Did you know about the new recycling rules? New rules regarding recycling come into play this week (from the 31st March) that will affect both homes and businesses. They are intended to end the ‘postcode lottery’ where different councils collect different materials, as this causes confusion for residents. The change standardises most household recycling into […]
Tips and tricks Blue Patch is participating in the 2026 Artists Open House which is part of the Dulwich Festival. To mark this, we ran a webinar to share ideas on how to create a more sustainable creative practice in the shadow of the climate crisis. The discussion reflected on the roots of the environmental […]
Geothermal energy is a renewable, clean energy source that performs well against other renewables. We’re excited to see the UK’s first geothermal electricity plant switched on this month. The United Downs Deep Geothermal Power Project will be able to provide 10,000 homes with clean electricity through Octopus Energy. It has taken more than two decades […]
Healthy ecosystems, whether they are bogs, peatlands, marine habitats or forests are carbon sinks. They can absorb up to 50% of the carbon emissions that we humans cause (British Antarctic Survey). Biodiverse habitats are more climate resilient. For example, Source Climate Change Coffee’s coffee growers practice agroforestry which can provide shade and reduce temperatures, protect […]
“Open chimney flues are the biggest source of heat loss in a home” says Chimney Sheep. And heating is one of our biggest sources of carbon emissions. So how does a homeowner stop chimney flue heat loss? It is estimated that 37% of our total greenhouse gas emissions (Gov UK) come from heating (space heating, […]
We are pleased that Naturesave have renewed their sponsorship of the Blue Patch Learning sessions with Chartered Environmentalist Alice Doyle. Alice contributes a great deal to the discussions in our regular meetings and our community benefits from her valued advice. Naturesave Insurance are patrons of Blue Patch and have been a part of our community […]
National Trust properties are binning single use cups in a trial with recycled plastic cup maker Circular & Co. The scheme could result in huge savings for the National Trust, if successful and reduce their carbon emissions at the same time. The National Trust properties in the UK see massive numbers of guests each year […]
How can you reduce your emissions while growing your business? One way to do this is opting for low carbon logistics. Christmas is over. Now the shops are full of Easter eggs. The machine that is ecommerce still turns over inexorably. With the growth in ecommerce, delivery volumes are rising daily and with them the […]
It’s that time of year – we’re reviewing our business as you may also be doing. Here’s a quick recap of what we got up to this year: Naturesave funded Blue Patch’s online workshops this year. The lively zoom sessions were led by Chartered Environmentalist Alice C Doyle. Alice’s informal and creative drop-ins enabled members […]
We hear a lot about how businesses need to reduce their carbon emissions but sometimes the information is unclear and unhelpful. We’ve made a list of ten practical ways your business can cut carbon in 2026. Why carbon reduction matters “Carbon compounds regulate the earth’s temperature, make up the food that sustains us, and provide […]
A good night’s sleep makes all the difference. With ethical bedroom essentials you can sleep with a clear conscience about where your products are made and what they are made of. Whether you are looking for new bedding or want to redecorate the whole room, we have some ideas for your home. Are duvets recyclable? […]
The National Emergency Briefing – the first of its kind – was held at Westminster Central Hall on the 27th of November. At the event, ten of the UK’s leading experts spoke to an invite-only audience of politicians, leaders and the media. In the audience were Jane Langley, founder of Blue Patch, board members Mark […]
Regenerative farming is highly beneficial to the environment and projects like the Telfit Farm project are showing the way with natural inputs and diverse farming practices that improve soil health, water retention and biodiversity. What is regenerative farming? Regenerative farming is an agricultural approach to farming that aims to restore the soil, increase biodiversity and […]
Heat pumps are gaining in popularity as a low-carbon heating solution but lots of misinformation persists around them. Here we draw on resources from Elite Renewables to separate fact and fiction. Heat pump basics Modern heat pumps are up to four times more energy efficient than gas boilers, turning 1kWh of electricity into up to […]
Why would you need ESG focussed insurance cover? ESG is increasingly important to business today, particularly when the business is in the ethical sector of the market and Sustain Insurance Brokers are a specialist provider in the insurance sector focussing on businesses with a strong environmental, social and governance (ESG) values. What is Environmental, Social and […]
Carbon reduction is a confusing topic for the everyday business person. Unless you are an expert or have the time to wade through a lot of complex documentation to establish the facts around carbon reduction and what needs to be done about it, you are more likely to sideline it while you focus on your […]
Climate change is affecting food in the UK and beyond: from domestic farming to international supply chains. The effects of climate change can be seen in changeable weather, extreme storms, fires, cold and dry periods – these lead to poor harvests, rising prices and crop viability. 2025 saw England reap its second worst harvest (Energy […]
A values-based community Over the past 18 months we’ve been working with our Advisory Board and pro-bono legal teams to revise Blue Patch’s mission, ethical values, governance and constitution. The constitution will be published on the website in due course. This period of reflection and scrutiny will bring a transparent and formally ‘entrenched’ governance structure, […]
Love Heartwood is a small business with ethical values. From the start owner Liz Pearson wanted to work in a way that was the antithesis of the linear industrial production models that cause so much waste. Handmade wooden gifts Liz makes handmade wooden gifts at Love Heartwood. It’s a small business, run from Liz’s garden […]
At our recent Blue Patch community session, we were joined by Aidan Murley from Bankers for Net Zero to explore the new (draft) UK SME Voluntary Emissions Standard. Blue Patch is a member of the Bankers for Net Zero task force. The session was led by Alice C Doyle, Chartered Environmentalist. Supported by The Naturesave Trust | Making Business […]
Marbling is an endangered craft in the UK. ‘Endangered’ is a dramatic word, something you would apply to the last animal of a species. But compared to its heyday in the 19th century when it was industrialised, professional marbling is now rare in the UK. Marbling is the art of floating ink or paint onto […]
Consumers are paying close attention to what brands are selling when they talk about sustainability and make claims that clothing is eco-friendly. Some big brands have been pulled up on their green claims but there are alternatives to ASOS & boohoo. In 2022, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigated ASOS & boohoo, as […]
Plant based foods are a hot topic as consumers look for ways to reduce their carbon footprint. Agriculture, especially livestock, produces carbon emissions and so the obvious change to make is to reduce or eliminate eating meat. Why do we need to move to plant based foods? Greenhouse gas emissions are driving climate change and […]
There is strong demand for sustainable linen textiles in the interiors industry and domestic homes. Consumers are being educated on the impact of fast homewares on the environment and the potential for harmful chemicals used in the process of manufacturing textiles. They are looking for eco-friendly fabrics that have been sustainably produced using fewer chemicals […]
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