What others are doing
Mumsnet mums and ‘The Carbon Challenge’
In our ‘Carbon Challenge’, earlier this summer, we worked with five Mumsnetters and their families, helping them to reduce their carbon footprints. Our families were footprinted by our carbon experts and set a series of carbon-reducing challenges over seven weeks, from shopping for the Carbon Reduction Label to cooking in a more carbon-friendly way.
All of our Mumsnetters were able to reduce their families’ carbon footprint – three of the families averaged about a 5% reduction, but one family managed an incredible 44%! So, if they can do it, so can you!
What employees are doing – Kingsmill go on tour
It’s not just shoppers who are making a difference, employees have also got involved. Take the Kingsmill cyclists. To prove they were doing their bit, they cycled all the way from London to Paris, proudly displaying their footprint on their shirts.
What celebrities are doing
The must-have Label this season is... The Carbon Reduction Label. When it comes to spotting the season’s essential Label, nobody does it better than fashion guru Gok Wan. That’s why he has joined a host of celebrities backing the Carbon Reduction Label.
Gok and other famous faces, including Shooting Stars comic Vic Reeves, model Gemma Kid and singer Lulu, gave their time for free to show their support for the Carbon Reduction Label. The celebs were snapped in the studio of celebrated photographer Trevor Leighton, weighing up the carbon cost of everyday household products, from Walkers Crisps to Tesco toilet paper.
The shots were taken to raise awareness of the carbon footprint of everyday household items and the brands that are doing their bit for the environment with the Carbon Reduction Label.
Also, in the photographer's lens were Strictly Come Dancing’s Laila Rouass, comic Jo Brand, radio presenter Kwame, swimmer Sharron Davies, presenter Nancy Sorrel and model Lisa Butcher.
Lisa explains: “With our hectic lives it’s difficult to stop and question the climate change impact of our food when we’re grabbing something on the go or trying to feed the family. Looking out for the Carbon Reduction Label when I’m doing the weekly shop means that I can check which of my favourite everyday brands are taking action to reduce their carbon footprint.”
Celebrity ambassador – Laila Rouass
Earlier this year, we worked with Laila Rouass to bring the Carbon Reduction Label to a wider audience. She explained the simple, easy way the Label helps make a difference in programmes such as ITV’s ‘Loose Women’, in the press, and on a range of radio programmes. Laila is an actress and mum who is best known for her roles in Footballer’s Wives and Primeval and her appearance in Strictly Come Dancing in 2009. This year, she’s been one of five celebrities taking over from Richard and Judy’s TV Book Club for Channel 4. She’s also been busy filming for the BBC drama ‘Spooks’. Laila has talked about raising awareness of the Carbon Reduction Label to help busy people like her identify products that are committed to reducing their carbon footprint. She knows she can’t change the world and reverse the impact of climate change on her own but believes it’s the little things that we can all do, everyday that will make the biggest difference to protecting our planet for our children. She has a two year old daughter called Inez.
What companies are doing
To date, the Carbon Trust has helped more than 90 brands and 5,000 individual product lines in measuring and reducing their carbon footprint. And many more household names are keen to add the carbon footprint label to their products. The Carbon Reduction Label is only three years old, but already appears on products worth close to £3 billion in annual sales!
Tell your friends
It is important to raise awareness about the effects of our carbon footprint and our responsibility to do something about it.
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