In the UK, “natural capital” is attracting the attention of investors, but who owns our natural capital and who should control it? Should it be under the control of the government, conservation charities, or local communities? Is it safe in the hands of large corporations and private equity firms? It is big business. “The total […]
Blue Patch’s ‘It’s Good Business’ course Blue Patch’s It’s Good Business workshop provides practical steps in sustainability for micro and small businesses. The workshop was kindly funded by Southwark Council’s Neighbourhood Fund, We were delighted that Fitzroy Lewis from the Neighbourhood Team came along to show support! We held our first It’s Good Business workshop […]
A rewilding project in Yorkshire is being supported by an investment fund. A serial entrepreneur has set up a nature-positive investment company in Scotland and a circular affordable housing company. There are signs that nature restoration is attracting investment. Broughton Estate in Yorkshire, under the direction of the 32nd generation owner Roger Tempest, have redeveloped […]
The National Energy System Operator (NESO) has cleared a decade of backlogged applications for grid connection and approved over 700 clean energy projects since the start of the year. They did this by filtering out speculative applications and only approving those that were ready to start work. The approved projects make up more than 60% […]
A new report by the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit, which was compiled by CBI Economics, finds that the net zero economy in the UK generated approximately £105 billion in gross value added (GVA) in 2025 – a 26% increase on the previous year (£83.1bn). That brings it to around 3.8% of UK economic output. […]
This weekend we will be at The Bell House Festival of Retrofit where there will be a series of workshops and talks on retrofitting your home to make it more climate resilient. A selection of Blue Patch members’ work will be on display, including Chimney Sheep’s ‘chimney sheep’ which prevents warm air from escaping up […]
Saturday 16th – Sunday 17th May 2026, 11am – 6 pm, at The Hub, 42 Bonar Rd, London SE15 5FB. Un-Earthing is an exciting new exhibition that explores decolonial perspectives of land, power and the ethics of sustainability. Featuring six artists, all with global roots, whose work ranges from painting and sculpture to digital works, […]
The UK Government intends to reform Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) so that they give a fuller picture of building performance to drive EPC compliance. Here’s what every small business needs to know. What are the reforms to EPCs? In 2024, there was a consultation about what Energy Performance Certificates should measure and when they should […]
Could a planned move away from GDP-led growth help the UK to tackle climate change, inequality and wellbeing, or does the country’s economic structure make it unrealistic? Degrowth would require a deliberate, democratic reduction in production and consumption. But the UK still relies on growth for jobs, tax revenue and political stability. What is degrowth? […]
You want to shout about the good things your business does but you need to steer clear of vague claims or “impact washing”. Here’s how to communicate your impact (without greenwashing). There is a growing demand from customers, partners and regulators for transparency and trust is a competitive advantage even for a very small business. […]
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 […]
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