"Little children love bright, shiny things - and in my experience, most grown-up women aren't very di..." — Sheherazade Goldsmith

There are a lot of irritating aspects about large supermarkets for the wannabe eco-warrior, but the one that gets most of us hottest under the collar is packaging.

Consuming less is the fastest way to eco-fashion redemption - particularly if your preference is for leather, not hemp.

The citric acid in lemon juice makes it perfect for bleaching, disinfecting and cutting through grease. And olive oil is a great alternative to furniture polish.

It is possible to do many household cleaning tasks by simply using ingredients from the store cupboard, which are also safer for the environment.