For your shopping expeditions, Paris has stores which stock Ecocert SAS-certified organic foodstuffs: La Vie Claire. Established in 1946, this group has been a forerunner in terms of living in harmony with nature and offering healthy, natural and organic products.

La Vie Claire has seven key commitments: providing balanced, healthy food, selecting the best organic and natural products, guaranteeing transparency of information, encouraging the greatest respect for the environment, supporting Organic Farming businesses, developing trade which is profitable for all parties and promoting fair trade principles.

La Vie Claire has chosen to use natural timber for the outfitting of its stores, so as to stay as close as possible to nature. At the checkout, you will find carrier bags made of cornstarch and hessian. La Vie Claire stores stock a wide range of products: desserts, fruit and vegetables, dairy products, cooking aids, toiletries and beauty products, homeware and so on.

Just the place for spending money and going shopping intelligently. It all helps to take care of our planet – and it’s healthy, too!
La Vie Claire
25, rue de l’Annonciation
75016 Paris
France
Tel: +33 1 45 27 19 30

For all those who want to pay attention to their hair and protect the planet each time they pass the doors of a hairdresser, here’s a nice solution: Coiffure et Nature. Located at Bastille, the beauty salon created by George Bacon in 1999, in other words, a real precursor is a specialist in organic beauty. With products and techniques closest to the natural ethics, the beauty salon uses only natural vegetable dyes.

The goal? Avoid aggressive chemicals and keep healthy and shiny hair. However, when the plant solution is powerless, Georges Bacon uses a chemistry without ammonia, and at very low oxidation level. We love aromatherapy, pure essential oils and natural vegetable oil for deep care of the scalp.

For the elegant and stylish women, the beauty salon also has the first line of organic makeup: Caramel Color. The French brand has just set up the first organic solvent, Ecocert certified, oil-based castor manufactured rather than acetone. The celebrities join the movement and get pampered at Coiffure et Nature.

What about the design? Stones, beams, a colonial style very 17th century with wooden floors and wooden furniture. Warm and living atmosphere, which looks like a beauty salon/appartement. A small cozy nest to let go for a few hours. Have no fear here because it respects the nature of your hair.

Coiffure et Nature
1, rue de la Bastille
75004 Paris
France
T. : +33 1.42.72.90.37
contact@coiffureetnature.fr

Set up in 1990 by a keen lover of ecology and devotee of nature, Nature & Découvertes stores are an anthem to the protection and care of the environment. With a very broad appeal, Nature & Découvertes is the ideal place for the whole family to discover products and services which stir the emotions and bring us back to nature. François Lemarchand and his wife decided to implement a sustainable development policy backed by eco-designed products.

Nature & Découvertes was the first retail shopping company to obtain ISO 14001 certification. François Lemarchand has also set up a Foundation to get involved in protecting nature in France and Africa alongside major environmental NGOs. Every year, the Fondation Nature & Découvertes receives 100% of the profits generated by the company’s sales arm. It’s a “voluntary tax for the planet”, which the Nature & Découvertes team has set itself in a true spirit of conviction.

On a day-to-day basis, Nature & Découvertes staff carry out acts of greenness: sorting waste, saving energy and natural resources. In case you haven’t already noticed, Nature & Découvertes stores generate a peaceful, mellow atmosphere. Debate workshops are also organised to create contacts with customers.

A wide range of wares are available in stores: Products, advice and handy tips for natural homemaking and wellness, backpacking, introducing children to nature and sections devoted to organic gardening. This chain has plenty of good ideas which can be put into practice as soon as you get home.

Nature & Découvertes
61, rue de Passy
75016 Paris
France
T. : +33 1.42.30.53.87
Opening hours: monday to saturday, from 10am to 7:30pm.

Christel directs operations in a restaurant with plenty of glass and a wood/steel/concrete style, serving almost vegetarian cuisine. She (and we) particularly like the following: Lentils, spices, hummus, couscous, cereals and the fruits she uses to concoct her smoothies…
Lunch costs €14.

Soya
20 rue de la Pierre-Levée
75011 Paris

Credit photo: Mr Wabu

Paris is full of markets more beautiful one than the others. However, are they all good? Are there organic or fair products everywhere?
In order not to look in the whole Paris for organic food, to compose a natural and balanced cuisine, here are the true organic markets in Paris.

In the 6th arrondissement on the Boulevard Raspail market on Sunday from 8:30am until 1:30pm is the most chic, but also the most expensive market in the capital. 100% organic, there are mainly fruit and vegetables. People, it is frequented by French actors such as Carole Bouquet, Vincent Lindon, that we may pass before the tomatoes!

In the 14th, the organic market place of Constantin Brancusi, on Saturday from 9am until 2pm. Ideal to start the weekend and provide for your friends a delicious diner on Saturday evening or on Sunday lunch from noon with your in-laws.

Finally, the organic market of the boulevard des Batignolles in the 17th is also completely organic. It takes place on Saturday morning from 9am until 2pm. A beautiful market situated in a pleasant neighborhood.

Are you fed up with taking polluting taxis? The Gavarni has the solution for you.
Following the example of Taxis G7, the Taxis Bleus have launched their first eco-friendly taxis in Paris: les Taxis Verts. Some 30 hybrid vehicles took to the streets last September, with the aim of there being between 200 and 300 vehicles in 2009. The goal is to reduce CO2 emissions and petrol consumption. In terms of greenhouse gas emissions, the objective is to produce an average of 90 g/km instead of the 160 g/km produced by traditional vehicles. This is an ambitious goal and a daunting challenge. Taxis Bleus also hopes to attract Parisian taxi drivers by installing free digital TV in each vehicle.

France is however lagging far behind its European neighbour, the UK, where the Greentomatocars have already got off to a flying start in protecting the environment in London. The United States is also some way ahead: Envirotaxicabs are already driving around Washington.

For more information, please check the website Taxis Bleus.

photo credit: Way Wu Wei

If you are one of the many people fascinated by the amazing work done by tiny bees making delicious honey, make sure you don’t miss the 2008 Fête du Miel in Paris. On Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th October, you can buy honey and chat with beekeepers in the Parc Georges Brassens.

Paris is home to some 300 hives in a wide variety of locations including some surprising ones – such as the roof of the Opéra Garnier! October is the time of year at which beekeepers collect the combs full of honey from their hives, before placing these golden drops into pretty little jars to be eaten.

The Parc Georges Brassens is hosting this event: an invitation to find out how a beehive works and how these volunteer beekeepers – both men and women – go about their work. The park’s bees buzz around all over the place: in the park, and along the surrounding avenues and boulevards. The reason is that Paris is full of good honey trees like chestnuts, acacias, limes, maples and pagoda trees. Just what these little striped insects love best!

Paris Honey Festival – Saturday the 4th & Sunday the 5th of October
Parc Georges Brassens
2, place Jacques Marette
75015 Paris
Hours : from 10am to 12am, and from 2pm to 5pm.

photo credit: wolfpix