Eco-warriors have long been lobbying against extraction of natural resources in the UK. Think back to Swampy, the tree-hugger in the 1990s who spent a week in tunnels attempting to stop the extension of the A30 before he was arrested. In 2019 he took part in an Extinction Rebellion protest at a fuel refinery in […]
It is World Bee Day today and naturally our minds are on nature and what it does for us – and all the reasons why we need to save nature for future generations. The UK is one of the most nature depleted countries in the world – despite being a first world country with world […]
Behind the ‘Seams’ of Sustainable Fashion May 2025 | Hosted by Blue Patch & Led by Alice Doyle, Chartered Environmentalist. Supported by The Naturesave Trust | Making Business Greener Campaign. At Blue Patch’s May drop-in workshop, we turned the spotlight on supply chains – those complex, often invisible systems behind every product we touch. From […]
The UK loves coffee. Even more than tea (The Guardian). Sourcing sustainable and organic coffee is not easy amid disruptions to global supply chains from the effects of climate change. Source Climate Change Coffee has been importing organic coffee to the UK for more than a decade. Fix Our Food The current food system is […]
Ethica Diamonds have been developing a carbon negative standard for the past two years. The first lab grown diamond to be certified C-® Standard was donated to the Born Free Foundation. It was raffled as a ‘Diamond in a Glass’ at the Footsteps for Freedom gala, alongside a luxury pendant necklace. The necklace was designed […]
The UK needs clean energy growth but planning permission for renewable energy projects is long and complex. Repowering provides an opportunity for renewable growth using existing sites. What is repowering? Repowering happens when a power project is modernised (BMWK). For example when an older model wind turbine is upgraded or (retrofitted) replaced with a new […]
Managing Water Sustainably in a Changing Climate A Blue Patch online workshop led by Alice Doyle, a Chartered Environmentalist.Supported by the Naturesave Trust What happens when the most idyllic eco-getaway turns into a water-guzzling fantasy gone wrong? That was the creative challenge set at this month’s Blue Patch Drop-in Workshop, where we dove deep (pun […]
Waste – a messy issue Blue Patch‘s monthly drop-In workshops ‘Sharing and Solving Challenges Together’ provide sustainability workshops for small business. Members of Blue Patch’s Sustainable Business Community are always keen to further reduce their environmental impact. The workshops are funded by The Naturesave Trust as part of their Making Business Greener Campaign. The aim […]
Carpets can be made from man-made or natural fibres. There are a number of reasons that natural fibres like wool carpet are preferable for sustainability over man-made fibres. These include recyclability, renewability and making your home more eco-friendly by reducing VOCs and improving insulation. The UK incinerates 130,000 tonnes of carpet waste a year. The […]
Most of us get our hair cut regularly. It is a part of everyday life we might not even think of when we consider sustainability, but hair salon waste is a big issue in the UK. For example, what do they do with all of that hair they cut off? “Hair salons are one of […]
Making a flood plan for your business if you are in an area at risk of flooding makes good business sense. The damage caused by floods is significant and can have an enormous impact on your business. More businesses than ever are at risk of flooding due to climate change. Flood damage to business properties […]
Join our interactive workshop to learn how to protect your business and home from flooding! Are you ready for a flood? Wednesday 18th September 10am-1pm Half Moon Pub workshop 10, Half Moon Lane SE24 9HU Here in the UK extreme rainfall may lead to floods. Increased rainfall is recognised as the main climate change risk […]
Shearing time in the UK is over for most farmers. Unfortunately for them, shearing sheep for their fleeces is not a profitable exercise and huge quantities of waste wool are destroyed. Sustainable rope is one potential use for fleece wool from hill and mountain breeds which would otherwise go to waste. 35,000 British farmers produce […]
Businesses in the UK generated 28 million tonnes of commercial waste and 12.4 million tonnes of industrial waste in 2020 (Gov UK). This figure only includes the ‘received’ tonnage at recycling and waste facilities. Commercial waste includes paper and packaging waste, office furniture and electronics, food waste, raw material and textile waste, retail waste like […]
Businesses are still dependent on printing for some items. They need packaging for products. They need to print pick slips and postage labels. Why does sustainable printing matter? Does it impact the environment and in what ways? What is the environmental impact of printing? The obvious impact of printing is the use of paper. Paper […]
Is ESG relevant for SMEs? ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) and Scopes 1, 2 and 3 are not terms in common usage for many SMEs. However, they should be. Carbon saving matters! A business can save money, highlight the integrity and sustainability of their brand, and gain critical advantage in winning contracts by reporting on […]
Should a small business be net zero or working towards it? Yes! And here are three good reasons to be reducing carbon emissions: to future-proof your small business, ready for new net zero legislation because your customers expect you to be doing the right thing we are in a climate emergency! What is causing climate […]
Renewable energy is paramount to reducing the carbon footprint of our businesses. And retail is huge in the UK, with over 300,000 businesses, producing 4.9% of the UK’s total economic output in 2022. Renewable energy strategies for retailers in the UK include investing in on-site renewable energy capacity and making buildings energy efficient. The British […]
GroundWork Gallery in Purfleet Street, King’s Lynn is a gallery dedicated to art and the environment. Their ethos ‘art for the environment’ is imbued in their showcases and events. The gallery will re-open in March this year with an exciting program of events. The regular re-sewing studio centres around textile snippets and waste materials. The […]
Reach 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 […]
Why do we still have single-use plastic toys on magazine covers? It seems obvious that cheap toys on the cover of magazines are unlikely to last and will likely be thrown away in household waste. They’ll contribute to landfill as most are not recyclable. And yet, you need only visit the supermarket to see that […]
Hydrogen is a key component in the UK Government’s plan to achieve net zero, because it does not produce carbon dioxide. But what is hydrogen, how is it produced and do we have the technology we need to make it? What is hydrogen? Hydrogen is a chemical element (National Grid). It’s contained in vast quantities […]
We know pollution is bad for our waterways. A major contributor to water pollution is wet wipes. Wipes get flushed down the toilet and get thrown away in our rivers and oceans. They block pipes and cause problems for water companies. They cause harm to wildlife in rivers and seas. Wipes are often made from […]
Learn how to identify endangered British birds in a fun sustainable way with PlayPress Toys new playsets designed in collaboration with the RSPB. How many British birds can you identify? Do you know how many of those are endangered? You might be familiar with the common birds like the robin, the blue tit or the […]
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