I admit it. I have been guilty……of climate nihilism. I’ve found myself turning down the volume on the news or sometimes looking the other way. It was all too unbearable, out of my hands and I was less than optimistic about the state of the world. That is, until I went to CAT. Sorry to […]
Latest Posts from The Blue Patch Blog
The coolest CAT in town: How a visit to the Centre of Alternative Technology turned my climate-apathy around
in Out and About Tags circular economy nicci Sustainability sustainable Sustainable living
Let’s talk about eco houses: Insuring a non-standard home in the UK
in Sustainable Living Tags ethical business Green Energy Insurance preeti Retrofitting Sustainability Sustainable living
A few weeks ago there was a news article about a new zero carbon neighbourhood in South Wales getting the green light for construction. Homes in this neighbourhood will be built to generate more energy than they use, replacing energy drawn from the grids during times like cold snaps with clean energy during leaner months. Exciting, […]
Why the ethical fashion sector in the UK struggles to grow
in Sustainable Living Tags #buylocal ethical fashion Fashion Independent UK makers preeti Sustainability Sustainable living
A recently published article in the Guardian celebrates ethical spending in the UK hitting a record high, swelling to reach over £41 billion. Consumables take the largest portion, with energy, home and personal products scooping up significant portions of the rest. The industry that has had the most tussles with ethical issues however, the one […]
What does net-zero mean for British businesses?
in Environment, Sustainable Living Tags Advice for small businesses circular economy net zero preeti sustainable
In the past few months the discussion on climate change has intensified, with strategic conversations taking place to shape policy both globally and locally. Earlier in 2019, the UK became the first country to pledge to bring all its net emissions to net zero by 2050. A few cities have stepped up to the challenge with Bristol […]
10 ideas for sustainable stocking fillers made in the UK
in Sustainable Living Tags christmas gifts Made in britain preeti UK artisans and designers
Stocking fillers are a wonderful extra little surprise. Yeah there’s a gift or three under the tree for you, prettily wrapped. Still, it’s fun reaching into a stocking to pull out tiny little treasures.If you’re racking your brains for stuff to put into stockings, here are some ideas from us. 1. Squeaky clean and smells […]
We’re totally crackers about these ethical Christmas crackers
in Sustainable Living Tags christmas christmas crackers circular economy Made in britain Sustainable living
We’ve been on the hunt for eco friendly, sustainable Christmas crackers that are made here in the UK. I think that one of the most fun things about a very British Christmas are definitely the crackers. A small gift, a joke, a crown and you can be Queen (or King) for the day, along with […]
Tis’ (almost) the season: 6 non-traditional British advent calendars
in Business, Sustainable Living Tags christmas Independent UK makers Made in britain preeti Sustainable Makers UK artisans and designers
Have you started playing Christmas music yet? I haven’t. For me, Christmas begins with the advent season and leads up to a day spent with family, good food, drinks, full spirits and lots of fun. I love a good advent calendar. Mind you, my favourites are the ones with adult beverages but I do like […]
What does it mean to be an ethical business in 2020?
in Business Tags Advice for small businesses Business ethical business Independent UK makers Natural products Sustainable Makers
In 2017 we featured this guest blog written by Sian Conway of #EthicalHour on what it means to be an ethical business. Now as we step into the first days of 2020 we’ve decided to revisit this issue and share our thoughts with you. So, what does it mean to be an ethical business in […]
Making waves: British brands creating cool things from recycled marine plastic
in Sustainable Makers Tags Made in britain preeti Sustainability Sustainable Makers
A few days ago American Express announced a complete revamp of its classic Green Card. Following a long list of the benefits of owning an Amex Green card comes the revelation that the card is designed using reclaimed ocean plastic collected from beaches by Parlay for the Oceans. Coca Cola too has been in the […]
A garden transformed : From mud to spud, or kale as it happens!
in Gardening Tags Gardening wildlife
Memories of a lovely late summer! The Blue Patch garden has come on in leaps and bounds from a neglected tangle of weeds to nature-friendly oasis. The garden is now in the capable hands of Theo from The Almanac Garden. Theo is creating the ultimate eco-garden. Within a week butterflies, not seen for years, […]