SITE REVIEW - disposalknowhow.co.uk

Been a smidge lax of late on the blog.

So it's nice to be given a nice reason to post by nice folk.

Especially on that ever-so-worthwhile mutual back-scratching basis.

Stumbled across this recycling info site on twitter: http://www.disposalknowhow.co.uk/

And was happy to invite them onto the site.

They kindly have reciprocated.

Now I have had a chance to have a quick browse, and it's a nice little resource for anyone wishing to stay abreast of recycling issues and resources, but some other interesting stuff too.

Saw this and thought of our famous Vac:Sac, but more a case of great complements!

Worth a visit every so often!

"Usually the apples come FROM Herefordshire"

Our RE:tie eco-design goes to town, and wins

It's a nice twist.

Herefordshire is famous for its apples, and on more than one occasion some of our favourite exports have found their way to the House of Commons to highlight all that this fair county can achieve.

However, this time one at least is coming back.

We were invited to a glittering ceremony yesterday at the House of Commons, and came away with a coveted 'Green Apple Award', for our already internationally multi-awarded RE:tie reuse packaging design concept.

Collecting the prize from another eco-winner, Dragon's Den's Chris Hopkins of Ploughcroft, I joked: 'Often when we win such an award the family asks if we can eat it, as while recognition is always great and an honour, trying to promote innovative concepts does make paying the bills always pressing. At least this is getting us closer to food on the table!'.
Things are looking up in this regard. At the recent global plastics conference in Brussels, the RE:tie and its designed-in second-use, consumer end-benefit message was deemed the toast of the event by delegates, with heads of packaging from Heineken, Coca-Cola and Tetra-Pak all expressing interest in finding out more.

Maybe there's more money and jobs in green to be found yet and, more locally, our Herefordshire base can further consolidate its position as the greenest of counties!

BOOK REVIEW - Junk for Joy - Sian Berry - 'Fiendishly Good'

Well, OK. I can only testify to one, awesome chapter for now.

You may gather why from the above, if you look carefully.

Amazon has delivered the goods, so a few cosy nights' reading ahead.

The rest will follow.

If you can't wait (and that tantalisingly small thumbnail selection intrigues), then you can always buy the book too:)

Speaking of which...

Yours truly has been invited to speak at a conference.

And considering our ongoing efforts at sharing the joys of reuse in general and designed-in in particular, it is not a bad one to be up on the podium pontificating at either:

http://www.plasticscapsandclosures.com/eu

Kindly recommended by Junkketeer Neil of Poundland, I am now in the process of preparing my death by .ppt presentation.

And it's not proving easy, or quick.

Not least because new stuff keeps coming along...

Packaging News - Open season on an age-old issue

... I am very glad to say.

Go North Young(ish) Man...woman... and teens

I'd like to claim it was an eco-mission.

But, in reality, it was just our summer hols.

But there were some eco-bits, which I'll share.

Like the EuroTunnel/Star. Greenest crossing. Not by design, but try getting an RV in an EasyJet.

Actually, can't fault it, for speed or price or simplicity. The threatened strike was less thrilling, but we dodged that.

Our route took us from Calais to visit friends in Denmark and then back via a festival gig for the missus in Holland.

Just a few pix and notes of relevance.

N. Europe is covered in wind turbines. 

Big 'uns. Look at that blade on the flatbed in the picture.

And, for the most part, they were turning. Because the wind was blowing.

It was blowing a lot.

I know this as i was driving a high-sided RV weighing not much over a honking great bridge when it pushed on the side like sail... scaaaarrrreee.

Other than this, the recycling was noticeable by its integrated design (those bins above went down into the ground 2-3m, which means a big old bin liner) and relative unobtrusiveness. Though we saw almost no domestic wheelies, and the camp sites were woeful. Frankly camping in any form is not eco, sorry. You generate a lot of mess and are not in the mood to expend much resolving green issues.

Finally there were the museums.

There was one on the German/Dutch border that was great, covering marine history. The boys really liked the toys made by sailors, all of which moved or played, etc.

And then there was the Vikings. We went to a great village recreation.

Hey, those guys had green roofing a long time ago.

And their recycled door security systems were...effective. Nothing says 'who goes there?' liked a skinned hoofed quadruped.

Finally, there was the loo arrangements...

I'll leave you with that image. It won't leave me for a while.

IDEA - Actually more than a few

To make up for not posting for too long.

http://www.creativereview.co.uk/cr-blog/2011/september/object-abuse-at-kk-outlet#feedback

http://www.londondesignguide.com/2011/09/exhibition-object-abuse-at-kk-outlet/

Paintbrush coathooks my fave, if all mine are straight as I don't bend them that way intending them to get bent; it just happens as I forget.

PR COVERAGE - National Geographic 'Green' Special

This house is stacked to the gunnels with National Geographic Magazines. So many, in fact, that I must confess that not all have been read, though the unfailingly gorgeous photo essays have all been perused.

So imagine my (happy) surprise to be leafing through a 'green' special, and find that Junkk.com has been listed in a top 10 'waste not' collation of sites.

Mainly for our efforts in the area covered by JunkkYard, which is not as great as we'd hope(d), but another welcome bit of recognition and endorsement nonetheless.

Introducing... Junkk Male TweeView, too!

And, at present I have zero idea how I did that.

Zippy. Nada. No.... clue.

I know what it is meant to be.

I vaguely remember toying with a a few buttons on the host site.

But how the heck this epic got produced... beats me.

There appear to be topic headings I chose, and most seem pretty OK.

However it's also clear a bunch of things are getting hoovered in according to basic default settings I have never seen before.

So, Dr. Frankstein gets jiggy with Dr. Jekyll.

So long as it doesn't drop me in it, fine. Seems OK so far.

But have to say that a magazine with a bot as an editor is freaky.

One day I'll remember the passwords and figure out how to get in the back end, much less actually figure out what the thing is up to.

Still, in the absence of a Junkk Newsletter for half a year, I'll live with it for now.

With luck, there'll be food, too

As noted before, my family is a tough crowd.

Many's the time I have bounded into the living room with news of a nice bit of PR, or an award, but these days I usually get a 'Great. Well done. But... can we eat it?'

Well, this time, at least literally, eventually... yes.

There is a 'do' to go with the fact that we have secured yet another welcome award.

And I am rather hopeful, given the calibre of folk we're amongst, and where the ceremony is, there may be the opportunity to parlay this into even more of a tangible rent-paying, food-on-the-table nature.

For now, I am merely rather proud of another notch on the scoreboard that suggests that whatever we are doing, at least some nice folk agree we're still doing it quite well.

---
Letter from Organisers

PROJECT: RE: TIE PACKAGING

I am delighted to confirm that you have won a Green Apple Award in connection with the above project, and I hope you will be able to join us to be presented with your trophy at the House of Commons on November 14.

You have definitely won a Green Apple Award, but we never reveal who has won exactly what until the presentation ceremony itself.

Also enclosed you will find a draft News Release to help you publicise your success up to this point.  

Once you know exactly what you have won at the House of Commons, you can once again adapt the News Release to announce your level of success; and you will find most newspapers and radio stations are keen to carry positive news about organisations doing their best to help the environment.

Please convey our congratulations to everyone connected with your award-winning project and we look forward to the pleasure of your company at the House of Commons.

Yours sincerely,

Roger Wolens

Director

Press Release (Local use) provided by organisers (I hope they are right):

Media Advisory

THE GREEN APPLE ENVIRONMENT AWARDS 2011

TEL/FAX: 01604.810507

LOCAL COMPANY ON THE WAY TO GREEN GLORY

Eco-website and second use design advocates Junkk.com, based in Ross-on-Wye, have won a Green Apple Environment Award in the national campaign to find Britain’s greenest companies, councils and communities.

They competed against more than 500 other nominations and will be presented with their Green Apple Award at a glittering presentation ceremony in the House of Commons on November 14.

As a result of this success they have been invited to have their winning paper published in The Green Book, the leading international work of reference on environmental best practice, so that others around the world can follow their example and learn from their experience.

They will also be considered to represent their country in the European Business Awards for the Environment.

The Green Apple Awards began in 1994 and have become established as the country’s major recognition for environmental endeavour among companies, councils, communities and countries. 

The awards are organised by The Green Organisation, an independent, non-political, non-activist, non-profit environment group dedicated to recognising and promoting environmental best practice.

Judges for the Green Apple Awards are drawn from the Environment Agency, the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, the Chartered Institution for Wastes Management and other independent bodies.

Peter Martin, Junkk.com CEO comments: ‘Beyond a great honour to be in such great company at these awards, it is also another real endorsement for the concept on top of such as the International Exhibition of Inventions Gold  Medal with Congratulations of the Jury in Geneva. And with ‘triple bottom line’ innovation on top of any ‘green business’ agenda these days, we’re hoping this award and our latest new public 'two thumbs up' consumer market research will bring RE:tie’s global potential to the attention of ethical business folk who care about 'green'... in all its forms.

  

ENDS 

Amazing what lateral thinking can do

The son of a good friend has kindly emailed me an ingenious second use of the strip from a cap.

Now, who would have thought that not only could this little component inspire another way to be used... but two.

Junkk POSTCODE FEATURE - SE6 - Recycle for Lewisham

Prompted by a welcome recent enhancement into Reuse promo:

http://recycleforlewisham.com/2011/07/06/the-full-set/

Also honoured guests on the Junkk.com diRE;ctory.

When in doubt, reuse!

I have not written for a while.

So easy to say... 'so much to do; so little time'.

Not really true, but when push comes to shove, you prioritise.

For some reason I am happier in the shed (there is also the slim possibility of a money-making opportunity being created), especially with the sun shining.

And twitter seems to fit in with that better, though she is also a demanding mistress, if not a seductive, addictive drug. If a I miss a few hours' worth, I can convince myself I am missing the seam of gold I search for daily.

That is actually possibly accurate, but a route to madness.

So in penning this rather short post to an infrequent blog series (will try and keep the ideas topped up more, and hope the efforts are being noticed), I now practice what I preach and share this heartfelt posting, with which I fully empathise:

All change!

It is not easy, but it can still be worth it. But sometimes you have to look into the mirror, and after No.1.

IDEA - Food Can Tin Lid

Mundane maybe, but also significant.

Last time I bought food tin covers they cost 50p for two.

This... was free (well, after the cost of the coffee which I bought as a consequence of the TVC - if they can kill passion on coffee grounds, I can sure as heck go one better and do so for a reuse idea).

Also uploaded are the other components (you never know).

Lights on. No one home.

There are many motivations to 'go green'.

Threat. Persuasion. Inspiration, Bribe. Guilt.

Readers of this blog I prefer 'inspiration'. And if that can be tangible in £ terms, then why not?

But often simple self-interest can be the motivator. If it takes nothing but saves a lot, then it's hard to see a down side.

We don't have a big garden area but it's enough to seek night-time illumination on call.

Hence there are several spots around. All LED. All self-contained solar.

Now I can appreciate the solar is not really an option on many public facilities (though often vast areas do suggest opportunity), but for the life of me, and my rate bill, I can't see why the investment cannot be made in a simple timer/ambient light meter combo to spare unnecessary waste (the irony of the sign on the skip next to the floodlight being 'Green waste' is not lost) at 10.15am on a bright day.

Now, who on earth does one contact to share this notion with? On the case.

Facilitating Reuse Designs

Much as I bang on about designed-in reuse, there are other nifty ways to reuse.

These two save space... and a whole lot of plastic.

Spray 'n spout!

Kudos, design whizzes!

Ideas and the costs of having them

Having an idea, even a good one, is just the start.

As I sit here pondering next moves, I had to suppress a chortle at this just-in email which, in earlier times, would have had me possibly reaching for my chequebook:

xxx - where entrepreneurs and investors meet

Dear Peter

With just under two weeks to go until our next xx Event, we are seeking wilful entrepreneurs with good strong ideas to step forward and grab with both hands, the opportunity to find investment from some of the best Angel Investors the Midlands has to offer.

If you have not already registered for the event, click here. The event costs £799 +VAT which includes help developing your business plan, and attendance at our pitching workshop.

Now, older, wiser, and poorer, I have a more cautious view on where money gets 'invested', by whom, and why.

Also wonder if the really meant 'wilful'? Perhaps, considering the 'deal' proposed, they did.

Ch-ch-changes

An article in the latest FMCG (p24) caught my eye.

Entitled 'Closures: a changing industry', it could have been written for and about RE:tie.

Just look at the subhead! Helping environment and 'ageing population'.

Heeeeellloooo!

Naturally, I am trying to reach the author.

As so many doors close, maybe this one may see a chink of opportunity?

IDEA - Reused toy ties

Site's been a bit lonely lately.

So let me add a quick idea from the weekend.

And the winner in this category is... from another category!

The life of the lone inventor can be, well, lonely.

But there are rewarding times. A nice piece of PR coverage, or a juicy award can perk one up and re-energise the efforts to get your baby 'out there'. And an award can lead to PR, or both, with a fair wind and the right person down the line to take note, it can mean things get escalated to a more productive level.

Maybe, even, revenue. Because of course, as the family wearily asks when I burst in with some great news, if the answer to 'can we eat it?' is no, the rewards are seldom immediate or tangible, other than down the line. Possibly.

So, with some highs and lows through bitter experience, I have tended of late to be a bit more circumspect, even with time, and especially where money is involved.

But if you are in a lull, with not much happening, it can be darn tempting to risk a roll of the dice to get things moving again. Even if you don't win you may place, and even if you don't place you may get under the gaze of a judge who sees merit (and has a mate), or simply lurk in the brochure where that perfect fit person may be idly glancing through.

So it was that I was flattered by a contact by a major packaging industry trade media editor getting back to me in response to the latest PR on the RE:tie (very positive consumer market research results), but also with a suggestion that I enter their transatlantic awards.

I was, I do confess, flattered, and even after discovering this invitation was, of course, to spend money entering, still tempted.

What clinched it was the categories.

Because there, amongst all the high-profile, mega-player stuff, was a diamond of opportunity gleaming in the prospecting pan.

------
http://www.beverageawards.com/pdf/criteria.pdf

Packaging
Best packaging for functional drinks
Best closure for functional drinks
Best functional drink label

------

However, when the press release and subsequent PR arrived post event, excitement turned to disappointment, and then confusion, and then something more.

Remembering there was really only one category of relevance, which I confirmed...

Me - This seems to be the only category of relevance: Best closure for functional drinks

...and had double confirmed:

Organisers - I would agree that this would be the best category for you to compete in.

Imagine how one feels that to find there not only is there no winner or finalists... the category doesn't seem to exist at all either!!!!!

On querying the missing entry, and mine in particular, I have had this reply:

'I have contacted Bill Bruce who was the chair of the judging panel to explain this, although he is currently in Washington DC at the moment he wanted to get back to you as soon as he could and has provided this statement for you:

'We received a very low number of entries in the closure category and in discussion with the judging panel it was decided to evaluate each entry against its particular criteria and then review the packaging entries to include closures.

As chair of the panel I can assure that full attention was given to each and every entry and that all outcomes were fairly decided. It is always unfortunate to have to revert to the position of 'the panel's decision is final' but in this case I consider this to be the correct decision for the competition.

The Junkk closure was featured for a long time during the awards presentation last night at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington DC and received a great deal of interest. It will further feature in the Awards Showcase magazine which will be included with the next issue of Beverage Innovation magazine. We will be very interested to follow this product when it is fully commercialised.''

Now, this really didn't quite answer my questions, or seem adequate in the circumstances, so I followed up:

'I very much appreciate you pursuing this so promptly.

I also appreciate Mr. Bruce taking the time to reply.

Whilst noting the positive aspects of the long feature and consequent interest during the evening, plus subsequent inclusion in the magazine(s), and interest in the product once commercialised... it's all nice but... not really the same as winning or being placed in an award for one's product in the specific category created and advertised, that was ideal to highlight it.

I just wondered if you and Claire [Editor] had any thoughts to share before I comment further.

Noting we are two cultures separated by a common language, it's possible that I have interpreted Mr. Bruce's statement in an Anglocentric manner that could have failed to appreciate the full scope of what he may have been trying to convey.'

Sadly, the exchange now seems to have stalled. Basically I am left with the notion that I entered in good faith, paid, and then less good faith kicked in thereafter. And it's all, like, tough, as 'judges' decision is final'?

Now, what to do? Especially as I seem out of pocket, out of luck, and out of my mind trusting any industry awards having had the exact same thing happen before!!!!

Why I did not kick up on that one more at the time I do not know. This time, I just might.

Moving targets

I plod along trying to market RE:tie.

Every so often something resonates.

Forget the Treehuggers: Five Ways to Attract the Less Stereotypical Green Consumer | Fast Company

Especially this bit:

'they’re just as concerned with practical values like price, quality and convenience as they are with do-gooder values like local, organic and fair trade'

Plus, quite a lot else, frankly...

'Making a product that’s good for our planet is nice, but it’s not enough'

'More and more, New Consumers are asking, "What’s in it for we?"

'The DIY mindset has become a way of life for many New Consumers'

'The psychological shift from all-out consumerism to a simpler, more self-sufficient life also presents an opportunity to tap into the exploding "access economy."

I have chipped in:

"More and more, New Consumers are asking, "What’s in it for we?" '

And why not? Too much in green is predicated on rather nebulous notions of what's 'good', and losing sight of for whom.

Reduction is probably best, planetary speaking, but kind of tricky to make a profit from in consumables. Recycling is OK, but many tend to forget who is being asked to do what and for whose benefit.

Inbetween lies reuse, somewhat of a lonely place too often, especially in marketing innovation.

It needn't be.

It is possible to do the job, add value, and save the planet. You may not even need to get rid of stuff or make new things... just need to think laterally.

http://www.retie.co.uk