Best Foot Forward

An article by Best Foot Forward consultant Jacob Wallace in the latest issue of FMX magazine explains why facilities management organisations should undertake carbon footprinting and reduction programmes as a priority. As well as leading to improved internal processes and reduced costs, carbon footprinting offers facilities management organisations real competitive advantage through enhancing the service offering. Jacob outlines the key areas to focus on and how to achieve some quick wins in the article which can be read here.

Best Foot Forward is delighted to be hosting an Oxford Workshop as part of the Future Agenda programme supported by Vodafone. The workshop will address the big issues on the future of energy, water and waste. With concepts such as climate change, food and land scarcity,  ‘peak oil’, ‘peak water’ and now ‘peak phosphorus’ coming onto the radar screens of business and politicians, this is a great opportunity to gather and promote views of experts around the world on how best to address the sustainable use of resources. There’s more information on the issues of energy, waste and water and while places are very limited, contact Nicky Chambers if you are interested in attending on March 17th.

The Guardian online has featured a study BFF conducted for Reed Elsevier on the relative carbon merits of online versus conventional delivery of publications. The study, which examined the journal 'Fuel', presented a number of interesting findings - for instance if a user was going to spend more than 40 minutes reading a paper online it would be better for them to print an article.

BFF was commissioned to footprint Jamie Oliver's latest culinary adventure so that the celebrity chef could offset the emissions of the new TV series as it traveled around the United States. The total carbon footprint - 243 tonnes - covered all flights, hotel stays and car travel (including early research trips by the production company). The study will also be used to see how emissions from future series can be reduced.

BFF is pleased to have become a media partner with The Carbon Show – a one-stop-show for all things carbon taking place 29-30th September in London. Visit the The Carbon Show website to see our carbon footprint report of a previous Haymarket conference, use our carbon footprint software for free and find out more about the show. We’ve secured discount entry for our friends so you can visit us for free….we’ll keep you posted!

A recent study undertaken by BFF into the greenhouse gas emissions associated with different water provision options for the House of Commons committee rooms has been 'leaked' to the Evening Standard. The study, which quantifies the life cycle emissions of several different options, found that bottled water performed the worst - and that savings of 11tCO₂ per year were possible through a switch to tap water.

The latest edition of the ENDS Report includes two references to BFF and our work. Firstly, Strategy Director Nicky Chambers was invited to comment on Asda’s launch of its ‘low-carbon’ beef that comes from surplus male calves born to dairy cows. The same ENDS edition includes a supplement called the ‘Consultancy Market Guide 2009’ which features an article on the Consultants’ Role to the London Olympics.

BFF Principal Consultant Simon Miller was invited to chair and present a session on footprinting at Sustainable Business - the Event, held a couple of weeks ago at the NEC, Birmingham. A video of the session is available here, but unfortunately the slides aren’t shown so some of his points lack the supporting visuals. However, it is a rare chance to see Simon in a suit and tie...

Billed as ‘the ultimate environment handbook for businesses of all sizes’, the new Green Guide for Business is packed full of advice for cutting carbon and costs right across your business or organisation. Written by Chris Goodall, with contributions from Best Foot Forward, it is authoritative yet accessible, and features numerous case studies to demonstrate how others have succeeded in making a difference.

BFF's footprinting work is well-recognised for its quality and robustness - so we are regularly asked to peer review other studies. One such request recently came from Building Magazine, who have enlisted us as expert reviewers of CSR and carbon emissions reports in the construction sector. Our aim is to use the column to promote transparency, highlight greenwashing and encourage more quantitative assessments of corporate environmental performance.