On Thursday 26th September we held our very first business eco day! 50 Oxfordshire businesses met to explore how they can all become more sustainable and explore how they can help with the climate crisis which Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg described at the United Nations in New York recently.  

Along with workshops about climate change and how to respond, there were advisors including Oxfordshire Greentech and the Low Carbon Hub talking about routes towards sustainability. Climate change coach Charly Cox talked about the positive ways companies can show leadership which included changing established habits such as sourcing food, office suppliers, materials such as wood and plastic, power and transport.

Entrepreneurs who have already taken a lead in their businesses demonstrated and explained solutions they have embraced, including the all-electric fleet operated by Oxford Office Furniture and the huge commitment to sustainable printing taken by Seacourt Printers, now one of the leading sustainable businesses in Europe.

Four students from Icknield Community College in Watlington provided a reminder of the concerns in their generation, who will be most affected by climate change. A student-led initiative at the school has been addressing waste and unsustainable activities, seeking to reduce energy use, increase recycling and reduce plastic use.

We have committed to being a zero-carbon business by 2030. We hope our event will encourage others to begin taking similar practical steps towards addressing climate change.

Ceramicist Mia Sarosi, who has a pottery studio on Monument Park, produced some special designs on the theme of ‘taking action on climate change’, which were presented to us at the Business Eco Day. Food for the event was specially prepared by Debbie Warland’s team at the Picnic Hamper café on Monument Park using organic and sustainably sourced supplies including fruit from local orchards.

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