The Natural Collection website is a large showcase of unusual and beautiful lifestyle products including natural, organic, energy efficient, fairly traded and hand crafted products. Green Dot Guides Ltd, the publishers of the Natural Collection catalogue and publisher of 'Trees for Life' diaries and calendars, was formed in 1999. The Natural Collection catalogue is a range of eclectic, unusual, useful and interesting products carefully chosen to inspire ideas towards a sustainable future.

Natural Collection believe:

• That it is through the basic choices of the consumer that real collective change can eventually be realised.
• That it is imperative that good commercial practice is maintained in order to demonstrate to the consumer that buying with 'green' in mind is not a about making a sympathetic decision.
• That change is a long-term objective. Natural Collection hope that small steps of change now will lead to greater steps in the future and that any positive change is a good thing.
• That there is now an ever-growing variety of products that are made with eco consideration and also 'desirable' and fun, both aesthetically and functionally.
• Natural Collection wish to bring to the market any product that will in some way change our perception or reduce Natural Collection's consumption of limited resources and move Natural Collection's thinking towards a sustainable, fair and happy future.
• Through their purchase, support and promotion of these products Natural Collection hope to help increase volumes of production, which will ultimately help to bring these products to the market at affordable prices. Natural Collection's intention is to contribute to a future where buying the eco or ethical option is no longer considered a luxury.

Natural Collection believe that the ultimate ideal goal and vision for sustainable consumption is that all products are in complete harmony with nature by being:

• Made out of durable, non toxic, grown or recycled materials
• Easily recyclable or compostable in the UK at the end of their life, or that can be returned to the original manufacturer for recycling
• Powered by renewable energy in manufacture and delivery and use
• Free of releases of hazardous or persistent compounds during manufacture or in use
• Ten times more efficient than the most popular brand of the product was in 1990 in terms of materials and energy use
• The income generated by product sales supports all participants fairly throughout the supply chain

Unfortunately, while this is an ideal vision, very few products available today meet these criteria. Consequently, Natural Collection seek out products that are moving in a positive direction in some way, and constantly review which products are offered and how much difference they make to Natural Collection and their world.

Each product is carefully selected and considered, and then independently assessed by Natural Collection's environmental advisor - Edwin Datschefski, an internationally-recognised expert who has worked in the field of environmental product development for thirteen years, and who has written several books on the subject.

Natural Collection are constantly looking for products that include any of the following criteria:

• Good value for money. This is not always the same as 'cheap'. A longer product life, cheaper running costs, craft produced in fair conditions, less forest damage, better quality, and so on are all considered added value. Use a lot less materials, water or energy. This is either during manufacture and when the product is in use or both.
• Are viable to ship from their location to Natural Collection. Natural Collection's calculations show that presently US or Asian products need to be about 10% 'better' environmentally to be worth shipping in, and then only until a more local supplier can deliver the same performance.
• Natural Collection do believe that it is important to trade internationally. Natural Collection would prefer the world to concentrate more on creative solutions like solar powered shipping for example, than to deprive developing worlds from international trade. Natural Collection particularly like to encourage production of certain commodities such as bamboo and hemp for example, which have long-term benefits as sustainable and significant resources for the future of developing countries and the planet in general. Natural Collection also believe that where some local industries are still very small or do not yet even exist in Britain as is the case with hemp or solar power, for example, it is very important to develop the market for it and by doing this create a realistic possibility that the local industry will be able to grow.
• Its manufacture does not exploit the environment, animals or people involved in its production and supply.
• Are made using renewable energy like wind, biomass or solar power.
• Are durable, so less of them need to be made.
• Are made of recycled materials, ideally from 100% post-consumer waste.
• Have a plan for when they are at the end of their life - they can be recycled, or composted, or sent back to the manufacturer for re-use or recycling.
• Provide a full listing of ingredients, preferably a short list!
• Are made of natural materials or materials produced by organic agriculture (such as cotton, food, wine, cosmetics ingredients etc.).
• Are made of wood, either from forests that have been certified by an FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) accredited organisation; or which are from a forest we believe is being well managed. Not all the 'good wood' is certified, and not all certified wood is 'good'. The chemical treatment, energy used in drying and transport of the wood is also considered. Natural Collection would ideally prefer air-dried, untreated, UK or European hardwoods.
• Are produced and distributed through a chain of supply that has treated workers and communities fairly. Natural Collection try to include into their range products that have been manufactured through Fair Trade organisations and schemes.
• Are from vegetable sources rather than being made of petrochemicals.
• Are from companies that do not test on animals, ideally operating a fixed cut-off date policy of 1976. All Natural Collection's products that are not suitable for vegans are marked and these are mainly items containing beeswax or milk. All Natural Collection's products are suitable for vegetarians, unless otherwise stated.
• Natural Collection also consider products for their range when Natural Collection believe that it just has good value towards improving consumer awareness about sustainability in general. A fruit powered clock, for example, may not be the ultimate planet saver, but it is fun and increases awareness of the emerging possibilities still to explore for creative alternative energy options.

Natural Collection would not wish to knowingly sell products which contain:

Materials known to be hazardous to people and other living things, such as: CFCs, Asbestos, Halons, PCBs, Carbon tetrachloride, 1, 1, 1-Trichloroethane, Tetrachloroethylene, Lead and its compounds, Cadmium and its compounds, Mercury and its compounds, Chlorinated paraffins, PVC, TBT (tributyl tin), and Chromium VI. This is only a summary of a very long list that Natural Collection continually update. Natural Collection derive this list from global best practice, such as:

• OSPAR
• Volvo's Black and Grey Lists
• State of California Prop 65 List of Carcinogens and Teratogens
• The EU Scientific Committee On Cosmetic Products And Non-Food Products Intended For Consumers - Opinion concerning fragrance allergy in consumers
• CITES Appendix I and II

For cosmetic products, Natural Collection are continuously reviewing which ingredients are acceptable and Natural Collection would particularly avoid a product if the following appeared on the suppliers ingredients list : MEA (monethanolamine), DEA (diethanolamine), TEA (triethanolamine), Parabens, Talc, Sodium Fluoride, Titanium Dioxide and Saccharin.

Many everyday products are treated, varnished, painted, laminated, sealed, dipped, polished, glued, bleached, dyed, washed and softened, and throughout all these processes thousands of chemicals are now being manufactured and refined. There are over 100,000 synthetic and mineral chemicals being made today, and many of them are cause for concern. Most have never even been tested for toxicity to people, let alone their wider impact on the environment. Natural Collection do not believe that a 'nasty chemical' is always necessary for excellent product performance.

As new information comes to light Natural Collection regularly review their considerations accordingly.

Natural Collection Site Navigation

Shopping with Natural Collection online is simple. Choose the product category from the navigation bar on the left of your screen. If an extra menu pops up then you can either select the whole category, or one of the sub categories. Now choose the product you would like to consider by clicking on its picture. If you would like to place the product in the shopping basket, click on "add to basket". Now simply follow the instructions on the shopping basket page or go straight to another product category by clicking on another link on the navigation bar. To visit other areas of the Natural Collection site, click on the appropriate tab within the secondary navigation areas which you will see at the top and bottom of each page.

Natural Collection Site Security

All of your transactions at Natural Collection Online are secure. Natural Collection's secure server encrypts all of your personal information (including name, address, credit card numbers information it is captured on a page that uses the Secure Socket Layer (SSL) protocol by default. Natural Collection Online provides you with the best possible protection on the Internet.

Natural Collection Dot Guides

In this section of the Natural Collection site you will find interesting articles and features relating the eco-friendly world, for example a guide on ethical finance and another on organic certification.