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THE HEALTH REVOLUTION ISSUE PEOPLE, ANIMALS & PLANET

KEEPERS OF ALL THE YORKSHIRE PLANT THE WILD CHANGE SANCTUARY HEALTH A special family is helping to The individuals who used Embrace renaissance and Growing tips from the Soil safeguard tropical forest lockdown to pursue reformation at this centre Association to mark the reserves in Ecuador their purpose of transformation Year of Plant Health Buy award-winning clean products. Plant a tree. The My Green Pod Marketplace is live.

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Welcome to My Green Pod Magazine! Over the last few months we’ve seen how the health of animals can affect human health, and how human activity affects the health of wildlife and the environment. It is all connected, and we’ve had time to pause and notice. We’ve also seen how quickly – and dramatically – humans can change routines that, until very recently, appeared inescapable. We’re working from home and doing it well; we’re finding comfort in our communities and local spaces. Whatever new normal we return to, we have the power to ensure integrated health is the main priority.

Katie Hill, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF [email protected]

About us Life on Earth would My Green Pod Ltd is an independent, family-run UK business, disappear within 25 years founded by Katie Hill and Jarvis Smith. We want to share the if the world’s insects real stories behind the brands and people working tirelessly to died tomorrow offer ethical alternatives to mainstream products and servic- es. You might not see these options on the high street and they may not be the first to appear in online searches. But they are Over 2/3 of the on mygreenpod.com. Search our UK’s primary Marketplace for conscious life- councils have style inspiration – and you could declared a climate save some cash along the way! emergency and taken action Subscribe to get each digital issue of My Green Pod Magazine delivered straight to your inbox mygreenpod.com/subscribe 2.5Gt (4.6%): @mygreenpod the global reduction f facebook.com/mygreenpod in global greenhouse gas

PHOTOGRAPHY ISTOCK emissions since lockdown

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28 20 21

HERO PRODUCTS ARTS & FASHION 27 Empowering skincare that’s based 06 My Green Pod Heroes 20 Introducing the UK’s first B-Corp on science and led by women for July, plus our Top 5 Switches eyewear company 21 Are these the world’s most FOOD & DRINK NEWS sustainable swim shorts? 28 The CBD oil created with love 07 Entries and nominations are open and an intention to heal for 2020’s P.E . A . Awards HEALTH & BEAUTY 29 How the hospitality sector is being 08 World Land Trust’s Viv Burton 22 Janey Lee Grace reveals her tips for flooded with plastic-free products shares the hunter-to-hero story clear, cool summer skin 30 Tips on growing healthy plants behind one family in Ecuador 23 How to get a discount on refills from the Soil Association 09 Make money and plant trees for authentically natural products 31 Steve Backshall and Yeo Valley by taking control of your data; how 24 The natural, plastic-free deodorant have recorded the sounds of organic collective local action will accelerate that supports mental health farming for the first time a zero-carbon future 26 The benefits of organic rose water 32 The Culinary Caveman on achieving health freedom for all CONSCIOUSNESS 10 Jarvis Smith shares inspiring stories HOME & GARDEN of the pioneers he encountered 33 The new website providing access during lockdown to free sports and hobby gear for kids 13 Sadhguru explains the science and technology for inner wellbeing TRANSPORT 14 The centre of transformation 34 How DPD is powering ahead with on an Estate in the Yorkshire Dales plans to decarbonise its delivery fleet

BUSINESS TRAVEL 16 This app makes it easy to give 36 The electric revolution is heading every time you shop to sea 17 Justin Sutton-Parker on how tech can help businesses slash their emissions COMPETITIONS 18 The latest ethical products 38 We’ve got a bumper selection available on the My Green Pod of competition giveaways to help you 31 Marketplace enjoy the sunshine!

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Katie Hill DESIGN: Suzanne Taylor PUBLISHER: Jarvis Smith PUBLISHING: My Green Pod/Printed by the Guardian

Distributed by the Guardian on behalf of My Green Pod who takes sole responsibility for its content. MGP does not accept unsolicited contributions. Editorial opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of My Green Pod nor the Guardian and the companies do not accept responsibility for advertising content. Prices are correct at time of going to press and are subject to change. The Publishers cannot accept any responsibility for errors or omissions. The contents of this magazine are fully protected by copyright and may not be reproduced without written permission. If you have any queries relating to the magazine call 0203 002 0990. FRONT COVER: Mau Mau

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BUSINESS TOP 5 JULY SWITCHES 1 With a ‘Kitchen Passport’ from The Used Kitchen Company, you can help to HERO PRODUCTS ensure your kitchen is used and loved again – instead of Introducing our July Heroes! ending up in landfill. @TUKC Whether you want to enjoy the theusedkitchencompany.com sunshine or start a new project, switching to these products and 2 services will make a difference. TELIC Weleda Calendula Shampoo Accountancy and tax expertise & Body Wash is 100% certified for ethical businesses, focusing natural, and part of Weleda’s View all our Heroes at on people, planet and profit. award-winning baby care range. It’s also great for bigger mygreenpod.com/heroes @wearetelic wearetelic.co.uk kids and adults – helping you cut down on the number of products you need (and the TRAVEL waste you generate). NISOS YACHT @WeledaUK CHARTER weleda.co.uk Harness the power of the wind to sail between the stunning Ionian Islands 3 Switch your home to a scattered off the coastline of renewable energy supply from Greece. With Nisos you’ll stop Octopus Energy. As well as for lunch and a swim in the sleeping better at night, you’ll most incredible crystal waters, almost certainly be rewarded before sailing on to a different with cheaper bills! village every night. @octopus_energy @Nisosyachts mygreenpod.octopus.energy nisosyachtcharter.com 4 HE ALTH TRANSPORT HOME If dairy features in your diet, make sure it’s the best you can get. Yeo Valley is ‘100% Yeorganic’ – organic and then some. Try the Vanilla Ice Cream – it’s indulgent and goes with just about anything. @yeovalley yeovalley.co.uk

5 EVISION Planning (or hoping) to get With the UK’s first award- away this summer? Pack LUX PERIOD PANTS winning all-electric self-drive DIP & DOZE light with incognito 3-in-1 Wave goodbye to plastic and vehicle hire company, you can Enjoy the everyday luxury of Suncream, Insect Repellent say hello to LUX’s reusable, hire an electric vehicle for a a Fairtrade, organic cotton and Moisturiser. It’s as useful organic, vegan period undies! long or short term. bedding set. in the UK as is it is abroad! @LuxOrganic @EVision_EVRent @DipandDoze @incognitoUK luxstore.net evrent.co.uk dipanddoze.com lessmosquito.com

6 / JULY mygreenpod.com 2020 marks the 10th anniversary of the UK’s leading sustainability awards – and it’s going to be a big one

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

AWARDS 2020

The University of Sydney reports that since lockdown, there has been DIGITAL PIONEERS a 2.5Gt (4.6%) reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions – that’s the This year, the P.E.A. Awards has a new title sponsor, Citrix. Like P.E.A. largest drop in human history. Almost overnight, human behaviour stopped Award winners, the company’s goal is to reimagine the future and make being the problem and became part of the solution to the climate crisis. the extraordinary possible. Individuals all over the world have dedicated their lives to the creation Citrix does this by providing the most comprehensive secure digital of a fairer and more sustainable future. They’re often unsung heroes, workspace; it unifies the apps, data and services we need to be productive, following inner convictions without expecting any recognition or reward. and simplifies the management of complex cloud environments. To reflect current trends in sustainability, two new P.E.A. Awards CELEBRATING GREEN HEROES categories have been launched: Electric Vehicles and Digital Technology. For 10 years, the P.E.A. (People. Environment. Achievement.) Awards has ‘We are very excited to welcome our new title sponsor, Citrix’, says Jarvis scoured the globe for these people so their efforts can be recognised. Each Smith, P.E.A. Awards founder and co-founder of My Green Pod. ‘This year, winners – in sectors ranging from hospitality to rewilding – are digital technology company has a full suite of IT solutions that enables celebrated at a green-carpet event where their stories are heard and shared. people to work from home. Our motto for this year’s P.E.A. Awards is Previous winners have bravely pioneered new ideas and refused to accept ‘disrupt or be disrupted’ – the search for our climate superheroes is on!’ a status quo that will ultimately lead to our own destruction. If this sounds like you – or someone you know – we want to hear from FURTHER INFORMATON you. Entries and nominations are now open for 2020’s P.E.A. Awards, n Enter or nominate your green heroes at peaawards.com which will be held at Birmingham NEC on the evening of 27 February 2021. n Deadline for entries is midnight, 31 August 2020

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KEEPERS OF THE WILD

‘‘IT WAS VERY SAD. THAT IS Viv Burton, co-founder of World WHAT YOU CAN DO Land Trust, reveals the hunter-to- WHEN I STOPPED hero story of a family helping to BUY AN ACRE: HUNTING. FROM safeguard tropical forest reserves £100 will purchase and protect one acre and will save forests and expand EcoMinga’s Manduriacu Reserve. To the east of the Ecuadorian town of THEN ONWARDS worldlandtrust.org/appeals/buy-an-acre Baños, overshadowed by the mighty Tungurahua – the ‘Throat of Fire’ MY LIFE CHANGED. volcano – a series of reserves has been KEEPERS OF THE WILD: purchased and protected by a team led World Land Trust funds Darwin and his colleagues to protect Fundación I BEGAN TO THINK by a remarkable man: Lou Jost. EcoMinga’s reserves through Keepers of the Wild, which funds rangers on World Land Trust partners’ reserves. For 20 years Lou has followed a DIFFERENTLY.” vision to create a biological corridor, worldlandtrust.org/appeals/keepers-of-the-wild Jesus Recalde, Keeper of the Wild roughly 18km as the condor flies, with Fundación EcoMinga, Ecuador between two of Ecuador’s national parks: Los Llanganates and Sangay. emergencies – from illegal poaching to my botanical explorations’, Lou Ecuadorian biologists’, Lou says. ‘It’s forest fires and landslides. explains. ‘One read ‘No cazar los aves’ often asked to help in field research.’ CROSSING THE ANDES The qualities needed to be a reserve (‘Don’t hunt the birds’) – an unusual Unbelievably, Jesus and his brothers Lou, a scientist and conservationist, ranger working in rural Ecuador are sentiment at a time when every kid in had been voracious hunters when they co-founded Fundación EcoMinga in many. It takes more than stamina rural areas carried a slingshot to kill were younger – until the day Jesus shot 2005; over the years World Land Trust and endurance to succeed in these birds. Years later I learned Jesus was a mother monkey with a baby. Jesus and its supporters have helped fund remote areas, and to work alongside the author of these signs, and realised was shaken to his core and never killed the purchase of more than 17,000 local people whose traditions may not that this was an unusual man.’ anything again. acres of forest to protect the habitat always be sympathetic to wildlife. ‘Darwin had occasionally filled between the two parks. FROM HUNTER TO HERO in for Jesus for jobs that were The goal is for animals like the ‘DON’T HUNT THE BIRDS’ The first Keeper of the Wild Lou hired physically demanding, and we were rare mountain tapir, spectacled bear, Jesus Recalde was the senior reserve was Abdon Recalde, who was Jesus’s of course delighted that Darwin puma and Andean cock-of-the-rock guard with Fundación EcoMinga for 12 brother. He too was an exceptionally would be Jesus’s replacement’, Lou (main image) to continue to be able to years, and his gentle wisdom helped to sensitive and honest man. says. ‘Darwin is a local hero of ours; pass safely between the northern and guide the organisation’s evolution. But Jesus introduced Lou to other along with other members of the southern ranges of the eastern Andes. he felt the time had come to step down members of his family, some of community, he risked his life to and asked if his son, Darwin, could whom joined the team. The extended pull people out of the mud when a KEEPING FORESTS SAFE take his place. family’s personal qualities — curiosity, landslide swept a bus off the road. Keepers of the Wild, the unsung ‘Jesus first came to my attention intelligence and integrity — were key These people are willing to risk their heroes of the reserves, work tirelessly; through signs I’d sometimes see to the foundation’s success. ‘Today, lives to help others – and to protect they’re on constant call to tackle – deep in the forests – while on our ‘Team Recalde’ is famous among the reserves.’ n

8 / JULY mygreenpod.com Your data makes money – but currently that cash goes to tech giants like Google and Facebook. They make TAKE billions, while you get nothing. A new and extremely simple app has just launched that turns this model WHAT’S on its head. Slice analyses your data, works out what you’re looking for and matches you with relevant brands. YOURS The app cuts out the middleman so you can be paid directly for By taking control of connecting with brands – to the your personal data, tune of up to £1,200 a year. you can make money EARN CASH AND and plant trees PLANT TREES In partnership with My Green Pod, Slice will pay for a tree to be planted in the tropics for every new customer who accepts an offer from a matched brand. Signing some or all of your earnings over to your favourite sustainability fund or other worthy cause would make an even bigger impact. Together, we could tackle the climate emergency head on, while earning money and taking control Find out why Slice is a of what’s ours. FURTHER INFORMATON My Green Pod Hero at The Slice app is now available to n  mygreenpod.com/heroes Download the Slice app HERO download from the Apple App Store for Apple or Android at and Google Play Store. getmyslice.com/mygreenpod

SHARE YOUR STORY Collective local action will inspire and accelerate a zero-carbon future

Ric Casale, author of Civic Revolution: leadership and helps people to discover A Citizen’s Guide, founded Carbon and share low-carbon initiatives that Copy in a bid to inspire a collaborative are working in local communities. approach towards action on the The platform is for people who climate emergency. think big locally, so individual impacts The non-political charity convenes can be scaled up on a community, (online, for now) local councils, county or regional level. community groups and companies that share the same zero-carbon goal. IT’S TIME TO It’s the result of lots of conversations COLLABORATE with different people who are already Carbon Copy is currently seeking doing great work in various places. Find out why Carbon Copy low-carbon initiatives to publish – ‘We found ourselves wanting to is a My Green Pod Hero at whether big or small, in pilot stage share their stories about collective, HERO mygreenpod.com/heroes or fully implemented. local action more widely’, Ric tells us, If you are working on a project, ‘so that people could learn faster from policy or toolkit that addresses one another.’ collaborative and inclusive in facing EMBRACING A the environment and climate the climate emergency, we can mimic CONNECTED LOCALISM emergency – in clean energy, our built ACCELERATING nature’s genius for encouraging The potential of community-led environment, the circular economy, PROGRESS diversity and multiplicity. climate action is massive, and our transport, nature or land use – now’s Rapid innovation is required to The power of proliferation is two- zero-carbon future is already being the time to share your work. If others address radical uncertainty, and fold: where low-carbon solutions invented by myriad communities in could benefit you’ll help to accelerate innovative ideas and solutions are succeed, people copy and adapt them; different places. the shift that’s already underway. often found at a local scale. where they don’t work, they fail on Over two-thirds of the UK’s The goal at Carbon Copy is to a manageable scale with backups primary councils, plus countless more FURTHER INFORMATON create momentum behind hundreds already in place. community groups, have declared n Share your low-carbon project of localised climate action plans The idea is that the more we share, a climate emergency and taken with Carbon Copy at that already exist. By being more the faster we can move ahead. action. Carbon Copy showcases this carboncopy.eco/initiatives

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on equity. Everyone (in all species) JARV’S would be treated according to their individual need, with diversity and inclusion baked into the DNA. Planet Shine only works with mission-aligned brands; it guides them to explore the vast opportunities presented by the ethical revolution.

AN ENTREPRENEUR WITH PURPOSE For Rachel, ambition and purpose LockdownRULES has presented challenges – now it’s crucial are front and centre, along with the that we work together belief that everyone can live a fulfilled and successful life – whatever the individual’s definition of success – in Social distancing has been branded like it’s a new movement. As responsibility for ourselves and families. What a gift to be given an alignment with the planet. my friend Dr Jude Currivan pointed out, ‘we have all been socially early warning – and what a comfort we all responded so brilliantly. From time to time, she’s asked reconnecting and physically distancing’. about a conflict between business and That feels more accurate to me. Like many, I’ve noticed people STAYING ON TRACK revenue generation in the creation of smiling more and have used video conferencing daily to connect. Now we must stay on track, like it’s the ride of our lives (because a better world. Rachel is clear on this: it is). Let’s keep working from home (at least two days a week), ‘Unfortunately, we all need money WHAT’S COMING NEXT? keep buying locally grown (organic if possible) produce and keep to survive. I believe that if ambition The Covid-19 pandemic is terrifying and every life lost is a tragedy, walking, running and cycling. and business growth are aligned with yet it’s nothing in comparison with what’s on the next decade’s Most of all we need to stay awake and keep others awake, too. ‘doing good’ in the world, it’s the ideal doorstep if 98% of the world’s scientists are correct about the Through the lockdown I met and rediscovered some of the most way to earn a living – and a far better climate crisis. amazing people, who are all committed to helping us clean up the way forward than huge, profit-driven mess we’ve created. Please get to know them and use their services corporates. They need to take a serious EXPERIENCING CAUSE AND EFFECT and ideas. Together, if we’re committed, we can fix this! look at their models, to ensure they are For the first time in modern history we have had a global, embedding sustainability, cleaning up collective experience of cause and effect. We stopped flying and “ WE HAVE HAD A GLOBAL, their supply chains and avoiding any commuting and air pollution dropped. We stopped buying non- level of greenwashing.’ ETHICUL Rachel’s reason for launching Planet essential products and our economy collapsed. COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE OF Three close friends – Matthew Denford, Ryan Hudson many fantastic, ethically minded retailers in and around Shine is two-fold: it’s to achieve her We went into survival mode and started growing vegetables and Charlie Jordan – have just set up Ethicul after the city. ‘We could certainly see why Brighton is one of personal purpose in life – to help in our gardens and patio pots – we baked bread and took back CAUSE AND EFFECT ” completing their Business Management degrees at the the UK’s greenest cities’, Ryan tells us, ‘but we still found animals and the planet – and to fulfil University of Brighton. ourselves shopping with the retailer powerhouses that her entrepreneurial ambition to be The online platform informs, encourages and rewards often greenwash their reputations.’ successful enough to acquire a number individuals for shopping more ethically. It bridges the The young men didn’t know where the ethical of farms. In turn, her goal is to rewild gap between ethical business and retailers by facilitating organisations were, or what they had to offer. ‘To us this the land, help the farming community PLANET SHINE transactions between the two, helping to promote was crazy’, Charlie says, ‘as these retailers are enhancing and, of course, help the animals. Driven by a stereotypical pursuit of and storytelling could help to instigate independent retailer partners across Brighton and Hove. our communities, improving our wellbeing and fighting ‘In light of the recent pandemic bright lights and big city, Rachel left positive change. ‘We live in a world dominated by retail powerhouses for the sustainability of our planet.’ and the devastation it has caused for her Lancashire home and set up her that often greenwash their reputations, which puts people all over the world, we have to own production company, working on extreme pressure on local and genuinely ethical HOW RETAILERS QUALIFY ENTERTAINMENT think seriously about the next few projects with Jay Z, Naomi Campbell organisations’, Charlie explains. Ethicul is giving ethical retailers the exposure, visibility AND EMPOWERMENT years’, Rachel tells us. ‘Unless we all and Calvin Harris. This led to some Part online media channel and part and reach they deserve for the fantastic things they do. play our part, the human race will amazing experiences – and, eventually, eco media agency, Planet Shine sits SHOPPING LOCALLY Companies are considered on a case-by-case basis, soon be facing even worse tragedies to some life-changing awakenings. at the intersection of human rights, During the pandemic, Ethicul has noticed significant and have to demonstrate that they are going above and that will make large areas of the animal rights and environmentalism. changes in purchasing behaviour, with many individuals beyond standard practices within their specific industry. planet uninhabitable, as well as At the very core of the organisation shifting towards local shopping. ‘It is crucial that this Ethicul reviews these businesses by meeting their RECONNECTING leading to food crises at a global level.’ is a mission to help the planet, local emphasis remains post-pandemic’, Matthew tells owners and discussing factors such as supply chains, WITH ROOTS Amid the tragedy, Rachel sees ‘an After losing pretty much everything one person at a time. The brand us. ‘At Ethicul, we want to propel this mindset forward.’ sustainability and HR practices. amazing opportunity’ – not just to following a bad business experience, values focus on entertaining and save the planet, but to make it a better Rachel returned to rural Lancashire. empowering people all over the world REWARDS FOR ETHICAL SHOPPING 1 MILLION ETHICUL TRANSACTIONS place than it’s been for centuries, Enter a puppy called Romeo to create their best life, while viewing When an individual buys something from Ethicul’s ‘We accept that no one is perfect’, Matthew explains, with peaceful communities, plentiful Planet Shine founder Film producer and environmental who changed her life, leading to a all sentient beings as equal. Kindness retail partners, they receive Ethicul tokens that can ‘but when people are doing their best to promote Rachel McClelland resources and endless opportunities. activist Rachel McClelland founded reconnection with her love of animals and compassion are most certainly the be redeemed for a mystery reward from one of over 20 our three core values – a sustainable planet, a better rediscovered her love ‘Quite simply, we can all make a of animals and nature Planet Shine in 2018. The goal was to and nature. order of the day. partners. As an example, My Green Pod has partnered community and improved social wellbeing – we want to difference today by changing our when she got her encourage the global population to Rachel embarked on a Masters in Rachel’s vision is for Planet Shine with Ethicul to offer a £5 discount when you spend £25. shout about them from the rooftops.’ puppy, Romeo mindsets and imagining a harmonious focus on equality for all species, and to Innovation Management at Manchester to serve as a platform to give under- Over 100 Ethicul users signed up in first week of the By 2025, the vision is to create over 1,000,000 Ethicul planet, while respecting all sentient do their bit to create a healthy planet. University, where she came across John represented communities – women, reward system’s launch on 11 June, so now is the time to transactions; all that’s required is for you to sign up, beings’, she says. Rachel spent the early part of her Elkington’s ‘Triple Bottom Line’. This BAME people and animals – a voice. get involved! shop and get rewarded! career in film and television, working was another lightbulb moment. She strongly believes it’s time for with legendary British director Rachel realised that she needed to change, and intends to use the media FURTHER INFORMATON VISIBILITY FOR ETHICAL RETAILERS FURTHER INFORMATON Michael Winterbottom on Palme combine her core passions: activism side of the business to advocate n Explore more from Planet Shine When the three friends moved to Brighton from n Sign up to Ethicul and start getting d’Or-nominated 24 Hour Party People. and media. She felt the power of film for new global systems that focus at planetshine.com Portsmouth back in 2016, they were staggered to see so rewards at ethicul.co.uk

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Brighton and Sussex, plus some of the more well- Human intellect is sparking like never before in the known beasts like Fender, Unilever, Suzuki, Johnson history of humanity. & Johnson, Samaritans and Manchester Utd. Offering solutions that are not logically relevant INNER ‘One of our most memorable shoots was the and that are somewhere else in another life – music video for ‘He Ain’t Heavy’, the Hillsborough including heavens and gods – will not work any more. charity single’, Tom tells us. ‘A selection of celebs People want solutions here, something they can ENGINEERING with connections to Liverpool each sang a line from logically perceive and implement in their life. the song. There were strange, vulnerable moments If there is a spiritual vacuum – if there is no when singers like Robbie Williams and Paloma Faith scientific process for people to experience their inner exposed their unprocessed, naked voices in a silent nature and know life in a larger dimension than vocal booth. The only other person in that booth was the physical things we all do – then I think 90% of me, filming from a metre away and trying not to cry.’ humanity will move towards drink and drugs. Sadhguru, Though heavens may crumble, the human longing founder of non- OPERATING FROM HEART to experience something more will not dissipate. And During lockdown, Tom made it his mission to it should not. profit spiritual ‘connect some serious dots’ regarding what Gusto organisation represents as a company. TRANSFORM YOUR CHEMISTRY Isha Foundation, ‘The way we work has always been a feeling in the As there is a science and technology for external chest rather than a neat corporate sentence’, Tom wellbeing, there is an entire science and technology explains the shares. ‘After some painful self-surgery, I’ve been able for inner wellbeing: this is what yoga means. science and to connect the way I’ve always lived my life with Inner Engineering is an effort to bring yoga’s Gusto’s own anthem and mission. It’s got a lot to do potential to the world, to sweep humanity with technology for with minimising waste and a lot to do with exciting a non-religious, non-denominational spiritual inner wellbeing and uncapping the human spirit – call it potential. It’s movement, delivered in a scientific manner. about doing everything with the whole of the heart.’ Recently, a group of scientists and doctors from ‘I worked freelance under the banner Major Minor Gusto works with brands that enable their custom- Indiana University, University of Florida, Harvard GUSTO Media, providing all kinds of expertise to agencies ers to live this way, and conducts its meetings with Medical School, University of Southern California and brands – many of which still work with us today’, clients and its productions this way. It develops and and others studied people who have been practising Gusto is a creative video agency for ‘brands that make he tells us. ‘It’s been an evolution, but things got motivates its team to live and work this way. Inner Engineering. revitalisation, carbon sequestering and climate conscious mode can our activities be oriented life better’. It creates video solutions for marketing really exciting in 2018 when I decided to rebrand, ‘Fulfilling this guiding ethos at every level is going One thing that determines the nature of your change mitigation while increasing farmer incomes. towards a solution. opportunities; a typical project involves strategy scale the business and recruit a full-time team.’ to take some getting used to’, Tom confesses, ‘but experience and your mental and emotional condition Our estimates are that the 2.42 billion trees will We are launching a movement called Conscious development, concept creation and then delivering we’re super-stoked to have demisted our window to is BDNF – brain-derived neurotrophic factor. sequester between nine and 12 trillion litres of water, Planet, to bring more awareness to ecological issues the best medium for the project. That could be a see why we called ourselves ‘Gusto’ in the first place.’ FROM UNILEVER TO PALOMA FAITH With these practices, there is a 300% increase in which is close to 60% of the annual flow of the by turning them into electoral issues. multi-camera live stream, an animated cartoon, an Dan Hills is Gusto’s writer and producer, Mitch BDNF: emotional balance, sharpness of mind and rapidly depleting Cauvery. There are 5.2 billion people living in countries with Instagram filter, a 360 video tour or just a simple Hall is the editor and ‘whacky ideas guy’ and Tom is pleasantness of experience should not be a problem. Furthermore, with agroforestry – or tree-based the ability to vote and elect their nation’s leadership. corporate video or ‘brand story’. the principal director. An extended family includes There is another dimension to this. Today, agriculture – farmer incomes can increase 300- 800% We want to make at least three billion of these people Tom Staniford, a directing-cameraman, editor trusted directors, animators, directors and DPs. FURTHER INFORMATON marijuana is popular – but the millions of cannabis in five to seven years; this has been demonstrated by aware of at least five ecological aspects that must and animator, founded the company back in 2010. The client pool includes local brands based in n View Gusto’s production showreel at gusto.film receptors in your brain and body are there because nearly 70,000 farmers, who we have helped to adopt happen in their country, and two or three aspects you are supposed to produce it, not smoke it. agroforestry over the last decade. that must not happen. The biomarkers clearly establish that with the With this approach we are marrying the If we do this, ecology would become at least the Inner Engineering practices, your endocannabinoid traditionally opposite interests of economy and number two issue in election manifestos. WHEREFROM production is significantly higher. That means you ecology and arriving at a solution that has proved to Wherefrom has come from nowhere. Trip Advisor for sustainability. Then are stoned by yourself – you do not need outside help. be a win–win for all stakeholders. CARRYING A PIECE OF THE EARTH Its founders, lifelong best friends the brand will engage you directly The impact of the endocannabinoids compared Recently I was part of the One Trillion Tree We know how to go to Mars – but we still do not Adam and Dave, are dedicated through the platform and use your with the cannabinoids that come from outside is initiative at the World Economic Forum. Scientists know how to be on Earth. We use all our science and technology guys. input to help shape its next move. very different. You are intoxicated and super-alert made calculations that if we plant one trillion trees, technology to threaten the very life on the planet, Apparently they both in fact live in a Snapshot product-scoring gives users at the same time. Additionally, approximately 230 in 15 years’ time the trees will absorb carbon from but still our wellbeing is not getting enhanced. cloud-based online storage platform. an insight into who’s improving and genes, which are fundamentally responsible for emissions over the last 50 years. Somewhere we have missed the ABC of life. It’s even rumoured that if either of who’s not – or, as Adam and Dave put one’s immune system, are highly enhanced. This is Modern education has brought much comfort them glimpses a suit and tie between it, ‘who cares and who doesn’t’. especially important in these challenging times. GETTING ECOLOGY INTO POLITICS and convenience but not joy, because it does not the hours of nine and five on a ‘Doing something that you’re In other words, by doing a few simple practices you Did you know that if human beings disappeared from address the aspect of inclusion. It has only addressed weekday, they’ll both turn into stone. good at, and that you love, and that can transform the chemistry of your system. If you this planet, trees would break through concrete and empowerment. Empowerment without inclusiveness Whatever the truth about these truly has a positive impact, makes make yourself into a blissful chemistry, that will be grow through your house? Everything would thrive is a disaster. Inclusiveness has to be built in to two, they’re certainly looking to make waking up every morning so fucking goods in a way that respects the energy between sustainably minded efforts the nature of your experience. Once you are joyful wonderfully. education: when you live here in an inclusive way, the a splash over the coming months delightful’, Adam reveals. He believes cycles of our one and only planet. Oh, and greenwashing PR stunts. you will have no issue of your own, and will deal with They say if the world’s insects died tomorrow, environment will be a natural part of your life. and years. Their new tech platform the democratisation of sustainability and we will not buy your stuff if you This outfit has only been live for the issues of the world effortlessly. within 25 years all life on this planet would end. But Human lives have become fragmented, minds are empowers consumers by creating a strategies through transparency ignore us.’ a few months, but with so much in if you and I vanished, everything would flourish. broken and we are going crazy simply because we tangible opportunity to shape the and open scrutiny, coupled with These guys and the wonderful team the pipeline regarding new features ON THE CLIMATE CRISIS That clearly shows where we stand in this world. have become unaligned from the way nature works. sustainability strategy of the brands competency at the execution level, is at Wherefrom are boldly attempting and applications, now is a great time There are many aspects to the climate crisis, but the The only source of the ecological crisis is the We are suffocating all the ingredients that we need whose products they know. what will move us forward in the world to put a bomb under a current status to start tuning in. And I didn’t even fundamental problem is soil and water. We launched human being. We are causing this damage by for the upkeep of this body and the wellbeing of this of sustainability in consumer goods. quo that assumes consumers are not mention that with each review, you the Cauvery Calling campaign to revitalise Cauvery functioning in an unconscious and compulsive life. You carry a piece of Earth as your body, yet there SHAPE A BRAND’S ‘Of course, the goal is to be self- smart enough to know the difference plant trees. River in southern India by helping farmers plant 2.42 manner. Only when our societies move into a is no connection with that Earth. SUSTAINABILITY sufficient’, Adam explains. ‘But in the billion trees in the river basin, covering one-third of It’s simpler than it sounds: you rate meantime let’s make it very clear to it with green cover. and review products based on their the brands that serve us that we want FURTHER INFORMATON This could serve as a model for other tropical FURTHER INFORMATON eco credentials – think Trust Pilot or sustainability. That is, production of n Start changing the direction of the brands you know at wherefrom.org nations, creating benefits of soil rejuvenation, river n Learn more about the Inner Engineering course at innerengineering.com

12 / JULY mygreenpod.com mygreenpod.com JULY / 13 A COMMERCIAL SUPPLEMENT DISTRIBUTED ON BEHALF OF MY GREEN POD LTD CONSCIOUSNESS

“ THE GOAL IS TO GIVE PEOPLE THE A SANCTUARY FOR STRENGTH TO DEFINE AND EXPRESS THEIR SENSE OF PURPOSE AND THEIR THE INNER STATE ART OF BEING ” You don’t need to go to India good, supporting transformation in the mind, body, spirit – and the land. In each case it’s a conscious and ethical wellbeing and, above all, enjoy it. It’s about inner transformation to find yourself – just hop on The newly created Avalon – ‘an island of spiritual break away, where individuals and groups can for outer change – in an inspirational and regenerative a train to Yorkshire refuge’ – is now at the heart of the Estate. It’s a state- experience one of Britain’s leading lights in the space that celebrates all that is good in the world. of-the-art wellbeing centre that rebuilds the human mission to serve a new way of life. spirit right across the spectrum. CULTIVATING PEACE At first glimpse of the beautiful Broughton Hall in A HUMAN CELEBRATION ‘In order to create a more harmonious world, we Yorkshire, you might think it is classic Downton FIRE TEMPLES AND MOON BATHS It could be said that Broughton has a feel of Esalen need to learn to live peacefully around difference’, Abbey – and Julian Fellowes did indeed consider the Avalon’s dynamic range of experiences and retreats meets Soho House meets Daylesford meets an ashram. Paris tells us. ‘The more able we are to cultivate peace Estate as a primary location for the series. covers everything from yoga and wellbeing to It’s a place and community that spirals up, energised within, the more we will be able to create However, look just a little below the surface and addiction and recovery, relationships, menopause, by its enterprising culture. peace with one another – and that is something your whole perception will change rapidly. anxiety and mental health. In its celebration of human endeavour, Broughton humanity needs’. The 32nd generation of the Tempest family – Roger, The place activation is subtle but extensive: a is guided by two individuals who are embracing and Avalon was founded on the idea of source, or the current custodian; Paris Ackrill, his partner and primal sweat lodge, sauna, steam, hydro-thermal While Avalon specialises in the inner nature of encouraging the evolution of the human spirit. the belief that all philosophies lead to the same their baby, Aya – are on a mission to turn Broughton pool, meditation pod, fire temple and pits, wild the human being, a rewilding and nature recovery thing: the essence of life and creation. In a culture into a leading centre of light and a beacon of hope in swimming, mountain bike courses, yoga, group programme on the 3,000-acre Estate is nurturing the INNER TRANSFORMATION of over-consumption, it offers experiences of an this rapidly changing world. presentation rooms, cinema screen, the Garden of environment as well. Paris and Roger had hoped the 21st century would inner type that create a positive impact on our lives, Cosmic Origin, moon baths – the list goes on. There are plans to plant 180 hectares with woods usher in a new era of personal responsibility, communities and the Earth. A CENTRE OF TRANSFORMATION Retreats and courses here cover everything from this year – that’s around 8% of the provisional figure delivered by renaissance and reformation and Humanity is in crisis, yet what could emerge could It’s over 900 years since William the Conqueror sent eco-therapy and medicinal and herbal support to for all new woodland created in England in 2020. hallmarked by a sense of being in service without any be profoundly beautiful if we could all commit to the original Tempest family member to help to look nutritional and behavioural change – but in each The trees planted will extend to a foraging forest, need for heavy state intervention. making positive change in the ways we are able. after these lands, and change has been necessary for case the experience is fun and always entertaining, orchards and a programme with the Environment In this vision, there is no place for the breed of Avalon and the Broughton Hall Estate are the Estate’s survival ever since. framed by a breathtaking panorama of the Yorkshire Agency to ‘slow the flow’ and prevent future flooding revolution that failed in China, Germany, Russia and providing the space for a new humanity to emerge. Over 10 centuries it has moved from an agricultural Dales National Park. by working with nature instead of against it. so many other places in the 20th century. A place to come home – to yourself and to nature. community to a purpose-led centre that’s a force for The Sanctuary’s in-house forest therapist and The goal at Broughton is to inspire a different The great reset is here and we are all involved. n A NEW FRONTIER Earth shaman is also on hand to help visitors re- way of living – a new civilisation that involves SOAK UP THE SURROUNDINGS ‘Avalon is less about revolution and more about establish their connection to nature and continue on compromise and acceptance, so we can coexist in a Take a moon bath or stay at Eden, a converted FURTHER INFORMATION 17th-century barn, to enjoy a transformative renaissance and reformation’, Roger explains. ‘No their wellbeing journey. sustainable and tolerant way. experience in an unbeatable location street demonstrations are needed yet!’ Here, you can live the life of a new story in an n For availability and prices, visit broughtonhall.co.uk Paris and Roger try to avoid divisiveness and WELLBEING FOR ALL authentic way – feel it, live it, read it, touch it, sleep it n Discover the art of being at avalonwellbeing.com anger with any current issues, and instead promote On this historic Estate, it’s fantastic to see compassion, understanding, unity and freedom of conservation embedded in development – and the choice, with a focus on personal responsibility. regeneration of mind, body and spirit running ‘This island of personal responsibility parallel with the loving restoration of the Estate’s acknowledges human frailty and weakness’, Roger land and buildings. tells us. ‘It’s less New Age and more New Frontier. There are over 100 beds on the Estate, from rooms The work is led by heart and solutions, and centres in the 16th-century Hall and farmhouse holiday on the inner state of human beings. The goal is to homes to an idyllic hermit’s hut. A new Recovery give people the strength to define and express their Centre is being created on a more remote farmhouse. sense of purpose and their art of being.’ The broad range of accommodation available creates a full spectrum of affordability, and the ATTRACTING CHANGEMAKERS Avalon Foundation makes sure that nobody is Avalon is attracting philosophers, changemakers excluded. and lifestyle managers like a magnet. It has hosted You can currently rent a holiday home and safely Guatemalan Mayan Elders and events and courses enjoy a weekly range of activities, from sound baths, ranging from a spiritual Davos, Path of Love and guided forest bathing, yoga and mountain biking to the Hoffman Process to sound journeys, Conscious fire temple drumming, story evenings and ecstatic Cafés, kirtans and pop-up wellbeing events. dances in nature. Lawrence Bloom, Lily Cole, Tim Freke, Andrew Harvey, Jasmine Helmsley, Yantara Jiro, Malcolm A NEW WAY OF LIFE Sterne and Rebel Wisdom are just some of the names Paris and Roger have found a formula that caters for in the guest book, and each visitor is part of the all groups, needs and programmes – whether people sanctuary’s journey. are looking for a day hire or a family retreat in one of the 12 holiday homes. REWILDING AND NATURE ‘Renaissance and reformation’ is a key theme at A TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCE Broughton; it goes beyond the reuse of Estate Avalon is an island of spiritual refuge; 180 hectares of new buildings and travels deep into the land. woodland will be created on the Estate this year

14 / JULY mygreenpod.com mygreenpod.com JULY / 15 BUSINESS A COMMERCIAL SUPPLEMENT DISTRIBUTED ON BEHALF OF MY GREEN POD LTD

This app lets you give every time you shop – in a way you’ll barely notice in financial terms THE SIMPLE WAY TO GIVE

If a penny from one year’s 34.6 billion UK consumer payments went to good causes, the world would be a very different place. Loral and Eishel Quinn are the mother-daughter co-founder team behind Sustainably, which was named Richard Branson’s startup of the year in December 2019. The free app micro-donates your spare change, so every transaction with retailers has a positive social and environmental impact. Find out why Sustainably is ‘We were inspired by new business models like a My Green Pod Hero at Toms Shoes, where you buy something and do mygreenpod.com/heroes Loral and Eishal Quinn are embedding positive HERO impact into everyday financial transactions something good at the same time’, Loral explains. ‘We wanted to combine that do good, feel good feeling with payment automation like you see with Uber, where payments all happen in the background while you ride.’ “ WE WANT TO TURN EVERY FINANCIAL The result is an app that builds positive change into everyday life; the process is so simple that users TRANSACTION INTO A POSITIVE IMPACT ” can make a real impact without even noticing. CHOOSING A CHARITY behaviour is a great, practical way to effect real DONATE SPARE CHANGE Zero fees are charged on donations; Stripe processes change’, Loral tells us. ‘Huge change can start There are two major sections to the app; with Round payments for a fee of 1.2% plus 10p, so for every from the ground up, and we want to turn every Ups you choose a cause, connect your transactions to £5 donated you charity gets £4.84. If you add Gift financial transaction into a positive impact. By Sustainably (using open banking) and add a payment Aid your £5 donation is bumped up by 25%, so your shopping smarter and doing your bit, you can make a card. Then just live your life and see your impact. charity would get £6.09: £6.25 minus 16p for Stripe. difference to the causes you care about.’ Sustainably rounds transactions up to the At present you can only support one charity at a Soon, any employer or retailer will be able to sign nearest £1; when your Round Ups pot gets to £5 it’s time, but you can change it whenever you like. Ways up to Sustainably and give to causes their customers transferred to your chosen charity. You can set a to support multiple charities at the same time will be and employees care about – in a really simple way. limit on how much you want to give each month to added in the future as Loral and Eishel continue to Brands can also hyper-localise and personalise manage your giving. grow the range of ways to give. their social responsibility, increasing engagement, With Monthly Happiness you choose a cause, New charities are joining regularly – which is no visibility and impact. an amount to give and a date. Your impact feed is surprise – but if a UK registered charity you care ‘We built Sustainably with scale in mind’, Loral updated every time you give, meaning you can see about isn’t showing, you can suggest it in the app or says. ‘Ultimately, the target market is every single your impact instantly. You can also pause or change on the Sustainably website and Loral and Eishel will corporate, every single charity and every single your giving whenever you like, so you remain in full try to get it signed up. individual in the world.’ n control of your money. ‘You get impact points every time you give on EMBEDDED GIVING Sustainably’, Loral explains. ‘Ultimately you will be Sustainably is helping to make embedded giving FURTHER INFORMATION able to cash these in for rewards – watch this space!’ a normal way to shop and spend. ‘Purchasing n Download the Sustainably app from sustainably.co

16 / JULY mygreenpod.com SUSTAINABLE IT

IT sustainability expert Justin Sutton-Parker reveals how tech can help businesses slash their emissions

Several years ago I adopted a personal life goal to remove the greenhouse gas Today, I’m working with global IT vendors and channel partners, plus the (GHG) equivalent of 100,000 cars from the atmosphere by 2050 through the commercial and public sectors, to achieve the original 100,000 car equivalent diffusion of sustainable IT. abatement goal. In context, I work in the information technology industry; my latest sustainability research indicates IT-related activities contribute as much as 5% of CONVERTING 100M CUSTOMERS global GHG emissions. Consequently, sequestering the pollution from the way This year Citrix, the global software company, translated my ‘4 Simple Steps’ we work today would require a forest the size of Canada and Greenland. concept into a free e-book, The Sustainability Era. The company has also absorbed my research into a sales and marketing programme to convert some of its MEETING OUR EMISSIONS TARGET 100,000,000 customers to more sustainable computing. At a theoretical extreme, According to the UN, ‘combining innovation in the use of existing technologies the impact could abate 50MtCO2e in emissions – which is actually 10.8m cars! and in behaviour with the promotion of investment in new technologies has the Tim Minahan, executive vice president of Citrix, said, ‘As this research makes potential to transform societies and reduce their GHG emissions’. clear, the choices we make as individuals and businesses can have immediate, Adopting sustainable IT practices supports this concept of looking beyond the cumulative effects and deliver environmental, economic and social benefits obvious environmental wins presented by electric cars and renewable energy. It that can lead to a more sustainable planet. It’s also clear that by using digital could bridge the current global 32GtCO2e GHG emissions target gap that will virtualisation and workspace technologies to empower flexible and remote work make the difference between 1.5ºC global warming and 2ºC. models, companies can positively impact sustainability.’

FOUR STEPS FOR BUSINESS CUTTING COSTS WITH IT The foundation for success for my personal goal is the ‘4 Simple IT Sustainability This momentum with Citrix has also enabled me to work with Fujitsu, where Strategies’ I conceived while completing an MBA in Sustainability Leadership Sarah-Jane Littleford is head of responsible business. She said, ‘One of the major with the University of Cumbria and the Institute for Leadership and enablers for delivering social and environmental value is technology. Justin’s Sustainability (IFLAS). research facilitates increased adoption of efficient and sustainable tech with a The steps are: switch to low-energy computing devices; enable flexible working direct, positive impact on climate change.’ to reduce commuting; use cloud computing powered by low-carbon energy and I’ve also been speaking with a team from tech giant Google to explore uses for extend the useful lifecycle of IT hardware. my field research, which found Chrome OS notebooks are highly energy efficient. While conducting PhD research with the University of Warwick, I’ve also Michael Wyatt, head of Chrome Enterprise EMEA, said, ‘Justin’s research created a methodology and cloud computing application to measure success. It helps to confirm that sustainability does indeed work hand in hand with lower delivers a CO2e value for IT-related GHG emissions and abatement, while at the operating costs and the conservation of energy and other natural resources. same time highlighting the money saved and the environmental gains – shown Sustainability is now not just a nice to have, but a reality that we all must in simple formats, such as the car and forest equivalents. embrace if we want to thrive on Mother Earth and ensure our beautiful world remains that way for many generations to come.’ THE TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE The design concept was based on Elkington’s ‘Triple Bottom Line’ approach, THE VALUE OF PARTNERSHIPS which requires an acknowledgement of People, Planet and Profit. Looking ahead, I’m thrilled that two of my current research papers will For me, sustainability isn’t about whether people truly accept that climate be included in the 10th International Conference on Sustainable Energy change is happening. It is more the principle of ensuring our actions today do Information Technology (SEIT) in August. I will also speak about sustainability not limit the range of economic, social and environmental options open to for the International Association of Microsoft Channel Partners in July. future generations. I now believe that by leveraging the UN Sustainable Development Goal of Now, after several years researching, testing and developing the application, partnerships, I will exceed the once lofty 100,000 car aspiration ahead of 2050.

PHOTOGRAPHY ISTOCK I’m bringing the research out of the laboratory. Perhaps I need to raise my sights and hope for more? n

mygreenpod.com JULY / 17 A COMMERCIAL SUPPLEMENT DISTRIBUTED ON BEHALF OF MY GREEN POD LTD

FOOD & DRINK PLASTIC FREE water and the people who grew the Many of the products on our ingredients. They are also more familiar Marketplace come in plastic-free to your body, making them tastier, packaging, or are designed to be refilled comfier and more effective. and reused again and again. ETHICAL BUSINESS NATURAL PRODUCTS Many of the companies we feature MARKETPLACE All the products we list harness the are doing great things for nature and power of nature to get the job done – society behind the scenes; with your Our Marketplace is full of alternatives to mainstream products, whether you’re cleaning the house or support they can do even more. whether you want to switch to a more plant-based diet or are taking care of your skin. PLANT A TREE trying to cut toxic chemicals out of your daily routines. Here are GO ORGANIC For every transaction, we plant a tree VINTAGE AVALLEN PRIMROSE’S SEED & BEAN FAIR CACAO DR WILL’S ATLANTIC just some of the products currently available – use the search Organic products aren’t just better in the tropics (with charity partner ROOTS CALVADOS KITCHEN VEGAN MIX LIQUEUR KETCHUP & DISTILLERY bar at mygreenpod.com/marketplace to find what you need! for you, they’re better for the soil, the TreeSisters) as a way to say thank you. ORGANIC (70CL) ORANGE & (X4) (35CL) BBQ SAUCE GORSEDH EVERYDAY Apple brandy that CASHEW A set of 85g bars A dark chocolate PACK An elegant and (X6) helps to save wild GRANOLA in delicious vegan bar in a bottle, Two ketchups and smooth dry gin Delicious organic bee populations Gluten free and flavours. Three of the containing organic a BBQ sauce, with with gorse flower wines, all 75cl around the world organic, 300g four are organic and Fairtrade nibs no added sugar and lime £49 £35 £5.49 £11.80 £18 £9.99 £21-36

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WHERE BASKET PALA LICH WAVES VOTCH EQUINOX CULINARY ECOEGG HUSKUP THE FOREST SEEDBALL PET REMEDY DOES IT BASKET BLACK BIO- PRINTED ZIG CLASSIC KOMBUCHA CAVEMAN (70 WASHES) BARNACLE (8OZ) SCHOOL DEN KIT BEE MIX CALMING SPRAY COME FROM? CLASSIC ACETATE ZAG FLIP COLLECTION MULTIPACK GREEN GAIA Replaces laundry This reusable coffee cup Created to facilitate a Wildflower seeds in a (15ML) ORGANIC BERBER SUNGLASSES FLOPS GOLD AND (24 CANS) GOODNESS detergent and fabric is made from rice husk, child-led Forest School protective clay ball – easy A special blend of WHITE MARKET Biodegradable Made from PIÑATEX Four of each of A fantastic all- conditioner not plastic curriculum to use, and great for bees! essential oils to help calm SHIRT BASKET frame made from ethically sourced Unisex, made from the six delicious round vegan food anxious pets plant-based acetate natural rubber flavours supplement £9.99 £8.95 £60 £6 A unisex basic Woven palm leaves vegan ‘leather’ £6.49 £75 £25 £110 £20 £150 £38.40 £33

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18 / JULY mygreenpod.com mygreenpod.com JULY / 19 ARTS & FASHION A COMMERCIAL SUPPLEMENT DISTRIBUTED ON BEHALF OF MY GREEN POD LTD

EYEWEAR WITH PURPOSE In a sector dominated by cheap materials and fast fashion, here’s one eyewear company doing things differently HERO Find out why In April 2020, the UK got its first B Corp eyewear Bird KAKA company: Bird Sunglasses. It’s one of only three B Sunglasses are Corp eyewear brands in the world. a My Green Pod Hero at Achieving B Corp status is no mean feat; a mygreenpod. company has to demonstrate that it balances profit com/heroes with purpose, and that its operations prioritise the environment and society. ‘We designed our brand from the ground up to be a purposeful and more-than-profit business’, explains environmental credentials of the product’, Ed tells us, Ed Bird, founder of Bird Sunglasses. ‘Although there ‘but we’d advise people to use their hearts as well as is more awareness now of ethical issues associated their heads. If you love a particular design or material with clothing and footwear, the eyewear industry is then you’re more likely to wear and look after it for a behind the curve. Not many companies consider all long time, which is another important part aspects of ethical business, from being ‘more than of sustainability.’ profit’ to the materials used, team structure and pay.’ SUPPORTING SOLAR BUY WHAT YOU LOVE With each pair of Bird Sunglasses sold, a family in Ed comes from a creative family; he and his brothers Africa benefits from a solar lamp through Bird’s had always wanted to start a business together, and Share Your Sun partnership with SolarAid. Bird Sunglasses was a way for them to combine The solar lamps replace dirty kerosene lamps, creativity, business and social purpose. so families benefit from better health and mental ‘Specifically, the idea came from being fed up with wellbeing while also missing fewer hours of work throwing away cheap, plastic sunglasses’, Ed tells us, and school. ‘alongside the desire to do something creative using So far this partnership has reached almost 5,000 sustainable materials.’ FROM THE TOP people and provided more than 930,000 extra hours Bird Sunglasses KAKA frames in Caramel, Most eyewear companies use plastic injection- Snowy and Honey (£99) of study time. moulded frames that are produced cheaply and Solar lamps also save families from buying fuel contribute to the throwaway culture of fast fashion. The number of eco materials available for for their kerosene lamps – 40% of families will never In contrast, Bird customers are actively encouraged sunglasses is on the rise, but there are some grey have to spend money on lighting ever again. ‘We’ve to choose well and buy once. areas. Your personal ethical yardstick will determine saved families £147,000 so far’, Ed tells us. ‘And the A fantastic virtual try-on feature has just gone live which material constitutes the most environmentally lamps have stopped over 981 tonnes of CO2 from on Bird’s website; you can play around with different friendly option for frames. polluting the atmosphere.’ styles from the comfort of your own home, and get a Bamboo is renewable and biodegradable, but Bird’s Share Your Sun partnership is more than a real sense of how the various frames and styles will slightly less durable than other alternatives. token corporate responsibility afterthought. ‘The look on your face. Aluminium is more energy-intensive to generate, but Share Your Sun partnership harnesses the undeniable also more durable and easily recycled. cultural associations between sunglasses, sunshine ECO FRAME MATERIALS ‘Bio-acetate is greener than plastic but still has and feeling good’, Ed tells us. ‘We hope it inspires our Bird’s premium frames use materials such as some limitations’, Ed tells us. ‘Some brands are customers about the power of solar energy to make a certified woods, bio-based acetate and repurposed trying to jump on the eco bandwagon by stating it’s difference in poorer communities.’ n aerospace aluminium. the most eco option out there, but I would say that’s Do sustainable materials require compromised probably overstating it.’ quality? ‘Absolutely not’, Ed tells us. ‘We’ve always It’s also important to consider the source of the MARKETPLACE been clear that we’re creating quality, designer material and the conditions for workers, which could n Browse or buy your own Bird Sunglasses at sunglasses – the sustainable aspects are a bonus.’ vary by company. ‘It’s important to care about the mygreenpod.com/vendor/bird-sunglasses

20 / JULY mygreenpod.com Have Riz Smith and Ali Murrell created the world’s most sustainable swim shorts? TAILORS OF SUNSHINE

In 2009, eight years before Blue Planet II hit our screens, ocean plastic and its devastating effects These Shorts for Life, were still far from most people’s minds. made from recycled plastic, will take you from That was the year Riz Smith and Ali Murrell, the Strand to the sand school friends since the age of four, set out to create ‘the most beautiful and sustainable swim shorts in the world’, using recycled fabrics to create shorts that are made to last.

TACKLING OCEAN PLASTIC Riz started his career designing men’s swimwear and beach shorts for big brands, where ‘everything was about profit’. Ali had a degree in natural sciences and worked in finance. ‘We were both disillusioned with big business’, Riz tells us. ‘We came together in 2009 with a simple mission to build a small, honest beach shorts company. Ali was a sailor and I was a surfer, so it seemed only natural to want to build a product that had a positive impact on the environment we both love so much.’ Riz had discovered recycled polyester fabric, made from recycled bottles, years before Shorts for Life launched, but back then hardly anyone was using it. ‘This was how we started’, Riz explains. ‘A few years later, Ali sailed across the Pacific and saw firsthand the effects of plastic pollution. As the company organically evolved, we realised the opportunity and responsibility for a brand like ours to support a plastic-free movement.’

THE IMPACTS OF FAST FASHION and tailoring that we like’, Riz says. ‘Living in nearly all the shorts people own are still doing fine. A Most mainstream swimwear is designed using virgin London, our shorts were also born from the need to free repair service is available for issues such as lost synthetic materials made from plastics. They are escape to the beach. They were created to take you buttons or tiny rips. made cheaply, follow the frantic pulse of fast fashion between the streets and the sea – just one pair for and are often seen as disposable, lasting just long both dinners and dives.’ DO ONE THING enough for your holiday. A talented group of artists and illustrators creates Riz and Ali have also created the Rizcycle programme ‘We believe all swimwear makers should use the designs; they are people Riz and Ali have ‘met ‘to keep the vibe alive’. ‘The idea is to extend the life recycled fabrics’, Riz tells us, ‘to help stop the demand along the way’, and who have a style and character of our shorts for as long as possible’, Riz tells us. ‘If for virgin plastic materials. Any clothes that are that suits the company’s ‘British-Aloha’ vibe. and when a customer’s journey with the shorts comes not designed to last or cannot be recycled are surely ‘The aim for the prints is to inspire a greater to an end, or they don’t fit any more, the shorts can unsustainable.’ understanding and appreciation of the natural be returned and we will give a discount for the next According to Riz, it’s extremely easy – and also not world’, Riz explains, ‘so we are drawn to artists who pair. We are in the process of setting up a new section that much more expensive – to source recycled and can tell stories through print.’ on the website to resell worn, pre-loved shorts. Styles recyclable fabrics for swimwear. To inspire a deeper connection with the sea, Riz that are totally worn out can be recycled.’ ‘Even over 10 years ago, when we discovered and Ali have for many years worked with the Marine So what’s next for Riz Boardshorts? ‘We only make recycled materials, they weren’t that expensive’, Riz Conservation Society, donating £1 from the sale of shorts. That’s it’, Riz says. ‘It would be great if that’s tells us. ‘It goes to show how obsessed people are with each pair of shorts and sharing the charity’s cause all we continue to do – always getting better at doing saving a tiny piece of margin – plus how little people with their customers. this one thing: helping people connect to the beach. understand or care about the impacts of what they With the world sinking in ‘stuff’, it would be great to are creating.’ FREE REPAIR SERVICE work more on how design can have a positive impact Earth-friendly inks are used to print the designs, on people and the planet. The future is circular, so TAILORED SURFWEAR which makes the colours even more vibrant. ‘We use watch this space.’ n As the name suggests, Shorts for Life are made to a process called sublimation print or digital printing’, last, and they look just as at home in the city as they Riz explains. ‘The pattern is fused into the actual do on the beach. fibres, so the print won’t fade and is super rich.’ Discover more about why Riz Swim The brand’s look and feel was inspired by London The fabric is really tough and the shorts are triple- Shorts are a My Green Pod Hero at – influenced by Savile Row, tailoring and traditional stitched for strength. Riz admits it’s hard to know mygreenpod.com/heroes menswear. ‘It’s this contradiction between surfwear exactly how long a pair of Shorts for Life lasts, as HERO

mygreenpod.com JULY / 21 HEALTH & BEAUTY A COMMERCIAL SUPPLEMENT DISTRIBUTED ON BEHALF OF MY GREEN POD LTD JANEY

LOVESNatural beauty expert Janey Lee Grace shares her tips for clear, cool summer skin

Sensitive skin method, starting with unique blends has been on my of natural oils and butters selected for mind a lot; on their skin-nurturing properties. top of the endless Another summer essential is the handwashing, excellent HayMax Barrier Balm with my three Aloe Vera. Pure, organic and safe for teenagers are now all, it creates a barrier to block pollen. getting spots! You can buy HayMax in Boots stores, JANEY LOVES PLATINUM AWARDS 2020 Weleda has come to the rescue with plus independent chemists and health My Green Pod is delighted to once again be the media partner for its original Aknedoron Purifying food shops. the Janey Loves Platinum Awards. The awards champion and promote the Lotion (£10.95, 50ml) and Cleansing best of the best in natural products and services. Lotion (£11.95,100ml) – two of the FRESH SKIN, CLEAR HEAD Award winners are selected after real-life testing by a panel of judges oldest Weleda skincare products – If you want a natural deodorant, – including Jo Wood and Zoe Ball – who are key influencers, renowned and a new SOS Spot Treatment to the lovely Peony Blossom Natural celebrities and respected experts. If you have an organic, eco or natural target spots and pimples. Deodorant Spray from Salt of the brand, or you are a therapist, coach or wellbeing author, Earth is a delicate bouquet of Sicilian please consider entering. SUMMER ESSENTIALS lemons with sage and rosemary. It Talking of handwashing, make sure leaves an invisible layer of mineral FURTHER INFORMATION your soap is totally natural. Entries for salts on your skin, which inhibits the Enter or vote for your favourite natural products in the the Janey Loves Platinum Awards are growth of odour-causing bacteria and Janey Loves Platinum Awards at platinumawards.co.uk in full swing, and The Kentish Soap leaves you feeling fresh and clean. Company has entered its gorgeous When we think of lazy summer handmade vegan soaps. days, our thoughts might turn to The Blissful Soap is a lovely warm drinking. You CAN drink, stay blend of natural essential oils – healthy and drive home – keep the LEFT TO RIGHT including sweet orange and geranium ritual, just change the ingredients! HayMax with Aloe Vera (£6.99, 5ml); Weleda SOS – plus olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil Check out the excellent Noughty Spot Treatment (£10.95, 10ml); Noughty Alcohol-Free Organic Sparkling Wine (£8.99, 750ml); Salt of the Earth and shea butter. The soaps are all made Alcohol-Free Organic Sparkling Wine Peony Blossom Natural Deodorant Spray (£5.99, 100ml); using the traditional cold-process – it’s excellent! Kentish Soap Company Blissful Soap (£4.80)

22 / JULY mygreenpod.com REAL REFILLS How to get a discount on refills for authentically natural products

The refill service at ​Pure Lakes District National Park, where it’s filled Skincare is one of the first of its kind and returned to you in the post. in the UK – and it recently won the company a spot on the prestigious WHAT’S ON THE INSIDE National Recycling Awards shortlist. As well as offering a genuine refill service, Pure Lakes bottles its products ETHICAL PACKAGING in sugar rusk. The company is also The booming demand for plastic-free authentically natural when it comes to products has led various companies what’s inside the packaging. to introduce refill pouches for certain While some companies use plastic- products, or to offer internal recycling free packaging for products that for packaging. contain chemicals and synthetic Find out why Pure Lakes is In contrast, Pure Lakes will actually polymers (liquid plastics), Pure Lakes a My Green Pod Hero at refill any original bottle or jar – a sticks to plant ingredients of an mygreenpod.com/heroes fantastic service made possible by the extremely high quality. HERO fact that everything’s made by hand in These include rosehip seed oil, its Lake District workshop. a natural alternative to retinol; The process is extremely hyaluronic acid, the beauty industry’s All Pure Lakes products are This service is a blueprint for straightforward: you simply order a moisture hero and frankincense, a guaranteed; if something is not tackling single-use plastics without refill option online, at a 30% discount. firm anti-ageing favourite. working you can send it back and it forcing a compromise on authentic You then send your container back to The products also represent great will be replaced with an alternative or and ethical natural beauty. We wish the Pure Lakes workshop in the Lake value, with face cream starting at £13. refunded, with no questions asked. them all the very best at the awards. n

MARKETPLACE FURTHER INFORMATION Browse or buy Pure Lakes products at mygreenpod.com/vendors/pure-lakes n Information about the Pure Lakes refill service is atpurelakes.co.uk/pages/refill-service

MARKETPLACE We might not have the luxury of getting away this summer, but we can still have fun and enjoy the sunshine!

Here's a discount on us: use the code health15 for 15% off all products on the My Green Pod Marketplace until 01 September 2020. mygreenpod.com/marketplace #PutYourMoneyWhereYourHeartIs

mygreenpod.com JULY / 23 A COMMERCIAL SUPPLEMENT DISTRIBUTED ON BEHALF OF MY GREEN POD LTD HEALTH & BEAUTY UNDERARM THERAPY

The natural, plastic-free deodorant bars that support mental health

Over the last hundred years, humans have been duped into thinking that body’s natural detoxification process. ‘In my previous experience, antiperspirants sweating is bad news. that contain aluminium salts don’t keep underarms fresh unless you pile more Thankfully, science has demonstrated that sweating is a crucial process that on over the day’, Alice tells us. rids our bodies of toxins, and that any resulting odours can be combated with Instead, Pit-Tastic! bars balance the pH of the underarm, and neutralise odours natural fragrances. But today’s big con is that deodorants require mountains of by reducing bacteria. unnecessary plastic packaging. ‘The reason it took me so long to formulate the Pit-Tastic! range was because I ‘It frustrates me that people use deodorants that have not just one but usually wanted to create a natural deodorant that was effective for odour’, Alice says, ‘so two types of plastic within the tube’, says Alice Bardwell, founder of Pit-Tastic! even when you’re exercising vigorously there should be no stink.’ deodorant bars. ‘That plastic takes 450 years to biodegrade.’ Alice points to the mainstream deodorant spray – 600 million of which are CHEMICALS IN DEODORANTS sold in the UK each year. ‘Aerosol cans are difficult to recycle as they have to be In addition to aluminium salts, other chemicals to watch out for in deodorants empty and clean – not an easy task’, she says. ‘A recent study also showed that if include triclosan, which the FDA has banned from consumer soap products Found out why the Pit-Tastic! Natural one million people switched their aerosol, 696 tonnes of CO2 would be saved. To in the US, and parabens, which are synthetic chemicals that have been linked Deodorant Bar is a My Green Pod Hero at me this is a no-brainer. Zero packaging that is 100% biodegradable. Done.’ to hormonal imbalance. HERO mygreenpod.com/heroes The word ‘fragrance’ or ‘parfum’ can be used in the ingredients list to mask LESS IS MORE hundreds of other chemicals, including phthalates. Phthalates, such as propylene Alice was helping people to go plastic free a long time before she founded Pit- glycol – sometimes called ‘non-toxic antifreeze’ – have been linked to a higher Tastic!; she launched Fillfull – one of the UK’s first plastic-free shops – which risk of birth defects in women. A ROAD TO RECOVERY SUPPORTING MENTAL HEALTH uniquely sold completely dairy- and gluten-free products and cosmetics. Alice has firsthand experience of the healing and cleansing powers of nature. Alice’s initial formulation was concocted over a bain-marie; the process of After seeing the huge shampoo bar trend, Alice ‘tinkered’ with various pastes SWEAT AND THE MEDIA The Pit-Tastic! range was perfected during her recovery from a stroke; the gradually adding and stirring allowed her to focus on something positive. ‘Every and powders and ‘sniffed a lot of armpits’. In April 2019, she perfected the Ads for the first antiperspirant essentially scared women into thinking that they stirring, mixing and fine-tuning of ingredients was a soothing process that time I made these bars it was almost like being a witch casting a spell over a formulation for an effective, natural and plastic-free solid deodorant bar based might stink – without even realising – and that this was no way to keep a man. helped her brain injury. cauldron’, she says. ‘It was ever so therapeutic and it got me to where I am now – on the philosophy that ‘less is more’. Instead, the ad proposed, women should cover their armpits with a solution so ‘I was told initially that the road to recovery could be years’, Alice tells us. ‘My both physically and psychologically.’ Pit-Tastic! bars have a very short list of ingredients; the Standard bars contain acidic that it actually burned through clothes. neurologist said I should just let it be that I may never be the same again. Anyone Alice now hopes to set up a charity that supports mental health by providing a coconut oil, shea butter, beeswax, bicarbonate of soda and distilled natural The idea that we’re not allowed to be sweaty has been reinforced through beyond close friends and family couldn’t necessarily see there was anything space for people to come together. ‘I have known and lost three people in the past essential oils for fragrance. The Sensitive bars replace bicarbonate of soda with decades of advertising; ‘Never let them see you sweat’ was Gillette’s slogan of wrong with me – they just thought I was maybe a bit quiet and couldn’t join in few years to suicide’, Alice tells us. ‘This sad and ever-growing figure impacts too arrowroot and the Vegan bars use sunflower wax instead of beeswax. choice in the early ‘80s. with some of the banter.’ many people at present.’ The four different fragrance options – Orange and Grapefruit, Rose and Ylang ‘We all get sucked in by marketing and TV adverts – not all of which support As a 39-year-old single parent Alice remembers some ‘very low times’ – yet she Alice wants people to get together to stir the Pit-Tastic! – just as she did at Ylang, Lemon and Lime and Lime and Tee Tree – contain essential oils that have our natural health’, Alice tells us. also felt she had a clean slate. ‘I had to learn to do things again, but this is what the start of her journey when formulating the bars – to allow conversation and been carefully selected for their natural healing powers; rose alone has over 100 ‘Large corporate brands also state that aluminium chlorohydrate is regulated drove me to do something I wanted to do in life’, she tells us. ‘Something that provide support for mental health. ‘I know this has helped me and my mental presumed health benefits. and deemed harmless by the FDA’, Alice continues. ‘What perhaps is not stated was aligned with my values and experience.’ health to flourish’, Alice tells us, ‘and I hope it can help others, too.’ n is the potentially dangerous process by which it blocks the body’s detoxification. Alice had already started to ‘mess around’ with the product, but getting stuck NEUTRALISING ODOURS These chemicals are authorised to be used on the body – day in, day out – for in allowed her to work in silence. ‘I did not need to write or read’, she explains. The health-boosting formulations are a far cry from mainstream deodorants, profit. The global deodorant market is estimated to be worth $69 million – and ‘Working with our hands creates entirely new neural pathways that could not be MARKETPLACE n  most of which use aluminium salts to block underarm pores. This hampers the corporations want a slice.’ PHOTOGRAPHY SWEET GABY made in a less physically active environment.’ Browse the Pit-Tastic! range at mygreenpod.com/vendors/pit-tastic

24 / JULY mygreenpod.com mygreenpod.com JULY / 25 HEALTH & BEAUTY A COMMERCIAL SUPPLEMENT DISTRIBUTED ON BEHALF OF MY GREEN POD LTD

SIMPLE BEAUTY Organic rose water is a multi-tasking beauty product that no bathroom should be without

Budgets are tighter and most of us don’t have If you want to get the maximum wellbeing, Unlike many products with similar listed benefits, time for complicated skincare rituals, so it’s more pharmacological and beauty benefits, it’s crucial Alteya’s rose water is made from just one ingredient: important than ever to opt for multi-tasking beauty to select a rose water that’s both pure and potent. 100% pure steam-distilled, certified organic Rosa products that are both affordable and effective. damascena distillate from fresh rose blossoms, Enter rose water, the miracle product that THE VALLEY OF ROSES with no synthetic preservatives, petrochemicals, relieves pain and skin irritations while bringing Rosa damascena thrives in the specific parabens or phthalates. so may benefits to the hair, skin and mind that it microclimate of Bulgaria’s Valley of Roses; It is not a chemical perfume or a composition of was the beauty product of choice for Cleopatra, sheltered by two mountain ranges, the area’s soil essences, and it is not enhanced with additives or Michelangelo and countless others over its long conditions produce an abundance of extremely fragranced in any way. history of use. potent roses. Alteya Organics is the most recent evolution of COMPLETE TRACEABILITY THE HISTORY OF THE ROSE a family business that has farmed roses here for Crafted in Alteya’s own distillery, from its own Fossil evidence suggests the rose is at least 30 over a century. It blends 400-year-old traditions organic rose gardens and source of underground million years old, and that it has had a role in and ancient recipes with research that sits at the spring water, this rose water – the top-selling human history for over 5,000 years. The Ancient cutting-edge of scientific discovery. rose water in the USA – boasts the most full and Greeks understood the power of the rose, and complete traceability in the world. It’s bottled in considered large public rose gardens as important as a special grade of Swiss-made violet glass that wheat fields and fruit orchards. preserves the flower’s energetic complexity. Modern research continues to unravel the Alteya’s proprietary distillation process has mysteries of this incredible flower, and explain been shown to obtain rose water that captures with science what humans previously seemed to the most complete range of the aromatic plant’s understand through intuition. benefits – with a rich composition of essential oil microelements and a full concentration of THE QUEEN OF ROSES hydrophilic components. Roses contain an abundance of phenolic If you only buy one product for the skincare and compounds, which contain free-radical scavengers wellbeing needs of your family, this should be it. n and antioxidants. They have been found to contain anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenic and MARKETPLACE antidepressant qualities. n  Rosa damascena – also known as the Bulgarian View the full range of Alteya Organics products at mygreenpod.com/vendors/alteya-organics rose and the ‘queen of roses’ – is the most prized flower of the rose family; in addition to the qualities common to all roses, studies reveal this remarkable flower brings extensive benefits to the central nervous system and can aid sleep and relieve pain. A rose water made from its petals can be used to treat everything from burns, cuts, scars and skin irritations to sore throats, coughs and migraines – but it shouldn’t be restricted to a first aid kit.

ROSE-INFUSED BEAUTY When it comes to beauty, rose water also improves complexion and promotes the holy grail of skincare: that ‘glow’. Suitable for all skin types, it has a toning effect on the skin’s surface capillaries and helps to maintain the skin’s proper pH balance. Essential micronutrients soften, tone and hydrate while calming the skin and helping to relieve redness. The benefits to hair are equally impressive: a top-quality rose water will provide the essential nutrients required for hair and scalp health, and improve shine and lustre. It will promote hair growth by stimulating blood circulation and deeply moisturise to restore and define hair.

CHOOSING A ROSE WATER The aromatherapy benefits, from uplifting the Find out why Alteya Organics is a My Green Pod Hero at spirit to harmonising the mind, are more than just mygreenpod.com/heroes a bonus – they’re intrinsic to Rosa damascena’s HERO natural bounty.

26 / JULY mygreenpod.com EMPOWERING Conscious and effective natural beauty that’s based on science and led by women SKINCARE

Find out why Elan Skincare is a My Green Pod Hero at HERO mygreenpod.com/heroes

Mainstream brands about making women feel good about themselves’, cosmetology very closely, regularly attending are racing to create Joanna continues. ‘It is about creating a skincare key cosmetics summits and symposia. beauty products that range that will be so pleasurable to use that you will As a result, Joanna is constantly working on are more ethical; want to introduce it to your daily self-care. It will give new products and experimenting with different they want to appeal you joy. It will solve your skin problems. It will make actives. ‘We are now busy developing two body to increasingly savvy you more confident to go for your dreams.’ products and a facial cleanser’, she reveals, ‘and shoppers who are testing new, 100% natural ingredients that could beginning to think as PERSONALISED SKINCARE replace synthetic silicones like dimethicone. It is much about what goes Elan Skincare celebrates womanhood and femininity exciting to see how much innovation is happening on their body as what in all its forms, and takes an individual and personal in natural skincare.’ goes in it. approach. One-to-one, 30-minute online video Ethics are central to this natural and organic For Joanna Silva, consultations are available, for expert advice on how vegan skincare range. ‘When creating Elan founder of Elan Skincare, conscious beauty isn’t just to get healthy, radiant skin in the comfort of your Skincare, I paid a lot of attention to who we chose about the ingredients and how they’re sourced: it is home. You can get guidance on anything from which as our suppliers’, Joanna tells us. ‘I wanted to also be about female empowerment. ingredients to look out for to how to enhance your know where the ingredients were coming from, ‘All multi-billion beauty conglomerates, with nearly natural good looks. whether they were sourced sustainably and ethically 200 brands under their umbrella, are run by men ‘We get to know our customers well – their skin and whether they had all the required technical – with no exception’, she tells us. ‘75% of their top concerns and their preferences’, Joanna tells us. ‘We documentation.’ management is male.’ make every single customer feel special and always strive to delight them. We take time to answer their MISSION-LED BUSINESSES PUTTING WOMEN FIRST questions, resolve their problems and advise on When it comes to ethical beauty, Joanna feels Joanna set out to do things differently and bring a skincare. Our range reflects the love and care we transparency must come hand in hand with feminine perspective to beauty that would elevate, have for women and their wellbeing. We truly care.’ education. ‘I sometimes feel, when I confront empower and nourish women. Her philosophy is the marketing claims on the label with the list of underpinned by an understanding that beauty and THE SCIENCE OF SKIN ingredients on the back, that the two have little in wellbeing are intimately linked. Before launching Elan Skincare in 2017, Joanna had common’, she tells us. ‘The claims are often far- ‘Your skin mirrors your lifestyle’, Joanna explains. a career in product development for the medical fetched. My background in the medical area makes ‘Even the most expensive creams won’t help if you industry. She started in wound care before moving on me very sensitive to claims; I always want to look at smoke. You might have a healthy diet and a great to infection prevention and then skincare. the clinical evidence.’ skincare regime, yet if you are under stress then your ‘I spent a decade learning about skin – visiting To avoid greenwash, Joanna suggests we should skin will suffer. It is all interconnected.’ hospitals and seeing different skin conditions’, Joanna all start shopping more locally and supporting small Looking after your skin is about looking after tells us. ‘I also sought treatment for both of my kids, brands and businesses that have sustainability and yourself, whether you’re applying body butters and who suffered from eczema. Their skin problems ‘customers’ delight’ at heart. lotions to treat or prevent dry skin or SPF to protect made me more interested in natural skincare.’ ‘Why are there more American and Australian against sun damage. Innovation is constant in the science of natural cosmetics brands on shop shelves than British?’, ‘In addition to diet, sleep, lifestyle and fitness, skincare; Joanna follows the developments in she asks. ‘There are plenty of amazing independent wellness is also about feeling good in your own skin beauty brands in Britain. There are so many fantastic and accepting who you are and how you look’, READER OFFER products and companies led by passionate people who Joanna tells us. care and want to make a positive difference. Don’t Get 15% off Elan Skincare before Skincare can also be one of the rare moments listen to those who shout the loudest. Look around, 30 September 2020 with code MGP15 at women have only for themselves. ‘My aim is to build ask questions, be curious – and you will discover a elanskincare.co.uk a women-led, independent skincare brand that is all world of independent, mission-led businesses.’ n

mygreenpod.com JULY / 27 WE NEED TREES. If you want to help them even more, subscribe to the free digital edition of My Green Pod Magazine.

Each quarterly issue will be delivered straight to your inbox.

mygreenpod.com/subscribe The range of plastic-free products and packaging is expanding in line with consumer demand – but alternatives to plastic aren’t necessarily better BEYOND options when their full lifecycle and environmental impact is taken into account. ‘Bamboo products mixed with melamines often PLASTICS cause me great concern’, explains Maliha Rana. ‘They are being sold and labelled as bamboo, but mixing the Meet the company that’s flooding the hospitality materials and creating composites opens up a whole sector with ethical, plastic-free products new world of complications.’ ‘We also have to consider the emissions profile behind each product’, continues Jack Milligan. ‘It is essential that plastic-free packaging products have lower lifecycle emissions and low CO2 emissions.’

REPACKAGING THE WORLD Maliha and Jack set up Panda Packaging towards the end of 2018, after seeing the devastation caused by plastics in the ocean. ‘Growing up, we both spent a huge amount of time in the ocean’, Maliha tells us, ‘whether it was diving, surfing, sailing – you name it. Over the years, we have witnessed the complete destruction of this ecosystem and we just couldn’t sit back and watch. We decided to create a solution, because we cannot imagine a world without the ocean.’ The goal at Panda Packaging is simple: to repackage the world with natural solutions that don’t damage the environment.

INSPIRED BY NATURE Panda Packaging designs are inspired by the principle of biomimicry. ‘Nature has a solution for almost everything’, Maliha explains. ‘Often, as a society, we tend to overcomplicate solutions and create more problems. Take fruit, for example; nature has developed a way to protect the fruit in an outdoor environment: skin. Then people came along and Panda Packaging wrapped fruit in plastic! It doesn’t make any sense.’ is tackling plastic pollution from The company is taking packaging back to a more the top to create logical place, drawing inspiration from nature and long-lasting working with natural materials. change The two main materials that are used to make Panda Packaging are bamboo and coconut, sourced DISRUPTING THE PLASTICS CHAIN company has built a 3D model, accessible online, that from farmers across Asia who have been visited Despite only having been in business for 27 months, allows clients to input their logo or write a message. personally by the team. Panda Packaging has already sold three million plastic-free products to big names in hospitality – INTRODUCING MAGNUS BAMBOO AND COCONUT from Virgin and Bacardi to Farmdrop. The ethical packaging industry requires automated ‘We decided to work with bamboo and coconut as As the company expands the goal is to supply production machinery that can operate at a large they are extremely durable materials that are often directly to consumers, but the decision to target the scale, and Panda Packaging is proving to be a pioneer thrown away as waste from other industries’, Jack hospitality sector was strategic. in this space. explains. ‘For us, as a company, it is very important ‘As consumers, a lot of the plastic we use we are ‘Magnus’ was designed entirely in-house by not to create another environmental disaster whilst given’, Jack explains. ‘We don’t willingly choose to Panda Packaging’s engineering team. He takes raw trying to solve one. By working with waste materials purchase it. When you go to a restaurant, you are materials such as bamboo and turns them into we can use something that is already in circulation.’ served plastic straws. When you visit hotels, airports beautiful, sustainable and reusable packaging. In collaboration with University College London, and festivals, you are handed single-use plastic The name Magnus comes from Latin and means Panda Packaging has conducted a full lifecycle packaging products. In order to change behaviour ‘great’ or ‘power house’. ‘As he is the first automated analysis (LCA) into many of its products’ cradle-to- and break this cycle, you have to go straight to the machine built for the sustainable packaging industry, cradle emissions. top, to the people handing out this plastic. That is we thought this was the perfect name’, Maliha tells ‘The findings have shown that multiple product how you disrupt the plastics chain and create long- us. ‘He is the start of a plastic-free future!’ n lines we produce are environmentally better from an lasting impact.’ embedded energy (kJ) and CO2 (kg) perspective than To date, the top-selling products are bamboo typical polystyrene, polypropylene and polylactic acid straws, coconut bowls, bamboo cutlery sets and Find out why Panda Packaging counterparts’, Maliha reveals. ‘Even if only used once, bamboo dish scrubs. is a My Green Pod Hero at they always surpass traditional materials that are Panda Packaging’s customisation software also mygreenpod.com/heroes reused multiple times!’ allows clients to customise their packaging; the HERO

mygreenpod.com JULY / 29 FOOD & DRINK A COMMERCIAL SUPPLEMENT DISTRIBUTED ON BEHALF OF MY GREEN POD LTD

and buying plants. The devastation This is also a great way to support THE YEAR OF we are now seeing in our ash trees is independent businesses. testament to what can happen when For imported plants, check that the we get things wrong. plant and nursery have gone through While we are promoting tree the right health checks – this is PLANT planting to help climate change, particularly important for trees. particularly in agroforestry systems, we do need to make sure that we are KEEPING YOUR not introducing infected trees from PLANTS HEALTHY HE ALTH around the world. I don’t always manage to plant my I got quite excited by a conversation new purchases promptly; if you are I had at the Oxford Real Farming the same, make sure you look after Conference about sowing tree seeds them – and especially keep them in a woodchip mulch. This means we watered – until you can get them in can harvest locally sourced seeds, and the ground. potentially reduce the plastic from all If you are not quite ready to pop the tree guards. them into their final position, then you can pot them on in a HEALTHY PLANTS slightly bigger pot to keep them AND ENVIRONMENTS happy temporarily. Having a clean, healthy plant is no If you are buying seeds then look good however if you put it in the out for open-pollinated varieties; wrong environment or in poor soil. So there are suppliers in the UK and the next crucial bit is how you care for beyond, many of which are also your plants. organically certified. Tamar Organic, Keeping a plant healthy does not Biodynamic Seed Cooperative and need to mean eliminating pests and Real Seeds are three great options. diseases, or trying to create a sterile If you want to take it to the next weed-free environment. It should be level, you can start saving your own about giving a plant the vitality and seed for a locally adapted strain of strength it needs to withstand disease. flower or vegetable. I have often seen one weak plant in And of course, as always, feeding a field covered with a pest or ravaged the soil to keep it healthy is key – with disease while those stronger compost, or well-composted manure plants around it appear untouched. or woodchip, are great ways to build Keeping our soils healthy and your soil’s organic matter and health. Ben Raskin, Soil Association’s head of horticulture, our biodiversity intact are the most powerful tools for anyone who wants INVESTING IN shares tips on how to grow healthy plants to ensure healthy plants. HORTICULTURE The final piece in the jigsaw is the As a horticulturalist I am always Open-pollinated varieties have a WHERE TO BUY PLANTS protection of plants, yet for too long pleased to see plants getting some wider range of traits than F1 hybrids Where you buy your plants from is there has been underinvestment limelight. It’s five years since the Year (the first filial generation of offspring important. It is easy to get tempted in horticulture. of Soils, and that focus did indeed help of distinctly different parental types) by discounts and attractive offers at Despite its impressive economic to invigorate discussions about soil. or GM varieties, and can offer a better major retailers, but these plants are record – bringing in 25% of the In the UK, at least, it helped to chance of plants surviving a range of not always the best option. revenue from land-based industries reframe the debate around how different challenges. A plant that has been stressed despite only taking up 4% of the land we support farmers to protect our Assuming you have the right variety, – usually by underwatering, but – horticulture still can’t shake off its environment while producing food. you’ll also want to make sure it’s not sometimes by extremes of temperature image of being for people who have 2020, the UN’s Year of Plant Health, infected with something that you will – may not thrive once planted. failed at school. could do the same for plants. never get rid of. If you can, buy your plants from Though I have worked with many reputable plant raisers. If you don’t talented growers who found their BREEDING FOR DIVERSITY INTRODUCING have one locally, look online – there niche after being failed by our If I wanted to grow a healthy plant I’d INFECTIONS are loads of great nurseries selling education system, horticulture also want to start with the right genetics; A big part of the UN’s plant health organic plants and unusual varieties. attracts ‘second careerers’ like myself. there’s no point trying to grow a weak campaign is around maintaining Many plants travel fine provided Without proper investment in plant or one unsuited to our climate. phytosanitary standards when selling they are unpacked quickly on arrival. attracting and training the best Finding a good variety that can individuals, it will not be possible withstand the most common diseases to achieve ‘plant health’. – such as scab in apples or black spot in “DESPITE THE CURRENT Despite the current government’s roses – is vital. apparent lack of interest in farming, As our climate becomes less GOVERNMENT’S APPARENT LACK OF we need to grow more of our own predictable it becomes harder to breed food and we need lots of new for specific beneficial traits, so for INTEREST IN FARMING, WE NEED TO growers to make this happen. vegetables we should be focusing on Let’s hope the Year of Plant Health breeding for diversity. GROW MORE OF OUR OWN FOOD” can help to change the conversation. n PHOTOGRAPHY ISTOCK

30 / JULY mygreenpod.com Naturalist Steve Backshall and Yeo Valley have recorded the sounds of organic farming for the first time

Yeo Valley, the family-owned organic farm, is helping ease our lockdown lows with a unique biodiversity and wildlife soundscape that brings the outside in. The first of its kind, this on-farm recording brings to life all the wonderful and unique sounds that can be heard on an organic dairy like Yeo Valley’s. The goal is to raise awareness of biodiversity and the importance of a thriving environment.

LISTEN TO NATURE’S MELODY With support from Steve Backshall, famed naturalist and explorer, Yeo Valley captured the different hums, echoes and buzzes that can be heard on its organic dairy farm from morning to evening. The result is a 15-minute soundscape filled with nature’s melody. NATURENATURE ININ Organic farming provides a home for a wide range of creatures and wild plants; over the course of the bustling track, people are invited to listen in on a LOCKDOWNLOCKDOWN number of species – including bees, mice, voles, owls, and skylarks – in their natural environment. is bursting with wildlife and nature, or even in your FARMING AND NATURE own back garden.’ The soundtrack reveals the role organic farms play ‘Biodiversity is a topic very close to my heart’, Steve in a sustainable future. On organic dairy farms not continues, ‘and we can all do our bit to champion our a single pesticide or chemical fertiliser is used, and surrounding environment and help create a more animals, insects and plants can flourish and prosper sustainable future for the thriving species that occupy in harmony. This is all while creating food that we it. We don’t often get to hear the natural sounds of can trust (as well as enjoy). biodiversity, so it really is a magical moment!’ ‘I am absolutely delighted to see this soundscape come to life’, says Steve Backshall. ‘It’s amazing to HOW TO CREATE A hear all the creatures that live around us – whether BIODIVERSE GARDEN it is on an organic dairy farm like Yeo Valley’s, which Steve Backshall is a pioneering wildlife champion who understands the importance of maintaining a flourishing environment. Here are his top tips for bringing biodiversity into your own outdoor space.

n Encourage pollinators to flourish by making your very own bug hotel, using wood, straw, fabric scraps and string n Create a wild water feature, such as a bird bath or a hedgehog drinking station, and your outdoor space will soon bloom into a minibeast heaven n In lieu of natural nesting sites, garden birds really rely on our help; all you need to make is your very own bird box n With even a square metre of space, a wild garden dedicated to wild plants and old logs gives room for caterpillars, beetle larvae, hibernating amphibians and nesting hedgehogs

These tips, which show that even simple steps and measures are extremely beneficial to biodiversity as a whole, are explained in full in short clips available on the Yeo Valley website. n

FROM THE TOP FURTHER INFORMATION Pause the moosic and listen to nature; organic farming allows wildlife to n Listen to the soundscape, download the full soundtrack flourish; naturalist Steve Backshall and check out Steve Backshall’s short biodiversity videos

PHOTOGRAPHY PA PHOTOGRAPHY PA PHOTOGRAPHY at yeovalley.co.uk/biodiversity-with-steve-backshall

mygreenpod.com JULY / 31 FOOD & DRINK A COMMERCIAL SUPPLEMENT DISTRIBUTED ON BEHALF OF MY GREEN POD LTD

THE HEALTH REVOLUTION

dementia, type 2 diabetes, obesity, depression, hypertension and neurological dysfunctions – with no end in sight.

PLANTS AND HEALTH Undeniably there have been great advances in western medicine, such as certain surgical procedures, scans and x-rays. Yet western medicine also appears to be distancing itself from any notion of what may have pertained to health in the past – the plants all around us. The irony is that most drugs originated in the plant world. Hippocrates noted that chewing on willow bark helps to alleviate fevers and pain, and today its active ingredient, salicylic acid, gives aspirin its anti- inflammatory action.

“IT’S GREAT NEWS FOR HERBALISTS – AND ALSO FOR YOU”

NATURAL ANTIVIRALS For the last four years I have been immersed in research for my new book, Seven Plants to Save the World. My research suggests that there are seven plants that have the potential to cause a huge shift in our food, health and economic systems. It is yet to be seen how much of the £544m promised by the UK Government, and the billions The Culinary Caveman reveals Culpeper published his English Physician for just a pledged around the world, will fund research to few pence; it clearly catalogued ailments associated identify the plants that, when included in a daily how a revolution could bring with specific plants, which had until then been a diet, could help to boost overall health and help ‘health freedom to all’ guarded secret. Culpeper wanted the poor to realise the body to fight viral infections. that this knowledge should be free to all, and not an exclusive secret of health practitioners and the rich. TRADE IN HERBS AND PLANTS The word ‘revolution’ means more than just ‘radical According to The Invisible Trade, a 2020 report from change’ – it also has an element of revolving, turning MODERN MEDICINE non-governmental organisation Traffic, the value and cycles. Today, a big chunk of the public’s understanding of the global trade in medicinal and aromatic plant Periods in the past share many of the cultural of health and wellness is limited to a pill. species has almost tripled in recent years (from pressures of change that are ebbing to the surface Pharmaceutical corporations are making billions, $1.3bn in 1998 to $3.3bn in 2018), based on the latest today. The English Civil War and the French with more and more drugs being prescribed for more available UN Comtrade data. Revolution are periods notorious for their austerity, and more ailments. We have seen a surge in scientific evidence to tax avoidance and the rich getting richer. All while Despite the increase in drugs prescribed, we are corroborate the recent popularity of herbs and states and individuals faced bankruptcy, resulting in also witnessing an increase in the ailments that plants. The seven plants covered in my book social unrest. require a cure. (nettles, dandelions, yarrow, plantain, hemp, There are comparisons to be drawn between 1649, We have seen 50 years’ continual growth in the hawthorn and blackberry) could aid many ailments, 1793 and today – note the cyclical spacing of these ‘diseases of civilisation’ or ‘lifestyle diseases’ – which is great news for herbalists – and also for you, revolutions: roughly 150 years. The second world war including various cancers, coronary heart disease, because plants grow freely. was a revolution itself, culminating in the beginning Natural cures and preventions generate very of corporate capitalism and neoliberalism, the end of little money in a world dominated by a definition which may soon be upon us. of economics where GDP reigns and wealth trumps Find out why Culinary Caveman’s Green health. Free knowledge and free plants together Gaia Goodness is a My Green Pod Hero A MONOPOLY ON HEALTH at mygreenpod.com/heroes have the potential to bring a greater level of health The early 17th century is a fascinating period; beyond HERO freedom for all. Vive la révolution. n the blood and gore of the civil wars, it was a period that saw the likes of herbalist Nicholas Culpeper MARKETPLACE

contest the monopoly physicians had on health. n View Culinary Caveman’s herbal supplements at mygreenpod.com/product/the-culinary-caveman PHOTOGRAPHY ISTOCK

32 / JULY mygreenpod.com TRY NEW HOBBIES FOR FREE A new website provides access to free sports and hobby gear for kids

Find out why Kidd3r is a My Green Pod Hero at HERO mygreenpod.com/heroes

School closures during lockdown have kids to try new things without the as many families as possible to get A DIFFERENT CULTURE led many kids to explore new hobbies financial or environmental burden. involved. The impact on our planet In addition to making new hobbies – and a surge in free online content The goal is to reduce the planetary will be determined by the size of the accessible from a financial point of has allowed children (and parents) impact of consumerism and help more community that supports swapping as view, Kidd3r also diverts items in to experiment with everything from children to discover pastimes they love a viable alternative to buying new or perfectly good condition from landfill. ballet shoes to banjos. through the simple act of swapping throwing away. Families are actively encouraged to Exposure to a wide range of instead of buying new. think about the next use of an item and different experiences is great for kids Like many families, Claire had a SWAP OR ‘PAY’ reject a throwaway culture. from a developmental point of view, variety of nearly-new sports and hobby For a limited time, Claire will award but it’s not unusual for children to gear at home that her daughters once five Kidd3rkredits to founding REFRESH, REUSE blow hot and cold when it comes to loved but no longer used. At the same members’ accounts to encourage AND RELOVE new interests. The associated costs for time, she saw families struggling to families to sign up. Kidd3rkredits are Claire hopes the Kidd3r concept will parents can be huge, which can in turn afford new hobbies for their children. Kidd3r’s online currency; they provide grow and that the site will become lead to inequalities when it comes to ‘I wanted to create an online altruistic an alternative way to ‘pay’ when ‘the home of sustainable swapping’ children’s learning. community where people can swapping isn’t an option. for children’s sports, hobbies, tech and repurpose their pre-loved hobby gear ‘While a straight swap is our number music gear for families all over the UK. SWAP, DON’T BUY instead of allowing it to sit unused’, one goal, we understand that it might ‘Kidd3r is all about connecting In April, Claire Moffat founded Kidd3r, she tells us. not always be possible for members people, either locally or nationally, a new website that makes it easy for to find mutually coveted items’, who want to see their pre-loved FROM SPORTS TO MUSIC Claire explains. ‘For that reason, we hobby items go to a good home Items listed on Kidd3r are divided introduced Kidd3rkredits as a way for while simultaneously helping the into four categories: sports, hobbies, families to reimburse one another environment’, Claire says. ‘Signing up tech and music. Families can search when swapping isn’t an option.’ helps to reduce both the number of for what they need from the range of A percentage of the funds that harmful plastics that end up polluting items available for swap. Kidd3rkredits raise goes to charity our oceans and the impact from All swaps are arranged member-to- partners The Young People’s Trust for overseas shipping. We hope families member; all you need to get started is the Environment and The Courage will join our mission and adopt the a free Kidd3r account, which you can Foundation UK. Kidd3r ethos of refresh, reuse, relove.’ n set up on your first visit to the site. The sign-up and swapping processes FURTHER INFORMATION have been kept really simple to allow n Start swapping kids’ hobby gear at kidd3r.com

mygreenpod.com JULY / 33 A COMMERCIAL SUPPLEMENT DISTRIBUTED ON BEHALF OF MY GREEN POD LTD TRANSPORT

AVOIDING RETURN JOURNEYS infrastructure in the last 10 years’, Dwain explains, In recent years, DPD has bought around 1,000 new The other technology helping DPD’s drivers work ‘but this is a very different challenge. Personally, I 3.5t delivery vans. But until very recently, right-hand ACCELERATING smarter is Predict – the company’s market-leading would like things to be done a lot, lot quicker – but drive electric versions just weren’t available. DPD one-hour delivery notification service. there are significant challenges and we rely on a lot of managed to secure the first 100 MAN eTGE 3.5t vans DPD sends a quarter of a billion Predict third parties.’ in the UK, but the company would buy far more if notifications each year to let customers know when they were available. to expect their delivery. EVS FOR UK COMPANIES ‘We are talking to all the major vehicle Over 7 million customers now use the DPD app One of the main challenges at the moment is getting manufacturers’, Dwain says, ‘but it could still be years CLEAN to micro-manage their delivery preferences and hold of enough commercial EVs. before we have the kind of availability we would like.’ tell DPD exactly how they want their parcel to be While the number of ultra-low emission vehicles Historically, the commercial vehicle market has delivered if they aren’t going to be in – whether on UK roads is growing rapidly, there remains a been dominated by a small number of traditional to leave it in a special safe place, with a specific significant issue in the UK around the availability of manufacturers – but the new technology inherent neighbour or to drop it in to a convenient DPD all-electric 3.5t commercial vans – the workhorse of to electric vehicles has seen a shift towards startup Pickup parcel shop. the parcel delivery sector. companies developing small and micro vehicles for DELIVERIES The end result is that DPD is now delivering 99.8% Manufacturers have focused much of their early, final mile delivery. of all parcels ‘right first time’. That’s a massive 4.5 and therefore expensive, research and development However, regulators often find it difficult to keep million extra return journeys avoided – or 3.5 million on the larger European left-hand drive market, up with innovation, and these new vehicle types fewer miles travelled and tonnes of CO2 saved. meaning UK companies are struggling to get hold of challenge the norm. As a result, they present issues ‘Our drivers are very efficient on their routes every the vehicles they need. for regulators and government agencies. single day’, Dwain tells us. ‘On the scale we oper- ate on, small changes like these can have massive NO PLANS TO SLOW DOWN benefits. Each driver travelling fewer miles, every day, The registration of the DPD Paxsters was a tough helps to reduce overall congestion and emissions.’ process for the company. If the government is going to achieve its ‘Road to Zero’ ambition, it must find BARRIERS TO ZERO EMISSIONS a way to speed up the registration process of small- DPD is leading the way in EV investment; it has won batch vehicles for use in the UK. awards and been lauded as a future model for city-cen- One of the other challenges facing DPD is around tre logistics. But Dwain has been brutally honest about finding sites in inner-city areas for parcel depots. the barriers blocking the ‘Road to Zero Emissions’. ‘Warehouse and distribution spaces have been In October, DPD issued a white paper with an eight- priced out of city centres and sites are often point action plan; it called on vehicle manufacturers, prioritised for residential purposes’, Dwain reveals. Despite barriers and red tape, DPD is powering ahead with plans to decarbonise its fleet energy providers and national and local governments to start working together to create an infrastructure that makes large-scale EV deployment feasible. DPD is a company in a hurry. In 2008, when Dwain TACKLING CONGESTION MICRO-EVS AND E-BIKES “I WOULD LIKE McDonald became UK CEO, DPD was a middle-of- The key challenge for delivery companies is to try to Parcels are fed into the micro-depots by electric 7.5t ‘We are a very fast-moving operation with a track the-pack, B2B parcel delivery company. It handled 54 reduce emissions and congestion in our towns and trucks, and the final mile deliveries are then made record of investing millions in innovation and THINGS TO BE DONE million packages a year, with annual sales of £393m. cities while still meeting the growing demand from by a fleet of innovative all-electric vehicles including Today it’s a £1.4bn company with 15,000 people, online delivery customers. The switch to EVs helps the Paxster, a micro-EV from Norway and a unique delivering over 250 million parcels a year for the likes on the emissions front, but it doesn’t ease congestion. e-cargo bike, which DPD helped to design. A LOT, LOT QUICKER of ASOS, John Lewis and Nike. DPD has developed a Smart Urban Delivery DPD partnered with Oxford-based manufacturer Strategy based on three key principles: investing EAV to create the British-built e-cargo bike, the P1. – BUT THERE ARE TRANSFORMING AN INDUSTRY in clean, green vehicles, creating a smarter urban The bio-mechanical hybrid electric-assisted pedal DPD has also been vocal about the need to transform delivery model and finally, ensuring drivers can bikes have a range of 60 miles; with a 120kg payload the parcel delivery industry by reducing emissions operate as efficiently as possible, with the best they can cover 100 parcel stops in a day and then be SIGNIFICANT and becoming more sustainable. It is currently technology available. ‘By completely changing the recharged using a normal 13amp, 240V plug socket. building the UK’s largest all-electric delivery fleet – in way we work, we can make fewer, shorter journeys’, ‘Previously, we had a fleet of diesel vans travelling CHALLENGES” double-quick time. Dwain says. hundreds of miles across central London every day, By the end of the year DPD will have over 700 just to get to the start of their route’, Dwain explains. electric vehicles (EVs) on the road, which will equate A NETWORK OF MICRO-SITES ‘The Westminster depot was a real game-changer ‘We are being creative in our thinking – repurposing to 10% of its total van fleet. The centrepiece of the strategy will be a network of for us: it is smart and it delivers tangible benefits in under-utilised and unoccupied buildings – but even In January, DPD signed off on what was at the time all-electric micro-depots, the first of which, in the terms of reduced mileage and CO2. It is also great then, the legal process to get approval is ridiculously the UK’s largest single commercial electric van order, heart of Westminster, opened in 2018. to be able to say our electric vehicles deliver to Her arduous and time consuming.’ taking possession of 300 new Nissan e-NV200 vans. The 5,000 sq ft micro-site acts as a satellite for Majesty the Queen and the Prime Minister!’ Despite these issues, DPD is rising to the challenge DPD’s London City depot in Southwark. Before the of decarbonising its fleet. It’s currently rolling out ‘THE GREENEST new site opened, a fleet of 3.5t diesel vehicles travelled SHORTER ROUTES a nationwide EV fleet, which means getting the DELIVERY COMPANY’ into central London every day from Southwark, The final piece of the Smart Urban Delivery jigsaw vehicles and charging infrastructure into nearly 70 While it’s no surprise that a delivery company would averaging 614 miles in total. addresses the way DPD’s drivers work. different locations and helping drivers transition to need a lot of vans, DPD is also using a range of very The company is developing a network of these ‘We’ve been looking at every aspect of our EV driving and micro-vehicles. different electric vehicles – including a micro-EV, micro-depots across central London, meaning that operation and challenging ourselves to do better’, DPD has also just launched its Green website, an e-cargo bike and an electric 7.5 tonne truck. It all its electric fleet will be based much closer to DPD’s Dwain says. which explains everything the company is up to suggests a much broader strategic shift. end customers. Drivers have been given handheld units to guide – from recycling the shrink wrap used across the Dwain McDonald’s aim isn’t simply to take a diesel them to every address using the shortest possible business to creating a new, 100% recyclable parcel van off the road and replace it with an electric one; route. These units have been another massive bag, strong enough to protect customers’ goods. ‘We want to be the greenest delivery company on the CLOCKWISE investment – both financially and in terms of the Next, the micro-depot model will be rolled out to DPD was the electric Mercedes-Benz e-Vito’s first UK customer; planet by transforming every aspect of our operation’, charging the Paxster at DPD’s electric depot; DPD’s first all- work required to integrate them into the operation other cities across the UK. As Dwain sums up: ‘We’re he tells us. electric micro-depot, Westminster; the Paxster micro-EV in the most effective possible way. not about to slow down any time soon!’ n

34 / JULY mygreenpod.com mygreenpod.com JULY / 35 A COMMERCIAL SUPPLEMENT DISTRIBUTED ON BEHALF OF MY GREEN POD LTD TRAVEL

As electric yachts’ production costs fall, so too ‘Hydrogen is already being used on superyachts and to support our electrifying revolution to preserve will the cost of experiencing one. ‘Our prices also hybrid propulsion on luxury motoryachts’, James tells Ibiza’s seas and nature.’ differ from the average charter company’s because us. ‘The future is certainly to steer away from fossil In 2019 James noticed a growing demand for VAT, a captain, local beverages and vegan towels are fuels; over the next five years we will see a big change electric yachts, and saw the electric revolution included in the price’, James explains, ‘and of course, in marine regulations.’ was making an impact on the nautical sector. He there are no fuel charges!’ Low-emission yachts are already popular in the observed a growing group of people who like to be lakes in Germany, Switzerland and Italy, and America pioneers in electric high-performance yachting, THE QUIET CHARGING AT MARINAS is a huge market for electric yachting. And of course, who love design and want to lead the way. As with an electric car, if you’re planning a long James is helping to create the market in Spain. ‘The electric nautical revolution has started’, journey in an electric yacht then you’ll need to make ‘Ibiza’s residents and visitors are the ideal clients James says, ‘and we’re lucky to be a forerunner. As the sure your battery is fully charged. to support us’, James tells us, ‘not just with financial technology improves, the propulsions throughout the REVOLUTION ‘As with any other fossil fuel vessel, the faster you possibilities, but also with the vision and motivation global yachting industry will evolve, too.’ n go the lower the range’, James tells us. ‘But with an average cruising speed of 22kn a full charge will take you 35-40 nautical miles, which is enough for nipping “I SAW THE DEMAND – PARTICULARLY over to Formentera and back.’ All modern marinas have sufficient current to charge the SAY 29E for five to six hours; Kreisel HERE ON IBIZA – TO GIVE SOMETHING Electric, which provides the technology, recently introduced a boost-charger that will charge the SAY BACK TO THE ISLAND” 29E in under an hour. ‘The electric yacht charging network is still not comparable with the electric car world’s’, James says. ‘The installation of fast chargers is a very expensive process but an attractive future investment. This infrastructure needs to be supported; S.E. Yachting is talking with luxury marinas in Ibiza and Formentera to create fast charger possibilities to support electric yachting, and provide a fast charging solution for frequently used routes.’

THE NAUTICAL REVOLUTION The technology for electric yachts is constantly evolving – especially when it comes to the batteries. As they improve, so will the range.

An electric revolution is already well underway in the car industry – and now it’s heading to sea

Combustion engines are already prohibited on some with his background in the luxury yachting business. THE SAY 29E CARBON European lakes, and restrictions will only increase He was asked to become Spain’s official and exclusive The SAY 29E Carbon is the world’s fastest over the coming years. dealer of SAY Carbon Yachts, and to set up a network production-built electric boat; with a maximum ‘In Ibiza thousands of boats visit during the to supply electric, low-emission and high-acceleration speed of 89km/h it holds the 2019 world speed summer, from superyachts to ‘normal’ yachts’, says carbon yachts. record of 48kn, without competition. ‘That’s very James Blanchfield, director of Santa Eulalia Yachting fast – even for a non-electric boat’, James tells us. (S.E. Yachting) in Marina Santa Eulalia, Ibiza. GIVING SOMETHING BACK The boat has a unique, minimalist design and a ‘Most of them are powered by fossil fuels with Karl Wagner, SAY Carbon Yachts’ CEO, is a leading hydrodynamic hull. It has been manufactured using combustion engines’, James continues. ‘All these mind in innovation and contemporary design. Before the latest tech in Germany, with drive technology engines hold a large quantity of oil; that oil must turning his attention to yachts, his carbon tech from e-mobility developer Kreisel Electric. be replaced annually as a condition of the engine expertise was applied to sports cars and Formula 1. The carbon hull offers the same stability as warranty, so I can only guess the number of litres ‘I was immediately taken with his vision’, James a standard hull but with fewer materials; this that amounts to every year – in the Balearics alone!’ reveals. ‘This was the perfect moment. I saw translates to less weight and better efficiency, which The control of yachting emissions has become an the demand – especially here on Ibiza – to give in turn means lower emissions in production as well important topic at annual conferences, and in March something back to the island, to protect our waters as at sea. the need for more environmentally friendly plans in this wonderful and peaceful place. People want to The silence of battery-powered transport is was a key focus at the eighth Asociación Nacional de enjoy their lives and have fun, and at the same time arguably even more rewarding at sea than on the Empresas Naúticas (ANEN) meeting in Valencia. be aware and conscious. With our SAY Carbon Yachts road. All you hear is the sound of water splashing they can enjoy luxury yachting while exploring Ibiza against the hull; that’s followed by instant PROTECTING OUR WATERS and lowering their emissions.’ acceleration, just like the experience with high- Electric yachts are becoming an increasingly popular performance electric cars. choice for those whose love for the ocean extends to CLOCKWISE Electric yachts are currently a lot more expensive the life it holds and the peace it brings. The SAY 29E Carbon is the world’s fastest production-built to buy or charter – daily prices for the SAY 29E start electric yacht; James Blanchfield, director of S.E. Yachting; James has always loved the sea; two years ago he travel 35-40 nautical miles on a charge, at an average cruising at €1.400 in winter and €1.680 in summer – but this was given an opportunity to combine this passion speed of 22kn; the electric nautical revolution has started is due to the cost of the technology required.

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COMPETITIONS WIN We’ve got our hands on a bunch of prizes from fantastic A PAIR OF WAVES FLIP FLOPS companies that are doing things differently. We love them – made from 100% ethically sourced natural rubber, which will biodegrade. all and we want to give you a chance to get to know them, Deadline for entries: 16.08.20 too – so we’re running these competitions so you can have a go and see for yourself! We’ve hand-picked this bumper selection of green pearls – including cash towards your child’s hobby, ethical WIN accessories, organic skincare and plastic-free products – ALTEYA ORGANICS FACE SKINCARE SERIES to help set you up for a lighter lifestyle. – a set of luxurious, natural and effective products from Alteya Organics’ Rose Otto Bio Damascena range! Two runners-up will receive Alteya To enter, visit mygreenpod.com Organics’ Rose & Mullein line of organic skincare. WIN Deadline for entries: 01.11.20 A PAIR OF PALA EYEWEAR SUNGLASSES – designed for those who want to look good and do good. Five lucky readers will be able to choose their very own pair of sunglasses from Pala’s new range of ethical eyewear. These sunglasses have Italian biodegradable, WIN plant-based acetate frames and polarised anti-glare and anti-scratch lenses. OUR COVER ART Each style was designed for those who appreciate the world we live in and – a signed print of Rainforest Plan B, by the extremely talented Mau Mau. embrace the adventure of exploring it.

Deadline for entries: 01.11.20 Deadline for entries: 07.08.20

WIN UP TO £250 TOWARDS A CHILD’S HOBBY WIN WIN WIN WIN – to celebrate the launch of Kidd3r.com, the A SET OF 12 A YEAR’S SUPPLY SUSTAINABLE AN ELAN SKINCARE SET home of sustainable swapping. One lucky child WIN WIN DEODORANT BARS OF CBD ANGEL SWIM SHORTS – to transform your skin the natural will get the opportunity to take part in a paid – free from plastic and parabens. – created to offer support in a gentle – made from recycled and recyclable way. The Dream Night Treatment COCONUT SETS hobby of their choice. Whether music lessons, A LUX PERIOD HAMPER These natural deodorant bars are and nurturing way. The winner will materials! Three readers will get to set contains Dream Hyaluronic Acid – from Panda Packaging’s plastic-free range. sports or another activity, Kidd3r will pay the – from the period fashionistas on a mission to safe for everyone – from tweenage to receive a 12-month supply of CBD pick their very own pair of Shorts For Booster Serum, Dream Overnight One reader will receive a set of four bowls and fees to the club or teacher – up to a maximum make every period plastic free. The first prize teenage to menopause! Unisex and Angel 250mg oil; the first runner-up Life. They have been designed to last Renewal Vitamin C Serum and Dream spoons, made from coconut shells that have of £250. The belief at Kidd3r is that all children is a hamper containing two thongs, two bikini uplifting natural fragrances, will receive a bottle of CBD oil and and are as at home in the city as they Eye Renewal Serum with Vitamin C been diverted from landfill and polished to should have access to affordable sports, hobby, pants and two high-waisted period pants. Further plus Vegan and Sensitive bars. Angel Cacao. are on the beach. & Microalgae. perfection. tech and musical equipment. hamper and runner-up prize details are online.

Deadline for entries: 01.11.20 Deadline for entries: 01.11.20 Deadline for entries: 07.08.20 Deadline for entries: 01.11.20 Deadline for entries: 01.11.20 Deadline for entries: 01.11.20 Deadline for entries: 01.11.20

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