BOOK NOW! Register on the last CPD Environmental Course.

Don't miss the last opportunity to get on this programme of intensive, tailor-made Continuing Professional Development. It will help you address environmental problems, issues and opportunities, with a view to reducing costs, minimising legal risks and increasing your staff's skills and knowledge.

Latest Course Timetable

• 3rd April, 2006 at Pleasley Vale, Mansfield
• 7th April, 2006 at Pleasley Vale, Mansfield
• 11th April, 2006 at Pleasley Vale, Mansfield

Click here for full information on the course and details on how to register

Item added - 20th February 2006

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UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development:
December 13, 2005
The UK National Commission will be hosting the UK Launch Conference for the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development on December 13, 2005 at the Institute of Education, London. Take part in the debate

For the full information click here ...

Item added - 24th November 2005

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Profit Improvement Programme Through Environmental Management
This is a simple programme designed specifically for small and medium businesses that will take you through a logical series of steps to improve your profitability through sensible environmental management.

The Programme will provide you with an introduction to a more efficient use of your business resources and provide you with practical ideas and support. You don’t have to be a manufacturing company – any business of any size can benefit just as much.

For the full information click here ...

Item added - 02nd December 2005

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Knowledge Transfer Partnership - New networking event dates
Do you work with or know of any companies that have a key strategic or challenging project need extra skills and expertise to complete it?

 A Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) could be the answer.

For the full information click here ...

Item added - 16th November 2005

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Catalyse ‘Energy Day’ CPD Workshop
(7th December 2005)
The construction industry is under ever increasing pressure through changing policy and legislation to deliver better energy performance of buildings. At the same time, clients are beginning to demand better, more sustainable projects.

Now more than ever, building professionals need to hone their skills and knowledge. ‘Catalyse’ aims to help meet this need by providing relevant, flexible and affordable training in design for low carbon buildings.

For the full information click here ...

Item added - 16th November 2005

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ISDB Awarded ISO14001
The Institute for Sustainable Development in Business has just been awarded ISO14001 certification, the international standard for Environmental Management Systems.

For the full information click here ...

Item added - 3rd November 2005

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Expo 2005 - "....a great success".
Pride Park Stadium was the venue for the reion's largest expo on Sustainable Development and the Environment this year which took place on 29th September 2005.

The event organised by the EIForum, the Regional Assembly, and Government Office was attended by over 500 delegates and boasted over 70 stands.

For the full information click here ...

Item added - 28th October 2005

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New Environmental Management System section on the website
We've updated our EMS section on the website to include much more information on the reasons, impacts and benefits to implementing an EMS into an organisation.

Over the coming months we will also be adding case studies and fact sheets to aid you in taking the steps to implementing an EMS.

Click here to access the EMS section...

Item added - 26th October 2005

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“Sustainability – Creating the Culture” - 2nd International Conference
(2-4th Nov 2005)
The Sustainable Development Research Centre (SDRC) is pleased to announce its second annual conference. Following on from a successful conference in Inverness this conference will build and examine further the policy, infrastructure and stakeholder requirements needed to create a culture of sustainability.

For the full information click here ...

Item added - 20th October 2005

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Katrina and Rita may be the price for increasing Co2 emissions
The devastation that has swept America 's southern coast recently is a 'wake-up call' to the world about the dangers of global warming. This was the stark warning made by the UN emergency relief co-ordinator, Jan Egeland.

For the full information click here ...

Item added - 10th October 2005

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Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Challenge
Mankind faces an unhealthy trinity in,

• Environment – global warming, extreme weather, pollution
• Energy -demand continues to rise and rise
• Economy - is affected directly by high energy costs and Environmental damage.

In response a momentous energy revolution is happening. New hydrogen and fuel cells technologies are developing to
take over from combustion of fossil hydrocarbons.

Click here for full details on the challenge...

Item added -3rd October 2005

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Sustainable Energy Beacon Open Day Learning Together (11/10/2005)
Since 1995, on 16 September each year, the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer is celebrated. This date has been designated by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution 49/114, to commemorate the signing of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

Click here for more details on the Open Day

Item added - 3rd October 2005

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Open College Network – an introduction to social enterprises .
An ‘Introduction to Social Enterprise’ course has been approved by East Midlands Open College Network (EMOCN), initially for delivery in partnership with the Derbyshire Learning and Development Consortium to staff in the community and voluntary sector in Derbyshire.

For the full article click here ...

Item added - 29th September 2005

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BEST Procurement - gearing up social enterprises to win public service contracts
There is increasing emphasis on the benefit to communities and to economic development of social enterprises proving work for people returning to the labour market and for others for whom this is not an option.

For the full article click here ...

Item added - 22th September 2005

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Sustainable economic development brought to you by . . .  Tesco?
Along with untold millions of other UK residents I buy my groceries at Tesco, where I recently signed up for a ‘ Tesco Club Card’ that earns redeemable ‘Tesco Points’ every time I shop. 

I have only the weakest confidence that the scheme will save me money, but Tesco Points illustrate a larger point about the rise of complementary currencies in the modern economy and their potential for meeting public policy objectives. 

Complementary currencies may also help explain why valuation problems may arise between the residents of different European regions as the Monetary Union continues to expand...

For the full article click here ...

Item added - 15th September 2005

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Have your say on the Pollution Control Standards
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) are reviewing the guidance notes published during 2004 and 2005 which set pollution control standards for 9 industry sectors. These sectors are regulated under the Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999 by local authorities, and are commonly known as Local Authority IPPC or “Part A(2)” installations. Defra would welcome any information from the environmental technology sector

For the full information click here ...

Item added - 7th September 2005

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World Ozone Day
Since 1995, on 16 September each year, the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer is celebrated. This date has been designated by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution 49/114, to commemorate the signing of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

In 1985 at the Vienna Convention there was agreement on international co-operation for research into the ozone layer and the effects of ozone depleting chemicals (ODCs). 1985 also marked the first discovery of the Antarctic ozone hole. On the basis of the Vienna Convention, the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was negotiated and signed by 24 countries and by the European Economic Community in September 1987. The Protocol called for the Parties to phase down the use of CFCs, halons and other man-made ODCs.Man-made chlorines, primarily chloroflourobcarbons (CFCs), contribute to the thinning of the ozone layer and allow larger quantities of harmful ultraviolet rays to reach the earth.

The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer is one of the first international environmental agreements that includes trade sanctions to achieve the stated goals of a treaty. It also offers major incentives for non-signatory nations to sign the agreement.

" Perhaps the single most successful international agreement to date has been the Montreal Protocol. "- Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations

For more information on how you can minimise your usage of harmful ozone damaging substances contact our environmental expert Elisabeth Minshall by calling 0115 848 4368 or email elizabeth.minshall@ntu.ac.uk

Item added - 5th September 2005

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The Throw Away society - Network on Product Life Spans
Although the "throwaway society" is a familiar concept to many of us today, issues relating to the life span of products have received little attention. The Network on Product Life Spans aims to address this by improving understanding of issues relating to product durability and product life extension. Increased knowledge will, we hope, be used to promote the technological and behavioural changes necessary for sustainable development.

For the full information click here ...

Item added - 30th August 2005

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A sustainable disinfectant dispenser
Designing sustainability into a toilet disinfectant dispenser is may be useful, but it doesn’t sound the kind of design problem which undergraduate designers would tell the world they were doing. But sixty design students from Nottingham Trent’s Product design course accepted the challenge and now eighteen of the best designs are being further evaluated. So what are the problems they faced?

For the full information click here ...

Item added - 18th August 2005

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Clean End of Life Vehicle Recycling
Removing all the oil based fluids from end of life vehicles and leaving clean scrap metal is a challenge that sixty students from the University’s Product Design course were set. This project has tackled the problems of removing fluids from vehicles at the end of their life in a more controlled and environmentally efficient way.

For the full information click here ...

Item added - 18th August 2005

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Fancy a night out?
What would you like to do that you can’t do at the moment?
A meal out at a local pub with no-one having to forfeit a pint because they’re driving?
An afternoon at a craft fair at Thoresby Park with a friend?
A direct bus to the pictures or hospital or nearest train station?

The institute is carrying out a study into sustainable transport options for the Ollerton area.

For the full information click here ...

Item added - 09th August 2005

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Stonebridge City Farm worms its way in fishermens’ baskets
Stonebridge City farm has successfully completed its project with the Giant Green Umbrella, setting up of a pilot green waste composting scheme which produces worms and compost.

After a number of technical problems with the composting process, the system is now working well with a stronger emphasis given to the wormery, which produces higher quality compost and a steady supply of worms for fishing and home wormeries.

For the full information click here ...

Item added - 08th August 2005

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£5,000 Grants & FREE workshops
Second series launching September at Nottingham Trent University

Book yourself on one of the workshops now to find out more about how you can improve your resource efficiency, cut waste and costs, implement environmental management systems, health and safety and waste legislation and carry out health and safety risk assessments.

In addition, by booking yourself onto the workshops we can assist you to access up to £5,000 of grant support towards the purchase of advanced environmental, energy and process technology.

For the full story click here ...

Item added - 02nd August 2005

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A new improved Newsflash – it doesn’t wash whitier but …….

How can businesses in the environmental sector find out about businesses opportunities, events, legislation and find partners or networks? EIForum’s new Newsflash fulfils all these functions in its extended Newsflash.

For the full information click here ...

Item added - 05th August 2005

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CRed - How many hot air balloons do you fill?
Probably five, if you are an average individual whose activities produce nine tonnes of CO₂ a year. CRed, the Carbon Reduction organisation based in the East of England, is challenging everyone - individuals, households, businesses, schools, public organisations – to reduce their CO₂ emissions by 60%, down to two hot air balloons a year.

CRed raises awareness, evaluates the impact of low-carbon technologies and encourages individuals and organisations to make pledges to reduce their CO₂ impact. More than 2,000 pledges have already been received. Shouldn’t this spread to the East Midlands?

Visit their website to learn more about your impact and make a pledge. Their 2005 carbon reduction strategy report has recently been published and is available online or as a hard copy on request.

For more information visit the CRed website (www.cred-uk.org) ...

Item added - 2nd August 2005

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Work Link - linking social enterprises, public services and public benefits.

Work Link is a social firm recycling furniture and providing IT training. They have secured funding from Social Enterprise East Midlands (SEEM) to commission the Institute for Sustainable Development in Business to prepare a study

The Institute is developing a model which can be adapted depending on the inputs and processes, it seeks to create a new social firm to deliver a dry recycling scheme for Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, so that they can recycle plastics and card. ....

For the full story click here ...

Item added - 28th July 2005

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East Midlands EXPO 2005

The Expo 2005 is an opportunity for East Midlands businesses, schools, the public sector and the voluntary sectors to showcase activities that improves the regions quality of life. It builds on upon the success of expo 2004 and will have climate change as its core theme.

Expo 2005 is a joint initiative being organised and promoted by the Regional Assembly, GOEM and the Environmental Industries Forum – East Midlands (EIForum).

The range of activities available is already attracting considerable interest from exhibitors and visitors, and the organisers are expecting some 600 visitors at the Expo 2005.

Download the event flyer including registration ( pdf 212kb) ...

For more information on the event and EIForum visit the site at

www.eiforum.org.uk

Item added - 21st July 2005

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Sustainable Development Award winner announced

AstraZeneca R&D Charnwood has been announced as the winner of the East Midlands Sustainable Development Award, part of Business in the Community’s Awards for Excellence 2005, and sponsored by the Institute for Sustainable Development in Business at Nottingham Trent University .

For the full details click here..

Item added - 21st July 2005

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New Waste Regulations could catch out small companies

Every business has a legal Duty of Care to ensure waste is disposed of responsibly.  Over the next few years increasing rules on waste will require changes to business practice, ensuring better protection for the environment and health.

For full details click here...

Item added - 10th July 2005

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Walbrook residents say Yes to an intranet.
Published Report - publication section

Will an intranet help to develop sustainable communities? Do Walbrook residents want to participate in governance? 80% said yes.

For full details and to download the report click here:

Item added - 06th June 2005

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The impact of non-food crops on the countryside: A study for the Countryside Agency.
New Publication

The impact of non-food crops on the countryside: A study for the Countryside Agency.
This report investigates the economic and environmental implications of non-food crops on the quality of the English countryside with a special focus on the East Midlands region.

For more details and to download the full report click here:

Item added - 04th May 2005

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Conference: Sustainable Development of the East Midlands
Event Date: 25th May 2005
Venue: Nottingham

This one-day conference will take an inter-disciplinary approach in order to bring senior professionals from a number of different but inter-related areas together.

Sustainability is not just about the environment; development should not involve economic growth at any cost

Confirmed speakers include:

• Chair: Keith Melton Director, Institute for Sustainable Development in Business Nottingham Trent University
• Yvette Dearden Acting Head of Regional Policy and Sustainable Dev. East Midlands Regional Assembly
• Andrew Morgan Head of Strategy and Regional Affairs east midlands development agency (emda)
• Tim Harbot Divisional Director, Network Strategy, Midlands and South West Highways Agency
• Callie Lister East Midlands Regional Campaigns Coordinator Friends of the Earth (or colleague)
• Alan Smith Regional Director Groundwork East Midlands
• Pat Armstrong General Manager, NET Nottingham City Council
• John Froggart Planning and Development Director Nottingham East Midlands Airport

Don't miss the next sustainable development conference on 23rd November - "Sustainability and innovation in the curriculum"

For further information, a full conference programme and on-line booking, please contact the Waterfront Conference Company on 020 7787 1210 or visit our website at:

www.thewaterfront.co.uk/conferences/conf_calendar.php

Item added - 30th March 2005

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Trevor the Tree:
ISDB purchase a tree to offset office environmental impact.
Date Added: 24th February 2005

The monitor police are watching! Aiming to prevent unnecessary energy use at the Institute, the newly-instated “monitor police” at ISDB are fining staff 10p every time a PC monitor is left on overnight, or when the user is away from the desk for a long period. Fines are also issued for other environmental “crimes”. Proceeds from recent months were used to buy a tree at High Wood, Nottinghamshire, through

RSA - www.rsatrees.org

Why not introduce a similar practice in your office or workplace as a reminder to improve your environmental impact? Other “crimes” to be fined could include:

• Printer left on
• Lights left on
• Paper binned instead of recycled

Changing your ways will save you and your workplace money, and save the environment from unnecessary emissions. See the Environmental Management Systems (EMS) page on this website for more help on implementing environmental good practice. At ISDB we’re well on the way to our ISO 14001 accreditation.

For more information:

ruth.webster@ntu.ac.uk

Item added - 24th February 2005

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