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Business
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Aiming for net zero
Published 30 May 2022Net zero is not just a buzzword. It is a serious attempt to reduce carbon emissions and reverse climate changes. As businesses we can calculate our carbon emissions and reduce them so that we are doing what we can. What is net zero? According to the Oxford Dictionary definition it is “A target of completely […]
Campaigning for change in the insurance industry
Published 6 May 2022Naturesave insurance is campaigning for insurance divestment. What does that mean and why does it matter? The insurance industry has a significant influence on the energy industry. And as we know, the energy industry has a significant impact on climate change. And climate change matters. Before sustainability and climate change were even fashionable terms, Naturesave […]
Join Blue Patch at Dulwich Festival in May
Published 22 April 2022Ian Dunn Woodwork & Design is taking part in the Artist’s Open House events during the festival and will be opening his workshop doors to the general public over two weekends in May. Ian will also host fellow Blue Patch members, including: Heliconia Furniture, Blackbird Bespoke, Elly Allen, Coldharbour Lights, Janet Tod and Jane Langley. […]
Environmentally friendly paint choice for progressive Climate Justice project at Manchester Art Gallery
Published 28 March 2022Manchester Art Gallery announces new Official Paint Sponsorship with Edward Bulmer Natural Paint. Edward Bulmer Natural Paint has been a member of Blue Patch since 2018. The company produces natural plant based paints that are plastic free and natural. The colour range is vibrant and exciting, with over 100 shades developed by designer, architectural historian […]
How the Happy Planet Store happened
Published 24 March 2022The Happy Planet store, a sustainable product shop in the Manchester Art Gallery, has been open since January 26th this year. In the last few weeks before the store closes, we review how it happened. Why use museums & galleries? Blue Patch founder, Jane Langley, is an artist herself. She has exhibited in The Textiles […]
Should we use more recycled plastic?
Published 17 March 2022Plastic is bad – at least that’s what we all seem to agree, but is it really? When we consider how plastics and micro-plastics are polluting our land and oceans, there doesn’t seem to be a reasonable argument for continuing to use them. When you consider the hard wearing features of plastic and the fact […]
Happy planet, happy children
Published 10 March 2022Working towards a sustainable future for our planet is all about ensuring a future for our children and their children. Here are some of the products on sale at the Happy Planet Store in Manchester Art Gallery until April 18th. Natural and sustainable children’s brands Parents look towards brands to make products that are more […]
The Happy Planet store showcases innovative sustainability
Published 21 February 2022The trouble with being a sustainable business is finding the right materials. Sometimes there is a good reason for the material choice. For example, it is waterproof or long lasting or malleable. Making a manufacturing business more sustainable can become a game of ‘find the right material’ and this requires a lot of testing to […]
Carbon offsetting
Published 4 February 2022This article explores what carbon offsetting is. First, let’s find out what some of the key terms are – carbon, greenhouse gases, measuring carbon emissions, carbon offset and finally scope 1, 2 & 3. What is carbon? The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration tells us that carbon is predominantly stored in rocks and sediments. It […]
Blue Patch works with Manchester Art Gallery on a sustainable store
Published 21 January 2022Blue Patch are excited to launch a pop-up store in collaboration with Manchester Art Gallery. The Happy Planet store will enable members to showcase their sustainable products & services and help to create awareness of their businesses while at the same time generating additional footfall for the gallery. The event runs from 26 January to […]
Circular economy and sustainability
Published 13 January 2022Circular economy is a popular phrase in sustainability circles, but what does a circular economy mean and how can we make it work for our businesses? What does circular economy mean? According to the Ellen McArthur Foundation, a circular economy is a move away from a linear economy where we extract materials from the planet, […]
Ethical and sustainable sourcing
Published 3 January 2022Ethical and sustainable sourcing are at the heart of an environmentally friendly sourcing plan. We’ll look at the differences between ethical sourcing and sustainable sourcing and how they are integrated in business. What is ethical sourcing? Ethical sourcing is considering how and where products are made and what they are made of. Ethical sourcing takes […]
What is zero waste and is it really possible?
Published 27 December 2021What is zero waste? Is it really possible to eliminate waste from our lives and in our businesses? The short answer is no, we can’t entirely eliminate waste. What we can do is reduce our waste as much as possible. According to the Zero Waste International Alliance, it means “the conservation of all resources by […]
Plastic free packaging
Published 16 December 2021Plastic waste is high on the sustainability agenda at the moment. With COP26 just ended in the UK, there is a media focus on legislation that will help make change happen. The big issue with plastic packaging is the sheer quantity that is produced and the longevity of plastic waste. Find out about the ingenious […]
Let’s Do Net Zero : how to calculate carbon emissions
Published 26 October 2021Blue Patch members will be attending a primer on carbon calculation, delivered through our members and partners – all experts in the field. We’re off to a flying start with Liberty Bollen, pictured here, from Compare Your Footprint. Liberty will be showing members how to do their own carbon calculation using Compare Your Footprint, a […]
Pioneers of the Green Revolution : on the move
Published 13 October 2021Getting about without petrol is trending. Here are some Blue Patch businesses that specialise in sustainable packaging, last mile logistics and making beautiful bicycles! With COP26 fast approaching, the demand for businesses to act responsibly and sustainably is on everyone’s radar. Let’s see what our three choices are doing… Why it matters Road transport accounts […]
Are circular economy models feasible for mainstream?
Published 19 February 2021A recently published article by The BBC titled ‘Clothes should float in and out of our lives‘ queries whether a mainstream move to circular economy models of business would aid in recovering from the pandemic. Will circular models ever become mainstream? “Yes, absolutely!” is our optimistic answer. In the recent past, sustainable and ethical models […]
Guest Post: Necessity is the mother of invention
Published 20 April 2020This year’s not really turning out how I expected – and that’s putting it quite mildly. 2019 was a big year for me. I celebrated a big milestone birthday with a blowout party and some lifetime travel adventures. I sailed boats and rode horses. I learnt new skills and gained new qualifications. I decimated my […]
Resources and advice for small businesses in the UK on how to deal with the COVID19 pandemic
Published 2 April 2020We’ve compiled a roundup of advice and resources that we’ve seen for businesses and business owners over the past couple of weeks. 1. HM Govt Business Support: Here you’ll find all the support and information put together by the government. 2. ICAEW has a huge selection of resources and advice around tax, audit, financial reporting […]
Tis’ (almost) the season: 6 non-traditional British advent calendars
Published 12 November 2019Have you started playing Christmas music yet? I haven’t. For me, Christmas begins with the advent season and leads up to a day spent with family, good food, drinks, full spirits and lots of fun. I love a good advent calendar. Mind you, my favourites are the ones with adult beverages but I do like […]
What does it mean to be an ethical business in 2020?
Published 4 November 2019In 2017 we featured this guest blog written by Sian Conway of #EthicalHour on what it means to be an ethical business. Now as we step into the first days of 2020 we’ve decided to revisit this issue and share our thoughts with you. So, what does it mean to be an ethical business in […]
Happy feet: Sustainable British-made shoes for children.
Published 9 May 2019I went shoe shopping the other day. I’m not much of a shoe person (hello nail polish, and dresses) but for some reason, my last three purchases have been shoes. Must be the changing weather. Goodbye boots, hello gorgeous, colourful, fun summer wear. Now we’ve just got to wait for those May showers to turn […]
Like a Boss: tips for female entrepreneurs & business owners
Published 13 March 2019A report published by the FSB has several interesting statistics about women in business. The contribution of women owned business to the UK economy has been estimated to be approximately £105 bn, with an increase of 40% since 2012. The number of women owning businesses and employing people in their own businesses has also increased significantly. […]
In with Spring, out with dust
Published 1 March 2019It’s spring! Or so we hope… I’ve been transitioning in between clothing types this week, moving away from my warm wool coat to lighter garb. It’s delightful to not be weighted down by 20 layers of fabric. Spring is synonymous with the shedding of layers (unless we’re talking about trees), and part of that includes […]
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