A Britain wind blows on Parisian floor through Britanie, the new ethical brand that cause a buzz. Created in 2010, it suggests body and hair lotions Ecocert certified and Cosmebio labeled. All ingredients come from Brittany, from alga and blueberry to typical scents such as salted butter fudge. Britanie provides 4 collections each one named after an Atlantic Coast. Get pampered by the products of the Emerald Coast, Pink Granite Coast, the Bigouden or the Gulf of Morbihan. Change of scenery!

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This year, Christmas lights innovate big time. Indeed, the world’s most beautiful avenue shines wearing environmental colors thanks to solar neon lights displayed on 200 trees of the Champs-Elysées. The plane trees sparkle like stars, adorned with little mirror discs, hung on branches and reflect the neon’s light. By the way, these neon lights have been made of a combination of LEDs which consume 31 000 kWh only, instead of  the 480 000 kWh of five years ago. The energy compensation is produced in a solar power station of the Pyrénées-Orientales. One aesthetic and ethical alternate to the usual little lights used during end-of-the-year festivities.

See other good eco-friendly tips on the blog of the Gavarni Hotel.

Forest is a top place of biodiversity, everybody knows it. The Palais de la découverte lead us in the heart of tropicales rainforests of Latin America, Africa and Asia in order to understand how much they have a key-role in the future of the world. Their regulating effects on the climate, grounds and water cycles and their ressources ( fruits, game animals, wood…) are useful for millions of people. This is the reason why it is crucial to manage to accomodate exploitation and conservation of these forests. To overcome this big challenge, sustainable managements would be used. The Palais de la découverte intend to bring some signs in order to win this bet.

Exposition « Forêts tropicales humides, avenir de la planète », until 25 september 2011 at Palais de la découverte.

From Tuesday to Saturday, 9:30am to 6pm
Sunday, 10am to 7pm
Closed Mondays.

Palais de la découverte
Avenue Franklin Delano Roosevelt
75008 Paris
France
T. : +33.(0)1.56.43.20.20

See other eco-friendly venues in Paris.

Paris isn’t really a place we associate with nature and greenery. As with all the great cities of the world, pollution and buildings rather come to mind. The topical issue of nature in the city is tacked through the exhibition “La Ville Fertile” at the Palais de Chaillot. Social, cultural, historical, botanical and ecological aspects… the vegetable and urban world is being studied from every angle.

The first part of the exhibition, “l’Objet du Désir” was entrusted to the architect Nicolas Gilsoul, who chose to show the creative and technological diversity related to the presence of nature in the city. You will be taken along a journey to New York, Paris, Beirut and Munich to discover how nature appears in cities around the world.

The second part, “la Fabrique de la Ville Fertile” was entrusted to the landscape gardener Michel Péna and proposes an stroll around seven themes with reference to the four elements, which are essential when talking about nature. Culture and ecology, two good reasons to visit the Palais de Chaillot soon!

Exhibition “La Ville Fertile”, until July 24th 2011.
Open on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am to 7 pm and on Thursdays from 11 am to 9 pm.

Full price: €8 / Reduced price: €5.

Palais de Chaillot
Galerie basse des expositions temporaires
1, place du Trocadéro et du 11 novembre
75016 Paris
France
T. : +33.(0)1.58.51.52.00

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“The ocean must be preserved, not only because it is magnificent, but because the survival our societies depend on it” (Edouard Bard, climatologist). This statement lays the cards on the table for the new exhibition at the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie, “Océan, Climat et Nous”. Since April 6th and until June 2012, this educational exhibition tackes three problems: “How does the ocean regulate the climate?”, “How is the ocean changing today?” and “How are men adapting?”. After “Climax, Changer d’ère et La Terre”, the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie continues the sustainable development-related exhibition series and takes interest in water, because let’s not forget that our planet is made of 70% of water and it is essential to life.

Exhibition “Océan, Climat et Nous” until June 2012.
Open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm and on Sundays from 10 am to 7 pm.

Photo Credit: Poster of the exhibition Océan, Climat et nous
© CSI / csuper

Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie
30, avenue Corentin Cariou
75019 Paris
France
T. : 33.(0)1.40.05.70.00

See other green attitude topics.

Taking care of themselves is a full-time occupation for many women. “Ma Beauté Bio” teaches you how to have shiny hair, a slim waist, how to erase crow’s feet, get rid of cellulite and shares secrets to sleep better, all of that in a natural way! Professional advice and custom recipes depending on your skin or hair type and lifestyle, as well as true stories to discover new ideas are on the program of this complete book on beauty, organic style. The two authors are passionate. Anne Ghesquière spent her childhood surrounded by wilderness, on the island of Noirmoutier. This is where she gathered recipes, advice and tricks to preserve vitality in a green way. Marie de Foucault is very concerned about protecting the environment. Both work for the FemininBio.com website.

“Ma Beauté Bio : astuces, recettes et conseils d’expert”, by Marie de Foucault and Anne Ghesquière. “Ma vie en bio” collection – Eyrolles Edition. €12,26.

Coal, oil and natural gas are all exhaustible and eco-destructive sources of fossil fuel energy. Because young generations should be made aware of the use of renewable energies to guarantee a better and more eco-friendly future, the Palais de la Découverte organized a detailed exhibition revolving around the different renewable energies: hydraulic, solar, wind, geothermal and biomass. “Energy island, à la découverte des énergies renouvelables” dedicates a room to each source of energy while using an educational approach to attract the youngest. Various objects linked to those energies are spread throughout the exhibition, an audiovisual touch-screen kiosk gives information while several photographs and videos transport the public to different places, real lands for innovation regarding renewable energies. After gaining a bit of knowledge in the field, young people can learn how to play the “serious game” and try to fulfill the population’s needs and use renewable energies all the while managing the flood of tourists and the climate change. An interactive exhibition for young eco-citizens.

“Energy Island, à la découverte des énergies renouvelables” at the Palais de la Découverte until May 15th 2011.
The Palais de la Découverte is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 9.30 am to 6 pm and on Sundays from 10 am to 7 pm.
Price: 7€ (4,50€ reduced price).

Le Palais de la Découverte
Avenue Franklin Roosevelt
75008 Paris
France
T.: +33.(0)1.56.43.20.20

Check out other ethical events on the blog of the Gavarni Hotel.

Xavier Moraga, manager of the Hotel Gavarni, the first independent hotel winner of the European Ecolabel in Paris, has just bought another hotel : the Hotel Eiffel Trocadéro, formerly Les Jardins du Trocadéro. These two hotels opened the way to the responsible hotel trade in Paris. Xavier Moraga is very involved regarding ecology and his project is to make a hotel as green as it is possible to do, with solar panels on the roof, showers recycling water, an efficient system of lingerie, bio products for the breakfast…

These two hotels are ideally situated if you want to discover Paris. The hotel Gavarni is situated in a street adjacent to the shopping rue de Passy, which is very typical and lively. The Hotel Eiffel Trocadéro overhangs the Place du Trocadéro. Both are just steps from the Eiffel Tower (visible from your room), the Palais de Chaillot, the Cité de l’Architecture, the Musée d’art Moderne, the Palais de Tokyo, the Musée Guimet, and the Musée de la Mode Galliéra.
There are several taxi-ranks, metro and Velib’ stations near the hotel, and lovely strolls to do. The bateaux-mouches (riverboats) are near too! The surroundings are very romantic. These green hotels keep all the Parisian charm, and yet you will feel responsible thanks to them during your stay in Paris!

Taps, kettles, coffee makers and irons
Dip occasionally taps into a bowl filled with vinegar. The limestone gets off itself then rinse with tap water. Same for the kettles, coffee pots: instead of water, put the vinegar to boil in the tank, it will remove tartar in no time. You can add a few drops of lemon to remove any odor. Then pour in the mixt into the toilet it will allow it to be clean and will shiny.

The dishwasher and washing machine
Like baking soda, white vinegar can be used for washing and fabric softener. Added in the washing machine at the beginning of the program, vinegar neutralizes the limestone more economically than additive anti-lime industry and protects the resistance of your machine, it removes stains and preserves the colors. Possibly the scent with lavender or other essential oil to avoid a vinegar odor.
You can also use your washing machine with two empty glasses of vinegar to descale.
In the same way as for the washing machine and your dishwasher, do not hesitate to put white vinegar in place of liquid rinse! The glasses will be just as clean and shiny.

Refrigerator, oven and microwave
Wash your refrigerator with a mixture of water and soap, then use a cloth soaked with white vinegar. In addition to being a good cleaning, vinegar is an excellent anti-bacterial. For the oven, sprinkle baking soda on moist surface and scrub. Note that you can soak the burners with vinegar, it will be as new (for aluminum, dilute the vinegar with water). For the microwave, remove the first hub that can be cleaned with a cloth dampened in white vinegar.
Prepare a paste with 1/2 cup baking soda, 1 large spoon of white vinegar, 4 drops of lemon essential oil and 4 drops of essential oil of thyme. Apply with a soft clean cloth in the microwave, then wipe with a damp cloth and let dry naturally with the door open.

In order to clean up at home without buying expensive cleaning products and not always effective, not to mention their corrosivity, toxicity and pollution they generate, there is an alternative to “green” household products purchased in stores: natural products alone or mixed!
White vinegar, baking soda, soap, lemon and its juice are the best allies for any scouring, cleaning and shining at home. They work alone or mixed.
The combination of lemon juice or vinegar and baking soda makes a great efficient couple, at a very modest cost. Who says that being environmentally friendly works only for the rich? It can protect the planet and make significant savings!

Information: it is best to wear gloves when you use these products, some are acidic. Baking soda might be natural, but it remains a chemical product. To be released in a forthcoming article: the presentation of these 100% natural products that are revolutionizing our lives.