Eco Studio

Food waste in the food supply chain: Radio Wales interview Ecostudio

2011-11-04T10:55:00.000-07:00

Ecostudio were invited by Radio Wales to share experience on the problem of food waste that is created by food business in Wales.

The programme includes Rhys Lougher from Ty Tanglwyst Dairy, Rob Scoulding from the Co-operative, Caitlin Shepard from This is Rubbish and Iain Cox from Ecostudio. It was aired ealier today and lasts for 4 minutes.

Here's 3 reasons why this is worth listening to:

it explains how small and large businesses are preventing food waste in practical and profitable ways.

it illustrates how preventing food waste is a straightforward part of sustainable business.

it emphasises the urgenct need for the Welsh Government to take action and help Welsh business prevent food waste.

The programme is available through Radio Wales until 11th Nov 2011 (item begins 22mins in).

After that date you can listen to it by clicking here.

CALLING ALL FARM AND PRODUCER BUSINESSES IN TORFAEN

2011-11-01T08:52:00.000-07:00

Ecostudio are working with Torfaen Borough Council to establish a new project called CREATE.

This project helps Torfaen farms, producers and businesses to get the best commercial value from natural resources - such as food, forestry and renewable energy.

For a limited time only we’re offering up to 7 Torfaen businesses the opportunity to WIN up to £3000 towards a project of their choice and FREE consultancy to help them do it!*

To register contact Susie on 08452 696105 or susie@ecostudio.org.uk

*registration closes 11 November 2011. Terms and conditions apply.

The Welsh Government’s Glastir scheme and the challenges of implementing sustainable development goals

2011-10-11T11:08:00.000-07:00

The Welsh Government urgently needs to make sense of sustainable development goals and clearly communicate these with the food and farming industry in Wales or the Glastir scheme will fail.

We’re concerned to learn about the farming industry’s reaction to the Welsh Government’s new Glastir scheme as reported in today's Western Mail.

Unfortunately this response to the Welsh Government’s attempts to implement sustainable development goals within the new Glastir scheme is nothing new. This is frustrating for Ecostudio and many of our clients because we have worked tirelessly to provide evidence that sustainable business is simply profitable business.

The food and farming industry in Wales is facing significant challenges from global competition for cheap food, rising energy and input costs and increasing pressure on natural resources.

The Welsh Government recognises that sustainable practices are fundamental to our nation’s economic survival. Many farm businesses feel they are already contributing this goal.

So the issue has nothing to do with farm businesses not wanting to be sustainable producers or that they are somehow environmental terrorists – in fact many farmers understand that they must work in harmony with the land or they will quickly exhaust the very means they rely upon to keep them in a profitable business.

On the contrary the issue revolves around a lack of clear communication for what sustainable development actually means.

Put simply sustainable development is economic development that does not exploit people or the environment.

It’s about building profitable businesses that pollute less and bring more benefit to the communities they serve. It’s not about environmentalists and social scientists dictating how we should behave (although having been involved in the industry for many years and we can see why some people may perceive it this way).

The key challenge for the Welsh Government in implementing the Glastir scheme lies in understanding how to implement sustainable practices.

Here at Ecostudio we’ve been championing the cause for sustainable food and farming business for many years.

We have worked with many farm businesses to build strategies and action plans to do just that – Birchgrove Eggs, Calon Wen Organic, Dunbia, Llwynhelyg Farm Shop and Ty Tanglwyst Dairy to name just a few.

Essentially sustainable business requires vision, innovation and determination (skills that most small businesses need to possess in abundance to survive in a global marketplace) combined with the know-how and experience to do things better (this is where we are able to help).

However if these efforts go unrecognised by policymakers and their delivery bodies. The food and farming business and the sustainable development agenda in Wales will not move forward.

Clearly this is something we feel passionately about particularly because we are positioned to do something positive to help move this agenda forward.

We welcome comments on this.

Birchgrove Eggs featured in The Western Mail

2011-10-11T09:50:00.000-07:00

Since winning the True Taste Contribution to Sustainable Development Award in 2010 we’ve been helping this busy farm business develop a strategy for practical ways they can promote awareness of their sustainable approach to consumers, retailers and supply chain partners.

Our work was paid for by Cywain a project sponsored by the Welsh Government to help develop farm based businesses.

The article describes Birchgrove’s new mayonnaise range and the results of their carbon footprint through a scheme led by Bangor University.

We’re delighted for Tony and Gwen and all at Birchgrove and look forward to hearing about more developments in the not too distant.

We also read on the same page about a different regional egg producer that has received funding through the same scheme that helped Birchgrove.

To achieve sustainability we need to create a supportive environment that encourages food and farming businesses to work together towards achieving more sustainable food supply chains and to do this we need to be sensitive to the needs of both farm businesses.

Ecological footprinting in small and medium sized Welsh food business

2011-07-19T01:27:00.000-07:00

Ecological footprinting is an approach advocated by the Welsh Government to measure progress towards a sustainable Wales. But is this appropriate for Welsh food business?

This work explores the commercial benefits and challenges of measuring sustainable performance in small and medium sized Welsh food businesses using Ecological Footprint, Carbon Footprint and Life Cycle Assessment methodologies.

It determines the practical steps that are needed to overcome barriers to improved sustainability measurement within small Welsh food business and recommends ways for policy makers to engage with business on sustainable development issues.

The study was part funded by the Welsh Government. It was done by Ecostudio in association with BRASS at Cardiff University. Support from the Organic Centre Wales Better Organic Business Links project was critical in illustrating the options for quantitative measurement specifically around Carbon Footprint methods.

The findings from this research will be available shortly. To find out more about practical tools and techniques for measuring and managing ecological footprint in small business please contact us
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Welsh Assembly Food and packaging waste plan now open for consultation

2011-06-02T08:35:00.000-07:00

Ecostudio have been working with the Welsh Government Waste Strategy Unit on the new Food Manufacture, Service and Retail Sector Plan - an action plan to make it easier for food businesses to deal with food and packaging waste.

Our role is to advise policymakers and propose practical actions for Welsh food business to help meet waste prevention and recycling targets set out in Towards Zero Waste – the Assembly Government’s new waste strategy for Wales.

It's just one of the areas that the Welsh Government is focussing efforts to build a sustainable Wales. To make this happen views are sought.

To download and contribute to the consultation click here.

This is Rubbish – campaigning to reduce food waste

2011-05-28T02:07:00.000-07:00

Ecostudio have been invited to speak in a ‘food futures’ roundtable discussion at the Hay festival on Monday 31st May hosted by This is Rubbish.

These guys bring a fresh and enthusiastic approach to raising awareness of a pretty awful problem.

Ecostudio are working with the Welsh Government to develop innovative plans that help business and producers prevent food waste.

It doesn’t sound like a load of rubbish to us…

If you’re planning a trip to Hay make sure you come along to one of their events -
find out more here:

This is Rubbish (TiR) aim to communicate the preventable scale of food waste in the UK, through policy, community and arts led public events. Using playful and creative experiences; collective ideas generation and craftivism, This is Rubbish will emphasise practical solutions to the pressing problem of industrial level food waste. This is Rubbish invite you to come along to one of their “Feast” tour dates and digest a programme of participatory activities followed by a free evening food waste feast to celebrate the wonders of waste. For the summer tour dates visit www.thisisrubbish.org.uk

Do you know a food business that deserves recognition for their animal welfare standards?

2011-05-23T02:50:00.000-07:00

Half of UK eggs are now laid by cage free hens, according to the RSPCA, whose annual Good Business Awards are now open for entries.

However, while more customers are choosing higher welfare eggs than ever, around two thirds of all eggs used in restaurants, pubs and cafes – whether whole or in liquid form in quiches and cakes – still come from hens kept in battery cages.

The annual RSPCA Good Business Awards celebrate UK supermarkets, pubs, caterers and restaurants that put higher welfare products on their menus and shelves. Last year, retailers including The Co-Operative, Sainsbury’s and Abel & Cole took home awards.

Do you think your local restaurant should be rewarded? Do you know a producer who stands above the rest when it comes to their ethical stance on their food? Tell them about the Good Business Awards, which give public and industry recognition for commitments to animal welfare.

The awards close on 10 June 2011. For more information and to log on visit www.rspcagoodbusinessawards.com or to find out more about animal welfare and food go to www.goodthings.org.uk

Ecostudio feature in Welsh Economic Review

2011-04-08T07:28:00.000-07:00

A paper written by Dr Calvin Jones of Cardiff University and Iain Cox of Ecostudio has been published in a leading journal.

The article describes why sustainable food is critical to the Welsh economy and the urgent challenges for Welsh policy makers for a truly sustainable food system to be embraced.

It focusses on some of the positive public and private sector initiatives that are happening in the food sector in Wales - such as the True Taste Sustainable Development Award. It illustrates how the Welsh Assembly Government Rural Affairs Department is investing in sustainable development and why this must be recognised by all government departments.

The article is featured in the Food Edition of the Welsh Economic Review, Spring 2011 (p. 13 & 14). To download the journal click here. _

Developing Sustainable Food Business

2011-02-25T09:54:00.000-08:00

Ecostudio were recently awarded funding from Glasu to develop eco-action plans with a number of food businesses from Powys. The project was run as a competition and recieved over 50 entrants with 5 winning businesses selected to recieve a free sustainability review and mentoring from Ecostudio's team of award winning mentors.

The project is a first of its kind because it demonstrates how commercial advantage can be achieved by doing food business in sustainable ways - this is why we believe it gained significant coverage in the national media.

To find out more click here.
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The Guardian Newspaper featuring Ecostudio!

2010-11-01T11:32:00.000-07:00

For several years now Ecostudio has worked with the True Taste Wales food and drink awards to develop and judge the Contribution to Sustainable Development award.

This was recently featured in G2 - a section of the Guardian Newspaper. Alongside several Welsh food businesses that are recognised for their work in making and selling sustainable food of the highest quality.

The work has broken new ground because it acknowledges the contemporary challenges facing the food industry today along with setting the standard for other businesses to follow.

But don't just take our word for it. Click here to read what an internationally renowned journalist for the Guardian reports.

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Sustainably speaking at the Hay Festival

2010-07-22T11:06:00.000-07:00

Last month we were asked to present to delegates at the Hay on Earth seminars - an event which forms a central focus at the Hay Literary Festival. Organised by the Ecosapiens team 'Hay on Earth' has become a meeting place for who's who in sustainable development in Wales and we were of course delighted to be able to offer our support to this important event.

For the past 12 months or so we've been leading a pilot project called the Sustainable Supply Chains initiative. We've been developing a number of projects that are demonstrating how sustainability can work in commercial food supply chains, devising ways to measure progress towards sustainable business goals and creating ways for food and drink businesses to apply sustainable practices.

But don't just take our word for it click here to visit our partner site and listen to some of our clients speaking at the Hay festival.
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UK ethical products market worth £36bn!

2010-01-07T09:40:00.000-08:00

A soon to be published report by the Co-operative Bank will show that the UK market for ethical products is valued at a cool £36bn. It also shows that the average household spending on ethical food and drink has increased from £81 to £244 over the last decade.

This is significant because as more consumers continue to recognise the benefits of purchasing environmentally sustainable and socially responsible goods it mean that smarter businesses will adapt their practices to meet this demand.

It's not all about Fair Trade. Large companies such as Tesco are also responding to meet this demand. This means that their suppliers will need to conform to new sustainability standards if they want to maintain this business.

Can your business afford to ignore this? If you have the will we have the way to help your business achieve sales in the ethical marketplace. What's more our sustainable business programmes will help equip you to embrace the challenges that the future holds.
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....and the winner is...

2009-11-20T11:54:00.000-08:00

Last night the True Taste Wales food and drink Awards took place in Abergavenney Market Hall. It is THE event on the food and drink calendar in Wales.

The Sustainable Development award was presented to Kevan Downing, Hospitality Manager of Aberystwyth University.

We're absolutely delighted for Kevan and his team and we're looking forward to working with Kevan and the True Taste to continue to raise awareness of doing better business to the food and drink sector in the year ahead. Please check back for more updates.

Find out more here.

Ecostudio featured in the Observer Food Monthly!

2009-11-08T08:07:00.000-08:00

Iain Cox (Ecostudio) was interviewed alongside Professor Tim Lang (Professor of Food Policy at City University London) by the Observer Food Monthly for an article titled: 'Wales leads the way to a sustainable future'.

The article describes the work that is being done to recognise Welsh businesses for their contribution to Sustainable Development. Ecostudio work in partnership with the True Taste Wales to deliver this groundbreaking award.

'Sustainability is about how the food economy works, how the supply chain works, its impact upon the material and biological environment on which the whole of humanity depends' says Professor Tim Lang.

Iain Cox explains what this means to businesses 'It's about making changes, doing business differently and it's about taking risk. It's about businesses being more innovative'

Click here to download the article in full.
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Doing business more sustainably brings huge opportunities for forward thinking food and drink companies

2009-11-06T06:15:00.000-08:00

But don't just take our word for it!
Consider the current growth in demand for local food, the recent boom in organics. Then consider how businesses are responding to this new phenomenon: take a look at the Co-operative, Innocent Smoothies, Green & Blacks and some less well known (but equally forward thinking) companies, Ty Tanglwyst Dairy, Bacheldre Mill, The Knobbly Carrot Food Company.

What do all these businesses share?
An understanding that by placing environmental ethics and social responsibility at the heart of what they do (and clearly communicating these values) can generate good PR and more sales.

Thereby creating a more sustainable business. This is where Ecostudio can help.
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What does Ecostudio do?

2009-11-02T03:03:00.000-08:00

We're often asked this question and this will all be included in our new website launching later this month - here's a summary (feel free to contact us to find out more):

We work together with business and the public sector to apply environmentally innovative and socially responsible practice in the food and drink industry.

We combine our knowledge with our client's experience of their marketplace. We work with them to ensure their business objectives are met in the most sustainable way. Our experience shows that it's better to help people make their own decisions.

Our approach is different and our results are more sustainable.

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Ecostudio new website launching on November 19th - check back soon!

2009-10-30T01:47:00.000-07:00

We're currently developing and updating our website to inform potential clients about what we do and to act as a resource for sustainable business in the food and drink sector.

We're compiling a number of case studies of companies that we've worked with in recent years. These provide examples of how developing innovative and responsible practices improves sustainability and is simply better for business.

Here's a few links to provide a taster:

The Knobbly Carrot Food Company: http://www.theknobblycarrot.co.uk/

Ty Tanglwyst Dairy: http://www.tytanglwystdairy.com/

Bacheldre Mill: http://www.bacheldremill.co.uk/

Ecostudio are experts in the creative and practical application of sustainable business development.

2009-09-15T01:55:00.001-07:00

We focus on the food and drink sector. Our aim is to ensure goods and services are produced and consumed in environmentally sustainable, socially responsible ways - and that they are made available to all consumers.

Our refreshing approach has been developed by working together with many leading organisations from business and the public sector. It is backed by knowledge based research.

Changes to our economy and to our climate mean that there has never been a better time to embrace sustainable practices. But this is not without risk.

This is where Ecostudio help.

We ensure organisations are equipped to manage the uncertainties and implement the changes necessary to build a brighter, sustainable and more profitable future.

Contact us today on +44(0)29 2045 4736 | info@ecostudio.org.uk