- Tackling food waste through social enterprise: Rubies in the Rubble turns food that would be chucked into chutneys, and is proof you can run a company with a business head and a charitable heart http://gu.com/p/39qne/tw
- 5 perennial veggies to plant once and enjoy forever http://huff.to/Q4AGQX
- How do you save a child’s life? A step by step video of how Save the Children does it in West Africa. http://bit.ly/QzGlF3
- Interesting article on how Pret fuels passion and positivity in its employees: http://bit.ly/MTqjSV
- Empty, run-down homes in Bristol to be renovated by unemployed & ex-offenders creating 200 jobs & 40 new homes – result! http://bit.ly/OEstaq
- Still loving Futerra’s The Greenwash Guide http://bit.ly/LQVmPx - def worth a read if you haven’t seen it before, or a re-read if you have!
- Don’t work more than 40 hours a week – interesting (though anecdotal) article on the benefits of working less: http://bit.ly/IVtVAg
- Are straw bales the building material of the future? Mark Briggs reports http://bit.ly/JcsCyj
August 22, 2012
News round up: Chutney not chucked away, Planting veggies, Pret and passion, saving children’s lives and more!
Posted by Amy Fetzer under Climb the Green Ladder, Environment, Fun, Life, Research, Sustainability, Uncategorized, Work | Tags: environment, social responsibility, Sustainability |Leave a Comment
March 17, 2012
News round up: Business 2012, business benefits of social responsibility & smart tech
Posted by Amy Fetzer under Uncategorized | Tags: Business 2012, Guardian, social responsibility, Sustainability, the lorax |Leave a Comment
I’m looking forward to speaking on Avery’s Green business panel at Business 2012 on Monday 19th March at the O2 Arena. Hope to see some of you there. Come and say hi if you make it!
Some titbits:
- Gutting – apparently Universal’s movie of Dr Seuss’s classic eco-tale the Lorax misses the point entirely. Good Guardian article by Climb the Green Ladder case study Jo Confino: http://bit.ly/ycNUgr
- ‘Ipsos MORI data suggests it is actually frontline workers who are driving the CSR agenda in businesses, not corporate boardrooms. Governed by social conscience and core values, employees increasingly want to feel that they are doing the right thing…There are pioneering examples of businesses practising responsible capitalism in the communities in which they are based.
Using a selection of stores across the country, M&S has been offering placements to homeless people that include training and other support. More than 20% of participants ended the scheme with a job either at M&S or with other employers. At B&Q, local stores work directly with social landlords to provide repair materials and support local independent businesses through the Tradepoint initiative. An important by-product of such initiatives is the positive brand benefits that businesses accruing with both existing employees and with customers. Almost half (47%) of jobseekers say they are more likely to join or stay with a company that addresses social issues and 70% of customers say they will remain loyal to a brand that demonstrates local social value, even in a recession.’ Emma Norris @ Guardian http://bit.ly/wVTQxe
- Some interesting ways smart technology could help save carbon, cash and lives, along with some of the challenges of making smart tech solutions happen: http://bit.ly/zuLZ33
March 17, 2012
News round up: The benefits of being socially responsible, air pollution in China, Porrit on brands and discard ban
Posted by Amy Fetzer under Books, Climb the Green Ladder, Environment, Fun, Life, Research, Sustainability, Work | Tags: air pollution, brands, china, Climb the green ladder, discards, environment, Jonathon Porrit, social responsiblity, Sustainability |Leave a Comment
- Great quote on the business benefits of being socially responsible: ‘Organisations with social purpose written into their business models already exist and their leaders are acting and adapting fast. Among other things their businesses remain relevant, competitive, engaged with their communities, and open to new markets and consumer bases.’ Silvia Giovannoni @ Guardian: http://bit.ly/zohThG
- Sobering article on the scale and health implications of the air pollution in China: http://bit.ly/FPKtae
- Good Jonathon Porrit article on harnessing the power of brands to change & normalise sustainable behaviours: http://bit.ly/z9uK8J
- Gutted that plans to ban fishing discards are under threat – fingers crossed for Monday… http://bit.ly/y0yGmI
March 17, 2012
News round up: From refurbished vacuums to ducks replacing paddy field pesticides… some stories to inspire
Posted by Amy Fetzer under Books, Climb the Green Ladder, Environment, Fun, Life, Research, Sustainability, Uncategorized, Work | Tags: Climb the green ladder, environment, Sustainability |Leave a Comment
Some interesting news stories that caught my eye recently… Enjoy!
- Don’t sling it – refurb it. Discarded household products such as vacuum cleaners get a new lease of life w/ Electrofarm http://bit.ly/yRjNZM
- Win:Win – paper shows its poss to simultaneously mitigate near-Term climate change & improve health & food security: http://bit.ly/yywvGg
- Ducking good idea: Ducks replace paddy-field pesticides: They feed on insects & weeds, not rice & poo is fab fertiliser: http://bit.ly/xiPphN
- Study finds organic farming in India provide 30% more jobs than non-organic farming & can increase income by about 250% http://bit.ly/AlzptH
- Go Croydon NHS! Croydon Health Services pays £24k to get Burger King out of hospital: http://bit.ly/zJNzyS
- Scientists link mass death of British bees to farm pesticides: http://bit.ly/yPfOYG
- India to open up its retail sector to foreign brands after all: http://on.ft.com/FOUKUs
- McDonald’s to give away books with UK Happy Meals making them briefly the nations biggest book retailer: http://tgr.ph/x4CxTT
- Hospital Patients fed on £2.57 a day – shocking when nutrition is so vital when unwell: http://tgr.ph/zrgEFX
- A chilling article by George Monbiot on some undemocratic goings on in British government: http://bit.ly/Adv7Uu
- An interesting way to make use of old aircraft – turn them into hotel rooms! http://bit.ly/xIqaU6
- M&S gives strawberries longer life with new packaging innovation http://bit.ly/x9f3hg
March 13, 2012
News round up: Organic sales up, dead bumble bees and drought impacts
Posted by Amy Fetzer under Climb the Green Ladder, Environment, Event, Fun, Research, Survey, Sustainability, Uncategorized, WorkLeave a Comment
- Organic sales through box schemes, home delivery and mail order up by 7.2%, despite a 3.7% dip in overall UK market. Globally, sales grew by 8.8% in 2010. http://www.soilassociation.org/marketreport
- I keep on finding dead bumble bees in my garden & I feel certain it’s because there aren’t enough flowers out for them yet. Any ideas on ways to help?
- A drought in the spring will hit Britain’s birds, beer and potatoes. Some of the people most affected by worsening water shortages talk about how drought is impacting on their livelihoods: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/mar/12/drought-spring-birds-beer-potatoes
December 16, 2011
Xmas pressie ideas, converting carnivores and other news stories and fun stuff
Posted by Amy Fetzer under Books, Climb the Green Ladder, Environment, Fun, Research, Sustainability, WorkLeave a Comment
A selection of fun stuff and interesting new stories from the last few weeks. Merry Christmas everyone!
- Just spotted that Oxfam’s ethical collection has a 50% off sale in case anyone is looking for last minute pressies… http://bit.ly/t5IGmE. Also love Oxfam Unwrapped http://bit.ly/rGV0e7 & Save the Children’s Wishlist http://bit.ly/sSPfYg for planet & people friendly pressies. And, in a shamless plug, Climb the Green Ladder makes an EXCELLENT gift of course ;o)
- Hooray! Sales of ‘ethical’ goods & services – from produce to transport & funerals – rose by 9% says Co-op http://bit.ly/uBNaVs
- Excited that an eco-conceirge service I bought for my brother-in-law’s b-day led to him saving tonnes of cash & carbon! Can’t believe this car-loving carnivore now says: ‘I am now a salad munching ecocrusader in my Audi A1′ – You rock Ed – keep it up! http://bit.ly/u2qnFa
- Giving employees targets + letting them set own schedule makes them happier
but no info in the article on how it affects productivity which would have been helpful… http://bit.ly/uViQn6 - Durban round up by Reuters:http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/11/us-climate-deal-idUSTRE7BA07F20111211
- Heartening bbc article on why some wealthy individuals are choosing philanthropy over splashing their cashhttp://bbc.in/ue5wdG
- Met Office warns of UK climate risks http://gu.com/p/33pgf/tf
- Foreign investors might not be able to enter India’s retail sector after all to relief of small business owners http://thetim.es/vqRuU5 - heartening follow up to an article I blogged about last time.
- http://www.peoplefund.it = an awesome idea! A website from the RiverCottage bods where people with green projects can raise awareness and funds.
I’ll be back with another round up in 2 weeks time. Have a happy and healthy December until then!
Amy
November 25, 2011
News round-up – US shopping mania, India supermarket sweep and CSR reporting study
Posted by Amy Fetzer under Books, Climb the Green Ladder, Environment, Fun, Life, Research, Survey, Sustainability, WorkLeave a Comment
Some noteworthy news stories that caught my eye in the last week:
- The importance of good CSR reporting highlighted by Greenpeace study which shows most firms publishing major errors: http://bit.ly/ufystk
- India looks set to allow Western supermarkets to enter market to dismay of local shopkeepers http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/24/india-allow-foreign-supermarkets-stores?INTCMP=SRCH
- Jaw-dropping queques as American’s go crazy for late opening shopping – utter madness http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/gallery/2011/nov/25/black-friday-bargain-hunters?CMP=twt_gu#/?picture=382363142&index=0
- Food waste down by 19% – hooray! But Brits still throwing about 1 in 5 bags of food away – that’s £680 worth every year http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/news/were-throwing-out-less-food–but-still-too-much-6262749.html
- Organic veg boxes = awesome value! Riverford veg boxes beat supermarket prices by up to 32% http://www.franchiseek.com/NewsDetail.asp?NewsID=1051
