Green Hands took part in a detailed interview on all things Eco. We thought we'd share it with you.

How Green is your business, please tell us about your packaging?
Green Hands package mail order items wrapped in tissue made from FSC sources, the outer packaging is either re-used boxes, bubble wrap, packing chips and jiffy bags from our local business network here in Herefordshire. Or, it is FSC & recycled waste cardboard boxes made by a company only 9 miles away.

We also use eco-bag packs for posting large items. These are composatble. The products themselves are fully recyclable, the cap and bottle of the green hands cuticle oil are both recyclable. The label is compostable. Our shipping is done by Royal Mail, still one of the most efficient postal services in the world, we take all parcels to the local office on foot. Although we may need a trailer or wheelbarrow soon!

What is eco or green about the ingredients and sources of products at Green Hands?
All ingredients for our own products are sourced from suppliers and growers certified by The Soil Association. This enables us to have complete confidence in the supply chain, ensuring top quality ingredients, from ethical and responsible suppliers.

How about production?
Production takes place at a rather idyllic countryside cosmetics manufacturing plant. The manufacturing plant has energy efficient wooden buildings for production and is only situated 14 miles from us, keeping product mileage to a minimum.

What about treatments?
Our clients are treated to a combination of freshly made and locally sourced products for their manicures and pedicures. Keeping product use simple and effective reduces the need for lots of bottles of potions and mountains of packaging. Our scrub is made up as we need it, a few tablespoons at a time.

How does Green Hands tackle environmental concerns and energy conservation, including technology, offices etc?
As a company Green Hands is committed to making every effort to look at the environmental impact of the business, from the organic cotton towels we use during treatments to the low energy lighting we use when we are at festivals. We invest in the latest technology, ensuring we are using as little power to power our IT system as possible. Our electrical energy is a 100% green tariff, they replace all energy used from the Grid with renewable sourced energy. We conserve water where possible and paper waste is composted. We also ensure we switch off when we are out of the office. We re-use envelopes and support local businesses for stationary, materials and furnishings. When we search out new stock for the business and keep our mantra of, as local as possible, eco as possible, organic as possible, fair-trade as possible as long as the product in question is of the absolute best quality, at the forefront of all decision making when purchasing new items. We don't heat the office/studio when it isn't in use, which makes for very cold Monday mornings!

Tells us about your staff initiatives/commitment to being eco-friendly:
Work wear at Green Hands is all natural fibres, our formal work wear is organic hemp linen made by Enamore. We also get the bikes out, we consider the fuel consumption for all off site meetings and do our best to share lifts. Tea and coffee breaks are ‘greened up’ too, we have fair-trade decaff instant coffee, a wide range of pukka organic teas for staff and clients. We work from home which saves on travel, we are fuelled by allotment veg and local fruit from our Friday market.

Stationery/communications (including media): We work online as much as possible, reducing our need for paper, our business stationary is all on FSC paper and card. Our local printing firm now uses vegetable based inks and since our first batch of business cards and leaflets 4 years ago, he has started to market his green credentials too!

Travel: We try to tie in long distance travel with other activities, as a way to make the most of any journey. We always consider public transport first. We also get the bikes out; we consider the fuel consumption for all off site meetings and do our best to share lifts.

Community: Green Hands are involved in a number of local community groups, a parent governor at the local school, local allotment association and gardening group members, active member of local business women’s networking group, a group looking to take our market town towards Transition Town status, we are supporting our local ‘in bloom’ team,  and are regular commenter’s to our Town Council and County Council in all matters. We also make regular use of our MP, writing letters and ensuring he knows the views of at least one business in his constituency. Naomi from Green Hands recently led a campaign asking for the waste cardboard from businesses in the town to be recycled; all trade waste was going directly to landfill. With help from our local BBC radio station and the local newspapers we have a commitment from the council to begin recycling cardboard from trade waste in 2009.

Anything we haven't asked you that might be relevant?
We support local events and charities, we always turn up to do our bit, attend eco fairs etc. We also promote other local green/eco businesses and ensure local press are informed of businesses working together.