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Power Of Positive Shopping
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Why are there still plastic toys on magazine covers?
Published 1 September 2023Why 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 […]
What to look for in a sustainable beauty brand
Published 25 May 2023There are so many companies claiming to be a sustainable beauty brand that it can be difficult to find one that is ethical. Here’s our guide for what to look for from ingredients to packaging and everything in between. Almost every brand boasts about natural ingredients, but not all natural ingredients are what they claim […]
Sustainable Arts & Crafts Showcase: Dulwich
Published 16 May 2023Sustainable Arts & Crafts Showcase marks the 30th birthday of the Dulwich Festival Blue Patch’s Sustainable Arts & Crafts Showcase proved a big hit for the Dulwich Festival with an emphasis on UK Sustainable crafts, painting, photography and sculpture. We brought together some of the UK’s finest artists, crafters and designers in an exhibition which […]
Love your children, love the planet with sustainable children’s footwear
Published 12 May 2023Driven by a love for the environment, sustainable children’s footwear brand, Pip and Henry has recently launched a brand-new range of summer shoes that are perfect for the little ones in your life. From sandals to sneakers, they have everything your kids need to stay stylish and comfortable during the warm weather months. Commitment to […]
Play Press Toys develops zero waste packaging
Published 13 April 2023Play Press Toys have developed new and innovative zero waste packaging for their products. The toys have always been eco-friendly and non-toxic and this was the logical next step for the company to take. Play Press Toys have always delivered products in limited amounts of packaging, reducing the need to throw large boxes away once […]
Non toxic spring cleaning
Published 6 April 2023It’s astonishing how many cleaning products contain toxins. Luckily we have some amazing Blue Patch members who produce cleaning products that are eco-friendly for your non-toxic spring cleaning. The days are brighter and it is time to consider spring cleaning our homes in readiness for summer days. This is often the time when we look […]
Cocoon yourself in the Coaroon
Published 13 March 2023The cost of energy to heat our homes is sky high and many of us are still choosing to work from home. If we are keen to save energy and reduce our heating bills, we need to layer up to keep ourselves warm rather than our homes. The Coaroon coat is ideal for this purpose. […]
Green Peer Natalie Bennett will Change Everything!
Published 16 January 2023We were really excited that Natalie Bennett, Green Peer and former Leader of The Green Party, agreed to talk to us about her book ‘Change Everything’ and to discuss all things to do with small businesses and the green economy. Small businesses and the high street To explore the everyday ups and downs of running […]
Food waste and its connection with the climate crisis
Published 5 January 2023Most UK consumers are familiar with the idea of food waste. They know that wasted food adds to the cost of their shopping. But they are unaware of, or don’t think about, the connection between it and the climate crisis. The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) reports that 4.5 million tonnes of food gets […]
Delicious chocolate fighting exploitation
Published 27 October 2022Most of us are fans of chocolate. A sweet everyday treat that we enjoy. But not many of us think about what goes into the chocolate we eat. We took a look at how Divine Chocolate fights exploitation. “Most people I know love chocolate. Chocolate is something that brings us great pleasure and provides solace and […]
Entry to the 2022 Sustainability Awards is now open
Published 12 September 2022Entry for the 7th annual Sustainability Awards is now open. For a chance to be a winner, chosen by our expert panel of judges, fill in the entry form for the 2022 awards. Winners of the Sustainability Awards will be featured in the Power of Positive Shopping magazine which is a print publication that is […]
What makes coffee sustainable?
Published 5 September 2022Coffee is a well-loved beverage by many of us Brits. Some of us can’t function without it and we drink a lot of it. But how sustainable is our coffee habit? The British Coffee Association estimates that we drink 98 million cups of coffee a day. 80% of households buy instant coffee and the same […]
Join us at the Sustainability Show
Published 8 August 2022Our Power of Positive Shopping campaign connects shoppers to sustainable businesses and what better place to do this than at the Sustainability Show where we will be exhibiting on the 15-16 October 2022. We look forward to seeing you in the Home & Garden section on Stand E7. The Sustainability Show celebrates the latest sustainable […]
We’re going to Decorex
Published 26 July 2022We’re going to two shows this October. The first will be Decorex on the 9th-12th October. Blue Patch will be on stand D 161 so please stop and say hello if you are attending. This year, the Decorex talks will have subjects like Emotion & Design, Sustainability, Growing Your Business and Harnessing New Energy in […]
Sustainable wood furniture
Published 10 June 2022UK consumers spent 24,489 million pounds on home furnishings last year (Statista). That includes sofas, beds, tables & chairs, cabinets and other items of furniture that have wood materials in them. The wood comes from forests around the world, from the United States to Finland. Almost half of the softwoods imported into the UK come […]
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. […]
Spring cleaning in a sustainable way
Published 11 April 2022Spring has sprung and everyone is starting or has started their spring cleaning activities. This year, we want to be a bit more mindful about our spring cleaning and make it more sustainable. Here are some tips for how to spring clean in a sustainable way. Why is it called spring cleaning? Spring cleaning is […]
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 […]
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 […]
Love the planet, love Happy Planet
Published 8 February 2022Looking for the perfect gift for Valentine’s Day? We’re featuring a selection of ethical and sustainable products that are currently on sale in the Happy Planet Store at Manchester Art Gallery. Gifts can be purchased online or in store, so why not make a day of it and take Valentine’s Day afternoon tea in the […]
What is vegan beauty and why does it matter for the environment?
Published 27 January 2022Vegan beauty can be defined by not using animal-based products in the manufacture of your cosmetics. Standard cosmetic ranges include many different types of animal-derived products including collagen, lanolin, honey, gelatin, keratin and cochineal. Vegan beauty products are certified by four main bodies: PETA, Vegan Action, the Vegan Society and The Vegetarian Society. Look for […]
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 […]
The Happy Planet Store
Published 16 January 2022Blue Patch are delighted to announce the opening of the Happy Planet Store at Manchester Art Gallery January 26th – April 18th 2022. A collaborative partnership between Manchester Art Gallery and Blue Patch, a national social enterprise, is enabling sustainable, local brands to sell products through the Happy Planet Store, a curated pop-up of sustainable […]
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