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 […]
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.
Christmas cards are wasteful (Jan10)
The Jeremy Vine Show wanted me to have a pair of scissors ready for my interview. The idea was to record me, Blue Peter style, cutting up my Christmas cards so I could use them again. Listening to the programme afterwards, I don’t think the scissor cutting was audible! But the message about re-using Christmas […]
Somerset produces less waste (Nov09)
Somerset has the lowest amount of waste going to landfill per head in the UK – an average of between 160kg and 165kg per head. This is significantly less than the UK target for 2020, which is 225kg per head. And Somerset also heads the league table on recycling. One of the reasons for this […]
Recycling plastic mountains (Nov09)
Omer Kutluoglu – Plastics recycling entrepreneur In the UK we throw away mountains of plastic waste and use lots of plywood. Apart from a small amount of plastic bottles and an even smaller number of plastic bags, pretty well all the rest of our plastic debris is discarded, never to be used again. Omer Kutluoglu, […]