There is nothing better than to see smiles on other people’s faces.

As a social entrepreneur, I take my role very seriously and travelled to Gumu (Ghana) in June 2010 to work with one of our adoptive co-ops.  It was a great opportunity to witness what the money we had donated since October 2009 had been used for.  It was also a chance for me to see which area(s) could be improved.

One such area was to teach the co-op soap making to help sustain them and their community by creating more employment.

These are the first batches of soaps we made using fair trade unrefined shea butter (produced by the co-op), marula oil from Swaziland and moringa oil from Uganda.

and here are the individual bars of soaps – proudly made in Gumu (Ghana) and packaged in Sonning (UK).

We believe in empowering men & women
We believe in ethical trading
We believe in supporting communities
We believe in helping to make poverty history! 

Sheabutter Cottage is an active of Ethical Junction, learn more

Earth Day – The 40th Anniversary – April 22nd 2010 Marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970.

Real Food Festival – 7th to10th May 2010, Earl’s Court Discover some of the best food and drink from small producers from around the world. Tastings, workshops and more.

Walk to School Week – 17th – 21st May 2010 Walk to School Week is an action-packed awareness week in spring each year. We encourage parents, teachers and local authorities to run fun events and activities to raise awareness about walking to school. Each year we set a new theme and produce loads of bright and colourful resources to go with it and to help you take part!

Sustainabilitylive! – May 20th to 22nd, 2010 Sustainabilitylive! taking place at the NEC, Birmingham from 19 – 21 May 2009, is the UK’s largest forum for excellence and innovation in environment, water, energy and land.

Green Festival – Saturday 22nd May, 2010 Planning is underway for the Green festival in 2010. 2009’s festival was a big hit and the planners are currently looking for a theme for this years festival!

World Environment Day – 5th June 2010 World Environment Day, commemorated each year on 5 June, is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action

Newcastle Community Green Festival – 5^th – 6^th June 2010 The North’s biggest free environmental festival. In 2008 they had over 16,000 visitors and if you’re on the lookout for a weekend of fun for all the family then look no further! The weekend festival is jam packed full of top class entertainment, workshops, activities and music to suit all tastes and ages. Combining the weird and the wonderful to spread the environmental message. Their aim is to promote positive solutions to environmental problems and raise awareness of green and ethical issues. From mad-cap bike powered music stages to a solar powered cinema – they have something for everyone! The festival takes place in the picturesque setting of Leazes Park – a 5 minute walk from the city centre. Check the site in the new year for details of dates etc.

Brighton Naked Bike Ride 2010 – June 13th In June 2010, in cities around the world, people will be riding bikes naked to celebrate cycling and the human body. The World Naked Bike Ride demonstrates the vulnerability of cyclists on the road and is a protest against car culture.

Recycle Week – 21nd to 27th June It’s easy to get involved this Recycle Week which is organised by Recycle Now. We can all help by doing anything from re-using our carrier bags to recycling old electrical items – remembering to put as much of our recycling out, reducing our food waste and home composting of course! However you choose to waste less, it’s easy, it helps the environment and you might even save money in the process.

National Shed Week - 9th to 14th July 2010 “Do you have a garden shed that is unique?” asks Uncle Wilco head sheddie of readersheds.co.uk. “Maybe it’s your own little bolthole away from the trials of life. Maybe you have converted your humble garden building into a pub, or it’s just a normal wooden building that’s special to you.”

Fiddler’s Green International Festival – 18th – 25th July, 2010. Rostrevor, Northern Ireland. The Fiddler’s Green Festival has come a long way in the last 24 years. It began as a one day event, progressed to a weekend one and now extends to eight days and seven nights of music, culture and craic. With up to 200 events the festival caters for music fanatics, families who wish to enjoy a safe, child focused festival, and those who come just to soak up the scenery, the friendliness and the free outdoor music. Based in the scenic village of Rostrevor, preparations for the 24th festival are well in hand. There will be free outdoor ceilis, an open air stage, art exhibitions, children’s entertainment and even a literary pub crawl, with the emphasis on ‘literary’ rather than ‘crawling’! All musical tastes are catered for (folk, blues, country, classical), with lunchtime, early evening and night time folk clubs Each year the Festival bestows two special awards; the Hall of Fame Award which celebrates lifelong achievement in Irish Music, and the Creative Arts Award to acknowledge achievements in the Arts and Literary fields, the first award having been presented to poet laureate Seamus Heaney. The recipients of these awards are traditionally named closer to the Festival’s formal launch.

The Big Tent 2010 – Saturday 23rd-Sunday 24th July 2010 Scotland’s biggest eco festival The Big Tent Festival of Stewardship, will be held in Falkland, Fife – expect a return of activities like the Climate Challenge Ceilidh, Earth Climate Champion’s Zone, Earth Action Talks sponsored by WWF Scotland, a Family Zone, a brand new Wood Zone, plus the return of our celebrated Food Village.

National Allotments Week – 9th to 15th August 2010 A week to promote awareness and availability of allotments both locally and nationally as well as showing the public and the local authorities the strength of support and interest for the heritage of allotment culture.

Croissant Neuf Party – 13th-15th August 2010 Greenest festival of the year 2009 The Croissant Neuf Summer Party is brought to you by the team responsible for one of the oldest features of Glastonbury festival – The Croissant Neuf Solar Powered Venue. As well as great music expect internationally renowned street theatre, workshops of all kinds from dancing to bushcraft, open mic sessions, sports activities, and more.

World Water Week – 5th to 11th September 2010 Experts from 100 countries are assembled this week in a global effort to improve human; welfare and the planet’s health.

International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer – 16th September 2010 International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer – reflects the urgent need to preserve the ozone layer, which filters sunlight and prevents the adverse effects of ultraviolet radiation reaching the Earth’s surface, thereby preserving life on the planet.

Peace One Day – 21^st September 2010 To some it’s just a single day. But to us, 21 September is a 24 hour-long platform for life-saving activities around the world and an opportunity for individuals – particularly young people – to become involved in the peace process. 21 September is the UN International Day of Peace, a day of global ceasefire and non-violence: Peace Day. By 2007, the UN estimated that over 100 million people from all walks of life actively supported Peace Day around the world. That same year, Peace One Day was instrumental in securing the conditions by which mass polio vaccinations could be carried out in Afghanistan on Peace Day; 1.4 million children were vaccinated in some of the most remote areas of the country. And in 2008, an additional 1.6 million were treated. That’s an estimated 3 million children in Afghanistan alone – on Peace Day. On Peace Day 2008 in Afghanistan the United Nations Department for Safety and Security, which monitors security related incidents, recorded a 70 per cent reduction in violent incidents on the day itself.

World Carfree Day – 22nd September 2010 World Carfree Day is an annual celebration of cities and public life, free from the noise, stress and pollution of cars.

World Toilet Day 2010 – 19th November Did you know there is currently a world sanitation crisis? Hard to believe that 2.5 billion people do not have somewhere safe, private or hygienic to go to the toilet! World Toilet Day is all about raising this sort of awareness and converting awareness into action. Our partners WaterAid work hard to educate people on this serious issue and to enable some of the worlds poorest people to gain access to effective sanitation. It’s not just having a safe, clean place to go to the toilet that’s important but washing your hands after too! The simple act of washing hands with soap and water after going to the toilet can reduce diarrhoeal diseases by over 40%. To read more about this worldwide call to action follow the link below.

Buy Nothing Day – 27th November, 2010 Everything we buy has an impact on the environment, Buy Nothing Day highlights the environmental and ethical consequences of consumerism. The developed countries – only 20% of the world population are consuming over 80% of the earth’s natural resources, causing a disproportionate level of environmental damage, and an unfair distribution of wealth. As consumers we need to question the products we buy and challenge the companies who produce them. What are the true risks to the environment and developing countries? The argument is infinite – while it continues we should be looking for simple solutions and Buy Nothing Day is a good place to start.

Big Green Gathering 2010 – date to be confirmed What is it? The Big Green Gathering is a 5 day camping event which is currently located in the Mendip Hills in Somerset. It has grown out of the original Green Gatherings of the 1980’s and the Green Fields of Glastonbury Music Festival. It has developed organically in response to a desire from people within the green movement for a festival that was focused on Green issues. For more information check out MoreEco’s Green Events page

MoreEco is an active of Ethical Junction, learn more

BUILDING WITH RAMMED EARTH AND CHALK A two-day course

This hands-on course is for those who want to learn how to build with earth or chalk and should be of value to designers too.

22 – 23 May 2010 (Saturday – Sunday)

Earthship Brighton, Stanmer Park, Brighton BN1 9PZ

www.brightonpermaculture.org.uk

PRUNING OLD FRUIT TREES A two-day course

Hands-on course that teaches how to improve the health and productivity of old fruit trees by appropriate pruning.
Course 1:  Saturday 15 – Sunday 16 January 2011

Course 2: Tuesday 18 – Wednesday 19 January 2011

Stanmer Park, Brighton BN1 9PZ

www.brightonpermaculture.org.uk

BUILDING SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES – A PERMACULTURE DESIGN COURSE

This course looks at how we can design human ‘ecosystems’, working collaboratively with one another to care for the planet and ourselves.

January – May 2011 13 weekend days, dates to be confirmed.

Earthship Brighton, Stanmer Park, Brighton BN1 9PZ and locations in and around Brighton

www.brightonpermaculture.org.uk

Brighton Permaculture Trust 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

A trip around one of the biggest trade shows for the furniture industry left me aghast last month at the lack of interest, product lines or even marketing towards sustainable design or production.

In 4 halls of the NEC, I spotted one small sign for PEFC timber and just two companies selling products made with the planet in mind – one of those was a Portuguese company over here for the first time.

One other company handed out free bags to entrants advertising special ‘trade show’ deals. One such deal offered an upholstered dining chair covered in ‘eco leather’ selling at a trade price of £42.99! As a retailer of recycled leather and knowing the prices involved I was intrigued to find more. I spoke at length to one of the sales people who was surprisingly knowledgeable about the recycled leather he was selling. The product was indeed waste off-cuts from hides used in the tanning industry that were headed for landfill. This waste product was then shredded to form fibres, which were then bonded back together and given a PVC coating for durability. This is in fact how recycled leather is made and it has environmental credentials because it diverts a waste product from landfill. I enquired about the sales for this particular product. Recycled leather cannot be sold as ‘leather’ because it is classed as bonded fabric and so it has a lower price point. That is the reason for any sales made – i.e. lower price points!

Speaking later with the one FSC certified company in the whole show, they had received a great deal of interest. Their stand was suitably decorated with a large overhead hoarding depicting the great work that their chosen charity Tree Aid was doing in the third world. The FSC logo was clearly visible and many people stopped to ask about the bedroom ranges on offer. The reaction from the industry however was incredulity. What was this FSC logo all about? How do you expect to compete with prices that are so high? I can buy that bed frame for my shop for half the price in another hall! Once again price point is king!

Interestingly, when I spoke at length with the Portuguese company, whose business ethos was built around sustainable design and production, they informed me that on the Sunday, during public access, their stand had been extremely busy, but that interest had waned during the trade only days.

Perhaps it would be wise for those doing the purchasing in the furniture trade, to read up a little about how the products are made and the impact those products are having on the planet. In addition they might want to check if the consumers give a damn, I think they could be surprised.

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

At the end of 2009 I was fortunate enough to attend the Seacourt Seminar  – ‘Sustainability….Moving Forwards’. The seminar promised to look at exciting new movements in sustainable practices, from energy and investments to communications and zero-waste.  
 
Seacourt are a “naturally responsible” print company, who have worked their way to being virtually 100% zero waste over the last 40+ years.  As the primary person responsible for moving Allen & York towards being a fully sustainable company, I am always looking for new innovative ideas on how we can reduce, recycle and reuse more of our waste.
 
The speakers featured David Kidney MP from the Department of Climate Change & Energy, Peter Maddox from WRAP, Stile Jensen from Radley Yeldar (an award winning business communications expert) and Jim Dinnage, the MD of Seacourt – however without a shadow of a doubt the highlight of the day was Professor Jim Barber from Imperial College who expounded the innovative process of creating a bio-fuel using the the ‘Artificial Leaf’ theory.  
 
Professor Barber is an expert in photovoltaic science and in his lecture to the Seacourt audience he explained the method of ‘creating’ energy as a leaf would in nature, similar to the process of photosynthesis, in order to produce a renewable source of energy.   The process would involve the splitting of Water (H2O) into Oxygen and Hydrogen – the hydrogen then being turned into bio-fuel and the water a harmless bi-product.  
 
According to Professor Barber, if artificial photosynthesis systems could use around 10 per cent of the sunlight falling on them, they would only need to cover 0.16 per cent of the Earth’s surface to satisfy a global energy consumption rate of 20 terawatts, the amount it is predicted that the world will need in 2030.
 
The main issue is not whether the ‘theory’ is possible, as it has been proven to work, but rather at there has been a lack of investment given to its development, to enable this type of bio-fuel to be produced on a mass scale.
 
Professor Barber pointed out that the future is not nuclear (you would need to build a nuclear power station every week for the next 10 years to supply the world’s energy supply) but instead it could be a truly sustainable solution, such as extracting hydrogen from water!
 
Professor Barber left us with the Jules Verne quote “I foresee that in the future, water will be used as fuel… water will be the coal of the future.”  – who would have thought that a 19th Century French science fiction writer would become such a visionary.

Allen & York are leading recruiters, working in the field of Renewable Energy, Climate Change and Carbon Management.  If you are a professional in this field please contact us to progress your career or to find you the best professionals in the business.
 
For more information about Professor Barber & the ‘Artificial Leaf’ please visit http://www.bio.imperial.ac.uk/research/barber/people/jbarber.html

For more information about Allen & York please visit; www.allen-york.com

Allen & York is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

Warren Evans has triumphed at The Growing Business Awards 2009. The award winning bed retailer was named Green Business of the Year 2009.

The London-based bespoke bed maker business beat stiff competition from E-Stack, Good Energy, pall-Ex and Wiles Greenworld to win the Green Business of the Year category.

The Growing Business Awards, organised by Caspian Publishing, celebrates the best entrepreneurial and business talent in the UK. The awards are judged by leading business figures including Dragon’s Den star Theo Paphitis, John Caudwell, founder of Phones4U and Sir Andrew Cahn, chief executive of UKTI.

Warren Evans, founder and designer, is delighted at the win. He says: “It’s an honour to be named the greenest business in the UK. We are constantly looking at new and innovative ways to make the business as sustainable as possible. Over the past three years, we have invested in innovative low energy appliances for our workshop and our stores, working in conjunction with Envirowise, The Carbon Trust and Business Link. We’re thrilled to win this award.”

This is the third award this year for Warren Evans – earlier this year, they also picked up a Sunday Times Best Green Companies Award and an Observer Ethical Award.

Sustainability has been at the heart of Warren’s philosophy since he established the company over 30 years ago. And over the past three years, Warren has worked hard to ensure that measurable changes are made in store and to his team’s day-to-day working practices to minimise the impact that his business has on the environment. These include:

• Moving to a new and unique sustainable workshop, With help from an interest-free loan by the Carbon Trust, Warren was able to make this super green by purchasing environmentally friendly equipment including a bio-mass boiler and intelligent wood cutting machinery to minimise waste
• Consulting Government green body ‘Envirowise’ and government funded service Business Link for practical advice on efficiencies such as workflow, machinery and gaining staff support
• Avoiding packaging; Warren only wraps his beds and furniture in reusable blankets rather than cardboards or plastics, minimising unnecessary waste
• Signing up to pioneering carbon management schemes, including London Green500 and the 10:10 Initiative
• He is still the only bed maker in the UK to be officially certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, which means that all beds and furniture are made using wood from renewable sources 
• All staff uniforms are also fair-trade; Warren ensures that all t-shirts are made from organic cotton, while the fleeces are made from recycled material
• Only using recycled stationery, including envelopes made from elephant poo!

 This has resulted in:

• Office recycling increasing by 50%
• Water usage reduced by 38%
• Disposals reduced by 5%

 The awards ceremony was held on Thursday evening at the London Marriott Hotel, Grosvenor Square, London, with Warren Evans receiving the prize from award sponsors Stephen Pegge of high street bank Lloyds TSB and Julie Meyer of Ariadne Capital.

For interviews with Warren Evans or images please contact Sophia at PR4 on 020 7637 1237 or Sophia@pr4.com.

Warren Evans is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

This one day event is a celebration of 10 years of Earthships in Europe

Saturday 19 June 2010

For full details & online reservation please visit: http://www.brightonpermaculture.org.uk

Brighton Permaculture Trust is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

This course is for anyone thinking about building their own home and anyone interested in learning about Earthships and includes practical workshops

21-23 April 2010

For full details & online reservation please visit: http://www.brightonpermaculture.org.uk

Brighton Permaculture Trust is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more

This course is for anyone thinking about building their own home and anyone interested in learning about Earthships and includes practical workshops

16-18 April 2010

For full details & online reservation please visit: http://www.brightonpermaculture.org.uk

Brighton Permaculture Trust is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more