At Little Cherry we like to support other small businesses like ourselves. Businesses who are making a diffrence with the products they sell, with the producers they use and with their ethos towards life. Here is one of our great friends, INCOGNITO.

What is incognito?

incognito is a powerful anti-mosquito protection spray.  It is a 100% natural, non-greasy formulation.  It also has a fresh pleasant smell.  Most of the ingredients have been used for centuries by indigenous peoples of Asia to protect themselves from insects and the diseases they carry.  It can be used by all the family including babies.

incognito contains the maximum amount of citronella that can be used safely by humans, along with eucalyptus and a secret ingredient.  All of these combined actually make you ‘invisible’ to all small things that biteä!  How come?  Basically, the insects that need to feed off us cannot sense our kairomones so they literally fly-by! 

What are kairomones? Just as humans are attracted to each other’s pheromones, insects are attracted to their hosts by kairomones – the kairomone mosquitoes are particularly attracted to is carbon dioxide. Others include lactic and carboxylic acids.  All these kairomones are eliminated by the body in proportion to the rate of metabolism. Therefore the more active you are, the more attractive (a meal) you are!  Kairomones can be detected by the female mosquito up to 1km away!

Mosquitoes sense these chemicals in a variety of ways, one way being the hairs on their antennae.  One recent research project shows another way that mosquitoes smell us is through a nose located in their mouth!

incognito works by masking most of these kairomones, thus cloaking or camouflaging and protecting us like an invisibility cloak!   

Although no product, not even the most toxic insecticides offer total protection, incognito will protect you as effectively as those chemicals with one important difference: safety. According to two recent studies on oil of lemon eucalyptus and citronella they are as effective as 30% Deet.

incognito also interferes with a mosquitoes’ inbuilt target-seeking process thus providing a further shield.  Mosquitoes have poor eyesight, but are highly light sensitive, so are able to differentiate easily between light and dark, which is also why they zero in on those with paler skin tones.

Many people are fed up using chemicals on their skin, which is not surprising as DEET melts plastic and can cause scarring of the tissue and worse. incognito is 100% natural with most of the ingredients certified organic.

incognito is a small ethically minded company which trades fairly with everyone.  We also do our bit for the environment as you can see if you visit the ‘kind to our planet’ page on our website: http://www.lessmosquito.com

which has a wealth of tips on avoiding bites from insects on the “Avoiding Bites” Page.

incognito is the mosquito deterrent of choice for several high profile people and expeditions with an interest in the environment.

As you can see on their website incognito was recommended by The Sunday Times, Sunday Telegraph and The Observer. It is will be used by the England Cricket Team on their forthcoming tour.

Our global obsession with the water we drink is not surprising given that water makes up over 60% of our body’s composition, it is vital to our life and health.

The marketing genius that led to the explosion of the bottled water market is now happily past its peak as we have become a bit more discerning and savvy about this bizarre ritual of buying our water. 

We know that bottled water accounts for a huge carbon footprint, landfill problems and marine debris. And that plastic bottles contain BPA, linked to cancers, autism and genetic damage. The photo on the front of your bottled water may show glaciers and mountains but the reality of the source of the water and the actual purity of the water may be deceptive according to the Natural resources Defence Council (ref 1) In fact Pepsi’s Aquafina water, the No1 seller in the US, now must clearly show on their labels that their source is………tap water.

Canada has led the World in the total Ban on BPA from baby bottles/beverages, with Walmart and Toys R Us following suit. The National Childbirth Trust in the UK is demanding that all products containing BPA be clearly labelled. Are we finally reversing our love affair with buying plastic bottles?

There is some good news however as the task of ridding our world of plastic has just been made easier thanks to One Green Bottle (www.onegreenbottle.com), a brilliant new alternative to the endless use of harmful plastic bottles. Developed and marketed by a forward thinking eco-friendly company in East Sussex this stylish range of ‘Mudpuppy’ branded stainless steel bottles provide a real opportunity  to change the way we consume water and drinks.

One Green Bottle has developed the BPA Free Mudpuppy range using ‘304’ grade stainless steel, which is recognised by the beverage and food industry for its hygienic benefits and non-toxic properties. Switching to a stainless steel drinks bottle which does not leach chemicals into the water eliminates the risks associated with BPA’s and you will immediately taste the difference. Stainless steel can also be used with just about any beverage, is durable and easy to clean. The payback for buying a Mudpuppy bottle is very short (less than a month), you are assured of being toxin free and can feel satisfied that you are doing your bit in reducing the devastating effect of plastic refuse on this planet.

In the US over 250,000 stainless steel bottles are sold every month. BPA Free drinking bottles by One Green bottle have now launched in the UK for the first time. A great selection of stylish bottles ideal for use in the school, nursery, office, gym or on a picnic.
Heather Nicholson, director of One Green Bottle, explains the ethos behind the company. She says: “I was looking for a clean, odourless sports bottle for my son to take to school each day and I couldn’t get one in the UK. When I investigated plastics and the alternatives, I became determined to do something positive. Plastic is an overwhelming threat to our environment. As a reformed plastic bottle drinker, I’ve never felt better since I switched to stainless steel. It saves money, time and effort, tastes purer and I know it isn’t manufactured using harmful chemicals.”

Ms Nicholson says: “It’s a simple step to reduce plastic bottle usage and experience the benefits. Bisphenol A readily ‘leaches’ into the fluids contained in plastic bottles, and many parents will naturally want to ensure their kids are using safe drinking vessels. Furthermore, by using our bottles, children will understand the causal relationship between responsibility and the future of the planet. If each generation takes more care of the environment than its predecessors, our children and grandchildren will be the beneficiaries.”

Just One Green Bottle can keep heaps of plastic debris off our planet.
It takes just one green bottle to make a positive difference to your health, the planet and your bank balance. I’ll drink to that.
Ends/…

Media Contact
Heather Nicholson, director, One Green Bottle Ltd
Telephone: 0845 293 8355 / 07921 866473
Email: heather@onegreenbottle.com

Ref 1 http://www.nrdc.org/water/drinking/bw/chap5.asp

Hints and tips for a GREEN HALLOWEEN!

Halloween parties are always a great treat for little monsters. And with a little planning, you can make sure they are a treat for our planet too! Here are some tips to get you started thinking about a clean, green Halloween:

- Use organic, locally grown pumpkins and apples for carving jack-o-lanterns and for apple bobbing. The pumpkin seeds removed whilst carving can be roasted and make a delicious and highly nutritious snack for party guests.

- When the party is over, the fruits and vegetables can be used for cooking pies, soups and other dishes.

- The fruit and vegetable scraps are then suitable for compost for your garden. You could even use them to nourish your vegetable garden, helping to grow what will become next years Halloween pumpkins!

Composting reduces the amount of waste you send to landfill.

- Instead of buying a disposable Halloween costume your children will only wear once, why not create a costume from clothes you no longer wear or cheap charity shop clothing? Kids enjoy helping to design and make their very own outfit.

- After the party, you can store the costume for re-use another year, pass them on to or swap them with friends, or donate the clothing they were made from to charity.

- If your children are trick-or-treating, be sure they carry a reusable bag rather than a plastic one. Plastic bags end up as litter, kill thousands of marine animals every year, break down into particles that pollute soil and water, and also require large amounts of fossil fuels during production. Kids will enjoy helping to decorate old pillowcases or cloth or canvas shopping bags to use instead. Try reusable cotton bags from Little Cherry, whch have been handmade in the UK! Halloween themed shapes such as ghosts and pumpkins can be cut from old fabric and sewn on; and the bag can be reused again next year.

- If you are giving treats to trick-or-treating children, ensure they are an environmentally friendly option. Give organic chocolate and sweets with little or no packaging, or give more useful, longer life treats such as pencils and toys. Little Cherry has a huge range of eco-friendly toys and treats to choose from!