Saatchi and Saatchi are broadening their remit - through their World Changing Ideas Award scheme. Read more on Fast Company
Tuesday, 26 February 2008
Tiscali launches environmental channel
.. with a definite consumer bent. Everything from green health spas to cars. And, of course, the obligatory list of green tips:
Environmentally friendly kitchens
1. Always use lids on your pans to reduce heat loss.
2. Turn down the heat as soon as anything boils, a gentle boil uses less energy.
3. It's more efficient to use a small gas flame on full blast than it is a large flame on a low setting.
4. Ensure your gas flame is blue and not yellow. If not, get it looked at.
5. Only boil the amount you really need. Use an electric kettle instead of the gas hob.
6. Don't open the oven door unless it's essential to avoid losing heat.
7. Don't leave the fridge door open for too long, as it will have to work harder to regain it's cool temperature.
8. New fridges and freezers are up to 75% more energy efficient than those made 30 years ago. Investing in a new fridge can save £100's of your bills.
9. Use your old coffee grounds, teabags and fruit and vegetable peelings for compost in the garden.
10. Washing up liquid is a good multipurpose cleaner for floors and surfaces as well as dishes.
2. Turn down the heat as soon as anything boils, a gentle boil uses less energy.
3. It's more efficient to use a small gas flame on full blast than it is a large flame on a low setting.
4. Ensure your gas flame is blue and not yellow. If not, get it looked at.
5. Only boil the amount you really need. Use an electric kettle instead of the gas hob.
6. Don't open the oven door unless it's essential to avoid losing heat.
7. Don't leave the fridge door open for too long, as it will have to work harder to regain it's cool temperature.
8. New fridges and freezers are up to 75% more energy efficient than those made 30 years ago. Investing in a new fridge can save £100's of your bills.
9. Use your old coffee grounds, teabags and fruit and vegetable peelings for compost in the garden.
10. Washing up liquid is a good multipurpose cleaner for floors and surfaces as well as dishes.
Friday, 22 February 2008
10 fun Friday green buys
Courtesy of The Times!
Why not try...
Woven handle bamboo bag
Made of recycled juice packs by a women’s cooperative in the Philippines, I love Doy bags.
Games picnic table
Bit chilly still, but here is a colourful bench that is made from 2000 plastic bottles.
Drinking glasses
Made from Corona beer bottles, cobalt-blue mineral water bottles and Coca-Cola bottles, snazzy drinking glasses from Ecooutlet.
Recycled chain bottle openers
Made from recycled bicycle chain, find them here – like the company name, Rebycle, too.
Jimi wallets
A range of wallets, including leather ones, made from recycled designer belts.
Ipod cover
Designed to protect your Ipod from scratches, these colourful covers are made from recycled plastic.
Handmade lampshades
Made from 100 recycled card and sourced in the UK. Find them here.
Table mat
Made from recycled bottle tops and made in Africa, each mat is unique.
The Nokia Remade
The first handset to be made entirely of recycled waste materials, including rubber tyres, as reported on the Mousetrap Technology blog.
Marmot EcoPro sleeping bag
A four season sleeping bag, made out of used plastic bottles and old fabric, soon to be launched by Cotswold Outdoor. In the meantime, they have a rucksack, called Osprey React, made out of 70 per cent recycled materials.
It's a green Friday...
IBM releases study on social responsibility. Surprisingly, it's a good thing. More...
CRO releases its hundred best corporate citizens. I haven't even heard of most of the top 10 though. More...
BusinessGreen offers a great guide to the Government's Carbon Offsetting quality mark ,and why so many people don't like it. More...
Philips goes green(er). More...
BP gets some flack form the Guardian. Their PR people must just love them. More...
Springwise brings us an interesting case study on the growth of collaboration: not online this time, but on an eco clothing brand! More...
Walkers walk the walk. (hehehe...)
Not satisfied with examining their own carbon footprint, Walkers are now asking us to improve ours...
"There’s so much to see and do here in Britain, there’s no need to go to the airport. It’s all right on your doorstep – this is just one way you can help reduce your family’s carbon footprint."
Eating crisps gains you points, which you 'bank' online. Earning points gets you discounts on all sorts of good old-fashioned British fun. Like trips to Alton Towers or, for the more violent amongst you, paintballing expeditions.
I like this. It's good and wholesome (apart from the crisp consumption required to earn your treats), and the points barriers aren't too high. The site is very much in keeping with Walkers down to earth tone of voice, and it's a great example of brands talking 'green' in their own way, rather than imposing heartfelt eco-messaging awkwardly on their branding.
Visit the site here
Wednesday, 20 February 2008
Porsche bad, Toyota good...
Tuesday, 19 February 2008
Afternoon tea.
This week we're holding our breath for...
... the government launch of a code of practice for the offsetting industry. Woo hoo!
Measuring products' green credentials
If there's one thing high school science taught me, it was that you should never believe everything you're taught. Every year, we were given permission to throw the last year's knowledge out of the window - molecules were revealed to be naught more than atoms, and finally even that pretty little satellite diagram of neutrons, protons and electrons went out the window.
One of the key realisations of growing up is that we, as adults (offically, at least) have to make choices where there is no 'right' or 'wrong'. Consequences are uncertain.
As marketeers, we help people deal with the problem of choice by differentiating and defining products and services. However, I've been wondering recently if we've become our own worst enemy. We match products to niches through rigorous consumer analysis, leavinbg no gap unfilled (we hope) and no desire without its solution. A clearly-measured differentiator nearly always exists to help consumers make choices, whether it be a brand promise or the recommendation of word of mouth.
In the green space, however, claiming knowledge or authority is a dangerous thing, and the lack of objective measurement leads to unsubstantiated differentiators which lack clarity.
Yesterday, for example, I spent a good five minutes in a quandry in the loo-roll aisle. Before me were two products: recycles own brand, or FSC certified premium brand. Now, my position is usually pretty clear - buy the greener version as long as there's not a huge price premium. I can even cope with lack of quilting if necessary. The mind was willing, but the yardstick wasn't there.
Corporate leadership is a fantastic thing. Don't think I'm arguing against innovation. But we're beginning to see a point where companies are making moves, but there's no standard scale on which to operate.
Could this be the next move for our corporate giants? How long will it be before they band together to put their collective punch behind an assessment tool? I must admit, I'm longing for more than my Walkers crisps to come with a carbon weight attached...
Monday, 18 February 2008
Eco-eggs
e upon a time,I spent a whole Easter holiday making a dolls house out of my Easter egg boxes. But no longer shall this be an available amusement for all the nation's children!
With just over a month to go until Easter, Easter eggs are now in store. New this year, Cadbury has launched a range of eggs to appeal to UK consumers that are concerned about packaging, in line with the company's Purple Goes Green climate change commitments.
The world's largest confectionery company has unveiled a range of 'eco-eggs' called Cadbury Treasure Eggs, which rather than being sold in a box is simply foil wrapped. The Treasure Eggs represent a reduction of over 75% plastic and 65% less cardboard than previously used in standard eggs.
As well as the new range of eco-eggs, the company has also pledged to cut packaging in its existing range of small & medium boxed eggs.
I've never before considered the effects of reduced packaging on childhood. Will there be as many fairy liquid spaceships, cardboard fortresses, and toilet roll castles in the world? Sad.Breakfast browsing 18/02
A government advisor has commented on the 'immorality' of drinking bottled water. More...
Big business beats the government on climate change. More...
Potneital changes to green marketing rules haunt US business. More...
Cadburys unbox the Easter egg. More...
Parents: are you suffering from eco-guilt? More...
Friday, 15 February 2008
Childrens character becomes green ambassador
Childhood favourite Rupert Bear is to make a long-awaited return - as a green ambassador for young children. According to Brand Republic, this is a niche which is yet to be filled, and Entertainment Rights believes he's perfect for their pr campaign.
Will this finally be the end of those hideous mustard checked trousers? Methinks a new, green colour scheme could be in the offing...
Thursday, 14 February 2008
Share body warmth - prevent global warming
At least, that's their view at Do the Green Thing! This lunchtime saw a giant group hug in Sloane Square to warm people up for the afternoon, thus allowing them to turn their heating down a degree or two. Even the passing minstrel joined in!!!
Shipping and green tech...
Wednesday, 13 February 2008
Lunchtime reading
M&S Launches new Plan A website
...complete with videos for those who can't be bothered with the text.
http://plana.marksandspencer.com/
Got some green case studies?
Then see the following, courtesy of GoodGreenPR
"The Media/PR Group of Access Intelligence is seeking marketing, PR, business and community relations/CSR experts to contribute case studies and how-toarticles on the topic of "green" business practices for a new guidebook, "CaseStudies in Outstanding Green Business Practices" that will be published by MediaIndustry Newsletter, PR News and CableFAX in the early summer 2008. To beconsidered, you must be an excellent writer and communicator who can convey in1,000 words or less what his/her company is doing to be more environmentallyaware and proactive. The article will include a byline of the author and is anexcellent opportunity to demonstrate your company's green efforts to an audiencethat includes top business executives. Send an e-mail by Feb. 13 with thesubject line "Going Green article idea" and include your article idea in 100words or less. The article must be original and not published elsewhere; bylinewill be included; authors are not compensated for contribution.If your article idea is selected, you will be notified by Feb. 20. First drafts will bedue March 14. No calls, please.Email your idea to Diane Schwartz at dschwartz@accessintel.com. Thank you in advance."
National Trust lives its brand
...by giving employees a 'green day' on the 29th Feb to stay home and complete a list of eco-chores. Love it!
Though one does wonder if any of their properties will actually open as a result...
Read more...
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