Issue #5

How to pick out a sustainable christmas tree

Real trees may take carbon out of the atmosphere as they grow, but if you factor in the chemical fertilisers, machinery and transportation, their carbon footprint grows pretty quickly. While plastic trees have a footprint roughly 20 times that of a real tree, they can be reused, making them a viable option over time.

Sustainable options include buying a locally grown tree, or a pot grown tree that will last several years. If you’re not too attached to a Christmas tree, the most sustainable option is to avoid getting a new one entirely.

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Renewable energy likely to cost much less than expected – have you made the switch yet?

A new report from the University of Oxford’s Institute of New Economic Thinking suggests that the projected cost of renewables has been greatly overestimated. One example is solar energy: prices were predicted to fall about 6% per year from 2010 to 2020. In reality, costs dropped 15% each year.

This makes renewable energy an increasingly viable and cost-effective option, giving us fewer and fewer reasons not to make the switch.

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5 good things that happened for the planet in 2021

Between the twin forces of an ongoing global pandemic and rapidly worsening climate crisis, 2021 is unlikely to be year many of us will be sad to see the back of.

But it’s not all been bad news: we’ve seen monarch butterfly populations bounce back this year, the fossil fuel divestment movement is growing and plant-based diets are on the rise globally. Alongside this, landmark environmental rights bills and land protections have been passed in the US.

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Issue #4

Did you offer discounts this Black Friday? Maybe next year, you’ll think again.

As consumers become increasingly climate conscious and likely to align with purpose driven brands, Black Friday is quickly becoming a signifier of a ‘business-as-usual’ approach to commerce.

Last year, the UK alone produced an estimated 430,000 metric tonnes of emissions, and it has been found that almost 80% of items purchased during the event end up getting tossed shortly after.

As well as distancing themselves from Black Friday, read more about how businesses are coming up with alternatives to celebrate responsible consumerism.

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How retailers can incorporate sustainability into their branding.

Retail Insight Network spoke with sustainability specialist and branding agency Foxall Studio co-owners Andrew and Iain Foxall to discuss how retailers can incorporate sustainability into their branding and, in doing so, appeal to wider audiences.

While this means there is no one-size-fits-all approach, here are some tips to get you started.

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Signs of hope for the Great Barrier Reef

In the last five years, the Great Barrier Reef has suffered three mass bleaching events; there have been only five of these events in the entire history of the reef. This week, scientists filmed a ‘magical’ coral spawning that might mean there’s hope for the World Heritage site.

Read more here →

Issue #3

Ithaca, New York plans to become the world’s first carbon neutral city.

In a groundbreaking decision, the city recently voted to fully decarbonise its buildings, with an aim of achieving community-wide carbon neutrality by 2030. This is part of its Green New Deal, which will switch the city’s buildings to 100% renewable energy by 2025 and ensure the benefits are shared to reduce historical social, and economic inequalities.

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Allbirds going public is a watershed moment for sustainable business

Allbirds’ journey, starting out as a simple eco-conscious shoe a little over five years ago, to become an innovator and standard bearer of sustainability in the famously high emission fashion industry, is a great story in its own right.

Recently going public in the NASDAQ – listed at $5bn – they represent a wave of sustainable, purpose driven brands leading the way for a new mode of business. Take a look at the 5 trends defining the future of Ecommerce.

Read the full article from TechCrunch →

Women’s perspectives in the design of climate solutions

Climate change will disproportionately affect women, particularly in developing countries. Lack of access to finance, education, training and technology act as barriers to entry that keep women out of the conversations, meaning that their perspectives and insights go largely overlooked in the design of climate solutions – from policy to technology.

The #5050Vision campaign is working to ensure that all delegations for climate negotiations have at least 50% representation of diverse women. Recently, this need was recognised by COP26’s Gender Day.

Read more here →

Issue #2

Everything you need to know about carbon offsetting in relation to COP26

We’ve put together a comprehensive guide, explaining the ins and outs of carbon credits, how to identify good ones and why carbon offsets will play such an important role in the goals set at the make or break climate summit.

Download the e-book →

Issue #1

COP26 and COP15: understanding the United Nations’ initiatives.

COP26, kicking off on Sunday 31st of October, is the United Nations global conference to accelerate the action taken by governments around the world towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Related blog: Raising the Bar on Carbon Offsets  →

COP15, the United Nations’ biodiversity conference, commenced earlier this month. Biodiversity loss directly affects food supply, land and water quality and plays a huge role in the increasing likelihood of future pandemics. Nature loss will have just as significant an impact on business as climate change and is an important one to consider in the goals we set.

Steps to becoming a Nature Positive business →

Avoid the PR disasters and bedtime tears. Up-skill yourself on ethical commerce.

As supply chain and operations transparency grows, businesses need to be aware of the ethical threats they and their industry may be facing. Here’s a Guardian article on making sure you are on the right side of ethical business.

Read more here →

Solar forests fighting desertification.

Korean technology company Hanwha developed a smartphone game, ‘Tree Planet’, in conjunction with the UNCCD, allowing users plant trees in real life when they plant them in the video game.

To date, two forests have been developed in China and Mongolia, irrigated off systems running on solar energy. As well as absorbing around 5,000 tonnes of carbon over the next decade, they are restoring the soil, preventing dust storms and rebalancing ecosystems.

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