NEWS/Commercial PR - Liftshare Week, 4-8 Oct

I do so love it when they write themselves.

Especially in a good cause.

I like to think off myelf not so much as lazy, but more into not wasting perfectly good resources. From the sharing horsepower's mouth:

Just as Junkk is all about match-making - and sharing to avoid waste - so is liftshare.com. So we want to tell you about an event they’ve got coming up which can help you to slash your CO2 emissions, save a load of money and make some new buddies into the bargain...

It’s the first ever liftshare Week from 4-8 October, and the aim is to help as many people as possible discover the benefits of car-sharing. The typical commuter who car-shares every day saves around £800 a year and a tonne of CO2, not to mention reducing their stress levels and having more fun.

To take part in liftshare Week, just sign up to the free www.liftshare.com website and search for someone else going your way so that you can share the journey. You only have to do it on the days that suit you, and you can either take turns driving or - if one of you doesn’t have their own car - the passenger(s) can contribute to the driver’s petrol costs. Everyone wins.

(Oh, and if you’re allowed to spread the word at work by sticking some posters up at your office, you can download them from www.liftshareWeek.com!)

PR COVERAGE - And idea gaining traction?

Actually, this is more IP coverage.

But as it is a pretty nice article about what we're up to, I think it's worth sharing.

WIPO is not an insignificant force in global IP, so to be noticed and so covered is a very nice thing to enjoy.

Palming On

Funny old world.

A week ago I noticed the local Morrison's was again running the 'Let's Grow' promo, and pondered if we might again unleash the Voucher Palm again (click the links below for archive backstory)

Well, a bit like careless kings and troublesome priests, no sooner muttered than rushed out... without telling me! Nice 'n all, but I might have helped with the proof-reading too.

Plus actually delivering as promised.

Hence a bit of flashing around this weekend to get the new one up.

All's well that ends well....

--------

Don't Be Shy, Schools and Shoppers - Choose Your Coconut Today!

Voucher Palm Ready To Do The Business Again in 2010

Another Autumn, another Morrison's 'Let's Grow' Promo.

And, of course, in Ross-on-Wye at least, the Voucher Palm blossoms in complement again, made from all-reused materials by local eco-ideas website Junkk.com, to help shoppers around town 'post' their vouchers to donate to local schools.

Two have so far have asked to have their own coconut on the palm, but there is space for plenty more. Plus plenty of room inside each to donate vouchers to the school of your choice.

So when around town, if you have some vouchers in your wallet in danger of being lost in the back of the kitchen drawer, pop by the EnviroAbility Book Swap Shop, Cantilupe Rd to ensure they get to... and help make even nicer... some very good local home schools... and gardens.

Caption - Eleanor Bennett of the EnviroAbility Book Swap Shop, Cantilupe Rd, Ross-on-Wye, graciously demonstrates Voucher Palm 3.0

PR COVERAGE - Mate's Rates

As some may know, Junkk.com enjoys a healthy relationship with Poundland.

You know, the retail phenomenon that seems to be almost unique in going from strength to strength, somewhat against the trend?

The one that does seem to have pegged what consumers want these days?

But for all their commitment to value and savings on the pocket, they do ponder deep and long about ways to help make the planet a tad nicer place to be, too.

Which is why, a fair while ago, having seen a Junkk.com stand plugging RE:tie at a show, they liked what they saw enough to want to help in our mission to encourage reuse.

So they popped our URL on their packaging. And from this end, we can testify to just how that has caught on with their customer base. Folk like the notion... A LOT.

Well, just as we had a cheery call that made our Friday a while back, we've just had another.

Look who has pride (well, bottom left, but it's right next to the sign-up) of place on their website homepage:)

Nice to be loved. And to be rated so highly via such an endorsement, compliment and complement from such a successful business.

Maybe we are doing something right, as well as good, after all.

PR COVERAGE - Fast, moving, consumer-related.. and good

Always nice to be noticed.

Even better to be appreciated.

Top cherry to be thought amongst the best.

Junkk.com has been featured in this month's FMCG magazine 'Website spotlight'.

Which is nice.

Not too sure on the value as, so far, the phone has not be ringing off the hook. Early days?

Folk in this industry are pretty time poor, and I've only just found it after it hit the in-tray a few days ago.

Plus I can't help but notice on behalf of RE:tie a tamper evident packaging outfit just down the road. Reaches next for phone...

Sons, sun & sand (lots of sand). Plus wife.

We're back (and have been a few weeks - only now with kids off to school can I get back to the 'other' day job)

Full disclosure: we flew for 6hrs, budget class, to Egypt, for a Nile cruise.

And enjoyed every minute of it. No regrets (the T-shirt is not mine, but raised a wry-smile come 'so, what do you do' at evening cocktails intro-time)

However, learning from many who ponder and post in the world of environess, I will attempt to justify a smidge of what we got up to by writing about it, especially a few eco-aspects of it all... good... but mainly not as good as one may have hoped.

OK, we were in a sunny place. Make that sunny to the tune of 45 degrees some days, pretty much dawn to dusk. That... is a lot of energy falling on every sqm of a vast expanse, day-in, day-out. Trust me. As the only family not out the first day for a tanning session, we observed the results on the others.

Yet... I could see no great evidence of any solar collection, domestic, commercial or national, either photovoltaics or even hot water. Bizarre.

What I did note was the gentle chug of diesels, 24/7, which sadly results in a pervasive fug hanging over the Nile and its banks. Makes for nice sunsets, but not much else.

And I can't understand the need. Where the grid doesn't run, like a boat, so many thing surely could be solar powered to avoid using up GHG-emitting fuel in this way? If it's possible in the UK (see link below, but caution on the numbers, and deal!) with our weather...

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/finance/ianmcowie/100007449/how-the-roof-over-your-head-could-earn-1000-out-of-thin-air/

Now, a lot of this may be down to cheap 'leccy thanks to the Aswan dam. A rather uninspiring structure, TBH, but quite a feat. Actually, I was a bit more impressed with the one the British built several decades before. It also had the benefits of a lock system to allow navigation, something the Russians 'forgot' to add. Apparently. I suspect this may have led to, and still inspires some... frustration, downstream.

Which brings me to the other eco-aspect from this trip: the importance of water. Look at that shot out the plane window: no water, no nothing. More than that, no irrigation; no growth more than a few yards in. The country is a high % of sun-blasted sand and little else.

Man has a great capacity to harness nature for good, but also a great responsibility to ensure it is done properly.

Sadly, as I write this I add below a URL that poses some of the dilemmas facing our own mega-water-harnessing scheme.

The Ecologist - http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_analysis/522790/severn_barrage_faces_economic_rather_than_environmental_hurdles.html

Finally, I leave pondering a matter of historical interest, namely was the climate back in Ramases' time as oppressive as now?

Telegraph - Biblical plagues really happened say scientists

Keeping In Good Company

Caption: Nothing whatsoever to do with Poundland, but we appreciate the irony inherent in this image of one of their competitors, along with the rather cute weasel as regards their business model on the shop sign.

For while we have enjoyed the support of Poundland.

They have seen fit to add the Junkk.com URL to their packaging, and were first in line to help with some recent research for RE:tie, about which more to soon be shared.

And it seems they are doing rather well.
The Grocer

Kamcity

SKY

Just sayin', that's all.

R & R Time!

Junkk is taking a wee break and will be back soon.

One of our other areas of interest is the wonderful world of music, and we'll be supporting First Lady Phoenix J (creator of our jingle) with her band Greenhaus on their UK tour, followed by something not quite as much of a a busman's holiday!

Of course, the Junkk flightcases are well stocked with kit to find and create all sorts of reuses as circumstances dictate:)

Product RE:view - Sainsbury's Milk Pouch

Disclosure: This little effort is going to compete pretty much with my RE:tie idea. Not directly, but with the caps used on many milk bottles. So it is hard to be totally objective in seeking its success. Looking on the bright side, it may make the cap & bottle guys find some merit in a device that not only promotes reuse, but gives their products an edge, too. Just sayin'

Update - a few very interesting comments has made it worth reposting since the 24/05/10 first publication.




Background

As part of a greening initiative, supermarket Sainsbury's have put on a push to promote the use of these milk pouches in the JUGit

They have seen some success. Interestingly another retailer, Waitrose, has not. An odd difference in light of their demographics, which I would have pegged as pretty similar.

Use

Buying is no problem, though there is a trust factor in carrying it in your basket and or bag home. They claim it can be dropped and not burst, but I was more concerned with being pierced. As were a few others. Hence, ironically, all of us asked for a plastic bag to put it in in case it leaked onto our eco-reuse bags.

Oh, and you'd better like semi-skimmed, at least for now. At least it is..'green'

Once home, set up was a breeze. Simple, neat design.

However, it is not so neat in terms of fridge footprint. Where the bottles stand high and fit neatly. the jug sucks up space.

Eco

It's about waste, right?

Well, I am biased. I don't throw milk jugs away. I reuse them. And if they do end up in the bin, in this neighbourhood they get recycled. But I do concede that, where this does not happen, a bag is a lot less plastic than a bottle.

Thing is there are also the contents. Now here I can put hand on heart and say I am not convinced. With my lovely 13-year old assistant to set up as I shot the pix, the initial spout pierce sent a gollup up into the pouring ring. This was impossible to rescue easily and ended up missing the cup. The rest of the bag drained fine, but there was some left over due to the spout pierce design. Now, you can get at this, but it is fiddly. With a bottle you get it all... easily.

Also not too impressed by the different but near identical instruction sheets supplied; one from maker and one from retailer. I'd say a single combo might have been more 'on message'.

So... not too convinced, TBH, on almost all counts bar the raw materials one.

So it will be interesting to see how it gets received elsewhere.

At least I now have a nice new jug. That is pretty much useless for any other function.

ADDENDUM

Seduced by the offer (frankly, I think they might need to offer more savings for longer, as the deal is not too great), I have just made a complete horlicks of the next one, thanks to not having my spex on.

I put the bag in upside down. Not sure this made much difference to the now familiar fountain that went everywhere on piercing, but it certainly doesn't work on the pouring. Most ended up in the jug and coming out the edge rather than the spout. Now all, ironically, decanted into a more traditional milk bottle I had handy (well, about 1,000 odd)

Addendum 2 - Tescos trying too now, ironically, the day I get a very sensible comment from a reader. Why have the jug, at least in this form, at all?

Addendum 3 - Have revisited the trade mag piece above, and only now via comments got reminded of ASDA Green Bottle, or Greenbottle (Google, amusingly, tries to correct one to the other, though it seems wrong). Couple of issues here. First up, I'd forgotten all about it. Now, we shop at ASDA rarely (though pop in, like we do with the protagonists Sainsbury's, Waitrose and Tescos already cited), and I don't recall ever seeing it. So, as with all things, how these options are presented are crucial in the whole consumer acceptance mix.

For all the preference expressed for these by the posters, I'd have to say that my feelings on this option are equally mixed. Seems like a more familiar, possibly convenient design, but there are a new set of eco-compromises. In this case, it's less a matter of reduction but almost purely recyclability. And that, again, depends on the facilities provided from retailer to local authority. You pays yer money and take yer chances... even with what's best for the planet.

Addendum 4 - The product manager for JUGIT has taken the trouble to write, and is well worth checking out for his views.

The curse of 'ahead of your time'

Always hated that phrase.

Mainly as it is usually meant well, but can make for uncomfortable memories subsequently.

Almost 10 years ago Junkk.com was created, with some fanfare, and a fair bit of support (though little actual dosh after the creation phase) or 'interest' from such as BusinessLink, Chambers of Commerce and various quangos and NGOs, such as WRAP, NISP, BERR, DTi, DEFRA, DirectGov, etc.

And our messages have been, from the off, variations of 'turn re:fuse into re:source'.

All featured, often to great media acclaim, around the world.

So this little sequence piqued (gotta love twitter) interest, for all sorts of reasons:

FabianPattberg Good post: Researchers study how to reuse waste in creative, local ways http://j.mp/aZVESR

Sustainability Forum - Good post: Researchers study how to reuse waste in creative, local ways

Greenbang - Researchers study how to reuse waste in creative, local ways

Teeside Uni - One man’s waste is another man’s resource

Now, not being one to miss a chance at promo, I have been on the case. Ride the wave 'n all.

But it was hard to resist pondering what we, and others, might have done over the last decade with the £1.76M earmarked to study this issue further.

Especially as they seem not to be too up on the various efforts already out there in this regard. Or didn't feel like asking before getting this awesome award. I say this guessing Junkk.com is not one of the beneficiaries of : 'It will help provide assistance to 40 enterprises each year, including small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs).

But I might ponder who they might be. Never hurts to ask.

For now... I'm smarting a tad.

Maybe a bit of time to simmer down... and then try and figure out how to capitalise on this.

Because if the powers that be have that kind of money to blow on reuse now...

If you go down to the stores in the next few days...

...You might be in for a big surprise!

Well, that is, if you are in or near Poundland Worcester over the next week or so.

Because, after many stops and starts, our grant supported proof-of-concept consumer research for RE:tie has at last been signed off, and the team from the University of Worcester Business School Research Department is today being briefed ready to head off and tackle the public for their views.

It's a big deal for Junkk.com, as RE:tie is our best shot at some actual decent commercial revenue, not to mention being a potentially awesome poster child for the potential of designed-in reuse.

It's also a time of great anticipation, if tinged with nerves. This is totally independent research. I have even been banned from attending, as it seems I am a potential contaminant of the methodology and results. It will be based on store-exit surveys using our Video Pitch and a brief questionnaire regarding green shopping habits, plus of course the disability assist feature.

Anyway, once the results are in I'll of course share them, and am keeping all digits crossed that it will be a) good, and b) at last enough to help get onside the hard-nosed number crunchers in brands and retailers who have been saying up to now: 'How can we be sure the public will see this as a worthwhile benefit?'

Meanwhile, many thanks to all involved, and especially Poundland for being so supportive in helping with this research by providing the venue. It is especially appropriate that they be involved, as of course the Junkk.com URL is featured as a source of eco-info on their products' packaging, and in the period since they kindly added this, thousands of their customers have as a consequence signed up to the Junkk.com site.

There will be more on this, and I will be PR'ing it up the whazzoo, especially as a great example of public/private collaboration, with a regional flavour which will hopefully pique the interest of the media around here.

Resting Place, Finally

Remember our reuse competition, and its top prize bench?

And that the winners, some local kids, had kindly donated it to Ross on Wye?

Well, after a wee bit of a saga it must be said, it is now in pride of place at a major junction at the top of the town, offering a welcome rest stop to young and old alike from various schools, nearby care homes and sports facilities.

Nice to see it at last doing what it was meant to, and in a way to make the community proud.

Watch this space as there may be a tad more PR yet to squeeze from this heart-warming epic, as local handy-whizzes 'The Can-do Crew!' (name and logo created chez Junkk:) kindly installed it securely, and there was a camera on hand to send to the local media, who have been very supportive of this whole story.

So good he posted it twice

The RE:tie is a pet project.

It has its own little blog, but I don't update it often (though I should... need to) and (maybe as a consequence) few I suspect read it.

However, this is worth a quick sidebar, especially as I try and figure what gets updated automatically, or not, via the various social networking outlets and systems interlinked around here.

For a start, i gets this story pride of place on the new homepage as I rush around like a headless chicken on a few other things, like the latest newsletter.

Strategic Thinking

As I write ( I may post later to let the last entry have an 'outing'), twitter is 'down'*.

Actually, it's down, out for the count and the towel is on the ring floor.

It is busted. An ex-medium. You get the picture.

I am sure it will be back, of course, but my trust factor in its reliability is further dented.

No biggie in the great scheme of things, and churlish to get too snitty about a free service, but it has set me to thinking.

Quite a lot of creative content eggs in a few baskets that I don't own, and have no control over. Not just when it comes to accidental issues, but also more direct policy ones: if the guys who own the pitch take exception, you lose not only the future, but also a ton of blood, sweat and words & images from the past.

And while twitter has inspired this introspection, I am well aware that what I am writing this via is pretty much in the same boat. And at 4,000 odd pages of thoughts and wisdom over several years, that is sobering.

Now I know that there are back-up options out there, and I really should start trying to figure out the best and engage asap, but my ITiocy does intrude.

Plus that gosh-darned laziness thing. Because, in addition, I am thinking that all source material should start at the website and radiate out (preferably automatically) from that. At least I own i, and can blame no one but myself if things get lost on its watch.

*Mashable Explains

Topless?

Interesting ad(s - there was a 1/4p and a full page version in the same paper... an odd media buy, though the former did help my scanning:) in the local news.

And, possibly, another feather in the RE:tie pitching cap?

Seems that recycling is pretty flavour of the month, but certain aspects are not, namely caps.

Now reuse is a much more embracing concept than recycling anyway, and of of course here at Junkk Towers we have several thousands of caps we have not added to the waste stream as reuses are being sought.

But in terms of getting the public mindset on board, surely a re-design that actually encourages retention and reuse of things the authorities seek to avoid in the bin/landfill... to be encouraged?

Just sayin'

A REST‘S GOOD FOR A CHANGE!

Notice anything different about Junkk.com?

We have not been idle these last several weeks, and have had a bit of a tweak with the home/splash/landing pages to, we hope, improve and add a lot more content, explanation & ease of navigation in future.

Here's a quick summary:

Overall

As mentioned, we have amalgamated a few pages in one now.

Originally, new users would 'land' at a fairly simple, 'homage' to Google's home page that aimed to seduce one and all into the many wonders of Junkk.com via a more extensive, subsequent 'home' page with site navigation bars, buttons, etc.

Now these are all in one. Still similar to the previous Junkk.com in almost every way. Just... it's a bit longer with more 'up front' now - needing scrolling to view all on offer - but, we trust, more than familiar to many other sites you use, every bit as familiar, and easily intuitive.

So, what is there...? Starting from the top:

Top Nav Bar

Pretty much the same, but as the most popular and unique feature, we've highlighted the link to ''Ideas" up there to get straight to it (do note that any as yet unregistered users will need to either accept the t&cs each time or register to view in future without reminder hassles).

All the rest of the main sections are still there in the grey bar, and hyperlinked to their pages.

Left Nav Bar

Getting all 'Web 2 and a quarter' (or .25 to our metric cousins) we have added some nice, big icons to invite staying in touch via most of the popular avenues there are these days:

email - A Feedburner invite to get email notifications of blog posts like this.

twitter - A link to the JunkkMale tweets. These mainly cover eco stuff but can wander into ads, design, music and even politics. Maybe be time for him/me to split these others off now to avoid confusion. In theory, posts here in Blogger should get auto-tweeted, but if they do I seldom see 'em, at least UK time. Maybe that's a good thing to reach audiences in other time zones.

Facebook - A link to the Junkk.com Facebook page 'Here's One I RE:made Earlier', which was originally created for a competition but can now serve as the FB Junkk.com base. With luck we can get it more active from now on. Sussing out all the FB opitions being kinda a priority, then, I guess, for me. But boy is it complex!

LinkedIn - More 'business-orientated', but still a great networking link, especially for any keen to hook up with Junkk.com more commercially.

YouTube - We have a few videos up already (some for Junk, others for related aspects), with more planned, so this is where they will be archived.

Plus there's a spiffy extra social networking set that seems to cover 'all the rest'. No clue yet ourselves what half of 'em do.

Next there is the familiar 'My Junkk' that remains unchanged, to handle your account, ideas, posts, etc on Junkk.com once registered.

RHS Nav Bar

This remains unchanged, and is for our use.

It was/is actually intended for button ads, along with banners top and bottom and a skyscraper at extreme right. We just haven't got our media sales/admin sorted out yet, and at the moment there's just some Google Adsense placements operating.

Currently there is a link to the blog (here) and to the new RE:tie (our actual patented, multi-international award-winning) second use design re:evolution.

Centre Section

All change here too, but with a few old friends returning, and with luck now glitch free.

At top is a quick summary of the site, along with a video visualisation which hopefully explains it all in a nutshell.

Next we have the welcome return of the two 'latest' update columns, whereby if a new idea or blog post is added, these become the landing page 'top news'. All of which should make for a fresh & constantly refreshing home page on a regular basis.

Then we have added a 'free text' section for us as the site editors, to offer up news that we think is worthy of front page treatment. Comprising a picture section at left, and headline/text/links to its right, this will be for such as the reuse competition we carried not so long ago.

There are, of course, opportunities for 3rd parties to ask us for a shot at this slot, which we are happy to consider... if the story, or cause is good. Or, better yet... for money:) Rent to pay, family to feed, etc. As the 1st stop on Junkk.com for new and existing users, it is quite valuable media real estate.

Hyperlinked Main Section " 'Bin There, Going Here" icons

A reprise of all the main sections you may wish to scoot to.

Bottom Nav Bar

A collection of all the previous, useful, links you may need.

All bouquets welcome. Brickbats... well... happy to hear any constructive critiques to improve next time. But as many favours called in and budgets we don't have blown to get to this far... it may be a while:)

So, please... enjoy the new, we hope even more improved... Junkk.com!

Addendum: Kid... candy store. It might not progress, if not end well. I have just discovered Blogger has a new design (well, templates) feature. It may take a while to 'settle'.

The Gravel/Argon Battery?

One of the holy grails of renewable energy has always been just how to store energy from what are inevitably intermittent, and variable, sources of power; from the likes of wind turbines, photovoltaic arrays etc.

This sounds rather far fetched, and my initial reaction was - it will never work - but reading through the article from the Guardian in detail had me thinking ....... well, they might just be onto something here.

Worth a perusal.

AWARD - Greenbang Sustainability Awards - @greenbang

@greenbang

AWARD

WHEN: Not to sure... I think... now! Certainly before July.
WHAT: Greenbang sustainability awards
WHAT... MORE?: From their blurb:

Calling all you green business gurus out there: we’re getting ready to launch Greenbang’s first-ever awards for sustainability. Think your technology or strategy can make the cut? Let us know!

Set to be presented during our third birthday celebration this July, our awards are aimed at recognising the gamut of sustainable technologies and initiatives, including:

Best IT technology
Best data centre innovation
Most promising water technology
Most promising carbon capture and storage innovation
Best public-sector green initiative
Best development in sustainable food production
Top smart-grid technology
Best cleantech investor
Best corporate responsibility project
Best low-energy building innovation
Most innovative green PR campaign
Best advance for carbon-free transport
Green leader 2010
Green villain 2010

HOW MUCH: Guessing... free?
URL: http://www.greenbang.com/greenbang-sustainability-awards-think-you-can-make-the-cut_14001.html
COMMENTS: As always, as there might be one worthy of having a crack out ourselves, if you found out from here and edge us out... a big up at the ceremony...OK?

EVENT - 'Be Part of the Solution' - OX

EVENT/COMPETITION(ish)

WHEN: Deadline/April 6, Oxford, UK
WHAT: UnLtd 'Be Part of the Solution'
WHAT... MORE?: From the blurb:

UnLtd and UnLtdWorld are teaming up to offer a new kind of support to the UK's environment entrepreneurs - we're going to 'crowd-source' answers to challenges you may be facing.

HOW MUCH: Free, I am guessing, if you 'win'
URL: http://unltdworld.com/blog/view.php?id=217
COMMENTS: More blurb:

If you're one of the 3 selected, we'll ask participants at the OxfordJam event on 15 April and members of online communities, such as UnLtdWorld, Twitter and more to Be Part of the Solution

Having a punt myself, so we'll see:)

COMPETITION - Virgin - Pitch.tv - @richardbranson

@richardbranson

COMPETITION(ish)

WHEN: Ongoing
WHAT: Virgin Pitch.tv
WHAT... MORE?:
HOW MUCH: Free
URL: http://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/blog/calling-all-entrepreneurs-take-part-in-pitchtv
COMMENTS: Again, more of an opportunity to gain PR/interest/investment. But... why not? It isn't like many airborne captains of industry are flying BA at the moment