Blog

You are here: Blog
Pomona illustration
Green Summit
Published: 18/09/2023
News
Green Summit 2023: Partnerships delivering Net Zero Carbon Communities

In this blog, Green Summit 2023 official partner Clear Futures outline their long-term strategic approach to tackling environmental challenges.

Read
Green Summit
Published: 18/09/2023
News
Green Summit 2023: Energy Systems Catapult

In this blog, Richard Halsey, Innovation Director at Green Summit official partner Energy Systems Catapult, looks at why they are backing Greater Manchester’s pursuit of Net Zero by 2038.

Read
Terraced houses
Green Summit
Published: 15/09/2023
News
Green Summit 2023: Helping the people of Greater Manchester cut carbon and costs

Green Summit headline sponsor British Gas details insights from its Net Zero Index, alongside exploring the ways it is helping people decarbonise their homes.

Read
Nature recovery
Nature
Published: 14/09/2023
Blog
Local Nature Champions: Jason Williams, The Cloud Gardener

In our next Local Nature Champion interview, we meet Jason Williams – aka The Cloud Gardener – to learn more about his approach to nature recovery.

Read
Green Summit
Published: 14/09/2023
News
Green Summit 2023: Electricity North West’s carbon reduction roadmap

Ben Scott, Environment Manager and Richard Mosson, Biodiversity Manager, offer insight into Electricity North West’s environmental and biodiversity plans.

Read
Green Summit
Published: 05/09/2023
News
Green Summit 2023: The role British Gas is taking in supporting Greater Manchester’s 2038 commitment

Kim Royds, Regional Director – North West at Green Summit 2023 headline sponsor British Gas, explores how they are supporting customers on their net zero journey.

Read
Green Summit
Published: 01/09/2023
News
Green Summit 2023: How Daikin is helping to create a greener, cleaner city-region for everyone

In the first of our Greater Manchester Green Summit 2023 preview blogs, we hear from Daikin, one of our headline sponsors for the event.

Read
Nature
Nature recovery
Published: 29/08/2023
Blog
Project blog: developing our strategy for nature recovery

Find out more about the development of Greater Manchester’s first Local Nature Recovery Strategy in our regular project team blog.

Read
Nature
Nature recovery
Published: 10/08/2023
Blog
Local Nature Champions: Debbie Wallace, Urban Ranger

Read the first of our Local Nature Champion interviews, where we meet Debbie Wallace, Urban Ranger for Southway Housing Trust.

Read
Retrofit
savings
Published: 26/07/2023
News
NEW Citizens Advice Report “Home Advantage” Unlocking the benefits of energy efficiency

A new report by Citizens Advice highlights the many benefits which could be achieved by improving the energy efficiency of the majority of UK households to an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of band C.

Read
Greater Manchester Rooftop Revolution
Zero Carbon Business
Retrofit
Solar PV
Published: 19/07/2023
News
Join the Rooftop Revolution

Is Solar really worth the investment? This blog from #BeeNetZero makes the business case for investing in solar covering return on investment through to increasing the value of the property.

Read
Loft insulation
Retrofit
savings
Published: 13/06/2023
Blog
Eight home upgrades you could get fully funded with ECO Flex

Ella McLennan, from Improveasy, explains how ECO Flex will help to reduce the carbon emissions and energy bills of householders across all GMCA districts…

Read

Take action…

To make a big change, we must all take small actions. Becoming greener and making an impact is easier than you might think. We have put together a range of blogs, articles, toolkits and checklists to help you make a start.

Explore resources

Although we set out with a simple mission to reduce plastic waste, we’ve quickly realised that it’s just one piece in the sustainability puzzle. One of the biggest, but most easily attainable actions we can achieve is to look at where our goods come from and reduce the carbon footprint needed to get a product from manufacturer to consumer. Many of the products we stock are made by local, independent manufactures, who provide us with a wide range of things from reusable face wipes, wax food wraps, face coverings, soap bars, plant pots, kitchen cloths/sponges and butty bags.

Carl from Lentils and Lather

Our aim is to start changing the habits of families in Greater Manchester by getting them to ‘borrow’ rather than ‘buy’ brand new toys. We’re making sure that toys can be reused again and again by children who need and want them – and they are not just sitting in a cupboard or under someone’s bed.

Kim from That Toy Thing

The best part of upcycling is that old furniture is often better made than the equivalent flat-packed furniture we get today and with a little bit of time, love and care, you can create a completely unique piece of furniture for your home that no one else will have. I also love that these pieces of furniture have a history of their own and through transforming and updating them we can breathe a new lease of life into them.

Hannah from Tread Softly

The Green Recovery Challenge Fund is providing a further boost to the ambitions of the Great Manchester Wetlands Partnership to create a thriving, inspirational and connected landscape. It supports the recovery of wildlife through habitat creation and improvement as well as community recovery through providing opportunities for local people to develop skills, knowledge and beneficial connections to their local natural environment.

Jo Kennedy, Coordinator of the Great Manchester Wetlands Partnership

The reason I signed up to the Green Homes Grant scheme was two-fold, selfishly the measures will add value to the properties and make them more valuable in the future. But more importantly it benefits the tenants, keeping them warmer and prevents problems like damp and condensation. Ultimately measures like external wall insulations should keep tenants happier and ensure they remain in the house for longer.

Neil, Rochdale property owner

We used to think we didn’t have enough time to shop on our local market because we were working; how wrong we were?  We discovered it is an amazing place to shop for plastic free. We swapped tea bags for tea leaves and coffee jars for beans which we buy from The Market Grounds on Ashton Market – well worth a visit as the homemade cakes are delicious. All the stall holders have been amazing, not one of them minds us taking our containers to be filled with meat from the butchers. We get our bread, cheese, fruit and veg from the market too.

Julie from Ashton-under-Lyne

Kat Mulhall, Events Manager at Victoria Baths Trust in Manchester

Although becoming carbon neutral is important to our organisation, it’s a lot of work for a small team to put the measures into place. The Journey to Net Zero course has given me practical, step-by-step advice that has made it easy for me to lay the foundations for our organisation to be able to take action and achieve our goal of becoming carbon neutral.

Kat Mulhall, Events Manager at Victoria Baths Trust in Manchester

Kat Mulhall, Events Manager at Victoria Baths Trust in Manchester

The Business Growth Hub has given us focus and extra knowledge. They’ve helped us form the base to grow sustainably and work efficiently as a team while making us conscious of our environmental impact as a business.

 

Ollie Birchall, Founder of Nutri Bar

I’ve not really been a cyclist throughout my life, more of a runner to be honest. And certainly not commuted. But I just thought if I’m going to change, surely now is the moment to change. I’m feeling the personal benefits of doing it. You just feel better when you come into work. It clears your head. There are benefits of cutting congestion, cleaning up the air. Everyone benefits when people cycle.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester

We think our water fountain is INCREDIBLE, it’s the perfect place for people to ‘refill’ and help themselves to any of the free edibles we’ve got growing in Market Place. We’re so grateful to all the organisations that helped make this happen. Alongside the plastic free motion that was passed by council and helped us achieve our first Surfers Against Sewage objective and in turn our Plastic Free Community status, it shows real commitment in reducing plastic waste and supporting our community.

 

Pete Fillery, Plastic Free Rammy and Incredible Edible Ramsbottom

I guess I’ve always been what you would call a conscious consumer. I’ve always detested plastic bags, all of my skin care products at home are plastic-free, vegan, and sustainable. My toothbrush is made of bamboo, there’s no plastic anywhere in the house. Everything in the salon has to be vegan – that was the first rule for me. We started with one brand of haircare products that was vegan, organic, and Fairtrade, but the distributor in the UK was wrapping all of the deliveries in plastic, and it felt really needless, so we ditched them.

 

Rachael, Gronn eco-salon in Bury

Although becoming carbon neutral is important to our organisation, it’s a lot of work for a small team to put the measures into place. The Journey to Net Zero course has given me practical, step-by-step advice that has made it easy for me to lay the foundations for our organisation to be able to take action and achieve our goal of becoming carbon neutral.

 

Kat Mulhall, Victoria Baths Trust, Manchester

GM Green City Logo