Article 13 Report
12th February 2009

Sustainable Development, Climate Change, Environmental protection – just a few of the terms currently being linked to global droughts, floods, fires and other climate related natural disasters occurring more and more across the globe.

With an increase in world population and urban development, heightened environmental risks and vulnerabilities are demanding long-term, sustainable management of natural resources. Natural Resource Management (NRM) involves managing complex and intertwined systems such as biodiversity, desertification, just to name a couple.

This month Article 13 is focussing on two of the issues surrounding
Natural Resource Management (NRM) and briefly explores the
technological and organisational responses from business to help combat
environmental degradation.

Water management
Water management refers to the sustainable management, governance and
utilisation of water resources, including rivers, lakes and estuaries,
coastal and marine waters; sewage treatment; and reservoir safety.
Water management is an issue of the global commons, which means it’s
outside national jurisdiction and there is an ever increasing battle
for access to fresh water resources. Initiatives must cross borders and
boundaries to make any real difference. The United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP), partners with over 150 businesses and concentrates on
the potential risks associated with water scarcity and the strategic
importance for businesses to act responsibly. Businesses and
Institutions need to start acknowledging the interconnectedness of
water resources with many of the world’s major issues, including
climate change, energy, economic development, environmental health, and
social justice. For businesses to tackle the challenges surrounding the
depletion of water resources, there needs to be the following:

• Financial investment into a water supportive infrastructure.
• Partnerships with water management coalitions. 
• Integrate water management systems into the business, in order to minimise environmental risks

So how are businesses managing water resources? Some examples include:

BAA: A water management scheme at Terminal 5 reduces BAA’s reliance on
mains water and economically harvests water from rainfall on campus and
boreholes on its own land
(http://www.article13.com/A13_ContentList.asp?strAction=GetPublication&PNID=1364).

AWG: “RiverCare” programme a community approach to involving
communities in cleaning up watercourses
(http://www.article13.com/A13_ContentList.asp?strAction=GetPublication&PNID=1314).

United Utilities: Establishment of a multi-partner sustainable water
catchment management programme to deliver improved water quantity and
quality. (http://www.article13.com/A13_ContentList.asp?strAction=GetPublication&PNID=1360)

Land management
Land management refers to the sustainable management and development of
land resources. Land management practices often include, conserving and
enhancing the natural environment, ensuring that industrial processes
do not exploit land resources and foster social and economic well
being. It is in a business’s and individual’s best interest to act
responsibly with land resources and manage them effectively. Poor land
management practices can lead to heightened environmental risks with a
rise in CO2 emissions and the destruction of ecosystems, biodiversity
and plant diversity. Also businesses can be affected greatly through
poor land management, with high cleanup costs, consumer boycotts and
increased pressure from environmentalists and NGOs. Alternatively,
sustainable land management can have beneficial factors in terms of
climate change impacts, wildlife, biodiversity, social well-being,
social equity and help the bottom line; for example:
Wangari Maathai: “Promoting ecologically viable social, economic and
cultural development”
(http://www.article13.com/A13_ContentList.asp?strAction=GetPublication&PNID=1091).

For more information please contact Fiona Banyard on
fionab@article13.com or call 020 8840 4450. Please also see Article
13’s website www.article13.com

Eco-Boudoir’s SS09 collection
available at Harvey Nichols, Knightsbridge, John Lewis + Adili.com

Eco-Boudoir’s SS09 collection offers the first eco-friendly structured bras – underwire and padded bras made from organic silk and organic cotton, complementing soft and pretty one-pieces, indulgent hemp/silk dressing gowns, and lovely empire-waist sheer chemises.

Iconic pieces complete Eco-Boudoir’s collection, including complementary accessories of eyemasks and boudoir ties for added spice.

Click here or on the image to visit the Seasalt Sale

Take a peek here.

Knicker industry’s dirty laundry aired in public

Eco-Boudoir and Pants to Poverty have joined forces to create a sustainability campaign film called Pants Exposed: Know What’s In Your Knickers, which has been sponsored by the Salon de la Lingerie in Paris.

The film will be launched on Wed Dec 10th on London’s Southbank and online at www.morethanprettyknickers.com

To attend the launch book your tickets here. The evening also includes a dance installation and debate, followed by drinks and a look at the problems with textile supply chains.

The film talks about pesticides, pollution, toxic dyes, carbon usage and fair trade in a way that relates to fashion and in particular based on lingerie.

20,000 people die every year on cotton farms and we are running out of oil, the natural resource which polyester is made from.

The Salon de la Lingerie have sponsored this film as they are keen to support sustainability in lingerie.

EJ members selected for the Future 100 – The Next Generation of Young Ethical Entrepreneurs

To celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week 2008 last week, London-based CIC Striding Out compiled a list of the ‘Future 100‘ talented young entrepreneurs aged 18-35 who are demonstrating entrepreneurial flair and innovation in progressing a responsible business venture.

Ethical Junction members selected for the list included Societás CEO Melissa Sterry, UK AWARE founder and director Danny Carnegie, Louise Davies of Seventeen Events, Dermot Egan of The Hub, Marcus Hill of London Biopackaging, Laura Tanner of Fill Your Pants, Christopher Hill of Hands Up Holidays, Alicia Lai of Bourgeois Boheme, Brian Walmsley of Fairgift, Elaine Dutton of Pure Design, Gareth Mitchell of Tree2mydoor, Jennifer Graham of Freed Fashion, Katie Fewings of Ethical Weddings, Kim Stoddart of Green Rocket, Lili Larratea of Rethink Games, Paul Tuite of ECOutlet, Penny Cooke of Equa Clothing and Sustained magazine publisher and founder of the Creative Coop, Marc De’Ath.

Heather Wilkinson, whose Striding Out team created the Future 100 idea, said, ‘The future of our world is in the hands of individuals who are committed to generating commercial and ethical returns. The Future 100 young entrepreneurs are changing the face of everyday business and improving commerce’s impact on the wider world.’

To celebrate the Future 100 young entrepreneurs, Striding Out held two profile events during Global Entrepreneurship Week 17th – 21st November in the North and South of England. Special guests from government, policy innovation and media were invited. Melissa Sterry of Societas was invited to speak at the London event, hosted by the British Library on Tuesday 18th November.

Melissa advised that collaboration is key to the success of a young company and that ultimately we have a choice of working ‘with the good guys or the bad ones.’ She said, ‘Working with the goods guys rarely pays as well as working with the bad ones, but that the long term gain for people and the planet of the former choice far outweighs the short-term benefits of supporting companies that behave unethically and unsustainably.’

Future 100 winner Danny Carnegie of UK AWARE said ‘I feel flattered and honoured to be one of the first ever Future 100. Having all your hard work acknowledged with an award like this re-affirms that the countless hours of work behind the scenes are worthy and worthwile.’

Notes
Global Entrepreneurship Week was created to unleash people’s enterprising ideas to address some of society’s biggest issues; Climate Change, Poverty, Gender Equality and Health. The jury that selected the Future 100 included Jo Hill of UnLtd, Phil Tulba of Make Your Mark, Anthony Ross of Bridges Community Ventures, Michael Solomon of SEEWhatYouAreBuyingInto.com and Gaby Rose of the British Library Business and IP Centre.

The Aarati Festival is a brand new green charity fund raising event in Cornwall on the 31st of August 2008. The National Trust have very kindly agreed to let us hold this festival in the grounds of Lanhydrock House near Bodmin. We have 6 themed areas for talks/workshops and presentations. The themes are Environment, Kids, Food, Healing, Yoga and exercise, and Bush craft/Wilderness skills.

We have some really great guest speakers including Brigit Strawbridge the environmentalist and founder of the Big Green Idea charity who was featured in the BBC tv series "Its not easy being green". Peter Bunyard, climatologist, journalist for the Guardian and founder of the Ecologist magazine. We also have Lettie Vantol, (founder of the Crystal Healing Federation one of the Worlds foremost experts on the revival of the use of minerals in healing practices)and most of Cornwall’s best yoga teachers . We have more than 60 confirmed workshop leaders/lecturers/teachers/entertainers.

covering a diverse range of subjects, from ethical investing to juicing for health and from storytelling for children to the Bhuddist philosophical approach to environmental conservation. There are musicians, puppeteers, face painters, and the chance to participate in a big green art attack!

This festival is no ordinary fund raising event. The day offers the chance for everyone involved with sustainability, people who care about the future of our planet, to show case how they are playing their part and to inspire each other to keep up the good work. We urge you all to get behind this event, don’t miss the opportunity to be involved. This is just the beginning.

We have trade and promotions opportunities available for all green businesses, educational and community organisations, and local artists and crafts people. Bookings can be secured by post or on-line through our web-site(see below) Prices of pitches vary, again please look at the web-site for details.

We are also looking for sponsorship and support for our event, this could be anything from a cash donation to simply offering to put up a poster in a window or public place, displaying promotional leaflets for the public to pick up or donating an item to add to our raffle prizes.Any additional promotion and support for the event is greatly appreciated. We have created a wish list which breaks down various expenses the event has incurred, all donations ultimately mean more money for our charities.

The event has been set up as a charity fund raiser. We are supporting the National Trust and The Global Natural Health Care Trust (GNHCT). The GNHCT is a small charity which achieves big results in helping to alleviate suffering caused by the Aids epidemic in the Orange Farm Settlement just outside Johannesburg in South Africa. The Trust uses only herbal medicines and organic fruit and vegetables to achieve fantastic results in helping sick people to live. They also run a programme finding foster care for orphaned children and have found care for over 7000 children to date.

Tickets are on sale now from our web-site!!£25 per ticket all workshops included in the price( plus price of sending tickets Royal Mail recorded

delivery- £1.50 per booking-if you wish to purchase more than one ticket you are only subject to one postal charge). Children under 16 are free, you must apply for a free ticket and be accompanied by an adult. Tickets are now also available direct from the Herbal Clinic, 58 Fairmantle St, Truro and from the Henna Tattoo shop at Hendra Holiday Park, Lane, Newquay.

Please take the time to look at the time table: http://www.cstn.org.uk/forum/welcome.asp?id=9793

www.aarati.co.uk and www.gnhct.org

Luxury eco-friendly label, Eco-Boudoir launches a new lingerie and loungewear collection
for spring summer 2008, available at Harrods, Knightsbridge and Figleaves new department Greenleaves.

Eco-Boudoir has received much press acclaim and has been recognised by actress and ethical
fashion-lover, Daryl Hannah.

The spring summer 2008 collection presents a selection of luxurious pyjama sets, separates, bow-tie briefs, kimonos and interior accessories produced using sustainable materials such as pure hemp silk and bamboo, a cashmere-soft material.

The colour palette includes creams, dusky pinks, peaches and monochrome choices with prices ranging from rrp £35 upwards

.

This sustainable luxury concept and all Eco-Boudoir designs are the brainchild and passion of Jenny White, a graduate MA Central Saint Martins. Since its inception Eco-Boudoir has worked only with suppliers whose materials and production processes complement with-in the eco-system in which they are produced. 

Eco-Boudoir has received much press acclaim for its sustainable luxury innovation and was nominated in 2006 for the Observer ethical awards and Design Council interior design awards.  Eco-Boudoir uses fabrics that are highly renewable and do not bring pollution to people or the environment in their processing. We challenge the Eco-market in terms of design and branding and challenge the luxury market in terms of sustainability. They have made eco ‘sexy’. 

Fabrics Eco-Boudoir uses:

Vegetable Tanned leather: All of their vegetable tanned leather is vegetable tanned and is a bi-product of the food industry. This process does not pollute the local water or the people working within the process.

100% Silk: Their silk is a sustainable fabric and does not use any harmful chemicals in its production process. NO FORMALDEHYDE. NO METHODENE. NO BLEACH.

Bamboo: Hand (and increasingly, machine) spun, a light, silky natural fibre with an ivory glow, bamboo is grown without the need for agro-chemical interference, bamboo fibre has natural anti-bacterial properties, it is biodegradable, breathable, cool and offers superior water retention properties.

Hemp/Silk: Hemp, otherwise known as ‘weed’ because of its ability to grow rampantly without the use of chemical fertilisers and other pollutants, hemp fibre products are fully biodegradable and fast becoming a popular choice for many eco-textile consumers.

Organic Lavender: Their scented pouches are filled with lentils and organic lavender from a small farm in the UK.

Production:

The patterns on our silk are printed digitally which is the greenest way to keep our designs colourfast and permanent. Completed in the UK with the latest technology, the process uses considerably less water than traditional silk screen printing.

The patterns on our vegetable tanned leather are etched on with a laser, based in the UK this is another clean method of designing that doesn’t generate chemical waste.

Our lingerie and loungewear are produced in a factory in Northern Italy so that it can be  
delivered to the UK overland.

Business Management:

Eco-Boudoir has a strict waste reduction and office recycling policy – They re-use and re-cycle paper. They employ a sustainability consultant.

All correspondence and packaging materials including for wholesale deliveries are either made from recycled materials or are sustainably sourced.

Energy saving measures are obligatory in the office. Eco-Boudoir staff use public transport for business. Air freight is avoided wherever possible.

 Eco-Boudoir are always endeavouring to improve our supply chain and production processes and we want you to love our concept and collections.

Price Points: £25.00 – £325.00