Lots of Tory/Co-op hullabaloo in the media. Ethical Junction member Calverts, the graphic design and print co-operative, even had Channel 4 news pop round for a bit of punditry – 1:38 mins into the video here.

Public services run as co-ops? If only to have the police rebranded as Cops.coop

Calverts Co-operative is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors RICS has released a new Benchmark and certification process called the Ska Rating, that will help designers and contractors measure the environmental impact of their office refurbishment

The Ska-Rating lists 99 measures of good practice ranging from upgrading lighting schemes to how to dispose of the old carpet – or even if you should! Older, more established schemes such as those provdied by LEED and Breeam covered the entire building and transport beyond, which was difficult for those simply renovating an office in one or two floors of the building. The Ska rating scheme was launched in November of 2009 and is currently being explained to the industry through a series of trade seminars. Having attended one such seminar last week, I was encouraged by the desire and now ability to measure the carbon footprint of an office refurb. The online tool is very easy to use and can be seen as a guideline that will assist in any project whether or not the client wishes to have the full assessment made once it is complete.

The Ska rating committee are looking to expand the remit beyond office refurbishment into retail and hospitality and eventually into the domestic arena. Then it will become really interesting! Best of luck to RICS and Ska!

Gecco Interiors Limited is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

What is the one thing that would most improve life in the modern world?  We want to hear your views, and we’re planning to use some of the best contributions in a publication later in the year. 

Click here to complete the survey – it should take you less than a minute and you could win a copy of ‘Modern life – as good as it gets?’ by Richard Docwra.  Closing date for entries is the end of February.

Visit www.lifesquared.org.uk for more ideas, resources and advice on how to live well in the modern world.

Life² is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Led from Manchester NEW FRONTIERS has embarked on a journey to stimulate truly sustainable design solutions fit for the social and environmental challenges of the 21st Century. It will capture, catalyse and create ideas and innovation, from architecture to urban design to materials engineering to product design.

The brainchild of futurologist and design scientist Melissa Sterry and developed in partnership with environmental scientist Matt Prescott, NEW FRONTIERS is working with leading universities, professional institutions, NGOs, government agencies and pioneering global brands to embed a strong understanding of sustainability; form new collaborations; and promote the best innovation for this new and fast-moving sector. 

Designed to convert ideas into action, NEW FRONTIERS will focus on interdisciplinary collaboration, knowledge sharing, capacity building and public discourse. Its programme comprises seminars at venues around Manchester, scholarships, a participative digital platform and other planned elements, culminating in a prestigious biennial national prize.

Judged by leading experts including Zac Goldsmith and Michael Pawlyn, the NEW FRONTIERS Prize will help to provide economic stimulus, raise the profile of many crucial disciplines not always directly connected to sustainability and help to progress of ideas and projects of true quality and value.

The NEW FRONTIERS panel

Zac Goldsmith, Professor Lorna Walker, Michael Pawlyn, Dr. Rachel Armstrong, Professor Neil Spiller, Lynda Relph-Knight, Dr. Tim Fox, Professor Rachel Cooper, Professor Erik Bichard, Dr. Beth Perry, Dr. Richard Miller, Leonora Oppenheim, John Thackara, Dr. Tuba Kocaturk, Mike Reardon, Dr. Vicky Lofthouse, Dr. Mike Pitts, Angharad Thomas, Matt Prescott, Dr. Angela Lee, Melissa Sterry, Sophie Thomas.

NEW FRONTIERS partners

University of Salford (primary academic partner), Royal Society of Chemistry, Institution of Mechanical Engineers, University of Manchester, Loughborough University, Chemistry Innovation, Centre for Construction Innovation, Centre for the Built and Urban Environment, Eco Connect, Mickey & Mallory, CURB, 100% natural media, Societás, What Women Make.

Find our more about NEW FRONTIERS at http://www.newfrontiers.uk.com

Societás is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Eco Ezee have won the Gold Award for Best Decorative Product at the Totally Tools/DIY/Secure show.

Up against the likes of Dulux and LG Harris, Eco Ezee’s painters range which includes the Ezee Tray( biodegradable paint tray which saves time with no washing out) and professional paint brushes made from bamboo and recycled material won the Gold Award. The team of judges all specialising from different areas of the trades said the range, in particular the tray was “simple but effective”.

Please go to www.ecoezee.com to find out more about us and www.ecoezeeshop.com to purchase products.

Eco Ezee Limited is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Fairtrade Fortnight (22nd February to 8th March 2010) will focus on “the big swap”. The idea is to get people to swap to Fairtrade certified products from the conventional products they currently purchase, with a special emphasis on tea.

Since everyone likes a slice of cake and a biscuit with their Fairtrade cup of tea, it’s been a chance for Kate at Tropical Wholefoods to get her baking hat on again and tell everyone about the gorgeous recipes TW have on their website. Her current favourites are the Tea Loaf which uses Tropical Wholefoods Chewy Banana Chips and Bogoya Banana (along with Fairtrade Tea and raisins) and Amoretti Biscuits which uses Fairtrade natural Apricot Kernels. Check out some of the other Apricot Kernel recipes too – like the Savoury Biscuits, and the Orange and Apricot Kernel Cake on their website: http://www.fmfoods.co.uk/resources/recipes.htm

Sally Reith at Shared Interest is baking a Fairtrade recipe every day of Fortnight and is kicking off with the Banana and Walnut Tea Loaf. (Thank you Sally!) TW will also be baking for the Fairtrade Tea Dances in Newcastle and London on 27th February.

If anyone would like recipes and ingredients to use during Fairtrade Fortnight, please get in touch with rachel@fullwellmill.co.uk and she can send you a pack.

Kate will also be putting up recipes on our blog: http://tropicalwholefoods.blogspot.com/

Tropical Wholefoods (Fullwell Mill Ltd) is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Tropical Wholefoods are importing raisins this Spring again from the Shomali Plains just north of Kabul in Afghanistan. Adam Brett and Richard Friend have been working with US Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) Mercy Corps since 2006 on developing a good raisin supply out of Afghanistan into the UK. Part of the brief is to improve the farmer drying of raisins (through introduction of a mat based system). The washing and further grading and de-stalking of the raisins is another stage. Getting Fairtrade Certification for the grape farmers is another goal. It’s been a tricky one to manage because the insecurity in the region rules out any FLO inspectors going to Afghanistan. However, Adam has been working closely with the Fairtrade Foundation and Mercy Corps to try to develop a way in which FLO certification can be available to farmers groups in fragile and precarious states like Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Considerable progress has been made.

The raisins are delicious and sweet, and will be available as bulk and in Tropical Wholefoods retail packs of 200g x 6.

Tropical Wholefoods (Fullwell Mill Ltd) is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Tropical Wholefoods have got funding from the Department for International Development to develop berry growing and drying in Uganda with their partner Fruits of the Nile.

The berries are Physalis (Cape Gooseberry), Strawberries and Blueberries. TW are working with the Henry Doubleday Foundation on this 2 year programme.

Tropical Wholefoods (Fullwell Mill Ltd) is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

We are very pleased that Tropical Wholefoods Fairtrade Apricot Kernels were the winner of the Green Familia Gold Leaf TGF Rated Awards for Food and Drink for 2009. This is a reader voted award. Results were announced on December 31st so a great end to 2009 for the kernels. Says Kate Sebag, director of Tropical Wholefoods: the tamari and chilli kernels are proving extremely popular – and now are available in sharing/catering tubs 500g from our website shop.

Tropical Wholefoods (Fullwell Mill Ltd) is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Tropical Wholefoods have just started a project at the Mango Drying Cooperatives we work with in Burkina Faso. The project is funded by Comic Relief to develop Biogas production out of Mango waste generated by the drying process. The biogas will be made from combining mango peel, stones and rejects with human and animal waste. The biogas will then be used as fuel to heat the ovens which dry the sliced mango. We are working with a team of UK biogas experts on this project.

Tropical Wholefoods (Fullwell Mill Ltd) is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more