Eyes bigger than your belly? The Great British Waste Menu, BBC1…


Written on September 2, 2010 – 8:33 am | by elaine
dumped surplus tomatoes in field

Surplus tomatoes dumped in a field in Tenerife, Spain. Photograph: Sally A. Morgan/Ecoscene/Corbis

For those of you who missed it on BBC 1 last week, The Great British Waste Menu highlighted the massive issue that is wasted food in the UK.

Food waste is bad for the planet; the overproduction of food causes problems (think milk lakes, food mountains, GM modified crops, pesticides, herbicides, over-grazing, methane gas producted by cattle etc), and the breakdown of food waste produces a huge amount of greenhouse gases if not composted properly. There is also the moral issue that it is just wrong to carelessly waste food when the UN’s Food & Agriculture Organisations estimates 14% of the worlds population were going hungry is 2008.  Sorry for getting a bit preachy here – but it needs to be said doesn’t it?!

And for those of you who are unmoved by the moral issues, let me appeal to your wallet – Food waste costs every household in the UK between £250 and £400 a year.

The Great British Waste Menu followed four of the nation’s top chefs – Angela Hartnett, Richard Corrigan, Matt Tebbutt and Simon Rimmer – as they journeyed deep into the heart of Britain’s food waste problem, They explored how and why the nation throws away and reject huge quantities of perfectly edible food.

Cameras followed the chefs as they sourced shocking amounts of unwanted food from every link in the food chain – from supermarkets to ordinary homes, markets to farms – and then transformed it into mouth-watering dishes. As the grand finale the chefs faced a unique and near-impossible task: to create a fabulous banquet for over 60 VIPs using the food that the rest of us don’t want. Could the chefs create restaurant-standard food using ingredients that have been discarded, rejected or deemed unsuitable for sale? Were they be able to change the way Britons think about waste food?  YES!!!

As the chefs sourced their ingredients and the banquet unfolds, the solution to the scandalous food waste crisis revealed itself to be a simple one: just eat it.

Here is a clip below from the show where we see Angela Hartnett and Richard Corrigan search through the bins at Dalston Market for discarded but perfectly edible food.

Your might be interested in these related links:
Tips on reducing your food waste and your supermarket spend
Tips on composting food waste
Love Food Hate Waste – recipe ideas for leftovers and more

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Giveaway: win these ‘Flutter’ felt wall stickers worth £26.99 handmade by Rachel Horrocks


Written on September 1, 2010 – 9:57 am | by elaine

felt butterfly wall stickers from Pure Design

Subscribe to our newsletter  today and grab your chance to win these felt wall stickers.


For Email Newsletters you can trust

The lucky winner will be picked at random from our newsletter subscribers on Friday 17th September. Click here to enter now.

Designed by Rachel Horrocks, the stickers are made from 100% felt with a water resistant coating the colours are naturally deep and rich, with a soft velvet finish. The stickers have been designed to for easy application and to be removable, making a home makeover as easy as 1-2-3. The butterfly shaped ‘Flutter’ felt stickers, are available in a variety of sizes and colours, priced from £26.99, plus p&p (available in packs of five and ten).

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Holly chats to Who’s Glass and hears how the design trio’s are always half full!


Written on August 27, 2010 – 8:23 am | by elaine

recycled orangina bottle glassThis week our ever-inquisitive intern Holly chatted to Matthew Persson, from the family design trio Who’s? Glass. Read how the father and sons team, who used to work for Dartington Crystal, set out on their own and created a succesful ethical glass company.

 

Holly: I see that you all have a lot of experience as glassmakers, but when and why did you decide to form a business together?

Matthew:  Between us we have over 70 years experience in glassmaking and designing, and it was until the last few years we decided to get together to do something ourselves.

Ever since i graduated back in 1998 with a glass design degree we had always intended to set up a small studio in our hometown but it wasn’t until 2007, nearly ten years later that we finally and realistically looked into the possibility. The main catalyst for the forming of Who’s? Glass was that at the time my father (Lars) had just been made redundant from the UK’s last remaining glass manufacturing company Dartington Crystal where he had been a Master-Glass Maker for over 38 years. This came as quite a shock and turning point as he still felt passionate about making glass and still had so much left to offer and teach. Over his nearly 40 years at Dartington he nurtured and taught many of the remaining glass-makers still there today, including myself, so it seemed the next logical step. Within weeks of my dad being made redundant, my brother (Anders) resigned from Dartington Crystal where he held a prominent position in logistics. Who’s? Glass was subsequently born in May 2008. I stayed at Dartington Crystal where I had been working as an in-house glass product and conceptual graphic designer since 2005 until I resigned in May 2009 to join what the three of us had started in 2008. Since then the company has gone from strength to strength, growing slowly but now with over supplying over 75 regular stockists throughout the UK.

Holly: From your website I see that you describe working with your family as a ‘genuine family affair’. Do you find that because you are all family you work better as a team? Do you all have specific skills in different areas of the business?
Matthew: I would say that being such a close family we do have our moments and we do know how to, lets say ‘tease one another’, but ultimately we do work extremely well as a team. We work well together because we all know what our skills are and who does what. We can also cover for one another and help out with ‘out-of-work’ dilema’s/priorities. In terms of our specific skills, the basic roles are as follows Lars: master-glass maker, Anders: finance and sales & Matthew: secondary glass-maker& marketing/design. We pretty much play to our strengths and work experiences. Lars has only ever worked as a glass maker where as Anders has both worked in Glass, accountancy and sales. I have also pretty much only worked as a glass maker or in product design but worked very closely within the Marketing department at Dartington so this became invaluable to us. Regarding our other roles/duties, we all pitch in whenever needed – whether its bottles that need collecting, orders to pack or the studio needs cleaning. It’s pretty much a 6 and half day a week operation but more fulfilling than any other job we’ve ever had before.

Holly: Where do you get inspiration for the design of your new products?
Matthew: The inspiration is always strong but the design for our glasses at the moment are pretty limited. As we only reform the bottle, there is a lot we cannot manipulate due to it’s original form so we tend to make only minor amendments and add colour where necessary. Also, due to the nature of our raw materials (post consumer waste) we are confined to what people prefer to buy and drink.  For example, in summer we tend to be inundated with Corona Extra and Desperados bottles as the light Mexican beers combined with lime is very popular. However Corona seems to be popular all year though. In the winter we tend to see more spirit bottles being left outside our studio. Bottles are also used less in the winter and aluminum cans are more abundant. Don’t ask me why! Cider is another summer drink along with Gin. The design elements we do apply usually come from something we have attempted or produced in crystal or blown in glass in a previous factory/time. Our WiBo (from wine bottles – below) is our most design led range. From one type of wine bottle we can create tumblers, planters, goblets, pitcher, carafes, vases and bowls. We can also create a guitar slide from the neck. Absolutely nothing is wasted.

wine glass and carafe made from recycled wine bottle

carafe made from recycled bottle with thumbprint design

In terms of new products, it’s you the consumer who propels us. By gauging the popularity of the drink we can identify and estimate how popular a glass can be. Usually people buy for gifts and everyone usually has a favourite drink that is shared knowledge with everyone they know. We tend to use the wisdom that if they drink it then they’ll probably buy it. Drinking is quite tribalistic and people tend to stick to certain brands/company’s. It’s a matter of finding out which are the most popular!

Holly: Feedback from Pure Design customers shows that some of your most popular products on our site are the Corona Extra Hi-Ball glasses and Kelloggs ‘Pintie’ Jugs. But what would you say yours are and why do you think that is?
Matthew: Our most popular products are the Corona Extra, Sol (almost non-existent now), Pintie milk bottle milk jug (cornflakes and ready brek) and Desperados. Our new Newcastle Brown Ale glasses, Stella Artois and Orangina glasses are quickly catching them up though. I would say these are popular purely down the permanent branded decal that obviously shows that they are recycled and easily indentifiable that they were once bottles. Corona Extra is the 4th biggest selling lager in the world a  contemporary hip summer drink and visually unobtrusive so it really is a ‘no-brainer’ as they say in retail.

milk jug made from recycled 1980s glass milk bottleThe milk bottle jugs are retro to the core and nearly everyone we speak to has a memory of these adorning their breakfast tables in the eighties. Desperados beer is a grower and steadily becoming firm competition for Corona Extra. Sol would be here but a change in their bottle branding from decal (on bottle logo) to a label (stuck on logo) means that the UK no longer stocks this type of beer in that bottle anymore. Any company out there selling recycled Sol bottle glasses are importing them from Mexico or the USA/Canada but this isn’t in our company’s ethos. My personal favourites are the milk bottle milk jugs/glasses and the Orangina glasses strictly because they take me back to my youth growing up in the 1980′s. My favourite bottle to make would be the Desperados glasses as the bottles are meticulously even in thickness and the glass is easier to heat and manipulate. The COE (Co-efficient rates of Expansion) of bottle soda glass is the widest of all glasses so one brand of bottle differs from another in terms of hardness and softness. It can be quite challenging to say the least and can only really be overcome through practice.

Holly: Finally, what tips do you have for budding glassmakers or designers?
Matthew: First of all, if you want to recycle bottle glass, don’t use a particular brand of blended vegetable extract drink that’s dark brown and comes in a glass bottle with a red cap! They don’t like it so don’t even try. Unfortunately the glass maker industry, like many other crafted industries in this country, is in decline and being quickly submerged under a wave of cheap manufactured products from China. In my role as an in-house designer for a major glass manufacturer I have seen this first hand through redundancies and down sizing and witnessed the blatant misinterpretation that ‘get it cheap, stack it high’ is good enough. What I would recommend to any glass maker/designer is to find a niche market and respond/produce to that market the best you possibly can with a product that’s original and made with intention. Research the markets needs, and try to use recycled materials as much as possible, especially in glass as it can be endlessly melted down with no loss in quality. Packaging and marketing is almost as important as the product itself in today’s retail environment, so build a product/brand/business quickly and decisively whilst sticking to certain goals and rules. Products have a limited shelf life before they start to look tired and stale so always make time for development of new ideas and products.

The one main piece of advice I would give to anyone is that you have to enjoy what you are doing and don’t go into it for any other reason than the love of it!

A range of Who’s? Glass products are available to order now online from Pure Design. This interview was conducted by Holly Langford, Pure Design Digital Marketing Intern.

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Monday freebie – Check out Giveaway Scout


Written on August 23, 2010 – 9:51 am | by elaine

If you’d rather someone else ran around hunting down the bargains and delivered them to your inbox, why not register on Giveaway Scout?

For blog editors, interested in getting more coverage for your giveaways and competitions? Add your blog to Giveaway Scout!

“Make the most of your giveaways. Giveaway Scout is a giveaway search engine. Our users subscribe to receive updates on the latest giveaways on the web. Add your blog and your giveaways will be exposed to our large network or users. We publish your giveaways on multiple channels (Our web, newsletter, Twitter, Facebook and widget network) Get more exposure to your blog and giveaways.”

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Corking new iPAD cover by Ryan Frank has unrivalled eco credentials


Written on August 21, 2010 – 2:24 pm | by elaine

cork iPAD cover from pure design

If you love your iPad as much as Stephen Fry loves his, this designer cork iPad cover will be a must for you.

Cork is a fascinating sustainable material that doesn’t get all the credit it deserves. Armed with a number of natural attributes not found in other natural materials, cork has the potential to be one of the most sustainable products around.

Our amazing iPad cork cover is;
- naturally springy and cushioning, and offers unrivalled shock absorbing protection

- naturally watertight resisting spillages, mould and mildew and extremely lightweight, making it ideal to carry around whatever the weather.

- shock and fire resistant – so no matter how adventurous your road trip – you won’t have to worry about your iPad feeling the heat!

- this product is 100% recyclable

This eco friendly iPAD cover is available to order now from Pure Design www.puredesigncompany.co.uk, priced at £18.00 plus p&p. Allow 2-3 days for delivery within the UK.

Overseas shipping and gift options also available.

The cover is designed by South African born product designer Ryan Frank. Ryan Frank is one of Pure Design’s many talented designers currently selling their unique and cutting edge sustainable designs via Pure Design’s online store, www.puredesigncompany.co.uk.

Also available to order from Pure Design are Ryan Frank’s cork laptop £22.00 and mobile phone covers £11.00 both plus p&p.

So what makes cork so sustainable?
First and foremost, cork is sustainably harvested from cork oak trees, without killing or harvesting the entire tree. Once the cork trees reach maturity (around 25 years old), the outer layer of bark can be stripped off the tree without harming the tree in any way. This outer layer, better known as cork, will grow back completely every nine to ten years, making cork extremely renewable. The trees live to be about 200 years old, providing numerous cork harvests over the course of their lifetime.

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Holly chats to the talented Miss Londei, textile designer and TV gameshow winner!


Written on August 20, 2010 – 2:14 pm | by elaine

 

Union Jack cuff from pure designThis week our Holly chatted to Anna Londei, Pure Design textile and fashion designer.

Anna Londei is a relatively recent fashion graduate but already has an impressive track record – designing for high street giant Topshop and counting Denise Van Outen amongst her many brit-punk fashion fans. Read more about this rising star here…

Holly: I’ve seen from your bio that you trained in London, but from there how did you get started in the fashion industry?
Anna: I had a very unusual and different intro into the world of fashion! I appeared on a Saturday night gameshow with Gaby Roslin called ‘Whatever you Want’ and along with two other contestants I had to design and make an outfit for Topshop. I won and the dress I designed was sold in Topshop’s all over the UK and I also had a month’s work experience in the design department which luckily led to all sorts of other design work.

Holly: What was it like designing ranges for top high street retailers such as Topshop and Faith?
Anna: It was very exciting working with Topshop and Faith. They both are amazing retailers and I really enjoyed designing the ranges for them, I had great fun!

Holly:  I’ve seen from your bio that for your latest range of leather accessories that you were inspired by your love of Elvis and glitter. Where else do you find inspiration from for your designs?
Anna: I have always had a love for old Hollywood movies and stars like Rita Hayworth and Marilyn Monroe. I also love the glamour of the showgirls from the early 19th century Zeigfeld Follies alongside current designers such as Balmain, Luella Bartley and Scott Henshall. Mix that up with a bit of rock chick crossed with the colour scheme of the 80’s and that’s me!

Holly: What has been the highlight of your career so far? And what do you hope to achieve in the future?
Anna: One of my favourite and memorable moments was turning on the tv to see Denise Van Outen wearing one of my customised t-shirts that I sold in Topshop, that particular t-shirt sold out the day after would you believe. I would in the future I like my label to be available to more stores and on-line boutiques and of course for more celebs to be seen wearing it!

Holly: What do you have planned for your next range?
Anna: I’m currently designing a new accessories range using lace, fringing and studs. I love coming up with new ideas and working them through to the finished product.

Holly: Finally, what tips do you have for budding designers? Or anyone who hopes to get involved in the world of fashion?
Anna: The fashion industry is a tough one but I would say the best way to start off is to get some good work experience, you might not get paid but it’s an invaluable introduction into the industry. You can offer to dress at catwalk shows or maybe run errands for the designers themselves. Retailers are also willing to take on work experience in their head offices, you can but try! Otherwise if the high-end fashion isn’t quite you and like me you enjoy making things then websites such as Etsy, E-hive and Misi are ideal. For a small fee you can set up your own on-line shop to sell your creations.

Interview by Holly Langford , Pure Design Digital Marketing Intern

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Britain: Local Production Showcase – Manufacturers, Suppliers and Artisans Breaking the Trend.’ on Ethical Fashion Network


Written on August 19, 2010 – 9:51 am | by elaine

Are you a designer wanting to produce in the UK? Are you a manufacturer looking to connect with designers from the UK?

The Ethical Fashion Forum’s got the perfect platform for you at their Networking Event.  This event is not organised or endorsed by Pure Design. See more details and RSVP on Ethical Fashion Network.

Time: August 26, 2010 from 7pm to 9pm
Location: South Wimbledon
Organized By: EFF Marketing
August Ethical Fashion Social Network Event
Thursday 26th August 7 – 9pm
Eden Studio, Truebell House, 5B Lombard Road, London, SW19 3TZ
Tube: South Wimbledon

Description:
Ethical Fashion Forum partner with Eden Studio, one of the UK’s first CMT units founded on ethical and sustainable practise principles, and Michael Spenley, Head of Corporate Responsibility at Shop Direct to present the benefits of producing in the U.K.

An unmissable chance to see Eden Studio’s full service sampling and production unit for all types of garments. Founded on the highest principles of quality, sustainability and ethical production Eden offer pattern making, toiling, sampling, small run production, bespoke service and guidance .

Catharina Eden, a designer and the founder, will present the newly expanded studio and the success of her business. We encourage all small manufacturers, suppliers and individual artisans in knitting, weaving, hand sewing, beading or any other craft in the London and the U.K. to showcase themselves at this vibrant event.

If you are interested in showcasing at this event or for further information please contact Emily at marketing@ethicalfashionforum.com

Also presenting is Michael Spenley, the Head of Corporate Responsibility at Littlewoods Shop Direct Group. His role involves strategy, operations and CR reporting with a focus on ethical sourcing, community engagement and carbon management. He has been a Board Member of the Global Opportunities Fund Board at the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office and also worked as a consultant for the United Nations Development Programme and as a Commentator on CR for the World Bank Group. He also was Chairman of the United Nations Global Compact UK Network between March 2007 and March 2010.

The Ethical Fashion Social Network Event takes place monthly, on the last Thursday of the month. RSVP to this event on the Ethical Fashion Network or find out more on the Ethical Fashion Calendar.

Be a part of the Ethical Fashion Map; Ethical Fashion Network Events can highlight your business and initiative to the leaders of the sector.

Contact Emily at marketing@ethicalfashionforum.com to become a venue host, speaker or sponsor.

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Touchable felt wall stickers from Pure Design – for wall art that looks as good as it feels


Written on August 17, 2010 – 1:49 pm | by elaine

Here at Pure Design, online ethical and eco friendly design boutique, we are very proud to announce a brand new range of felt wall stickers by Bristol-based interior product designer Rachel Horrocks. Rachel is the latest contemporary ethical British Designer to join our award-winning pool of designers.

felt wall stickers from pure design

Decoflora & Flutter 100% Wool Felt Stickers
Rachel Horrocks’ felt wall stickers are perfect for applying a touch of colour and softness to any interior, without having to go to the expense of redecorating an entire room. And best of all, you can move and reapply the stickers throughout your home as and when you want.

felt butterfly wall stickersThe ‘Flutter’ butterfly and ‘Decoflora’ floral wall stickers are available to order online now. Made from 100% felt with a water resistant coating the colours are naturally deep and rich, with a soft velvet finish. The stickers have been designed to for easy application and to be removable, making a home makeover as easy as 1-2-3. The butterfly shaped ‘Flutter’ felt stickers, and the floral ‘Decoflora’ stickers are both available in a variety of sizes and colours, priced from £26.99 and £45.00 respectively, plus p&p (available in packs of five and ten).

felt wall stickers from pure design

Our Top Design Tip:
For a spring or summertime feel, create the illusion of wild butterflies flying into your home by placing an undulating line of Flutter butterfly stickers on a wall near to a window or door.

Deluxe Edition Decoflora Swarovski Felt Brooches
These sparkling brooches have been created by Rachel for Pure Design as part of her fashion accessory range. The ‘Lily’ style magenta pink brooches are adorned with Swarovski crystals and available to order for £45.00 plus p&p from Pure Design.

swarovski felt brooch from pure design

Pure Design showcase the best of British eco and ethical design, and sell an exclusive range of unique products through their online store www.puredesigncompany.co.uk.

Why is this product eco friendly?
The wall stickers are designed to be re-usable. They can be repeatedly removed and repositioned to create new designs in new locations. The flexible design extends the longevity of the product and lessens waste. The felt Rachel uses to create her wall stickers and brooches is made from 100% woollen fibres. This natural material is biodegradable and is produced with minimal synthetic chemicals and waste. In fact the woollen fibres used to make the felt are largely bi-products of other textile manufacturing processes.

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Kickstart your Sunday with a Merry Berry Milkshake & Win ‘Monkey Mike’s Kids Raw Food unCookbook!


Written on August 1, 2010 – 8:59 am | by elaine

funny fruit

For your chance to win a copy of Monkey Mike’s Raw Food Kitchen, then simply upload your funny food pictures to our Facebook page!

Below is your 2nd snippet of Monkey Mike’s Raw Food Kitchen by Joanne Newell. This kids cookbook offers a variety of fun, healthy and easy to cook food and beverages, including: 

Merry Berry Milkshake
Makes enough for 2 tall glasses (or 3 small glasses)

Sweet, milky, refreshing and full of berry flavor. What more could you ask for on a hot summer’s day? Whip up one of these milkshakes and invite around a few friends. Soon you’ll be the most popular kid in your street!

How to make it
1. Roughly chop the cashews and place them in the blender. Add the water to the blender, and blend for about 20 seconds, until you have a milky foam.
2. Chop off the green tops of the strawberries, and chop each strawberry in half. Roughly chop the banana.
3. Add the strawberries, banana, frozen blueberries and honey to the blender. Blend the milkshake for at least 15 seconds, or until it is completely blended.
4. Pour the milkshake into the glasses, and pop a few extra blueberries into each glass (these make a nice chunky, chewy treat). Serve!

For your chance to win a copy of Monkey Mike’s Raw Food Kitchen, then simply upload your funny food pictures to our Facebook page!

Good luck!

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Win a copy of Monkey Mike’s Raw Food Un-cookbook for Kids


Written on August 1, 2010 – 8:43 am | by elaine

Hi its Holly here, Pure Design’s Digital Media Assistant. Pure Design is running a competition for you to win a copy of Monkey Mike’s Raw Food Kitchen by Joanne Newell.

Monkey Mike’s Raw Food Kitchen is a great cookbook for kids and also adults by Joanne Newell:

 “No, I don’t like spinach! Yuk!”

 “Please, please can I have some ice cream for dessert?”

 If you’re like many parents or childminders, you may have trouble convincing your munchkins to “eat their greens”, or they may constantly crave candy or other processed foods.

 You may also have children who suffer milk or gluten allergies or intolerances.

 It could be that you’re trying to increase your own intake of fresh, raw fruits and veggies, nuts and seeds, and you want your children to join you on the path to health.

Or you may be a family that follows a high-raw diet, and you want a recipe book that your children can use to help maintain their excitement about healthy raw foods, and so that they become skilled in raw food preparation.

If any of the above situations apply to you, then this book has the answer!

As well as healthy and fun recipes, the book also contains lots of helpful advice such as:

Get enough sleep (kids your age need about 10 or 11 hours’ sleep a night)

Get plenty of fresh air and sunshine (at least 10 minutes of sunlight a day, but not in the hottest part of the day)

 For your chance to win a copy of Monkey Mike’s Raw Food Kitchen, then send in your funny food pictures. This could be anything from a face made from carrots and peas to an aubergine penguin. Simply upload your pictures to our Facebook page. Here’s a little inspiration for you to get you started…

aubergine penguins

Happy snapping!

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