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News & Views From the Front Line
Thursday, 2 April 2009
More green shoots?
I commented a few weeks ago on the car industry going green to beat the recession. Well last week I saw some evidence that retail, another sector said to be on the brink, is trying the same tactic. John Lewis had given two windows over to green products, clearly believing that this sets them apart from their competitors.
Labels: green products, recession, retail
# posted by Gareth Kane : 07:05
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Wednesday, 9 July 2008
The unrecognised recycling sector
On Monday I gave a seminar on carbon footprinting and carbon management (using the Terra Infirma brainstorming tool) at the Association of Charity Shops Annual Conference in Keele. I learnt a lot, as I always do in this trade (I've worked with everyone from multi-national pharmaceutical companies through to a crazy golf course - you pick up all sorts of weird factoids). The sector is a huge, professionally run, and very competitive retail operation, a huge chunk of the reuse industry and a huge source of materials for recyclers. This was not lost on the three recycling companies who sponsored the event.The seminar went to plan and was well received - despite some shock when we spent half the time actually doing some work. Solutions we generated included checking tyre pressure of vehicles, better use of steamers, buying translucent kettles and even screwing down the thermostat dials. The big contentious issue is open/closed door. As with all shops, open door = more sales but massive energy loss. We didn't resolve this one, but if anyone can think of a solution, post it in the comments.
Labels: carbon footprint, carbon management, charity shops, recycling, retail
# posted by Gareth Kane : 09:32
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A highly accessible, practical guide to those who want to introduce sustainability into their business or organization quickly and effectively.
