Household favourite, organic chocolate maker Green & Black's revealed earlier this week that it plans to switch its global food and beverage range to Fairtrade by the end of 2011. This move from the world's leading manufacturer of organic Fairtrade chocolate has posed the question for international eco-enthusiasts: Isn't it about time for the entire chocolate market to open wide to a Fairtrade solution?

Green & Black's were the first company to launch an official Fairtrade product for sale in the UK. The chocolate firm's Maya Gold chocolate went on sale to British appetites nearly 15 years ago. And by the end of this year, all Green & Black's products, including food and beverage, will carry the revered blue and green Fairtrade stamp of approval. Plans for a complete conversion are set to make their way through the 30 countries the chocolate makers distribute to by the close of 2011.

Not only will this provide siginificant funding for Fairtrade, through a rapid increase of worldwide sales, it will also expand and consolidate existing Fairtrade relationships with cocoa farmers through capital funding.

Developing business agreements like these are a formidable way of establishing regulations that seek to benefit all parties involved. And the Fairtrade Foundation's growth is another way to acknowledge the emerging prominence of Green markets.

In just over a decade, the Fairtrade market has grown from a net value of £22m in 1999, according to Co-op surveys, to harvesting £635m in product sales, with the Co-operative predicting that this year's sales could see the Fairtrade company exceed the £1bn barrier in 2010. At present, Green & Black's annual retail sales are estimated at £65m, which would add an additional growth-spert to the greener side of the chocolate market.

The Fairtrade funding generated by this move will be invested in Dominican Republic farmers. The funding, which is estimated at approximately £300,000 a year, will support initiatives set to increase sustainability by improving quality, yields and education, which will boost income for local farmers and help protect the cocoa industry by securing the supply of high-quality organic cocoa beans and sustain the brand's international growth.

Market analysts seem encouraged by this bold move by leaders Green & Black's and expect to see similar approaches taken by competitive companies.

Dominic Lowe, managing director of Green & Black's, said: "We buy quality, organic Trinitario cocoa beans from co-operatives in the Dominican Republic, and have done so for 10 years. Up until now we have committed US $500,000 in local initiatives to improve quality and availability, but we wanted to do more to support farmers."

It is by developing trade relationships like these that the Fairtrade organisation set out in its fledgling stages.

The Fairtrade Foundation (UK) executive director, Harriet Lamb, commented: "This newest commitment to Fairtrade will enable producers to benefit themselves, scale up their businesses and invest in their communities, not just now but for the future."

This move represents the latest in a series of recent developments within the food and beverage industry. It seems that the Fairtrade Foundation is set to find new and growing support as a widening market of chocolate lovers finally begin to demand all things Fair.

Posted under Articles, Companies

Even though it is common knowledge amongst most eco-crowds that a large area of domestic and industrial Britain is to be made sustainable by 2020, a lot of people won’t have found out that the Government also plans to make every school a ‘sustainable school’ by the very same year.

In 2006 the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) launched their Sustainable Schools Framework after the Secretary of State for Education, the Rt Hon Alan Johnson MP revealed the ‘greener’ blueprints for British schools to adopt and enhance learning about sustainable development issues and put sustainable practices into everyday school life.

Four years later, and now only a decade away from an increasingly significant year, has there been much of an improvement? Well, yes, actually.

And good for us! Hundreds of schools nationwide have risen to the challenge by not only becoming ecologically aware, but also training to be that bit more eco-practical. Once more, to keep things running smoothly, the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) has created an international award programme that helps ‘teach’ schools on a variety of topics they might like to add to this year’s curriculum.

Quite conveniently named, Eco-Schools is the FEE’s brainchild that has set out a practical framework to aid school learning and embed a collection of eco-principles into the centre of school activity.
Only just fewer than 50 countries located around the globe take part in the Eco-Schools programme – from the UK to France, from Morocco to South Africa – there is an international network of 40,000 schools, linking teachers and students alike.

Administered by Keep Britain Tidy, the Eco-Schools programme is free to join and is a great way to manage and maintain the progress of your school, whether it is a children’s centre, nursery, primary school, secondary school or a school with special status.

As soon as your school is registered you’ll help follow a simple seven-step process which helps both children and adults to address a range of environmental issues. Recycling, waste, healthy living and biodiversity are to name but a few. Eco-Schools say:

Children are the driving force behind Eco-Schools – they lead the eco-committee and help carry out an audit to assess the environmental performance of their school. Through consultation with the rest of the school and the wider community it is the pupils that decide which environmental themes they want to address and how they are going to do it. Measuring and monitoring is an integral part of the Eco-Schools programme, providing schools with all the evidence they need to really shout about their environmental success.

Schools work towards gaining one of three awards – Bronze, Silver and the prestigious Green Flag award, which symbolises excellence in the field of environmental activity. Bronze and Silver are both self accredited through this website and Green Flag is externally assessed by Keep Britain Tidy.

The Eco-Schools programme is a proven way to save money (by making small changes to the environmental management of a school, financial savings can be considerable), gain valuable recognition and publicity (the programme supports schools to ‘do good’ wherever possible, and this can be recognised locally, regionally, nationally and, who knows, maybe even internationally), build strong partnerships with local communities (young and old will be encouraged to engage with local decision making), and improve the all-round focus of your school.

Check out the Eco-Schools website for further information about how to join, Today!

Posted under Articles, Companies

Situated in the eastern chunk of England that verges on ancient marshland and earthy conservation areas, Sarah Green's family farm possesses 25 acres of organic, Soil Association registered land, where seasonal and organic vegetables and fruit are grown. The kind of venture that is increasingly popular with families, foodies and anyone with an interest in food-miles, the farm's shop in North Street, Tillingham, sells their varied range of greens, along with their own free-range eggs and plenty of other stocks, including meat, juice, cereals and cooking essentials.

Travelling only half of a mile to the shop, the produce is also available in the form of 'veg boxes' (although a lot more than just veg can be bought). Sarah Green can deliver these weekly to pretty much anywhere in the Dengie Peninsula- that's the area of Essex between the tidal rivers of Blackwater in the North, and the River Crouch to the South.

Ranging in price from £8 to £20, there are five sizes of box available. The food is all seasonal, and a constant, weekly variation will keep the organic produce fresh and interesting. Potatoes and carrots are there as a staple every week- the winter months might see the addition of leeks, cabbage, parsnips, purple sprouting broccoli, curly kale, or celeriac. Summer might see bunched beetroot, cucumber, lettuce, spinach, radish, pepper, fine beans, aubergines, fennel, or many others. The vegetables are all harvested straight into your box.

For those wanting to try out Sarah Green's produce before they commit to a box, the farm also sells their wares in Green's shop at 74 High Street, Maldon, Essex and Lathcoats Farm Shop, Chelmsford.

A great way to support local farming in the east of England, and to bring home fresh and natural food without having to leave the house.

Visit www.sarahgreensorganics.co.uk for more details on Sarah's box scheme.

Posted under Articles, Companies, Corporate, Gas & Electricity, House & Home, Product Innovations

With over 80 years of success, Her Majesty The Queen as the organisation's patron, and 60,000 members in cities, towns and villages throughout the UK, the Campaign to Protect Rural England is proud to call themselves "the champions of England's countryside". And here at EcoSwitch, we think this is something to be celebrated!

The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) is campaigning year in, year out to ensure that the beautiful British countryside is kept to its lovely and legendary status of being some of the most lustrious soils in the world. The art that has been inspired by it, the changes its seen and supported throughout our history, and the future of what's yet to come is already there and all around us lucky Brits. But have we taken our hill, hillocks and hideaways for granted?

CPRE is a vital asset to the UK's decision makers, who are lobbying to uphold these long stretches of land. Working alongside national, regional and local councils, organisations, businesses and individuals who share their core values and who are willing to challenge those who put the countryside at threat.

Their campaigns led some of the ways to create National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Green Belts up and down the country:

"Since 1926, the Campaign to Protect Rural England has fought to protect the beauty, life and uniqueness of our countryside," says CPRE's website "The countryside, its wildlife and natural resources as well as its sheer beauty and tranquility, are under threat from sprawl, new road and airport infrastructure, from noise, air and light pollution. Farming, too, is under pressure to become ever more intensive and productive to meet globalised competition, yet we expect farmers to be among the leading custodians of the countryside. And climate change is coming."

The ominous register of these statements reveal a note of caution that needs to be heard by the country at large. It is true to say that the CPRE is a tremendously successful organisation, but is it strong enough to compete with an ever modernising Britain?

Of course, we hope it is. But the CPRE is a registered charity, which means that it relies on independent support throughout the year. You can help the CPRE by registering donations and helping its Trustees retain the values it works increasingly hard not to compromise on:

"CPRE wants a beautiful, tranquil and diverse countryside that everyone can value and enjoy; a working countryside that contributes to national well being by enriching our quality of life, as well as providing us with crucial natural resources, including food.

We wish to see the sustainable use of land and other natural resources in town and country. The countryside, including its villages and towns is ever changing, but we strive to ensure that change and development respect the character of England's natural and built landscapes, enhancing the environment for the enjoyment and benefit of all."

It really is a worthy cause. One that supports an innate beauty and benefit that is all to easily taken for granted. To find out how you can help support the CPRE, click here to visit its website, and do that little bit more than simply wishing it the Best of British.

Posted under Articles, Companies, Wildlife

"Be a Friend of the Earth". Such a simple message is what welcomes you to one of the UK's most influential environmental campaigning organisations. And it is with this clear simplicity that you could probably channel the entire Friends of the Earth ethos and still have a complete understanding of what it is these guys are truly all about.

Famously grabbing respect throughout the ecological world for returning 1500 'non-returnable' bottles to the Schweppes headquarters - in order to underline a series of successful recycling campaigns - Friends of the Earth are much more than the eco-activists they've been known to be over the years.

The fibre of this eco-ally consists of an environmental network that branches out to almost 1 million supporters across five continents (over 70 national organisations worldwide); campaigning groups that are operational in over 200 communities throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland; but, however, quite tragically, is depending on over ninety percent of its income to come from individual and independent support.

If you think of it in terms of geographical reach alone, then the Friends of the Earth organisation incorporates over a third of the 192 members of the United Nations; exists and is operational in a local community near you; but still has gone on without support, and in some cases, almost unnoticed by the majority of the UK's population. Considering all the great work they do, shouldn't we be doing our bit too?

Of course we should, but like the rest of us, you probably want to know how. And it's simple: just Be a Friend of the Earth.

Since 1971, Friends of the Earth have launched themselves at some of the world's growing trouble spots with remarkable results, tackling issues such as; climate change; government legislation to help integrate recycling; more eco-efficient homes; a 'cleaner' national grid for the country; working to protect Britain's ecology; striking GM foods from the UK's menu; and working hard alongside major corporations to help improve their Environmental Strategies - and that's only to name a few.

And all this positive action has been governed by three clear and coherent ideas: There is a Tomorrow; Everyone gets a fair share; and a Change in the rules.

Living within the limits of our planet and encouraging the economy to work for the environment in the same ways the environment serves our economy is what's central to these three big ideas. And why? Simply because being a friend of the earth is about give-and-take: every living thing on this planet deserves its share of a good life and we have to work well together in order to achieve this.

So how can I start my friendship? The Friends of the Earth organisation needs you to start supporting in two ways: help fund one of their campaigns by giving as little as £5 a month; or pitch-in by joining one of their local action groups (which you can find via their website or by clicking here). Either way, you'll be helping a friend that is desperately in need and starting a friendship that, we hope, will last you and yours a lifetime to come.

Posted under Articles, Companies

Shoes, in my opinion, should aspire to be like a piece of furniture. Let me explain- I’ve had shoes that wear at the toe, or tear slowly and horribly along funny creases, after fairly short lives. I look for shoes that age well, shoes of substance. Shoes that withstand the rot. All shoes die of course, as will any textile, and as a genus they have shorter lifespans than a mahogany desk, or a marble paperweight- but shoes should at least be repairable. Their parts should be upgradable like a well-built piece of machinery. I think of the ideal shoe as being something solid; something deeply coloured and of an esteemed nature. A practical thing, to be admired like a piece of decorative art. An investment. Looking for a green or ethical pair like this- now that’s a whole other nightmare.
Having scoured retailers on the high street (I caught wind of an ethical Australian shoe maker from a friend, only to find out they’d moved their production to the far east), I found- whilst browsing for an ethical winter coat, having given up hope on the shoe front- a green shoe company that outdoes the rest. Let me set the scene.

England: the present day. In rural Devon, by the banks of the River Dart, there is a workshop. Inside, a small group of artisans work, making shoes by hand. Not only are these shoes handmade, by craftspeople, in the country of their sale, but they are made using materials that would please a range of green-minded people. The reason why these green shoes seem to be a cut above the rest is that you can go for a naturally-tanned leather option, if that pleases your reason, or else, a vegan one. So, depending on the shape of your principles, there will be a shoe that fits.
Further, the soles can be made in crepe rubber, wedge rubber, or Vibram tractor (the toughest-wearing). Further customisation is possible- the crepe can be made into a classic looking sole with heel (E.g. for a smart shoe) or a wedge. You can specify the width of the shoe, and they do half-sizes. Part of the ordering process consists of drawing your foot: and measuring your calf, for tall boots. Now that’s a custom job.

What else makes these green shoes so flexible? You can choose the colour, the shoes can be completely repaired (even the elastic and the eyelets) and re-soled, and the children’s shoes can be stretched to incorporate a growing child’s feet- that might come in handy.

This kind of choice is the kind of thing one would expect from a Jermyn street tailor; to have bespoke shoes made to order like this, and to have this choice for *green shoes*- that's what makes this company extra special, and why I've chosen to write about them here.

(Plus, these are handmade. Not, ‘made with hands coming into the process somewhere’,  but handmade- made with hands, by maker-designers; shoesmiths; William Morris types (stop me here).

Some notes on the materials: the eco-leather option (eco-tan) consists of a soft leather tanned using only plants- as opposed to harsh chemicals and energy-draining methods. The leather comes from a small-scale, artisan tannery in Europe with excellent eco-credentials. The vegan shoes are made from Lorica, which is a Roman word referring to flexible yet protective body armour. Lorica is made from microfibres which are dyed and softened in Italy. The glues, soles and threads in the vegan shoes are also non-animal derived. The rubber for the crepe soles is from renewable plantations in Sri Lanka.

The shoes are made to order, so there is no excess energy used and minimal waste. Leftovers and scraps are used to make accessories and jewellery rather than being thrown away.

This, to me, is what green manufacturing is all about- buying for life, or, at least, for a long time. Unrepairable items end up in a bin, with a massive waste of material, and of money; cheap and unrepairable goods have to be bought again and again when they inevitably break.

Ethics, choice and sustainability. With a thoughtfully designed style that make one feel swish and comfortable while the shoes are doing their job of supporting their owner and repelling the aqueous and earthen elements. Head through to the Green Shoes website to have a look at the footwear designs on offer.. www.greenshoes.co.uk

Also, if you live near the area, then check out the shoemaking workshops! The one day programmes are held throughout the year. Visitors can also visit the workshop Monday-Friday 9.30-5.30 to get professionally measured or try on some of their stylish and supple shoes.

Posted under Companies, Eco Reviews, Lifestyle & Fashion, Product Innovations

Providing web hosting for the British Army, Renault, Climate Change Now, as well as Vue, and Go Compare, Rackspace have an impressive list of clients.

They also have a proven track record of reliability and security, to which the British Army were clearly drawn, as the Rackspace website testifies:

"The Army needed a hosting company who could deliver guaranteed uptime and security for their ArmyNET portal. Out of 5 companies who submitted tenders, Rackspace clearly shone out above all the others!".

Rackspace have garnered an excellent reputation in the industry as a result of that security and reliability, and have matched it at all times with an excellent support team; hosting with Rackspace guarantees around the clock service, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

For small businesses and more, then, Rackspace are the perfect hosting company, with maximum security and more support than you can shake a stick at; certainly around the clock support is always helpful in the fast paced world of the web, and we at Ecoswitch - who also use Rackspace hosting services - have found that support to be both useful and effective.

Green Web Hosting Solutions from Rackspace

Ecoswitch didn't choose Rackspace simply for its reliability and service. It is also one of the most famous web hosting companies that  have chosen to make changes to their practices in accordance with growing environmental concerns.

In the words of Rackspace themselves,

"Rackspace® takes the environment seriously and has several initiatives towards making our own company greener and reducing our carbon footprint, which in turn helps make our customers become greener too. Our initiatives are wrapped into Greenspace.

Initiatives include carbon offsetting as well as reduction in the first place, by using the most power efficient hardware as well as building new facilities which utilise the latest power efficient technologies.

While Rackspace doesn't claim to have the absolute answer, we are committed to contributing our part toward the larger picture. It's going to take industry leaders like Rackspace to step up and admit there are much more environmentally friendly ways of doing things".

Making that step towards a lower carbon service certainly places Rackspace ahead of its competitors; no one is going to pretend that the web and the servers that power it are not contributing substantially to carbon emissions, but with companies like Rackspace offering a lower carbon alternative, it makes it a little easier to justify the continued creation of new websites.

The net is without doubt one of the most exciting creations developed in the last 100 years. Its vast expansion has placed it at the centre of our culture. Certainly its potential and its importance will keep the internet going well into the future.

It is good to know, though, that companies like Rackspace are thinking about what impact it might have on the environment in that future.

For more info on Rackspace green hosting solutions, please visit their website.

Posted under Articles, Companies

If a company is founded on ethical grounds, and continues to run - and generate business - in accordance with the promotion of those ethical grounds, then a closer look at the history of the people who run it can sometimes give a good indication of how important ethics really are.

With that in mind, what follows is a quick look at the big players at Green Energy.

First up, Peter Thompson, the Green Energy chairman, whose work has included a post as chairman of Community Hospitals PLC:

"One time chairman of NFC Plc, F.I. Group Plc, Community Hospitals Plc and Proshare...He led the successful employee buy-out of NFC from the Government and as a result of its success, many of the drivers and fitters who invested in the company saw their share values rise 120 times over a 9 year period...A similar pattern followed when the F.I.GROUP employee buy-out was achieved in 1991".

A strong history in worker rights implies a certain community attitude, and a sense of corporate responsibility for the 'ordinary' person; by extension, it shows a certain corporate responsibility for the products being produced at Green Energy.

Chief Executive Douglas Stewart brings a certain business ruthlessness to that community outlook, making sure that Green Energy houses an important ability to market, deliver and sell its product. Of Doug Stewart, the Green Energy website reads as follows:

"Doug is a graduate of Southampton University (Economics & Law) and spent his formative career at Ford Motor Company in a number of sales and service roles including some interesting years in Northern Ireland. From Ford he joined a start-up recruitment exhibition company specialising in Information Technology markets which became the largest of its kind, before setting up his own business retailing Volkswagen and Audis as a Franchised dealer. Having sold the motor business at the turn of the millennium, he found himself in the fortunate position of being able to choose and decide what to do next. The blueprint was an ethically sound business that made a contribution to the wider issues of life through commerce.

Deciding the newly deregulated electricity markets offered just such an opportunity, he formed Green Energy (UK) plc, with the express intent, shared by the rest of the Board, of offering a product that rewarded consumers who took active steps to do something about the wider environmental issues we face".

Stewart's interest in creating an ethical framework for his experience in the business world has sparked a good synthesis of business smarts and ethical fundamentals in the Green Energy team.

And last but not least, Director Tim Smith:

"Tim started his career in insurance with the Prudential and moved through a diverse route of Honeywell Control Systems, followed by a more traditional development route through Grand Met. This was followed by a move to Milton Keynes Pressings as Financial Director growing into a wider role as Commercial Director. At the same time he managed to find time for an MBA to keep him challenged. He went on to spend an extended period working around the globe with Gildemeister AG starting as CFO with European responsibilities, then moving on to work and live in the US moving from CFO to President of the sales and service business this quickly followed with a move to Asia as CEO".

Another business brain guided by the ethics of Thompson and the ethics of Green Energy as a firm, Tim Smith brings substantial business experience to the team.

With that information in mind, take a look at the Ecoswitch Green Energy section for information on switching to a tariff from Green Energy.

Posted under Articles, Companies

Stella Artois, the beer company responsible for the 'Reassuringly Expensive' adverts that managed to use the higher than average price of their lager to actually encourage consumer take-up, have unrolled a new campaign aimed at boosting sales of its beer.

Belonging to the super-brewery Anheuser-Busch InBev, Stella have spent years and lots of money creating an image for itself of tasteful luxury and ironic wit through its advertising campaigns and branding activities. Despite this focus on the drink's higher than average cost, it has still managed to remain a regular staple of British pubs.

This new advertising campaign has two main themes to it- the first is recycling, and the second is planting hedges (an enterprise backed by the broadcaster, environmental campaigner and 'adventurer' Ben Fogle). The first side of this new advertising programme ('Recyclage Deluxe') consists of bill-board adverts shot in black and cream duo-tone photography, done in a French new-wave style and featuring stylish yet dryly absurd consumer objects that suggest the use of recycled Stella packaging in the manufacture of luxury goods- a vintage Citroen car with a massive Stella can rising out smoothly in one piece from its bonnet, for instance, reminiscent of the nuclear fusion reactor that powered the Delorian in the Back to the Future films. The written messages: Stella Artois bottles are made from 75% recycled glass. Stella Artois cans use ('on average') 50% recycled aluminium. And Stella Artois cardboard is made from 100% recycled paper (that's the corrugated packs in supermarkets and the paper used in packaging- all of this only the paper or card used at 'point of sale'). None of these claims appear to be particularly astounding or instantly, primitively impressive, and are all couched in conditions and terms on the accompanying website.

Stella measures its Carbon Dioxide emissions in hectolitres- there's 100 litres in a hectolitre unit, or 26.418 US gallons. They aim to reduce their energy use by 10% per hectolitre by 2010- again, not a particularly mind-blowing figure. But fair play to 'em. Stella also want to reduce their water usage to 3.75 hectolitres per hectolitre of beer produced (the United Nations suggest that best practice in beer production is 5 hectolitres of water per hectolitre of beer produced- Stella are proud to be aiming below this figure). InBev are also part of the 'Carbon Disclosure Project'. To Stella, 'reducing, recycling and proper waste disposal are a key part of our global business strategy. At Stella Artois, we're trying to lead by example through our Recyclage-Deluxe campaign but also by doing our best within our own operations to ensure we’re producing as little waste as possible and recycling what waste we do produce.' Very precise action plan there.. Not. And then: 'Aluminium’s a tricky substance. We love it because it’s lightweight (keeping down the environmental effect of transport), because it can be recycled an infinite number of times, and is tough enough to protect your Stella Artois from brewery to fridge until you can pour it in a Chalice glass to enjoy.' Great marketing nudges in there, but very little meat. And one doubts whether aluminium was really chosen as the material for their cans because of its lighter footprint when transported- or whether this was a twist that was worked out only now.

The other side to the campaign is the 'Hedge Fund', where InBev (Stella's Belgian owner) have pledged to plant a piece of hedge in the British countryside for every case of Stella bought in the UK- this piece of hedge will grow to be three times the size of the case of beer (again, the explanation of this on the promotional website is far from clear, but that, I accept, is their concern). The adverts pun on the phrase and make reference to the financial world, featuring photographs of men and women in suits sizing up a hedge, which is placed on a desk, with a tape-measure- the tagline running 'Once upon a time a hedge fund was just that'.

Stella take a lot of credit for this hedge-building enterprise, but their language doesn’t give due credit to their partners in this enterprise: ‘we plan to fund over 365,000 hedge saplings and 8,650 trees saplings, to be planted in the British countryside. And they’ll be carefully looked after by volunteers, to keep them spruce and bursting with wildlife.’ This work is, of course, not undertaken by Stella/InBev volunteers, but by their partner in the enterprise- the Tree Council. The Tree Council could legitimately be said to be the real heroes here. The UK's 'lead charity for trees', the organisation promotes trees through community action programmes, a national tree warden scheme, the distribution of annual planting grants, and publications, including the magazine 'Tree News' (available at branches of Borders and WHSmiths, amongst other stockists). Stella also claim that they will ‘grow hedges, wherever they are most needed’. This is possibly false, as one doubts whether Stella will be out there, looking for places where hedges are desperately needed. Stella is, after all, a beer company. Most probably they will hope that the Tree Council plant hedges where they are needed- Stella are silent partners. Besides, the hedges being planted indirectly through Stella are proportional to the amount of cases of beer that are sold. This is a limited and sales-related planting exercise. Some money is donated to the Tree Council- Stella don’t do anything but donate.
This could of course be taken as a pedantic attack on Stella’s scheme which is nevertheless positive in its nature- the move to fund the plantation of hedges is of course a good one, but what has just passed has been an brief exegesis on the perhaps misleading, self-promotional marketing language used by Stella Artois in their campaign.

Stella Artois must, of course, for their survival, market themselves savvily and keep their infiltration amongst drinking establishments, retailers and the consumer psyche intact. They certainly have the right backing- InBev, following an aggressive take-over of Anheuser-Busch (who make Budweiser), are now the world's largest brewer. They are indeed a giant of the brewing world, and one of their first moves upon merging was to announce the closure of the historic Stagg Brewery in Mortlake, on the bank of the Thames in West London (ceasing operation in 2010). But this is beside the point. As long as you buy this beer, hedges will be planted, restoring the somewhat dilapidated hedgerow system of the British Isles, responsible for housing wildlife (including rare species, like Horseshoe bats and dormice) and keeping the soil together, preventing erosion and halting water-borne run-off.

Stella have moved their sleek advertising machine down a new detour- taking some of the edge off of their effective pseudo-luxurious campaign, in my opinion- and they want you to buy their beer. Perhaps consumers are environmental now, they think. And so their new advertising is split: split between carefree, throwaway, excessive, wasteful spending, and the recurrence of objects and material, the sustenance of long-lived singular forms. Stella Artois are hedging their bets.

Posted under Companies, Corporate, Gardening & Outdoors, Lifestyle & Fashion

With the motto 'Reduce what You Can, Offset What you Can't', the organisation Carbon Fund have neatly encompassed the philosophy and by extension the goal of the carbon offsetting concept.

Their mission statement, as detailed on their website, gives a summary of the overall goal of the Carbon Fund organisation:

"Carbonfund.org is leading the fight against global warming, making it easy and affordable for any individual, business or organization to reduce & offset their climate impact and hasten the transition to a clean energy future. Carbonfund.org achieves its goals through:

• Climate change education
• Carbon offsets and reductions
• Public outreach

We encourage everyone to continually strive to reduce their carbon footprint through sensible energy reductions combined with cost-effective carbon offsets to eliminate their overall carbon footprint. Carbonfund.org supports renewable energy, energy efficiency and reforestation  projects globally that reduce carbon dioxide emissions and the threat of climate change."

As organisation are working in a variety of ways to reduce, and offset emissions. Including education, in which the organisation look to explain offsetting, and its benefits, plus looking to aid lifestyle changes and low carbon or zero carbon endeavours, the Carbon Fund also implement several practical projects.

Of their direct projects, they have three types:

• Renewable Energy & Methane Projects - Renewable energy offsets support projects that help to reduce the amount of energy we need to produce from fossil fuel sources like coal and oil.
• Energy Efficiency & Carbon Credits - The cleanest unit of energy is the unit you never use. Energy efficiency is the cheapest and fastest way to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels and save money.
• Reforestation & Avoided Deforestation -  Forest-based projects actually reduce the amount of carbon that’s in the atmosphere. These projects sequester carbon dioxide emissions from the atmosphere and have many co-benefits for the community and local wildlife.

A particularly intriguing strategy, though, is the introduction of their Carbon Free label,  which certifies affiliated products as having been produced with no carbon emissions - through a process of reduction and offsetting - and so are, according to the Carbon Fund, environmentally friendly alternatives to others on the market.

According to the Carbon Fund, the Carbon Free Label works in the following way:

"The CarbonFree^® Certified Label is a meaningful, transparent way for you to provide carbon neutral products to your customers. By determining a product’s carbon footprint, reducing that footprint where possible and offsetting the remaining carbon emissions you can differentiate your brand, increase sales, profits & customer loyalty while strengthening your Corporate Social Responsibility/environmental goals".

There are plenty of reasons to certify oneself, then, and many have; the Carbon Fund lists Carbon Free Certified Label products on its website, and can be found at the following: Carbon Fund Product Certification.

Posted under Articles, Companies