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How to persuade people to shop sustainably
Published 5 March 2021What motivates eco-friendly, ethical or sustainable choices in everyday living? New research suggests that the memory of the pride that followed on from an environmentally friendly decision or a conscious choice is likely to be a far better motivator than guilt while making future green choices. For example, consumers were more likely to buy an […]
Are circular economy models feasible for mainstream?
Published 19 February 2021A recently published article by The BBC titled ‘Clothes should float in and out of our lives‘ queries whether a mainstream move to circular economy models of business would aid in recovering from the pandemic. Will circular models ever become mainstream? “Yes, absolutely!” is our optimistic answer. In the recent past, sustainable and ethical models […]
Feature by Pebble Magazine
Published 16 February 2021Pebble Magazine has written such a lovely feature on the relaunch of our directory for sustainable British and Irish brands. Thank you! “Our worlds have just become much smaller. With shop closures and restrictions, we’ve had to become more creative in the way we shop, and with more time we are scrutinising practices, and there […]
Unexpected gifts for an unexpected year
Published 3 February 2021When it comes to Valentine’s Day, or any occasion really, I much prefer unexpected gifts. There’s something intrinsically enticing about an unexpected gift. Butterflies of anticipation dancing through curious fingers. A flickering trail of desire urging you to discover what lies within. Then that tiny frisson of delight sparked by an elusive something that you […]
Now introducing Blue Patch 2.0
Published 26 January 2021We’ve got exciting news. For several months now we’ve been working on a complete revamp of the Blue Patch website. Finally, we’re excited to introduce you to the new and improved Blue Patch, a directory connecting sustainable makers and service providers across the UK and Ireland. It’s been a challenging season. Business owners, you’ll understand […]
Gift ideas for Christmas
Published 5 December 2020Sometimes the holiday season goes by so fast that if you blink you might miss it. Food, family and gifts – done and dusted. In the UK, things are a little hazier. The holidays seem like a personal choice that work around school holidays, work schedules, the switching on of the lights on Oxford Street […]
Blue Patch Awards: Winners
Published 25 November 2020This year the Blue Patch Sustainable Business Awards consisted of 8 categories open for application to businesses from the UK and Ireland. The awards celebrate the achievements of small businesses, social enterprises and not-for-profits working in the fields of sustainability, social and environmental impact and the circular economy. Without further ado, here are the winners of the 2020 […]
Manchester Art Gallery hosts the Blue Patch Eco-shop
Published 23 November 2020A new collaborative partnership between Manchester’s historic Art Gallery and Blue Patch, a national social enterprise, is enabling sustainable local brands to sell products through the museum’s online shop, providing essential support during the pandemic both for UK SMEs, the local economy and the museum. Blue Patch, a pioneering social enterprise that launched in 2014 […]
There and back again: 2009 to 2021
Published 5 November 2020How to found a business on holiday! The year was 2009, when on a sunny summer’s day in Canada Jane Langley decided to found a new business. Hold on a sec. Canada? Blue Patch is all about sustainable British and Irish brands. Why Canada? Well, gentle reader, a nice holiday can do wonders for the […]
Blue Patch Awards 2020: Finalists
Published 21 September 2020Here are our finalists for the Blue Patch Awards 2020. This year there were 8 categories to win (including the People’s Prize – now live for voting HERE), which celebrate the achievements of small businesses, social enterprises and not-for-profits working in the fields of sustainability, social and environmental impact and the circular economy. Without further ado, here are […]
Blue Patch Awards: People’s Prize 2020
Published 20 September 2020It’s time to vote for the last category of the Blue Patch Sustainable Business Awards – The People’s Prize 2020 #BPatchAward. There are 21 awesome businesses who have put themselves forward for this award. Take a look at the list below. Some of them have little YouTube videos attached which you can view when you […]
Our big news: Blue Patch 2.0
Published 6 August 2020Last year, in September, we celebrated the 5th anniversary of our launch. In business years (and dog years), 5 years is significant. We’ve had some great successes and also have had to navigate some huge learning curves along the way. Our goal has always been to be a platform where British sustainable businesses can come […]
Meet the Judges! Blue Patch Sustainable Business Awards 2020
Published 7 July 2020At the start of 2019 there were 5.82 million small businesses in the UK (with 0 to 49 employees). SMEs accounted for 99.9% of the business population (5.9 million businesses), three-fifths of employment and around half of the turnover in the private sector. UK Small Business Statistics, FSB. Despite these encouraging numbers, 2020 has been […]
The Ashden Awards 2020: A portal from one world to the next
Published 3 July 2020Living through a global pandemic, it seems almost impossible not to feel fully consumed by Covid-19. But after watching the 2020 Ashden Awards, the idea of this pandemic functioning as an isolated issue to be tackled, set apart from the urgency of the climate crisis, seems a potentially dangerous oversimplification. The Ashden Awards are dedicated […]
London Climate Action Week 2020 – Build Back Better
Published 30 June 2020How to Save the Planet…a learning opportunity! It’s London Climate Action Week this week. Check in on how organisations are responding and discover what you can do to help the climate crisis. Part 1. 1-3 July, is digital and brings together world-leading experts and policy makers to drive the national and international Covid-19 climate policy response, […]
This is the Circular Economy: CE Week 2020
Published 29 May 2020Forget business as usual. Right now we’re experiencing a different kind of economy – one that includes clean air and bird song. We’ve been enjoying the simple pleasures of a walk in the park or taking the bike for a spin, baking bread and quality time with the family. When patterns break, it allows a […]
It’s the Blue Patch Sustainable Biz Awards!
Published 28 May 2020Welcome to the Blue Patch Sustainable Business Awards 2020. These awards are now closed. See who won. To register for the 2021 Awards please sign up to our newsletter. SMEs across the UK and Ireland are invited to come forward and nominate themselves for one or more of the following categories: New Business Award: For […]
On waiting for Earth Day
Published 22 April 2020Welcome to Earth Day 2020 4:00 am Looking through my window to the garden, I barely make out where buildings stop and sky starts. No birds yet, just the clock ticking. At the onset of the lockdown I felt erased, detached from purpose. Now I feel the opposite, that time has been reclaimed and life […]
Guest Post: Necessity is the mother of invention
Published 20 April 2020This year’s not really turning out how I expected – and that’s putting it quite mildly. 2019 was a big year for me. I celebrated a big milestone birthday with a blowout party and some lifetime travel adventures. I sailed boats and rode horses. I learnt new skills and gained new qualifications. I decimated my […]
Resources and advice for small businesses in the UK on how to deal with the COVID19 pandemic
Published 2 April 2020We’ve compiled a roundup of advice and resources that we’ve seen for businesses and business owners over the past couple of weeks. 1. HM Govt Business Support: Here you’ll find all the support and information put together by the government. 2. ICAEW has a huge selection of resources and advice around tax, audit, financial reporting […]
Why a giant soap emporia that does hair and offers facials is a great idea.
Published 5 March 2020I have a long-standing love affair with Lush. Can you blame me? Entering a Lush location is like stepping into a world of colourful, quirkily-named skincare products that look and smell good enough to eat. Plus the brand is well known for being at the forefront of sustainability in regards to packaging, animal testing, sourcing ethically […]
The colour of spring: sustainable home decor, clothing, lifestyle and the outdoors
Published 24 February 2020What colour is spring to you? Some will dive straight into summer with those bright oranges and blazing blues. Others will choose pastels. I prefer my springs to be muted versions of bright favourites. A slow awakening rather than jumping headfirst into the heat of things. Might tell you a lot about me as a […]
