Best Foot Forward

Ecover are a leading company in the field of sustainability and wished to conduct detailed ecological footprints of three of their leading products: washing powder, washing up liquid and toilet cleaner. Ecover appointed us to undertake both ecological and carbon footprints of the full product lifecycles including raw materials, manufacture and distribution. We also provided a broader sustainability assessment, and together the results from these reports are being incorporated into Ecover’s constantly evolving sustainability strategy.

The 16th Annual Public Health Forum was held over two days at the Arena & Convention Centre Liverpool in April 2008. The UK Public Health Association (UKPHA), who organised the conference, commissioned BFF to assess the carbon and ecological footprint of delegates’ travel,  accommodation and food consumption as well as waste management, energy and material use at the venue. The results are being used by UKPHA and ACC Liverpool staff to develop their sustainability policies.

Sunderland based people and property business, Gentoo, is aiming to create a benchmark to measure and therefore effectively manage their environmental impact in order to contribute to the UK’s Carbon Reduction Commitment. BFF was commissioned by Gentoo to carry out a comprehensive footprint assessment (both carbon and ecological) of its entire business as part of its ongoing work aimed at improving the efficiency of the Group and lessening its impact on the environment.

Connection launched the new IS chair which maximises recycled content, and has an extended warranty to increase the effective asset life. Our carbon and ecological footprint assessment showed these design changes markedly reduce the footprint compared to a typical office chair.

Duchy Originals is a market leader in responsible food production. BFF was contracted to supplement their existing work by calculating the ecological footprint of several of their products, and identify 'hotspots' where the largest impacts lie. BFF has also been working with Duchy Originals to further incorporate sustainability across their business.

CABE (The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment) plays a key role in raising awareness of sustainability across the industry. CABE wanted to manage its own footprint, so commissioned BFF to calculate the ecological and carbon footprint of its office activities.

Trócaire is the official overseas development agency of the Catholic Church in Ireland with its head office in Maynooth and international offices around the world. Trócaire campaigns on climate change issues and wished to carefully assess its own impacts as an organisation. BFF calculated the carbon and ecological footprints of three Irish and three international Trócaire offices as well as all international travel. Our findings helped Trócaire understand the relative impacts of different activities, and allowed it to start tackling the major challenge for an international aid agency of minimising air travel.

Orangebox was ahead of the curve in recognizing the importance of minimising the carbon intensity of its products. In 2006 we worked closely with the production team to assess the carbon and ecological footprints of a range of chairs, and we ran scenarios on possible reduction opportunities from material substitution. Further work included the implementation of a workshop for sharing knowledge between Orangebox staff and suppliers, BFF, and specialist eco-designers.

The South West region benefits from an outstanding landscape and rich cultural heritage which attract over 20 million visits by tourists each year. The regional government is acutely aware of its need to preserve the natural environment whilst encouraging economic growth and improving quality of life. In order to make informed decisions and develop effective policies, local decision makers first needed to understand the current environmental position. BFF met this need by completing ‘Stepping Forward’, a resource flow and ecological footprint analysis of the South West.

The Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) manages a number of rural estates and National Nature Reserves. BFF was approached by CCW to consider the impact of its utility usage, but our wider study showed the highest emissions actually come from material inputs and staff transport. CCW used these results to target emissions reduction actions.

The National Health Service (NHS) is one of the world’s largest employers, and its size and function necessitate intensive resource use. BFF’s ‘Material Health’ study investigates the mass balance and ecological footprint of the NHS in England and Wales - the first time a measure of this kind had been attempted. The objective of the study was to influence future environmental policy while supporting the NHS’s primary purpose of improving the health of the nation. The Material Health report has been broadly received as an insightful and sophisticated analysis of a highly complex organisation.

This pioneering study was commissioned by IWM as part of the Biffa Programme on Sustainable Resource Use. The study assessed the resource flows and ecological footprint of Greater London with the aim of providing an evidence base with which to influence policy. The report was welcomed by the Mayor of London as “particularly important because it is the first such analysis of a major world city”. The 'City Limits' report has been widely lauded, and now forms part of the curriculum in London schools.