In the news: 13th March 2014

This week’s media summary by Nia.

Sustainable Business

EXECUTIVE INSIGHT: Homewares and an Ambitious Sustainability Agenda

Read about IKEA’s sustainability agenda and the challenges it poses for the company:

Why is the sustainability community so bad at sharing data?

Tyler Christie, CEO of big data firm Amee, asks why the sustainability community is so bad at sharing intelligence that could benefit both it and the rest of society.

Co-operatives are an inherently more sustainable form of business

International think-tank SustainAbility claims that co-ops are far better at planning for the long-term, and are more sensitive to their roles as economic, environmental and social linchpins.

Energy and Technology

Fold-up and one-seater cars are coming to a city near you

This cost-efficient and zero CO2 emitting vehicle is perfect for the one-person trips that usually clog up city streets.

Perovskites: the future of solar power?

‘With predictions of up to 50% efficiency and named one of the breakthroughs of 2013, perovskites are the clean tech material development to watch right now’.

Environment and Social Responsibility

Fracking shame: Full threat to British wildlife is laid bare in a new report showing up to half the country could be licensed for shale gas extraction

Environmentally sensitive land across Britain could be excavated for shale oil and gas, threatening wildlife.

First coffee brand to carry Fairtrade Mark built legacy on innovation

Interview with Brian Chapman, Fairtrade pioneer and founder of ethical coffee brand Percol: “I witnessed very poor living conditions and the struggle that the farmers faced to support their small coffee farms and families”.

Turning Christmas tree lights into slipper soles

‘Every year many tangled sets of lights end up in recycling bins, but where do they go after that?’

Illuminating cities with sustainable smart lighting systems

On Friday, Dutch city Eindhoven will introduce a city-lighting system that’s both sustainable and fun. The lights switch off automatically when streets are empty, allowing city residents to create their own mood lighting.