When it comes to being “eco” at home, a lot of people imagine that they’re going to have to start wearing or styling their houses with hemp or hessian, substituting style for conscience.

But it doesn’t have to be like that! Eco Chic, the online emporium for stylish homewares and furniture with an eco conscious, turns three this March and here co-founders, Paula Breckman and Cris Bucknall explain how everyone can be green at home in 2013.

Paula: “Sure, we should all be doing as much recycling as possible, but being eco-conscious is not just about recycling and growing your own vegetables, it’s about being conscious of the decisions we make in the home in terms of materials or power and it’s about looking for alternatives; looking for products that have some sort of sustainable or eco value to them”.

“There are some amazing furniture and homewares products about, says Paula, who has recently relocated to the south of France.

“Eco's not just about using eco products, but also using recycled materials, “up- cycling” and “reloving” old (in fashion speak that’s "vintage"!) furniture, trying to look for things that are local and reduce carbon footprint; buying products that help keep traditional methods and villages going and using sustainable products like bamboo, that don’t promote deforestation or endanger animal species”.

Cris Bucknall, who is based on the Gold Coast but has worked in the US, Canada and Australia styling many a Hollywood home, says:

“At Eco Chic we take huge care in sourcing
all our products. We have some amazing things like baskets made out of old tyres or crisp packets; plates made from rejected posters and print material or rugs made from recycled
plastic bags”.
“Our cushions are stuffed with recycled PET drink bottles; we stock Bamboo towels, tableware and bedlinen; and we actively look for products that if made overseas are in the business of not exploiting but of sustaining traditional customs, artisan trades and a traditional
way of life”.
At Eco Chic office we also try to practice what we preach...

• We recycle all glass, plastic, metal, cardboard and paper.
• We use recycled paper and print on both sides, as well as trying to be as paperless as possible
• Thanks to abundant windows, we don't need any lights (unless we work late).
• Thanks to a nice ocean breeze we do not use air conditioning
• We have solar panels, a water tank hooked up to the garden and toilets, and a compost bin.
• We reuse all of the boxes and, bubble wrap and packing material that we get from suppliers and any new bubble wrap required is biodegradable”.

All of our furniture, homewares and eco products meet at least one of the following criteria, says Paula:

1. Renewable resources: A resource that can be replenished at a rate equal to or greater than its rate of depletion. Bamboo or hemp are good examples.
2. Recycled and recyclable materials: Recycled products contain reused or reconditioned materials. Recyclable products include parts that can be reused in new products.
3. Non-toxic & non-allergenic materials: Furniture made with materials that are not poisonous, harmful, or otherwise destructive to any organism during production or
during life-cycle of product.
4. Made in Australia: By buying furniture and homewares made in Australia, you are benefiting the local community, as well as reducing the energy consumed through transportation overseas.
5. Fair Trade certified: “A trading partnership that contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized
producers and workers." We feature many furnishings that are handmade by an artisan,
which provides the dual benefit of creating jobs for people and promoting cultural handicraft.
6. GECA Certified: Many of our green products are made with materials that are certified by the 'Good Environmental Choice' program, which provides an environmental mark of
recognition for products. GECA is managed by a not-for-profit organisation. The program awards a mark of recognition for products that meet standards of high
environmental, quality and social performance”.

So Eco Chic’s advice is to simply look around and consider your options. There are green choices everywhere. They don’t have to be more expensive and they don’t have to mean that you bypass your sense of style. Just be conscious. It really is easy being green.

For a huge range of eco conscious but stylish and up to the minute furniture and homewares, go to: www.ecochic.com.au

ENDS

For more information on ecochic.com.au, product, high-resolution photography or comment from Paula and Cris, contact Sophie Cross [email protected].