Joanna Yarrow discusses plastic bags on GMTV

Following the announcement that 33 London councils are supporting a bill that would stop retailers in the capital from handing out free shopping bags, Beyond Green Director Joanna appeared on GMTV to welcome the news and talk about the environmental effects of making and disposing the billions of plastic bags we use each year. She also spoke about other initiatives across the UK and worldwide, and the easy alternatives that exist to plastic bags. Beyond Green also helped GMTV devise an online quiz about energy efficiency in the home.


Joanna Yarrow judges Garden Writers’ Guild Awards

Joanna was a judge for the Environmental Award at this year’s event recognising exceptional creative and journalistic skills in garden writing, illustration, publishing and broadcasting. The award was won by John Walker, for ‘Time to power down?’, an article in Organic Gardening magazine.


Jonathan Smales speaks at Sustainable Innovation Conference

Jonathan gave a talk on ‘Accelerating Sustainable Innovation’ at the Centre for Sustainable Design’s Sustainable Innovation 07 conference. The event, held at Farnham Castle in Surrey, was held to discuss current thinking in sustainable innovation, technology, product and service design and development.


Master programme for InterfaceFLOR’s showrooms completed

Beyond Green has been working with the European division of global carpet manufacturer Interface for over a year. With them, we have developed and articulated a vision for the places that they work and sell carpets in order to effectively embody their brand and bring them into line with their truly outstanding aims for sustainability, Mission Zero. This work has culminated in business case, cost structure and project management advice for the roll-out of a multi-million pound programme of fit-out and refurbishment of spaces across Europe and Asia. Due in part to the persuasiveness of these, we are pleased to say that the programme looks set to begin sometime next year.


Pincents Hill Liaison Panel announced

Blue Living has set up a Liaison Panel to enable local discussions and review of the proposals for development at Pincents Hill. The Panel, which the company committed to during the Design Enquiry in early September, is intended to be a constructive two-way dialogue and a foundation for ongoing involvement during the lifetime of the project.

Jonathan Smales, Chief Executive of Blue Living said: “It was clear from the Design Enquiry process that there are a number of aspirations and concerns locally. We know that local people want to hear about our plans for avoiding congestion, protecting ecological habitats, providing improved access to the countryside, and enhancing social and community facilities. These are exactly the kind of topics that we hope the Panel will discuss. We are confident that the Panel members will add vital local information and perspective to the extensive studies and surveys which we have commissioned.”

Pincents Hill Liaison Panel press release