools & businesses - Writing Instruments Brigade® (for any brand of pen and mechanical pencil)

-      Schools & youth groups - Aquafresh Oral Care Brigade® (for any brand of used toothbrush and tooth paste tube).

TerraCycle recycles or upcycles the waste packaging into new materials or quality products with a high environmental value. By recycling and upcycling the waste packaging TerraCycle is increasing the lifecycle of everyday waste packaging and reducing landfill while also slowing the need to extract new resources from the planet.

Currently more than 174,000 people across the UK have signed up to collect, which to date has diverted more than 7,000,000 million items of packaging waste from landfill while earning over £75,000 for both schools and non-profit organisations.

Any interested individuals, schools and organisations can learn more about the programmes or sign up to a Brigade for free today at www.terracycle.co.uk.

Invite friends and family to enjoy a ‘vegetarian night-in’ with Easy Bean
- now even easier to find and buy
 
 

FOOD lovers have the chance to beat the winter blues by enjoying a vegetarian night-in with Easy Bean meals - delicious one-pot bean-based meals which can be eaten on their own or served with other ingredients to make an impressive bean feast.

Easy Bean pots are hand prepared and based on classic dishes from around the world. They are now available in more outlets across the UK, including selected Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Booths and health food stores.

As the cold weather sets in, bean maestro and founder of Easy Bean, Christina Baskerville believes her meals can provide the perfect antidote to the cold winter weather. She says: “My meals are delicious, filling and warming. They are the perfect ingredient for a night in with friends or family.

“They’re also a great chance for vegetarians to educate their meat-loving friends about how delicious meat-free food can be. For a gathering of four -six people you could simply buy four different meal pots and serve as a mezze of Easy Beans with a hearty bowl of rice.”

Here are Christina’s ‘round the world with beans’ meal suggestions:

New Mexican Chilli: This includes Fairtrade red beans with sweet peppers, tomatoes, spiked with the jalapeño chilli.

l Serve in tortillas with a dollop of sour cream and avocado slices.

Moroccan Tagine: A hotpot of slow-cooked chickpeas, Mediterranean vegetables, apricots and aromatic spices.

l A tasty treat in the evening served on couscous and topped with toasted flaked almonds and a spring of mint.

Indian Sambar: Toor Dhal peas are simmered slowly with coconut and tamarind juice finished with chunky vegetables and mustard seeds.

l Add rice, chutney and fresh leaves for a feast.

French Cuisinées:  Green lentil and sweet chestnut simmered with classic vegetables, rosemary and thyme.

l Serve with a creamy root mash – potato and parsnip would be ideal.

Easy Bean was set up in 2007 by Christina.  The range, inspired by her work in different countries around the world, promises ‘Lunch on the go or supper in a mo’. The dishes can be eaten heated up as they are for a quick and tasty lunch or added to other ingredients to make an evening meal.

Christina says: “My mission is to show everyone how versatile and healthy a meal made with beans can be. Beans have more fibre than many wholegrains, are virtually fat free and are high in protein.”

Christina and her team of five prepare the food at a converted dairy farm near Castle Cary, Somerset. Her passion for the bean has roots in her childhood as the daughter of a Warwickshire farmer; her agricultural training and her work in Zambia, the Sudan, Belize and Bolivia, helping to improve farming methods. She says: “I am excited by the nutritional benefits of beans as well as their ability to fertilise the soil by putting nitrogen back into the soil as they grow. These benefits are vital in countries with high levels of malnutrition and where land can be over-worked by smallholders desperate for enough to eat.”

Easy Bean pots can be found in Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, and Booths stores and online via Sainsbury’s, Ocado and  naturalgrocery.co.uk. They are available in independent shops.

Christina adds: “Customers like the authenticity of our products - Easy Bean is the creator of the concept of one pot meals, each recipe is hand prepared, then cooked in small batches in our own kitchen offering the best health credentials of any meal pot.”

Christina has gained six Gold Great Taste Awards. Her products have been described by Food Magazine ‘As close to home-cooked as you’ll get in a tub’.

No scent captures the essence of a crisp, cosy winter quite like spicy cinnamon and zesty orange.  Connoisseurs of fine, organic soaps, Sodasan, have brought out this new winter warmer fragrance so we can all experience a hint of uplifting luxury when we need it most – during those cold, dark winter days.   

The unique comforting aroma is released as the distinctive moisturising creamy lather forms.   Free from synthetic fragrances, the warm, invigorating scent is made from pure natural essential oils, and the skin-softening creaminess comes from ethically-sourced shea butter.  Unlike most soaps, cleansing with Sodasan organic cream soap does not dry out the skin, even when used every day.

Sodasan Organic Cream Soap is made in the traditional method using open batch kettles, ensuring that the beneficial properties of the essential oils and quality organic ingredients are not lost in its making.   

Ideal for people with sensitive and allergy-prone skin, all soaps in the Sodasan range are vegetarian and vegan-friendly.  Only vegetable oils from controlled biological cultivation are used by Sodasan who support Fair Trade projects in the third world. 

Nine opulent scents make up Sodasan’s Organic Cream range including Sandalwood, Wild Roses and Almond.