In December 2020 Blue Patch made a formal commitment to reach Net Zero by 2030, supporting the Race to Zero!
Goals
We plan to focus on four key areas to influence positive change.
- Our own business operations
- Our business mission
- Our members
- Consumers
In the first quarter of 2022 we commence recording our baseline year, so that Scope 1,2 and 3 can be accurately measured.
The aim is for Blue Patch to be Net Zero by 2030.
Carbon auditing and impact reporting
In 2022 Blue Patch will introduce the Carbon Calculation group, a free workshop to help members to audit their carbon emissions and reduce them.
One of our supporting organisation is Green Element and the Compare Your Footprint calculator.
Members may use this software to measure scopes 1, 2 and 3 carbon emissions. Blue Patch will also be using CYF to audit ‘in house’ operations.
Environmental and Social impact buttons will be activated from each member microsite, to link directly to impact reports, hosted on member’s websites.
Website hosting with Green Geeks
The Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) in Portland, Oregon offset Green Geek’s carbon footprint. Then BEF purchase 3 times more renewable energy certificates (REC) than the company has consumed in a single year. This energy is put back into the grid.
Business Declares
Bluepatch.org is proud to have joined Business Declares the fast-growing network of businesses who acknowledge the Climate and Ecological Emergency. Concern for both people and the planet are not new to us and we look forward to continuing to share our journey and ensuring our voice is part of the collective, resounding call for change. We are certainly not claiming to be perfect, neither are we judging others, instead we are part of a coalition of the willing looking to collaborate and accelerate action while continuing to highlight the challenges and uncomfortable truths.
We’ve also signed up to the SME Climate Hub which means we have additional guidelines and can access resources to support our Race to Zero.
Marketing
The Blue Patch Magazine: printed in the UK on recycled, FSC accredited paper, eco-print.
Product swing tags: plastic-free, recycled paper, eco-print, printed in the UK.
Events: low carbon logistics, plastic and VOC free plant- based stand paint, reusable and plastic free signage, recycled plinths.
To foster train and bus travel through linking our physical events to public transport networks.
Office
Electricity: Good Energy 100% renewable energy. LED lighting. Recycling policy in place.
To-do
- Be Net Zero by 2030
- Switch our heating to Good Energy Biogas and work towards renewable energy to replace gas
- Upgrade our office technology to be more energy efficient
- Insulate our office to reduce heat loss
- To source an electric car when it’s not viable to use public transport
Our Business Mission
Blue Patch is a registered social enterprise and member of SEUK.
100% of our surplus income is invested into community owned renewable energy projects. We even have a name for it – The Positive Fund!
- 2019: Brighton Energy Coop , (300 shares)
- 2020: Low Carbon Hub, Oxford, (250 shares)
- 2021: EGNI Co-op, Swansea, (300 shares)
- 2021: Glasgow Community Energy, (300 shares)
- 2021 : SE24 Sustainable Energy, London, (300 shares)
- 2022 : Energy Garden, London, (300 shares)
- 2022 : Bristol Energy Coop (300 shares)
Our members
We select our members based on their awareness and commitment to supporting the environment and local communities.
We help members to access resources and we continue to share knowledge and celebrate and reward successful moves towards reducing emissions.
The Circular Economy
We partner with ReLondon, introducing our business members to opportunities to model business impact and enable circularity in product design and services.
Consumer awareness
We help customers to source and shop locally and sustainably through our sustainable business directory.
Our Journal shares tips, stories and features on all aspects of sustainability from how to retrofit to plastic-free shopping guides.
We have a national campaign: the Power of Positive Shopping
We bring sustainability to life, making it positive, visually beautiful and easy to understand. We also sustain the local economy. Check out our campaign catalogue Positive Shopping.
