STIHL £1m promotion encourages consumers to ‘get the professionals in’

Outdoor power tool specialist STIHL is investing £1 million in a major seasonal sales promotion campaign for the UK market to drive footfall and sales across its network of over 600 specialist STIHL Dealerships.

A bespoke microsite, www.stihlmakeover.co.uk, offers consumers the chance to win a professional STIHL makeover for the garden worth £10,000. Entry forms have to be downloaded from the site, filled in and then posted into competition entry boxes at STIHL dealers, to drive consumers in store.

The first of three promotions, the spring campaign launches this month and runs to the end of May 2012. This will be followed by two additional promotions for both the summer and autumn months this year.

Titled ‘Wash. Cut. Trim . Time for a spot of Spring grooming’, the spring campaign centres around a price promotion for three entry level garden products, the STIHL RE 98 Pressure Cleaner, the VIKING MB 248 Petrol Lawn Mower and the STIHL FS 38 Grass Trimmer.

Core campaign elements include above the line advertising and catalogue insertion in key broadsheets including The Daily Telegraph and The Times plus specialist gardening magazines including BBC Gardeners’ World, online banner advertising and pay per click campaign on key garden related websites and point of sale collateral for dealers.

STIHL GB is a wholly-owned sales and marketing subsidiary of the global STIHL Group. It is responsible for both the STIHL and VIKING brands across Great Britain, and all products are sold exclusively through a network of over 600 specialist servicing dealers.

This press release is presented for your information only.

Full Disclosure Statement: The GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW received no compensation for any component of this article.

This article is for your information only and the GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW does not (necessarily) approve, endorse or recommend the product, service or company mentioned.

Generous Gardeners Launches Website Helping Gardeners Stay Greener by Staying Local

With the launch of http://www.GenerousGardeners.com, gardeners can now find other local gardeners with whom they can exchange, buy or sell garden plants.

Gloucester, Ma., March 2012 : What is your garden worth? "Find out by listing your extra plants, seeds and produce on our new website," says co-founder and Gloucester resident, Susan Kelly.

GenerousGardeners.com was started by two avid New England gardeners who recognize that gardeners have always shown their generosity by swapping plants, seeds and produce with other gardeners. Now, gardeners have an online site that enhances their generosity and lets them choose the greener option of swapping or donating excess plants, seeds or produce locally. GenerousGardeners.com also includes a "plants for sale" option that lets gardeners find available local plants. Google Maps is integrated into GenerousGardeners.com to enable gardeners to find other local gardeners.

Gardeners can also use GenerousGardeners.com to find, or be found by, local charity organizations that can reward plant donators with tax deductible receipts in exchange for their plant donations. Excess garden plants which might have been thrown onto the composting pile are now earning tax deductions for Generous Gardeners.

"We are so excited to be able to help gardeners make some extra money from plants right out of their own backyard gardens," says co-founder Terese O'Connell. “This new website facilitates a common practice among gardeners, garden clubs, and friends.”

GenerousGardeners.com also includes an extensive plant database of perennial plants, as well as plant propagation and annual maintenance information for perennials.

This press release is presented for your information only.

Full Disclosure Statement: The GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW received no compensation for any component of this article.

This article is for your information only and the GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW does not (necessarily) approve, endorse or recommend the product, service or company mentioned.

Right now, gardeners all over the country can start listing plants for sale, swap or donation on GenerousGardeners.com. In fact, current plant donations are needed for the Second Annual Generous Gardeners Plant sale benefiting the Gloucester Education Foundation. This year's event will be held on Saturday, May 19, at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester. Gardeners who donate plants will receive a tax deductible receipt equal to the amount of the sale proceeds of their donated plants.

It is happening: Alternative news channel on YouTube suspended

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

The Russia Today video channel on YouTube has been suspended because You Tube, or better the US government, and the powers that be that run the US regime, did not like the fact that Russia Today exposes goings on in the USA (and elsewhere) in the so-called “free world”.

The reason that YouTube give for the suspension of the account, as car be seen from the screenshot (not mine, I hasten to ad) is “multiple and severe violations against YouTube's policy against spam, scams and commercially deceptive content”.

In other words Russia Today's account was suspended because they were giving a different slant and take on the official news that is being put out by the powers that be that run the USA (and other so-called free countries).

If Russia, on the other hand, would have suspended a US news channel anywhere the outcry would have been huge from the side of those that have caused YouTube to suspend Russia Today, no doubt.

When the powers that be don't like something then they take measures, under the strangest of rules, to make sure that this outlet is closed down. I guess the news from Russia Today came a little too close to the truth and people were given an alternative picture to that which is being presented by the news media that are owned and operated by people with a hidden agenda.

They talk about Freedom of Speech and Freedom of the Press in other countries but when it comes to the home turf the story seems to be an entirely different one and alternative voice are suppressed, nay even silenced.

So much for freedom of this and that... it is but an illusion.

© 2012

Good Weather = Good Sales for GardenToolbox

With the latest splurge of sunshine and the odd couple of 16°C days that have been present through March; GardenToolbox have already seen an increase in sales and traffic to the website. Who knew weather could be so important to a business? http://www.GardenToolbox.co.uk

As the weather becomes more enticing for people to spend time outdoors, the demand and traffic for garden tools and a variety of other products continues to rise.

It’s not uncommon for weather to affect businesses; some companies are even completely based around weather dependant circumstances. Snow shovels and umbrellas are just two examples of equipment meant for particular types of weather, safe to say, both products, are quite big sellers.

March has already seen a 20% rise in both sales and website visitors on the GardenToolbox website. Seeing as the website hasn’t been running any special promotions or made any vast changes to their marketing strategy, one can only put this significant increase down to the weather and changing of season.

People are coming from far and near looking for the latest gardening equipment; whether it’s something as simple as a garden kneeler or much more expensive like a chainsaw – people are looking to buy in preparation for spring & summer.

Scott Morris, Marketing manager at GardenToolbox was quoted to have said: “We’re well aware of the affect the weather has on consumer buying habits, that’s why we try and cater for the type of weather ahead of us. If spring/summer are just around the corner, we ensure all our summer products are leading the market in regards to pricing; we also check the descriptions are still accurate (as some change from the date of uploading), and we ensure the picture reflects the latest version of a product. This is just some of the work that goes on behind the scenes to prepare for different seasons and how people tend to shop.”

James Cook, another member of the Marketing team commented: “There are obviously some products that sell all year round, wheelbarrows and pressure washers for example. Then there are season-dependant products such as hoses, sprinklers and leaf blowers which are all relevant to specific seasons & climates. It takes a while to identify all of these different types of products, but then we can optimize them and make sure customers are presented with ‘seasonal products’ upon entering the website. 90% of the time, a visitor will be searching the site for a season related product, this makes the searching and buying process that bit simpler – efficiency is the key to online selling!”

The marketing boys provided a good run down on why weather and seasons can play such a large role in a business and how managing changes between seasons can directly affect sales.

GardenToolbox operates under the Plumbworld Network name which boasts an astonishing 50+ websites selling everything from pillar drills and bathroom suites to toilet seats and decorating tools. Plumbworld was an early pioneer of online trading, started by James and Anita Hickman in 1999 and sold to the Grafton Group PLC in December 2006. The business now employs more than 50 people in its purpose built warehouse and offices and has a total turnover in excess of £18 million and is growing at more than 20% year on year.

This press release is presented for your information only.

Full Disclosure Statement: The GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW received no compensation for any component of this article.

This article is for your information only and the GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW does not (necessarily) approve, endorse or recommend the product, service or company mentioned.

Quest Recycling Hosts “Zero Waste Night” with Texas Legends

Quest and Texas Legends Partner with City of Frisco for Community Recycling Event

Frisco, Texas, March 23, 2012 : Quest Recycling Services, LLC is partnering with the Texas Legends and the City of Frisco Environmental Services to encourage everyone to minimize their trash and maximize their recycling.

On Sunday, April 1 at 3:00 pm, the Texas Legends face off against the Iowa Energy at Dr Pepper Center. Attendees are invited to bring old cell phones, ink cartridges, and batteries to drop off for recycling.

Texas Legends’ mascot Dunker and Frisco Environmental Services mascot Rufus will entertain families. Also debuting will be Zero, Quest Recycling’s robot mascot that encourages kids to reduce, reuse and recycle.

In addition to the activities and events during the game, Quest Recycling will off-set all waste and carbon emitted during the game. Trees will be planted on April 22 in honor of Earth Day, as part of the green off-set effort.

The first 75 people to stop by Quest Recycling on Main Street will receive a free game ticket and event t-shirt. The office is located at 6175 Main Street , Suite 420 in Frisco Square. Quest’s office is open from 8am – 5pm Monday through Friday.

For more information, visit http://www.zerowastenight.com or http://www.facebook.com/questrecycling.

This press release is presented for your information only.

Full Disclosure Statement: The GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW received no compensation for any component of this article.

This article is for your information only and the GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW does not (necessarily) approve, endorse or recommend the product, service or company mentioned.

Why smoke when you can vape?

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

Vaping is the healthier and more environmentally friendly alternative to smoking

Today, March 22, 2012, is World Vaping Day, a worldwide event to celebrate and recognize the phenomenal success of the new alternative to smoking, electronic cigarettes!

Electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes, as they are commonly called, are the new answer to smoking, and present an evolution of a recreation that is still enjoyed by billions of people all across the world, but without the 5,300 chemicals identified so far in cigarette smoke.

All an e-cigarette produces is a cool water-based mist that has far less potential for harm. We know exactly what is in the vapor, and it doesn’t have any of the tar, carbon monoxide or large amounts of carcinogens that cigarette smoke has. This is why so many professors of medicine and doctors’ associations have backed the e-cigarette.

Are they safe you may ask and the answer will have to be probably, for there will never be a 100% to almost anything. However, as far as we know they are. And we know that because we know exactly what is in them.

The main ingredients of e-cigarettes are the same as used in asthma inhalers and the nebulizers used by lung transplant patients, and they have been in use and studied for 70 years without any evidence of harm. Add nicotine, if desired though not compulsory, and flavoring, and that’s it. This is why there is a long list of senior medical figures who have endorsed them. So many of the senior public health figures who have investigated them have approved them that we are very confident they are much safer than smoking tobacco.

While I am no doctor and do not wish to make any claims as to health benefits and such for the e-cigarette I have found that, being an ex-smoker who gave up real smoking some twelve or thirteen years ago and who developed some sort of asthma after giving up, that my asthma cough, which I would suffer from nearly every morning, has gone since using the e-cigarette, in my case my favorite, after reviewing a number of them, the Vapestick MAX.

Vaping is also, even considering the fact that new components, aside from the refills, such as new atomizers (they have a limited lifespan) and new batteries (again the lifespan is limited), cheaper than tobacco cigarettes, and especially so in the UK where we have just been hit with another increase in the duties on cigarettes and other tobacco products.

As of 6 pm on March 21, 2012 a packet of 20 cigarettes is now about seven Pounds or more even, depending on the brand. Vaping runs much cheaper even, as said before, the cost of the consumables.

© 2012

World Water Day (March 22, 2012) - Water management initiatives to conserve resources around the world

Bridgestone Corporation has announced group-wide initiatives in conjunction with World Water Day to ensure that the company plays a proactive role in promoting the sustainable use of water during manufacturing processes. The Group has its clear long-term environmental goals outlined in its Environmental Mission Statement, which focuses upon ecological and resource conservation along with carbon emissions reduction, and in accordance with this statement is promoting a wide variety of projects and business processes globally that benefit the environment.

These initiatives include using water in an efficient manner, thoroughly managing waste water, as well as disclosing the results of these and other projects undertaken.

In the future, water shortages are projected to occur on a global scale due to population growth, climate change and other factors, resulting in a rise in the number of people without sufficient access to water. For this reason, actions such as securing stable supplies of safe and clean water, efficiently using water resources, and preserving water-based ecosystems must be taken throughout the world.

Going forward, the Bridgestone Group will continue to advance its water management initiatives in accordance with the Group’s Environmental Mission Statement.

An outline of Bridgestone’s worldwide activities are below:

• Region: Europe
• Activity: Improving water efficiency

Because water resources are extremely precious in the European region, for some time Bridgestone Europe NV/SA (BSEU) has identified reducing water usage volume in manufacturing processes as one of its environmental targets. As a result, all tyre plants in the region are showing continuous improvement in this area, based on the framework of the Group’s original integrated environmental management system.

Activity details

· Recycling coolant by installing cooling towers

· Optimizing water supply by fundamentally revising pipe arrangement

· Replacing existing equipment with highly efficient equipment

· Reducing coolant usage volume by improving manufacturing processes (reducing vulcanization time etc.)

· Ensuring rigorous maintenance of water-using equipment

Benefits

· Reduced 2010 water input volume by 30% versus 2003 (all eight BSEU tyre plants)

· Improved water input volume by 47% per unit of production

France: Béthune

Spain: Bilbao, Burgos, Puente San Miguel

Poland: Poznan, Stargard

Italy: Bari

Hungary: Tatabanya

• Region: Japan
• Activity: Introducing closed drainage at plant

-Recycling 80% of wastewater-

Kitakyushu Plant is taking steps to recycle water by building a system that is able to monitor water usage volumes in real time and introducing closed drainage.

• Activity: Installing eco-watching monitors

As well as showing volumes of service water recycled and drainage status, a monitor installed in the plant’s reception area continuously displays other environment-related information, which the system incorporates, in Kitakyushu Plant.

• Region: Thailand
• Activity: Using rainwater

-Using rain that falls within the site as water for manufacturing processes-Bridgestone Carbon Black (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (BSCB) is taking steps to recycle water by building a system that is able to monitor water usage volumes in real time and by introducing closed drainage.

• Region: The United States
• Activity: Rainwater harvesting project for the Butterfly Garden

Firestone Building Products Company, LLC operates a construction materials business. As part of its support for environmental education, it coordinates the garden, called the Butterfly Garden, of an elementary school near its operating base. The Bridgestone Group will further initiatives aimed at heightening children’s environmental awareness from an early age by using rainwater to water the garden, planting trees, and undertaking manufacturing that uses recycled resources.

About Bridgestone

The largest manufacturer of tyres and rubber products worldwide, Bridgestone leads the way in quality, technologically innovative goods and services and is a trusted brand that goes from strength to strength.

Established in 1931 in the small town of Kurume, Japan on the island of Kyushu by its founder Shojiro Ishibashi, today it is a multi billion pound business with 183 manufacturing plants, in 26 countries and a presence in over 150 markets worldwide.

Always seeking to be the best at what it does, Bridgestone is focused on its mission of “serving society with superior quality” through an enviable range of products that satisfy the needs of the customer and society as a whole.

This press release is presented for your information only.

Full Disclosure Statement: The GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW received no compensation for any component of this article.

This article is for your information only and the GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW does not (necessarily) approve, endorse or recommend the product, service or company mentioned.

WATER, WATER NOWHERE

The very real danger of global water shortages is once again an immediate concern on World Water Day. One billion people still lack access to safe drinking water and more than two billion people lack access to adequate sanitation despite some claims that the millennium development goals for water have been reached.

The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM)supports World Water Day 2012 on 22^nd March, which this year will focus international attention on the increasing threats to food and water security which is exacerbated by population growth, industrialisation and climate change.

The world’s population has now passed 7 billion people; this is 7 billion consumers of a finite yet vital and life giving resource - water. Water is consumed both directly and indirectly, through the products we buy, the crops we grow, and the food we eat. An increased understanding of this process and the consumptive and non consumptive use of water is vital if we are to better understand and conserve water.

CIWEMs Policy Position Statement ‘Water Footprinting’ reviews some of the challenges in the use of concepts such as "embedded water" and "virtual water", welcoming the attention it draws to water use whilst urging caution in adopting a blanket approach. CIWEM advocates a better understanding of the differences between green, blue and grey water. This will help ensure that products are produced in the most viable locations thus allowing the production of indirect goods whilst simultaneously ensuring the needs of local populations and environments can be met.

CIWEM opposes the development of policies which increase ‘water waste’ such as the EU target of 10% of transport fuels being from bio sources which will lead to the growth of high water consuming crops and a reduction in the amount of land available for valuable food production. The challenges posed by water and food security are therefore not just threats to the developing world. Europe is grappling with a variety of land use problems exacerbated by the changing climate, the resulting floods and droughts (which is receiving great media and public interest in the UK) presents both a major challenge and opportunity for change.

CIWEM calls for profound shifts in ideology, policy, institutional approaches, and engineering R&D to ensure water forms a major part of policymaking related to climate change at local, national and international levels.

CIWEM Executive Director, Nick Reeves OBE, says: “The lack of access to water and sanitation for millions of people is the greatest development failure of the modern era. Sanitation has enormous economic, social and ecological implications.”

“Society has long believed that science and technology can provide effective solutions to most of the environmental problems that we face. A coherent education structure from primary school to adulthood will create water wise consumers thus helping to ensure water is available to all.”

The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) is an independent professional body and a registered charity, advancing the science and practice of water and environmental management for a clean, green and sustainable world www.ciwem.org

CIWEMs Policy Position Statement ‘Water Footprinting’ can be found at: http://www.ciwem.org/policy-and-international/policy-position-statements/water-footprinting.aspx

This press release is presented for your information only.

Full Disclosure Statement: The GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW received no compensation for any component of this article.

This article is for your information only and the GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW does not (necessarily) approve, endorse or recommend the product, service or company mentioned.

Ecobuild 2012 – Visit Report

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

While the ZED area and a couple of other stands were rather interesting at a whole, however, from my position, this trip to and visit of this year's Ecobuild was rather a waste of time.

The lack of a proper press office, even though journalists had the use of the VIP lounge, did not help either. A press office, staffed with people in the know, makes any event for a journalist and the lack of it makes life rather difficult as one cannot then, properly, target the right people.

I would like to stress again that bamboo flooring and such and concrete are NOT green and environmentally friendly. Far from it. When bamboo comes in a solid trunk from which planks can be cut we can talk about it again.

Bamboo may be a sustainable product but only if we use products made from this grass, for it is a grass, that are made in the traditional way of the countries and cultures where bamboo has been used for hundreds, nay thousands, of years.

As far as concrete is concerned it cannot, ever, be seen as green at all and that not even with the greatest stretch of anyone's imagination; at least as far as I am concerned, and I know I am not alone there.

If we really want to create a sustainable future with sustainable buildings, whether homes, offices, or what have you; sustainable cities, towns and villages, the we will have to stop pretending that certain processes and products are green and sustainable when they are not.

Earth-sheltered houses and buildings per se, and the ZED type of buildings, may fall into the sustainable category but that again only if and when we are actually using sustainable materials, and that includes, as in earth-sheltered and earth-berthed building the use of old tires, bangs filled with sand, earth-filled plastic bottles, etc.

Products and processes, however, which harm the environment, even if they can create a “passive house” are not part of being sustainable. There are enough ways of making building sustainable and building sustainable building without using materials and process that harm or have harmed the environment.

At times, in the same way with some other shows, I am beginning to wonder it one is just trying to sell space rather than actually check the companies involved.

© 2012

Ideal Home Show 2012 – Visit Report

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

Impressions: Aside from the Prince's House with sustainable ideas – and it was so busy that I found it impossible to get in – there was, as far as I am concerned, not much to write (home) about, so to speak.

Some companies did have some interesting products for sure and the ones that really caught my attention were in the Prince's Pavilion. The latter is a brilliant idea but must really be enlarged and enhanced.

In fact, the idea of the Prince's Pavilion I find to be a great one and it could really become a serious asset to the show if it can be expanded to include many more small companies and start-ups and especially here those that concentrate on handmade in the UK and in this field those that specialize in upcycled and recycled products.

However, as regards to products for the home, etc., of the recycled and upcycled category and nature maybe, just maybe, a separate small show is required in London or the Greater London area. While the UK Aware show does though on that subject a little a separate show of recycled and upcycled products, I believe, would really work well. And here especially also a show where ideas are going to be presented of the “How-To” nature that will make people think as to how they can make things for themselves.

As far as the Ideal Home Show is concerned I am well aware that that is not its main brief and thus it is not the show itself that is at fault. On the other hand there was not much, really, on the new side that is and was worth even writing about bar, maybe, the Black & Decker range of cordless vacuum cleaners.

© 2012