Carbonica appoints Akiko Macdonald as Sales Director

Carbonica is pleased to confirm the appointment of Mrs Akiko Macdonald as Sales Director at the company’s London office. She took up the role on 1 August 2011.

Mrs Akiko Macdonald has a long sales career in the office electronic equipment industry where she has worked in B2B sales for major Japanese companies in the UK, such as Sharp and Panasonic. During her time in Sharp, she achieved a remarkable sales record and became a leader of sales excelling in all established sales targets. In Panasonic she looked after a number of corporate accounts for established Japanese clients and built up a successful team becoming on three occasions the sales person of the year.

During the last three years she was developed various interests and has run several successful training courses, on sales and communication skills, especially designed for Japanese businesspeople. She has coached top executives of Japanese corporates in Britain and has organised a large number of activities and courses for the Japanese business community in the UK.

Being new to the carbon offset industry, her long and successful career in providing complete business solutions is perfectly suited for the challenges that lie ahead. The carbon industry is a growth sector where corporates are becoming increasingly involved, whether it is in the compliance or voluntary sectors, and the role of Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) and carbon accounting are becoming an integral part of the complete service that is now expected from B2B sales in the carbon industry.

Carbonica aims to integrate the provision of carbon offsets with a number of carbon management solutions, such as CRC reporting, carbon auditing and strategies for emissions reductions.

Akiko’s professional profile is ideal to drive this strategy and it enhances Carbonica’s efforts in this direction.

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The 6th INTERNATIONAL GREEN AWARDS™ is calling for entries to find the globes true unsung sustainability heroes

The INTERNATIONAL GREEN AWARDS™, a global programme that recognises innovative and creative approaches to sustainability, is now searching the globe for true sustainability heroes. It’s being judged by some of the world’s most influential sustainability experts and media luminaries internationally including the former presidential candidate for Brazil, Marina Silva, Arianna Huffington, President & Editor-in-Chief, AOL Huffington Post Media Group, David de Rothschild, Environmentalist & Explorer and Sir Crispin Tickell, the former President of the Royal Geographical Society .

Sustainable innovation around technology is an important focus as businesses embark on the journey to a green revolution. And so the race is on to search the globe to unearth this year’s shining examples of innovation and creativity that will inspire our generation.

There are 23 award categories in total. Twenty are available to enter directly and then the inaugural Best Green International ‘Responsible’ Celebrity Award is open to a public vote at www.greenawards.com . The awards steering group will be shortly revealing who they will be nominating as the distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award nominee after the exemplary benchmark set by Sir David Attenborough CBE, who was honoured last year. Finally the International Green Awards Grand Prix will be awarded to the overall winner. Last years ‘Green Prix’ winner was The China Environmental Protection Foundation.

Sir Paul Judge, Steering Group Chair commented, “These awards bring together and generate awareness of outstanding ideas and achievements that can help our world become more sustainable by spreading good practice and allowing other organisations to benchmark their own environmental policies and practices.”

According to one of this year’s distinguished judges Ahmed Djoghlaf – Executive Secretary, UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), “It is an honour and a privilege to participate in the 2011 INTERNATIONAL GREEN AWARDS™. I am impressed with the positive impact the Award has in promoting and rewarding creativity and dedication. Through example, the Awards is shaping future messages of sustainability and therefore creating the leaders of the green businesses of tomorrow.”

To enter before the deadline of the 1st of September and for more details visit www.greenawards.com
 
Categories

Best Green International Business Award (Large/Multi-national)
Best Green International Business Award (Medium)
Best Green Entrepreneur Award (Start-up)
Best Sustainable Investment Award ( BRONZE Partner Emerald Knight)
Best Green Energy Efficiency Initiative Award
Best Green 4R’s Award (Reduction, Reuse, Recycling, Recovery)
Best Green New Product Innovation
Best Green Service Innovation Award
Best Green Conservation and Biodiversity Award
Best Green Water Stewardship Award
Best Green Collaborative Initiative Award
Best Green Technology Award (BRONZE Partner Danwood)
Best Green Intelligent Buildings Award
Best Green Public Sector Award
Best Green Educational Awareness and Sustainability Award
Best Green Not for Profit Organisation Award
Best Green Employee Engagement Award
Best Green Cross Platform Digital Media Solution Award
Best Green Advertising & PR Award
Best Green Audio-Visual Award
International Green Awards Grand Prix
Lifetime Achievement Award
Best International Green Awards Celebrity

Vote for the world’s greenest star?

Voting is open for the INTERNATIONAL GREEN AWARDS™ inaugural Best Green International Celebrity Award. Nominees include the global 'eco-glitterati' like Sir Paul McCartney, Leonardo Dicaprio, Cameron Diaz, Helena Christensen, Sting, Gael Garcia Bernal, Angelique Kidjo, Rahul Bose, Don Cheadle to Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bündchen.

This award seeks to recognise an international media figure who has consistently promoted the sustainability agenda globally and, as a result, influenced mass audiences as a celebrity. The competition is now open to a public vote at www.greenawards.com.

This year’s nominees comprise of 15 well respected celebrities who are deemed to have used their prominence to promote environmental and sustainable development issues and thus have become ‘responsible celebrities’. 

The candidate with the most votes will be announced as the winner at a showcase sustainable gala dinner on Thursday 25th November at the Natural History Museum, London. The winner will then be heralded as the ‘greenest’ media exemplar internationally.

As famine reigns in parts of Africa and the world economy faces a difficult transition, it’s often news which features celebrities which attracts the most media interest. The International Green Awards aims to raise the bar around the ‘cult of celebrity’ and the ‘green’ agenda as the world counts down to the COP 17 Conference in Durban and the crucial Rio Earth Summit in 2012. 

This new award will put the spotlight on those progressive individuals who are keen to harness the power of the media, challenge conventional thinking on the climate agenda and who are really ahead of the game by ‘doing their bit’ for the future of us all.

Celebrities, undoubtedly, are one of the most powerful influencers in the world – they set trends for others to follow and thus are opinion leaders in their own right. In recent times as we adjust to the age of business transparency, an increasing number of celebrities have jumped onto this environmental bandwagon by embracing issues from animal rights through to deforestation and famine. Aside from their affluence, celebrities can set a very clear example for others as role models by endorsing sustainable lifestyles from recycling and purchasing low carbon vehicles through to switching to renewable energy.

All of the media figures chosen have used their media prominence in some way in the past few years to engage with mass audiences on environmental, CSR or sustainable development issues. In fact, many of the nominated celebrities are already recognised as ‘Goodwill Ambassadors’ for organisations such as Oxfam International, the United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Dax Lovegrove, Head of Business & Industry Relations, WWF-UK commented “It’s important to celebrate initiatives that drive us towards a One Planet Future – a future in which the production and consumption of goods and services flourish within the Earth’s ecological limits.”

Don’t forget to make your vote count vote for the celebrity you respect the most by visiting www.greenawards.com before October. There’s still time to enter one of the other award categories too.

2011 Best Green International Celebrity Nominees

Angélique Kidjo – Musician; BENIN
Described by Time Magazine as “Africa’s premier diva”, Angélique Kidjo uses her powerful voice to advocate on environmental and humanitarian causes, particularly the need for sustainable development.

Cameron Diaz – Actress; USA
Crowned ‘Queen of Green’ by Vogue magazine, Cameron Diaz is not just a pretty face to the green movement. Not looking to be just a poster girl for the environment, she actively tries to live sustainably, based on the simple premise of it being a ‘choice’ that anyone can make.

Don Cheadle – Actor; USA
Don Cheadle, is best recognised for his performances in movies such as Out of Sight, Traffic, Ocean’s Eleven and Hotel Rwanda and was a co-producer for Oscar winning movie ‘Crash’. He actively campaigns for the end of genocide in Darfur and was also part of ‘Seal the Deal’ – the UN’s global campaign to raise awareness on climate change.

Gael Garcia Bernal – Actor; MEXICO
Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal is well known for his starring roles in ‘Babel’ and ‘The Motorcycle Diaries’. He is also a social and political activist, particularly well known for his support of Oxfam’s 2005 Make Trade Fair campaign.

Gisele Bündchen – Supermodel; BRAZIL

One of the world’s best known models, Gisele, walks more than just runways. Growing up in Brazil, she witnessed the beauty and destruction of the rainforests and the domino effect on surrounding communities.

Helena Christensen – Supermodel, DENMARK
Danish supermodel Helena Christensen is dedicated to the cause of climate change and helping vulnerable communities adapt to changes. Passionate about photography, Helena held a photo-exhibition titled ‘Meltdown’, which premiered at the UN when the General Assembly met in 2009.

Iruka – Singer; JAPAN
Iruka is one of Japans most loved and famous female singer songwriters. A multi talented woman, she participates in various charity activities and strongly believes in sustainability and conservation of nature for future generations.

Leonardo Dicaprio – Actor; USA
The highest paid actor in Hollywood is not one who to spend his money on luxury, but is in fact a strong advocate for the environment. Aside from his personal passion towards the environment, his commitment towards the planet is best encompassed within his foundation, which supports efforts towards sustainability.

Li Bing Bing – Actress; CHINA
One of China’s most popular actresses, she promotes the need to lead a responsible life and lives by the motto of “practice what you preaches”. Her commitment to the environment is focused on carbon emissions reduction and environmental protection.

Miguel Bosé – Singer; SPAIN
One of the biggest Spanish musicians and actors, Miguel Bosé, is a vocal activist in support of fair trade and also protecting our oceans’ marine diversity. He has been part of Oxfam’s Make Trade Fair campaign, campaigning in Hong Kong at a WTO summit, against the rigidity in global cotton trade.

Rahul Bose – Actor; INDIA
Bollywood star and former Indian rugby player, Rahul Bose is well known for his social conscience. After campaigning for social issues including education, health and women’s rights, he has made climate change the focus of his activism. In 2011, as India played host nation for the World Environment Day, Rahul was actively involved with UNEP activities such as the WED celebrity challenge to engage the masses.

Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Ali Al-Nuaimi – Member of the Royal Family of Ajman; UAE
Better known globally as the “Green Sheikh”, Abdul Aziz bin Ali Al Nuaimi is a member of the ruling family of the Emirate of Ajman in the United Arab Emirates. Nephew of Highness Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid al-Nuaimi (the Ruler of Ajmān), his interest in environmental issues started as a child, which he attributes to his life mission as guided by his faith

Sir Paul McCartney – Musician, UK
Sir Paul McCartney, has long been on the radar as a celebrity who takes his responsibility towards planet earth very seriously. He has used his status as one of the world’s greatest musicians of all times to promote green issues especially animal rights through his campaign of ‘Meat Free Monday’.

Sting – Musician, UK
Sting is a composer, singer, actor and activist. In 1989 Sting, with his wife Trudie Styler, set up the Rainforest Foundation International, after they saw first-hand the destruction of the Amazon rainforests, and the devastating impact it had on the lives of the indigenous peoples who lived there. Over the last 20 years the Foundation has expanded and diversified, and today there is the New York-based Rainforest Foundation Fund, which provides funding for three autonomous organisations – Rainforest Foundation US, Rainforest Foundation Norway, and the Rainforest Foundation UK. These organisations directly support projects in more than 20 countries that protect tropical rainforests and the people that live in them. Since its inception the Fund has helped protect over 100,000 square kilometres of rainforest.

Yann Arthus-Bertrand – Photographer, FRANCE
Passionate about nature from an early age, Yann Arthus-Bertrand is perhaps best known for his breathtaking aerial photos and videos of our planet, flying in a hot air balloon. His endeavours have captured the imaginations of many, not in the least because of his ‘Earth from Above’ exhibition which showcased the fragility of the Earth and the need to sustain it.

If you have suggestions for a celebrity who deserves this accolade if they’re not in this years list of nominees so they can be included for 2012, send a tweet to @GreenAwards with the hash tag #GreenAwardsCelebrity and they’ll include them in the nominations for 2012.

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Delivery Parcel Service ParcelsPlease welcomes fact that more firms are becoming greener

Environmentally aware firm ParcelsPlease, a UK-wide parcel delivery service for UK, Europe and Worldwide parcels (the B2C trading division of Consolidated Carriers Ltd), were one of the first UK logistics companies to be awarded a carbon neutral footprint, achieving ISO 14001 approval.

ParcelsPlease have praised many companies that are now following suit, and are very excited about other companies now increasing their involvement in reducing carbon emissions. Being accredited as carbon neutral has never been more important. Lately, there has been widespread acknowledgement that consumers are more aware and carbon literate, therefore basing their brand choices when buying products or services.

Many people when buying products are now looking to ensure they have as minimal a carbon footprint as possible. Recent studies by Carbon Trust have shown that 45% of shoppers would stop buying products from companies that are not taking measures to help reduce their carbon footprint, increasing from 22% the previous year.

A spokesperson from ParcelsPlease points out: “Being green needn't be cost plus, and being green should not mean there's a need for a premium price for consumers. We have chosen to collaborate with 'Global Trees' to help our customers further and enable the choice to contribute and help make their orders with us carbon neutral.”

The company still manages to offer customers some of the most competitive online quotes for next day timed deliveries.

Carbon Trust have also stated that 65% of all UK emissions are created by businesses. Therefore, measures must be taken to match the necessary 3.1% per annum reduction required to reach the target for 2050.

Consolidated Carriers Ltd, owners of ParcelsPlease have adopted a green ethos throughout the company by implementing environmental policies, suggesting that focus is on not solely on the services themselves.

To read more about ParcelsPlease visit www.parcelsplease.com

G24 Innovations leads the way with positive green actions

Solar pioneer G24 Innovations (G24i) has celebrated the official opening of a 120 metre tall, 2.3 MW wind turbine at its Cardiff manufacturing facility, marking the realisation of a dream to produce renewable energy products using only renewable energy.

Unveiled by the Rt. Hon. Oliver Letwin MP, Minister of State at the Cabinet Office, the Ecotricity-owned turbine will produce enough electricity to power the entire 23 acre site and will save more than 2,500 tonnes of CO2 a year.

G24i also used Mr Letwin’s visit to announce the launch of a new on-site electric vehicle programme. Having installed two charging points, surplus wind power will now be used to run two Peugeot iOn city cars, allowing staff and visitors to travel around Cardiff and the local area in a more sustainable way.

G24i’s founder, Bob Hertzberg points out: “This is the realisation of our ‘green from green’ dream. For the first time renewable energy will be used to directly manufacture renewable energy products, a virtuous circle at the heart of the Government’s vision of a low-carbon economy.

“Sustainability runs to the very core of our business strategy. Building a turbine and introducing EVs are significant steps and we are already exploring other innovative ways in which we can drive down our environmental impact. Our goal is to be a true global pioneer – not just in the technology that we create, but also in the business practices we employ.

“We would like to thank all of our partners in this programme, Cardiff City Council, Ecotricity and Peugeot.”

Mr Letwin added: “I am delighted to open G24i wind turbine, and applaud their innovative approach to sustainable, low carbon energy production. Onshore wind must play an integral part in tackling the two major energy challenges we face – the pressing need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and the equally pressing need to deliver secure, affordable energy supplies.”

G24i is the first company in the world to commercialise dye-sensitised solar cells (DSSC), the only third generation solar technology ready for mass production. DSSC is a breakthrough energy harvesting technology that can change the relationship between everyday products and the energy they rely upon, removing the need for expensive and environmentally unfriendly batteries or plug-in solutions.

G24i’s cells perform well in both low levels of sunlight and indoors, mimicking the photo-synthesis process in plants to recycle ambient light. Independent tests have shown the module to be the most efficient indoor light energy harvesting system in the world, meaning that indoor products such as keyboards and remote controls can, for the first time, produce the power they require to operate - independently.

Dale Vince, Founder of Ecotricity commented: “We're delighted to have built this windmill to power G24i, as it's not just a world first, it's a small glimpse of the future and a very exciting one – the idea that we are able to harness renewable energy and use that to make devices that themselves harness more renewable energy. It completes the ideal environmental circle.”

Jon Goodman, Managing Director at Peugeot UK, commented: “Peugeot is a leading low CO2 automotive producer, was one of the first to produce electric vehicles in the 1940s, has sold the most electric vehicles with the electric 106 and Partner van programme, and was among the first to introduce a modern electric car, able to benefit from the Government’s £5,000 subsidy, with the iOn.

“Peugeot has a wide range of low CO2 vehicle choices, including the imminent arrival of the world’s first diesel-electric diesel hybrid car in the next few months, so it is impressive to see G24i utilising green energy to power their commuting requirements with the Peugeot iOn electric cars and with complete respect to the environment.”

Unique ‘Mu By Peugeot’ Hire Scheme Extends Availability At Bridgestone Eco-Rally

The pioneering ‘Mu by Peugeot’ hire scheme that includes renting bicycles, scooters, cars, Coupé Cabriolets, Sports Coupés, Crossovers, MPVs and vans, is now moving from pilot status to a progressively wider audience at more Peugeot Dealerships in the UK.

The cascade also includes the latest electric bicycles and iOn cars from the extensive Peugeot portfolio – which means it's now possible to experience the virtues of an electric vehicle on demand and in circumstances that suit the customer, and with the iOn at £30 for a half day loan.

At this weekend’s Bridgestone eco-rally (www.eco-rally.org) which runs on Sunday between Oxford and The Mall in London, Peugeot has four low CO2, highly-economical vehicles taking part – the 100% electric iOn, a compact Bipper van in Royal Mail livery, a 308 CC (Coupé Cabriolet) and 508 Saloon – both equipped with the latest Stop & Start System technology, and all available to hire with the ‘Mu by Peugeot’ rental scheme – viewable at www.mu.peugeot.co.uk.

Mu by Peugeot was launched into the UK as a pilot in 2010, in the same year that the Peugeot brand celebrated its 200th anniversary, promoting the fact that no other producer has such a wide portfolio of choice with personal mobility vehicles.

The pilot, based at Peugeot Dealerships in Chiswick, London and Temple Gate, Bristol, follows similar schemes started in France (initially in Brest, Lyons, Nantes and Rennes, and then throughout Paris), followed in Germany, Italy, Holland, Belgium and Spain, and has been deemed a success. It now goes into phase III, where in the UK a number of dealerships take on ‘Mu by Peugeot’ to enhance the rental experience.

The ball that makes its own power

A new website and brand personality delivered by Gasp prepares the innovative energy product for launch this summer.

Gasp, the Berkshire-based creative marketing agency, has been appointed as an official partner of Uncharted Play to boost brand awareness of its innovative sOccket product; a soccer ball that captures the energy during game play to be used later to charge LEDs and batteries. Ready for mass distribution across the globe this summer, the life-changing electricity product is designed to support impoverished communities.

sOccket will initially benefit from Gasp’s expertise as part of a new annual project that helps companies develop their marketing, completely free-of-charge. The team has created a whole new brand personality for sOccket, complete with new logo as well as a new website; a critical tool in raising the profile of the product.

“The input and expertise from Gasp to develop the sOccket brand ready for mass distribution and marketing has been invaluable. After a year of testing sOccket across Africa, Spain and Haiti, it has been really exciting to see the brand come to life. The Gasp team are creative, innovative and have fresh ideas; all of which will help us to empower hundreds of thousands of people worldwide living without modern energy to get safe, immediate access to electricity,” said Jessica Matthews, CEO at Uncharted Play.

Sophie Anderson, Director at Gasp added, “We were looking to use the skills of the team at Gasp to do something for the greater good and discovered the sOccket. It’s such a simple yet innovative product, which addresses the power-crisis; and we felt it a worthwhile cause to offer our services to Uncharted Play to help them market it.”

In most African countries, 95% of the population is living with no access to electricity (World Bank Millennium Goals Report, 2006). The World Bank estimates that breathing the fumes created from burning kerosene indoors equals the harmful effects of smoking two packs of cigarettes a day. To address this, the sOccket harnesses the rotational kinetic (motion) energy of a soccer ball during normal game play and stores it to be used later for energy. After playing with the ball, the child can return home and use the ball to connect a LED lamp to read, study, or illuminate the home.

The ball uses an inductive coil mechanism to generate energy. sOccket is still in prototyping stage, where 15 minutes of play can light three hours of LED light. For more information about sOccket and the global power crisis visit www.soccket.com.

Duttons brands electric vehicle charge points for Ecotricity

Ecotricity, by reputation Britain’s greenest electricity supplier, are rolling out the world’s first motorway network of electric vehicle charging points through Welcome Break motorway services, with graphics by Duttons Design.

Duttons has been working with Ecotricity for the past 2 years and designed the charging posts and top-up zones to gain maximum stand out in car parks and brand recognition for the future.

A total of 29 charge points are due to be live by the end of September. Within 18 months all Welcome Breaks will have them, allowing electric vehicle owners to travel anywhere in Britain.

The charge points are powered by 100% green energy made at Ecotricity’s wind and solar parks and will be free to use in the outset by simply registering for a swipecard.

www.duttonsdesign.com

Made to go green?

Organisations will have to be forced to become greener. So says Version One’s survey of 110 senior finance professionals

A survey by document management software company, Version One, highlights that financial professionals believe financial incentives and new environmental legislation are key to persuading organisations to reduce their negative environmental impact. Version One carried out the research with 110 senior financial professionals (finance directors and managers) across a range of UK public and private sector organisations.

According to the Version One survey, 39% of senior finance professionals state that financial incentives alone are most likely to persuade their organisations to become more environmentally conscious, a 15% increase on the results from Version One’s 2008 survey. Just under a third (32%) state that new environmental legislation, combined with penalties for non-conformance, would influence their organisation to become greener, compared to just 8% in 2008.

Of the remaining respondents, 11% state a move to shared services would encourage greener operations and 10% believe the introduction of a Government-led green education programme is the answer. The final 8% suggest an upturn in the economy is vital to moving green issues higher up the corporate agenda.

The survey also highlights that 66% of senior finance professionals are “concerned” about the negative impact their company is having on the environment. This figure is significantly lower than the 94% of finance professionals who admitted they were “concerned” in the same survey three years ago. 20% state they are “not concerned” about their company’s environmental impact, compared to just 3% previously. The remaining 14% of those surveyed “didn’t know” if they were concerned by their organisation’s environmental impact or not!

Julian Buck, managing director of Version One, says, “The survey results appear reflective of today’s challenging market conditions. Given the UK’s fragile economy, it is perhaps unsurprising senior finance professionals are now less concerned about their organisations’ environmental impact compared with three years’ ago.”

Buck continues, “It's also of little surprise finance professionals believe that their organisations are more likely to take the green agenda seriously if the Government provides financial incentives or enforces UK-wide environmental legislation for businesses. Without a compelling ‘reason to act’, organisations will continue to drop the green agenda down their priority lists whilst they deal with more pressing economic matters.”

Despite the apparent downward shift in environmental concern, finance professionals remain convinced of the business benefits of ‘going green’. 90% confirm going green is still a key consideration within their organisation’s current buying process, with 18% of these stating this consideration was now ‘more important than ever’. 6% believe going green is not a factor within their purchasing while only 4% admit becoming greener is no longer a priority.

Buck says, “In light of the survey findings, the question is raised as to whether businesses’ concern for the environment is merely limited to a ‘tick box’ on a tender document. Whatever organisations’ true motivations might be, it is important that they do not lose sight of the green agenda.”

Buck adds, “Government pressure will continue to be placed on businesses, encouraging them to operate in a more sustainable manner and so finding technologies and processes that support greener ways of operating should remain high priorities, even at a time of economic austerity.”

www.versionone.co.uk