Wednesday, July 22, 2009

GULP!

Bear in mind... you are reading this on a blog.

Blogs are big business…just not here

Not sure if I am in the wrong business... or country.

Double Take

I misread this at first:

Microsoft Chooses ‘Doing Good’ Over ‘Looking Good’

Silly me, I thought they were using the greenwash funds to reduce emissions.

I feel... done.

Nudge, nudge, and, er... another nudge

Hey, if the opportunity presents:

Unilever launches sustainability drive


The Cleaner Planet Plan sounds interesting and to be applauded*. I shall look forward to hearing more about its scope, and especially if it covers such as recycling and/or reuse (my personal favourite) beyond the commitment to reduction.

Reuse especially offers great opportunity to affect the habits of consumers on top of any feel good factor with tangible rewards to pocket as well as planet. A rare 'win-win' for all in the mix, from marketer to consumer. Even some often at the sharp end, such as LGAs, who too often are lumbered with wielding threat, guilt, nanny or scare: none of which are over-motivating.

*With a big eyebrow ready to crank.

And, while we're at it:

Tesco and Asda slip down WPP Green survey

I'm trying to get a scope and will report if anything interesting evolves.

Nudge, nudge...

Well, she asked:

Can sandals ever be fun?


And it seemed/s a good opportunity for a plug:)

I'd have hoped... thought that it is entirely possible to introduce a variety of functions into anything, if you use a bit of imagination.

Heavens, how many times to we hear the old chestnut that kids prefer to play with the box than the present?

Hence anything that adds value, and especially second use, to any packaging design should be desired, attempted... and applauded.

I have to say my two have rather outgrown the brief distraction of some packside imagery, but are still not above reusing all manner of boxes, tubes, etc in all sorts of creative ways.

ps: Speaking of sandals and fun, if you have a decent idea to add to the free online plastics reuse competition currently on Junkk.com, the runner-up prizes are... recycled plastic sandals!

Squeezing the most

I like low waste solutions.

Especially when they mean using less materials too:

Treehugger - Clever Toothbrush Stops Paste Waste with Haste

Leek investigations

Biology came third in my sciences, but this looks interesting.

Leeks to the rescue

SIR – Earlier in the year, Professor Steven Chu, America’s Energy Secretary, suggested that the roofs of houses should be painted white to combat global warming (report, May 28).
A more effective way would be to introduce the houseleek (Sempervivum tectorum) to suburban roofs. These plants, of the Crassulaceae family, capture carbon dioxide at night and use it during the day – a method of photosynthesis known as crassulacean acid metabolism.

Now, how one configures roofs to sustain the load, maintain ('acid' being a word that sets up some red flags) and manage the crop is a whole new ball of enviROI, but if the claim is true it seems at first blush a better plan than some.

Joining up thinking?

Conservative think tank urges recycling reform

I fear I find almost anything from any political party (or the odd new breed of separation stages, be it think tanks or quangos) suspect, but this report smacks of common sense. At least, as summarised here. I'll get around to reading it (57pp) one day.

As, with renewables, there is much good, honest engineering thinking - 'Our waste system has developed piecemeal over the past 150 years without ever being reformed properly" - to assess the enviROI from instigation to operation that will be into many administrations hence, I just hope the number crunchers are up to the task and are allowed to do a proper job without 'influences' based on short-termism or lobbying from subsidy junkies.

I really hope it can be reformed, as the current piecemeal efforts are serving neither planet nor public understanding of what can be one to help it at all. But let's hope there is a political will to be honest about consequences without trying to please all, and right away, with fudges.

It will take an upfront hit to see benefits later on. But... have we the money now? There will always be...consequences.

Addendum

Telegraph Letters - Fine way to collect rubbish
SIR – At last saner voices seem to be prevailing in the debate over the best way to collect and recycle rubbish from the nation’s doorsteps (“Household waste bills warning”, report, July 20).
Policy Exchange is correct in suggesting that fortnightly collections encourage recycling as long as they are accompanied by a weekly collection for food waste. That is the system run in our part of north London, and we are now the second-best recycler in the capital, with an overall recycling rate of 44 per cent.
It is also right to highlight the punitive role of government fines for the extra rubbish we send to landfill. This is why councils put three wheelie bins on your doorstep. It is not because council managers like to torment residents with a baffling variety of bins, but because recycling at the earliest stage possible (on the doorstep) helps us to fend off government fines further down the line.