New allergy label debuts in France

French allergy doctors from the Association for Clinical Research on Allergies and Asthma (Arcaa) unveiled a new label last month called “Allergenes Controlés” which aims to guarantee – with the help of independent laboratories – the safety of a range of consumer products for the fast-growing ranks of those who are afflicted by allergies.
Allergies affect [...]

Read Full Post »

Buy an electric scooter in Paris and get 400 euros

Paris Town Hall authorities are offering to give away up to 400 euros (not exceeding 25 % of the retail price) for every purchase of a new electric scooter. The offer, which begins on March 21, applies to anyone or any business resident in the French capital. All you have to do is fill [...]

Read Full Post »

Organic perfume goes upscale

The benchmark study on toxic chemicals in perfume appears to be the Greenpeace one from 2005 which tested 36 different fragrances and found both phthalates and artificial musks in almost every single sample. Most commercial scents contain either animal substances such as musk, civet, castor or ambergris which have been obtained at some price to [...]

Read Full Post »

Solar/Electric city car to start production in France in 2009

The Venturi Eclectic solar and electric car was unveiled in October at the Paris Motor Show, and it goes into production from October 2009 at a new assembly plant in France near the town Sablé-sur-Sarthe. It is powered by solar panels embedded in the roof, and an optional wind turbine for cloudy days. Designed to [...]

Read Full Post »

Green, good and beautiful holiday gift ideas

Earlier this week I spent half an hour browsing in a traditional French candy store. The candies are sold in bulk from big glass vats and have names like “Les Negus de Nevers” and “Les Briques du Capitole” which evoke place and regional identity. Each variety of candy – the name, packaging and craftmanship – [...]

Read Full Post »

Paris gets new electric motor-taxi service

Citybird has as just launched the first motorized taxi service using 100 pct electric vehicles, dubbed Electri-city. The electric maxi-scooters are manufactured by Vectrix. Citybird, created in 2003 by three friends, already has a fleet of low CO2 emission scooters operating in Paris – which suffers from a dearth of taxis – and hopes to [...]

Read Full Post »

Self-destructing eco-bib made from potato starch

Here is a nice baby gift: an eco-bib made out of potato starch which self-destructs after two years. Waterproof, sponge-washable and guilt-free disposable! Made by cocoboheme.
via Le Figaro

Read Full Post »

Dreaming about a house in the vineyards? Think again…

A recent European study put the spotlight on pesticide content in wine. This study failed to generate any public debate in France. According to Dominique Techer, owner of Chateau Gombaude-Guillot in Pomerol and member of an assocation of wine-growers who want to see a kinder form of grape growing for the environment, the subject is [...]

Read Full Post »

What needs to be done

“Weathercocks and Signposts” is such an awesome report that I had to excerpt a bit more from it. This part focuses on the complexity and challenges associated with building an authentic, values-based approach to the inevitable consumption descent. The report invokes Churchill: “It is no use saying, ‘We are doing our best.’ You have got [...]

Read Full Post »

Parisians to get pollution updates from giant tethered balloon

Starting in spring 2008, Parisians will be able to get a quick read-out of the city’s air quality by checking the colour of the giant hot-air balloon which is tethered above the André Citroen park in the 15th arrondissement. The balloon, which is operated by Eutelsat, will turn green when air quality is good, and [...]

Read Full Post »