Part of my job here at Ethical Superstore is to take home, test, and review certain products to give you, the ethical consumer, a broader picture of what the product actually performs like.

I have recently been testing the Ecosavers Powermeter and can report the following; It is easy to set up once you know how much you pay per unit of electricity (you can find it on your bill!), and you can be monitoring your energy use and spend in no time. You simply plug it into the socket then plug the appliance you wish to monitor into it. You can choose to leave it in one appliance all day and see how much electricity it uses and costs you, or move it around your home and check various appliances.

It was interesting to see the effect of using appliances in real time – as you’re using them but I feel that a more comprehensive energy monitor would be of greater benefit. If you just want to keep an eye on how much charging your mobile phone costs, or how much electricity the computer uses then this could be the product for you, but for larger scale energy monitors check out the rest of our range.

This wind up remote control is simple to set up and could be controlling your appliances two minutes after you pry it from its packaging. (I know that sounds like marketing spiel but it really is that easy!) Having tested this product at home and having read the instructions, I was impressed that a full charge of the battery only took 30 turns of the crank, meaning that there was more than enough time to carry out this operation in the ad breaks. The obvious plus of the remote is that you never need, run out of, or have to dispose of batteries again. Given the governments current concern with the disposal and recycling of batteries this can only be a good thing. However, when it came to actually controlling my devices I was left a little disappointed.

Although it was easy to program the remote to recognise my television it would not recognise and control my DVD player or Sky Box. However, on consulting the extensive list of compatible devices I realised that this remote made no claims to control either of these peripherals. Although this was inconvenient, I have found that most ‘universal’ remotes will not work on all devices and brands. To find out if your devices and brands are compatible before you buy check out the brand list.

An alternative to the wind up remote powering your TV or other appliances in a green, eco-friendly manner could be to use rechargeable batteries which will reduce the number of batteries bought and discarded.

Therefore, the overall experience of the wind-up remote is one of satisfaction; even if every household replaced just one remote control in their house with a battery-free alternative, the UK would use approx. 50 million less batteries a year (This is a rough calculation based on my guestimate of 25 million households replacing one remote control which uses 2 batteries with a wind up remote).

If you’re still following me, you may be interested to know that I give this piece of equipment a rather respectable 3 out of 5. That’s based on its average functionality, however, based on the premise behind the product and the talking point it provides whilst grappling for control of the remote, I’m tempted to bump it up to a 4 star rating.

Please note this review was submitted by a member of our staff.

One of the best things about working here at EthicalSuperstore (along with the great people and fantastic banter!) is the free samples!

When my Ubuntu Cola arrived on my desk I was a little parched – as such, I allowed my thirst to be suitably quenched with Fairtrade and fizzy loveliness.

It is a little sweeter than other cola’s but goes down a treat. As it’s made with Fairtrade sugar and fruit and vegetable extracts, I enjoyed it all the more. Especially as Ubuntu give a hefty proportion of its profits over to the Ubuntu Africa program which supports the farming communities it relies on.

So if you’re looking for a great tasting, refreshing drink with a uniquely ethical take, look no further than Ubuntu!

Being both a drummer and a doodler I’m often left frustrated that I cannot accurately desk-drum with my pencil or indeed write or draw at all well with my drum sticks. So imagine my delight when I was informed that we here at EthicalSuperstore were stocking the imaginatively named Drumstick Pencils!

They are exactly what they say on the tin (or recycled packaging to be more precise); part drumstick, part pencil, wholly satisfying and versatile.

The fact that they’re made with wood from well-managed forests under the watchful eye of the FSC is an added ethical bonus to my new favourite item of stationery (though there has never really been much competition!).

So if you’re an ardent drawer, a pencil pusher, or a demon on the drums, these should be top of your must-have list for 2009.

Now all that’s left to do is see how long it takes me to annoy my slightly OCD, repetitive noise-hating boss . . . “drum roll please . . .”

Having worked at Ethical Superstore for over a month now I have received my first pay! And this is what the fruits of my labour have bought me. I couldn’t resist this great party pack. I didn’t have a party, but I did have a good night with my family discussing what the smell on the ‘scratch ‘n’ sniff’ label of Cannabia was!

That, as well as tasting the very European tasting lager beer of Budels and the unique tasting Pinkus. To go with these refreshing beverages are some tasty snacks in the Liberation Nuts! Every little bite was a taste sensation! Three very different but equally satisfying flavours all went down a treat!

On top of all this, they all come beautifully presented and displayed in an attractive, handmade snack bowl. This has now taken pride of place in my dads’ office and is currently being used to house his latest supply of sweets!

So, whatever the occasion, even if there isn’t one (!), this hamper is well worth a buy – I was very pleased with everything included and would highly recommend it.

Since I started working here at Ethical Superstore my intake of Fairtrade Tea has gone through the roof! I have went from an occasional tea drinker to developing a 10 cups a day habit, and my vessel of choice; the Global Warming Mug.

I know this might sound a little over the top for a description of a mug, but here goes; the handle is fat enough to be gripped easily when negotiating your way through an over-crowded kitchen ensuring your tea stays in the mug – always good. It has a larger than average capacity meaning that you get more tea per visit to the kettle, a ratio that allows me to stay suitably quenched throughout the day.

As well as its practical ergonomics and generous capacity, this mug is striking in its design. I now can’t imagine drinking tea without seeing the effects of global warming! This not only sparks off many a conversation, but ensures that my thoughts and views on global warming are always lurking about in the back of my mind somewhere which makes me consider if I really need to boil the kettle for the 10th time, or if taking the car to work is really necessary.

So, you could stick to your plain old cup, your novelty mug, or your flask of choice, but if you use this global warming mug, you’re getting more than a beverage receptacle; you’re getting a statement, a message, and a reminder that we must all do our bit to protect our planet.

Whilst working here at EthicalSuperstore, I often get the chance to walk through the hustle and bustle of the warehouse and browse some of our products up close. Today I was doing just that and a little green book caught my eye. It claims to be full of BIG green idea so off I went pocket-sized book in hand, back to my desk to have a flick through. I have to say it’s a great little book! It’s full of hints, tips, inspirational words of wisdom and more to give you the kick start you might just need to live a greener life, or have a more eco-friendly day. I’ve picked out my favourite five quotes to share with you and give you a teaser of what’s in this handy guide to a more planet-friendly lifestyle;

1: Only boil the amount if water you need for your cup of tea (Check out the Eco Kettle to do just that!)
2: 58% of car journeys are less than 5 miles – take a bike or walk instead and cut your carbon emissions!
3: Make use of the sun’s natural and clean power (Have a look at our great range of solar chargers!)
4: Save water with every flush (Devices like the Hippo can help you here!)
5: We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.

It’s not the most groundbreaking stuff, but it serves as a great reminder that little things and small changes can and do make a big difference, keep it on your desk or in your bag and try and read a few pages a day to inspire your green outlook. I would highly recommend this book to anyone; as one of the first pages of the book says,
‘Want to make a BIG green difference? Start here!’

I admit that when I first heard that we were going to sell this book here at Ethical Superstore I was a little sceptical about its title. However, as my fiancée and I are hoping to get a cat in the coming weeks I thought I’d pop into the warehouse and have a sneak peak at what spiritual lessons I could hope to learn . . . from my future cat!

The first thing I was taught by cat-loving author Joanna Sandsmark was that cats are not in fact pets – they are teachers! At first I sniggered at the suggestion but having read further, I’m inclined to agree.

Over the course of the 10 lessons, I came to appreciate that cats enjoy and thrive on the simple things in life – and we could and should perhaps do the same.

I have now decided that I will take more pleasure out of the small things in life, be on the lookout for further opportunities to utilise my hobbies and interests, and de-clutter my desk!

Now, admittedly, these are small things but all in all they will lead to a more fulfilling, joyful life (apparently).

If you are a cat lover, a self-help book enthusiast, or simply curious about what you can learn from our feline friends, then take a punt on this book – you’re sure to find something to sink your paws into.