News from Inspirations

What a summer so far!

2009-08-03T13:37:00.004+01:00

Well, just when everyone else are showing sour faces over the recession, Inspirations are flying!

Inspirations recently won a tender to get onto the preferred supplier list for all the Council's in Devon - that's Devon County Council, Teignbridge, Exeter City, East Devon, Mid Devon et al... plus various other organisations such as Dartmoor National Park. We start producing graphic design for all of the Devon based authorities from 1st August!

We then managed to become preferred supplier to the Schumacher College at Dartington (part of the Schumacher Circle. This organisation wanted to work with Inspirations because of our professional and sustainable attitudes. Our first project was to design a new brochure - prospectus for the college and a new course poster.

Another great client to jump on the Inspirations ship is Devon Link. These guys promote health and social care around Devon at various Events, and have just signed us to produce a new brand logo, Bus stop panels, leaflets and banners.

Thanks to all involved.

Inspirations win Carbon Positive Awards

2009-05-06T15:19:00.003+01:00

We are pleased to announce that we have just won the Carbon Positive Footprints Award at the Prince's May Day Summit this year.

The day consisted of working groups, presentations, case studies and talks on sustainability from companies right across the UK, including BT and Schumacher College and supported by Business in the Community, culminating in the awards ceremony.

We are really chuffed to have won this prestigious award.

Joined up thinking

2009-03-20T16:15:00.005Z

We recently went to a sustainability event in Dartington, where green minded individuals and companies met to talk about and spread good environmental practice.

One thing we found, was that although the company itself had a good solid sustainable foundation, when it came to telling everyone about it, the fell at the first hurdle.

We found that most hadn't thought about the paper they printed on, had gloss laminated their brochures, used 'their local printer' and certainly not even thought about the carbon impacts of their literature.

Inspirations, gave a little 5 minute talk on how we can address this and create a much deeper credibility with their customers, simply by addressing their literature in a joined up way - a bit like they would if they were gathering ingredients together to bake an eco-friendly cake!

What many people don't realise is that the printing industry is actually the 3rd largest polluter in the world! So keeping your printed material ecofriendly, is something very worthwhile!

Recent Sustainable Supply Chain Findings:

2009-03-16T16:42:00.003Z

Business still in dark over climate threat

While many corporate giants have woken up to the risks climate change poses for their business, many of those further down the supply change are blissfully unaware of how it may harm their trade.

This is the key finding of a study undertaken by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), an initiative set up to encourage big business to be open about its emissions.

The CDP asked hundreds of suppliers working for major companies for their views on regulatory and physical risks and of the 634 who responded, a full third said they did not believe they faced any threat at all.

Only 58% considered climate change posed a risk to their operations.

Interestingly, the report showed that Asian suppliers expressed the highest level of concern over climate change and many are using governance and employee incentives to drive positive action.

Of the 77 responding suppliers based in Asia, 66% cite board level responsibility for climate change issues, well above the 54% global average.

In addition 39% of responding Asian companies reported the use of employee incentives, which can be a key lever for change.

As well as providing companies with a system for tracking and reporting their own emissions, the CDP also offers advice on helping them influence their suppliers in this area.

34 big name companies including Cadbury, Vodafone and Unilever use the system, requiring their major suppliers to report on their carbon footprint.

For most companies, 40% to 60% of their total carbon emissions are beyond their direct control and come from their supply chain, but by requesting those further down the chain to report - and address - their share of the impact, large businesses can have a significant impact.

-Edie 9th March 2009

Inspirations can help make this difference - call us for more information

Greenpeace Plot

2009-03-09T16:59:00.001Z

We have now signed up to the Airplot to help stop the extra runway at Heathrow.

Why - visit www.greenpeace.org.uk to find out why

Green England Awards

2008-11-06T16:07:00.003Z

Today we have been told that Inspirations have been nominated into the 'Most innovative product' in the Green England Awards and have made the finals.

The Green England Awards aim to showcase the commitment of companies and individuals to environmental and ethical goals. Promoting ethical choices over boundless consumerism, awards will be presented in six categories:

Best Green Company
Best Fair Trade Company
Best Green Charity
Most Innovative Green Product
Best Customer Service
Best Newcomer

So please ... vote for us!

Call for charities from sustainable design agency, devon

2008-10-17T22:26:00.008+01:00

As part of our commitment to sustainable and ethical values, Inspirations (a Devon sustainable design agency) is calling for local charities to get in touch! We will shortly be launching 'Inspired Charities' where we will be asking local businesses to commission us for graphic design work, where all fees will be donated to 3 selected charities in the area.

Currently, we have Shaldon Wildlife Trust and the Teignmouth RNLI as our resident charities, but we are now looking for a third to benefit from our Inspired Charities Day.

So, if you are part of a charity and you think you could be our third, email us now with a short paragraph explaining why we should choose you.

And remember, all our work is highly professional, creative and sustainable!

Recent Carbon Trust findings

2008-10-02T12:43:00.001+01:00

26/09/2008 - “Trillion Dollar Wake-Up Call” For Business

Companies that take decisive action to tackle their carbon footprint could significantly increase in value, new research claims.

The Carbon Trust argues that proactive, forward-thinking firms that embrace the shift to a low carbon economy could increase in value by up to 80%.

However, they also warned businesses that didn’t adapt and were unprepared could be jeopardising up to 65% of their value.

The study, carried out by analysts McKinsey and Co, focused on the following six sectors, which have a combined estimated market value of $7 trillion: aluminium; auto; beer; building materials; consumer electronics; and oil.

It found that some industries, such as the automobile industry had significant potential for both increased opportunities (60%) and risk (65%). Other industries, such as oil and gas had limited scope for increasing value due to good environmental practice (up to 7%), but still had the potential of losing up to 35% of their value if they failed to put tackling climate change at the top of their strategy.

Tom Delay, chief executive of the Carbon Trust, said businesses must act now.

He argued:

“Climate change will cause a revolution in business and our findings should act as a trillion dollar wake-up call. Companies that prepare now and develop new strategies will reap the commercial rewards of the move to a low carbon economy.

“The financial risks of inaction are just too vast to ignore. We can see a trillion dollars of company value change, with leading, well-positioned companies gaining, and badly positioned or slow companies losing out.”

Mr Delay urged businesses to immediately incorporate climate change into their core strategy decisions, and also called on governments to create a policy framework that rewards firms who take steps to be more environmentally aware.

He said:

"We have a short window of opportunity to act, but at present business and investor actions are way out of step with the need to tackle climate change.”

Another recent study claimed the Carbon Trust had helped UK businesses save around £1 billion in energy costs and carbon emissions since it was launched in 2001.

Source: Carbon Trust, 22/09/2008

Freelance Designer needed

2008-09-25T11:26:00.003+01:00

Inspirations is growing fast due to its unique sustainable and ethical ethos in the south west.

We are currently looking for a freelance designer who can come in-house for up to 3 mornings/afternoons per week for around 10-12 hours.

If you are environmentally aware, creative, local and perhaps a little off the wall, then get in touch today. All rates and hours are negotiable/flexible, so if you already have other commitments, that's not a problem.

Call Pete on 01626 867 323 or email your cv to pete@inspirations.uk.net

Calling all green businesses

2008-09-25T11:21:00.003+01:00

Inspirations has just sent out a call to all local sustainable businesses in the area.

We are currently compiling a 'green list' to present to all our clients and associates to help spread the green message. So, if you are a south west based company, or who have offices in the area, you are asked to contact Peter Williams to get onto this list.

email: pete@inspirations.uk.net

Inspirations joins Ethical Junction

2008-08-26T09:22:00.002+01:00

It has just been confirmed that we have been accepted into the Ethical Junction listings.

Ethical Junction is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company that operates a national network of positively screened organisations, who practice ethically and whose products and services are environmentally friendly, sustainable, fairly traded and socially responsible.

One of only a handful of sustainable design agencies in the UK, we are pleased to be associated with this network.

Inspirations, Sustainable design agency, Devon

2008-08-13T14:50:00.003+01:00

Welcome to the news feed from Inspirations.

Since we started business back in 2004, we wanted to create a company that was both ethical and environmentally friendly. Today, we are pioneering the concept of sustainable communications across the south west and beyond.

Working with clients such as Devon County Council, Marine Conservation Society, Dartmoor National Park, DEBI and Shaldon Wildlife Trust, we are making a real difference to the environment with our graphic design services. We also work with industry and have been fortunate enough to work with some of the UK's most recognised brands such as Honda Formula One, Dow Chemicals (Dow Hyperlast), HSBC, Bandvulc Group and Stagecoach to name just a few on producing great sustainable design and print.

From time to time, we will post news and developments on this page and we hope that you find it inspiring!