UK Energy Saving Comments on the Outcome of the Soil Association Air Freight Consultation

The Soil Association have released their proposals on air freight today following a four month consultation. UK Energy Saving have released their comments in a press release, part of which is below.

“UK Energy Saving is a supporter of both organic and Fairtrade certifications, but we remain unsure about whether the Soil Association’s proposals are the right answer to the question of air freight. It seems inconsistent to suggest that producers using air freight must meet Ethical Trading or Fairtrade standards, whilst other organic farmers can continue as before without meeting these extra requirements. We do, however, support the Soil Association’s decision to look into labelling options, and await with interest the further consultation period in 2008.”

Read the outcome of the consultation at the Soil Association website.

See the full UK Energy Saving press release in one of these places:
UK Energy Saving site
PRLog
SanePR
Free Press Releases
PR-GB
Pressbox
OpenPR
PRLeap
UKPRWire

We are interested in hearing your thoughts, so please add your comments on this important subject to this post.

Related UK Energy Saving pages:
Organic Products
Fairtrade Foundation

Related blog posts:
Should Air Freight be our Biggest Concern?
Air Freighted Organic Food? - How Does This Question Effect the Producers?
Should Air Freighted Organic Food be Stripped of its Status?

FREE Energy Saving Light Bulb!

Sainsbury's are giving away one million free energy saving light bulbs this Saturday (27th October 2007), in the latest wave of 'greenness' from supermarkets. 450 stores across the country (check with your local store to see if they are participating) will be giving away the bulbs in exchange for an energy saving pledge. For more information visit the Guardian or Money Saving Expert websites.

Related UK Energy Saving pages:
Energy Saving Light Bulbs
Energy Saving Lighting

Related blog posts:
Can The High Street Ever be Truly Green?
Supermarkets Continue to be Targeted for their Green Credentials
Supermarkets Continue 'Green Crusade'
Co-op Come Top of Green Poll
Supermarkets Continue to Wave the Green Banner
Supermarkets Offer More Green Initiatives
Tesco Ups the Green Ante with More Green Clubcard Points

Recycling Quiz

If you think you are an expert on recycling symbols or would like to learn more, check out the recycling symbols quiz on the BBC website.

Related UK Energy Saving pages:
Recycling

Energy Saving Week

Don't forget that it is Energy Saving Week in the UK this week. For more information visit the Energy Saving Trust, who have organised the event.

Related UK Energy Saving pages:
Energy Saving Tips
Energy Saving Calculator

Wiley Encyclopedia of Energy

If you are an expert in an energy-related field, you may be interested in contributing to the Wiley Encyclopedia of Energy. It is not due to be published until 2010 but they are calling for contributors to come forward with suggested articles, for which payment will be made.

Big Green Challenge

If you are a group of like-minded people interested in the environment, maybe you should look into the Big Green Challenge. A £1 million prize fund is on offer to the group with the best ideas for new approaches to saving energy. Visit the Big Green Challenge website for more information.

Green England Green Awards 2007

If you like the UK Energy Saving Blog and our main site, www.uk-energy-saving.com, please nominate us for the Green England Green Awards 2007. Your support is much appreciated.

UK Energy Saving Quoted in Industrial Focus Feature

A few months ago UK Energy Saving published a press release with our views on the question of whether organic produce should be stripped of its status if it has been air-freighted. This was picked up recently by Industrial Focus - The European Journal of Manufacturing - for their Thinking the Unthinkable feature. Read the full article at the Industrial Focus website.

Related blog posts:
Should Air Freight be our Biggest Concern?
Air Freighted Organic Food? - How Does This Question Effect the Producers?
Should Air Freighted Organic Food be Stripped of its Status?

Green England

If you havn't already discovered it, check out Green England, an online directory of green and ethical products, days out, services and information.

Should Air Freight Be Our Biggest Concern?

The International Maritime Organisation is working on a report which is thought to contain information showing that shipping is a much bigger polluter than air transportation. There has been much media attention on the emissions caused by air travel and transportation, but it may be that shipping poses a greater environmental threat.

Shipping does seem to have been largely overlooked in the fight against climate change, and, whilst air travel is clearly not blame free, it would seem that our attentions should perhaps not be so narrowly focused.

For more information visit The Independent website.

Related UK Energy Saving pages:
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Climate Change

Related blog posts:
Air Freighted Organic Food? - How Does This Question Effect the Producers?
Should Air Freighted Organic Food be Stripped of its Status?

Reduce Plastic Bag Usage!

Take a look at the Green England website for a petition for 10p tax on plastic bags. The idea behind it, of course, is to seriously reduce the number of plastic bags used in the UK. The petition has already been presented to the government but Green England are keen to continue getting more signatures.

Related blog posts:
Million Bags 4 Life - Latest Alternative to Disposable Plastic Bags
Devon Town Outlaws Plastic Bags

How Green Britain Isn't!

Take a look at a new post on Ecostreet entitled '5 Shocking Statistics About The British Way of Life'. Some interesting facts and figures which might shock you into doing a bit more to help the environment.

Related UK Energy Saving pages:
Recycling Facts
Renewable Energy Source Facts
Water Saving Facts

Related blog posts:
Britain Doesn't Fare Well in Survey on Eco-Friendly Cities

Standby Saturday

Join Standby Sally on Saturday 20th October and make sure you turn off all your electronic equipment over night. The aim of this nationwide event is to encourage people to get into the habit of fully turning off TVs, computers and other equipment rather than leaving them on standby, which uses masses of electricity.

Visit the Standby Saturday website where you can pledge to join in the event as well as become an advocate (promoting the event on your site or telling friends) or even a sponsor.

Million Bags 4 Life - Latest Alternative to Disposable Plastic Bags

Skymark Packaging Solutions Ltd have launched their new Million Bags 4 Life project designed to help reduce the number of disposable plastic bags distributed by supermarkets and used by consumers. The thinking behind the bags is that they are paid for by advertisers and then distributed free to supermarkets. As they are reusable (and ultimately recyclable) this should negate the need for disposable carrier bags. Some money will also be donated to charity from the proceeds of the advertising. Whilst the bags are made from Polypropylene, they could be a viable alternative to the current proliferation of carrier bags.

Related UK Energy Saving pages:
Plastic Recycling

Related blog posts:
Devon Town Outlaws Plastic Bags

Need Any Scrap?

The Downshifting-Path To Simplicity blog has an interesting article on scrap today. I'm glad to hear that more local authorities are starting to recycle Tetra Paks as this is something we have aired our concerns about previously (see blog posts mentioned below). Let's hope more follow suit.

But I was particularly interested in the information on scrap stores, the existence of which I was unaware. What a great idea! Not only can you get rid of 'scrap' (and this goes for businesses as well as individuals and families) which might otherwise go to landfill, but it also goes to good use. I am sure that not only educational establishments and childrens' organisations but also families wanting to undertake crafts at home, will make good use of the materials on offer. After all, there are only so many things you can make out of used toilet rolls!

Visit The Scrap Store Network for a list of scrap stores around the country.

Related UK Energy Saving pages:
Recycling Tetra Paks

Related blog posts:
UK Energy Saving Pleased About New Tetra Pak Recycling Scheme
UK Energy Saving Urges Councils to Offer More Tetra Pak Recycling Facilities

Britain Doesn't Fare Well in Survey on Eco-Friendly Cities

Britain's cities didn't come out on top for their eco-friendliness in a new Reader's Digest survey of 72 locations. Glasgow and Newcastle were in the top 20 with London in 27th position and Manchester managing only 30th. German and French cities, meanwhile were considered to be much greener with criteria including local environmental laws, pollution and refuse management.

As a country Britain came 25th out of 141 countries as a desirable place to live with criteria covering eco-friendliness, child health, education and more. When it came to greenhouse gas emissions specifically, Britain came out 77th.

None of these results paint Britain in a brilliant light, with more clearly needing to be done in terms of our environmental impact. Individuals must continue to be encouraged to do as much as possible themselves to combat climate change, but certainly business and, critically, local and national government also need to make it easier for the public to save energy and to put in place schemes and practices which promote eco-friendliness.

See The Telegraph for more of the survey's results.
Check out the Reader's Digest for full rankings.

Related UK Energy Saving pages:
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Climate Change
Environmental Issues

Related blog posts:
Liberal Democrats Propose a Zero Carbon Britain
'2007 Survey of Public Attitudes and Behaviours Towards the Environment'

Energy Watch Updated with Tips for a Green Halloween and Bonfire Night

Check out the UK Energy Saving Energy Watch page for tips and suggestions on keeping it green this Halloween and Bonfire Night. Our press release on the subject can also be seen at one of the sites listed below.

SanePR, PRLog, PRLeap, UKPRWire, Free Press Releases, 24-7 Press Releases, PR-GB, Pressbox