THREE WAYS TO MAKE A MORE ECO HOME

Proving that creating an ethical home is a pleasure not a pain

1 Know the maker To really understand where something comes from and how it was made, nothing beats meeting the maker. Check out local craft and design fairs (madebrighton.co.uk is a good place to start). You can chat to makers like Pete Hill (petehilldesign.com) who makes furniture like the Inlay Stool, above, £345, from fully sustainable timber grown in the UK. If you can’t get to a fair, online store, House of Kind (houseofkind.co.uk) sells work by small brands and social enterprises. 2 Choose eco paint Despite EU limits being imposed in 2010, a lot of paint still contains Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), chemical pigments and fungicides. These are emitted while painting and can linger in the air. Eco paint, on the other hand, contains no nasties, and is ‘breathable’. Earthborn’s Claypaint, above, has an ultra-matt finish, is water-based, free from petrochemicals and has appealingly named colours including Tuffet and Paw Print (earthbornpaints.co.uk) 3 Buy organic bedlinen Organic cotton and flax (used for linen) isn’t treated with pesticides or grown with fertilisers. It also uses far less water than nonorganic cotton. Ecosophy (ecosophy.co.uk) sells bedlinen made from natural fibres, including cotton and flax, that have been grown organically and sustainably in Turkey and France. The flax for its Organic Linen Bedding, above, from £30, is grown without any chemicals and in rotation with other crops on a wildlife-friendly farm in France.