1009

Posted 2 years ago

First ecommerce watersports retailer in Europe to offer service

LONDON, OCTOBER 10, 2022 — Wetsuit Outlet, Europe’s leading watersports specialist, today announced the launch of a closed-loop recycling programme for wetsuits, making it the first ecommerce watersports retailer in Europe to do so.

Wetsuit Outlet has partnered with Circular Flow, a leader in neoprene recycling and manufacturing to launch the service.

Launching in the UK first, and exclusive to members of their loyalty programme (WSO+Rewards), the initiative aims to reduce the 8,000 tons of neoprene – approximately one million wetsuits – that go to landfill each year, and reuse the neoprene to create new products.

Neoprene is an exceptionally difficult material to recycle, and until now most waste material wound up in landfill, with no alternative available at scale. Until now.

Why is this scheme important?

Instead of going to landfill, neoprene products will be recycled and reused by Circular Flow, reducing carbon emissions and waste.

Previous smaller scale schemes have used recycled sheets in items such as yoga mats and playground safety mats. They aren’t always able to use 100% of the returned neoprene with the resulting products not always of sufficient material property for use in the harsh conditions of cold water.

The Circular Flow process allows neoprene to be recycled several times and, in working with Wetsuit Outlet, brings large scale circularity a step closer with a more sustainable and environmentally friendly process than other schemes previously available at scale.

Sean Hastings, CEO of Wetsuit Outlet and its parent, B2C Distribution group, commented:

“As Europe’s leading watersport specialist, sustainability is hugely important to us and our customers. Being one of the largest wetsuit retailers globally, we are delighted to work with Circular Flow to launch WSO+Recycle and help our customers do their bit to reduce neoprene waste.

Georgi Marinov, Founder and CEO of Circular Flow, commented,

“After six years of intensive research and overcoming many obstacles, I am delighted to be partnering with Wetsuit Outlet to kickstart neoprene recycling at scale. With our technology and Wetsuit Outlet’s expertise and scale, together we can make a real impact on reducing neoprene waste. ”

Further information can be found at:

https://www.wetsuitoutlet.co.uk/recycle.php

https://www.wetsuitoutlet.co.uk/eco.php

765

Posted 2 years ago

Did you know that over 75% of traditional leather is unused and ends up in landfill? That’s right, only 25% is actually utilised, and given all the water, land and carbon needed in the process that’s a huge environmental impact for such a small amount of end product.

ELeather are helping to tackle this problem by manufacturing an engineered leather made from genuine leather offcuts bound for landfill. They are the original pioneers and innovators of sustainable recycled leather, which unique process recycles 95% of waste water and emits less than half the CO2 compared to traditional leather. Since 2007 they have saved 8115 tonnes of waste leather going to landfill!

~ ELeather Headquarters in Peterborough, UK ~

Over the past 3 years, since I started using ELeather, I have been lucky enough to do a number of commissions for the company, to help showcase their new trend collections in their Peterborough showroom. ELeather work with many large corporations, mainly in the transport and aviation industry (think upholstery for buses and planes), and so it means a lot that they want to support small, independent businesses like mine.

Bag Commissions for ELeather – Eco Brights

This year I have completed 2 commissions for them which I’d like to share with you. The first one was to showcase their ‘Eco Brights’ Spring trend collection which consisted of 7 colours of varying grains. The bright, lightly washed-out colour palette mimicking the shift in mood of the season but also highlighting the need to repurpose and recycled where possible.

~ Eco Brights Collection – Image copyright of ELeather ~

“Growing awareness of over-consumption and the need for sustainable thinking was the main inspiration behind this collection. The colours and textures reference the fragile nature around us and highlight the need to protect it. Design must be built to last and to allow for more repurposing and recycling” said Nicky Fox, ELeather’s Designer.*

ELeather asked me to produce one of my convertible backpacks and a fold over bag and sent me 4 of the 7 leathers to work with, including 2 patterned designs. The colours and patterns worked really well together so it was easy to come up with an attractive combination for the bag designs. The leather itself is really easy to work with, and because of the way it is produced it can be cut to any size, meaning you aren’t restricted in the same way you are with leather hide.

Second Commission – New Romantic Collection

My next commission this year was to showcase ELeather’s ‘New Romantic’ collection, a range of 7 leathers which aim to ‘embrace the mystery and intrigue of the natural world’, featuring soft pastel shades and drawing on natural wonders such as urchins, pearls, shells and thistles.

~ New Romantic Collection Moodboard – Image copyright of ELeather ~

Head Designer Nicky Fox says: “The range is sentimental, unisex, and dreamy. It has a slight shimmer so colours shift in the light like the intricate surface of a seashell. The hero colours Pearl, Thistle and Urchin are a little hazy with iridescence, reflecting trends seen in purple and lilac.”*

Working with Nicky, we decided to make 7 triangle pouches with matching wrist straps and added a small pearl rivet to each strap to reflect the pearlescent quality of the leather. The detachable straps meant that they could be interchanged between the pouches to showcase the colours in contrast to each other.

Interview with Nicky Fox – Head Designer at ELeather

I wanted to pick Nicky’s brains and find out about her background and what inspires her. She was more than happy to answer my questions and explain more about her design process and what is means to work for a company like ELeather

What is your job title and how long have you worked for ELeather Group?

I am the Designer at Eleather, and have been since July 2018.  Prior to this I’ve been a Colour, Material and Finish (CMF) Designer in the automotive industry, working for OEMs such as Volvo, Nissan, Lotus and McLaren.  Developing and specifying many different types of material for both car interiors and exteriors.  I initially started my design career as an Automotive Textile Designer, following my graduation from the University of Huddersfield with a Bsc (Hons) in Textile Design.

~ Nicky Fox – Head Designer at ELeather ~

Where do you find your inspiration for new collections?

Very simply – everywhere!  Firstly, through design research at the trade shows and exhibitions for materials, interiors, design and fashion. Then cross referencing this against design publications and web feeds. But also, paying close attention to people and what you see and hear in cities when out of the office or travelling to customers.  Watching for repeating ideas / styles.

Tell me about the design process, how does it begin? Is anyone else involved in the decision-making process? How long does it take?

For the trend collections at ELeather I start thinking about them approximately a year in advance of launching, although we’re managing to finalise colours and textures much closer to the launch dates so we can make slight adjustments or improvements if needed, if we see different trends and ideas gaining momentum. I discuss developments and concepts with various teams within the business, including technical, marketing and strategic.  Then I create mood boards to present the final concept proposal internally, confirming we’re all satisfied and then it’s time to get on with producing the concept.

What does it mean to you to work for a sustainable company like ELeather? 

During my career I have found I am always happiest and most satisfied when I am able to work on a product or material that has a real benefit to people.  Whether that’s improving the functionality of a product, so the end user benefits or whether it’s helping to develop ELeather in directions that give it wider appeal and is therefore selected and used more and more, helping to reducing waste, co2 emissions and use of increasingly scarce resources such as water.

In my role I am happy to support designers allowing them to make the right choices about the products they’re designing and developing, through material selection.  Their decisions in the early stages of product development can help to reduce negative impacts on the environment further down the line, so they must be aware of the potential impact of their decisions. 

Do you have any new collections coming up that you can talk about?

We’ve just recently launched our 1st 2022 collection which is the New Romantic story.  We’ve had some very positive feedback about this collection, in particular there is one material called Pearl which is getting a lot of attention.  Here we’ve left our substrate material undyed, so the recycled content is clearly visible.  We’ve used a clearcoat to give our usual durability and performance, but for the 1st time we’ve added a mica pigment to this which gives a lovely iridescent finish at certain angles.  This is definitely my favourite colour in the New Romantic collection.  We’re hoping to follow with another collection quite soon.  All will be revealed, but it’s likely to include a new grain texture that’s quite unlike anything we’ve done before, and we’ve also looked at further 2-tone versions of ELeather that create an aged, patinated effect.

~ New Romantic Collection – Image copyright of ELeather ~

And now for the ‘million dollar question’! What has it been like working with me on these commissions?

Our relationship with Lauren started when she decided to use our material for some of her bags.  Obviously we were very pleased to see her products in our material, as this is a great way for people to see the potential and benefits of using ELeather.  These bags are always produced to the highest standard, so when we needed additional bags and accessories for our product showroom in Peterborough it was a no-brainer to ask Lauren to produce these for us.  Most recently, we asked Lauren to use ELeather for a bag style that we selected.  We appreciated her input on the design and her suggestions for the details such as straps and fixings.  The 7 bags are now on display in our showroom, using our New Romantic collection and we’re delighted with them!

~ Lauren Holloway in her studio in Bristol, UK ~ (Image copyright Jo Hounsome)

Thank you to Nicky for answering my questions in such great detail and giving more insight into her role as Head-Designer at ELeather, it’s so interesting to hear about the people behind-the-scenes!

Working with the company over the past few years has been really enjoyable and I love the challenge of creating new designs and seeing them come into fruition. 

If you’re interested in using their engineered, sustainable leather I fully recommend them. Head to their website to find out more or contact them with your enquiry.

* Quotes taken from ELeather website

https://www.laurenholloway.uk/blogs/news/working-with-eleather-group-pioneers-of-engineered-leather-in-the-uk-bag-commissions-interview-with-designer-nicola-fox

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Posted 2 years ago

Developers have a huge opportunity to support the sustainable growth of the residential property sector, creating homes with eco-friendly features through thoughtful design and construction processes. But what does it take to achieve an ‘A’ energy certificate rating?

Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director at Taylor Wimpey España, explains that it’s about thinking holistically:

“Creating ‘A’ rated homes means thinking about the building’s construction, its use and its ongoing maintenance. It’s about big undertaking but one that homebuilders and developers must wholeheartedly embrace.”

At Almazara Hills in Istán (Malaga, Spain), which is Taylor Wimpey España’s latest ‘A’ rated development, the homes have insulated walls and roof, doubled glazed windows with thermal break, LED lighting, solar panels and energy-saving appliances (fridge, oven and so on).

Communal areas have light saving systems and there are installations for electric vehicles, supporting owners to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle. Taylor Wimpey España is also replanting trees on the plot and installing a drip irrigation system to save water – something that is a particularly precious resource in the local area, where ancient Moorish irrigation channels supply water from the mountains for villages and agriculture.

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Posted 2 years ago

A La KArt Creations offers eco-friendly, plantable Christmas gifts for you and your loved ones, all in mind to support our bee population. Browse within the range of cards, seed bombs, gift tags, and calendars. Christmas has never been more green!

My Mission – by La Kart Creations.

Hi I’m Kitti – Founder of A La KArt Creations. I’m dedicated to providing unique, eco-friendly products, using sustainable and recyclable resources in all aspects. All of my products are made by using recycled and plant-based materials and are posted using fully recycled packaging.

I want to live a more conscious, sustainable life and with this in mind, I had started to get frustrated with the number of cards that end up in the bin. I started to look into an eco-friendly option, which led me to plantable paper embedded with wildflower seeds.

I’m constantly thinking of developing new products so I can offer a wide variety of plantable products for people who are looking for an eco-friendly gift to give with the aim of supporting our bee population. Last June I started to make my own wildflower seed bombs, which make the perfect birthday and Christmas gift as well as baby shower or wedding favours.

THE ECO NEWS REVIEW

I find it amazing that after you are finished with these items, it becomes as simple as popping the paper into the ground ready for it to grow into plants.

“Tear up your paper, soak it in water and plant it under 1cm soil. Keep the soil moist and place the pot in a sunny spot. Ideal to plant outside in Spring or Autumn.”

Waste worldwide is the most important problem we need to tackle globally and I think this new seed planting paper is an amazing way to reduce waste! As the life of the product ends, a new life of a flower begins! Wildflowers are so important for our circle of life.

Shop now at – https://alakartcreations.co.uk/ for more amazing products!

#christmas #ecochristmas #plantablepaper #plants #wildflowers #seeds

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Posted 2 years ago

Cotton is a cash crop and makes up 33% of all textiles produced. Did you know 300 million people in the world depend on cotton for at least part of their income?

Yet this crop is unsustainable.

”Cotton is the most widespread profitable nonfood crop in the world, and its production employs almost 7% of the labor force in developing countries.” World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

So how are these people expected to retain a living in the future? Sadly big businesses are not thinking far enough ahead.

What makes cotton so unsustainable? Conventionally-grown cotton is really bad for the environment because of its high water consumption, pollution of waterways, soil degradation, conversion of natural habitat and high use of harmful pesticides and fertilisers. Overtime the land becomes impossible to farm. And that is not to mention the huge impact climate change is having on this crop.

There are lots of organisations out there desperately trying to improve the sustainability of the entire cotton supply chain but it is vastly complicated and they are fighting against continued demand by consumers in the West for cheap cotton goods. And that is us folks. We are contributing to this devastation but we can all collectively help to bring about change. We have become too used to ordering clothes and home accessories whenever we want – discarding those we feel we have worn once too often or are just simply out of fashion or ‘done’. Bringing back the value to personal items is a vital step in ensuring we have a long healthy future on planet Earth. And buying second hand and vintage is now the way to shop.

But if you are after a new cotton item, which cotton should you be buying? There seems to be a plethora of greenwashing from the bigger retailers – all claiming to have cleaner, greener, cotton but how green are they? My advice is to choose a bonafide certification mark that has transparency at its core and strong certification values that improve not only the environmental impact of the crop but the lives of those producing it.

If you do need to purchase something new made of cotton my advice is to go organic and look for the Global Organic Textile Standard. The Soil Association says “GOTS is the leading textile processing standard for organic fibres. When we certify to the GOTS standard, we check every step of the supply chain, from harvesting through production, processing, manufacturing and labelling. We also consider the environmental management and social responsibility of producers. GOTS is the gold standard for sustainable processing of textiles made from organically grown fibres (such as cotton or wool)”.

The other key point to organic cotton is that it doesn’t use harmful chemical pesticides or fertilisers, and it uses 92% less water than conventional cotton. 92% is incredible! If we all swapped to organic cotton, what a significant difference that would make to the world’s water problems. Organic certified items are more expensive than what you will be used to paying but they are actually at the right price. We have become too used to cheap throwaway prices which has led to an undervaluing of both the product and the environment. If we want a planet that is livable for our children we have to start making big changes to our own expectations and they way we shop. Therefore organic cotton is always my first choice and why I only source organic cotton products here at Beautiful Healthy Home. I believe we have to invest in our future for a beautiful healthy planet.

I stock a selection of Wild & Stone organic cotton hand towels and I really love them. They are soft and absorbent – perfect for dishes and hands! They come with their own hanging tag and the colours are a great addition to any home.

“Loving the hand towel – will order some more!” C.Smith

https://www.beautifulhealthyhome.co.uk/towels/organic-cotton-hand-towel?ss_source=sscampaigns&ss_campaign_id=633ef865aa3f204a7d1297a5&ss_email_id=6349a42fa4adb36b325a8929&ss_campaign_name=Cheap+cotton+comes+at+a+high+price%E2%80%A6.&ss_campaign_sent_date=2022-10-14T18%3A02%3A42Z

There is another label I am keen on that seeks to help the lives of farmers and workers in developing countries. If you cannot find organic cotton then purchasing Fairtrade cotton is a good way forward too. They have strong environmental restrictions within their certification process so although not organic, they do strive to improve the local environment and the health of the workers. Fairtrade works with small-scale cotton farmers across eight different countries in Asia and Africa and helps build farmer-owned organisations. This gives the farmers strength as a collective to ensure they can earn a living wage and channel funds back into their community to improve education, access to drinking water, improve sanitary facilities and so on. Cotton farmers have been on the thin edge of the wedge for too long – it is only with the introduction of the Fairtrade standard that they are now finally able to gain economic benefits and provide properly for their families through gaining the Fairtrade Minimum Price for their crop and an additional Fairtrade Premium to help them develop their community further.

One label you may have heard of is the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), supported by the World Wildlife Fund. The BCI has worked with over 43,000 cotton farmers in Pakistan to help them reduce their water use. They have managed to reduce water usage on their cotton plantations by 16%. However, the big issue with BCI is that they do work with farmers that grow genetically modified cotton. Their reasoning is that three quarters of the world’s cotton is grown with GM seed and they do not wish to exclude them. However, farming with GM cotton is extremely harmful to not just the environment but it also makes the farmers dependent upon the seed manufacturer.

Therefore shopping for organic cotton is still my first choice and when you are next out shopping I hope you will look for these labels too.

Zoë x

https://www.beautifulhealthyhome.co.uk/

795

Posted 2 years ago
  • Lisbon’s ‘smart city’ status and European Green Capital Award are drawing in new residents from around the world
  • Tech, transport, sustainability, innovation, affordability… Lisbon has it all
  • Moving to Portugal show on 20th October 2022 will support those looking to relocate to Lisbon
Image credit: José Manuel

Lisbon has long been a hub for Europe’s tech scene, with its outstanding international connectivity, abundant conference venues and affordability making it the ideal place to host tech sector events. Now, it’s not just for events that the global community of bright young things are flocking to Lisbon – they’re coming to stay.

For workers who aren’t tied to the office, relocating to Lisbon makes a lot of sense. The city itself is stunning, with lush parks, a beautiful urban waterfront and an impressive range of shops, restaurants and leisure facilities – all of which are within walking distance for those buying in the city centre. The city’s sandy beaches are an added bonus, with the nearest (Praia da Caxias) just a 15-minute train ride from the centre.

Lisbon also ticks all the right boxes when it comes to living sustainably, having scooped the European Green Capital Award for 2020. The city was hailed as a role model in the way it has demonstrated how sustainability and economic growth can go hand-in-hand. It reduced CO2 emissions by 50% between 2002 and 2014, and energy consumption by 23% and water consumption by 17% between 2007 and 2013.

Image credit: Claudio Schwarz Purzlbaum

In transportation terms, Lisbon has one of the largest networks of electric vehicle charging points in the world. It has a bike-sharing scheme, including electric bikes for navigating the city’s hills, with cycling and walking prioritised. This has resulted in a 138% increase in bicycle use in Lisbon between 2017 and 2020. 30% of journeys in the city are now made by bike or on foot.

Car use in the city centre is restricted, while over 93% of Lisbon’s population lives within 300 metres of a public transport service that runs frequently. Residents aged 65+ and students aged 13-23 can use public transport for free. For those coming into Lisbon from the suburbs, as some 400,000 people do each day, a simple monthly fare pass costing either €30 or €40 has contributed to a 30% increase in public transport usage.

For workers, Portugal boasts the seventh greatest high-speed internet coverage of any EU member state, with 90.5% of homes covered. Practicalities aside, it is the energy that the Lisbon community exudes that is a major part of the city’s appeal.

Lisbon is home to a rapidly growing international community of young entrepreneurs, start-up founders and tech and sustainability innovators. It’s an incredibly energising and exciting environment to be part of, and a substantial draw for those considering making the city their home.”

Christina Hippisley, General Manager of the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce in the UK

Britons made up 10% of the home-owning international community in Lisbon in 2021, according to data from Confidencial Imobiliário, while many more are renting in the city while they settle in. For those looking to buy homes, there’s plenty of choice, with everything from neat studio apartments to elegant duplexes in the city centre, to detached homes further out.

For those currently based in the UK but looking to relocate to Lisbon, the Moving to Portugal Show & Seminars on 20th October 2022 will share detailed insights into life in the Portuguese capital. Hosted by the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce in the UK and free to attend, the event will run from 11 am to 8 pm at the Pestana Chelsea Bridge Hotel in London.

The Moving to Portugal show includes a mix of seminar presentations and panel discussions, along with over 20 exhibitors, meaning that attendees have a huge range of information at their fingertips. Experts will be on hand to cover visa, residency and tax options, as well as how daily life works in terms of business, jobs, schools, health, the cost of living and more.

“Many of those who attend our Moving to Portugal shows do so with a specific purpose or query in mind. They find not only the answer to that query but a whole host of other useful information that will support them to make a success of their business or lifestyle move to Portugal.”

Christina Hippisley, General Manager of the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce in the UK

The versatile nature of the available expertise at the Moving to Portugal Show encourages would-be movers to consider their relocation from all angles, as attendee Sheila Perera recalls:

“Being here at this event and listening to the various experts speak gave me an opportunity to think a lot deeper. There is a lot of planning involved, so I’m very glad that the different speakers, by virtue of their expertise, shared what they had.”

Lisbon’s ‘Smart City’ prowess has been years in the making. It’s also something that has been baked into the city’s business and education communities, laying the foundations for even more impressive innovation over the years ahead. The Católica Lisbon School of Business & Economics, which is one of Europe’s top 30 business schools, is home to the multi-disciplinary Smart City Innovation Lab. The city’s NOVA University, meanwhile, has just opened its first campus outside Portugal – in Cairo. Lisbon’s international school community is also growing, with the latest addition – United Lisbon International School – opening in 2020.

Image credit: Daniel Sessler

Lisbon is using technology to put the needs of its citizens first and building this into the city’s infrastructure as part of its smart city strategy. This saw Japanese tech giant NEC appointed back in 2017 to use its Cloud City Operation Center to integrate 10 services (such as refuse collection) that are managed by Lisbon’s government with 30 external services (such as Lisbon’s firefighters), which are managed by partner agencies within the city. NEC will enable the coordinated management of all these services through one centre of operations. The system uses artificial intelligence, Internet of Things technology and real-time data analysis to enable city services to respond to situations as they arise. 

Innovation, creativity and sustainability are working in harmony in Lisbon, driving the capital forward to supercharge its smart city credentials and lead Europe as an example of what can be achieved.

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Posted 2 years ago

For those who have an e-commerce business, it can seem like a fairly simple process to become more sustainable. However, should you own a business that doesn’t trade goods, you may not have sustainability on your mind, or even know where to begin when it comes to making sustainable options.

Bull & Wolf Film Co. are a leading video production agency based in Penryn that help brands and businesses across the UK get the most from social video. Their founder, Joe Turnbull, chooses the sustainable option wherever possible and aims to go above and beyond when it comes to reducing their carbon footprint. We spoke to them to find out how businesses can be more sustainable.

Sustainable space

Bull & Wolf currently take up residence at their office space in Jubilee Warehouse. Not only is the building beautifully designed, but it was also the winner of Cornwall Sustainability Awards Best Retro Fit 2015.

Those renting an office space can monitor their electricity usage, there’s a space to charge electric cars, and the building uses rainwater for toilet flushes. It also uses solar panels for the building’s energy and even when electricity is sourced from the grid, it’s 100% renewable.

This just goes to show that every element of your business can be reimagined in a sustainable way. If you begin with your building, you will ultimately end up reducing your environmental impact.

Motivate your clients

The video production company is part of Ecologi’s climate positive workforce. Not only do they try to offset all the carbon of their workforce at work but also in their personal lives. And they don’t stop there.

The team plants 100 trees for every new project they begin and give their clients an opportunity to match their 100 trees or plant their own.

By bringing this offer to the table, clients are more likely to participate in the scheme, leading to more sustainability all around.

If you’re looking to start an initiative such as this at your place of work, then encourage your clients to join in too. Not only will this help your cause but it can also be a unique selling point for your business.

Get the team involved

Get everyone in your business to participate in going green. There are obvious choices such as ensuring that there are recycling bins and encouraging employees to cycle to work. However, you can also collaborate with your team further to become a more sustainable business.

If your business is predominantly online, you can even use green web hosting services. Websites use lots of energy, and the servers of the website are constantly on. Luckily, you can choose where your data is stored. Research your options and you will be able to find a sustainable one that suits your businesses needs.

Explore your paths to sustainability

There are lots of different paths to sustainability, and it’s up to you to determine which works for your business. If you are struggling to think of ways to become more sustainable, organise a team meeting where you can all discuss your ideas. Remember, your team is your greatest asset and by working together we can all reach for a more sustainable future.

https://bullandwolf.co/

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Posted 2 years ago

Buckley’s Bees is a family run apiary in Cheshire that cares for bees, produces honey and is on a mission to educate and inspire the next generation of beekeepers.

Emma Buckley and her father David manage bees on behalf of clients, run beekeeping courses for professionals and amateurs, as well as producing honey from their hives.

And it is this honey that has formed one of the special ingredients in an award winning gin made not far away from Buckley’s Bees apiary in Cheshire, at Three Wrens Distillery in Combermere Cheshire.

Nick Wadeson founded Three Wrens Gin in 2019. It is run from a woodland distillery with all gins being made by hand in a 50 litre copper pot sill named Valerie.

Three Wrens are strong believers in provenance and use exceptional ingredients. Nick sources his juniper berries from Tuscany in Italy and grows his own herbs, which all find their way into the distillery.

It is this quest for provenance that led him to Buckley’s Bees. Nick had heard about the apiary and wanted to use a honey in his award winning London Dry Gin.

Nick says: “Honey has a really good effect on the gin, softening it. We’re really keen on provenance and Buckley’s Bees have a similar philosophy to us. Their honey is amazing and we’re delighted that they can supply us.”

Three Wren’s London Dry Gin has just won a gold medal at the Global Gin Masters 2022.

Emma Buckley says: “We’re delighted for Nick and Three Wrens. He produces exceptional gin and to know that our incredible bees have played a part in making this gin is wonderful.

“For us here at Buckley’s Bees it is testament yet again to the role that bees play in our environment. As pollinators they are vital to stable and healthy food supplies. Bees play such an important role as well as creating honey.”

You can buy Three Wrens Gin online and Buckley’s Bees honey from local suppliers in the Cheshire area.

Find out more here

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Posted 2 years ago

Delivery partners call for further funding to facilitate ‘access for all’

The ground-breaking £2.5million Generation Green project launched during the pandemic, has exceeded expectations, reaching more than 115,000 young people and children in just 16 months.

The project delivery partners are now calling for further funding to be made available to ensure every child has meaningful access to AONBs, National Parks and other green and blue spaces to enable them to develop the skills needed to look after the environment.

Anita Kerwin-Nye, Access Unlimited Founder and Generation Green Sponsor, said: “As the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) looks to honour its pledge to ensure that every young person in England will have access to regular out-of-school activities, adventures away from home and opportunities to volunteer by 2025, and Defra looks to give every child a night under the stars, the Generation Green partnership provides a vehicle to achieve this ambition in an efficient way.”

Funded by the government’s Green Recovery Challenge Fund, from Defra and Heritage Lottery Fund, Generation Green was led by Access Unlimited, a collaboration of 15 not-for-profit outdoor education providers – YHA (England & Wales) Girlguiding, Scouts, Field Studies Council, The Outward Bound Trust and the 10 English National Parks.

For many young people a Generation Green experience was the first time they had had the opportunity to connect with nature. The experiences, which were delivered throughout England by the coalition members, enabled a total reach of 115,824 individual young people.

Notable achievements of the Generation Green project include:

  • 39,476 young people experienced a facilitated day or residential trip, or self-led experience
  • A third (33%) of young people who undertook a residential trip were from an ethnic minority background.
  • 767 professional or skilled volunteer outdoor leaders were trained
  • 33 individuals were employed through jobs or apprenticeships with Access Unlimited partners
  • Digital learning resources, created by the National Parks, increased the reach of the project by an additional 75,000.

Generation Green was inspired by the government’s Landscapes Review in 2019 undertaken by Julian Glover, which highlighted the inequality of access to the outdoors and green spaces. The pandemic further compounded the lack of access with an estimated 1,137,820 children in England living through lockdown without a garden.

Launched January 2021 against the backdrop of the pandemic, Generation Green prioritised young people living in areas of deprivation, black and minority ethnic groups, and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The project has created jobs, apprenticeships, volunteer opportunities, delivered training and day and residential experiences in nature for thousands of young people across the Access Unlimited partners.

James Blake, Chief Executive, YHA (England & Wales) said: “Further government funding would enable Glover’s ambition to be achieved and create ongoing connections with nature benefitting future generations.”

During the project’s delivery The University of Derby’s Nature Connection Research Group was commissioned to carry out an academic study of the effect of the day and residential trips on young people’s level of connection with nature, environmental responsibility, pro-nature conservation behaviours and wellbeing. Amongst its findings, the report found that 91% of the young people reached through Generation Green felt more connected to nature and 86% felt more confident being outdoors.

Without further funding, partners warn that we risk losing some of the nation’s most vital assets that facilitate access for all.

Nick Barrett, Chief Executive, The Outward Bound Trust, explained; “Connection to nature is not only crucial to a sense of well-being but also the foundation for people wanting to care for the natural environment. You can tell young people facts about what is happening with regard to climate change but unless they have felt an authentic connection with nature they are less likely to take positive action.”

Matt Hyde, Chief Executive, Scouts added: “Through Generation Green, young people have learnt how to care for their local environment and inspire others too. We’ve given young people the skills they need for the big dreams, the skills they don’t learn at school. With more support, we can help even more young people develop the skills to look after our environment: gaining even more skills for life.”

Mark Castle, CEO, Field Studies Council urged: “Now is not the time to draw Generation Green to a close, but rather to build on its success and momentum. We should be redoubling our efforts to engage more young people across the country in vital environmental issues not the ending of this highly successful government initiatives.”

In addition to the reach of the project and increased nature connectedness amongst young people, Generation Green also bolstered the resilience of the individual members of the Access Unlimited coalition, providing much-needed support during the pandemic.

Angela Salt OBE, CEO, Girlguiding said: “Thanks to the support from the government’s Green Recovery Challenge Fund, we’ve had time to test ideas through this project and to find out what works to help young people access the outdoors, Now, we urgently need further investment to be able to upscale what we know has worked and to explore and test new ideas with even more young people.”

Trevor Beattie, Chief Executive of South Downs National Park and who leads on the education portfolio for UK National Parks added: “Generation Green has developed a successful model for engaging younger and more diverse audiences in National Parks but there is so much more to do. Generation Green now needs to be scaled up to become the cornerstone of a green economic recovery.”

Anita added: “Together we have made great strides in 16 months, but this should be the start and not the end. Through the delivery of Generation Green, we have developed a tried and tested, and successful model to connect children and young people with nature. At a time of limited resource this is a model of where charity collaboration rather than competition increases impact. The reach, outputs and outcomes speak for themselves.”

Copies of the Generation Green Celebration and Impact Report, which outlines the case for further funding, have been supplied to government ministers and Defra. Download the report and view a short film showing the people involved in this ground-breaking project at https://www.yha.org.uk/generationgreen

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Posted 2 years ago

The British company’s Vitæ Halo is an innovative indoor herb garden that allows you to grow fresh and organic plants directly from the comfort of your home

London, UK — 12 October 2022 — Vitæ, the award-winning company that aims to reinvent urban agriculture, is launching the Vitæ Halo, an innovative indoor herb garden that grows fresh, tasteful herbs whenever or wherever you need them. The British company, founded in 2020, offers a product made from 100% bio plastic, that uses 90% less water than soil-based agriculture, with 100% organic seeds and nutrients. With the Vitæ Halo Indoor Garden, Vitæ makes growing your own food easier, more sustainable, entirely autonomous, and unlike traditional gardening. The company is launching an IndieGogo campaign on 31st October 2022, with the goal to build bigger and more refined units which can be used domestically and commercially in urban spaces.

Vitæ was built with the dream that people should be able to access fresh and tasteful food, no matter where they are based and how much space they have. The Vitæ Halo Indoor Garden is Vitæ’s first system in a movement to reinvent urban agriculture. The system is made from bio-plastics from trusted UK partners. Thanks to its crowdfunding campaign, Vitæ will have urban shops allowing customers to buy pre-grown herbs which they can use in their home smart garden, and continue to have fresh herbs that do not spoil, avoiding food waste.

The company was founded by Isaac Conrad McNamara and Arthur Georges, two King’s College London alumni and entrepreneurial-minded individuals with a passion for innovation and sustainability. Vitæ was inspired by their shared dream to change the status quo, and make the world a better place. Their mission is to bridge the gap between business and green impact, create ventures that are doing well by doing good, and encourage a lifestyle that adheres to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

Vitæ’s system the Vitæ Halo is simple and easy to use: Users only need to place Smart Seeds in their pods, add water, flip the switch and wait for a variety of different flavourful herbs to grow. Encased in Rockwool, these seeds are pre-germinated for two weeks and are provided with the perfect level of natural nutrients to enhance and extend the life of the herbs. The system comes with a complimentary set of 5 plant pods of your choice, with more than 10 different plant varieties to choose from with new ones being added every month.

With Vitæ, you can grow your own organic herbs in your kitchen no matter where or what time of year, the easy way. Herbs grown in the Vitæ Halo have a 30% richer taste and 40% higher nutritional value, and are 100% natural (no pesticides, no GMO), and 100% autonomous.

“We want to remove the gap between farm and table by providing localised agricultural capability on a domestic, commercial and industrial scale,” says Isaac Conrad McNamara, co-founder and COO of Vitæ. “This includes soil removal in agriculture, vertical farming, smaller scale units, education, and bioplastic production.”

Vitæ, formerly known as HydroGrow, has the ambition to provide households with the best smart gardens in the market, and to reinvent agriculture in order to make it more innovative, more inclusive, and more sustainable. The new name, logo and visual identity embody the company’s same values of innovation, sustainability and accessibility, as well as its boldness, dynamism and purpose.

“Vitæ was born from the idea that agriculture shouldn’t be destroying the environment, but sadly it is currently the second most polluting industry in the world, and the most water consuming,” says Arthur Georges, co-founder and CBO of Vitæ. “To help fix this, we wanted everyone to be able to easily grow organic food at home, even if they lived in crowded city centres or are not a green thumb.”

Upon its launch, Vitæ has chosen to engage with customers looking for new products through its upcoming crowdfunding campaign, which is set to debut on 31st October 2022 on Indiegogo with a set target of £40,000.

For more information about Vitæ, support the crowdfunding campaign, or register your interest for the Vitæ Halo, visit www.vitaegrow.com