According to an August survey by PR group Cohn & Wolfe consumers are more willing to spend larger sums of money on products they consider to be green. By promoting their green credentials and advertising their goods from an environmental perspective, brands are not only trying to influence consumers but also increase their profit margins.  Manufacturer of outdoor wear Timberland launched its US version of its "Nature needs heroes" campaign on September 3. The campaign, which also runs in the UK and Europe, promotes Timberlands EarthKeepers movement line of environmentally friendly footwear.

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-means-sales-for-global-brands-2071488.html

According to an August survey by PR group Cohn & Wolfe consumers are more willing to spend larger sums of money on products they consider to be green.  By promoting their green credentials and advertising their goods from an environmental perspective, brands are not only trying to influence consumers but also increase their profit margins.  Manufacturer of outdoor wear Timberland launched its US version of its "Nature needs heroes" campaign on September 3. The campaign, which also runs in the UK and Europe, promotes Timberlands EarthKeepers movement line of environmentally friendly footwear.

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-means-sales-for-global-brands-2071488.html

As part of the World Green Building Week, which runs from 20th-26th September, many events will be taking place around the world celebrating environmentally friendly architecture and emphasizing the importance of sustainable building.

To find out events that are taking place during this week around the world, follow the link :-
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/pick-of-the-best-events-at-world-green-building-week-2071642.html

On Monday 6th September and Tuesday 7th September tube strikes are planned to cause chaos for hundreds of commuters travelling in and out of the city centre.

Commuters have been advised to use other methods of travel, such as cycling, to help combat the congestion.

To read more on this article, and to find more information on cycling to work in London, go to: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/sep/06/tube-strike-cycling-tips

For updates on the London Underground, go to:- http://www.tfl.gov.uk/modalpages/2625.aspx

A huge expanse of floating plastic debris has been documented for the first time in the North Atlantic Ocean. The size of the affected area rivals the "great Pacific garbage patch" in the world's other great ocean basin, which generated an outcry over the effects of plastic waste on marine wildlife. The new plastic waste, which was discovered in an area of the Atlantic to the east of Bermuda, consists mostly of fragments no bigger than a few millimetres wide. But their concentrations and the area of the sea that is covered have caused consternation among marine biologists studying the phenomenon.
Follow this link for more ifo on this.  http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/now-atlantic-is-found-to-have-huge-garbage-patch-2057402.html 

Watch this YouTube mockementary on hte Majestic Plastc Bag - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLgh9h2ePYw

Kent-based Verdant, which provides recycling, refuse, cleansing and maintenance services for 24 local authorities, has ordered eight plastic trucks.  Produced by Linktip, the 'polybuilt' bodies offer an increase in payload of more than 880 pounds, and some 20 such bodies have now been supplied to the recycling and waste management industry.  Linktip calculates that a plastic-bodied vehicle of less than 7.5 tonnes potentially carries twice as much load, which could mean saving more than 11 tonnes of carbon per vehicle every year. Fuel savings could run around £2,500  per vehicle per year.

The 3.5 tonnes vehicles have a tipping rear body made of polypropylene plastic, rather than the traditional metal or glass-reinforced plastic.

A representative from Verdant said "We reviewed Linktip's plastic bodies and were quickly convinced of the significant benefit that they can deliver in terms of productivity gains, cost savings and environmental impact."

Read more: http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2010/08/26/uk-waste-company-adds-plastic-trucks-its-fleet#ixzz0xoKhCf84  

A survey released on August 3rd by business insight organization McKinsey & Company revealed that corporate executives consider climate change and environmental efficiency the most important environmental issue related to their business.  Companies are becoming more aware of consumer environmental concerns: 43 percent of executives see climate change as the most important environmental issue facing their business and 59 percent have a positive outlook on issues such as biodiversity and have taken steps to reduce the environmental impact of their company's actions. 
The increased number of companies joining the Green Achiever Scheme ( www.greenachiever.co.uk ) is evidence of the research with more and more businesses wanting advice on what they can do to reduce their environmental impacts and importantly how can they get credit for this through an award recognition  framework.

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/biodiversity-becoming-more-important-to-businesses-2046307.html

Britain's biggest supermarket chains will come under fire this week for handing out tens of millions more carrier bags than last year, derailing attempts to reduce the environmental impact from billions of disposable bags.

New figures will show that the industry missed its target of halving the number of plastic bags used in 2006 for the second consecutive year. The setback will propel carrier bags back on to the green agenda, despite hopes of moving the environmental debate on to tackle bigger issues, such as food waste and water usage.

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/supermarkets-lose-heart-in-green-war-on-plastic-carrier-bags-2058840.html

The president of the United States Barack Obama, along with his family in the Mexican Gulf, to try and help restore public confidence in the resort towns which have suffered largely financially since the oil spill back in April.

The Whitehouse released a photo from the presidents official photographer showing the family swimming in the Gulf at alligator point.

The resort towns of the Florida panhandle are on the eastern edge of the oil spill but the beaches were still hit by tar balls and an oily sheen.

To read more on this story go to : http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/aug/15/barack-obama-swim-gulf-florida

The internet is used vastly around the globe, resulting in around 300 million tonnes of CO2 being used per year, equivalent to every person in the UK flying to America and back twice over.

As well as using the internet, the computer is also used for offline work, such as microsoft office, which is too difficult to measure for the energy consumption.

It's possible, nonetheless, to take a rough stab at working out the internet's carbon footprint. A good place to start is the world's data centres – buildings packed top to bottom with servers full of the web pages, databases, online applications and downloadable files that make the modern online experience possible. Data centres use lots of electricity, both for powering the machines they contain and – all importantly – for the air conditioning needed to keep the servers from overheating.

Read more here :- http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/aug/12/carbon-footprint-internet