Alupro – the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation (Jul10)
Alupro – the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation – were celebrating 21 years of aluminium packaging recycling. During this time recycling of aluminium packaging has risen from less than 2% to more than 40%. Given that an average of 9 tonnes of CO2 are saved for every 1 tonne recycled, the more recycling the better. My view […]
C Mobile Advisory Board (Jun10)
I’ve joined the newly formed Advisory Board of C-Mobile. This company is launching a pay as you go mobile phone package in partnership with Orange. It’s early days but they plan to invest a proportion of profits to green initiatives and campaign to improve the environmental performance of the mobile phone industry.
Poem – The Poor Old Humble Plastic Bag (May10)
I gave a speech this week at the Plastics and Films Association (PAFA) annual lunch. ‘Films’, as in ‘plastic films’, I should point out because a number of people have been confused. The 200 strong audience at the Dorchester Hotel were particularly appreciative when I said that plastic bags were better for the environment than […]
My goldfish died along with Labour – Here’s my coalition manifesto (May10)
Zac Goldsmith, formerly editor of the Ecologist, gets elected in Richmond Chris Huhne – New Minster for Energy and Environment Caroline Lucas – the first Green MP in the UK My goldfish died in the night. I’ve posthumously named him ‘Gordon’. It seems rather propitious that their floundering exit coincided. And […]
Expert Panel on Packaging (2008-2010)
Between 2008 and 2010 I sat on a expert advisory panel on packaging at M&S. This was run by Rowland Hill, Helene Roberts and Mark Caul from M&S. Other panel members include Jane Bickerstaffe from Incpen (Industry Council for Packaging and the Environment) and Mark Barthel from WRAP (Material Change for a Better Environment). Changing […]
Packaging & Films Association (May10)
“Everyone I have spoken to has commented on the value and inspiration they have received from the day and your part was a significant factor in all of that. Just the right balance of relevance and a very special personal flavour with knickers and goldfish thrown in (metaphorically I hasten to add).” Peter Woodall, PRP […]
Speech for PAFA – Plastics & Films Association AGM (May10)
The AGM for the Plastics and Films Association was held at the Dorchester Hotel. I was the key note speaker following David Bebee the PAFA Chairman. With some challenges for the plastics industry, I concluded with a poem about plastic bags. See my blog by clicking here. “Everyone I have spoken to has commented on […]
3D movies creating 3D waste (Apr10)
I loved the film Avatar – particularly the strong environmental message running through it. I saw the 3D version in Yeovil, with my sons, Rollo and Monty. They were equally enamoured. In fact, Rollo thought it was the best film he’d ever seen. But, we went home clutching three pairs of 3D glasses. There weren’t […]
Joining Waste Watch Board (Feb10)
Recruited by Stewart Crocker, the executive director of Waste Watch, my first board meeting was early in February 2010. It’s a really exciting time to be a part of this organisation as it’s revising its strategy putting less emphasis on recycling and more on reducing the amount we consume. I think we should be making […]
Julia Hailes on recycling plastic bags (Jan10)
Jonathon Vernon-Smith, from BBC 3 Counties, rants to Julia Hailes about why he doesn’t like being made to feel guilty about using lots of plastic bags. Julia robustly responds and the debate is followed by a phone-in! This was aired on his lunch-time programme in January 2010.