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 sustainable businesses and organisations across the UK. Consumers can find eco-friendly products for their home, family or themselves. Businesses can find products and services to help them achieve their net zero targets. Plus the website is hosted on green servers.
The Positive Shopping guide is distributed in London and we have ambitions for this to be expanded in the future. The guide contains information about ethical local businesses and craftspeople. It’s printed on FSC mix paper with water based inks. The whole guide is recyclable. We offset the carbon footprint by investing in community energy projects.
Blue Patch facilitates pop-up shops, tradeshows and exhibitions, and networking opportunities for members to meet buyers from national retailers. These opportunities are an exciting means for our members to make sales and develop trade partnerships for their businesses. Exhibitions are a superb way for artisans and craftspeople to showcase their work in a suitable environment for creatives.
Shown our commitment by investing 100% of surplus funds into community energy projects. We support these projects because we believe that clean energy is essential for the UK to meet its net zero targets and because the projects are beneficial to local communities.
Educate businesses on how they can become more sustainable
Blue Patch’s Let’s Do Net Zer0 programme provides training to businesses and organisations. The training helps with understanding the basics of climate change, how to calculate a carbon footprint for scope 1, 2 and make a start with scope 3, how to create reports and how to communicate a net zero strategy clearly. We use the Compare Your Footprint carbon footprint calculator and are advised by Green Element. And thanks to our patrons Naturesave, Alice Doyle from Positive Impacts has been advising members on carbon auditing and reporting.
‘As a small business looking to be transparent about our use of carbon, Alice’s insight and experience was vital to helping us navigate the Compare Your Footprint calculator.’
Lorna Ross, Angus Ross
This year we have:
- Launched a trade buyer feature in the sustainable business directory
- Introduced members to buyers from national institutions
- Facilitated collaborations with national institutions
- Distributed 10,000 copies of the Positive Shopping guide
- Run a Sustainable Arts & Crafts Showcase at Dulwich Gallery
- Attended the London Design Fair with a ‘Homes with a Heart’ stand designed by Roddy Clarke
- Attended Decorex with a stand curated by Edward Bulmer.
- Invested in community energy at Gawcott Fields Solar in Buckinghamshire, Wight Community Energy on The Isle of Wight, Gower Power in Swansea, Stockwood Community Benefit Company in Worcestershire, and Dane Valley Community Energy in Cheshire and Staffordshire.
- Trained businesses on Let’s Do Net Zer0
Join the UK’s Number 1 Sustainable Business Directory
That’s not all that Blue Patch offers. Throughout the year we work on helping you to grow your business and supporting you in every way we can. For example, we provide free training on how to run your social media. We have great plans for 2024 (some really exciting projects – more on this to follow)!
Blue Patch is so much more than just a sustainable business directory. We are a community of like-minded, ethical and planet-conscious people. We welcome businesses & organisations of all sizes (and individuals), to apply for membership.