Kapdaa has developed an AI-powered textile waste sorting machine. It is mobile and has the potential to sort tonnes of clothing a week around London boroughs. Textile waste is a big issue in the UK, with 1.2 million tonnes of textile waste going to landfill. Discarded clothing is 350,000 tonnes of that (Shred Station). Each […]
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 […]
Coldharbour Lights makes fabulous feather lampshades in shades of blue, green, yellow, orange, red, pink, purple, black and white. They provide a decadent touch of colour to any room and impart a feeling of times past with a touch of Art Deco. The company uses only the best quality feather. They are carefully sourced from […]
John Eadon uses time honoured techniques in his sustainable furniture design. The wooden furniture he makes is modern in style and designed to last a lifetime. Indeed, more than a lifetime as the products are ‘forever repairable’, making them potential heirlooms. Each piece is made with attention to detail. This can be unnoticed by the […]
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 […]
Flooring by Nature does what it says on the tin. They look to source only natural flooring materials or use recycled materials. Their decision came about when they looked around them at flooring suppliers and carpet manufacturers who promoted man-made carpets as the ideal solution for the family home. It is not. Man-made carpets Man-made […]
Consumerism produces a lot of waste. Throwaway products are made out of plastic and are designed to be replaced. They are not made to last and they use synthetic and unsustainable materials. This post consumer waste needs a solution. The UK recycles only 45% of waste. And we get through billions of bottles, cans and coffee […]
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 […]
Ethical sourcing means being mindful of many factors when choosing materials and products. These can include human rights, employment rights, environmental impact and ethics. Ethical companies choose suppliers who pay fair wages and have safe working conditions. For example, fair trade products have been sourced from suppliers who have agreed to pay fair prices for […]
Zero carbon, net zero, real zero, true zero, and gross zero are all terms being talked out in the UK – but what do they all mean for a small business trying to work out what they need to do. What is net zero? Net zero is a term we have started to get used […]
What stops a small business from creating a climate report? Lack of time, knowledge and data, says Liz Pearson at Love Heartwood. Liz ‘wrestled her way’ through the data selection and created her first climate report, despite it taking time away from running her small business. Let’s find out why it was important for her. […]
Most of us are familiar with ways to reduce waste in our households and some of these methods can be useful for businesses too. Here are some ways that businesses reduce waste. Waste is a big issue for businesses in the UK. 40.4 million tonnes of commercial and industrial waste was generated in 2020. This […]
Some big brands have been called out for greenwashing. What is it and how can companies avoid greenwashing in their marketing campaigns? Here are some greenwashing examples. What is greenwashing? First, what is greenwashing? The Cambridge Dictionary defines it as “to make people believe that your company is doing more to protect the environment than […]
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 […]
Products and packaging are the obvious starting point for an eco-friendly e-commerce business, but there are other ways to make an e-commerce business more sustainable. Factors include processing, packaging and partnerships. Here are some tips to start your planning. Products are central to a sustainable ecommerce business. If sustainability is paramount, they need to be […]
Bio-D were one of the first UK companies to make eco friendly cleaning products, long before the phrase eco friendly became trendy. They’ve published their 5th Sustainability Impact report and they’re leading the way in net zero strategy too. In the 1980s the founder of Bio-D had a job cleaning ships and it required him […]
Climate change is happening. And 97% of scientists agree ‘that humans are causing global warming and climate change’ (Nasa). They base this on evidence and not on opinions. The evidence shows that human activity, including the burning of fossil fuels, is warming the land and the oceans. And that is affecting the earth’s climate. It […]
What are carbon savings and why do I need them for my business? “Carbon Savings represent carbon emissions avoided by practising a green action when compared with its baseline action” (Carbon Wallet). Although their examples are for consumers, the same principle applies to your business. Examples of carbon savings bluepatch member Naturesave Insurance posted a […]
As part of their commitment to net zero, the Royal Opera House is making theatre productions more sustainable. In 2021, they set a target to reach net zero for scopes 1 & 2 by 2035 And will set targets for scope 3 by 2025. They have an Estates Plan that covers all three of their […]
We are celebrating the UK’s Number 1 Sustainable Business Directory with a review of our achievements in 2023. Blue Patch runs on three core principles, we aim to raise awareness, show our commitment and educate businesses. Raise awareness of sustainable businesses The sustainable business directory itself is one way that Blue Patch raises awareness of […]
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 […]
It might seem like there is not much that can be done to reduce the carbon footprint of a small business. But even a small business can calculate where their highest carbon emissions are generated and change the way they work. Here are five ways to reduce the carbon footprint of a small business. 1. […]
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