Next week (22 April) marks the 45th anniversary of Earth Day, a celebration of all things eco. It’s not easy being green, so we’re here to give you a hand with a round-up of labels and brands to look out for and the best places to buy environmentally friendly goodies for children. And, you’ll be pleased to hear, it’s not all beige linen and knitted lentils any more – there’s plenty of colour and coolness going on. Feast your eyes on these finds…
When it comes to clothing, choices are much more varied these days as manufacturers gradually clock on to the fact that parents are prepared to pay a bit extra for organic, sustainable childrenswear. A few of our favourite organic brands are Boys & Girls, The Fableists, Indikidual, Ava & Luc, Frugi, Macarons, Kite, SuperNatural, Piccalilly, Little Green Radicals, Pili Pala and Pigeon Organics. Lots of our favourite stores stock green Scandi brands such as Maxomorra, Gardner and the Gang, DUNS, Fred’s World and Danefae – have a browse at Love It Love It Love It, KyNa Boutique, Cool in Cloth and Funky Little People. If you’re in the market for school uniforms, make EcoOutfitters your first stop and for footwear, see Livie & Luca, Vivo Barefoot and Easy Peasy.
The baby market is a minefield when it comes to being eco – normal nappies and wipes are, by their nature, damaging to the environment. You can, of course, go down the reusable nappy route – Fill Your Pants and The Nappy Lady are great resources for those starting out, while Cheeky Wipes offer washable wipes kits. I must admit that I didn’t get on with reusable nappies, but my conscience wouldn’t allow me to go with the global conglomerates and their chemicals, so I have always used biodegradable nappies (and wipes and bags) for Alfie and Kitty – a combination of Moltex, Nature Babycare, Beaming Baby and Bambo, depending on fit/what was available, bought from Beaming Baby, Nature Botts and Big Green Smile, as well as Boots and Ocado.
My preferred wipes are still Jackson Reece Kinder By Nature, which are widely available. The bonus with eco products is that they’re free from chemical nasties, so are kind to your little bundle’s skin as well as the earth. Kitty has very sensitive skin, so I always opt for organic products – So Organic, Green People and Ethical Superstore all have good selections of paraben and SLS free products. For a natural bedtime, check out the mattresses and linen at Little Green Sheep, Natural Mat and Fox Organics Kids.
Toys are another area where you can really make a difference to the environment – by steering clear of plastic that’s going to end up in landfill. I try to stick to wooden and natural fabric toys, although I must admit we make exceptions for LEGO and Playmobil, hoping they will stand the test of time and be handed down to the next generation. With big hitters like Plan Toys and Green Toys leading the way, you’re really spoilt for choice. Myriad Toys, Green Bee Kids and Eco Toy Store are brilliant dedicated stores, plus all-rounders such as Shak-Shuka, Babipur and VUP Baby have fabulous toy departments alongside their comprehensive eco-friendly offering. And, of course, at Shop BG we have some great eco buys, including Wooden Story’s rainbow blocks and CwtchBugs teethers.
And the real bonus is that you can fill your shopping basket at all these stores with a clear conscience (in terms of the environment, that is, we can’t speak for your bank balance…)