Sauce News

NOTE: Sauce has a new news page located here. This is an archive page that we have left here because previous newsletters have link to these stories.

Futuresource 2009 - thanks to everyone who made 'The Communications Hub' a huge success - we, at Sauce Consultancy, really enjoyed running it and it was great to see you - please click here to view the highlights of the three days:

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3

Straight from the horse’s mouth

Environmental communications specialists, Sauce Consultancy, teamed up with the CIWM to bring the media to the heart of the recycling and waste management industry.  In acknowledgement of the increasing media and public interest in sustainability matters, this industry first took place on the Communications Hub at Futuresource, Europe’s sustainability event, and saw a host of speakers provide valuable insight into how the waste sector can engage with the media.  The highlight of the three day programme was Rosie Boycott, Boris Johnson’s food sustainability guru and former national journalist, giving a ‘sell out’ talk on dispelling the common myths in dealing with the press. 

The Communications Hub provided the platform for a busy programme of speakers including national journalists, editors and industry experts addressing which environmental issues are hitting the news and what journalists need for an attention grabbing story.  On-the-spot media training was provided to visitors who wanted to hone their interview techniques and drop-in advice sessions for those with a communications problem or a positive story to tell.

CIWM Chief Executive, Steve Lee stated,

"The Communications Hub was a really successful element of this year's Futuresource show and we will be building on this success at the show in the future.  Sauce worked closely with CIWM, pulling out all the stops to make it a success and helping to raise the profile of communications as our industry grows and matures."

Former BBC journalist and experienced media trainer, Steve Bustin advised visitors how to give the perfect interview, addressing visitors’ biggest concerns of ‘getting it wrong’ or ‘looking a fool’ with tips including keeping objectives in mind, communicating a maximum of three messages and preparing answers.  Duncan Simpson, Director of Marketing at Valpak and Joy Blizzard, Chair of LARAC, demonstrated the art of interview technique with live interviews. 

Rhion Jones, Programme Director at the Consultation Institute and Dan Cooke, External Affairs Manager at Viridor spoke of the need to engage with communities.  Rhion’s electric presentation highlighted what could go wrong during consultation but he enthused,

”By starting early, identifying stakeholders properly and observing best practice it is possible to get consultation right.”

Editor of MRW, Paul Sanderson and Editor of South East Business, John Harvey advised how to write newsworthy press releases.  Paul explained that journalists want a release that gets to the point, avoids jargon, provides quotes and is supported by quality images and contact details for any questions.

Representatives from WRAP, DEFRA, CIWM, Environment Agency and many other visitors filled a packed stand to listen to the highlight of the programme, Rosie Boycott who praised the efforts of the waste industry in communicating the benefits of recycling,

“‘I think you have a negative view of how you are doing.  I think you’re doing really well, the recycling message is getting through.  Remember how long it took people to think that smoking is not cool, drinking and driving isn’t acceptable – the recycling tipping point will be reached soon.”

Rosie advised the industry to correct facts that are printed incorrectly to avoid them being repeated across other publications and for years to come.  She also stressed the importance of giving a human face to recycling and making it fun so the media want to cover it and the public want to read about it.

Caroline Macdonald, Director of Sauce Consultancy concluded,

 “This inaugural Communications Hub has been an undoubted success.  We attracted a wide range of visitors, feedback has been fantastic and hopefully the industry will now begin to benefit from our speakers’ advice and experience.”

Videos of the presentations are available at www.sauceconsultancy.co.uk

By Nicki Chennells

Futuresource visitors believe carbon footprinting should be compulsory for local authorities
Monday 15th June 2009

According to a poll carried out by Sauce Consultancy on the Communications Hub, 85% of visitors to Futuresource believe it should be made compulsory for local authorities to calculate and publish the carbon footprint of their recycling and waste management services to ensure that recycling is carried out sustainably. 

John Twitchen, Managing Director of Sauce Consultancy said,

‘‘This issue is a sleeping giant, the industry needs to get ready for difficult questions about carbon footprinting. Of course, we recognise the difficulty in this but increasingly the public wants to know.”

The poll also looked at whether visitors felt that the media almost ruined the recycling industry with their biased reporting last year making residents feel that recycling was pointless. 

Only 43% blamed the media whilst 57% felt the industry needed to ‘get a grip’ which perhaps reflects the industry’s own self-image.  Rosie Boycott picked up on this when presenting on ‘dispelling common myths’ at the Communications Hub on Thursday, commenting,

“I think you have a really negative view of how you are doing.  I think you are doing really well, the recycling message is getting through.” 

When asked whether the recession has sparked the potential for a wider long-term social change in general attitudes to our ‘throw-away culture’, 67% of those polled felt that people are taking a long hard look at what consumerism means and 33% felt that people are just going for the cheapest short-term decision.  In line with this, when asked if visitors found that inspiring behaviour change has become a greater challenge since the start of the recession, 66% said it’s even more important now than before and 34% said it’s further down the list for people.

130 visitors representing local authorities, the recycling and waste management industry and other interested parties took part in Sauce’s poll over the three days of Futuresource.

For more information, contact Nicki Chennells, Senior PR & Media Manager on 07545 922671 or nickichennells@sauceconsultancy.co.uk

By Nicki Chennells

Southend-on-Sea championing compost!

Compost Week 2009 ran from 3-9 May and provided an opportunity to learn how you can make a difference with compost. Many events were held up and down the country and along our coastline to promote the benefits of home composting which are many and varied – Southend-on-Sea joined in for the first time.

Composting provides us with free nutrient rich compost without using our natural resources and most importantly diverts organic waste from landfill where it produces Methane - a gas with a global warming potential more than 20 times that of Carbon Dioxide.

Sauce Consultancy was recently promoting Compost Week during the popular farmers market at Southend-on-Sea. Local residents were given advice about how to start and maintain their own home compost bins and make the most out of their organic waste. Residents were also given the chance to win one of 200 compost bins provided for by the council and over 50 people signed a pledge card, vowing to try and reduce their waste, particularly organic.

This event is in conjunction with the large scale Recycle for Southend Campaign. Southend currently have a recycling rate of 40% but through engaging with residents the target is to get this up to 60%. Recently, Sauce has been concentrating on engaging residents from high rise estates to increase their recycling rate and have carried out initial opinion research amongst residents. Encouraging behaviour change in these hard to reach areas provides quite a challenge, however through effective consultation we are more than optimistic that the campaign will be a huge success.

So far the response has been fantastic with many people wishing to become ‘Recycling Champions’ to help spread the word within their local areas. Having a network of Champions is a highly effective technique as it has been found that people are more likely to adapt their behaviours if others around them are doing the same.
Sauce also plans to be at many other events in Southend throughout the year and expects similarly good turnout.

Changing wasteful attitudes

Throwing waste away has become the norm for so many people, that we now do it without even thinking about where it goes or what it costs.  Food waste in particular is a major concern and it is estimated that in the UK we throw away 6.7 million tonnes of food every year, with most of this food ending up in landfill.  Some of this food waste is made up of peelings, cores and bones, however the majority is, or once was, perfectly good food. Not only are the environmental implications huge but the financial ones are too - it is costing us around £10 billion each year, which works out at an average cost of about £400 per year for every household.

However, times are changing.....

Last month, the latest statistics from the Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) revealed that the amount of waste sent to landfill or incinerated per person in England has fallen to the lowest level since estimates were first made. Defra's figures also highlighted a surge in recycling, with the UK recycling 36.3 per cent last year, up from 30.9 per cent in 2007. 

Whilst a reduction in waste can most likely be linked to a decrease in production and consumption sparked by the recession, the increase in recycling rates points to the potential for a wider long-term social change  in general attitudes to our ‘throw-away culture’. 

The WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) has already been successful in raising awareness of the need to reduce the amount of food that we throw away through their ‘Love Food Hate Waste’ campaign and in the current climate, householders and consumers are being more careful about what they buy week to week, making sure they are not wasting food or cooking from scratch and saving leftovers for another day rather than eating out or buying ready meals.

With the Government, local councils and environmental groups looking to shift more attention to waste minimisation in the future, it would seem that now is the perfect time to capitalise on current changes in attitude and behaviour and use high-profile campaigns that demonstrate the wider social and public health benefits associated with reducing food waste.

If you would like to discuss environmental topics with us, please email info@sauceconsultancy.co.uk and/ or if you would like a free consultation with the Sauce Sachet Service - http://www.sauceconsultancy.co.uk/services%20sachet.htm - please contact us!

More praise for budget from waste industry - Click here to read more...

Climate change – who feels it the most?

Climate change is accurately described as a global issue but whilst the developed countries continue to blow hot air into the debate over what to do, how many of us realise that the impact of our actions are being felt elsewhere in our world?

Admittedly, adverse and extreme weather is affecting our country – the well reported flooding, the recent cold winter (and perhaps a scorched summer?!) – but the effects on poorer counties are far greater and much less widely reported on.

According to the Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Centre the UK with 1% of the world's population produces 2.3% of the world's C02.   Going on, the top 23 richest countries emit 60% of CO2 emissions despite only accounting for 14% of our population (source: Oxfam).  Ergo the rich countries of the world have the largest carbon foot print and are most responsible for climate change.  Poorer countries are hit first and worst.  Unpredictable weather patterns mean that these people are not able to grow enough food for themselves since primary demands are for overseas markets, therefore many go hungry. A significant development in immigration has been the increase in ‘climate change’ refugees i.e. those moving to the West to get away from decreasing food availability.

So what can be done about it?  Much is resting on the climate change conference in Copenhagen in December 2009, however there are a number of individual campaigns led by a variety of third sector organisations looking to combat the cause and impact reality.  One such campaign is being delivered by National Federation for Women’s Institutes (NFWI).  ‘If we can do it, then so can you’ is a striking, action laden programme aimed at women in the UK helping women in other countries adapt to climate change, increase the awareness of the impacts our actions have on others and to increase the recognition of women as agents for change.  The campaign was launched with a Question Time style debate, hosted by Lucy Siegle, with Joan Ruddock MP also taking part.  For more information, please visit: http://www.thewi.org.uk/standard.aspx?id=10951

Charity Cycle ride

Sauce team member, Olivia Cameron, is taking part in the Londres-Paris Cycle Tour with her partner, James Franklin, on 25-27 June.

Olivia and James will be joining over 300 riders from across the world to embark on this unique three day "Tour de France" style endurance event for amateur and cyclosportive riders. It is the "professional event" for amateurs!  Like a pro event it has full support, rolling road closures and covers 520 km in three days followed by a rest day (and celebrations!) in Paris.

This PRO/AM event has seen stars such as double Olympic Gold James Cracknell. Key figures in this year’s event includes ex CSC Team Director Sportif Scott Sunderland, who took the team and Carlos Sastre to victory in the Tour de France, Stephen Roche (retired professional road racing cyclist - only the second cyclist to win the Triple Crown of victories in the Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia stage races and the world cycling championship), Geoff Thomas (former England footballer) and Brian Smith (retired professional road racing cyclist).

The Daily Telegraph recently listed the event as one of 25 International events to enter alongside others such as the New York and London Marathons.

For this event, Olivia and James are raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support. Macmillan is a fantastic cause and one that has provided exceptional support to both our families. All of the costs for the event are covered by us, so every pound we raise will go directly to Macmillan. If you would like to sponsor Olivia and James, please go to www.justgiving.com/livsandjames

New speakers at Futuresource

National journalist Rosie Boycott has joined the impressive line-up of speakers on Sauce Consultancy’s ‘Communications Hub’ at this year’s major sustainability event Futuresource.

Keen environmentalist Rosie, who was the first female editor of a national daily broadsheet when she headed The Independent in 1996, will give a presentation on the final day of the three-day event at ExCel in London.

She will talk about the common myths surrounding media relations that make the industry wary of talking to journalists and emphasise the need for the industry to talk in plain English.

The founding editor of Spare Rib and Virago Publishing in the 1970s, Rosie also edited The Daily Express in 1998 and worked on The Daily Mail, The Sunday Telegraph and Harpers & Queen.

As well as writing several books, including her own autobiography A Nice Girl Like Me, she has appeared on TV and radio programmes and been a regular on Start the Week on Radio 4 and Question Time on BBC1.

She now writes for The Oldie Magazine as travel editor, is a media advisor for the Council of Europe and Chair of the London Food Board.

The impressive array of speakers will be offering free tips and advice on how best to engage the media, and freelance journalist and media trainer Steve Bustin will also be giving free media training to help the sector prepare for those nail-biting interviews.

Futuresource is a three-day exhibition and conference organised by the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) and the Environmental Services Association for the sustainable waste, recycling and resource management sector.

The event will be held June 9 to 11 and further information can be found at www.futuresourceuk.com. The Communications Hub is Stand D12.

To discuss media relations and hot environmental topics with journalists contact info@sauceconsultancy.co.uk.  

Media relations advice straight from the horse’s mouth
Leading national journalists Lucy Siegle, David Shukman and Steve Bustin will be on hand to give some words of wisdom at Futuresource 2009. They will be doling out free advice at Sauce’s upcoming communications hub on how best the waste and recycling industry can engage with journalists and to dispel the myths surrounding media relations that make the sector wary.

Lucy is a top journalist, author and presenter who specialises in ecological and ethical lifestyle issues. She has written a weekly column for the Observer since 2004, is a reporter for BBC’s The One Show and has written two books, Green Living in the Urban Jungle and To Die For. National magazines and newspapers she has contributed to include Marie Claire, Elle, Vogue, the New Statesman and the Guardian.

David, the environment and science correspondent for BBC News, has reported from locations as diverse as the Arctic, the Antarctic and the Amazon. In his coverage of climate change, he was the first journalist to report from Britain’s Antarctic base, and he has also made the most northerly television broadcast, just 600 miles for the North Pole. He reported live on the scourge of plastic waste in the Pacific Ocean, and witnessed the threat of rising sea-levels to the tiny island nation of Tuvalu.

Steve, a former BBC news reporter and journalist, will be holding free media training sessions in a private room off the exhibition floor to help industry professionals prepare for press, TV and radio interviews. He currently works as a freelance journalist for a variety of lifestyle titles, including Absolute London and Absolute Brighton. Filmed interviews will be conducted, followed by advice and feedback so participants can hone their skills. Steve will also be delivering a series of “masterclasses” on the basics of good media relations.

Organised by the Chartered Institute of Wastes Management and the Environmental Services Association, Futuresource 2009 is Europe’s major sustainability event  held at ExCel London from June 9-11.

To discuss media relations and hot environmental topics with journalists contact info@sauceconsultancy.co.uk or to book a free media training session contact pat.jennings@ciwm.co.uk

Friend of Sauce helps clean up the sea!



Sara Campbell, friend of Sauce and the World Champion freediver, who in 2007 amazed the diving community by claiming all three deep freediving World Records and in April of this year broke another World Record, joined a HEPCA (www.hepca.com - a leading Non Governmental Organisation working in the field of marine and land conservation) clean-up week in the Red Sea, Egypt to help remove some of the rubbish around some of the main dive sites.

Sara said: "I've always had a close connection with the environment, and am delighted that I can use my diving to reach a wider audience to help protect not only the Red Sea, but all water environments. I was on the fourth Hayah/blue o two clean-up week and we collected around 30 kilos of rubbish, mainly glass, cans, plastic wrappers and fishing lines. The amount of waste that ends up in the sea is shocking - it not only looks horrible, but it destroys the reefs and, particularly in the case of fishing lines and nets, can create the most awful devastation to wildlife. And if you think that was a lot a rubbish - the following week the guests brought up over 100 kilos, including used oil and diesel filters from two sites!”

As well as giving a week of her time to help HEPCA, Sara has been working with British environmental group, The BLUE Climate and Oceans Project (www.theblueproject.org). Alongside other 'marine' athletes, Sara's goal is to engage people in environmental issues through her sport.

Sara made a report on the clean up dive for new broadband TV channel, The Underwater Channel, to help further raise awareness of this crucial work - www.theunderwaterchannel.tv . For more information on Sara please go to www.sarafreediver.com

In addition, if you would like a free consultation with the Sauce Sachet Service - www.sauceconsultancy.co.uk/services%20sachet.htm – please contact us!

Children on Climate Change

We recently delivered short modules on ‘Climate Change and Energy Efficiency’ in North Fulham to children aged 9 to 10 years old. The children showed an interest and enthusiasm for the topic that was uplifting and inspiring. As we taught and discussed, the questions they asked showed that they understand the issue and its gravity. On the topic of renewable energy, they expressed genuine surprise when told that this was still the smallest part of our energy provision. Also and very importantly they were keen to be doing what they can in order to tackle the issue.  They took realistic pledges for their age: mostly to switch off lights when leaving rooms and turning off their electrical items instead of leaving it on standby. Collectively and through these small steps, the children should save 1720 kg each year.

With regards to the challenge posed by climate change this is rather small but it illustrates a real motivation to be part of the solution. And these children are right to be concerned as they are the ones that will suffer from it.

We, as adults, know that industrialisation has created the problem of climate change. This is now widely accepted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and governments around the world. More worryingly, there is also consensus among the climate scientists that in the very near future, the impacts of climate change will be well settled: drought, water scarcity, biodiversity loss and negative feedback on CO2 leading to runaway climate change* . We, as adults, also know that they are solutions to this problem: technological, political and behavioural. However, stuck in the old way of short term thinking and economic priority, we seem unable to deliver and allow those solutions to reach their full potential.

Ten year old children are clearly keen to act and able to see that an energy efficient, less wasteful world that respects its environment is the way forward.  Surely, as adults, we should show that we get it too because we must act now if we want to avoid the worst.  And let’s not forget that it is those same children that will judge us on our response to this challenge and how effectively we tackled it. 

* International Scientific Congress on Climate Change

The Renewable Content Obligation Proposal – time to close the UK recycling loop?

In February Dr Alan Whitehead MP introduced his proposal for a Renewable Content Obligation Bill during a ten-minute rule bill presented to the House of Commons. The proposed bill would obligate certain products manufactured in the UK to respect a minimum content of recycled materials, effectively “closing the loop” in recycling of waste materials and packaging.

Ten-minute bills rarely reach the legislative stage; instead they serve to position issues “on the record”. Dr Whitehead’s bill certainly achieves this by drawing attention to the need to match our actions to our words when it comes to the recycling loop.

Whilst great strides have been achieved in increasing local levels of recycling, we have yet to see consistent use of recycled material, and a lot of our waste still ends up shipped overseas, in landfill or incinerated.

A recent LGA study showed that the proportion of food packaging that is recyclable remains limited. This is especially true with plastics: while most cardboard boxes in the UK are made of nearly 90% material, with plastics this is not the case. On the other hand, companies and products that already incorporate recyclates, and there are many, complain that their voluntary efforts come at the cost of losing some of their competitiveness.

In our times of economic contraction, this seems a waste of waste, a waste of carbon emissions, and a waste when there are more energy and carbon efficient purposes for recycled materials, including use in new products.

The proposed Bill would directly address this by offering a universal regime guaranteeing a market for recycled products, and in the words of Dr Whitehead allowing “known recyclate streams to be matched with product ranges”. The types of products that could be designated would be those that can incorporate known recyclate streams relatively easily, such as construction materials incorporating ash, ground glass and aggregate. The WRAP and Environment Agency Waste Protocols Project which seeks to identify the point at which waste becomes a resource will mutually complement the bill.

Dr Whitehead’s ambitious proposal should be warmly welcomed by the waste industry and consumers alike. The question that remains is: will the Government follow suit and take the bait?

Green shoots spring up at Sauce

Three new appointments at Sauce Consultancy, the specialist environmental communications agency, herald signs of a springtime growth for the communications industry.

 
 
Caroline Macdonald, Lizanne Weafer and Tessa Lennartz join as Director, Media Relations Officer and Research and Projects Officer respectively to compliment the team.  Sauce has achieved rapid growth since its inception two years ago working across the environmental sector specialising in waste, recycling and renewables.
 
Having worked as a communications professional in the waste and recycling sector with SITA UK for over eight years, Caroline set up OggaDoon Marketing & Communications before moving the business into Sauce Consultancy earlier this year.
 
About the move, Caroline said "This is a very exciting time for us.  Despite the slowing down of the UK economy, green communications continues to develop apace as society takes on a seismic shift in attitude to lifestyle habits and practices.
 
The environmental sector is set for significant growth as the UK tries to meet its landfill diversion targets and moves towards increasingly sustainable development including renewable energy and waste reduction programmes.  The creation of green jobs is now being seen as essential to pull the UK out of the current recession (see separate story – "the Obama effect" – on our website).

Commenting on the appointments, Sauce Managing Director, John Twitchen said "These appointments demonstrate our confidence in the market and how environmental communications requires specific disciplines."

Beware the terminological inexactitude...

Since the recent inflammatory article by reporter Louise Gray, “Recycling ‘could be adding to global warming,’” appeared in the Telegraph, people have been asking how this negative coverage can be avoided. However this article came about, it is important this treatment of the subject does not dissuade the industry from engaging with journalists.

The environment sector, and in particular the recycling and waste management industry, is entering an important phase as key target dates approach and the Government looks to this growth sector to help with economic recovery, so it is imperative positive messages get through.

The article fuels the argument that people are wasting their time by recycling and further undermines public confidence in the system. In light of this, it is vital that when approaching the media you are clear about what your message is - do not divert from that or lose control of the interview.

Also, think about what message the consumers of news are getting; remember that while the audience has the capacity to understand what is being said, they are not experts, so speak in plain English.

With the major shift in media attention towards the long-standing issue of climate change, there is no better time to get professionals involved to help you positively influence the news.

Sauce is working with the organisers of Futuresource, a three-day exhibition and conference from June 9-11, to offer free advice from leading national and trade journalists. We are holding a series of interactive discussions on our communications hub to inform the industry how best to engage with the media and explore the issues that are shaping the news, and working with the CIWM to offer a limited number of free media training sessions.

For more information please email info@sauceconsultancy.co.uk. For more information on Futuresource visit www.futuresourceuk.com.

WWF’s Earth Hour

On March 28, people around the world will turn their lights off for one hour. Earth Hour is aiming to reach one billion people, in more than 1000 cities around the world, all joining together in a global effort to show that it is possible to take action on global warming. It’s already on track to be the biggest global demonstration for action on climate change,  with 377 cities across 74 countries already signed up to take part, including London, Sydney, Rome, Mexico City, Moscow and Las Vegas.

Earth Hour 2009 is a global call to action to every individual, every business and every community. A call to stand up, to take responsibility and to get involved in working towards a sustainable future. Iconic buildings and landmarks from Europe to The Americas will stand in darkness, as symbols of hope for a cause that grows more urgent by the hour.

When London pledged to join WWF’s Earth Hour in December, Boris Johnson said: "Earth Hour will send a strong message on climate change and reminds us of the importance of cities working together to cut our carbon emissions. Cities are the ones who can take real, on-the-ground actions to transform markets - by buying low-carbon vehicles, retrofitting our buildings, installing decentralised energy and helping our residents insulate their homes. These kinds of measures not only can reduce London’s carbon emissions but can create real economic opportunities for London."

Colin Butfield, Head of Campaigns at WWF-UK said “We are calling on Londoners and people all across the UK to take part in Earth Hour and show the UK government that they must demonstrate leadership in tackling climate change.”

Climate change threatens lives, livelihoods, and lifestyles, however you can make a difference -join the Sauce employees for Earth Hour 2009, turn off your lights at 8.30pm Saturday 28 March and sign up here http://www.earthhour.org/signup/ to be counted!

Trial scheme in Fulham bucks the long-term trend of low recycling rates on estates.

Against a long-term trend of low levels of recycling on housing estates, a scheme in Fulham has boosted participation rates for high rise flats on the Clem Attlee Estate to 98 per cent. 

Schemes for street level properties are traditionally more successful than those serving flats, but a pilot project on this estate captured more recycling than similar systems across the country.

North Fulham New Deal for Communities, working in partnership with Hammersmith and Fulham Council and H&F Homes, commissioned London Remade Solutions and Sauce Consultancy to deliver the project in January 2008, and a third of residents from each block were surveyed before and after the scheme to test its success.

Results show that the number of people not recycling went down from nearly 20 per cent prior to the scheme to just two per cent after six months.

David Bowler, NDC programme director, said: "We are delighted that Clem Attlee residents see recycling as an important action which they can take to do their bit for the environment, despite the current economic times.  We hope the discussions with the local authority to mainstream this pilot scheme into council services will be successful during the forthcoming financial year."

 Other highlights:

• Three of the four recycling systems put in place (the chute, doorstep collection, bring banks and mini banks on each floor) out-performed schemes in other areas in terms of volume of waste collected.
• The schemes were cost effective when compared with doorstep services for high-rise flats in other parts of the country. The cost per tonne of recycling collected was just a fraction of that in other areas.
• Participation was high, with 66 per cent of households putting sacks out for their doorstep collection service as opposed to an average 58 per cent in similar systems in five other London boroughs. The number of sacks put into mini banks on each floor indicated that each household contributed an average of seven every week.
• Nearly 90 per cent of residents were either very or fairly satisfied with the service, up from just 66 per cent before the scheme.
• The number of residents contaminating bins with non-recycling items dropped from 33 per cent before the trial to only four per cent in six months.

For more information or a copy of the final report, please email info@sauceconsultancy.co.uk. Find out more about our partners London Remade Solutions here

Right click here to download BBC London's radio coverage about the project (4mins 22secs - .WMA Format for Windows Media player). You may need additional software to play the file in your browser. It is recommended that you download the file and play with your computers own media player. This clip has been reproduced with the kind permission of the BBC. For more information contact us.
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The “Obama effect”: yes, but can we?

US President Barack Obama’s journey to transform the US economy began with his choice of transport to attend his inauguration in Washington DC: his train journey included a stop at a windmill part manufacturer where he spoke of his plans for a “green economy”, a pledge reflecting his election campaign promises and reiterated in his inauguration speech.

At the core of Obama’s plans for a “green economy” is the idea that the challenges of the ailing economy and climate change can be tackled to mutual advantage, job creation going hand-in-hand with investment in green energy. Obama’s stimulus plan includes $150 billion investment over the next decade in green energy and $20 billion in clean energy tax credits, creating 5 million new “green collar” jobs, with 500,000 expected to be in the clean energy sector.

Obama has promised to face up to the “inconvenient truth” of what scientists have to say, echoing his fellow Democrat and Nobel laureate Al Gore. To assist him in meeting his environmental goals, Obama has made a number of high-level appointments from the scientific community, including Nobel price-winning physicist Steven Chu as his energy secretary, John Holdren, professor of environmental policy at Harvard as his science advisor, and ecologist Jane Lubchenco as head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

At the international level, the effects of Obama’s signal of intent to reduce US greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050 has sent ripples through the international climate change community desperate for positive signs before the start of the UNFCCC meeting in Copenhagen next year. Obama argues that this has to start with reducing the US dependence on foreign oil for energy which underlies the “two major energy challenges” of the US (the other being climate change).

These ripples have already reached our shores. Since the government’s report on “Building a low carbon economy: unlocking innovation and skills”, David Cameron has announced a Green Paper on the “Low Carbon Economy” (LCE) including a revolution in the energy sector which the Conservatives believe “could create hundreds of thousands of new green collar jobs in the UK by 2020”. Meanwhile the Liberal Democrats have launched a “Britain on a Green Road out of the Recession” plan which outlines plans for insulation and energy efficiency initiatives creating jobs.

Green jobs offer phenomenal opportunities for market recovery. So are we to become a nation of foresters, wind turbine fabricators, solar power installers, and conservation biologists? Government has indeed got a significant role to play in leading the way, investing in these sectors to create additional skills and jobs. However it must also consider individuals keen to improve their green credentials, as seen for example by increased recycling or buying of energy-saving light bulbs. These individuals are waiting for the call from Government to transform their “Yes, we want” to a “Yes, we can” statement.

As a specialist environmental communications consultancy, here at Sauce we are deeply aware that all-round behaviour change can only be achieved if government engages with the public and shows leadership in tackling these pressing issues.

Just like the “wind and the sun and the soil”, the Obama momentum that has gripped individuals around the world should be harnessed by governments, to give everyone the confidence that, not only do we want change, but yes, we can achieve that change.

By Tessa Lennartz
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Simple steps to a cleaner, greener events industry

Sauce Consultancy and London Remade Solutions (LRS) are offering a new service to make events and venues cleaner and greener. This follows a successful pilot at ExCel London, the capital's major events venue, where the Sauce and LRS team demonstrated that more than 70% of the waste stream could be diverted from landfill into recycling and composting. This was also reflected in a survey of high street waste in Stratford, London Borough of Newham (whose 2012 Unit funded the pilot).
 
This is great news as it means venues across the country - and public places such as high streets - can meet the Olympic Delivery Authority's target for 70% recycling at Games venues. Even more important is that the pilot showed that recycling led to efficiency improvements in cleaning services and the potential for major cost savings in reducing exposure to landfill tax.
 
Specialist communications consultancy Sauce and LRS, a leading provider of recycling and sustainable procurement advice and support, will be offering project management services and advice to UK venues that wish to build on the success of the ExCel pilot and make Britain's conference, exhibition and events industry cleaner and greener.
 
Improving waste management, diverting waste from landfill and adopting green procurement policies can all contribute to venues and event organisers striving to meet the new sustainable events standard - BS 8901.
 
John Twitchen, Sauce's managing director, said "The ExCel pilot shows what's possible - the system was simple but effective and demonstrated the potential for diverting substantial amounts of recycling away from landfill. Visitors to major venues can recycle at home, at work and at school, and it was second nature for them to recycle at ExCel. High recycling rates are no longer aspirational pipe dreams."
 
Dee Moloney, Consultancy Director at LRS, commented: "Recycling doesn't get any more simple than the system we installed at ExCel, and the potential cost savings should make the decision easy for other venues. The trick is in making sure back of house services are well organised, having a good contractor to take the material, and working closely with concessions to reduce contamination and eliminate troublesome forms of packaging."
 
A copy of the report produced by Sauce and LRS is available by calling 020 8256 0023 or emailing info@sauceconsultancy.co.uk
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Tackling inertia key challenge to behaviour change

Overcoming inertia and apathy amongst the public are key challenges for those working to change peoples' behaviour on sustainability issues. In the first of two surveys conducted by Sauce Consultancy at the Environment Agency's annual conference, 24 & 25 November, delegates believed confusing or misleading sustainability messages and lack of cohesion between delivery bodies, government and retailers need to be addressed.

The second survey, focusing on peoples' views of sustainable towns, found that improved public transport systems, including pedestrian and cycle zones, and cities run entirely on renewable energy were popular visions.

Greater empowerment for local communities

A Bill published in December provides greater opportunities for the public to engage in local democracy. The Local Democracy Economic Development and Construction Bill places a duty on local authorities to promote local democracy in Councils and all partner bodies; every Council has to adopt a scheme to handle electronic and traditional petitions; schemes will require Councils to respond, debate or allow officers to be called to account in public meetings; the duty to involve has been extended to other public bodies, such as the police; the formation of a national body to represent tenants; and dedicated scrutiny officers.

The view from The Consultation Institute is that this long overdue legislation will provide an excellent stimulus for more co-ordinated public consultation. Sauce is an approved partner of The Consultation Institute.

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Why going back to basics is good for your sustainable business strategy

Each day, the press delivers another financial bombshell as cases of atrocious fiscal transactions come pouring out of the world's stock market centres, ably assisted by the crumbling of retail pillars, like the flood that came before Noah.  This economic pressure wends its way back to each business with a heightened sense of 'survival of the fittest'.  Whilst the need to cut costs and maintain cashflow is paramount, a realistic sustainable business strategy focused on efficiencies and carbon management can steady business and guide it through the current turbulent times.

A recent survey by 2degrees network found that 90% of CEO's consider a sustainable business strategy important or very important.  More significantly, 61.3% believe implementation is more urgent now because strategies which save energy and save money are often the same.

Back to basics cost management forces operators to look at costs and investment on a micro level, much the same that a sole trader does.  By setting realistic targets to increase resource efficiency – reduce waste, reduce mileage, reduce energy consumption, increase use of electronic communication and increase use of green electricity.

So turning lights off, banning waste bins and making room for solar panels next to the air conditioning unit is no longer exclusive to the radical few, it makes for good business sense and survival.

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Another massive boost for British Cycling

Huge congratulations to Olympic gold medal cyclist, Sir Chris Hoy, who was nominated BBC Sports Personality of the Year last month!

Hoy, age 32, got a very impressive 283,630 votes with F1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton in second place with 163,864 and third place swimmer Rebecca Adlington with 145,924.

Overall, the cyclists reigned supreme with four of the 10 sports stars nominated for the award being cyclists. This is another great cycling statistic to add to the fact that British Cycling was also voted Team of the Year and Dave Brailsford, the performance director behind this year's hall of 14 medals, including eight golds, won Coach of the Year.

Chris Hoy oozed cycling enthusiasm (and emotion) as he received a standing ovation from 9,000 spectators in the Liverpool Echo Arena, "I really didn't expect this. British sport has enjoyed its best year, certainly in my lifetime. After the year I've had and the whole team has had, to be crowned Sports Personality of the Year, it just means so much. This is the big one and this is just unbelievable."

So, what you waiting for...'get on your bike' this New Year and burn off some of the excess calories as part of one of those New Year's resolutions! Always remember though to be safe and be seen. And watch for more Sauce charity bike rides throughout 2009, following on from our efforts last year which raised almost £3,000.
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Is the credit crunch affecting the environment sector?

Some have said that the environment sector is crunch-proof - but is it? It all depends what you're doing. A number of investors we've talked to remain positive.

Sure, the crunch may have slowed the process but credit is available to those involved in building new infrastructure, and venture capital funds are still very keen and actively seeking investment opportunities, particularly in renewables.

Where the downturn is having an effect is in reducing the amount of waste generated, with cardboard and other material processors already reporting volumes shrinking, and price fluctuations due to reduced demand in manufacturing economies.

As for communications, our advice is to think smarter and really make your communications activities count. Now is a good time to review how businesses communicate with their customers, making your competitive advantage count and retaining your hard won reputation.

On the consultation front, "fewer and better" is the mantra of The Consultation Institute. As an approved partner of the Institute, you can be sure that working with us to develop and deliver your consultation or community outreach programme will provide the best value for money.

Please see a recent survey on 'The effect of the economic downturn on corporate sustainability strategy' by 2degrees, green business networks for sustainable business solutions: View Survey (PDF)
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Recycling manifesto

Paul Sanderson at MRW called back in July to ask "What would you do if you were in charge? Can you give me a 750 word recycling manifesto?"
Well, who would turn down that kind of offer! Please see the article here, or in a back issue of MRW published for the Recycling & Waste Management Exhibition, along with manifestos from five other figures from the recycling industry.
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Futuresource gets added Sauce

Sauce Consultancy has teamed up with the organisers of the exciting new Futuresource event at ExCel London to make communications come alive for the environment and sustainability sector.

Featuring a series of short presentations, discussion, interactive sessions and "on the spot" media training, the approach aims to make it easier for visitors to understand how to get the most out of communications for their organisation, and dispel some of the myths that surround media relations.

Commenting, John Twitchen, managing director at Sauce said: "Reputation and public understanding are crucial factors in this market, and become even more important in times of financial crisis. Our aim is for the communications hub to help visitors understand how to get the best bang for their hard earned bucks, and understand the true value of effective communications."

Steve Lee, CIWM's chief executive, said: "Effective communication lies right at the heart of behaviour change and our sector will not be able to deliver a more sustainable approach to waste and resource management, or meet the many targets ahead, if we don't take our customers and stakeholders with us. The CIWM and Sauce's ambition for the communications hub is to demonstrate the real return that can be achieved by investing in good communications. "