Anita Roddick believed that businesses should offer a form of moral leadership, being a powerful force in society. She has paved the way for the next cohort of trailblazing women at the forefront of responsible, better businesses.

The future of modern retail is radically local, community-driven, and genuinely innovative. And Prior shop is all three.

At Prior, we consider ourselves a pretty ‘good’ business. But what does it mean to be ‘good’ in a rapidly changing retail landscape? 

Since we won the Good Retail Award: Community Prize last year, we’ve been doing a whole bunch of reflecting, and thought you might like a little insider perspective on what we’ve been up to, too. 

We’ve found novel solutions to problems. We’ve adapted our game-plan against all the odds. But one sentence has rang out amongst all the noise:

Through community we teach each other. 

I’ve attached a short press release for your perusal, and have written a little extract in this email body, too. Please do let me know if I can help at all with high-res cut-outs, or any further information. We’d love to get on your radar if at all poss – our founder Beck is very adept at public speaking including on the radio or in person, and would be thrilled for an online/phone/social media interview. She would love to have a chat with you about the waves we’re making in the retail landscape right now. 

The objective of Beck Prior has always been to have an impact that goes beyond the four walls of the shop. The creative community deserves real, practical support. Building connections between studios and customers is a way to spread prosperity and create real change in the corporate landscape of shopping malls. Bringing the work of 150 independent creatives into a retail space normally reserved for big brand names is a project that not only the creative community of Bristol deserves, but also one that feeds back into the whole British economy, supporting local creatives and providing outlets for their work to be celebrated.

Beck Prior has always wanted more than just to bring the work of Prior’s fantastic makers into the retail space – Beck supports makers in real ways such as running small business mentoring workshops (some free of charge), in running monthly pop-up ‘meet the maker’ markets to solidify connections between makers and customers, and pitch to national, and regional press on behalf of artists. Beck hosts multiple work experience students a year and allows local schools, colleges and universities to display artwork in Prior’s gallery. 

Prior’s project is one that blends many different approaches. Underlining all of it however is Beck’s true investment into fantastic ‘behind-the-scenes’ groundwork, taking care over their makers’ work, and a deep desire to go above and beyond the greyscale world of retail. A fluid interaction between customers, makers and the shop is what their aim is: a cyclical system in which everyone wins.

The newly launched baby blanket by Their Future is the first of its kind, super soft-touch and uniquely designed to give your precious little one the ultimate protection, keeping them cosy and safe, while you have peace of mind.

Special technology used during the manufacturing process ensures that the blanket doesn’t release microfibres, and is created without the use of chemicals.

Their Future’s baby blanket has superior, permanent, antimicrobial properties, as the technology included in the fabric’s construction ensures that most envelope viruses are destroyed on contact.

The blanket doesn’t absorb moisture or any easily-made stains into the fabric, therefore preventing odours from developing. Any moisture is simply wicked away and dirt is easily released, allowing you to wash at lower temperatures.

Thanks to the innovative process adopted in its development it has a wonderfully sumptuous cotton-like soft touch, as well as being fully recyclable.

Available in a standard size (75cm x 100cm) and shape, the exceptionally unique blanket has been lovingly crafted with lightweight and breathable fabric, which ensures a gentle touch against baby’s delicate skin and is perfect for year-round use, even in those cooler Winter months. A natural stretch also makes it the perfect solution for swaddling and settling your young baby.

The blanket, which has been expertly created using a pioneering process using minimal water and aiming to minimise the impact on the environment, provides quality, cosiness, durability and protection, and with unparalleled recyclability. Once the blanket has reached the end of its working life, it can simply be returned for recycling where it can then be used to produce new yarn for new fabric.

In a plush ivory colour and with a simple, yet stylish design, the Their Future baby blanket perfectly complements any home or nursery and is a truly unmatched, must-have addition to any crib, cot or pram.

For each baby blanket sold, Their Future has pledged to donate one pound to Borne, helping the charity to fund ground-breaking research of the highest quality to advance knowledge of pregnancy and childbirth, and improve the lives of mothers and their babies.

RRP: £39.99

For more information and to purchase, visit the Their Future website.

After a successful pilot year in 2023 as featured on the BBC, the Clean Planet Peninsula project is set to embark on an ambitious and visionary 3-year journey. Building on last year’s success, the Clean Planet Foundation invites 25 individuals to join an immersive training course this August 2024 in the UK.

 In 2025 and 2026, selected participants from this training group will travel with the project to the Arctic and Antarctic to undertake scientific research and further training. This opportunity is open to anyone* who can demonstrate a distinct interest/focus relating to microplastic or climate science and can show how undertaking research in the polar regions will help benefit the global understanding of these critical environmental issues, contributing to worldwide conservation efforts.

The Clean Planet Foundation are privileged to be collaborating once again with the distinguished UK polar explorer Antony Jinman, the 12th Briton who skied solo in both the North and South Poles and the UK Polar Network (UKPN), the charity that represents early career polar scientists within the UK, alongside other partners from academic institutions (and beyond) who will be announced soon.

The project organisers envision this program as a stepping stone, guiding future projects and ensuring a continued legacy of innovation in polar research and environmental conservation. 

The end goal of this project is to provide early-career scientists with practical fieldwork expeditions, enabling research studies to be undertaken in the polar regions- particularly linked to plastic pollution and the impact of climate change.

Multi-Year Program Summary:

Year 1: UK Field course (4^th -9^th August 2024)- Princetown within Dartmoor National Park, Devon

• 25 Participants above 18 who want to acquire important fieldwork skills for research projects in remote areas including polar regions.
• The course will cover critical field skills, including survival, food preparation, essential hygiene practices with a focus on menstruation, navigation, and more.

Year 2: Arctic Expedition (October 2025):

• A shortlist of selected participants from Year 1 will have the opportunity to join an Arctic expedition in 2025, continuing their training in blending field skills and conducting scientific research in both marine and on land.

Year 3: Phase A – Norway/Finland (April 2026)

• A further shortlist of selected participants from Year 2 will go on a High Skills training trip to acquire remote weather survival skills in addition to skills for acquiring scientific data under cold weather conditions.

Year 3: Phase B- Antarctica Voyage Expedition (Dec -2026):

• The final shortlist of selected participants from the original 25 will become part of the crew for a voyage expedition to Antarctica, acquiring additional skills and conducting meaningful research on microplastics and climate research.

*WHO can apply?

The Clean Planet Peninsula project is looking for research students and early-career scientists from diverse backgrounds who have a project or are about to embark on research that requires fieldwork experience in remote areas including polar regions with research topics related to microplastics and their impact on the environment and climate.

Applicants should be above 18 years old, residents of the United Kingdom, and have a willingness to participate in all phases of the project from 2024 to 2027 to ensure research continuity. The project welcomes applicants from all backgrounds, and is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse learning environment. The project intends to keep at least 20% of places available for those who identify as coming from a low-income background. While participation in this program involves travelling to challenging regions, the organisers understand that individuals may have varying physical abilities. The primary concern is the safety and well-being of all participants. The organisers encourage all interested individuals to apply, regardless of their physical abilities. Applicants are asked to consider the physical demands of the course and expeditions, as they can be physically rigorous. However, the commitment to inclusivity means that the organisers are prepared to make reasonable accommodations to ensure that participants with disabilities can fully engage in the program.

If you have any concerns or specific needs related to physical fitness or mobility, please don’t hesitate to reach out to.

HOW can you apply?

Interested participants can apply by following the link to the Clean Planet Peninsula project. The application process will be open from February 20^th until May 24^th. The link is: https://www.cleanplanet.com/peninsula

Who is sponsoring the project?

The Clean Planet Foundation (CPF) is the lead sponsor of the Clean Planet Peninsula project. CPF is a not-for-profit organization committed to educating and taking action for the sustainable use of plastics and the reduction of carbon emissions. CPF believe in inclusivity and diversity and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. https://www.cleanplanet.com/foundation/
 

Who is responsible for the logistics?

CPF and course instructors are responsible for delivering the project and organising all necessary logistics for the trips. The project has received detailed feedback from the pilot year in 2023 and is confident in the ability to execute the project efficiently, making it a safe and enjoyable experience for all participants.

What does it cost and what am I expected to bring?

The project is run under sponsorship of the Clean Planet Foundation and all core project costs are covered by CPF. You will be required to cover the cost of transport within the UK (e.g. to get to Dartmoor in 2024), however, food, specialist equipment, and any future international travel will be covered by the project. You will be required to bring suitable clothing and footwear for outdoor activities in the UK, however, any polar-related activities will be covered. Those identifying as from a low-income background do have the opportunity to have their UK travel and outdoor clothing covered if they are unable to afford the project without this support.

Where can I learn more?

To learn more about the successful pilot year of the Clean Planet Peninsula project, please visit the link below: https://www.cleanplanet.com/peninsula

Handmade sustainable homewares and accessories! Including bottle bags, dishcloths, soap savers, wash mitts, reusable teabags and more. All items are made using sustainably sourced natural materials, including packaging.

Website: https://eclostitches.etsy.com

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

“One of the biggest motivations for me writing my book was the fact that many women in their mid- 60s are retiring in relative poverty, or are having to continue working because they can’t afford to retire…..”

Dare To Be Fair Dare To Be Fair by Amanda Redman (dare2befair.com)

To celebrate International Womens Day, I wanted to share this article for Amanda Redman who calling on all women to ‘Dare to Be Fair’ in her must have book, aimed at equipping women with the right information to take control of their finances and shape their future.

Drawing on her own experiences as a woman in the corporate workplace a working mother who launched her own business and the many women she has worked with,

Amandas book addresses why women are being financially disadvantaged in life, how we can change the status quo and the tools needed to do so.

“I’ll start by saying that I’m not a writer by profession, I’ve never written a book before or undertaken anything similar… and somehow, I felt compelled to write this one. Throughout my corporate career and now profession as a financial adviser, it’s struck me that the corporate workplace is still not set up to enable women to succeed. From barriers to going back to work after having children, to remuneration structures that reward longevity of service and those prepared to negotiate over salary, I saw that a change needed to happen.”

“It also became increasingly apparent to me that many women I have worked with feel less confident about their finances than their husbands or partners do and are not getting involved in planning for the long-term. I don’t believe that women are any less capable of understanding and taking control of their financial plan, so why don’t they? With the right guidance and information, all women can understand, plan and create the best financial future for themselves and their families, and that’s what my book is setting out to do.”

Dare To Be Fair will challenge you to assess your current financial situation and start to create a financial plan that will equip you for later life. It will also help you to consider your position in the workplace – your remuneration and career opportunities – and give you ideas to help change this, to achieve greater fairness in your life.

Some of the issues Dare To Be Fair tackles includes:

· Becoming self-sufficient: Unfortunately, in Amandas experience, the first time many women sit down to look over their finances is in the wake of a crisis, be that a bereavement, ill-health or a divorce. If you can be fully aware of yours and your partner’s financial situation now, you’ll be better prepared to deal with any changes that life throws at you.

· Work after children: The current ‘norm’ seems to be that once a woman has had a child, she’s likely to return to work part-time – Dare To Be Fair will open your eyes to the consequences of this. The reality is, working part-time is likely to leave you with less chances of advancing your career, less ability to save for your future and a smaller pension pot than your partner.

· Workplace cultures: It’s no secret that corporate workplaces have been shaped by men over decades. So, how can we go about changing years of female underrepresentation?

· Talking to our friends: We can all be part of the solution. Dare To Be Fair will help you instigate conversations with your friends, children and family members so that we can start to change the narrative for other women.

As well as pointing out the reasons why women are often less financially confident than men, Amandas book offers women practical tools to help achieve greater equality, whether at home, within the workplace or in society including:

· How to create a financial plan: If you want to fully understand your financial situation, it’s best to create a financial plan. If you shudder at the thought of

this, Dare To Be Fair will be a great help to you. Amanda breaks the process down into smaller stages, making the whole thing less daunting.

· Understanding your pension: We’ll be honest, pensions are confusing however that doesn’t mean that you can just stick your head in the sand and ignore them. “One of the biggest motivations for me writing my book was the fact that many women in their mid- 60s are retiring in relative poverty, or are having to continue working because they can’t afford to retire. If we understand how pensions work, we can take action now to avoid not having enough money to see us through the later stages of our life.”

· Changing how we view money: Many of our attitudes towards money now will have been shaped by our early experiences with it. For example, if money was scarce when you were younger, you might feel like you can’t spend anything now; or, if money was a taboo topic in your house, you might not feel comfortable discussing it. Dare To Be Fair touches on creating a healthier relationship with your money and finances.

· How to fight for fair at work: As women, we’ve probably all experienced some level of direct, or indirect, discrimination in the workplace. That might have been not being able to return to work on the same paygrade or in the same role after maternity leave, finding out your salary was comparably smaller than a male colleague or not feeling like putting yourself forward for a promotion when male colleagues have no issue with doing so. This book sets out actions you can take as an individual, and also top-down strategies that organisations can implement in a bid to ensure greater financial fairness between the sexes.

· Creating a more equal relationship between you and your partner: Although Amanda is a huge advocate for women returning to work post-children, for some families this is not the right decision. Whether you work again or not, there are ways to ensure that you remain financial equals regardless of who earns or works more, such as the main breadwinner paying into the wife’s pension so she is not financially disadvantaged in retirement.

Teaming up with schools and colleges across the UK, Clarion’s Free Tree Initiative gives our children a greener educational environment.

In an exciting display of environmental stewardship and community engagement, Surrey’s Reigate College took further steps towards sustainability by participating in Clarion’s innovative tree planting scheme. With the planting of 30 blackthorn, wild cherry and hazel trees, the college has not only enhanced its campuses green space but also took steps to sequester their carbon emissions through the trees’ absorption of carbon dioxide. This initiative, part of a broader collaboration between Clarion and Carbon Footprint UK, aims to instil an ethos of environmental responsibility within the UK’s academic spaces and provide a greener learning environment for the next generation of students.

Reigate College: A Model of Green Initiative

Reigate College’s involvement in Clarion’s free tree saplings for education scheme showcases how academic institutions, no matter their size, can play an active role in environmental conservation and carbon offsetting. The college’s decision to document and share their tree planting project serves as an inspirational blueprint for other schools and colleges and is an excellent example of how a small step can make a big change for many years to come. It highlights the simplicity and impact of incorporating sustainability into educational practices. The college’s Director of Estates and IT, who also worked with Clarion to upgrade the college’s phone systems to a modern VoIP solution,

commented “While we already have some wonderful mature planting and green space on our campus, Clarion’s donation of young trees will enhance our green space for the years to come.”

Tilly, a member of the College’s Student Sustainability Committee said, “We’re looking forward to seeing the saplings grow and in future, they will bring welcome shade and increase biodiversity at the College.”

The Power of Planting Trees: More Than Just Carbon Offsetting

Trees play a pivotal role in our planet’s ecosystem by sustaining local wildlife, releasing clean oxygen for us to breathe, and add beauty to the landscape. But beyond their role in creating biodiverse landscapes, trees also have the ability to sequester carbon dioxide. As natural lungs of the earth, trees act as air purifiers that can filter water, prevent soil erosion, and offer shade and cooling, reducing the need for air conditioning in nearby buildings.

In the UK, the average carbon footprint is estimated to be around six tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) per person, per year and the CO2 emissions is estimated to be around five tonnes per person per year. Fortunately, to minimise the adverse effects of these greenhouse gas emissions, UK schools, academies and colleges are taking active steps to reduce their carbon footprint by planting British-native trees on their grounds.

A college campus can benefit wildly from enhancing their green spaces and even amplify the educational opportunities they present. Through hands-on involvement in tree planting, students gain a deeper understanding of ecology, biology, and the importance of environmental conservation. Educational institutions participating in the free tree scheme are afforded a unique opportunity to integrate environmental science into their curriculum, foster a sense of stewardship among students, and take a small step towards environmental protection.

Clarion’s initiative to provide free trees to schools, colleges and academies across the UK is a visionary project with tangible benefits for both the environment and educational communities. By offering native British saplings to all Clarion Academic clients at no cost, Clarion and Carbon Footprint UK are removing barriers to participation, enabling schools of all sizes and resources to contribute to a greener future.

Get A Plan Of Action For Your School

As the world grapples with the pressing challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss, initiatives like this have been designed to support biodiversity, enhance the UK’s natural landscape, offset CO2 emissions, and protect forests and biodiversity on a national scale. Reigate College’s successful participation exemplifies the scheme’s potential to effect meaningful environmental and educational outcomes. By joining forces, British schools, colleges, and academies can make a significant impact, planting the seeds for a healthier planet and a more environmentally literate society.

Together, we can cultivate a greener, more sustainable future, one small sapling at a time.

We would like to share one of interviews that ended 2023, we spoke with Knitluxe Studios about their wonderful business.

1. A background profile about you

Szilvia Burrows is an award-winning textile designer specialising in knitwear, located in Buckinghamshire, England. Where she graduated from Buckinghamshire New University to realize her dream of becoming a designer. In 2017 she graduated with First Class Honours and was awarded first prize of the Hill Osborne Bursary by the Worshipful Company of Framework Knitters the same year. After a successful career in product design working with brands such as Tom Dixon and Joseph Joseph, and in response to her research and passion for Ethical Fashion, she decided to pursue her own vision to create reimagined, sophisticated yet practical and sustainable handcrafted products.

2. Why would you like to be interviewed by us?

Owner and Designer-maker, Szilvia’s vintage knitting machine is a fine gauge hand flat Dubied knitting machine, considered vintage now as they are no longer being manufactured as digitally operated knitting machines took over. Learning and knowing how to create fabric on these machines is a skill that less and less people are taught and has a chance therefore to be a forgotten trade in the future.

Szilvia is also a knitwear technician in the university where she undertook her degree, teaching machine knitting to the next generation along running workshops and teaching garment calculation, garment construction, creative knitting, and constructed textiles.

Szilvia’s other biggest focus along carrying on the traditional machine knitting craft is sustainability. While in university, working on her graduate collection she quickly realised that natural materials such as wool is underappreciated and undervalued.

Merino wool is one of our oldest, natural fibre with advanced technical properties such as breathable, lightweight, renewable, odour repellent, body temperature regulation and many more. Making products not just super soft against the skin but safe too.

With her practice her aim is to create timeless knitwear made entirely with the finest quality wool on the market to commit to a better future. Szilvia intends to make woollen knitwear fashionable, while helping you maintain a greener wardrobe.

3. What is the name of your business?

Knitluxe Studio

4. Do you have a topic you would like to base your interview on?- Wearing and using more wool

Wool is one of our oldest natural materials with several amazing properties:

Wool is 100% natural, composed of a natural protein that is like human hair, wool grows on sheep which consume a simple blend of water, sunshine, and grass. Renewable: Sheep produce a new fleece every year, making wool a completely renewable fibre without depleting finite natural sources. In contrast to synthetic fibres and garments, Merino wool is an active fibre that reacts to change in the body temperature, so it helps you stay warm when the weather is cold and cool when the weather is hot. Natural elasticity helps Merino wool garments stretch with you, yet return to its

original shape, making Merino wool clothing ideal to wear when exercising. Durable, reusable, and recyclable, naturally fire resistant, UV- resistant and biodegradable: Wool decomposes in soil in a matter of years, releasing valuable nitrogen -based nutrients back into the soil. In contrast to synthetics, Merino wool can absorb moisture vapour, leaving less perspiration on the skin, reducing odour- causing bacteria. Easily refreshed by airing, wool garments can be worn longer between washes due to wool’s natural ability to shed dirt and bacteria. Merino wool can even absorb the odour molecules from sweat, which are only released upon washing.

Along with these naturally advanced properties, wearing wool is also contributing to a more responsible and ethical consumerism.

knitluxestudio.co.uk

New research from plastic pollution prevention startup CleanHub reveals the biggest corporate greenwashing fines and settlements – with Volkswagen’s Dieselgate emissions scandal penalty topping the list at over $34 billion. 

Here are the key findings:

• The ten corporate fines, settlements, and donations range from the hundreds of thousands to the billions, with all of these taking place in the last 10 years showing how serious the financial implications for greenwashing have become.
• Car manufacturers Volkswagen (#1) and Toyota (#2) top the list with fines of $34.69 billion and $180 million, respectively, from falsified emissions data and delays to emissions reports. Additionally, the 2014 VW Dieselgate scandal was a landmark first for corporate greenwashing fines of this magnitude.
• Banking and financial firms DWS (#3), Goldman Sachs (#7), and BNY Mellon (#9) feature throughout due to their misleading ESG funding claims – DWS was fined most at $25 million.
• Food companies Keurig (#4) and Kohl’s/Walmart (#6) both appear as a result of misleading packaging materials. 
• Oil company Eni (#5) claims that their palm oil diesel was ‘green’ cost them $5.6 million.
• While not technically fines, clothing brands H&M and Decathlon made donations to sustainable causes after using unsubstantiated eco-friendly terms on their labels.

Here’s the ranking table of all 10 companies featured (we’ve converted the fines to US dollars for consistency):

Rank	Company	Fines/Settlements, Donations ($)	Reason for fine
1	Volkswagen	$34.69 billion	Implementing software that falsified data and helped evade emissions tests on its vehicles
2	Toyota	$180 million	Delayed sharing of emissions-related reports
3	DWS	$25 million	Potentially marketing ESG funds as ‘greener’ than they actually were
4	Keurig	$12.2 million	Making misleading claims about its single-use coffee pods, suggesting they were recyclable when recyclers don’t widely accept them
5	Eni	$5.6 million	Claiming its palm oil diesel was ‘green’
6	Kohl’s & Walmart	$5.5 million (combined)	Both claimed their products were made from environmentally friendly bamboo when they were made from other materials
7	Goldman Sachs	$4 million	Failing to follow ESG investment policies and misleading its customers
8	BNY Mellon	$1.5 million	Failures to implement ESG policies and overstating the ESG value of its funds
9/10	Decathlon & H&M	$530,000 and $430,500 (donations)	Technically, these were donations made to sustainable causes by the companies due unsubstantiated claims on their labels

The new Cleanhub report aims to help businesses understand greenwashing and the consequences, detailing each company case, highlighting the fines they received, the reasons why, and how they responded. 

Please read it here: https://blog.cleanhub.com/greenwashing-examples

ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) strategy has become a key part of modern businesses, with 98% of CEOs in 2023 stating that it was crucial to their roles. However, as this increases, so do cases of corporate greenwashing. 

Two-thirds of US businesses admitted to greenwashing last year, which if found guilty, can have dire outcomes including large fines and negative publicity that turns customers off. 9 in 10 consumers recently stated that it’s important to them for businesses to act in a socially and environmentally responsible way.

Authorities worldwide are introducing more legislation and penalties to deal with greenwashing. At the start of 2024, the European Union adopted a new lawto stop these practices. In October 2023, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission imposed harsher reporting standards around ESG funds, and in November, the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published it’s new general anti-greenwashing rule that requires financial firms to ensure that their labelling is fair, clear and not misleading.

CleanHub’s Vice President of Marketing, Nikki Stones, had this to say on the rankings:

“Given how substantial these fines are, it’s clear that regulators are trying to send a message to companies. The days of quiet punishments are over when it comes to greenwashing — brands that intentionally mislead consumers over green initiatives will be severely penalised moving forward.

We expect to see more greenwashing fines in the coming years too, with new EU legislation on the horizon. To swerve these penalties, companies need to make sure all of their environmental claims and initiatives are transparent, truthful, and are backed up with evidence.”

A NEW campaign which aims to promote wider citizen participation in food systems and empower them to seek greater transparency over where their food comes from, has been launched by new movement for collective action, Inclusive Food.

Inclusive Food is spearheaded by two UK researchers, Dr Anne Touboulic and Dr Lucy McCarthy who are based at the University of Nottingham and the University of Bristol.

Aiming to help challenge the often-damaging global food systems, the new campaign seeks to address critical sustainability concerns related to food production and consumption. It also aims to help drive change by bringing about a fundamental rethinking of food supply chains, and how they connect consumers, big food producers and farmers.

Inclusive Food’s campaign builds on existing climate research that has shown that agriculture is directly responsible for 8.5% of all greenhouse gas emissions, with a further 14.5% coming from land use change, and 80% of deforestation attributed to land being cleared to grow food.

Meanwhile, long supply chains and a reliance on produce which is out of season, or has been heavily processed, is further increasing the impact current food production and consumption practices are having on the Earth and its citizens.

In addition to being co-founder of Inclusive Food, Dr Anne Touboulic is also an associate professor at the University of Nottingham, and a core member of the Food Systems Institute, an interdisciplinary centre for food research. She believes the way food is currently produced and consumed cannot continue at the rate it is, and change is long overdue.

She said: “Food is essential to everyone, but the way our food systems promote over-production and over-consumption is not. Our current food systems are organised in a way which is deeply damaging both ecologically, and to those whose labour is involved at different stages of the food chain.

“In addition, the forces of globalisation and industrialisation have irreversibly shifted the way food is produced, consumed, and organised. Through our campaign, we’re aiming to equip citizens with the knowledge to help them make informed decisions about where their food is from, so they can be empowered to help make a change.”

Inclusive Food believes transforming food supply chains is critical for reaching the UK’s carbon reduction targets, as well as for developing systems that will cope with the damage already caused to the Earth.

Inclusive Food co-founder Dr Lucy McCarthy is a senior lecturer at the University of Bristol, a core member of the Food Justice Network and a member of the Sustainable Production & Consumption and Inclusive Economy and Action Research and Critical Inquiry in Organisations research groups.

She added: “The changing climate means we must rethink our food systems. We’ve come to rely on extended food supply chains. In the UK for instance, we import a significant amount of food from locations that are already being disproportionately affected by climate change, which in part results in significant decreases in food productivity. For example, Spain produces most of the fruits and vegs consumed across Europe, but it is already being disrupted by changing weather patterns, and it is estimated that crop yields will decrease by a further 15 – 30% as global temperatures increase.

“Growing food more locally and in a wider range of places will help to compensate for the damage that is already happening, while also reducing further impact. Research from the Food and Agricultural Organisation shows that over 90% of crop varieties in the farming industry have been lost over the last century, a decline that’s linked to large scale farming. Many of the remaining crops are energy dense and high in caloric values but depleted of vitamins and nutrients. And although this has short term benefits for increased yields, it increases the environmental cost of growing food, as ecosystems are altered to suit the limited variety of crops.”

The new movement hopes to empower people to move away from ultra-processed diets to help lower the energy and overall environmental cost, while also shifting from a food system largely controlled by large corporations. This includes harnessing the power of simpler diets with less ultra processed foods where possible, as well as fewer calories, which can help to improve wellbeing and help the environment.

Believing that change should be both top-down and bottom-up, Dr Touboulic and Dr McCarthy are inviting as many people as possible to join them in holding to account large powerful organisations such as big retailers and manufacturers as well as policy makers so that they do their bit to drive change.

Dr Anne Touboulic added: “Sometimes as citizens, we can feel powerless or unsure of where to start to drive change and that’s okay. A good place to start can be as simple as asking those important questions about what you eat, and where it comes from. We need to reconnect with the natural cycles and break away from expecting all foods to be available at all times. This is something that individuals should consider, but primarily we require radical change in how supermarkets and other organisations operate and what they offer.

“In an effort to eat seasonally, we also need to be aware that climates are changing across the world and that this can create different seasons for food. But also it’s about educating ourselves as to when particular foodstuffs are in season and where they come from.

“It’s down to all of us to encourage large retailers to source more locally and to take responsibility and accountability for their own actions. It is only through collective action and engagement that we can create changes that encourage more sustainable food supply chains.”

To find out more about Inclusive Food, visit: https://inclusivefood.org/

·         A new study from Auto Trader reveals Lexus drivers have better eco-habits than Tesla drivers

·         Porsche and Land Rover drivers also rank among the most eco-aware drivers

·         Vauxhall and Toyota drivers are slower to adopt everyday eco-habits

Electric car champion Auto Trader has surveyed over 1,290 drivers to reveal which green habits the nation’s drivers are doing the most, and which drivers are struggling to do regularly.

The results show that the most popular eco-behaviors also ones that look after the pennies, such as taking our own shopping bags to the store, air drying our clothes and having a reusable water bottle.

In the new study, Auto Trader asked drivers how regularly they perform a variety of everyday sustainable habits, with the top ten most popular eco-habits as follows:

Drivers’ Ten Most Common Eco-Habits

	Eco-Habit	% of Respondents Who Always, or Regularly Do This
1	People say they take their own reusable bags when shopping	88%
2	People say they air dry clothes rather than tumble dry	75%
3	People say they recycle at home, using kerbside recycling for household items	73%
4	People use their own reusable water bottle	66%
5=	People say they switch their washing machine to 30 degrees	64%
5=	People say they wear more clothes to stay warm than turn up the central heating	64%
6	People say they recycle items that can’t be recycled at home e.g. batteries, water filters, black food trays, crisp packets etc.	62%
7	People turn off their computers and TVs, rather than using standby	60%
8	People use Tupperware or reusable wraps over foil or clingfilm	59%
9	People drive slower to use less fuel	42%
10	People buy second hand toys, clothes, appliances, furniture etc. for sustainability reasons	34%

The least popular eco-habit is cycling instead of driving, with just 15% of drivers regularly adopting this habit. However, using an e-bike can massively improve your city commute, not just in terms of reducing carbon emissions, but by also providing a speedy alternative to sitting in a traffic jam and even taking away the stress of finding a parking place.

When cross-referencing the eco-habits with the brand of car the respondents drive, the study found that drivers of Lexus, Tesla and Porsche cars are taking remarkable strides towards reducing their carbon footprint and adopting eco-friendly habits.

Top 5 Drivers With The Best Eco-habits

1.                   Lexus Drivers: Lexus drivers are crowned the drivers with the best eco-habits, thanks to their pioneering behavior in reducing road congestion and emissions, with an impressive 63% frequently carpooling. Beyond sharing rides, Lexus drivers are also public transport advocates, as a majority (88%) of Lexus drivers admit opting for public transport over personal vehicles, demonstrating their dedication to reducing emissions on the road. Furthermore, Lexus owners also adopt consistent sustainable eating habits. Not only are 3 in 4 (75%) Lexus drivers embracing a vegan diet for sustainability reasons, a high number of Lexus drivers claim to prioritize purchasing food with fewer air miles – highlighting their commitment to reducing their impact on the environment.

2.       Tesla Drivers: Unsurprisingly, Tesla drivers are setting a high eco-standard. Aside from all driving an electric car, the Tesla drivers surveyed all claim to use their own water bottle, and an impressive 94% switch their washing machines to an eco-friendlier 30-degree cycle, significantly reducing their carbon footprint. Furthermore, over half (56%) of Tesla drivers opt to shop in refill stores, championing the reduction of waste packaging in their daily lives and a grand majority (81%) claim to buy second hand items for sustainability reasons.  

3.       Porsche Drivers: Porsche owners round up the top three drivers with the best eco-habits. Not only do they stand out with 100% claiming to prefer air drying over tumble drying, thus saving energy, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but the majority of Porsche drivers also claim to adopt a slower driving style to save fuel and lower emissions.

4.       Audi Drivers: Audi drivers demonstrate a commitment to sustainability when it comes to buying products, with 61% claiming to research the sustainability of brands and products before making a purchase. Owners of the German vehicles also prove to be eco-conscious in everyday shopping, with 56% of Audi drivers claiming to shop in refill stores to reduce waste packaging.

5.       Land Rover Drivers: Much like Lexus drivers, Land Rover owners are devoted recyclers, with 100% of them actively participating in recycling efforts at home, helping them land in the fifth position of drivers with the best eco-habits. Moreover, 95% of Land Rover drivers help reduce their environmental footprint by switching their washing machines to a more energy-efficient 30-degree cycle.

Drivers With The Worst Eco-habits

While some brand owners are excelling in adopting sustainable habits, others are slightly behind the curve…

·         Suzuki Drivers: Suzuki drivers, it seems, aren’t too keen on recycling, with 74% of those who drive the Japanese brand showing a reluctance to recycle regularly at home, highlighting a missed opportunity to reduce waste and conserve resources. Likewise, at 29%, they are one of the motorists least likely to avoid eating meat for sustainable reasons.

·         Seat Drivers: While we all love a hot drink while out and about, disposable cups should be avoided to reduce the ever-growing issue of single-use plastic waste. Seat drivers, however, seem less than keen on the matter, with less than half confirming they bring a reusable cup for hot drinks.

·         Toyota Drivers: As well as general low eco-habit adoption scores across the board, a clingfilm conundrum places Toyota owners among the worst eco offenders, as they stand out as the least likely to use Tupperware or reusable wraps, often opting for clingfilm or foil, which can contribute to plastic waste.

·         Vauxhall Drivers: Much like Seat drivers, Vauxhall owners suffer from cup dependency. With 41% of Vauxhall drivers not using their own cups for hot drinks, there is a missed opportunity to help reduce single-use plastic waste.

Erin Barker, editorial director at Auto Trader, says: “At Auto Trader we’re passionate about supporting consumers with their environmentally friendly vehicle and journey choices. From upgrading an older petrol car to a newer, cleaner one or switching to an e-bike for your city commute, there are plenty of ways we can reduce our environmental impact. It’s encouraging to see from this study how many eco-habits have been adopted into our daily lives and we would love to see more drivers making more environmentally conscious decisions on the road, whether it’s sparking your electric journey with a pre-loved electric car, or simply reducing your car’s emissions with a smoother, slower drive.”

Eco-Friendly Driving Tips

Driving with minimal eco-impact is an essential practice to reduce your carbon footprint and help preserve the environment, and while opting to purchase or lease an electric car would be the top solution, there are plenty of other actions you can take to start driving greener today.

With 42% of people admitting they drive slower to use less fuel, Auto Trader’s experts have shared some top tips for eco-friendly driving: 

1.       Maintain a Consistent Speed

Use cruise control on highways to maintain a steady speed. This can improve fuel efficiency by reducing the need for constant acceleration and deceleration. Gradual acceleration and smooth braking help conserve fuel and reduce wear and tear on your vehicle.

2.       Check Tyre Pressure
Keep your tires are properly inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended pressure. Under-inflated tires can decrease fuel efficiency and increase emissions.

3.       Lighten Your Load
Remove unnecessary items from your car. Extra weight can reduce fuel efficiency, so only carry what you need for your journey.

4.       Limit Idling
Idling consumes fuel and produces unnecessary emissions. Turn off your engine if you expect to be stationary for more than a minute. Modern engines are designed to handle frequent starts, hence why restarting your engine after a brief stop is more fuel-efficient than idling for an extended period.

To see the full Greenest Drivers report visit: www.autotrader.co.uk/cars/electric/greenest-drivers/