Browse Green Futures Articles

Greening Whitechapel

Julia Sussams 21 August 2008, Recycling

City market leads the way in waste recycling

London’s bustling and colourful Whitechapel Market, selling everything from salmon to saris, has suddenly gone greener and cleaner – as the first market in the country to recycle nearly 100% of its rubbish.

Transport of delight

18 August 2008, Aviation, Transport & travel

GF tastes airship technology at first hand over London

A cleaner, more civilised flying experience than frenetic jet travel? Green Futures went on one of the world’s largest airships to find out.

Bin bounty

Louise Vennells 18 August 2008, Local government, Policy, Waste & recycling

Councils to reward residents for recycling

Within months, UK residents could be cashing in on their recycling under a new scheme which has already encouraged Americans to go green on their rubbish.

American Eye

15 August 2008, Behaviour change, Higher/Further Education, Society & culture, Young people

Fired up over climate change, US students are turning up the heat on colleges’ green credentials. Polly Ghazi sees this driving a race for the top.

Hydrogen takes to the water

Tom Bamford 8 August 2008, Freight, Hydrogen/fuel cells, Shipping

Barge breakthrough on zero emission shipping

When transport secretary Ruth Kelly addressed the International Maritime Organization on the subject of the shipping industry’s huge carbon dioxide emissions, she might have drawn inspiration from an unassuming canal boat in Birmingham.

Beefing up biomass

Susan Gransden 7 August 2008, Energy sources

Waste timber, sawdust, or even willow, could be powering your home in 2011 if you get some of your electricity from a new biomass power station in Lincolnshire.

Anaconda joins wave energy hunt

Julia Sussams 6 August 2008, Wave power/tidal

The world’s largest snake, which hunts its prey in water, has given its name to a pioneering new device for generating electricity from waves.

Coal out for carbon count

Polly Ghazi 29 July 2008, Americas, Carbon reduction, Energy issues, Fossil fuels

New plants “must set CO2 limits”, US court rules

In the latest salvo in the intensifying US battle over the future of coal-fired electricity generation, the state of Georgia has blocked construction of a major new power station...

Cool-off for coal

Jon Wallace 29 July 2008, Carbon sequestration, Climate change, Fossil fuels, Policy

Halt plans for 'unclean' coal power stations, say reports

With no fewer than six current projects proposing to build new coal-fired power stations in the UK, it would be a bad mistake to approve any of them now, says Matthew Lockwood of the Institute for Public Policy Research (ippr).

Old World wine

Hannah Bullock and Julia Sussams 25 July 2008, Corporate responsibility, Freight, Shipping

Sailing ship takes ‘slow cargo’ from France to Ireland

Tesco made a splash last autum transporting wine by barge. Now a French shipping company has taken ‘slow freight’ one step further...

Hailing the future

Julia Sussams 23 July 2008, Hydrogen/fuel cells, Mass transit/Public transport

Hydrogen taxis get the green light for 2012

London’s aim of organising the “first ‘sustainable’ Games” has been given a further boost after plans were unveiled for a fleet of zero-emission hydrogen taxis, to be on the streets in time for the start of the 2012 Olympics.

Brand old

Clare Dowdy 21 July 2008, Marketing, Re-use/refurbishment

Vintage has made it from the fringe to the high street, as big brands decorate their stores with reclaimed materials. But if you scratch the surface is there any substance? Clare Dowdy asks what we’re buying into.

“Science dictates that we need a 100% reduction in carbon emissions. Here’s how to achieve it”

Oliver Tickell 14 July 2008, Carbon reduction

Oliver Tickell makes the case for controlling greenhouse gases ‘close to the source’ via a groundbreaking new worldwide permits auction.

2020 vision

Hannah Bullock 14 July 2008, Energy sources, Solar energy/PV, Wind power

Government launches ambitious blueprint for alternative energy future

A government proposal to generate 15% of energy from renewables by 2020 paints a radically different picture of life in just 12 years’ time: solar panels on 7 million buildings, 3 million homes heated with biomass...

Bucking trends and breaking records

Jon Wallace 11 July 2008, Biofuels, Sport

Green powerboat takes on the world – and wins

Pulling into the Spanish port of Sagunto a full 13 days, 21 hours and 9 minutes ahead of the official circumnavigation record, it was a case of around the world in 60 days for the crew of Earthrace, the hawk-like biodiesel-powered trimaran.

Reasons to be cheerful

Martin Wright 11 July 2008, Climate change, Energy issues

"We've just seen the first big win in the fight to stabilise the world's climate"

Lester Brown finds cause for optimism on climate change.

The elephant in the room

Martin Hunt 4 July 2008, Construction, Housing

New build is the low-hanging fruit in policy terms – while upgrading the existing housing stock is the unmentioned elephant in the room.

And another thing

Martin Wright 1 July 2008, Lifestyles, Transport & travel

“Like crying wolf when all seems quiet, it’s counter-productive to bang on endlessly about the dangers of climate change”

Faced with a mix of recession and a muddle of climate change denial, it's time to extol green joys, not taxes, says Martin Wright.

Letters

30 June 2008

"There’ll never be a more blatant example to show that, when needs must, it’s OK to put to one side all that guff about governments not interfering in the market."

Energy for change

Martin Wright 28 June 2008, Awards & grants, Community energy, Solar energy/PV

Award-winning projects from Tibet to Truro.

Hang the DJ

Martin Wright 28 June 2008, Entrepreneurship, Radio

Chantal Cook saw the future of radio. Now she broadcasts it on Passion for the Planet.

Shelter from the storm?

Mike Scott 28 June 2008, Banking, Climate change impacts, Socially responsible investment

Mike Scott checks out green investment as a safe haven.

Whitehall Watch

Peter Madden 28 June 2008, Budget/Taxation, Green government, Local government

Must sustainability always suffer from political short-termism? Peter Madden says it’s time to take the longer view.

Des res, future style

Marie-Louise Schembri 28 June 2008, Architecture, Construction

The new look of tomorrow’s homes – Entec UK

Power without responsibility?

Dax Lovegrove 28 June 2008, Carbon reduction, Corporate responsibility

Energy majors in the dock on climate change – WWF

Riding with the Rail Guru

Ed Gillespie 28 June 2008, Aviation, Mass transit/Public transport, Railways, Transport & travel

Ed Gillespie meets The Man in Seat 61

“That’s good – it’s buying me a curry.” Mark Smith’s reaction to the first payment he received for ‘The Man in Seat 61’ is somehow typical of the man behind this pioneering train travel advice site.

Tomorrow's house today

Roger East 28 June 2008, Built environment, Housing

Volume housebuilder showcases the zero carbon home

The ‘zero carbon home’ has become concrete reality. The Barratt Green House is the first new home built by a mainstream housebuilder which measures up to the strict sustainability criteria they’ll all have to meet by 2016.

Green borrowers afloat

27 June 2008, Banking, Finance, Green Futures partners, Socially responsible investment

Silver lining on credit for social business – Triodos Bank

Consigning carbon to captivity?

Neil Wilks 27 June 2008, Carbon sequestration, Climate change impacts, Green Futures partners

A chance to lead the world on carbon capture – Yorkshire Forward

American Eye

Polly Ghazi 27 June 2008, Americas, Behaviour change, Cars, Commuting, Consumption

$4 a gallon? It may seem peanuts to British drivers, writes Polly Ghazi, but in shell shocked America, soaring fuel prices are triggering a revolution in commuter habits, and a fundamental shake-up of the auto industry.

What price carbon?

Rebecca Willis 27 June 2008, Carbon offset/neutrality, Carbon reduction, Planning, Policy

The government’s shadow pricing tool needs sharpening, says Rebecca Willis.

Do try this at home

Roger East 27 June 2008, Construction, Housing, Regeneration

Raising the banner for lower carbon by example

The multi-million makeover menu

Matt Ross 27 June 2008, Carbon reduction, Construction, Microgeneration, Regeneration

The low hanging fruit should pick itself, but solid wall insulation is a tougher cookie – and microgen choices aren’t yet quite as easy as pie.

Insulation, insulation, insulation

Martin Wright 27 June 2008, Carbon reduction, Housing, Regeneration

His friends were hoping for loads of glam green gizmos, but effectiveness came first for Martin Wright’s home refurb.

Aspiration, aspiration, aspiration

Kevin Telfer 26 June 2008, Architecture, Carbon offset/neutrality, Carbon reduction, Construction, Housing, Planning, Regeneration

Kevin Telfer gets fired up about some high profile projects.

Time to stop tinkering

Ben Tuxworth 26 June 2008, Carbon offset/neutrality, Carbon reduction, Construction, Housing, Planning

Unlocking a massive retro-fit effort, says Paul King of the Green Building Council, is less to do with technical solutions, more to do with getting the finance right.

The governing principle

Roger East 26 June 2008, Construction, Housing

Supportive sounds from Caroline Flint – so what is the government’s stance so far?

Getting there

Roger East 26 June 2008, Carbon reduction, Housing, Regeneration

Are we setting the right standards for existing homes – and how do we know if they can measure up?

Building change

26 June 2008, Carbon offset/neutrality, Carbon reduction, Heritage, Housing

The Existing Homes Alliance calls for concerted action.

Getting better by design

Jon de Souza 26 June 2008, Construction, Housing, Regeneration

Well adapted buildings are crucial for Constructing Excellence, says Jonathan de Souza.

Where the action is

Matt Ross 26 June 2008, Housing, Regeneration

Matt Ross on the need to turn a patchwork of programmes into a proper refurb strategy.

Wind among the Jewels

Roger East 26 June 2008, Wind power

Crown Estate reaches Round Three

Although Shell shocked the renewables industry by pulling out of the massive London Array project, a big future still beckons for offshore wind in the UK. The Crown Estate (which owns the seabed within UK territorial waters) has now launched Round Three of its site-leasing programme.

Editorial

Roger East 24 June 2008

There aren’t many subjects on which I prefer Harry S Truman’s words to those of Oscar Wilde. But the former US president’s prosaic definitions – “a pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities, while an optimist makes opportunities of his difficulties” seem more helpful in these crunch times than the poet’s cry, “the basis of optimism is pure terror”.

Uncontained delight

Tom Bamford 24 June 2008, Behaviour change, Consumption, Local food, Retail

Goods without wrappers catch on with shoppers

A shop in Islington is changing the way we look at packaging.

Hybrids by retro-fit

Andrew Williams and Roger East 24 June 2008, Cars

UK company's makeover approach could "convert conventional cars"

Can your current car boast the green credentials – and fuel economy – of a fuel/electric hybrid? If not, there may be a solution on the horizon, if a new conversion system lives up to its promise.

The taming of the screw

Jon Wallace 24 June 2008, Hydro electric

Ancient technology finds new application

Thousands of years after it was invented for drawing water out of ship hulls, the ‘Archimedes screw’ has been rediscovered as an efficient, low-maintenance and ecologically sound hydropower generator.

Leaf service

Alison Winward 24 June 2008, Eco-products & services, Innovation

Indian leaves bring new life to disposable crockery

They’ve been used in rural India for countless years, but ‘disposable’ plates made from leaves are now becoming a big hit on British dining tables.

Boris beds in

Jon Wallace 24 June 2008, Carbon reduction

Major tree-planting under way in capital as new research points to health benefits

Fresh from his victory in the London mayoral elections, Boris Johnson has announced a scheme to plant 10,000 new trees on the streets of the capital over the next three years.

Coffin makers carry it off

Roger East 24 June 2008, Awards & grants

Awards fete UK's greenest companies

Another sign of the interest in ‘green exemplars’ – the new Sunday Times Best Green Companies awards.

Fast lane to sane lane

Tom Bamford 24 June 2008, Carbon reduction, Cars

Local curb breaches German principle of limitless
autobahn speed

Fast cars are big business in Germany, but there are signs that the brakes are going on.

From cow to bag

Tom Bamford 24 June 2008, Packaging

Sainsbury's to sell milk in recyclable plastic ‘pouches’

The initiative, in partnership with milk supplier Dairy Crest, will only work if customers prove more green-minded than they were in 2001, when the supermarket chain’s first attempt to wean us onto pouches was abandoned due to lack of consumer interest.

One down, but one to go

Jon Wallace 24 June 2008

Renewed optimism follows “bitter disappointment” over Lewis wind farm

It was a case of one door closing, another opening for renewable energy on the island of Lewis...

Where does the power lie?

Anna Birney 24 June 2008, Behaviour change, Inspiration

People keep asking me about my job title. The ‘change’ bit isn’t the issue; the question is about what we mean by ‘leadership’.

Great wall of light

Tom Bamford 24 June 2008, Architecture, Built environment, Solar energy/PV

Chinese capital showcases solar powered LEDs

It might not be the biggest wall in China, but the Greenpix Zero Energy Media Wall in Beijing can lay claim to its own record.

Real green promises

Tom Berry 24 June 2008

When people know what I do at work, they tend to expect me to ‘know the answer’ to questions like: “Which is better, Fairtrade or locally grown?”

The national distrust

Roger East 24 June 2008, Green government, Toolkits/information packs

Environmental messaging bedevilled by 'greenwash'

“Only 10% of US and UK consumers trust green messages from businesses”. That was a year ago – and it’s getting worse...

Bread rising

Giovanna Dunmall 24 June 2008, Health, Local food, Organics

Campaign backs 'real' baking, exposes factory failings

Good bread needs to be at the centre of our tables again, says organic baker, teacher and campaigner Andrew Whitley. So get ready for a nationwide Bread Campaign, due to launch later this year.

Redesign for living

Tom Bamford 24 June 2008, Recycling, Waste management, Waste minimisation

Student design rethink takes on the compost bucket

Where would you go for inspiration on sustainable design?

Carbon pricing US style

Polly Ghazi 24 June 2008, Carbon reduction

San Francisco pioneers emissions levy for local businesses

In the first measure of its kind in the USA, companies in California’s Bay Area now face mandatory fees for their carbon emissions.

Seagen tidecatcher makes its debut

Roger East 24 June 2008, Wave power/tidal

Largest tidal stream power device in the world ready to launch

The innovative tide-harnessing turbine known as SeaGen is securely in place, linked up to the grid, and almost ready to start turning the rapid ebbs and flows of Northern Ireland’s Strangford Lough into green electricity.

Briefing: Ethics in the bag

Louise Vennells 20 June 2008, Entrepreneurship, Inspiration, Social enterprise

Indian co-op helps ditch plastic carriers

With disposable plastic bags under fire as the environmental bogeyman of the moment, businesses on the lookout for reusable alternatives might learn something from Paravur.

Into the red – out with the green?

20 June 2008, Banking, Business, Energy conservation & efficiency, Finance, Politics, Regulation, Retail, Socially responsible investment

Will recession force environmental issues down the agenda – or could it be an unlikely spur to more sustainable work, rest and play? Martin Wright investigates.

Best in show

Tom Bamford 19 June 2008, Cars, Hydrogen/fuel cells

Fuel cell power packs a punch in 'dream car' bracket

Three years in the making, the Morgan Lifecar is capable of doing 0 to 60 mph in a mere seven seconds – on a hydrogen fuel cell engine.

Recession: eclipse - or stimulus?

Ian Christie 23 May 2008, Banking, Business, Finance

Recession doesn’t have to mean a rollback of enthusiasm for sustainability, argues Ian Christie. Indeed, it might just act as a stimulus. Assuming we actually have one, that is…

The Green Futures Interview: Martin Wright meets Rowan Williams

Martin Wright 25 April 2008, Religion/spirituality, Society & culture

“The environmental crisis is the major moral issue which confronts us – and I’ve got into trouble for saying so.”

These days, we pretty much expect our archbishops to be turbulent priests.

A president to save the planet?

Polly Ghazi 23 April 2008, Americas, Politics

Colour, gender, age – whichever way it goes, the next US president will be the first. The first commited to tackling climate change. With fresh hope in her heart, Polly Ghazi draws the finer distinctions between the three contenders’ shades of green.

Farm food nation?

Polly Ghazi 21 April 2008, Local food

State law opens way for local farm food into US schools, low-income communities

So far, America’s booming local food movement has largely been limited to the farmers’ market loving middle class. But that’s starting to change.

Sun rises on US energy scene

Polly Ghazi 18 April 2008, Energy issues, Solar energy/PV

California’s “biggest ever” solar project follows record year for industry growth

America’s solar energy industry is coming of age. After a record growth year in 2007, pumping over $2 billion into the economy, the sector as a whole – manufacturers and distributors of photovoltaic, concentrating solar power and solar heating technology - is projecting that revenues will again more than double in 2008.

Traffic goes electric green

Andrew Williams 15 April 2008, Cars

Wind-powered recharge grid on the horizon for Danish battery vehicles

It’s looking good for electric cars in Denmark – as a new scheme promises a network of renewably-powered recharging stations by 2011.

Cutting down with the Joneses

Tom Bamford 15 April 2008, Green government, Housing, Regeneration

Green Neighbourhoods scheme to turn existing communities into beacons of low carbon living

Who’s showing the way on cutting the carbon footprint of the UK’s existing housing stock? Under a new government initiative, 100 communities across Britain could become shining examples of what’s possible - and achievable by ordinary people in ‘bog standard’ homes.

Duty to disclose

Jon Wallace 15 April 2008, Benchmarking/Rankings, Business, Communications/Reporting, Corporate responsibility

Companies face obligation to report CO2 after amendment to Climate Change Bill

Binding rules on carbon disclosure will put companies on a level playing field, where consumers and investors alike can make meaningful comparisons between the leaders – and the laggards.

Web-based services have got me thinking

28 March 2008, Information technology, Society & culture

Sparked off by a particularly interesting panel session at the recent Guardian Public Sector Summit, I started listing the possible environmental benefits of investing more public money in these technologies – from better home delivery services and reduced car use, to savings in town hall energy and water consumption, and cutting down on paper waste by emailing council tax bills rather than sending them out in the post.

Editorial

Roger East 26 March 2008

The issue is rising up the nation’s consciousness. Some of the major players have announced pioneering initiatives. The Budget promises imminent government action. And personally, I’m glad to say, I rank close to the angels on this one. I refer, of course, to the challenge of combating… free plastic carrier bags.

Ships take a blow

Jon Wallace 25 March 2008, Shipping, Wind power

Merchant shipping tries out carbon-cutting solutions as true extent of emissions emerges

Hybrid container ships have arrived on a commercial scale.
Hybrid, that is, as in partly wind-powered. In a world first for a container vessel, the 10,000-tonne MS Beluga SkySails has been fitted with a computer-guided kite to help blow it along – taking some of the load off its oil-powered engine.

Feeding our cars

Hannah Bullock 25 March 2008, Cars, Waste to energy

General Motors turns food waste into fuel

It seems that everybody wants a share of our household food waste. Over in the US, General Motors is planning to transform the stuff into ethanol to fuel cars.

The new mile high club

25 March 2008, Aviation, Carbon offset/neutrality, Recycling

Airlines get passengers offsetting and recycling

When’s the best time to get air passengers to sign up to carbon offsets? When you can prick their conscience the most – on the plane. Virgin Atlantic is now offering offsetting to customers in-flight, along with the duty-free.

Take-off for biofuels?

Hannah Bullock 25 March 2008, Aviation, Biofuels

First ever biodiesel flight launches amidst controversy

A Virgin Atlantic test flight has boosted biofuel enthusiasts’ belief in its technical viability as aviation fuel. Yet the breakthrough comes as European targets to raise overall biofuel use are called into question – over the environmental and food security implications of large-scale production

Raising the bar for water

Matt Radcliffe 25 March 2008, Behaviour change, Water

London restaurant banishes the bottled stuff in style

Could this be the beginning of the end for bottled water? For years now, aspirational consumers with scant regard for sustainability have been lapping up the wet stuff from ever more exotic sources like it’s going out of fashion. And now, happily, there are signs that it is.

Who’s on message?

Julian Rollins 25 March 2008, Awards & grants, Communications/Reporting, Corporate responsibility

Reporting awards encourage focus on sustainability – not just CSR

BT’s 2007 sustainability report has been judged Britain’s best, and Unilever’s is runner-up. But the judges of accountancy organisation ACCA’s annual awards were disappointed to find that most of the contenders were still stuck in the language – and mindset – of ‘corporate social responsibility’ rather than ‘sustainability’.

Gallic twists on tomorrow’s transport

David Howells, Rhiannon Lewis and Roger East 25 March 2008, Freight

High card, low carbon

25 March 2008, Culture, Young people

Top Trumps, the cult card game for kids, has had a makeover from the environmental charity Marches Energy Agency.

Sun down under

Julian Rollins 25 March 2008, Community energy, Solar energy/PV

Outback town plans world first in solar power

The Queensland town of Cloncurry is aiming to transform itself into the world’s first fully solar-powered community. The centrepiece of the plan will be a 10MW solar thermal power tower, generating around 30 million kilowatt-hours of electricity each year.

Cadbury boost for producers?

Julian Rollins 25 March 2008, Africa, Corporate responsibility, Farming/Horticulture, Poverty/social exclusion

Partnership approach backs cocoa farmers in sustainability drive

Our love affair with chocolate would have a pretty flaky future, if growers couldn’t make a livelihood out of the beans.

Patent clarity

Iain Aitch 25 March 2008, Innovation

Companies show less protective streak over IP to save the planet

Businesses usually fight tooth and nail to protect their intellectual property. But now IBM, Nokia, Sony and Pitney Bowes are taking part in what is being described as the Eco-Patent Commons.

Newsreel

Roger East 25 March 2008, Budget/Taxation, Policy

The biggest green stories in government - in bite-sized chunks

Lights! Camera! Climate action!

Chris Alden 25 March 2008, Climate change impacts, Culture, TV

Campaign to get better grip on London film industry’s emissions

You can’t accuse film-makers in London of being blind to climate change. Only last summer, the disaster movie Flood depicted what might happen if the Thames was overwhelmed by rising seawater

Two wheels better

Roger East 25 March 2008, Cycling

Heartening signs for cyclists and pedestrians

Hot on the heels of Sustrans’s success in winning
£50 million of lottery money for its Connect2 cyclepaths scheme comes the announcement of a £140 million three-year plan at the Department for Transport to boost cycle training for children, connect more schools to the National Cycle Network, and help towns run cycling pilot projects.

Eggstra leg room

25 March 2008, Consumption, Farming/Horticulture

The Co-op is the latest supermarket to stop selling eggs from battery hens.

Following a consultation with its members, in which a quarter identified animal welfare as a priority, the retailer removed the offending items in February.

London charging ahead

Iain Aitch 25 March 2008, Congestion, Mass transit/Public transport

Congestion charging scheme and Paris’s free bikes share US award

Porsche drivers and mums in 4x4s on the school run might loathe both him and it, but Ken Livingstone’s congestion charge keeps winning plaudits.

Not just rearranging the loungers…

Alison Winward 25 March 2008, Construction, Health

Titanic Spa aims to set an eco-example

It says it’s “the UK’s first eco-spa”. It opened last year inside Titanic Mill, a luxury green apartment complex conversion in a former textile mill near Huddersfield.

Village greening

Jon Wallace 25 March 2008, Awards & grants, Community energy, Microgeneration

Locals press forward on waste elimination, parish hall retrofits

St Arvans, two miles outside Chepstow, has set itself the target of becoming the first zero-waste Welsh community. Residents already recycle an impressive average 77% of waste with the help of weekly collections by Monmouthshire Community Recycling, a social enterprise established by local people.

Changing the limelight

Claire Wyatt 24 March 2008, Culture, Energy conservation & efficiency

London theatre stages first sustainable production

Hydrogen fuel cell powered stage lighting was one of the stars making its debut, along with a raft of other clean green initiatives, when Simple8’s production of The Living Unknown Soldier opened earlier this year at a London studio theatre.

Innovation with that ‘wow’ factor

Chris Sherwin 24 March 2008, Innovation

Innovation’s the lifeblood of the mainstream business world. Sustainability advocates are starting to give it a central role in their work too. Think ‘sustainable innovation’, though, and you might struggle for examples.

Whitehall Watch

Peter Madden 24 March 2008, Carbon reduction, Commuting, Cycling, Local government, Mass transit/Public transport

As London’s mayoral elections turn up the heat on transport policy, our national politicians need to look and learn, says Peter Madden.

American Eye

Polly Ghazi 24 March 2008, Americas, Carbon offset/neutrality, Carbon reduction

Most Americans have two religions: their faith and their sports team. Suddenly, says Polly Ghazi, some powerful players in the sports world are beefing up their green credentials. Will the fans follow?

Letters

24 March 2008

And another thing

Martin Wright 24 March 2008, Asia, Cars, Poverty/social exclusion

“What happens when improving people’s quality of life runs slap bang into environmental limits? The Tata Nano does exactly that.”

Rural renaissance

Julian Rollins 20 March 2008, Carbon reduction, Railways

Village pioneers are finding positive answers for low-carbon local development. Now the government needs to get on track. - The Commission for Rural Communities

Tasty money

20 March 2008, Banking, Green Futures partners, Social enterprise, Socially responsible investment

Why do ethical consumers have a blind spot when it comes to choosing a bank? If you care about the environment, you probably recycle, buy organic food, and may even have promised to cut down on air travel. But have you greened your bank account, too? - TRIODOS

When fuel grows on trees

Julian Rollins 20 March 2008

How good old wood can help Yorkshire cut its carbon and boost its economy. - YORKSHIRE FORWARD

Just a generation ago Dearne Valley, on the outskirts of Barnsley, was a post-industrial wasteland. Today, the coal industry has been replaced by newer, cleaner businesses, and at its heart a derelict marshland has been transformed into an RSPB wetland reserve.

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