Tonight we’re off to Kings Place - where they’ll announce the winners of the Guardian Sustainable Business Awards. We're shortlisted in the Supply Chain category along with Uniliver and Lendlease [LINK] . The competition is tough so we're keeping our fingers crossed. Jason Delf, a director at Chest of Drawers says, "The awards are great and we're pleased just to have made it to the final and to be in such salubrious company. The concept of sustainability is vast but the supply chain is a major part of it.  We began our environmental rating label project after we read a book by Felicity Lawrence about food labelling. We wanted to give customers information about our workshops' working practices and wood sourcing, as well as transportation issues summarised by ‘furniture miles’. It was our campaign to change the furniture industry one chest of drawers at a time! Information and education are all part of raising awareness of the issue. We still believe that transparency is the key to convince both consumers and manufacturers that there is a way forward that will benefit both. When we began our environmental label project there was a distinct lack of interest from everyone, or at best a mild bewilderment. Nowadays suppliers actively try to increase their ratings with us and our customers ask more and more about where the wood comes from etc. These are all important steps in the campaign to change consumer buying habits. Legislation may ultimately pave the way for a more sustainable industry but consumers can play a major part in making this happen. Changing buying patterns has an immediate effect because manufacturers ultimately provide what the market will pay for. Keep your fingers crossed for us please!"

Back to our favourite Danish accessories brand, RICE... We've now helped over 150 families in the one-to-one project with partners RICE and Danish Refugee Council. When you buy a Cup of Hope or a Spoon of Hope, they give families help when they are in difficult times. If you buy a set of our Cups, you give a family a water can and wash kit. If you buy a Spoon of Hope you give a family 24 servings of soup. RICE are aiming to sell 10,000. We have just reached a more modest figure of 154. RICE believes that no one can help everyone but everyone can help someone. It's a good motto. Go on, listen to Phillipe, one of the directors. Then look at the products - you know you want to!

Our new French ceramic lighting has arrived. Made in the hills of France, entirely by hand, this family run workshop creates earthenware lighting that is of a traditional style. The new jazz ceramic table lamps above come in a vast array of colours from fiery reds and fushias to metallic bronzes and soft earthy tones. But that's not all, there are traditional rise and fall pendants and suspensions - click to see them all.  Bah ouai!

Back in March Jason and I watched as this table was crafted in a boutique European workshop. We couldn't wait to show our customers what we thought was one lovely table. Lots of flexibility in finishes, size and wood and the design, well it's perfection. Now the anticipation is over - our Stoli dining table has arrived in our Chiswick shop. It really is one of the nicest tables we've seen and it's available in many finishes in European oak and oiled American black walnut. A suspension cable provides support for the larger sizes and adds a unique design detail in brushed steel to the underside of the table. Splay legs are set flush to the corners and come through the table top. The finishing process is achieved in several stages to create a robust patina. It's a fully handmade piece that deserves the attention it's been getting in Chiswick. Click to see the full range of finishes.

Uber cool birdhouses from Etienne Esmenjaud. If you'd like to see more birds in your garden, these nesting boxes provide homes for robins & wrens (Mrs Birdee) and all manner of tits (Mr Birdee). They attach easily to many supports and come flat packed in recycled packaging. Made of PEFC materials, the nest boxes are easy enough for a child to assemble and need no glue, nails or screws. Click to see how.

Hooray! We've made it to the final of the Guardian Sustainable Business Awards for our work improving the environmental and ethical standards in our supply chain. Our environmental grading system is one of the many methods we have used to make our production more responsible and sustainable. Thanks for your support!  Guardian Sustainable Business awards

For years we have stocked this cult Danish homewares designer and watched as one vibrant collection after another arrived. Our favourites are the handmade rafia baskets. They are loved by kids and adults alike. We love their products but we also admire the ethical side of the business. All pieces are produced in developing countries with a great respect for the people they work with. RICE has the SA8000 fair trade certification which guarantees they adhere to responsible social criteria. Click to see the basket range made in Madagascar.

It's so easy to maintain the finish on oiled oak tables – a simple application of an oil like Osmo or Liberon and a bit of 'elbow grease' is all you need. Customers often ask how easy is it to maintain the finish on their lovely new dining table so I made a demonstration video. The techniques are simple and you don't need to spend a lot. After making the video I did it at home to remove a year's worth of biro, paint, felt tip markers and the general wear my kids dish out daily. A day later and my little artists had covered it with paint again but all it took was a swipe with a j cloth to remove. I'd advise you to do it once a year to make clean up easy. Click to see how easy it is!

We were thrilled to be nominated and shortlisted again for the Environmental Awards in 2009 and we humbly accept our nomination to the Environmental Business of the Year (under 200 employee) category. To be nudged out of the first place is difficult but made more palatable because we lost out to the superbly fantastic Arcola Theatre.