Re-usable shopping bags and efficient light bulbs have been all the rage for a while now. Concerned consumers and lazy journalists will wheeze on about the need for them at great length, despite the fact that plastic bags and electricity for lighting constitute a perishingly small portion of our overall carbon footprint. It gets worst when people peddle the idea that they're a good start without painting a bigger picture, because research suggests people will stop at that level and not be willing to make bigger changes without real pressure.

So it was with some skepticism that I received an email promoting the Green Tomato Kit, a re-usable bag filled with bits and bobs to help the confused individual make a start towards "greener living". I should say that they sent me a free bag to review. But it's not that bad, mainly because alongside the requisite light bulbs they stuck in a thermometer with "too hot / just right / etc." labels, a Hippo to reduce the water your toilet uses to flush, some "turn it off" stickers and some radiator panels that you can put down the back to reflect heat back into the room if they're on outer walls.

The only disappointment is that the kit comes with some leaflets for British Gas' so-called "zero carbon" energy tariff. BG were criticised as being the worst green energy provider in the UK last year by the National Consumer Council, and whilst this tariff is much better it still relies on offsetting and a trifling investment into new renewable energy capacity. I'm sure Green Tomato must have got some money from BG to make the kits cheaper, but it would have been much better to promote a truly green tariff (i.e. Ecotricity or Good Energy) or to provide information on how to find a truly green tariff.

Of course you can fashion your own Hippo by using a brick, and make a radiator panel with cardboard and foil. But I guess a lot of people would rather pay a tenner to get the kit and have it all there for them. It would make a good present for a friend. It would be a great kit if they included a leaflet on carbon footprints with tips on how to tackle food, waste, transport and other goods we purchase.