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Time to #VolunteerForClimate?
Published 18 September 2023Reach Volunteering launches a campaign this week to #VolunteerForClimate for those of us who want to know how we can make a difference to our world. The campaign will connect people with expertise and organisations that need experts to help drive positive change for sustainability. Reach is a ‘national charity which connects people who want […]
What is an EPC rating?
Published 7 August 2023What is an EPC rating and why should it matter to property owners? An EPC is an Energy Performance Certificate and the ratings run from G (worst) to A (best). Read on to find out why improving your EPC rating will help you financially. Who provides EPC ratings? There are three types of energy certificate: […]
Ten reasons for joining TrustMark if you are a tradesperson
Published 24 July 2023Joining TrustMark as a tradesperson can provide many benefits and opportunities for your business. Here are ten great reasons why you should consider joining TrustMark: New Work Opportunities: By becoming a member of TrustMark, you gain access to a wide range of new work opportunities. The platform connects you with potential customers and helps you […]
The UK’s first office and showroom powered by renewable energy gets an A rating
Published 20 July 2023Elite Renewables have constructed the UK’s first office and showroom powered by renewable energy. They were recently awarded a new EPC rating and they have moved from a D to an A rating. This extraordinary improvement is all part of their plan. They wanted to achieve a zero-carbon environment for their offices, despite working with […]
The Green Angel Story – The Doorway to a Green World
Published 10 July 2023Written for Blue Patch by Nick Lyth, Founder and President The Green Angel story is the story of a mission: to bring new access to a greener world through investment in innovation. The idea is to open the door to the changes we all want to see in our environment, its health, its safety, its […]
Our communities are choosing renewables
Published 29 June 2023Local communities are choosing renewables for themselves, their families and their local area. The UK continues to depend on fossil fuels and increase consumption of them. There is not enough investment in renewables. That’s why local communities are choosing to develop projects for themselves. Blue Patch supports these initiatives. Increase in fossil fuel energy The […]
Is joining the CPTPP net positive or net negative for the UK?
Published 22 June 2023DLA Piper raises the question of whether the recent signing of the UK into the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is net positive or net negative (Lexology). They say that the media will jump in and raise arguments for why the UK should not have become a member. Campaigners are concerned […]
The workplace is changing
Published 12 June 2023Change in the workplace is in some respects inevitable. Businesses outgrow their existing premises, acquire other businesses or restructure. The economy and the world changes too, as we saw during the pandemic which resulted in seismic shifts in employment. This can mean that businesses need more space or less space and have to move premises. […]
What to look for in a sustainable beauty brand
Published 25 May 2023There are so many companies claiming to be a sustainable beauty brand that it can be difficult to find one that is ethical. Here’s our guide for what to look for from ingredients to packaging and everything in between. Almost every brand boasts about natural ingredients, but not all natural ingredients are what they claim […]
Retrofitting energy efficiency into our homes
Published 5 May 2023PAS 2035 is a new British standard that creates a recognisable quality standard for the retrofit and energy efficiency sector for housing (Social Housing Retrofit). Retrofitting energy efficiency involves building improvements into existing housing as opposed to a new build design. A qualified retrofit assessor visits your house and collects technical details on the property […]
What is doughnut economics?
Published 28 April 2023Doughnut Economics is a book written by Kate Raworth. It invites 21st century economists to think about seven guiding principles. The principles are: Embrace the 21st Century goal See the big picture Nurture human nature Think in systems Be distributive Be regenerative and Aim to thrive rather than grow Traditional economics ignore climate change, inequality, […]
The winners of the 2022 Blue Patch Sustainability Awards!
Published 19 April 2023Great submissions by environmentally conscious brands It’s a wrap! The 7th Blue Patch Sustainability Awards results! Entries for the 2022 Awards closed on December 12th and presented our judges with a spring time challenge to pick the top entries from a top class year! Winners’ slide presentation. Each submission was an inspiration and we thank everybody who […]
What is a 15 minute city?
Published 23 March 2023The idea behind a 15 minute city is that all the services you need are within a 15 minute walk or bike ride, so that you do not need to use your car as much. The services include your work, food, healthcare, education, culture and leisure (The Guardian). The reduction in car travel and public […]
Preview the limited edition Dalerb range from Angus Ross at RHS Chelsea in May
Published 16 March 2023Award winning furniture designer and master craftsman Angus Ross will be exhibiting at RHS Chelsea in May this year for the first time. On display will be the limited edition Dalerb range of garden furniture. The range is available to pre-order from Angus Ross for construction after the show is over. The company is proud […]
Cocoon yourself in the Coaroon
Published 13 March 2023The cost of energy to heat our homes is sky high and many of us are still choosing to work from home. If we are keen to save energy and reduce our heating bills, we need to layer up to keep ourselves warm rather than our homes. The Coaroon coat is ideal for this purpose. […]
What is green insurance?
Published 24 February 2023Green insurers are ethical providers. They will aim to align their policies with environmental, social and governance guidelines. They will ensure that every part of the insurance supply chain is ethical and responsible (UN). The insurance industry is big business in the UK, making investments to £1.6 trillion and employing 321,000 people in the UK […]
Lithium extraction from geothermal brines
Published 16 February 2023Mining companies are excited about the prospect of mining vast amounts of lithium through lithium extraction from geothermal brines. This is a potentially low carbon and environmentally friendly way to meet the demand for lithium that is used in modern technology. What is lithium and what is it used for? Lithium is a fascinating metal. […]
Slow food is important for UK food security
Published 2 February 2023Slow food is important for UK food security as it reduces dependence on imported food and drink. By supporting local food producers we can improve our food systems, enhance our biodiversity and reduce our emissions, while at the same time preserving our food history and local traditions. The movement started in Italy in 1989. The […]
The Blue Patch Sustainability Awards 2022 Shortlist
Published 27 January 2023CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL! We would like to thank everyone who entered the 2022 awards. Entries closed on December 12th 2022 and every submission showed an exciting range of achievements, making shortlisting difficult. Judges will have the challenge of selecting the category winners over the next six weeks. The 2023 Awards open this September. If you […]
Single use plastic: What are the alternatives for takeaways?
Published 26 January 2023The UK Government has announced a ban on single use plastics from October, but what is a small takeaway or restaurant owner to use instead? The answer is one of the many alternatives made out of materials like sugarcane or wood, paper and metal. The next question is whether these materials are a viable and […]
Energy efficiency of homes in the UK
Published 19 January 2023UK housing stock is not energy efficient and that costs both the inhabitants and the planet. Energy inefficient homes cost more to heat. The cost of heating a home with poor wall insulation is likely to add £350 to a bill for the first quarter in 2023 (Resolution Foundation). Residential housing contributes around a fifth […]
Green Peer Natalie Bennett will Change Everything!
Published 16 January 2023We were really excited that Natalie Bennett, Green Peer and former Leader of The Green Party, agreed to talk to us about her book ‘Change Everything’ and to discuss all things to do with small businesses and the green economy. Small businesses and the high street To explore the everyday ups and downs of running […]
Food waste and its connection with the climate crisis
Published 5 January 2023Most UK consumers are familiar with the idea of food waste. They know that wasted food adds to the cost of their shopping. But they are unaware of, or don’t think about, the connection between it and the climate crisis. The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) reports that 4.5 million tonnes of food gets […]
Financing fossil fuels
Published 26 December 2022The main source of carbon dioxide emissions is burning fossil fuels. The ongoing burning of fossil fuels is increasing global temperatures and causing climate change. However gas and oil companies continue to invest in new projects that will increase fossil fuel burning. This has the potential to be disastrous for climate change. Fossil fuels include […]
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