Green Business Network
For other updated news and information visit the Bedfordshire & Luton Sustainable Business Partnership.
Release date: 05/12/2011
The Carbon Trust is running an Energy Efficient Breakfast for SMEs in the Bedfordshire area, working in partnership with the Bedfordshire Councils on 11 January 2012.
By attending an Energy Efficient Breakfast workshop your organisation will be able to:
The event will be hosted at Borough Hall, Bedford, MK42 9AP. Registration and breakfast starts at 7:30am, with the training session runningbetween 8:00am and 10:00am, and a carbon surgery and networking opportunityuntil 10:30am. To book a place, please visit http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/events/listings/Pages/eeb-luton.aspx.
Alternatively, you can email Jodie.Colclough@luton.gov.uk to book a place.
The topic of Energy Management has also recently been featured as part of the Carbon Trust's Expert in Energy series. These are free monthly low carbon business guides, web advice and webinar sessions to help businesses save money and reduce their energy use.
Release date: 16/09/2011
Central Bedfordshire and Luton local authorities have just launched a new online car-share journey matchingservice.
The website www.centralbedsandluton.liftshare.comwas launched on 1 September and provides a free journey matching service that partnersdrivers with passengers and vice versa, helping users to save money on their travel costs as well as those without access toconvenient public or private transport access their destinations of choice.
Thewider environmental, economic and commercial benefits of reducingsingle-occupancy vehicle use and promoting car-sharing are well understood butinclude:
Release date: 16/09/2011
Bedford College is able to offer free courses to people in the East of England who are unemployed or economically inactive, includingvolunteers and part time workers/students (studying/working for fewer than 16hrs per week)
One day course - Developing SustainableAgriculture Certificate - Creating a Small Scale Eco-holding
– Introduction to small scale sustainable agriculture
– Guided tour of example sustainable smallholding
– Exploring the design principles for an eco-holding
– Closing resource cycles - part 1 - Energy
– Closing resource cycles - part 2 - Water
– Techniques for sustainable food production
Two day course – Using Rammed Earth forBuilding Homes
- the advantages of building with rammed earth
- the tools and equipment needed
- soil composition, correct mixture and testing
- footings, damp proof course to roof plate
- building a wall section including a window,corner, arch and an electrical service point
Refreshments andovernight accommodation will be included in the package
No dates have beenagreed yet for this course but interested people will be added to a waitinglist.
Please do not hesitate to contact Janette Eustace (details below) for more informationabout these courses or any other information about the Skills for SustainableDevelopment project and the other free low carbon courses that are currentlyavailable.
Contact as follows
Janette Eustace
SSD ProjectManager www.bedford.ac.uk/ssd
Sustainability
Bedford College,Cauldwell Street, Bedford, MK42 9AH
(: (01234)291132 - Internal: 5132
(: mobile07891 640088
Release date: 09/05/2011
From 29 March 2011, new regulations introduced a two-tier registration system for waste carriers, brokers and dealers – Upper and Lower Tier. If you want to transport other people's controlled waste, or your own construction and demolition waste, you must register with the Environment Agency as a waste carrier.
From the end of December 2013, you will also need to register as a lower tier carrier if you normally and regularly carry controlled waste produced by your own business.
Controlled waste includes commercial, industrial and household waste, as well as hazardous waste. All businesses can register as waste carriers including self-employed individuals, partnerships, companies or other types of organisation. You need to register even if carrying waste is not your main business activity or if you only carry waste occasionally.
If you do not register and you carry waste, you could be prosecuted.
If you had a waste carrier certificate before 29 March 2011, you don't need to do anything. When your certificate is due to be renewed it will be replaced with an upper tier certificate.
For more information, please visit the Business Link website at: http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?itemId=1086990573&r.l1=1079068363&r.l2=1086502659&r.l3=1086989345&r.s=m&type=RESOURCES&dm_i=2WX,F8K6,8LBM9,187O2,1
Release date: 11/11/2010
The East of England is one of the hottest and driest regions in the UK, and water shortages are an ever present threat – if not now, in the future. Water costs are also on the increase, so any savings made by business are beneficial. And Leagrave-based T&E Neville is proof that small changes can reap big rewards.
Release date: 22/10/2010
As part of this week’s spending review, the Treasury has changed the goalposts for those companies required to participate in the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme. Participating organisations were originally going to receive money back rewards for a good performance within the CRC league tables, but this “reward” money is instead to go directly to the Treasury.
Release date: 14/10/2010
SEEDA and Remade South East are aiming to help Milton Keynes businesses to reduce the amount of food waste going to landfill by holding a breakfast meeting to offer advice and guidance for local companies.
Release date: 23/06/2010
Yesterday's budget announced that landfill tax will increase by £8 per tonne per year until at least 2014. This tax, which currently stands at £48 per tonne, will rise to £56 per tonne as of April 2011.
Release date: 08/06/2010
Release date: 03/02/2010
Central Bedfordshire Council has arranged for a variety of expert speakers to offer local businesses advice on gaining finance, and exporting at events to take place during March.
Release date: 03/02/2010
Release date: 15/01/2010
GBN members Cotton Roots, who specialise in producing fair trade uniforms for businesses, have found that manufacturing environmentally and ethically sourced products has paid off in terms of gaining publicity. The business has recently featured in a slot on the BBC's Working Lunch programme.
Release date: 13/01/2010
Pictons Solicitors LLP has become the latest GBN member business, supported under the BETI+ programme, to achieve the prestigious ISO 140001 certification for its Luton office.
Release date: 12/01/2010
Local businesses learned that energy costs from lighting could be halved just by using different fluorescent tubes at a seminar held at Luton based energy saving lighting and controls specialist Chalmor Limited. The event, which was organised jointly by environmental business groups Bedfordshire Green Business Network (GBN) and West Anglian Energy and Environmental Management Group (WAEEMG) highlighted the financial and environmental advantages of introducing the latest advances in lighting technologies to business premises.
Release date: 08/01/2010
The Environment Agency's updated chemicals manufacturing guidance covers environmental regulations and responsibilities for businesses producing speciality and commodity chemicals, and products such as pesticides, paints or detergents. Find out how chemical businesses can reduce their environmental impact and comply with the lawRelease date: 08/01/2010
Industrial and vehicle batteries were banned from landfill on 1 January. Find out what to do with waste batteries. Also this month, portable battery manufacturers who produce more than one tonne a year must now pay a fee to a compliance scheme to cover recycling costs. Click on the link to the NetRegs Website to find out more.Release date: 08/01/2010
If you have refrigeration or air-conditioning equipment you now have to test it for leaks of ozone depleting substances (ODS) at least every year, and every three months if it contains more than 300kg of ODS. The recast EC ozone regulation also requires you to label all containers of reclaimed ODS. Find out more about handling these harmful greenhouse gases by visiting the NetRegs website or by clicking the linkRelease date: 08/01/2010
Using the Future Jobs Funding programme - a £1.1 million government initiative to generate minimum 6-month job opportunities - Bedford Borough has already created 198 jobs for long-term unemployed young people and those from unemployment hot spots.
Release date: 24/11/2009
Release date: 12/11/2009
Release date: 12/11/2009
A building refurbishment project in Luton run by Integria is looking to save tonnes of building materials, fixtures and fittings going to landfill by offering them free of charge.
Release date: 12/11/2009
Building trades
Release date: 12/11/2009
The Carbon Trust is set to launch a new programme they claim will help thousands of UK SMEs to reduce their energy bills by a combined £40 million.
Release date: 12/11/2009
Kriss Akabusi MBE was the principal guest at the official opening of Luton-based Chalmor’s new, state-of-the-art, low energy offices earlier this year.
Release date: 12/11/2009
Water recovery and re-use technology could become a key risk management tool for East Anglian businesses as changing weather patterns, population growth and evolving regulation increase the potential for UK plc to face a future ‘water crunch’.
Release date: 11/02/2009
A UK manufacturer of composites from waste plastic is targeting the construction industry with its building material, which it believes can replace concrete, steel and wood in any construction project.
Release date: 11/02/2009
In a bid to help smaller businesses continue to improve energy efficiency, the Carbon Trust has now increased the maximum amount of its interest-free loans to £200,000.
Not only has the maximum allowable loan gone up from £100,000 to £200,00, but the overall amount of loan money available has increased by 45% to £31 million.
The loans, which are unsecured, interest-free and repayable over a period of up to four years, provide a cost effective way for small businesses to upgrade equipment with a more energy efficient version - thereby reducing energy bills and cutting their carbon footprint.
Release date: 11/02/2009
i10 – a collaboration of ten East of England universities – is now able to offer East of England SMEs the chance to apply for £1000 low carbon voucher to pay for up to two days’ consultancy with an i10 university of their choice. Fifty of these vouchers are available.
Release date: 11/02/2009
Cambridge University scientists have developed an energy saving lightbulb that will cost just £2 and will last for 60 years.
Release date: 06/10/2008
Community Waste based at Milton Keynes Council’s Materials Recycling Facility in Wolverton is extending its services to include recycling for all types of plastic generated by businesses. This could help you to reduce landfill taxes, increase recycling rates, save waste disposal costs, and potentially generate an income.
Release date: 06/10/2008
Coming in January 2010 is the carbon reduction commitment (CRC), a compulsory UK-wide scheme to make larger organisations reduce their carbon emissions or pay for them. However,
Release date: 06/10/2008
Stricter rules on batteries and accumulators for UK businesses were introduced on 26 September through the implementation of the Batteries Directive.
Release date: 31/07/2008
Luton-based CNC machining company GRF Engineering has just been awarded recognition from BSI that it meets the stringent demands of ISO 14001 - the prestigious international environmental management standard.
Release date: 04/12/2007
EcoTrash is a newly formed project, where people with disabilities collect cans and foil for recycling from organisations in Bedfordshire and Luton.
Release date: 03/12/2007
If you work in the construction industry in England, it is likely that you will need to produce a site waste management plan (SWMP) by April 2008.
Release date: 03/12/2007
With almost 75,000 tonnes of waste vegetable oil being transformed into biodiesel each year, a Quality Protocol consultation launched by the Environment Agency and WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) aims to cut regulatory red-tape so that waste vegetable oil from places such as chip shops can be processed and used in engines more easily.
Release date: 03/12/2007
Congratulations go to long-standing GBN members and waste contractors Firbank Chiltern who have recently achieved registration to ISO 14001 – the internationally recognised environmental management systems standard.
Release date: 03/12/2007
Hain Celestial Group was recently announced the winner of the Recycling Performance of the Year Award at the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) Awards for Environmental Excellence. The award is designed to recognise excellent performance in recycling across all industries, which can be demonstrated in a number of ways, such as recycling of a new material, finding a market for a waste material, or improving the sustainability of the product or process.
Release date: 03/12/2007
When surveyed, 85% of UK construction businesses did not think that they undertook activities that could cause harm to the environment. However, when prompted with a list of activities that are potentially harmful to the environment, 39% stated they undertook at least one of them. The most common were producing or importing packaging (41%) and storing waste (33%).
Release date: 03/12/2007
A website dealing with issues relating to sustainable purchasing is to go live in December. The site is the initiative of Matthew Roper of Green Buying Ltd, who delivered the GBN seminar on greening the supply chain in November.
Release date: 03/12/2007
Terrapin’s impressive environmental record has won the offsite construction company a Business Excellence Award from the Milton Keynes and North Bucks Chamber of Commerce. The Environment Award recognises achievements in recycling, waste reduction and green initiatives.
Release date: 03/12/2007
GBN member The Ethical Food Company is supporting local charity Willen Hospice by offering special “Willen” Christmas hampers.
Release date: 03/12/2007
Bedford based buy-local.net is now offering consumers and businesses an alternative to the major supermarket chains, together with the chance to have locally or ethically produced groceries delivered to their doorsteps, and is tempting customers with a free bottle of locally produced wine with every order.
Release date: 03/12/2007
The Environment Agency has announced new guidance for the timber industry, which effectively removes existing controls on the recovery of virgin timber.
Release date: 03/12/2007
Bedford based SDC Construction scooped the award for Most Tonnes Exchanged 2007 at the first Eastex Annual Conference, which took place in October. Eastex is the unique free materials exchange scheme for the East of England, which aims to reduce the amount of business waste sent to landfill by allowing the waste materials of one business to be exchanged and reused by another business.
Release date: 10/09/2007
Recognising that smaller businesses don’t always have the space to store the quantities of recycled materials necessary for collection by waste contractors or recycling schemes, Milton Keynes Council has agreed that they can now deliver this to its Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) in Wolverton.
Release date: 10/09/2007
Kempston based Interfoam paid tribute to help from GBN at a ceremony to celebrate the company achieving registration to the internationally recognised environmental management standard ISO 14001.
Release date: 10/09/2007
Preliminary results from the second year of GBN’s Resource Efficiency programme, which helps businesses to save money by eliminating waste and reducing gas, water and electricity use, are once again exceptional. Businesses in Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes have made savings of more than £200,000, with more than £300,000 savings predicted for next year.
Release date: 16/05/2007
GBN has just had two separate sets of funding confirmed that will enable it to work with businesses in Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes to improve environmental performance whilst saving money.
Release date: 24/01/2007
Under the EEDA and ESF funded BETI+ project, we are now able to offer a limited number of free places on the CIWM Waste Awareness Certificate course.
Release date: 07/11/2006
GBN and Bedfordia Bio Energy shared top honours at the Bedfordshire and Luton Business Excellence Awards 2006, as they were named joint winners of the Environmental Business Award.
Release date: 06/11/2006
Thanks to financial backing from the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) and the European Social Fund (ESF) GBN is now able to offer Bedfordshire businesses the chance to take advantage of a fully subsidised extensive business environmental training and on-site support initiative worth more than £4,500.
Release date: 12/09/2006
GBN is delighted to announce that Claire Atkins has been appointed executive officer.
Release date: 05/09/2006
Eleven companies spanning Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes have made savings totalling £465,776 by participating in the Green Business Network’s (GBN) Resource Efficiency Action Programme (REAP).This is almost double the Network’s original declared target of £250,000.
Release date: 05/09/2006
The Carbon Trust is to run two free half-day sessions on 24 October 2006 at Bedford. These will offer practical advice on how your organisation can become more energy efficient and reduce carbon emissions.
Release date: 14/06/2006
Members of the local Green Business Network (GBN) have been pledging to reduce their environmental impacts following the UK initiative led by the Environment Agency call for them to "Promise the Earth for World Environment Day". The Day, officially held on 5 June, has come and gone, but its legacies will last for years to come.
Release date: 21/05/2006
GBN has now received full accreditation from the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management to run its Waste Management Foundation Level Courses. Whilst these will predominantly be run to support companies taking part in the Resource Efficiency Action Programme (REAP), GBN is now able to offer them to businesses in general.