Trusts
and foundations should consider environmental, social and governance
(ESG) risks and opportunities in their investments to safeguard value
and protect the interests of future beneficiaries -according to new
research released today by the EIRIS Foundation.

Sustainable returns: The value of environmental, social and governance factors for Foundation investments
examines why issues such as climate change and corporate governance
pose financial risks and opportunities for trusts and foundations.

Despite
their role in supporting pioneering social and environmental projects
through grants, many trusts and foundations are still lagging behind
other asset owners when it comes to responsible investment. This can
lead to significant conflicts between mission and investments. 

The
financial crisis has highlighted the risks that all investors,
including trusts and foundations, are exposed to. It has underlined the
importance of responsible ownership and long-term investing which
require accountability, transparency, and the consideration of
‘extra-financial’ research in the investment process.

The
EIRIS Foundation’s new report sets out why these principles make sound
financial sense for trusts and foundations. It explores the growing
body of evidence to show how the integration of ESG risks and
opportunities into investment can safeguard and enhance value for
shareowners.

The paper also highlights the following steps
that trusts and foundations should take to ensure they are managing
investments in a responsible and sustainable way:

1) Agree a position on responsible investment
2) Research investment manager’s expertise and practice in ESG integration
3) Include ESG integration in the investment mandate
4) Join collaborative initiatives, such as the Carbon Disclosure Project
5) Vote shares on ESG related issues
6) Engage with companies directly or via investment managers
7) Invest in sustainability-themed funds such as greentech, microfinance or timber
Invest in responsible investment funds that use ESG integration

Report
author Sam Collin, Charity Adviser at the EIRIS Foundation, said
‘Responsible investment is nothing new – some charities have been doing
this for decades. There is compelling evidence that ESG issues have a
financial impact and this shouldn’t be ignored by trusts and
foundations. This fits clearly with the fiduciary duties of trustees
and with Charity Commission guidance. Trusts and foundations that fail
to take ESG  issues into account could be seen as acting imprudently
and failing to secure their long term financial sustainability.’

Alastair
Hanton, Chair of the EIRIS Foundation, added ‘The integration of ESG
factors into investment processes is now recognised by the mainstream
as a way to enhance value – as demonstrated by the $18 trillion worth
of signatories to the United Nations Principles for Responsible
Investment. It’s not enough to just assume that ESG issues are being
integrated into the investment process. Acting as responsible owners,
trusts and foundations should question and encourage their asset
managers to adopt and implement best practice in responsible
investment.’

The
Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), a London-based charity that
empowers people who suffer the most from environmental and
human-rights abuses, has organised an awareness- and fund-raising
cycle challenge for style-savvy cyclists.

The EJF
Great Fashion Cycle will take place in September 2009 and will link
Europe’s iconic style capitals, London and Paris, via a 300-mile
and 4-day cycle challenge. The challenge will raise essential funds
for EJF in their work to promote a fairer future for the fashion
industry.

Around the
world, whether it is state enforced, or child trafficking, millions
of children face severe exploitation in the cotton industry. In
Uzbekistan, the world’s third largest exporter of cotton, roughly a
third of the population are forced to work in conditions near slavery
for the state run cotton industry; many are children.

The success
of EJF’s work in highlighting these and other issues has rocked the
fashion industry and led to dramatic policy changes by some of the
world’s biggest buyers of cotton.

Larissa
Clark, from EJF says, “EJF’s work has led to unprecedented
changes in cotton policies in the fashion industry’s biggest
players by giving a voice to people who otherwise go unheard – this
cycle challenge is about bringing fashion-lovers together and getting
their voice heard as they represent others around the world most
affected by the industry.”

Kate Towsey,
a London-based yoga teacher, is one of the
cyclists who will be joining the ride. She says, “I think it’s
important that we consider what we are consuming and where it comes
from. The UK has an incredible selection of ethical and organic
clothing, you may pay that little bit more, but it’s made to last
and was produced with respect for people and the environment.”

According to
an EJF report, ‘The Deadly Chemicals in Cotton’, cotton accounts
for 16% of global insecticide
releases – more than any other single crop. Almost 1
kilogram of hazardous pesticides is applied for every hectare under
cotton and of the US$ 2
billion of chemical pesticides released each year, at least US$ 819
million are considered toxic enough to be classified as hazardous by
the World Health Organisation.

Kate adds,
“The industrial cotton industry has a shocking effect not only on
the environment but also on the people who work in the fields; cotton
pickers and especially those who have been picking as children,
experience life-threatening respiratory and eye-health issues as a
direct result of their exposure to agricultural chemicals and
pesticides.”

“‘As
consumers we have an immense power to encourage change, if we all
start to demand fair-trade and organic from our high-street retailers
they will be forced to oblige. I hope that by participating in this
event that we can be a part of encouraging consumers to be more
aware.”

To
participate in the challenge the cyclists are called not only to be
cycle-fit, they must also engage in awareness and fundraising.
Ethical fashion companies Howies,
Bourgeois
Boheme, The
Natural Store,
THTC,
Greenfibres
and Cyclechic
have all donated products and vouchers for an ethical fashion hamper
which Kate is raffling via her Just
Giving webpage. With more ethical
companies set to donate products she hopes to be able to offer a
substantial hamper worth 300 or more pounds.

If you would
like to support Kate in her fund-raising bid and put yourself in line
to win the hamper, visit her Just
Giving web page and make a
donation of 10 pounds or more.

If you would like to
contact Kate for more information, to make a donation, or to offer
support or an ethical product for the hamper, please contact her on:

Kate Towsey

kate@vedicsociety.org

075 45 805 505

Important web links:

Kate’s Just Giving Page:
http://www.justgiving.com/katetowsey

Environmental Justice
Foundation Great Fashion Cycle: www.ejfoundation.org

Howies: www.howies.co.uk

The Natural Store:
www.thenaturalstore.co.uk

Bourgeois Boheme:
www.bboheme.com

Cyclechic:
http://cyclechic.co.uk/

London. 31 May 2009. Ryan Frank’s ‘Isabella’ stool will be exhibiting at Pulse 2009 Earls Court.
The totem pole style stacking stool now includes a new ‘multi-coloured’ felt and a new ‘brother’ stool to add to the family.
The Isabella stool is made entirely from straw and wool. Drawing
inspiration from traditional hand carved African seating, but wanting
to avoid the use of exotic hard woods, the stools are made from a solid
section of ‘Strawboard’.
Strawboard is a sustainable formaldehyde-free material made from
compressed straw an agricultural by-product. The straw profile is then
wrapped in wool felt, making a more comfortable, tactile product, and
also allowing for a broad range of colours. 
‘Spruce’ a ‘felt-free’ version of the stool spices up the re-launch of this now in-demand stool.

‘Spruce’ offers a more budget, rugged option.
Keeping the same iconic shape, but constructed from  a solid section of
FSC certified Spruce ply wood, ideal for heavy-duty usage.
Isabella recently won ‘Most sustainable product’ 2008/09 at the Hidden
Arts annual award, received an Honorable Mention at the annual Green
Dot Award 2008, and has been selected by the National Design Museum of
New York for inclusion in the next Design Triennial exhibition.

The stools can be stacked on top of each other
when not in use, allowing for efficient use of space, as well as
creating a striking totem pole structure.
The Isabella range is in production with acclaimed design consultancy
‘Pli design’ and is currently being distributed in the UK and Europe.
The ‘Zilka’ clothes hanger range made from reclaimed British
newspapers, will also be on display and available in a range of earthy
colours.

Read on to see more pictures!

 

Brighton
Permaculture Trust runs a variety of courses from hands-on gardening
to a diploma in permaculture design. We also hold special events such
as Green Architecture Day.

Read on to find out about our up and coming events in 2009.

GREEN
ROOFS - A two-day course

13-14
June 2009 (New
date)

Learn
about green roofs and how to build them. Includes hands-on experience
and site visits.

FOREST
GARDENING -
A two-day course

4-5 July
2009 (New date) 

How
to grow fruit, nuts, salads and perennial vegetables as a low
maintenance, highly productive garden ecosystem. Includes a site
visit.

NOW
TAKING BOOKINGS

SCYTHING -
A two-day course

19-20
September 2009 (New date)

Learn
how to mow lawns, meadows and even scrub land and also how to make
hay.

NOW
TAKING BOOKINGS

Bring Nature Inside
with a Beautiful Wooden Bed from Natural Home Products

Your bedroom may be a
haven from the outside world, but you can still bring a touch of
nature inside with a beautiful Shiva wooden bed from Natural Home
Products (www.naturalhome-products.com).
The handmade
wood beds
from Natural Home Products are made by expert craftsmen in Southern
Bavaria from European sustainably-forested beech, cherry and walnut
wood, and come in a variety of models to suit any style of bedroom.

Natural Home Products
are the leading online store providing luxurious all-natural,
chemical-free products for the bedroom, from natural
wood beds
to organic
mattresses
and pillows. The range of products combines luxury and comfort with
the finest of natural and organic credentials. A perfect example of
the company’s ability to provide products that are 100% free of
harmful chemicals without sacrificing luxury, style or comfort are
their wooden
bed frames.

The natural colour and
grains of the beech, cherry and walnut woods used in the Shiva range
of wood
bed frames
add beauty, serenity and an element of nature to any bedroom. All are
handmade using traditional craftsmanship and are of the finest
possible quality, while being entirely free of chemical additives.
There are four styles in the range, from the modern lines of the
‘Logo’, to the classic and elegant simplicity of the ‘Piano 2′,
all of which have 3 colour options and 2 natural finishes, oiled and
waxed or varnished.

Natural Home Products
also has an extensive range of sprung slatted
bed bases
made from natural and solid ash or beech woods. These bases provide
excellent orthopaedic support and mattress ventilation and come in a
variety of models to suit people of all heights and weights. Like all
Natural Home Products, they are completely free from chemical
additives while also providing luxury and comfort.

Several of the slatted
bed base models have the additional benefit of adjustable tension in
the slats that run through the lumbar region of the bases, so that
these can be adjusted to provide the perfect measure of support to
suit any orthopaedic need or personal taste. Wider slatted bed bases
are made with two sets of slats, so that each side of the bed has
independent and individual support, which also greatly reduces the
disturbance between partners!

Natural Home Products
also pride themselves on their customer service and are able to make
the slatted bed bases to fit any width or length of bed frame.

Find out more about how
a beautiful wood bed or wooden slatted
bed base
can bring luxurious style and comfort into your bedroom in the most
natural way possible by visiting:

www.naturalhome-products.com.

Solar
300 Challenge

“Every 30 minutes
the earth absorbs enough energy from the sun to power the entire
planet for a whole year. With Action 21 you can tap into this amazing
power.

Action 21 offers you
the opportunity to have a solar water heating system at home. A solar
water heating system, installed on your roof and plugged in to your
plumbing, can meet up to 75% of your hot water needs without using
any gas or electricity. Just think; a bath powered by the sun, or
washing up with water heated from millions of miles away.”

Action
21 wants to facilitate the installation of 300 domestic solar water
heating systems in Warwick District. It is estimated that there are
currently 300 installations in the district and our aim is to see
that doubled.

Water
heating accounts for around 1/6 of each house’s energy use. A solar
thermal installation can usually cover about 75% of that hot water
heating demand. Having a solar thermal installation will decrease
your CO2 emissions by about ½ tonne CO2 per year. The delivery of
the challenge can make an important contribution to lowering the
district’s CO2 footprint and to the installation of local
distributed renewable heat generation.

The
project is also supported by Action 21’s Renewable Energy Club
(REC). The club was set up by members of Action 21’s energy group
and now has its own steering group.

For
more information, email info@action21.co.uk,
call 01926 456067 or go to www.action21.co.uk/solar_challenge.html.

Order Fulfillment and Administrative Assistant – Richmond, London

Permanent Part-time

4 days a week
including Saturdays

This is a varied role
for an enthusiastic personality within a small online ethical fashion business.
 This role will suit a candidate with a broad range of skills and
whom must be organised, outgoing, adaptable and have the ability to work under
pressure, time manage effectively and prioritise tasks.

You will work closely
within a small team and your responsibilities will include:

• Prepare,
  pack and dispatch orders
• Assist
  with the day-to-day running of the office and general administration
• Customer
  service within our retail showroom
• Assist
  with updating website content
• Data
  entry

We are looking for a
candidate who would be able to commit for the medium to longer term.

Experience highly
desirable

Start: Immediate

Salary: £13 – £15 000
pro rata

For a detailed
job specification and to submit your application please email info@bboheme.com or call 020 8878 8388

Closing Date: Friday
29^th May

INTRODUCING
THE LAUNCH OF OUR BRAND NEW WEBSITE AND SPRING SUMMER ‘09 COLLECTION

For
April ‘09 we are proud to introduce a complete rebrand of Beyond
Skin as we thought after 5 years trading it was time for a facelift.

To
celebrate our 5 year anniversary May ‘09 sees the launch of our new
logo (above) and a completely new and exciting website with an
amazing, energetic new look.

Our
explosive new site launches next month with a young, fresh,
contemporary feel incorporating bold, coloured graphics and an
incredible new shopping experience soon to be featuring 360º
spinning shoes! The new site will be dynamic and interactive
including ‘Beyond Skin loves…’; our nominated charity of the
month and ‘Our World’ featuring our very own blog. This way we
can chat with our customers and keep them in the loop on what we are
up to, how we are getting along with our sourcing of more
eco-friendly components and fabrics and the generally crazy
adventures of running an ethical footwear label.

Autumn
Winter ‘09 will see the introduction of our new logo stamped in
silver in all of our shoes and cheekily stamped onto our soles is a
high-heeled shod zebra alongside our empowering new slogan ‘Be the
change’.

Spring
Summer ‘09 sees the launch of 14
key styles.
These
sassy new designs are handmade
in Spain
and combine simple, classic styling with a contemporary twist of
colours and textures. This season seas the injection of organic
hemps, denims and recycled bottle top textiles peppered throughout
the range. They include
4 summer sandals, 2 patterned wedges, a quirky selection of detailed
courts, slingbacks, T-bars and pretty flat pumps.

All
these designs come in a combination of textured fabrics in both
neutral and bold colourways. These include varied greens, blues,
turquoise, reds, yellows, creams and browns with varying PU patent
and textured trims and uppers in a selection of faux suede, hemps and
cotton finishes.

Retail
prices start from £110.00.

The
collection will be available from our brand new online store from 1^st
May ‘09 so please make
sure you check out
www.beyondskin.co.uk
for
a visual extravaganza!

Created
in 2001, we are an exclusive, ethical footwear label passionately
doing what we can, to trade in a manner that is kind to our fellow
humans, animals and wherever possible our precious planet.

We
work closely with factories in England, Spain and India (so we really
know what’s happening behind closed doors) and endeavour to source
our components and fabrics as locally to our factories as we possibly
can to try and reduce our carbon footprint.

We
use only the most expensive, high quality faux leathers and suede and
each season sees the introduction of new and exciting eco-friendly
fabrics as they become more and more available for us to get our
hands on.

To
us at Beyond Skin this way of working makes good sense because we are
passionate about making a difference
whilst staying true to our ethos; that of creating beautiful, ethical
footwear for discerning style-led ladies (proving
that fashion and ethics can go hand in hand!).

‘Be
the change you wish to see in the world.’

For
press enquiries or sample requests please contact
heather@beyondskin.co.uk
or
call +44(0)845 3733648 and make sure you visit www.beyondskin.co.uk!

Habitat Aid is an ecommerce retailer selling high quality products, mostly plants and seeds, which enhance or regenerate our vanishing native habitats. Half of the profits it makes go to specialist charities working to protect and promote biodiversity in Britain.
As well as raising money we hope to inform, by linking each product to a relevant charity. The charities we are working with include the British Beekeepers’ Association, Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Butterfly Conservation, the Grasslands Trust, Froglife, the Bird Observatory Council, National Hedgelayers’ Association, and the Hawk and Owl Trust.
More information : info@habitataid

With
the credit crunch taking hold, we’re all looking for a bargain.
Only Fair’s silk dip dyed clutch bags are pretty yet practical as
well as being a very reasonable £15.95.  Handmade in Vietnam
under fair trade conditions you can be sure that the workers have
received a fair working conditions and wages for their labour. 
Big enough to hold all your essentials for a night out and with a
delicate wrist chain so you can keep it close at all times, as well
as adding a touch of glamour to any outfit.

To
view the item click HERE