BioRegional work with Defra to envisage a One Planet Living department

In January BioRegional met with David Miliband, the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, to discuss lessons that the UK Government could learn from our work. He was particularly keen on our suggestion that Defra could work to become a One Planet Living® ^[1] department.

In March, responding to the Sustainable Development Commission's rather critical annual assessment of the Government's own environmental performance, Defra announced its intention to work with us on this project.

Defra are keen to show how large organisations can give substance to the phrase 'One Planet Living', which they have used on many occasions. A rigorous sustainability action plan must be produced for any organisation to reach the One Planet Living standard, accounting for every aspect of sustainability from carbon emissions through to health & happiness.

In April, BioRegional held a two-day workshop to explore what it would mean for Defra to be genuinely sustainable in its operations. A diverse group of Defra staff working in facilities management, operations and government policy worked through each of the ten One Planet Living Principles, setting stretching targets that they will go on to evaluate and possibly adopt. The work also gave BioRegional staff a fascinating insight into government departments.

Defra and the UK Government as a whole are aiming to be leaders in sustainable development. Despite the criticisms from the recent reports on the UK Government's performance, the refurbishment of their headquarters, Nobel House, was nominated for a sustainability award.

With over 12,500 staff, sites around the country, a considerable amount of travel required for their work and many operations working directly on environmental management, not to mention the expertise of their own staff, the Department should be well placed to demonstrate genuinely sustainable practice. Who knows, perhaps it will go on to become a certified One Planet Living Department.

BioRegional MiniMills secures equity investment and shortlisted for Observer Ethical Award

BioRegional MiniMills UK Ltd broke new ground this month, securing an investment deal that puts the company in a good position to finally commercialise the MiniMill technology, which pulps materials other than wood into paper and recovers energy from the black liquor waste. The company sold equity to a business angel, who now owns shares in the company and has invested £430,000 to match equivalent funding from the DTI.

This investment will enable us to prove the technology at an industrial scale with a new trial for the black liquor recovery unit in Manchester, where we ran a demonstration last July. By December we should be running a demonstration plant for potential customers, who are approaching us from all over the world.

In the UK up to 20% of imported wood pulp could be replaced by straw, creating a market worth £27m to UK farmers. It also has enormous potential in countries such as China and India, where straw has long been used for paper pulp, but where the environmental damage from black liquor is causing the plants to shut down.

BioRegional MiniMills should be in a position to commercialise the black liquor recovery technology next year. In the meantime, the company will build up its market research and sales skills. BioRegional MiniMills will also look to refine the paper pulping process in the coming months, which will complement the black liquor recovery technology, with a view to selling the the BioRegional MiniMill as a complete solution for producing paper from straw next year.

It's not just the investors recognising the potential of the BioRegional MiniMill, either. The company has been shortlisted for this year's Observer Ethical Awards in the "Invention of the Year" category.

The work was part funded by DEFRA, the Home Grown Cereals Authority, the JJ Charitable Trust and the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and is being carried out in partnership with UK paper manufacturers. more information

BioRegional BBQ Charcoal hits the shelves

Community Lavender Harvest and Pick Your Own days

BioRegional Charcoal Company is looking forward to another successful summer season, its 13th since the operation began. BioRegional’s UK charcoal producers manage their coppiced woodlands to create habitat for threatened butterfly and bird species, and are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). UK charcoal also helps stop illegal logging in tropical forests, provides jobs in British forestry and helps to reduce global warming by eliminating the carbon emissions from transporting charcoal from countries like South Africa. Selected Co-op, B&Q, Tesco and Sainsbury’s stores nationwide are stocking the charcoal, priced around £6 for a 3kg bag.

The 9th community lavender harvest will take place on 28th & 29th July, 10am - 4pm at the Stanley Road Allotments in Carshalton, south London. This year will be a special harvest, since the site was recently saved from redevelopment by a huge community effort and massive public support. In Victorian times, south London was the lavender-growing capital of the world, and BioRegional led the way in reviving production back in 1997. Today the field at Stanley Road Allotments is managed by a local community group, Carshalton Lavender. Another 20-acre field that we helped set-up is now run by Mayfield Lavender. Go to our web site for details and a map to the harvests.

One Planet Products kicks off

In January this year One Planet Products, our membership-only bulk buying initiative, launched with a 6-month free trial. One Planet Products is working with partners in the construction and refurbishment industries to make it easier and more cost effective for those engaged in residential building and refurbishment work in the UK, to specify and use high quality, sustainable building products and materials.

Sourcing materials with low environmental impacts can be a challenge. The research involved to ensure that the information is accurate, the product is proven, and that the price is right often puts developers off using them. One Planet Products negotiates price discounts and rebates on behalf of its members. All the products can be viewed and ordered through their web site, which features comprehensive information including environmental data.

One Planet Products will help members to reduce the environmental impact of the new and existing UK housing stock and meet sustainability targets such as EcoHomes and the new Code for Sustainable Homes.

At the time of writing One Planet Products has already signed up 11 members for the free trial, comprising property developers and housing associations.

If you're working on major developments or refurbishments, or a supplier interested in having your products listed, get in touch with our Membership Manager by calling 020 8404 4896.

BioRegional Reclaimed launch new web site

Our very own reclamation specialists BioRegional Reclaimed have launched a new web site to help demolition contractors reclaim materials and fittings, and to aid developers and DIY enthusiasts in using more reclaimed building materials.

BioRegional Reclaimed has been helping developers, demolition contractors, architects and individuals to reclaim and reuse construction materials for 7 years. In the past year alone, the team has worked with over 30 contractors, researchers, developers and councils to reclaim 1,300 tonnes of materials, saving over 300 tonnes of CO₂.

Reclamation has an important part to play in reducing the environmental impact of construction materials, which account for 20% of the UK’s environmental impact, and 19% of our carbon emissions. Reclamation keeps materials in a closed loop cycle, re-using them rather than downgrading them through recycling or sending them to landfill. For example, the reuse of bricks can result in up to 97% savings in embodied CO₂.

The new web site allows visitors to benefit from our experience, which we hope will help drive a move towards reclaiming lower-value, high-volume materials just as is currently standard practice with higher value architectural salvage.

The Laundry's 1000^th customer party

Customers mingled with BioRegional staff in April to celebrate the 1000th small business signing up to recycle with The Laundry. Organic food platters and beer were provided by Abel & Cole, Greenworks constructed a reclaimed bar, and Junky Styling kitted out the Laundrettes (and their recent arrival, The Laundrover) in recyclyed clothing (or "resurrected wasted clothing", for those who inhabit the fashion world).

The Laundry has been running since 2003 and provides a weekly kerbside collection of paper, card, plastic, cans and more for small businesses across central London. It has made it cheap, easy and fun to use the closed-loop recycling model that reduces the ecological footprint of office paper use by 93% compared to importing unrecycled paper and then landfilling it.

The Laundry's name is an irreverant nod to the closed-loop model: they pick up your (dirty) paper, clean it up and return it ready to use again in the form of EVOLVE’s high grade office paper. Judging by the turnout at the party, customers seem to love the service!

New Zero Carbon Homes training launched and more BedZED training coming up

Campaign for More & Better Homes National Conference 2007 - Barker Review of Housing Supply: Three Years On

Bringing together leading stakeholders from across central, regional, and local government, policy makers and those on the front line of service delivery including developers, housing associations and planning professionals, this is a unique opportunity to have direct dialogue with those leading the debate.

Keynote speakers:
Rt Hon RUTH KELLY MP, Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government
KATE BARKER, Government Review of Housing Supply

For your last chance to register and to receive a special 10% discount, contact Laura Brownlee on 0207 324 4372. View the full agenda and register: www.neilstewartassociates.com/sa231