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May 6, 2013 

Paradigm Hub’s Fridge Friend

fridge_friend2What is it? The idea for Fridge Friend came out of a recent brainstorm we did with the folks at Paradigm Hub. It combines a refrigerator that senses when food is starting to go off, and an app that tells you when and how to use that food before it spoils.

What makes it susty? Customised for your shopping habits, the fridge would be filled with modular compartments for different kinds of food—fruit, veg, meat, dairy, eggs—each fitted with industrial food safety technology, scaled down for consumer use. Using a colour signal to tell you when items are starting to turn (rather than just relying on often inaccurate sell-by dates) the Fridge Friend could significantly reduce food spoilage, a major source of household waste. By optimising the temperature of each compartment for its specific food type, energy and money would be saved along with food.

What makes it sexy? The fridge itself would compete with Smeg on looks (who knows, maybe Smeg could make it). The accompanying app would notify you anywhere, most helpfully at the grocery store, of items in danger of spoiling. Recipe suggestions including those items might encourage a little more creativity in the kitchen.

My verdict: Neither the idea nor the name are totally original (see here and here), but this goes further than the current app-centric thinking out there. We loved the new take on the fridge itself—an essential, overlooked and energy-guzzling appliance that hasn’t seen any real innovation in decades.

Worthy of a post here, we think it’s BOTH sexy and susty. (Thanks to Paradigm Hub for inviting us, and for being full of energy and ideas!) 

March 8, 2013 

SodaStream

sodastreamWhat is it? SodaStream lets you make carbonated water and soft drinks at home. The system includes a countertop machine, plastic one-litre bottle, carbonation canister and flavoured-syrup container.

What makes it susty? The obvious benefit is reducing packaging waste. The reusable bottle cuts down on the billion cans and bottles that end up as landfill or litter each day. It also saves energy by reducing the need to manufacture, fill and transport so many drink containers all over the world. It doesn’t even use batteries or electricity, just the power of compressed gas.

What makes it sexy? Convenience, for one thing: it saves you from lugging, storing and binning bulky bottles and cans. Customisation, for another: with 100 flavours—including diet, fruity, tea and energy varieties—you can mix, match and bubble to your heart’s content.

My verdict: There’s nothing healthier about SodaStream’s fizzy sugar water than anyone else’s, and it turns out it probably won’t save you much money. Then there’s the whole issue of their West Bank manufacturing plant.

Tough call, but overall I’m gonna go with SEXY on this one. 

January 11, 2013 

New year, good beer: Adnams

What is it? Adnams has been brewing beer in Southwold, England, since 1872.

What makes it susty? You wouldn’t know it looking at their bottles or pumps at the pub, but Adnams is steeped in sustainability. They recycle steam in their brewery, capture rain at their distribution centre, and turn their waste into energy. Locally grown and malted barley, pest-resistant hops and a lightweight bottle help make their East Green golden ale carbon neutral. Did you know it typically takes six pints of water to make one pint of beer? At Adnams it only takes 3.2.

What makes it sexy? It tastes good…really, really good. And they have a lovely backstory that just makes you feel happy. And that’s what beer’s all about, isn’t it?

My verdict: Maybe you’re staying away from beer as part of a new year detox. But, when you get bored of being good, at least you can enjoy a beer that does good.

This pint’s BOTH sexy and susty. 

October 6, 2012 

Sainsbury’s milk bag

What is it? British grocery chain Sainsbury’s sells milk in bags used to refill specially-made reusable jugs.

What makes it susty? Milk bags contain 75% less plastic than disposable milk jugs. This means less energy is used in their manufacture and they create a lot less waste. The milk itself is produced in Britain, which means fewer food miles.

What makes it sexy? A two-pint milk bag is 4p cheaper than the same sized plastic bottle. The reusable outer container can be purchased for a reasonable £1.98.

My verdict: Unlike the KeepCup, this reusable container requires people to change their behaviour significantly with no incentive beyond feeling good from doing good. That’s not enough to compensate for clunky design, fiddly use and fear of milky mess. According to research by Green Mondays, industry experts give Sainsbury’s low ratings on engaging customers in sustainability. This product is a good example of how the retailer needs to get better at understanding consumer behaviour, attitudes and purchase drivers, and deliver solutions that are just as sexy as they are sustainable.

For now, for me, this is just SUSTY. 

September 29, 2012 

KeepCup reusable coffee cup

What is it? Hailing from Australia, but available worldwide on the web, KeepCup is the first ‘barista standard’ reusable coffee cup.

What makes it susty? Beyond the obvious, the manufacture of a KeepCup uses half the energy and one-third of the water used by a year’s worth of disposable cups. As stated on its website, since June 2009 KeepCup users have prevented 750,000 trees being felled for paper pulp. They’re also non-toxic which, surprisingly, is more than can be said for a lot of drinks containers.

What makes it sexy? Available in four standard takeaway sizes and a huge array of colours, you can fully customise your KeepCup. According to its creators, it fits in most espresso machines, has thermal properties similar to paper, doesn’t break the crema on the shot and assures a correct milk to coffee ratio. I don’t understand half of that, but I do get that it’s dishwasher and microwave safe and fits into most bicycle and car cup holders.

My verdict: It’s cute and clever, and feels lovely in your hand. That (and the fact that some coffee shops offer a discount for using one) is why I think it can overcome the hassle of washing and remembering it, encouraging a simple new habit…the coffee equivalent of a stylish canvas grocery bag.

A lovely balance of BOTH sexy and susty. 

June 7, 2012 

Burgerville restaurants

What is it? On the face of it, Burgerville is a run-of-the-mill fast-food chain with 38 outlets in Washington and Oregon.

What makes it susty? From its vegetarian-fed, antibiotic-free beef burgers to its lightly-battered Yakima Valley asparagus spears, Burgerville’s produce is sourced locally, meaning its menu changes seasonally. Instead of toys, the kids meal includes seed packets for growing backyard veg. 100% of its energy use is covered by wind power credits, further supporting rural communities.

What makes it sexy? Having tried Burgerville during my stay in Oregon last week, I can attest that it’s living its mission to “Serve with Love”.  The service was fast and friendly, the food fresh and tasty, and it’s affordable to boot! The half-pound cheeseburger at Burgerville: $5.29. The McDonalds Big Mac: $4.50. The satisfaction of supporting local producers: priceless.

My verdict: Despite visiting after some wine tasting in the Willamette Valley, my judgment wasn’t impaired. If anything, I was drunk on the romance of Burgerville’s used cooking oil being processed by local firm SeQuential into biodiesel for use in the delivery vehicles of local bookshop Powell’s. Yes, fast food is unhealthy. No, beef isn’t very sustainable.

But I still think it’s BOTH sexy and susty. 

May 21, 2012 

Gru Grococo chocolate

What is it? A joint venture between London chocolatier Rococo and The Grenada Chocolate Company, this limited-edition chocolate bar is 66% Grenadian Trinitario cocoa.

What makes it susty? The organic chocolate was grown by a co-operative of Grenadian peasant farmers and processed at a nearby solar-powered micro-factory. It was then transported from the Caribbean to the UK in a solar- and wind-powered cool room aboard a wooden sailing ship with no engines. The manufacturers claim its price reflects the true environmental cost of the cocoa, and all profits from its sale go to the farmers.

What makes it sexy? This is ”handpressed, single-estate, vanilla-free, vintage rootstock, grown-with-a-windward aspect” artisanal chocolate. In other words, posh.

My verdict: I’m tempted to call it Sexy because it smells suspiciously like a PR stunt. But I’m sufficiently assured of its carbon neutrality and its fair trading practices. That said, at £12.95 ($21) per bar, it will do little to convince people that green needn’t be the preserve of the wealthy. I’ll stick to Green & Black’s, thanks.

I’m going to call it SUSTY. 

May 11, 2012 

Belu bottled water

What is it? Belu produces and sells bottled mineral water in the UK. It is stocked mainly in hotels, bars and restaurants.

What makes it susty? For a start, they don’t import or export their water, reducing transport emissions. They are certified carbon neutral and their bottles contain 50-70% recycled content. In 2011, they made a three-year commitment to donate all profits to WaterAid, a charity improving access to clean water in some of the world’s poorest communities.

What makes it sexy? Their customer list reads like a who’s who of the trendy and upscale – Nobu, W Hotels, Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen. With its lovely packaging, I’m sure a bottle of Belu feels right at home there.

My verdict: This is arguably the most sustainable bottled water brand. They’ve certainly thought things through carefully. But surely the better choice at a nice restaurant in the developed world is tap water. If customers demand bottled water, I’d love to see these venues go BYOBW (bring your own bottled water). More troubling is Belu’s recent move into the consumer market by stocking at Sainsbury’s. In a category already, ahem, flooded with choice, this is just the best of a bad option.

For me the balance tips to SEXY. 

April 21, 2012 

Lipton Yellow Label Tea

What is it? The tea in Lipton Yellow Label comes from farms certified by Rainforest Alliance as having good conservation practices and working conditions. Though only available in Western Europe at the moment, by 2015 Lipton aims to have certified all its teas sold globally.

 

What makes it susty? Rainforest Alliance certified farms grow crops and manage their land sustainably. They pay a fair wage, and provide access to medical care and free education for workers’  families.

What makes it sexy? Don’t know your oolongs from your lapsang souchongs? This is the affordable, reliable standard.

My verdict: Given Lipton is the world’s best-selling brand of tea, and tea is the second most popular drink in the world after water, this will make a big impact. It’s not my favourite blend, but I did enjoy playing around with its interactive map and games while sipping a cuppa.

I think this is BOTH – sexy and susty.