Showing posts with label environmental communication. Show all posts
Showing posts with label environmental communication. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Investigative journalism in pills for italian regions: here comes Laura Conti Days
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle: Bring the bag!
by Marzia Fialdini
To save the world we can begin with small things, small gestures: the campaign Porta la Sporta (Bring the bag) is the only reality that since March 2009 has worked at national level to prepare public opinion to ban the use of plastic bags, and has tried to raise a greater environmental awareness in Italy.
For a more sustainable consumption from 14th to 22nd April 2012 comes back the National Week Porta la Sporta, now in its third edition. The initiative - sponsored by the Association of Virtuous Municipalities, by WWF, Italia Nostra, the Italian Touring Club and Adiconsum, under the patronage of the Ministry of the Environment - invites people to make efficient use of resources by replacing the throwaway with alternatives suitable for reuse. At the same time it seeks to raise awareness on the companies world and organized distribution about producing and distributing products and solutions that enable people to consume low-impact. It is a useful week to rethink lifestyles and more sustainable consumption ways and to adopt the alternative proposals that Porta la Sporta conveys through its initiatives.
With this edition the event and the campaign get to the heart of those further actions that are necessary to prevent and reduce other waste such as containers, packaging and disposable items.
The invitation is open to any type of business, to the retail sector (food and otherwise), to associations and no profit organizations, to schools of all levels, national and local organizations and institutions, and – last but not the least – to citizens. Useful tips to attend the meeting can be found on site of Porta la Sporta, within other initiatives promoted by campaigns for schools and shops as Meno plastica per tutti, Mettila in rete and Sfida all'ultima sporta.
We asked Silvia Ricci, promoter of the campaign, if in addition to those already involved, there are others who would like to participate: "Yes I would like also fairs to be involved. They are places of passage that attract many visitors who come to browse and receive motivations and suggestions, and are therefore well prepared to receive communications. Above all visitors are inundated with gadgets, leaflets, bags and packages: why not take the opportunity to raise awareness with a “sporta” (bag) delivered at the beginning in which they can put all purchases or free sample, thus excluding the proliferation of unnecessary packaging? There is a trade show in particular that by its nature and the city that hosts it would suitable to launch this environmental message: the Book Fair in Turin, but unfortunately for the moment no one has done anything, and it is a shame."
Porta la Sporta opened a dialogue with some of the most important mass retailers in Italy involved with their outlets in the event of April for the third time now. In order to widen the front of corporate stakeholders, the campaign has gladly accepted the offer of a collaboration with the editors of GDOWEEK, a magazine dedicated to the Group's retail Sole 24 ORE. This is a small book available on the numbers of the 2012 GDO Week M@il that Porta la Sporta will use to comment current events that have relevance to the topics addressed by the campaign and have as characters manufacturing and the retail firms.
More...
For a more sustainable consumption from 14th to 22nd April 2012 comes back the National Week Porta la Sporta, now in its third edition. The initiative - sponsored by the Association of Virtuous Municipalities, by WWF, Italia Nostra, the Italian Touring Club and Adiconsum, under the patronage of the Ministry of the Environment - invites people to make efficient use of resources by replacing the throwaway with alternatives suitable for reuse. At the same time it seeks to raise awareness on the companies world and organized distribution about producing and distributing products and solutions that enable people to consume low-impact. It is a useful week to rethink lifestyles and more sustainable consumption ways and to adopt the alternative proposals that Porta la Sporta conveys through its initiatives.
With this edition the event and the campaign get to the heart of those further actions that are necessary to prevent and reduce other waste such as containers, packaging and disposable items.
The invitation is open to any type of business, to the retail sector (food and otherwise), to associations and no profit organizations, to schools of all levels, national and local organizations and institutions, and – last but not the least – to citizens. Useful tips to attend the meeting can be found on site of Porta la Sporta, within other initiatives promoted by campaigns for schools and shops as Meno plastica per tutti, Mettila in rete and Sfida all'ultima sporta.
We asked Silvia Ricci, promoter of the campaign, if in addition to those already involved, there are others who would like to participate: "Yes I would like also fairs to be involved. They are places of passage that attract many visitors who come to browse and receive motivations and suggestions, and are therefore well prepared to receive communications. Above all visitors are inundated with gadgets, leaflets, bags and packages: why not take the opportunity to raise awareness with a “sporta” (bag) delivered at the beginning in which they can put all purchases or free sample, thus excluding the proliferation of unnecessary packaging? There is a trade show in particular that by its nature and the city that hosts it would suitable to launch this environmental message: the Book Fair in Turin, but unfortunately for the moment no one has done anything, and it is a shame."
Porta la Sporta opened a dialogue with some of the most important mass retailers in Italy involved with their outlets in the event of April for the third time now. In order to widen the front of corporate stakeholders, the campaign has gladly accepted the offer of a collaboration with the editors of GDOWEEK, a magazine dedicated to the Group's retail Sole 24 ORE. This is a small book available on the numbers of the 2012 GDO Week M@il that Porta la Sporta will use to comment current events that have relevance to the topics addressed by the campaign and have as characters manufacturing and the retail firms.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Varese is not Salerno: racist campaign or smart advertisment?
by Silvia Musso
Do you remember one year ago - it was February 2011 – the bad act of the municipality of Spresiano (North-East Italy) that on the flyer of a public meeting about waste recycling had inserted an image in which a person threw into a bin a Calabria shaped waste? At that time we had wondered if it was an act of "Padan" racism or a simple gaffe or even a fake. Well, these same questions have accompanied the beginning of a recent awareness campaign on recycling sponsored by the city of Varese (North Italy).Some weeks ago, in fact, on the city's streets posters have appeared, bearing only the claim: "Varese, is not Salerno" (Salerno is a South Italy city)
The appearance of the posters immediately provoked an echo of voices, criticism and accusations as evidenced in the pages of the local newspaper Varesenews: «"Varese is not Salerno" and it is a storm. The poster around the city has not gone unnoticed. On our Facebook pages are getting hundreds of comments. The cliam is read in many different ways. And the news arrived also in Salerno. Do not miss Salerno's citizens who write on Varesenews».
The initial storm was calmed down, however, by the explanations of the administration. This was a teaser action – there were actually two kind of poster "Varese is not Salerno" and "Varese is not Pordenone" -before the proper campaign commissioned by the Mayor whose goal is the public awareness on the benefits of sorting waste.
On January 19th, in fact, the Mayor Attilio Fontana contacted his colleagues of Salerno and Pordenone with a letter in which he explained that the municipality of Varese intended to carry out a publicity campaign to sensitize the citizens to separate waste by referring into the posters to the two cities, virtuous examples for separate collection. Pordenone with 78.1% is the most virtuous city of the North in terms of recycling, while Salerno with 70.3%, has the best performance in the South. Varese, with 48.9% have already a good result, but municipal administration wants to improve these.
The administration's idea was certainly intriguing, looking at the amount of reactions triggered mainly on social networks. To evaluate the success, however, we must wait for the next phases of the communication campaign and above all ensure that the first interest of the citizens will turn into a real change in their habits in order to achieve the goal: to arrive by the end of 2012 to 65% of separate waste collection.
We'll see.
More...
The appearance of the posters immediately provoked an echo of voices, criticism and accusations as evidenced in the pages of the local newspaper Varesenews: «"Varese is not Salerno" and it is a storm. The poster around the city has not gone unnoticed. On our Facebook pages are getting hundreds of comments. The cliam is read in many different ways. And the news arrived also in Salerno. Do not miss Salerno's citizens who write on Varesenews».
The initial storm was calmed down, however, by the explanations of the administration. This was a teaser action – there were actually two kind of poster "Varese is not Salerno" and "Varese is not Pordenone" -before the proper campaign commissioned by the Mayor whose goal is the public awareness on the benefits of sorting waste.
On January 19th, in fact, the Mayor Attilio Fontana contacted his colleagues of Salerno and Pordenone with a letter in which he explained that the municipality of Varese intended to carry out a publicity campaign to sensitize the citizens to separate waste by referring into the posters to the two cities, virtuous examples for separate collection. Pordenone with 78.1% is the most virtuous city of the North in terms of recycling, while Salerno with 70.3%, has the best performance in the South. Varese, with 48.9% have already a good result, but municipal administration wants to improve these.
The administration's idea was certainly intriguing, looking at the amount of reactions triggered mainly on social networks. To evaluate the success, however, we must wait for the next phases of the communication campaign and above all ensure that the first interest of the citizens will turn into a real change in their habits in order to achieve the goal: to arrive by the end of 2012 to 65% of separate waste collection.
We'll see.
Friday, March 16, 2012
TETRA PAK and SUPER HEROES "MILKATEER": a new combination for a fun promotional cartoon!
by Valeria Rocca
The super heroes, an eternal evergreen! Starring in the comic books, movies, cartoons, now peep out even advertising campaigns. Yes, Sharp Image, a studio of communication and entertainment with offices in Canada and Pakistan, has made for Tetra Pak Pakistan a funny TV Cartoon: "MILKATEER".
The primary aim of the TV Cartoon, of course, is to sale and distribute the product, but, at the same time, the communication campaign of Tetra Pak Pakistan also has an educational purpose. Addressed particularly to children but also parents, this cartoon wants to teach them the importance of drinking milk packaged in a hygienic and healthy way, as Tetra Pak does.
A Tetra Pak packaging, with its six layers, retains the characteristics of the original dairy foods that helps the body to be strong and healthy. It defends therefore the people’s health and, more generally, safeguards the environment. Our heroes are the first ambassadors of this message, which constantly appears in the cartoon.
The episodes of the TV cartoon, available on YouTube with English subtitles, are great fun, the graphics are appealing and the characters are well portraied. The simple story is set in Pakistan and contrasts good and bad. The good are Zain and Fiza, two intelligent and courageous children, the super heroes Milkateer. Blue jumpsuit, red bandana and a Tetra Pak of milk makes them invincible and ready to challenge the bad guys! And do not forget their guidance, and best friend, Momoo, a pretty little Moo Cow Moo, who is also the brand ambassador. With her soft eyes and gentle manner, it is impossible not to worship the cow Tetra Pak!
And what about the bad? Kharos is a greedy businessman who buys milk of good quality and alters it with polluted water to double the amount and increase his earnings. His henchmen: Ghaplu, Pawwa Addha are characterized by poor personal hygiene and a little brain. Their task: to deliver milk spoiled throughout the city.
The struggle is difficult and challenging, who will win? Do not reveal the ending, but please see the advertising campaign on YouTube. So you can hear the Tetra Pak hymn, too! Or visit the Facebook page of our super heroes.
Enjoy it all!
More...
The super heroes, an eternal evergreen! Starring in the comic books, movies, cartoons, now peep out even advertising campaigns. Yes, Sharp Image, a studio of communication and entertainment with offices in Canada and Pakistan, has made for Tetra Pak Pakistan a funny TV Cartoon: "MILKATEER".
The primary aim of the TV Cartoon, of course, is to sale and distribute the product, but, at the same time, the communication campaign of Tetra Pak Pakistan also has an educational purpose. Addressed particularly to children but also parents, this cartoon wants to teach them the importance of drinking milk packaged in a hygienic and healthy way, as Tetra Pak does.
A Tetra Pak packaging, with its six layers, retains the characteristics of the original dairy foods that helps the body to be strong and healthy. It defends therefore the people’s health and, more generally, safeguards the environment. Our heroes are the first ambassadors of this message, which constantly appears in the cartoon.
The episodes of the TV cartoon, available on YouTube with English subtitles, are great fun, the graphics are appealing and the characters are well portraied. The simple story is set in Pakistan and contrasts good and bad. The good are Zain and Fiza, two intelligent and courageous children, the super heroes Milkateer. Blue jumpsuit, red bandana and a Tetra Pak of milk makes them invincible and ready to challenge the bad guys! And do not forget their guidance, and best friend, Momoo, a pretty little Moo Cow Moo, who is also the brand ambassador. With her soft eyes and gentle manner, it is impossible not to worship the cow Tetra Pak!
And what about the bad? Kharos is a greedy businessman who buys milk of good quality and alters it with polluted water to double the amount and increase his earnings. His henchmen: Ghaplu, Pawwa Addha are characterized by poor personal hygiene and a little brain. Their task: to deliver milk spoiled throughout the city.
The struggle is difficult and challenging, who will win? Do not reveal the ending, but please see the advertising campaign on YouTube. So you can hear the Tetra Pak hymn, too! Or visit the Facebook page of our super heroes.
Enjoy it all!
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Velò – Dico: explain how you advertise, and I’ll tell you who you really are
by Irene Gozellino
We all know how to distinguish a sustainable product from one that it is not, however,we hardly know how to distinguish a sustainable advertisement from one that is not. That aside, what is a sustainable advertising? Perhaps a non-invasive one? Yes, but above all, an advertisement that, in addition to promoting products “good” for the environment, does it in an equally “good” way.
Velò – Dico turns the most sustainable transport, the bicycle ("Velò" in French, hence the pun) in to the most sustainable advertisement.
Veiò - Dico is an advertising service on two wheels, quiet, unobtrusive, environmentally friendly and efficient, which affects lately on the streets of Turin.
Michele Noce, president of the center of aggregation Cecchi Point, has kindly answered our questions.
How was the idea of Velò – Dico born?
«The idea was born inside the young team of the Association Muovi Equilibri with the intention of combining a way of communication and promotion of initiatives and activities to the same criteria of sustainable mobility.Indeed the service also aims to publicize and promote a wider dissemination and use of alternative zero impact transport instead of motor vehicles. In addition, it is not underestimate the importance of direct contact with people that this communication approach tends to establish and enhance; the direct contact with people is in line with our understanding of public space and of a city on a human scale.
Environmental, economic and social sustainability then. Based on these considerations, the service has seen the light together with other services, such as cycle deliveries and training activities such as courses of cyclomechanics and the popular cyclogarage. All these ideas have been collected under the name Cicloffice and actually initiated in the context of intercultural center of aggregation Cecchi Point where the association has found a new home».
What makes the difference between your communication strategy and the traditional advertisements?
«This type of communication strategy has the advantage of arriving in the most direct way to people by concentrating at the same time a double message: a different approach to advertising and 'use of alternative vehicles to carry out any activities of every day life, such as business or pleasure. Moreover, the membership and craftmade dimension supports the offer of services customer designed, meeting customer's specific needs and ideas, a way to approach very useful and stimulating to improve and develop an innovative service like ours. Our communication is then clearly perceived by the public as "sustainable" because, as a rule, the sustainable is what is advertised and promoted».
Envi.info considers this initiative sustainable and highly innovative. We are so happy that Turin will be informed on the street, at once, with news arriving on two wheels.
More...
Velò – Dico turns the most sustainable transport, the bicycle ("Velò" in French, hence the pun) in to the most sustainable advertisement.
Veiò - Dico is an advertising service on two wheels, quiet, unobtrusive, environmentally friendly and efficient, which affects lately on the streets of Turin.
Michele Noce, president of the center of aggregation Cecchi Point, has kindly answered our questions.
How was the idea of Velò – Dico born?
«The idea was born inside the young team of the Association Muovi Equilibri with the intention of combining a way of communication and promotion of initiatives and activities to the same criteria of sustainable mobility.Indeed the service also aims to publicize and promote a wider dissemination and use of alternative zero impact transport instead of motor vehicles. In addition, it is not underestimate the importance of direct contact with people that this communication approach tends to establish and enhance; the direct contact with people is in line with our understanding of public space and of a city on a human scale.
Environmental, economic and social sustainability then. Based on these considerations, the service has seen the light together with other services, such as cycle deliveries and training activities such as courses of cyclomechanics and the popular cyclogarage. All these ideas have been collected under the name Cicloffice and actually initiated in the context of intercultural center of aggregation Cecchi Point where the association has found a new home».
What makes the difference between your communication strategy and the traditional advertisements?
«This type of communication strategy has the advantage of arriving in the most direct way to people by concentrating at the same time a double message: a different approach to advertising and 'use of alternative vehicles to carry out any activities of every day life, such as business or pleasure. Moreover, the membership and craftmade dimension supports the offer of services customer designed, meeting customer's specific needs and ideas, a way to approach very useful and stimulating to improve and develop an innovative service like ours. Our communication is then clearly perceived by the public as "sustainable" because, as a rule, the sustainable is what is advertised and promoted».
Envi.info considers this initiative sustainable and highly innovative. We are so happy that Turin will be informed on the street, at once, with news arriving on two wheels.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Sustainable energy plays rock
by Annalisa Tancredi
United Nation declared 2012 the International Year of Sustainable Energy for All, to promote global access to energy services among poor countries in an eco-friendly way.
"Sustainable energy" is energy the produced and used in ways that will support long-term human development in all its social, economic and environmental aspects, while "energy universal access" is the physical availability of modern energy services, to meet basic human needs at affordable prices.
Today more than 1.4 billion people in the world lack access to electricity and almost half of the world's population rely on traditional biomass for cooking. For many countries no energy services means no eating, no studying, no hospitals and no economic development. At the same time, if global energy needs growth will not be combined well properly with renewable energy policy, it will be serious consequences on environment.
"Sustainable Energy for All" is an initiative promoted by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, UN-Energy Agency and United Nations Foundation, and intends to involve government and civil society of the world. The goal is to meet three targets by 2030: ensuring universal access to modern energy services, doubling the rate of improvement in energy efficiency and doubling the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
In order to achieve these targets UNF launched the Energy Access Practitioner Network, a group of practitioners from the private sector and civil society working on the delivery supply of energy services and solutions related to electrification. The Network will focus on both household and community level electrification for health, agriculture, education and small business.
About communication, the UNF launched a multimedia campaign to raise awareness on a global scale and increase the visibility of the initiative, thanks also to "Goodwill Ambassador" tribute. The first contribution comes from a famous American rock band, Linkin Park, who took part in the initiative with its popular communication channels. Every day the rock band shares information and contents about the initiative with more than 37 million of followers only on Facebook fanpage and every time users access on its official website, an intro invites them to support “Power the world” campaign donating a solar lightbulb to a family in Haiti.
For more information click the initiative official website www.sustainableenergyforall.org; for Linkin Park click here www.linkinpark.com
More...
"Sustainable energy" is energy the produced and used in ways that will support long-term human development in all its social, economic and environmental aspects, while "energy universal access" is the physical availability of modern energy services, to meet basic human needs at affordable prices.
Today more than 1.4 billion people in the world lack access to electricity and almost half of the world's population rely on traditional biomass for cooking. For many countries no energy services means no eating, no studying, no hospitals and no economic development. At the same time, if global energy needs growth will not be combined well properly with renewable energy policy, it will be serious consequences on environment.
"Sustainable Energy for All" is an initiative promoted by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, UN-Energy Agency and United Nations Foundation, and intends to involve government and civil society of the world. The goal is to meet three targets by 2030: ensuring universal access to modern energy services, doubling the rate of improvement in energy efficiency and doubling the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
In order to achieve these targets UNF launched the Energy Access Practitioner Network, a group of practitioners from the private sector and civil society working on the delivery supply of energy services and solutions related to electrification. The Network will focus on both household and community level electrification for health, agriculture, education and small business.
About communication, the UNF launched a multimedia campaign to raise awareness on a global scale and increase the visibility of the initiative, thanks also to "Goodwill Ambassador" tribute. The first contribution comes from a famous American rock band, Linkin Park, who took part in the initiative with its popular communication channels. Every day the rock band shares information and contents about the initiative with more than 37 million of followers only on Facebook fanpage and every time users access on its official website, an intro invites them to support “Power the world” campaign donating a solar lightbulb to a family in Haiti.
For more information click the initiative official website www.sustainableenergyforall.org; for Linkin Park click here www.linkinpark.com
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Cities fit for cycling: the urban revolution comes from web
by Silvia Musso
It is spreading on the web, it has grown from the bottom and in one month has been collecting thousands of adhesions across Europe.
It is a real campaign of environmental awareness on cycling, which, launched on the first page of Times, following a tragic incident of Mary Bowers, Times journalist, hit by a lorry when she was just yards from arriving at work on her bike, has exploded on social networks across Europe. The campaign is called "Cities fit for cycling" and is inspired by a six minutes video that tells the story of when the Netherlands were choked with cars and decided to encourage the construction of bicycle paths. Because virtuous Netherlands was not born with cycle paths, but the current urban configuration is the result of a process of active citizenship that has seen Dutch people personally involved to deeply change their cities. With the economic boom after the Second World War the cities began to be invaded by cars, old buildings destroyed to make way for major roads. In the seventies, however, more and more citizens began to protest for the "traffic mrders" and, thanks to the oil crisis of those years, the government decided to change the face of the Netherlands.
That movement grew from house to house, with small events into squares till to cover whole Netherlands. The movement "Cities fit for cycling" is similar because it comes from bottom, but is updated to our times and to current technology. It is spreading, not among households and cities' streets, but across the European virtual streets using the web as a powerful meeting vehicle.
The manifesto "Cities fit for cycling" characterized byeight proposals for improving the safety of bicycles in the city, has arrived also in Italy baptized in Italian "Salvaiciclisti" - save the cyclists -, and raised by numerous blogs and websites. On Facebook 34 bloggers have created a page that counts nearly 7,900 members. The aim is to highlight the issue of safety of cyclists on the roads and increase public awareness about the many accidents, sometimes fatal, that occur in our cities. The Facebook page aims also to involve main Italian newspapers following Times' example, to report proposals and stress events.
The initiative is already collecting the first successes: several media talk about it; a bill that takes some of the manifest's proposals, was signed by 61 Parliament's members and a ten-point document for local administrators was created.
Bottom up, spontaneous, technological: these are the elements of this communication campaign that we hope will be as effective as that one that in the seventies allowed the urban revolution of the Dutch cities which we all yearn.
More...
It is a real campaign of environmental awareness on cycling, which, launched on the first page of Times, following a tragic incident of Mary Bowers, Times journalist, hit by a lorry when she was just yards from arriving at work on her bike, has exploded on social networks across Europe. The campaign is called "Cities fit for cycling" and is inspired by a six minutes video that tells the story of when the Netherlands were choked with cars and decided to encourage the construction of bicycle paths. Because virtuous Netherlands was not born with cycle paths, but the current urban configuration is the result of a process of active citizenship that has seen Dutch people personally involved to deeply change their cities. With the economic boom after the Second World War the cities began to be invaded by cars, old buildings destroyed to make way for major roads. In the seventies, however, more and more citizens began to protest for the "traffic mrders" and, thanks to the oil crisis of those years, the government decided to change the face of the Netherlands.
That movement grew from house to house, with small events into squares till to cover whole Netherlands. The movement "Cities fit for cycling" is similar because it comes from bottom, but is updated to our times and to current technology. It is spreading, not among households and cities' streets, but across the European virtual streets using the web as a powerful meeting vehicle.
The manifesto "Cities fit for cycling" characterized byeight proposals for improving the safety of bicycles in the city, has arrived also in Italy baptized in Italian "Salvaiciclisti" - save the cyclists -, and raised by numerous blogs and websites. On Facebook 34 bloggers have created a page that counts nearly 7,900 members. The aim is to highlight the issue of safety of cyclists on the roads and increase public awareness about the many accidents, sometimes fatal, that occur in our cities. The Facebook page aims also to involve main Italian newspapers following Times' example, to report proposals and stress events.
The initiative is already collecting the first successes: several media talk about it; a bill that takes some of the manifest's proposals, was signed by 61 Parliament's members and a ten-point document for local administrators was created.
Bottom up, spontaneous, technological: these are the elements of this communication campaign that we hope will be as effective as that one that in the seventies allowed the urban revolution of the Dutch cities which we all yearn.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Green apps for green users
by Anna de Polo
Among the multitude of apps available for anyone has a Smartphone there must be, of course, the green ones. More or less useful, more or less enjoyable, they are surely to download, at least for giving it a try, or because we want to feel green before actually being so. Yes, because nowadays the apps we have on our phones tell a lot about our personality and our lifestyle. As to say “tell me what apps you have and I’ll tell you who you are”. Or who you want to be.
So, if you want to give a green touch to your set of apps, you may start with the mother of all the eco-friendly apps: EcoApps. Free of charge, available for both iPhone and Android systems, it updates the users every time a new eco app becomes available. Alternatively, you can have a look on the web, where many lists of green apps are available to consult.
To set order among the several apps on the market, we can divide them into three categories. The first one includes the apps that calculate the ecological footprint of the user, usually on the basis of the distance covered and the mean of transport used, such as Green Brief, Carbon Track, Green Meter and UNEP Carbon Calculator. The last one, in particular, stands out among the others because, besides its enjoyable graphic layout, it illustrates the role that terrestrial and marine ecosystems play in storing greenhouse gases. Particular relevance is given to the coastal ecosystems, such as mangrove forests, seagrass meadows and saltwater marshlands, which as underlined by the BLU Carbon concept, act as carbon sink for the atmospheric carbon. Besides calculating our own ecological footprint, it’s also possible to get advices on “what can I do to help”, including buying sustainable seafood. By following the related link it’s possible to access the portal of another app, Seafood Watch, developed by the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which provides information on where to buy or consume fish and sushi caught or farmed in a sustainable way. Unfortunately this app at present is available only for the States, but we can hope that it’ll be soon extended to the European countries, given its potential usefulness.
The second group of apps, such as GoodGuide, Go Green and Green Power, provides advices regarding how to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle and, at the same time, save up money. Green Power, for example, available only for Android system, allows increasing the life of the battery, thanks to the energy saving.
The third category of apps updates and informs the users about environmental topics. Particularly interesting is SkepticalScience, conceived for confuting the scepticism surrounding climate change. Based on a popular Australian blog, it contains data, surveys, graphs and interesting links about the topic.
Now you just have to download and launch one (or more) of these apps, mostly free of charge, thus making more room for the environment in your everyday life.
More...
So, if you want to give a green touch to your set of apps, you may start with the mother of all the eco-friendly apps: EcoApps. Free of charge, available for both iPhone and Android systems, it updates the users every time a new eco app becomes available. Alternatively, you can have a look on the web, where many lists of green apps are available to consult.
To set order among the several apps on the market, we can divide them into three categories. The first one includes the apps that calculate the ecological footprint of the user, usually on the basis of the distance covered and the mean of transport used, such as Green Brief, Carbon Track, Green Meter and UNEP Carbon Calculator. The last one, in particular, stands out among the others because, besides its enjoyable graphic layout, it illustrates the role that terrestrial and marine ecosystems play in storing greenhouse gases. Particular relevance is given to the coastal ecosystems, such as mangrove forests, seagrass meadows and saltwater marshlands, which as underlined by the BLU Carbon concept, act as carbon sink for the atmospheric carbon. Besides calculating our own ecological footprint, it’s also possible to get advices on “what can I do to help”, including buying sustainable seafood. By following the related link it’s possible to access the portal of another app, Seafood Watch, developed by the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which provides information on where to buy or consume fish and sushi caught or farmed in a sustainable way. Unfortunately this app at present is available only for the States, but we can hope that it’ll be soon extended to the European countries, given its potential usefulness.
The second group of apps, such as GoodGuide, Go Green and Green Power, provides advices regarding how to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle and, at the same time, save up money. Green Power, for example, available only for Android system, allows increasing the life of the battery, thanks to the energy saving.
The third category of apps updates and informs the users about environmental topics. Particularly interesting is SkepticalScience, conceived for confuting the scepticism surrounding climate change. Based on a popular Australian blog, it contains data, surveys, graphs and interesting links about the topic.
Now you just have to download and launch one (or more) of these apps, mostly free of charge, thus making more room for the environment in your everyday life.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Seven Rooms & bar: when the tradition meets the sustainability
by Irene Gozellino
Holidays are still far, but the Envi.info’s team would like to offer you a new chance of relaxing for those of you who wish to take a break: the SEVEN ROOMS & BAR of S. Benedetto del Tronto (centre Italy). We’re talking about a nice Hotel and B&B, very functional under a logistic point of view as it is near the city-centre and by the sea, with beautiful rooms equipped with every comfort, free Wi-Fi connection, affordable prices and a familiar atmosphere. Why should we write about it? Because the SEVEN ROOMS & BAR is a unique example of sustainability (as it was also certificated a few weeks ago) and by this we don’t mean only environmental sustainability.
The owners, Pietro and Angelica, are both deeply involved in the protection of the region and its environmental resources. The entire energetic requirement of the hotel is supplied by solar panels and most of the food and the wine served are not only organic but also “Km 0” and of local origin.
Since November 2011 the SEVEN ROOMS & BAR became the first Circolo AIAB (Italian association for organic agriculture) of Marche Region, an association of local producers and consumers for the diffusion and development of a sustainable agriculture. The activities promoted by the Circolo, such as the chance of tasting many organic specialties, are all listed in the beautiful and easy to use website of the Hotel.
The owner, Pietro Canducci, has kindly answered our questions.
What prompted you to give your hotel a "sustainable" and environmentally friendly identity?
“A deep passion for these issues that turns into a real and daily commitment to make our life more sustainable. I think it is important to involve other people into this passion, only then we can make a system of issues that cannot be underestimated. With my business I provide a service, by communicating and creating awareness. I'm the first to involve people who had never even tried to learn about these things!"
Do you think this identity could be an added value compared to other "normal" business hotels?
"Yes, absolutely, and it will keep on adding value to it over time”.
How do you communicate all this to your customers and what is their reaction? Do you find appreciation? If yes, what kind?
“We write them by mail, we communicate through the website and through its events, by notifying them personally when they arrive to our facility. Plus, some information material is available in every room. The reaction is positive at least from those who make use of the hotel and from outside (especially foreigners). For what concerns the natives, (the Sambenedettesi), there is still prejudice, the city is not fully mature […] However I know that more and more people are approaching positively to my work. There is curiosity, my company's Facebook page reached 186 fans in less than a year and this means a lot for a small company like mine [...] however the sensitivity increases. Although the percentage of people who wish to know about initiative is already sensitive, therefore they find pleasure in finding a place where they can share the same passions and the same interests with others!"
If you're not convinced yet, just think that your stay at the Seven Rooms & BAR could be entertained by one of the exhibitions of young local talents to which parts of the structure are made available in order to expose their creativity, always at at Km 0.
More...
The owners, Pietro and Angelica, are both deeply involved in the protection of the region and its environmental resources. The entire energetic requirement of the hotel is supplied by solar panels and most of the food and the wine served are not only organic but also “Km 0” and of local origin.
Since November 2011 the SEVEN ROOMS & BAR became the first Circolo AIAB (Italian association for organic agriculture) of Marche Region, an association of local producers and consumers for the diffusion and development of a sustainable agriculture. The activities promoted by the Circolo, such as the chance of tasting many organic specialties, are all listed in the beautiful and easy to use website of the Hotel.
The owner, Pietro Canducci, has kindly answered our questions.
What prompted you to give your hotel a "sustainable" and environmentally friendly identity?
“A deep passion for these issues that turns into a real and daily commitment to make our life more sustainable. I think it is important to involve other people into this passion, only then we can make a system of issues that cannot be underestimated. With my business I provide a service, by communicating and creating awareness. I'm the first to involve people who had never even tried to learn about these things!"
Do you think this identity could be an added value compared to other "normal" business hotels?
"Yes, absolutely, and it will keep on adding value to it over time”.
How do you communicate all this to your customers and what is their reaction? Do you find appreciation? If yes, what kind?
“We write them by mail, we communicate through the website and through its events, by notifying them personally when they arrive to our facility. Plus, some information material is available in every room. The reaction is positive at least from those who make use of the hotel and from outside (especially foreigners). For what concerns the natives, (the Sambenedettesi), there is still prejudice, the city is not fully mature […] However I know that more and more people are approaching positively to my work. There is curiosity, my company's Facebook page reached 186 fans in less than a year and this means a lot for a small company like mine [...] however the sensitivity increases. Although the percentage of people who wish to know about initiative is already sensitive, therefore they find pleasure in finding a place where they can share the same passions and the same interests with others!"
If you're not convinced yet, just think that your stay at the Seven Rooms & BAR could be entertained by one of the exhibitions of young local talents to which parts of the structure are made available in order to expose their creativity, always at at Km 0.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Go North
by Emanuele Biestro
Sometimes it happens even to the best communicators to stumble across complicated notions to be explained to the mainstream. This is not surely the situation of the Kairòs Studio, a group of people who aim to talk in a simple, funny and pro way mankind's challenges towards a sustainable future. Indeed, they have been called to create a cartoon movie explaining how the CO2 capture and storage technology works, a project carried on by some researchers at the University Centre in Longyearbyen, on the isle of Svalbard (Norway).
«When they contacted us to create a flash animation featuring the Longyearbyen CO2 lab's carbon capture project we jumped at the idea, but we were also conscious of the difficulties and hard work involved: to explain a complex scientific/technical project to groups of school children would be challenging» say on the project website Daniele Di Domenico and Simone Cau, who take care respectively of the video and multimedia section and of the animation within the Kairòs Studio.
Concerning this, the employees of the Kairòs Studio had the perfect intuition about creating a story featuring a little molecule of carbon dioxide named Dioxy, set first in a coal mine, then through the mineral mining and the combustion until the CO2 storage cave, where the setting is composed by an arena in which all the other CO2 molecules are entertained by a show lasting 12 thousand years: this is how long it takes for the CO2 to be stored!
«Working for a public composed almost entirely by 10 year old children really helped us because it is necessary to simplify a lot of things in order to communicate to children and let the fantasy go», says Daniele, who stressed also the work on the soundtrack «entirely original and of our own, with pieces and songs, very catchy, to impress the audience». The result is a 23 minute lasting video, divided into 8 episodes, published two by two each Monday, starting from February, the 6th.
«From the very beginning we conceived the video as a double-faced tool, very flexible. Indeed, it could be seen as a movie during conferences, shows and similar "live" events, otherwise it could be web broadcast through the episodes» says Daniele. The episodes will be available on the Kairòs studio YouTube channel and on the Facebook page.
The belief is to have done a great job for the children, hoping this would be the same for the adults asking to learn more.
More...
«When they contacted us to create a flash animation featuring the Longyearbyen CO2 lab's carbon capture project we jumped at the idea, but we were also conscious of the difficulties and hard work involved: to explain a complex scientific/technical project to groups of school children would be challenging» say on the project website Daniele Di Domenico and Simone Cau, who take care respectively of the video and multimedia section and of the animation within the Kairòs Studio.
Concerning this, the employees of the Kairòs Studio had the perfect intuition about creating a story featuring a little molecule of carbon dioxide named Dioxy, set first in a coal mine, then through the mineral mining and the combustion until the CO2 storage cave, where the setting is composed by an arena in which all the other CO2 molecules are entertained by a show lasting 12 thousand years: this is how long it takes for the CO2 to be stored!
«Working for a public composed almost entirely by 10 year old children really helped us because it is necessary to simplify a lot of things in order to communicate to children and let the fantasy go», says Daniele, who stressed also the work on the soundtrack «entirely original and of our own, with pieces and songs, very catchy, to impress the audience». The result is a 23 minute lasting video, divided into 8 episodes, published two by two each Monday, starting from February, the 6th.
«From the very beginning we conceived the video as a double-faced tool, very flexible. Indeed, it could be seen as a movie during conferences, shows and similar "live" events, otherwise it could be web broadcast through the episodes» says Daniele. The episodes will be available on the Kairòs studio YouTube channel and on the Facebook page.
The belief is to have done a great job for the children, hoping this would be the same for the adults asking to learn more.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
First 10 candles for Eco dalle Città
by Silvia Musso
Envi's editorial staff and AICA are pleased to share an important goal.
Eco dalle Città, on line magazine newsletter for the urban environment, and colleague of many adventures, first of all, the European Week for Waste Reduction, celebrates 10 years of activity.
We interviewed Paolo Hutter, magazine's director.
Eco dalle città has been dedicating to environmental communication and information for 10 years. How has the communication environment changed in this decade?
«First, there are many more sites and more sources of information and communication. Although it is still missing - but it is so even in greener countries than ours - a very influential and recognized voice, a "Sole 24 ore" (Italian economic newspaper) about environment. There has been a development linked to the growth of businnesses that feed the so-called green economy. Then there are the general changes in information and communication, those related to the advent of social networks in general and short messages. There are not all positive changes, there is always the risk of superficiality, of lack of memory. And there is still a lot of ignorance around, people confuse smog and greenhouse gas emissions, for example».
What is the communication campaign or event you are more connected and you keep the best memory?
«The campaign we are most related to is definitely the European Week of Waste Reduction. We have participated since 2008 to the first pilot edition of the event. We are part of the national steering committee and we take care of the Italian official website of the event: www.menorifiuti.org. We believe that the issue of waste prevention must find more and more space among the actors involved in the initiative (institutions, companies, associations, schools ...) but also, in general, among the general public.The need to reduce waste production is a current subject and will continue to be so in the future.The data on waste generation in Europe in fact confirm the need to remain vigilant on the reduction: the European Agency for the Environment in Europe has estimated an increase of up to 558 kg per capita by 2020 (was 524 kg in 2008) unless some effective policies to reduce waste production would be realized».
What are the future plans of Eco dalle Città?
«First, the project to survive is already a big project. We started as a newsletter specializing particularly suited to be "adopted" by local authorities. But in recent years it has become increasingly difficult to receive financial funds by local authorities. And the possibility to finance by ourselves with commercial advertising is very low. We still have to learn to tie ourselves to the growth of the green economy. However, ideas about what we like to do, do not lack, if we find the resources. It would be to better articulate the production and supply of qualified and reliable information, crossing the deepening of the environmental issues of everyday life and a greater ability to find and verify the data of what happens and the terms of the conflicts on the choices on the environment».
To celebrate its tenth birthday Eco dalle Città organizes an eco-friendly aperitif. The event, organized for being coincident with the anniversary of the Kyoto Protocol, will be held February 16th, 2012 from 7 p.m. at BLAH BLAH (via Po 21, Turin).
More...
Eco dalle Città, on line magazine newsletter for the urban environment, and colleague of many adventures, first of all, the European Week for Waste Reduction, celebrates 10 years of activity.
We interviewed Paolo Hutter, magazine's director.
Eco dalle città has been dedicating to environmental communication and information for 10 years. How has the communication environment changed in this decade?
«First, there are many more sites and more sources of information and communication. Although it is still missing - but it is so even in greener countries than ours - a very influential and recognized voice, a "Sole 24 ore" (Italian economic newspaper) about environment. There has been a development linked to the growth of businnesses that feed the so-called green economy. Then there are the general changes in information and communication, those related to the advent of social networks in general and short messages. There are not all positive changes, there is always the risk of superficiality, of lack of memory. And there is still a lot of ignorance around, people confuse smog and greenhouse gas emissions, for example».
What is the communication campaign or event you are more connected and you keep the best memory?
«The campaign we are most related to is definitely the European Week of Waste Reduction. We have participated since 2008 to the first pilot edition of the event. We are part of the national steering committee and we take care of the Italian official website of the event: www.menorifiuti.org. We believe that the issue of waste prevention must find more and more space among the actors involved in the initiative (institutions, companies, associations, schools ...) but also, in general, among the general public.The need to reduce waste production is a current subject and will continue to be so in the future.The data on waste generation in Europe in fact confirm the need to remain vigilant on the reduction: the European Agency for the Environment in Europe has estimated an increase of up to 558 kg per capita by 2020 (was 524 kg in 2008) unless some effective policies to reduce waste production would be realized».
What are the future plans of Eco dalle Città?
«First, the project to survive is already a big project. We started as a newsletter specializing particularly suited to be "adopted" by local authorities. But in recent years it has become increasingly difficult to receive financial funds by local authorities. And the possibility to finance by ourselves with commercial advertising is very low. We still have to learn to tie ourselves to the growth of the green economy. However, ideas about what we like to do, do not lack, if we find the resources. It would be to better articulate the production and supply of qualified and reliable information, crossing the deepening of the environmental issues of everyday life and a greater ability to find and verify the data of what happens and the terms of the conflicts on the choices on the environment».
To celebrate its tenth birthday Eco dalle Città organizes an eco-friendly aperitif. The event, organized for being coincident with the anniversary of the Kyoto Protocol, will be held February 16th, 2012 from 7 p.m. at BLAH BLAH (via Po 21, Turin).
Friday, February 10, 2012
I click "I like" and save a forest
by Silvia Musso
Thousands of peopl use social networks every day, so what better tool to give your messages the widest echo possible? From this simple but true observation the campaign "One like One forest" by Lifegate, launched on December 14th, has derived. For each Facebook user who clicks on "I Like", a square meter of forest in Argentina, is saved helping to preserve an area rich in biodiversity. Today there are nearly 19,000 users who have clicked "I like", number that is equivalent to as many square meters of saveguarded forest.
«With this initiative we want to share the idea that doing something concrete for the environment is simple and requires no great sacrifice or effort - says Enea Roveda, Marketing Director of LifeGate - in this case, to contribute to the protection of a forest a click is enough».
While the campaign is having a great success, it is also true that Facbook users spend several hours a day to post messages, make comments, report links and chat, and "I Like" "I do not like" is the fastest, but sadly superficial way, to share your opinion: it is not the best way to create environmental awareness about an issue. Often, those who click on the thumb icon do not take an active part in discussions and shy express their opinion without exposing themselves.
But perhaps the goal justifies the means, considering the thousands of collected "I like", that are as many square meters of forest saved, but the work of communication to create a common and widespread awareness to save the forests can not be reduced to this.
Lifegate is surely aware of this, as shown by its many initiatives. LifeGate is in fact the first network for sustainable development that througout different communication channels – magazine, radio, web – promotes a new way of life and an economic model "People, Planet and Profit" where people, planet and profit live in harmony.
Among the many initiatives, we stress "Zero Impact", the first Italian project that since 2002 realized the intent of Kyoto Protocol alongside people and companies on a path of reducing and offsetting their CO2 emissions by contributing to the creation and protection of forests in Italy and worldwide, and the recent "Zero Impact Web" that will reduce and offset carbon dioxide emissions arising from the use of the Internet.
Original is, finally, the "Second day of sustainable beauty". Monday, February 13th hairdressing salons and wellness centers offer some bueaty services. The contribution is free and will go to forest conservation projects in Italy and Madagascar.
"One like one forest"is part of the Lifegate's largest communication project and aims to remember that every little gesture, in everyday life, counts and is useful for the planet's salvation as to turn off the water while soaping under the shower, turn off the monitors' LEDs, turn down the temperature by one degree.
More...
«With this initiative we want to share the idea that doing something concrete for the environment is simple and requires no great sacrifice or effort - says Enea Roveda, Marketing Director of LifeGate - in this case, to contribute to the protection of a forest a click is enough».
While the campaign is having a great success, it is also true that Facbook users spend several hours a day to post messages, make comments, report links and chat, and "I Like" "I do not like" is the fastest, but sadly superficial way, to share your opinion: it is not the best way to create environmental awareness about an issue. Often, those who click on the thumb icon do not take an active part in discussions and shy express their opinion without exposing themselves.
But perhaps the goal justifies the means, considering the thousands of collected "I like", that are as many square meters of forest saved, but the work of communication to create a common and widespread awareness to save the forests can not be reduced to this.
Lifegate is surely aware of this, as shown by its many initiatives. LifeGate is in fact the first network for sustainable development that througout different communication channels – magazine, radio, web – promotes a new way of life and an economic model "People, Planet and Profit" where people, planet and profit live in harmony.
Among the many initiatives, we stress "Zero Impact", the first Italian project that since 2002 realized the intent of Kyoto Protocol alongside people and companies on a path of reducing and offsetting their CO2 emissions by contributing to the creation and protection of forests in Italy and worldwide, and the recent "Zero Impact Web" that will reduce and offset carbon dioxide emissions arising from the use of the Internet.
Original is, finally, the "Second day of sustainable beauty". Monday, February 13th hairdressing salons and wellness centers offer some bueaty services. The contribution is free and will go to forest conservation projects in Italy and Madagascar.
"One like one forest"is part of the Lifegate's largest communication project and aims to remember that every little gesture, in everyday life, counts and is useful for the planet's salvation as to turn off the water while soaping under the shower, turn off the monitors' LEDs, turn down the temperature by one degree.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
The thread of asbestos through the web
by Eleonora Anello and Silvia Musso
Stalled and high level of uncertainty for Eternit trial. The social actors and institutions are considering whether to accept the economic offer by Swiss Stephan Schmidheiny, co-defendant at the maxi-trial that is being held in Turin. 18.3 million euros given to the town of Casale Monferrato (north Italy) to relinquish its role as a civil party.
Simultaneously with the beginning of the process that began on April 6th, 2009, Facebook has created an ever-expanding team of people, composed mostly by people directly involved in legal proceedings or relatives of asbestos victims. This network now consists of about 4,700 people, collects information, articles, opinions and updates to the ongoing debate and about the issue of asbestos in general.
“Processo Eternit”, this is the name of the group, is open to anyone, and signing up you can talk with other members. Some write to share theirpersonal drama, and to get news on the associations of asbestos victims. Others use the social network to keep updated on the process or to give information. Some report their feelings of closeness and solidarity.
The communicative strenght of the web and Facebook in particular has opened up new strategies of resistance and comes out in the process of victims' awareness of this environmental disaster. It is a tool that in addition to those pre-existing conditions, such as exhibitions, installations, performances, sporting events, movies, books and songs, however, is able to connect with a speed never experienced before, people geographically distant. The space and time limits are canceled and the virtual square becomes the place of creation - here and now – the sense and awareness to be victims and to have the right to receive justice.
Ordinary people take advantage of their ability to post a message able somehow to sustain the cause. This is the case of "Il Base", one of the last member of the citizens movement who tells his own experience: «I have always followed as a marginal until December, 16th 2011 (when the administration has chosen to find an agreement with the Swiss devil), day that all of us will remember for a long time. That day something moved inside me, that I didn't even imagine (and I discovered that I was not the only one)...the will to figh for my city, alongside my fellow citizens for the future of my children,to defend the memory of our victims and because I still believe in justice, and what better way to give a hand in this battle than through my creative input? As I communicate better through pictures rather tahn words... I've been working in the field of graphic design and communication for 22 years and as a volunteer I try to offer my skills to give even a breath of fresh air and more effectiveness to a communicating way still very institutional».
More...
Simultaneously with the beginning of the process that began on April 6th, 2009, Facebook has created an ever-expanding team of people, composed mostly by people directly involved in legal proceedings or relatives of asbestos victims. This network now consists of about 4,700 people, collects information, articles, opinions and updates to the ongoing debate and about the issue of asbestos in general.
“Processo Eternit”, this is the name of the group, is open to anyone, and signing up you can talk with other members. Some write to share theirpersonal drama, and to get news on the associations of asbestos victims. Others use the social network to keep updated on the process or to give information. Some report their feelings of closeness and solidarity.
The communicative strenght of the web and Facebook in particular has opened up new strategies of resistance and comes out in the process of victims' awareness of this environmental disaster. It is a tool that in addition to those pre-existing conditions, such as exhibitions, installations, performances, sporting events, movies, books and songs, however, is able to connect with a speed never experienced before, people geographically distant. The space and time limits are canceled and the virtual square becomes the place of creation - here and now – the sense and awareness to be victims and to have the right to receive justice.
Ordinary people take advantage of their ability to post a message able somehow to sustain the cause. This is the case of "Il Base", one of the last member of the citizens movement who tells his own experience: «I have always followed as a marginal until December, 16th 2011 (when the administration has chosen to find an agreement with the Swiss devil), day that all of us will remember for a long time. That day something moved inside me, that I didn't even imagine (and I discovered that I was not the only one)...the will to figh for my city, alongside my fellow citizens for the future of my children,to defend the memory of our victims and because I still believe in justice, and what better way to give a hand in this battle than through my creative input? As I communicate better through pictures rather tahn words... I've been working in the field of graphic design and communication for 22 years and as a volunteer I try to offer my skills to give even a breath of fresh air and more effectiveness to a communicating way still very institutional».
Monday, January 9, 2012
We are 7 billion people!
by Eleonora Anello
On October, 31, 2011, Danica May Camacho was born in the Philippines. Danica is not just a newborn baby but also the citizen number 7 billion of the world, as said the UN global counter. In fact, “baby-7-billion”, who won a scholarship, is the icing on the cake of a broad communicative action.
Early last year, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) launched "7-billion actions - A global movement for all humanity", a campaign that will continue throughout the whole 2012 aimed at highlighting those positive action carried out by individuals or organizations for facing global development-related challenges. By sharing these experiences in an open forum, the initiative aims at fostering communication and collaboration across a more and more populated and interdependent world, as evidenced by the report "The 7 billion world: people, opportunities", which brings to light an unstoppable urbanization. The study photographed a world characterized by great mobility (in particular migrations from south to north and, within south countries, from rural to urban areas. Hoping to improve economic conditions, this migration will cause a progressive wild urbanization, which ultimately affect the environment and the quality of life of the population.
7 themes were identified in order to engage and to inform the public about these issues: poverty and social injustice, empowerment of women, reproductive health, youth, elderly, environment, urbanization.
Joining the movement is very simple and you can do it in several ways. In addition to stories, which can be personal or involve other people, NGOs and/or companies who committed in favor of humanity, you can try to compose your personal version of the song "United", anthem anybody can interpret with personal style and instruments. The Playing for Change Foundation will select some versions for being part of a final mix.
There is even the "1 of 7 Billion" short films contest, organized by the Foundation 10.12.48. Cinema, as well as music, becomes a powerful mean, a universal language particularly suitable for spreading the debate on crucial issues. Furthermore, cinema and music can give a more human face to those challenges the planet (and especially the environment) is facing.
For fresh updates you can tune in on the most popular social networks such as Twitter and Facebook, or read the blog. This is an all-round campaign, which leaves nothing to chance and which also employs the most classic communication resources such as brochures and fact sheets (addressed both inside and outside the United Nations), posters and videos. To ease individuals’ actions, has also been formulated a model of letter.
More...
Early last year, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) launched "7-billion actions - A global movement for all humanity", a campaign that will continue throughout the whole 2012 aimed at highlighting those positive action carried out by individuals or organizations for facing global development-related challenges. By sharing these experiences in an open forum, the initiative aims at fostering communication and collaboration across a more and more populated and interdependent world, as evidenced by the report "The 7 billion world: people, opportunities", which brings to light an unstoppable urbanization. The study photographed a world characterized by great mobility (in particular migrations from south to north and, within south countries, from rural to urban areas. Hoping to improve economic conditions, this migration will cause a progressive wild urbanization, which ultimately affect the environment and the quality of life of the population.
7 themes were identified in order to engage and to inform the public about these issues: poverty and social injustice, empowerment of women, reproductive health, youth, elderly, environment, urbanization.
Joining the movement is very simple and you can do it in several ways. In addition to stories, which can be personal or involve other people, NGOs and/or companies who committed in favor of humanity, you can try to compose your personal version of the song "United", anthem anybody can interpret with personal style and instruments. The Playing for Change Foundation will select some versions for being part of a final mix.
There is even the "1 of 7 Billion" short films contest, organized by the Foundation 10.12.48. Cinema, as well as music, becomes a powerful mean, a universal language particularly suitable for spreading the debate on crucial issues. Furthermore, cinema and music can give a more human face to those challenges the planet (and especially the environment) is facing.
For fresh updates you can tune in on the most popular social networks such as Twitter and Facebook, or read the blog. This is an all-round campaign, which leaves nothing to chance and which also employs the most classic communication resources such as brochures and fact sheets (addressed both inside and outside the United Nations), posters and videos. To ease individuals’ actions, has also been formulated a model of letter.
Monday, December 12, 2011
In Berlin the garbage makes fun
by Irene Gozzelino
She writes on her own website that she´s feeling especially persuasive. She is ironic about the daily life of the citizens, made of walks with dogs, cigarette´s butts and garbage. She´s funny and she dresses only orange.
We´re presenting you the garbage disposal services of Berlin, managed by the biggest firm in Europe in this sector.
The firm is called BSR, an acronym that means “Berliner Stadtreinigung”, simply “cleaning of the city of Berlin”, and it was founded in 1951. Apart from an efficiency guarantee from 6000 employees and from 2000 vehicles for the waste collection, the BSR is remarkable for her communication capacity.
Every year the streets of the German´s capital are invaded of a new and funny advertising campaign about waste collection, street cleaning and garbage collection, that changes with the season. The cold colors of ice and snow mark the winter, more warm colors recall the summer´s sun.
The colors are changing but not the objective: to change our own bad cultural and emotional background about garbage and who collects it.
As you can see in our Facebook gallery, the garbage collector is represented like a familiar person: he takes care of the city (the home of all) taking away the garbage exactly like we do at home (the slogan is: “like at home...only more”).
In another image we´re seeing The Big Kathrine, an enormous child, that is dominating the city like a giant: she´s so big ´cause all the children, learning from an early age, can give a big contribution to clean the city, now and in the future.
Then the advertising images are genial that invite to throw away the organic rest in the appropriate baskets: most famous classical paintings are deprive of fruits and vegetables ´cause “old vegetables belong to the compost´s basket”.
Finally, we need to mention the trashcans on the street; they have an intelligent structure with an hole only for cigarettes, and are always provided with funny slogans like “CO2´s collector” or “WOW WOW it´so amazing how you have collected the defections of your dog the right way!".
Thanks to this this strong advertising campaign, the just diligent citizens are made aware of the recycling collection. One result is, that every year 6000 tons of organic waste are produced and transformed into bio gas that is used by the vehicles of the street cleaning and garbage collection.
The color of the BSR is a harsh orange, and we must state, that in this case, orange has never been so green.
More...
We´re presenting you the garbage disposal services of Berlin, managed by the biggest firm in Europe in this sector.
The firm is called BSR, an acronym that means “Berliner Stadtreinigung”, simply “cleaning of the city of Berlin”, and it was founded in 1951. Apart from an efficiency guarantee from 6000 employees and from 2000 vehicles for the waste collection, the BSR is remarkable for her communication capacity.
Every year the streets of the German´s capital are invaded of a new and funny advertising campaign about waste collection, street cleaning and garbage collection, that changes with the season. The cold colors of ice and snow mark the winter, more warm colors recall the summer´s sun.
The colors are changing but not the objective: to change our own bad cultural and emotional background about garbage and who collects it.
As you can see in our Facebook gallery, the garbage collector is represented like a familiar person: he takes care of the city (the home of all) taking away the garbage exactly like we do at home (the slogan is: “like at home...only more”).
In another image we´re seeing The Big Kathrine, an enormous child, that is dominating the city like a giant: she´s so big ´cause all the children, learning from an early age, can give a big contribution to clean the city, now and in the future.
Then the advertising images are genial that invite to throw away the organic rest in the appropriate baskets: most famous classical paintings are deprive of fruits and vegetables ´cause “old vegetables belong to the compost´s basket”.
Finally, we need to mention the trashcans on the street; they have an intelligent structure with an hole only for cigarettes, and are always provided with funny slogans like “CO2´s collector” or “WOW WOW it´so amazing how you have collected the defections of your dog the right way!".
Thanks to this this strong advertising campaign, the just diligent citizens are made aware of the recycling collection. One result is, that every year 6000 tons of organic waste are produced and transformed into bio gas that is used by the vehicles of the street cleaning and garbage collection.
The color of the BSR is a harsh orange, and we must state, that in this case, orange has never been so green.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Turning waste into a resource. It happens to the EWWR 2011 markets
by Eleonora Anello
It’s really rewarding getting rid of the objects we do not use anymore. It's good for the spirit and... for the environment! For this reason, the barter and used markets have become a must among the actions dedicated to the European Week for Waste Reduction.
This weekend, across the Milan’s hinterland, and more precisely in Mesero and Albairate, two important markets of barter, reuse and repair will be held. It’s important because they build up a relationship across the area and are part of a more complex process, as told us the President of the Consorzio dei Comuni dei Navigli, Carlo Ferrè: «We started on the occasion of the EWWR 2010, organizing in Vittuone the NoTrash Mob in the schools. We went on with the campaign “Il primato della leggerezza” ("The primacy of light"), seeking to decrease the amount of waste produced and at the same time to improve the separate waste collection and the quality of life of our citizens. On this Monday the educational phase of our operation will start. With the help of some volunteer groups, we're going to assess family by family the quality of separate collection applying different tags on waste bags. This tags are red, yellow and green depending on the quality and will be motivated to make clear to citizens what they are doing wrong if they're wrong».
Among stands of books, toys, kitchenware and jewelry we also met the deputy mayor of Mesero, Giuseppe Fusè. «As soon as the Consortium proposed these initiatives we immediately responded with enthusiasm. The action has a strong impact on the environment because it removes from the disposal a large number of goods which may be still used instead of becoming waste. Furthermore, it has a social impact creating a virtuous circle involving all citizens and inviting to reflect on the possibility to repair some items instead of throwing them away. To be more sustainable, we advertised the event mostly by mail and through word-of-mouth, avoiding an excessive production of leaflets».
The Mesero market was also a place of education through the information point in which were distributed the campaign’s bags and the “Centalogo”, a guide to the correct disposal of waste. The plumber who gave useful advices on how solving small housework and taught domestic water saving has been particularly appreciated by participants. The highlight of the day was the construction of a recumbent bike from salvaged parts of old bicycles, managed by Ecobent. The market has been constantly monitored using recording sheets of occurred trade, in order to get an effective estimation of saved waste.
In the meanwhile, today Sunday, November 27, in L'Aquila, a city that has always cared a lot about the EWWR despite the hard time it lived during the launching days of the first European edition, the barter Market is being held on - Exchanging not Throwing, initiative coordinated by the Environment Office and ASM Spa. The president of the multi-service company Luigi Fagiani said: «We wait for citizens in this important event in the Dante Alighieri school, on Onna Street. To be a good example is first and foremost our responsibility as administrators. In fact we will be bringing some objects there and actively participating in the initiative. A smart way for getting rid of no longer useful items and for replacing them with others we need without creating waste. The goal is to transform waste into resources».
So... have a good bargain at all!
More...
This weekend, across the Milan’s hinterland, and more precisely in Mesero and Albairate, two important markets of barter, reuse and repair will be held. It’s important because they build up a relationship across the area and are part of a more complex process, as told us the President of the Consorzio dei Comuni dei Navigli, Carlo Ferrè: «We started on the occasion of the EWWR 2010, organizing in Vittuone the NoTrash Mob in the schools. We went on with the campaign “Il primato della leggerezza” ("The primacy of light"), seeking to decrease the amount of waste produced and at the same time to improve the separate waste collection and the quality of life of our citizens. On this Monday the educational phase of our operation will start. With the help of some volunteer groups, we're going to assess family by family the quality of separate collection applying different tags on waste bags. This tags are red, yellow and green depending on the quality and will be motivated to make clear to citizens what they are doing wrong if they're wrong».
Among stands of books, toys, kitchenware and jewelry we also met the deputy mayor of Mesero, Giuseppe Fusè. «As soon as the Consortium proposed these initiatives we immediately responded with enthusiasm. The action has a strong impact on the environment because it removes from the disposal a large number of goods which may be still used instead of becoming waste. Furthermore, it has a social impact creating a virtuous circle involving all citizens and inviting to reflect on the possibility to repair some items instead of throwing them away. To be more sustainable, we advertised the event mostly by mail and through word-of-mouth, avoiding an excessive production of leaflets».
The Mesero market was also a place of education through the information point in which were distributed the campaign’s bags and the “Centalogo”, a guide to the correct disposal of waste. The plumber who gave useful advices on how solving small housework and taught domestic water saving has been particularly appreciated by participants. The highlight of the day was the construction of a recumbent bike from salvaged parts of old bicycles, managed by Ecobent. The market has been constantly monitored using recording sheets of occurred trade, in order to get an effective estimation of saved waste.
In the meanwhile, today Sunday, November 27, in L'Aquila, a city that has always cared a lot about the EWWR despite the hard time it lived during the launching days of the first European edition, the barter Market is being held on - Exchanging not Throwing, initiative coordinated by the Environment Office and ASM Spa. The president of the multi-service company Luigi Fagiani said: «We wait for citizens in this important event in the Dante Alighieri school, on Onna Street. To be a good example is first and foremost our responsibility as administrators. In fact we will be bringing some objects there and actively participating in the initiative. A smart way for getting rid of no longer useful items and for replacing them with others we need without creating waste. The goal is to transform waste into resources».
So... have a good bargain at all!
Saturday, November 26, 2011
School of reduction
by Silvia Musso
Again this year the schools have not been denied. For the third year, in fact, the percentage of participation of schools at EWWR has been very high.
As already shown by the action of the Pozzuoli School (Naples province), which in 2009 had won the European Award for schools category, the strengths that make effective the initiatives proposed by schools are the involvement of the community and the will to extend their duration at the whole school year. From all over Italy the enthusiasm and interest of students, teachers and headmasters on environmental issues of waste prevention widespread beyond the narrow boundaries of school walls to involve different actors: households, neighborhoods, people, shops.
Thanks to EWWR environmental education activities from few hours cut throughout the school year hve become true programming to be integrated to traditional programs.
This is what the three schools, among many others, demonstrated.
The “Istituto Comprensivo of Fiano” (Turin province, north Italy) with “Lo Zero Rifiuto!!! …. Buone pratiche sul territorio” (Zero waste!...Good pratctises on territory) conducted a brainstorming session on ways to reduce waste at school and organized a visit to a site that deals with the problems of waste and its reduction (composting site, company repair shop, second hand ...). It also began to network different local actors - municipalities, mountain communities, industries - for a project to be realized in the future and aimed at waste reduction, with the realization of a conference or a projection of films followed by discussion and an exhibition on the activities and achievements of students adressed to parents and inhabitants.
The “Istituto Comprensivo Galileo Chini – Scarperia” (Florence province, centre Italy) November 21st with "Rifiutili" (Useful waste) has sparked a number of initiatives that will continue throughout the school year. Students and teachers will dedicate to the creation of a laboratory of recycled paper, visit the store "Mercatopoli" that sells second hand items, to read passages about the restoration, reuse and recycle, reuse for the snack food not consumed during the lunch, etc. The parents of the students will also be involved in workshops as well as work of restoration of old objects in the school, to be sold during the year in the flea markets of the city centre, in the exchange of used textbooks, maintenance and renovation of school buildings and restoration and sale of used games.
The “Primo Circolo Solofra” (Avellino province, South Italy) instead made a real ecological week where the most important element was the involvment not only of students, engaged in "Operation Empty Garbage Bin", but also of their families. Parents had to agree to accompany their children to school on foot throughout the Week and to organize at home information meetings with relatives and friends to spread some good waste prevention practises to play in the week.
The schools have become a source of prevention messages addressed to the whole community through not extemporaneous actions, but integrated in educational activities, in continuity with previous years and with the cooperation of families and other local actors. The academic world has shown that the EWWR in these three years has succeeded in its main communication objective: to make the waste reduction a common practice, a lifestyle and not only a sporadically activity as teacher Anna Maria Dreoni of Scarperia claim: «The school has always had an eye for environmental education, adhering to initiatives and projects that, broadly speaking, had the intent to educate pupils to feel good in their environment. We think that in the first cycle is the fundamental task of the school teachers to educate children to the economical use of objects and their affairs and hence resources. EWWR offers us the opportunity to tell our children that we are in a broader horizon, which at the same time in which they reflect and carry of the laboratories, there are millions of children and young people across Europe who think the same problems and perform activities similar to theirs».
More...
As already shown by the action of the Pozzuoli School (Naples province), which in 2009 had won the European Award for schools category, the strengths that make effective the initiatives proposed by schools are the involvement of the community and the will to extend their duration at the whole school year. From all over Italy the enthusiasm and interest of students, teachers and headmasters on environmental issues of waste prevention widespread beyond the narrow boundaries of school walls to involve different actors: households, neighborhoods, people, shops.
Thanks to EWWR environmental education activities from few hours cut throughout the school year hve become true programming to be integrated to traditional programs.
This is what the three schools, among many others, demonstrated.
The “Istituto Comprensivo of Fiano” (Turin province, north Italy) with “Lo Zero Rifiuto!!! …. Buone pratiche sul territorio” (Zero waste!...Good pratctises on territory) conducted a brainstorming session on ways to reduce waste at school and organized a visit to a site that deals with the problems of waste and its reduction (composting site, company repair shop, second hand ...). It also began to network different local actors - municipalities, mountain communities, industries - for a project to be realized in the future and aimed at waste reduction, with the realization of a conference or a projection of films followed by discussion and an exhibition on the activities and achievements of students adressed to parents and inhabitants.
The “Istituto Comprensivo Galileo Chini – Scarperia” (Florence province, centre Italy) November 21st with "Rifiutili" (Useful waste) has sparked a number of initiatives that will continue throughout the school year. Students and teachers will dedicate to the creation of a laboratory of recycled paper, visit the store "Mercatopoli" that sells second hand items, to read passages about the restoration, reuse and recycle, reuse for the snack food not consumed during the lunch, etc. The parents of the students will also be involved in workshops as well as work of restoration of old objects in the school, to be sold during the year in the flea markets of the city centre, in the exchange of used textbooks, maintenance and renovation of school buildings and restoration and sale of used games.
The “Primo Circolo Solofra” (Avellino province, South Italy) instead made a real ecological week where the most important element was the involvment not only of students, engaged in "Operation Empty Garbage Bin", but also of their families. Parents had to agree to accompany their children to school on foot throughout the Week and to organize at home information meetings with relatives and friends to spread some good waste prevention practises to play in the week.
The schools have become a source of prevention messages addressed to the whole community through not extemporaneous actions, but integrated in educational activities, in continuity with previous years and with the cooperation of families and other local actors. The academic world has shown that the EWWR in these three years has succeeded in its main communication objective: to make the waste reduction a common practice, a lifestyle and not only a sporadically activity as teacher Anna Maria Dreoni of Scarperia claim: «The school has always had an eye for environmental education, adhering to initiatives and projects that, broadly speaking, had the intent to educate pupils to feel good in their environment. We think that in the first cycle is the fundamental task of the school teachers to educate children to the economical use of objects and their affairs and hence resources. EWWR offers us the opportunity to tell our children that we are in a broader horizon, which at the same time in which they reflect and carry of the laboratories, there are millions of children and young people across Europe who think the same problems and perform activities similar to theirs».
QR-code for SERRe Salentine’s extra virgin olive oil
by Annalisa Tancredi
A slice of bread and a thin drizzle of oil are the symbols of simplicity and culinary heritage of Salento’s greenhouses (Serre Salentine) that, during the European Week for Waste Reduction 2011, will be the backdrop for oil tasting and waste prevention events and of the presentation of "QR code SERR ev OIL” project.
In occasion of the period of oil production and SERR 2011, many local farms will promote best practices to optimize oil preservation, production and consumption among those tourists who every year visit Salento to taste new oil. The initiative focuses on three main themes: waste-oil reduction (longer life product), waste-packaging containment (less waste thrown out) and the optimization of resources (produce in an eco-friendly way).
Expert agronomists will explain preservation best practices for a “Longer life product” to the testers along the "oil’s streets", in order to ensure a chemical and organoleptic integrity and at the same time reducing waste. In this way is possible to “throw out less waste” like oil or packaging like bottles or containers; the aim is to raise awareness among consumers and producers and to promote reuse of containers or alternative packaging system.
But the top-of-the-range is the launch of a new best practice to “Produce in an eco-fiendly way” for oil businessman: it's the “Qr code SERR ev OIL” project (a new oil labelling system), sponsored by City of Lecce and Radio Skylab. Qr-code, already widely used in other sectors, is a cryptogram which codify a considerable mass of informations in less space. The project developer Antonio Stea explained the operation: "Once photographed, the Qr-code will direct users to the company’s website where they can find a variety of information about the characteristics of the product, price, food combinations and best preservation techniques to lengthen the product shelf life. It’s also possible to insert a link to an audio/video, so consumers can taste the oil and at the same time listening information about oil, its origin country and the history of Salento’s greenhouses".
In addition, the code could reduce labels’ size and obtain a substantial savings of paper and petrochemicals-derived materials.
The iniziative is certainly an original and innovative way to take part in the SERR advertising in the same time waste reduction, digital technologies and Salento typical products.
It’s possible to taste new extra virgin olive oil from Saturday 26th to Sunday 27th November at the following farms: Imbriani in Casale Marchesi (Casarano), Agrosì (Supersano), Manco Antonio (Alliste), Faraioli (Casarano), Bernardi (Tuglie) and Agronatura (Taviano).
More...
In occasion of the period of oil production and SERR 2011, many local farms will promote best practices to optimize oil preservation, production and consumption among those tourists who every year visit Salento to taste new oil. The initiative focuses on three main themes: waste-oil reduction (longer life product), waste-packaging containment (less waste thrown out) and the optimization of resources (produce in an eco-friendly way).
Expert agronomists will explain preservation best practices for a “Longer life product” to the testers along the "oil’s streets", in order to ensure a chemical and organoleptic integrity and at the same time reducing waste. In this way is possible to “throw out less waste” like oil or packaging like bottles or containers; the aim is to raise awareness among consumers and producers and to promote reuse of containers or alternative packaging system.
But the top-of-the-range is the launch of a new best practice to “Produce in an eco-fiendly way” for oil businessman: it's the “Qr code SERR ev OIL” project (a new oil labelling system), sponsored by City of Lecce and Radio Skylab. Qr-code, already widely used in other sectors, is a cryptogram which codify a considerable mass of informations in less space. The project developer Antonio Stea explained the operation: "Once photographed, the Qr-code will direct users to the company’s website where they can find a variety of information about the characteristics of the product, price, food combinations and best preservation techniques to lengthen the product shelf life. It’s also possible to insert a link to an audio/video, so consumers can taste the oil and at the same time listening information about oil, its origin country and the history of Salento’s greenhouses".
In addition, the code could reduce labels’ size and obtain a substantial savings of paper and petrochemicals-derived materials.
The iniziative is certainly an original and innovative way to take part in the SERR advertising in the same time waste reduction, digital technologies and Salento typical products.
It’s possible to taste new extra virgin olive oil from Saturday 26th to Sunday 27th November at the following farms: Imbriani in Casale Marchesi (Casarano), Agrosì (Supersano), Manco Antonio (Alliste), Faraioli (Casarano), Bernardi (Tuglie) and Agronatura (Taviano).
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Thanks to COVAR14, food waste play a leading role EWWR 2011
by Andrea Stecich
What about bread and pasta left-overs? These days it’s a quite weird question.
Many of us, for various motivations, prefer getting rid of them in the rubbish or, more sensitively, recycling them through the compost heap collection system. Anyway, thrown waste are still edible and rich of nutritious: in the EU, 89 millions of tons of food per year are thrown away, and 42% of them come from our kitchens, rather than from supermarkets. Starting from these facts, on the occasion of the European Week for Waste Reduction which will take place from November 19 to 27, COVAR14 (South Turin Province Consortium for Waste Collection) decided to spread an innovative and strong message in order to stimulate public’s reflection, even though the practices are actually not so revolutionary, because our grandparents already used to reuse food waste.
Following the tradition then, COVAR14, in collaboration with Istituto Alberghiero Bobbio di Carignano, Eataly, Slowfood, Banco Alimentare and the restaurateurs, produced a “left-overs recipe book”. This was an opportunity for restaurateurs to show their cooking skills. Istituto Bobbio has been involved in organizing the scheduled events (three cooking classes and a left-overs dinner open to citizenship) thank to its teachers professionalism; Eataly Slowfood and Banco Alimentare will be in charge of food supply and transportation, and they will form the technical panel during the final dinner. The dishes, cooked by Istituto Bobbio’s personnel, will be voted according to different categories (maximum reuse dish, zero consumption dish, the best dish etc.), For giving visibility to the initiative, posters and press advertisements (Corriere di Moncalieri, il Carmagnolese, Luna Nuova, il Mercoledì) have been produced, and municipalities have also been involved. The recipe book will be the starting basis for the EWWR events, and it will be handed out by the municipalities or during the events. Otherwise you can download the pdf version from the COVAR14 website.
This way we can bring home a fragment of the ancient “reusing art”, for spreading across friends and relatives, saving money and preserving the environment.
More...
Many of us, for various motivations, prefer getting rid of them in the rubbish or, more sensitively, recycling them through the compost heap collection system. Anyway, thrown waste are still edible and rich of nutritious: in the EU, 89 millions of tons of food per year are thrown away, and 42% of them come from our kitchens, rather than from supermarkets. Starting from these facts, on the occasion of the European Week for Waste Reduction which will take place from November 19 to 27, COVAR14 (South Turin Province Consortium for Waste Collection) decided to spread an innovative and strong message in order to stimulate public’s reflection, even though the practices are actually not so revolutionary, because our grandparents already used to reuse food waste.
Following the tradition then, COVAR14, in collaboration with Istituto Alberghiero Bobbio di Carignano, Eataly, Slowfood, Banco Alimentare and the restaurateurs, produced a “left-overs recipe book”. This was an opportunity for restaurateurs to show their cooking skills. Istituto Bobbio has been involved in organizing the scheduled events (three cooking classes and a left-overs dinner open to citizenship) thank to its teachers professionalism; Eataly Slowfood and Banco Alimentare will be in charge of food supply and transportation, and they will form the technical panel during the final dinner. The dishes, cooked by Istituto Bobbio’s personnel, will be voted according to different categories (maximum reuse dish, zero consumption dish, the best dish etc.), For giving visibility to the initiative, posters and press advertisements (Corriere di Moncalieri, il Carmagnolese, Luna Nuova, il Mercoledì) have been produced, and municipalities have also been involved. The recipe book will be the starting basis for the EWWR events, and it will be handed out by the municipalities or during the events. Otherwise you can download the pdf version from the COVAR14 website.
This way we can bring home a fragment of the ancient “reusing art”, for spreading across friends and relatives, saving money and preserving the environment.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Becoming a zero waste company
by Silvia Musso
At the third and final edition of the European Week for Waste Reduction, the cooperative ERICA, technical partner of the Italian Committee has decided to engage seriously changing its "connotations". From company attentive to the principles of waste reduction – it is in fact a leader in Italy into the field of environmental communication about recycling and waste prevention - will fully convert to the philosophy "zero waste".
During the European Week, the Board of Directors will adopt a specific resolution that will engagr the company in all its components to arrive not to produce non-recyclable waste by 2020. The Board has identified some criteria and actions such as the progressive removal of "disposable" goods, the purchase of goods from recycled materials, the purchase of goods with minimal packaging, on-site composting of organic waste of the kitchen, the two-sided printing of documents and re-use of paper printed on one side for specific needs, the careful determination of the amount of material for communication campaigns to contain the remains.
The decision will be communicated to all the working members, employees and collaborators also indicating the concrete activities to be undertaken. A month after the resolution, an analysis will count the type of waste still produced by ERICA and will evaluate corrective or new actions.
Those responsible for internal technical office, which has prepared a special investigation to determine how to reduce waste production, answered our questions.
The strengths of this action are numerous. Two particularly make it innovative among all the EWWR 2011 actions: the two-way communication, directed either inside - towards members and employees - or outside - to suppliers and customers - and replicability in other companies. Can you explain these two aspects?
«E.R.I.C.A. is a cooperative company, where the corporate form is itself a philosophical management model which principles are shared and promoted by the Board of Directors. E.R.I.C.A. works primarily for public administrations with citizens, and environmental issues permeate all activities promoted and developed by E.R.I.CA. For these reasons the choice of a policy aimed for "zero waste" can not be realized without the involvement of tose actiors with which, directly or indirectly, ERICA work and collaborate. Awareness to the issues of sustainable development is a key policy of E.R.I.C.A. and the will to create a methodical process, monitored and replicable by other companies represents the correct completion of the company mission».
The initiative is certainly worthy, but the difficulty will be to keep the commitments over the eight days of EWWR. What distinguishes this initiative from a mere marketing strategy?
«E.R.I.C.A. has decided to formalize a virtuous cycle to reduce its waste already taken a long time ago that also contributed to obtaining ISO 14001 certification. The EWWR is just the occasion to introduce such commitment that involves the integration of its system of quality management and environmental protection with procedures that tend to a progressive reduction of waste. This will be done in the first place with a careful analysis of the daily flows of materials, from the purchase to final disposal stage, going to identify the critical points and setting of specific targets in the medium and long term. The monitoring will be crucial, and this is why E.R.I.C.A. will identify significant indicators that will be kept under control.We invite anyone who believes that this initiative is only a publicity strategy to follow E.R.I.C.A. through the many channels by which it daily communicates, and get in touch with us: we will be glad to present results and offer advice to anyone wishing to take the same path».
Envi definitely takes the call and will follow with interest this experience, unique of its kind in the world of Italian businnesses, in the hope that other companies are encouraged to take the same path.
More...
During the European Week, the Board of Directors will adopt a specific resolution that will engagr the company in all its components to arrive not to produce non-recyclable waste by 2020. The Board has identified some criteria and actions such as the progressive removal of "disposable" goods, the purchase of goods from recycled materials, the purchase of goods with minimal packaging, on-site composting of organic waste of the kitchen, the two-sided printing of documents and re-use of paper printed on one side for specific needs, the careful determination of the amount of material for communication campaigns to contain the remains.
The decision will be communicated to all the working members, employees and collaborators also indicating the concrete activities to be undertaken. A month after the resolution, an analysis will count the type of waste still produced by ERICA and will evaluate corrective or new actions.
Those responsible for internal technical office, which has prepared a special investigation to determine how to reduce waste production, answered our questions.
The strengths of this action are numerous. Two particularly make it innovative among all the EWWR 2011 actions: the two-way communication, directed either inside - towards members and employees - or outside - to suppliers and customers - and replicability in other companies. Can you explain these two aspects?
«E.R.I.C.A. is a cooperative company, where the corporate form is itself a philosophical management model which principles are shared and promoted by the Board of Directors. E.R.I.C.A. works primarily for public administrations with citizens, and environmental issues permeate all activities promoted and developed by E.R.I.CA. For these reasons the choice of a policy aimed for "zero waste" can not be realized without the involvement of tose actiors with which, directly or indirectly, ERICA work and collaborate. Awareness to the issues of sustainable development is a key policy of E.R.I.C.A. and the will to create a methodical process, monitored and replicable by other companies represents the correct completion of the company mission».
The initiative is certainly worthy, but the difficulty will be to keep the commitments over the eight days of EWWR. What distinguishes this initiative from a mere marketing strategy?
«E.R.I.C.A. has decided to formalize a virtuous cycle to reduce its waste already taken a long time ago that also contributed to obtaining ISO 14001 certification. The EWWR is just the occasion to introduce such commitment that involves the integration of its system of quality management and environmental protection with procedures that tend to a progressive reduction of waste. This will be done in the first place with a careful analysis of the daily flows of materials, from the purchase to final disposal stage, going to identify the critical points and setting of specific targets in the medium and long term. The monitoring will be crucial, and this is why E.R.I.C.A. will identify significant indicators that will be kept under control.We invite anyone who believes that this initiative is only a publicity strategy to follow E.R.I.C.A. through the many channels by which it daily communicates, and get in touch with us: we will be glad to present results and offer advice to anyone wishing to take the same path».
Envi definitely takes the call and will follow with interest this experience, unique of its kind in the world of Italian businnesses, in the hope that other companies are encouraged to take the same path.
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