NEW Song on Spotify Threatens Companies that “GREENWASH” with Legal Action if they use deceptive Green Slogans referenced in Lyrics.

Ahead of Earth Day 2022, Wherefrom.org has listed a new song on Spotify called “Stop the Wash” – that features, and naturally copyrights, 120 “green” slogans to stop companies using them – and they’ll be sued if they do.

London, 20th April: Wherefrom.org, the Trust Pilot of the sustainability world, has found a brilliant tactic to target companies that undertake “greenwashing” in their marketing – through the medium of song.

The new song, which is listed on Spotify, iTunes and YouTube, is called “Stop the Wash” and features 120 slogans – a mash-up of existing slogans used by massive corporations including Shell, Nike, H&M, BP, & Amazon and dozens of common phrases – which are now copyrighted, to prevent companies using them without the sustainability credentials to back them up.

A recent European Commission report revealed 42% of companies’ “green” claims are exaggerated, false, or deceptive*. Furthermore, according to the UK advertising watchdog, in the past 12 months sixteen advertising campaigns from household brands in the UK exaggerated their green credentials* and were unable to substantiate them.

The song has been released ahead of Earth Day 2022 – the global calendar event dedicated to highlighting the vital importance of doing more to protect our planet.

As the green slogans feature in an official song, they’ve become naturally subject to music copyright laws and any company that uses them in their marketing to deceive or exaggerate their “green” claims, will be threatened with legal action from Wherefrom.org. A copyright expert, who consulted on the audacious campaign will represent Wherefrom.org in the event of a company using a slogan from Stop the Wash without backing it up.

The green slogans that appear as lyrics include a mix of existing ones used by companies that consumers will be able to recall, and a plethora of common phrases and slogans that could be used by companies in the future, including:

• We’re investing in green
• Our mission is green
• We’re helping the world reach net zero
• Our fuelling is clean
• Be the future

Adam, Co-Founder of Wherefrom.org believes the tactic will shine a light on the serious issue of greenwashing, and with the threat of a lawsuit, deter brands from using green slogans irresponsibly.

The catchy – if not slightly annoying – tune is inspired by the pop rock genre and will be belted out across national radio stations all week, even reaching across the pond in the US. Stop the Wash is listed on Spotify and has so far racked up 7,000 listens.

Listen to the song on Spotify and watch the video on YouTube.

With the help of the media, and influencers, Wherefrom.org is hoping to push the song up the charts whilst sustainability is front of mind for consumers thanks to Earth Day (April 22nd, 2022).

Wherefrom.org Co-founder, Adam Williams, commented:

“Greenwashing is rife around the world, with companies deceiving or exaggerating their green credentials as a marketing ploy to reel in consumers. We want it to stop. Our mission is for every product and company in the world to have a Wherefrom score – so everyone can make more sustainable choices, forcing companies to become more sustainable. With so many phony ‘green’ campaigns out there, we hope that “Stop the Wash” will be a clever tactic to call out brands and stop the use of flaky green slogans – if not we’ll sue them using our resident lawyer.”

“Stop the Wash” has also received backing from Ashlee Piper, the US based sustainability expert, and Author of Give A Sh*t: Do Good. Live Better. Save the Planet.

Water in a Box, the sustainable and responsible British boxed water brand, has announced its partnership with Jane Tomlinson’s Run for All to become the 2022 Official Finish Line Water Partner.

The deal will see 70,000 x 330ml Water in a Box spring water cartons distributed to runners at the finish line of 16 races across 2022, including the Sheffield Half Marathon, Leeds Half Marathon and Nottingham 10k.

Run For All is a series of runs that commemorate the lasting legacy of the late amateur athlete and fundraiser, Jane Tomlinson CBE. This is the first time that the event has partnered with a sustainable water brand in an effort to make the events eco-friendlier and more sustainable.

Water in a Box managing director David Grannell said: “This is a really exciting partnership and a step in the right direction towards reducing PET plastic water bottles at sporting events.

Our mission is to show that there is a better way to consume water on-the-go that doesn’t needlessly harm our environment. We came up with a simple solution; repackage British spring water into a renewable, recyclable and lightweight cardboard box. Our cartons have the lowest carbon footprint of all drinks containers and are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.”

Water in a Box is a widely recyclable plastic alternative made from renewable cardboard that is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. It uses British spring water sourced from deep within the Mendip Hills in Somerset and is available in natural spring along with three fruity flavoured waters Strawberry, Lemon & Lime and Orange & Peach.

Tristan Batley-Kyle Director of Events at Run For All said: “We are proud to be collaborating with a brand with sustainability at its core. As one of the UK’s leading sporting events companies, we are committed to finding new ways to increase our sustainability as a company, and being able to offer an alternative to plastic for our finish line water is one step in that journey.

“We are really happy to be partnering with Water in a Box and are looking forward to working together to demonstrate more sustainable options for water on the go.”

Water in a Box was launched in 2014 when one of the founders was inspired to make a change after coming face to face with the sheer amount of plastic being dumped into our oceans.

Its mission is simple; to repackage spring water into something that is better for the environment, better for our health and accessible to everyone.

David Grannell added: “We should all try to make more mindful decisions when it comes to food and drink on the go to help and preserve our environment.”

URL: www.waterinabox.co.uk

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/waterinaboxuk/

#waterinabox #nomoreplastic #plasticfree #recycle #water #waterbottles #reuse #running #sports #event #

The Eco Experts, a leading authority in helping UK homeowners research and find eco-friendly/renewable energy solutions, have launched a list of 6 considerations when creating an Eco-Home at this time. Alongside the widely reported Energy Price Cap Rise, other things to look out for include:

Here are some of the main benefits of adding eco-friendly solutions to a home:

– Cuts tonnes of household CO2 emissions

– They pay themselves off through energy bill savings

– Increases property value by thousands

– Domestic energy independence from grid/volatile prices

#ecohome #ecoexperts #ecoblog #housing #houses #energy #energyrpcies #saveyourhome #energybills #property #ecoproperty

Did you know many of our woodlands grow Wild Garlic?

We all love the taste of Garlic; Garlic Bread, Garlic Mushrooms, Garlic Butter!

As Spring begins, so does the picking of this wonderful wild plant. Be sure to visit your local woodland areas and find this edible plant. (March to May)

This punchy springtime herb can be used in pestos, butter, soups, marinades and more. Wild garlic has become one of the food joys of spring. It grows in abundance, it’s easy to identify and it can be enjoyed raw or cooked.

You can make many of your own Garlic Goods by visiting The Last Preserves amazing blog! It is full of recipes and ideas for you to use your garlic pickings wisely and to keep them for longer once picked.

Can you grow your own Wild Garlic?

Wild garlic thrives in well-drained soil, rich in organic matter, with a pH of 6-7 and full sun. However, it will grow in almost all soil types. Full sun or partial shade suits the plant equally well, and although they are tolerant of drought, don’t plant them in very dry places to give them the best chance of growth.

The Last Preserve stocks a huge range of products for home preserving, if you are looking to go pick your own wild garlic, be sure to shop for the correct preserving items during your making process.

https://thelastpreserve.co.uk/shop/

#wildgarlic #garlic #garlicrecipes #wild #woodlands #spring #springcooking #homemade #jars #storage #homegrown #wildplants #plants

Are we unsympathetic towards the climate refugees of today?

Over the years our climate crisis has become an increasing concern. Our interdependence on the environment promises that not only will ecosystems be destroyed, but also societies. Countries such as Bangladesh and Mali do not have the capacity to cope with disasters: it leading to an unnerving impact on not only poverty – but also food insecurity, access to natural resources, and internal conflict. This has materialised into a disconcerting 30.7 million climate refugees[1]. And yet a question remains, is there an absence of sympathy towards climate refugees? Why is there a lack of significant push towards finding refugee placements?

As the impacts of climate change become more palpable the number of climate refugees increases, forcing people from their homes due to rising sea levels and land degradation. There is no doubt that that the climate will become the main driving factor for refugees; with new figures of climate refugees suspected to rise to the billions by 2050[2]. Global warming is set on a trajectory that cannot be completely halted – as seen within the new IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) statistics[3] – meaning these inhabitable areas will only grow larger, and the problem only grow worse.

And yet in comparison with recent events within Ukraine, there is a glaringly obvious lack of mobilisation towards helping climate refugees. Whilst climate refugees have consistently struggled: to be recognised by the law, to be protected by the law, there has been a speedy welcoming of the 4.1 million Ukrainian refugees who have fled their home country[4]. Even the Ukrainian Crisis itself is potentially less threatening than that of the instability within the Sahel[5] – an area experiencing rapid land degradation.

The recent COP26 agreement made no mention of migration issues[6], even though these are issues which have been present for over fourteen years. This only further highlights the glaring ignorance the Global North has. The lack of action that is being taken.

So why is this the case? Why is there a lack of political will? A lack of political action?

Well, this can be boiled down to two reasons: a lack of awareness on issues, and ideologies rooted within racism. There is an obvious push towards accepting Ukrainian refugees within Europe, as news and governments stress the importance of helping[7]. Countries have even made legal exceptions to quickly help Ukrainians – exceptions that are not seen for climate refugees, the vast majority of whom are people of colour.

There is an obvious racial bias as countries swiftly and sympathetically accept Ukrainian refugees, showing many how countries have ignored the threatened climate refugees not out of a necessity, a lack of ability – but of xenophobia. As well as this, there is a lack of urgency within UK media[8], that allows to perpetuate a cycle of ignorance and in education within the population. These European biases are also rooted within governments – and their meagre attempts to push climate refugee help and rhetoric. The 1951 UN Refugee Convention was put together by Europeans to give help to Europeans, not to the climate refugees displaced from Africa, Asia and South America.

So, what can be done to help? Well, spreading awareness – even educating yourself and others – is a vital first step in bringing any injustice to light. Charities, such as Refugees International and Relief Web, offer not only well researched data but also opportunities to help (via donation or volunteering). There is a slow movement to recognising climate refugees – particularly within the South – which will hopefully replace the current trend.

Aid:

https://www.refugeesinternational.org/giving

[1] Migration Data Portal., Environmental Migration., 2021., https://www.migrationdataportal.org/themes/environmental_migration_and_statistics [2] Kamal, Baher., Reliefweb., OCHA., Climate Migrants Might Reach One Billion by 2050., https://reliefweb.int/report/world/climate-migrants-might-reach-one-billion-2050 [3] IPCC., Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability., 2022., https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg2/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_WGII_FinalDraft_FullReport.pdf [4] BBC., How many Ukrainians have fled their homes and where have they gone?., 31st March 2022., https://www.migrationdataportal.org/themes/environmental_migration_and_statistics [5] Carter, Phillip., Williams, Bisa., The Hill., Developments in the Sahel could be worse than Ukraine crisis., https://thehill.com/opinion/international/595117-developments-in-the-sahel-could-be-worse-than-ukraine-crisis/ [6] Mahmud., Minahil., UNA-USA Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion Fellow., The Issue that COP26 Overlooked; Climate Refugees., https://unausa.org/the-issue-that-cop26-overlooked-climate-refugees/ [7] Sholchet, Catherine., CNN., You asked, we answered: How to help Ukrainian refugees., 2022., https://edition.cnn.com/2022/03/18/world/how-to-help-ukrainian-refugees-cec/index.html [8] Sakellari, Maria., Climate Change and migration in the UK media: How the story is told., 2019., https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1748048519883518

Blog written by Kitty Flynn – Studying Environmentalism.

#blog #blogger #writter #publish #newspaper #refugees #social #urkraine #countries #help

We are pleased to be sharing the launch of these wonderful new subscription boxes, they are due to launch on the 22nd of April (Earth Day).

https://www.itsourplanettoo.co.uk/

The subscription box:

We are launching a monthly subscription box or ‘tool kit for eco heroes’ on Earth Day. It will deliver thoughtfully planned, fun activities, news and information to connect children with our precious planet and inspire them to take action to protect it. It is aimed at 3-8 year olds. We will also be including an easy crib sheet in each box, we hope to empower parents to start conversations with their children about specific environmental concerns. We want to make it easy for parents to include their children on the journey to greener living.

The box will be 100% sustainable and plastic free, many of the tasks will utilise materials already found in the home or even in the recycling box… a UK first, I believe! From Earth Day, the boxes will be available to purchase on our website, with the first monthly box going out at the start of June.

https://www.itsourplanettoo.co.uk/

The cause: As a social venture, giving back is at the core of everything we do. Be it gently educating our littles ones (and their families) to make a positive change for a greener future, or supporting a charity that is very close to our hearts. We pledge to give a minimum of 50% of our profits to good causes and are proud to support RangerLab (formerly) The SockStar Project, an organisation that is striving for rangers on the ground, protecting the animals that our children love.

For more information about Its Our Planet Too – Visit – https://www.itsourplanettoo.co.uk/

More coming soon, we will be sharing some content about the amazing activities inside!

#itsourplanettoo #savetheplanet #ecokids #ecoactivities #ecochildren #ecoart #ecocooking #vegan #organic #children #kids #econewsforkids

Environmentalist Jay Westerveld coined the term “greenwashing” in 1986, in a critical essay about the ‘save the towel’ movement in hotels. This movement had nothing to do with helping the environment, far from it, it was simply a way of saving hotels money in laundry costs, but in their attempts to dress it up as a good thing, claimed their motivation was that they cared about the environment.

Save the towel emerged just three years after the internet was invented, was not used by everyone like it is today, and did not have archives of almost limitless information that could be accessed in seconds. This meant practically everyone got their news from newspapers, television and radio, so they couldn’t fact-check the way they could today. The definition of greenwashing is “Greenwashing is the process of conveying a false impression or providing misleading information about how a company’s products are more environmentally sound. Greenwashing is considered an unsubstantiated claim to deceive consumers into believing that a company’s products are environmentally friendly. History is littered with big corporations, who have poor environmental credentials, greenwashing and then extensively promoting, either products or elements of their operational activities. One such example was the global chemical company DuPont. Here is an advert they released in 1991 telling the world about its super safe, double-hulled oil tankers, sending out the public message that they had invested heavily in this new tech because they cared so much about the environment, when they were in fact the largest corporate polluter in the USA that year.

In a report entitled “DuPont’s Disgraceful Deeds” the world was made aware that “Du Pont is the single largest corporate polluter in the United States. In 1989, the latest year for which data are available from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Du Pont and its subsidiaries reported discharging more than 348 million pounds of pollutants to land, air and water. And Du Pont’s total reported discharge in 1989 was about 10 million pounds greater than in 1988. Du Pont, in fact, produced more chemical pollution in 1989 than Allied-Signal, Ford Motor Co. and Union Carbide combined. Du Pont’s total reported pollution was 14 times that of Dow Chemical, 20 times that of Chrysler and 30 times that of Mobil– all companies that are themselves among the top 100 U.S. polluters.” Given today’s acute focus on catastrophic climate change and the huge amount of pressure that is now heaped on polluters, it’s hardly surprising that those most guilty of environmental damage are the most eager to greenwash as much as they can, to present an environmentally friendly image to the public.

It’s especially understandable why big polluters pay their PR agencies millions to come up with ways to portray what they do in a much better light, when according to GreenPrint’s 2021 Business of Sustainability Index, 64% of Gen X consumers would spend more on a product if it comes from a sustainable brand, and that figure jumps to 75% among millennials. So now we move onto our little corner of the world, bamboo stemmed cotton buds, and how the simple fact they are made of bamboo, rather than paper or plastic is lorded as green credentials, when in fact, it is far from it. Simply using bamboo to make cotton buds is NOT a green credential. For example, China is the global hub of sustainable bamboo production, China is also cheap and has well established export routes to the UK.

However, when we set off on our journey to find a sustainable source of bamboo in China, we soon discovered that a truly sustainable source of FSC accredited bamboo costs 85% more than 100’s of other available choices of the bamboo sticks used to made bamboo cotton buds. This means, when you search online for bamboo cotton buds and find a plastic bag stuffed with 200 of them for a pound, you’re not helping at all by buying them. The most likely source of that bamboo is from a supplier who uses “Slash and Burn Bamboo Cultivation”, which is incredibly bad for the environment. What you should be doing instead is typing “Bamboo Buds” into Google and finding your way to our online shop. Our bamboo is grown just outside Handan in China by two FSC accredited, relatively small independent bamboo growers, who produce their crops exclusively for the HKJ medical instrument company. Our partnership agreement with HKJ guarantees our bamboo comes from these specific sources, which means our bamboo costs almost 85% more than 100’s of bamboo cotton buds sticks currently available in China.

HKJ is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of certified sterile, surgical face masks and since the pandemic started, they have produced more than 3 billion surgical masks for global distribution. They are also one of the world’s largest manufacturers of surgical swabs, which is why we approached them in the first instance. Our organic cotton is grown in, and sourced from, India, which is the global hub of sustainable organic cotton, by HKJ. Manufacture, including the sterilisation process, recycled packaging and environmentally friendly inks used in our unique, registered design, packaging are undertaken by a HKJ partner. The supply chain and manufacturing process is all carbon neutral, and we use UPS, specifically for their carbon natural international shipping credentials, to ship our finished product from China to the UK.

Once in the UK our shipping is done for us by Hermes, who not only have carbon natural credentials, but are the first national UK courier to achieve 100% renewable electricity in their operations and the first to successfully trial electric HGV vehicles. Being able to provide a carbon natural, supply chain and biodegradable product with fully recyclable packing has cost implications and whilst we may not have the cheapest bamboo cotton buds available on the market, we do have an eco-friendly alternative that we are confident is competitively priced and we have no reason whatsoever to greenwash.

https://bamboobuds.com/what-is-greenwashing/

Shop now at – https://bamboobuds.com/

#bamboobuds #bamboo #greenwashing #greenplanet #planet #savetheplanet #greenwash

International Day of Forests is a day to raise awareness of the significance of all types of forests. This day is a reminder to us all and to remember the value of our forests.

Walking the world, we think it is important to understand the eco systems and it is great to learn more as you wander through our amazing environments.

Did you know our forestry is broken down into layers? Each layer symbolises the difference in eco systems as you look up to the top of the trees.

FOREST FLOOR

The forest floor is the lowest layer of the chart, where it is dark, hot, and damp. Only two per cent of sunlight gets through the thick tall trees and low growing woodland plants to reach the forest floor.

UNDERSTORY LAYER

Above the floor is the understory, a layer made up of young trees, species of trees which are very small in height, shrubs, and soft-stemmed plants. The understory varies a lot from rainforest to rainforest.

CANOPY LAYER

The canopy layer is made up of the overlapping leaves, shrubs, branches of the trees of the rainforest. Scientists give us an estimate that 60-90% of life in all rainforests can be found in the canopy layer, making it the richest habitat for plant growth and animal life.

EMERGMENT LAYER

The very top! Is called an emergent layer. This layer receives sunlight every day and plenty of rain but is also very windy. The tallest trees sit above every other plant species. Animals do live in this layer, such as monkeys and birds.

Forests contain many species of trees; did you know the world has over 60,000 types and it is important to keep the species at an all-time high (we can’t have too many!). Trees play a very important part to us for health, environmentally and for our eco systems.

On your next nature walk, visit a local forest and see if you can divide the layers you have just learnt. Look for those hiding woodland plants and see if you can spot birds hiding high up in the trees.

#internationalforestday #forests #woods #woodland #savetheplanet #nature #walking #marchwalk #exercise #fitness

Celebrating the first day of Spring!

This date is considered the first day of spring under the astronomical calculation of the seasons, which is based on the two equinoxes and solstices.

What does Equinox mean?

Equinoxes get their name from the Latin for “equal night”, and mark the only two points in the year when the equator is the closest part of Earth to the sun, with both the northern and southern hemispheres sharing sunlight equally.

Going forward, the Northern Hemisphere will be more exposed to the sun than the Southern Hemisphere. That’s why it gets increasingly hot as we head toward the summer solstice in June. Who is ready for warmer days, lighter evenings?!

Spring has Sprung! Life begins again.

Spring is the season during which the natural world revives and reinvigorates after the cold, dull winter months. During spring, dormant plants begin to grow again, new seedlings sprout out of the ground and hibernating animals awake. The birthing season also begins for many wild animals!

These handmade, embroidered products offer ‘one of a kind’ pieces, created by a woman’s sewing cooperative in Madagascar.

Made from recycled cotton, each individual item is totally unique and offers a stunning present with real purpose. Made by the women of the Stitch Sainte Luce cooperative, the items’ sales bring in valuable income for families in Madagascar; who need our support now more than ever, as 1.15 million people on the island face starvation, due to the world’s first climate change famine.

Stitch Sainte Luce, supported by the charity SEED Madagascar, has taught embroidery, as well as business skills in maths, sales and English language, to over 100 women. Alongside value incomes, the cooperative has also helped empower women, giving them a creative and social outlet and building self-confidence.

For more information on Stitch Sainte Luce, or to buy products, please visit www.stitchsainteluce.org

For further details on the current food crisis in Madagascar please visit the SEED Madagascar website – www.madagascar.co.uk

Gifts ideas for £10 and under:

These stunning glasses cases and beautiful patterned bracelets. The bracelets are £4 each and the glasses cases are £10.

Example listing – https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1192861235/bracelet-handmade-embroidery-friendship

Purse and Make Up Bags

Creative and stylish, these wonderful patterns all handmade and crafted.

Example Listing – https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/746133929/make-up-bag-handmade-embroidered-purse

Homeware – Cushions

Decorate your home with some bold patterns and stunning colours! These decor cushions are all handmade and an amazing finish to any home.

Shop more amazing products at – https://www.stitchsainteluce.com/etsy-shop-1

More detail on the Stitch Sainte Luce Cooperative

Stitch Sainte Luce has brought much more than an income stream to the women involved in the project and the craft skills they have learnt have also helped to empower them and given them hope for the future. The women have always been encouraged to develop their own style, rather than being pushed towards Western designs, helping to build their self-confidence and allowing them to progress as artists. Many of the women are exceptionally creative and through collaborative pieces, where several women work on the same article, the Cooperative produces highly detailed and delicate pieces of artwork that are desired by a whole range of customers – from interior designers, schools, African collectors, fellow embroiderers and artists. The result is that these women not only now create one of a kind pieces of art, but have built a closer women’s community, have closed the gender income gap within their households and have established lifelong skills that ensure financial stability.

“The studio is a place where we can be together as friends. We work together, we talk together, and we laugh together. We need that in our lives”- Esterline

Each of the products that is produced by Stitch Sainte Luce is one of a kind and every item is unique.

Products that can be bought directly from the Cooperative’s website – https://www.stitchsainteluce.com/ where you can also learn more about the project and the women involved.

#ecofriendly #mothersday #ecomothers #ecomotherday #mothersdaygifts #gifts #giftsforher #ecogifts