Maxine Gordon meets two York mums bringing environmentally-friendly goods into the home.

YOU'VE heard of the Tupperware party and perhaps may even have a stack of greying plastic boxes in the back of a kitchen cupboard to prove it.

Others have followed the Tupperware trend, most notably Ann Summers and Virgin Vie, selling direct to customers in the comfort of their own homes.

Now two York mums have set up a different sort of home-selling event: the rubbish party.

Under their business tag ecoathome, Kat Richardson and Denise Macnab are the hostesses with arguably the mostest green credentials on the party-plan scene.

They sell an eclectic and intriguing range of environmentally-friendly and Fairtrade products; everything from biodegradable disposable nappies and phosphate-free home-cleaning products to jewellery made from recycled wine bottles and stationery produced from car tyres.

They also give customers advice on recycling and being more environmentally-aware consumers.

They host two different types of parties.

The first is the "rubbish party", selling recycled goods and products such as wormeries which help people recycle their kitchen waste at home. The other party focuses on eco home-cleaning products and toiletries and organic cotton clothes, undies and bedding.

Because the women have gone down the direct-selling route, they can keep prices competitive and avoid having to charge the premium often associated with eco goods. For example, one litre of washing-up liquid is £1.85; children PJs in organic cotton are £18; jewellery is priced from £5.50 to £9.50.

Kat, mum to Oscar, three, and Jasper, almost two, said: "We want to show that caring for the environment is fun and can fit in with your lifestyle. It needn't involve holding a placard or living in a tree."

Denise, mum to three-year-old Olivia, said small steps such as recycling your rubbish or buying "green" products could ease the plight of the environment. She added: "People often wonder how they can help the environment, but domestic pollution causes more damage to the environment than industrial pollution. If everyone does their own little bit, surely it's got to have a knock-on effect?"

While the women are committed to helping save the planet, they want to do it in a fun and sociable way.

Each party begins with a welcome drink served in one of their quirky products, a wine glass fashioned from the top end of a wine bottle (imagine the bottle cut in half, upturned and a glass base fixed to the bottleneck) and tumblers made from bottom part of the bottle.

"The glasses are a real talking point, and a good way to break the ice if people don't know each other at the party," says Kat.

The women then talk about the range of products they sell, answering questions and allowing customers to browse, touch and even smell before buying.

Like other party-plan businesses, ecoathome offers discounts to the customer who hosts the party but, in a novel twist, also provides for the host to swap their commission for a donation to the charity or cause of their choice (this amounts to 15 per cent of sales from the event).

Organisations such as PTAs and playgroups have already taken advantage of this deal, turning an ecoathome party into a fundraiser as well.

Kat and Denise believe they are the first people in the UK to set up a home party business selling green products. The women became friends three years ago when they met at a mother-and-baby group. Both were passionate about the environment and last year decided to set up in business together. The party plan idea allows them to work around their family commitments.

The first party was held at Denise's home near Tadcaster Road, York, and was for her neighbours. The women admit they were nervous at the prospect of putting their business idea to the test.

Denise said: "I knew they would give us useful feedback, which they did. But it was a fantastic success and a big boost for us."

In the run-up to Christmas, the duo hosted up to three parties a week. They can also arrange parties at weekends.

They are confident that York people are interested in environmentally-kinder products and recycling, even more so since the change in refuse collections means many households now have their domestic rubbish collected only once a fortnight. Much interest has been shown in their wormery (£55), a small-sized bin that houses worms and can be kept inside or outside and turns kitchen waste into liquid compost.

Ecoathome also sells bathroom products such as a soap dish and toothpaste holder made from reclaimed wood, handmade soaps and bubble baths and creams for babies and children. There is also a shopping bag made from jute (£3.75), perfect for anyone trying to cut down on plastic bag use.

Kat said: "We know a lot of these products are out there, available on the internet, but people are sometimes hesitant to buy online, they don't know if they are going to like them and if it doesn't work out they have to post it back. People like to see, feel and touch things.

"Also, they can see that they are not weird. They are normal products, but ones that are recycled, degradable and have less impact on the environment."

To find out more about hosting an ecoathome party email: info@ecoathome.co.uk or telephone 07709 795554 or visit www.ecoathome.co.uk

Updated: 08:54 Tuesday, March 14, 2006