Last night at the glamorous Women in Ethical Business Awards, Futerra co-founder and CEO Solitaire Townsend won Best Ethical Entrepreneur  in recognition for her exceptional achievements in sustainability communications.  She was competing against runners-up Carry Somers of fair trade fashion company Pachacuti and Planet Organic’s Renee Elliott. 

When receiving the award, Solitaire challenged the audience and nominees, ‘Ethical and green business must not remain a niche industry. We’ve got to bust through to the mainstream so that the companies in this room today are the most recognised brands of tomorrow.’

In association with eve magazine, The Triodos Bank Women in Ethical Business Awards (WEBA) celebrate the women running the nation’s best ethical businesses. The judging panel of 12 included Claire Allman from Ecover, Gaynor Coley of the Eden Project, Claire Baylis from eve magazine and 2007 winner Ella Heeks of Abel and Cole. 

Soli won a eco holiday and a bottle of bubbly…which didn’t last long into the celebrations.

To see Soli talk about her work at Futerra before winning the award, please click here

Following the success of the first two years of British Council China’s Climate Cool project, designed by Futerra, we have been re-commissioned to scope out a very exciting research project. With our market research partner, onearth, we’ll be investigating what urban, middle class Chinese consumers in four ‘tier one’ cities are currently doing to tackle climate change, and what will help them do more.

Climate change behaviours are a little researched area in China, so the results will make a welcome addition to the evidence base. Watch this space for the results!

BBC Radio 5 Live’s Donal MacIntyre interviewed Futerra CEO and co-founder Solitaire Townsend about the rise of greenwash within the advertising industry and the danger it poses to the growth of the green market.

The interview on Sunday 25 May was part of a larger investigation into the effects of greenwash and why advertisers were making mistakes with their environmental claims. Solitaire called on marketers and advertisers to ensure any claims about the green benefits of their products and services are truthful to avoid accusations of greenwash being levelled against them.

To hear the interview please click here and then click on the listen again option at the top of the page (requires the latest version of Real Player and is only available till 1 June)

This week, PR Week features Futerra’s latest report, the Greenwash Guide, and an interview with Futerra CEO and co-founder Solitaire Townsend. The piece focuses on the implications of an economic recession on green business and communications, and quotes a number of industry experts. Solitaire points out  ‘A recession would force people to be more considered. We will see a dip in “get green quick” campaigns’.

To read the story please click here

Laurie's in Kobe this week, working with the British Council Climate Champions. Earler today he facilitated a follow-up workshop with the Champions, who are representing the G8+5 at this week's Youth Summit on the Environment. Over the two workshops we've worked to develop a youth statement on climate change that will be presented to environment ministers on Friday. Watch this space...

Find information on our greenwash guide here: http://www.futerra.co.uk/services/greenwash-guide

We’re keeping our eco-glam portfolio fashionably up to date by working with the BBC on their ethical fashion campaign.

Thread is an online magazine for fashion-conscious people who care where their clothes come from, and is dedicated to showcasing the latest in eco-fabulous style. See for yourself at www.bbc.co.uk/thread.

Having written Thread’s research brief and communications strategy, we’re currently responsible for its PR over the next 6 months. So far, it’s looking good…

Futerra Director Lucy Shea has appeared in the Daily Telegraph discussing her role as the creator of the eco-fabulous clothes-swapping trend called Swishing. Swishing involves getting people together to swap designer wear and socialise at the same time. With 900,000 tons of shoes and clothing being thrown away in the UK each year, Swishing allows you to acquire new clothes and save the planet at the same time.

To find out more about Swishing please visit the website by clicking here

Futerra masterclasses are tried and tested training sessions that have been a success around the world. They are underpinned by Futerra's knowledge and extensive research into encouraging sustainable behaviours.

Whether your aim is to raise awareness or inspire action, Futerra’s wealth of knowledge and experience and our high energy, hands-on, creative approach will ensure you feel confident, inspired and better equipped to effectively communicate climate change.

Dates for this series:

10th April: Communicating Climate Change to Internal Audiences

17th April: Good Green PR vs. Greenwash

24th April: Communicating Climate Change for Local & Regional Government

Click here for details on how to register.

The 30 founding members of OASIS have launched a specific organic standard for beauty and personal care products across the USA.

Visit http://www.oasisseal.org/ to find out more.

We've created a unique online game designed to challenge players' business acumen in a number of different 'world' scenarios.

Futerra also ran a live version of the experience at Business in the Community's Annual Conference a in February. Put your entrepeneurial skills to the test here.

Noticed something different about us? Futerra has a new look and feel and we’re loving it.

It’s sometimes said that ‘the cobblers children never wear shoes’, and Futerra’s site definitely wasn’t as good as the ones we've built for clients. Please do have a look around, we’re very house-proud now.

Green communications, brand, messaging and advertising. Last week Futerra was with E.ON’s marketing and engagement teams digging deep into sustainability communications.

In the words of one participant, “I got a lot from the session and I’ve had lots of positive feedback from people - lots of juicy insight passionately and articulately delivered”

Want to join one of our session? We have several coming up. Please mail jeff@futerra.co.uk for details.

We're excited because we are developing a great online sustainability game for BT that looks at tomorrow's big issues.

You can play a live version of this game at BITC's annual conference on 14 February 2008! To find out more click here:
www.bitc.org.uk/events/business_in_the.html