The dumpster divers exposing UK retail waste —?EcoSend Weekly

Hello!

In the UK this week, we've heard (but sadly not eaten) a lot of waffle about how we can build a better country in the run-up to the election. ?? But if you'd rather build an email instead, we can help you there with our?free visual email builder. You don't need to sign up or even have to code to build a stunning template in just a few clicks!?

If you're an existing email marketer using another tool, we'd like to remind you that you can?schedule a demo?to try EcoSend with us at any time.? We're on a mission to reduce the emissions of digital marketing, so we hope you'll join us! ?? ??

Until next week,

Rachael

Question of the week:?ChatGPT had a huge outage this week. But how much CO? does ChatGPT generate in a typical day? You can find the answer at the end of this newsletter.

ARE YOUR EMAILS BEING DELIVERED?

Let's get your campaigns landing in your customers' inboxes where they belong ??

Under the guise of thick 1980s makeup and an eccentric choice of music video costumes—Adam & The Ants once told us to stand and deliver. Now?we’re?in 2024,?it’s?time to make sure your campaigns?send and?deliver?by using EcoSend.??

We care about?all things?email deliverability?because there is little point in sending an email to your customers if it?doesn’t?land in their inbox. ??♂?

As part of our efforts, we are constantly looking at ways?we can?increase email delivery rates on our end, plus?ensure our customers know how to maximise rates on their end?too.?

One of the ways we collect feedback to improve the likes of email deliverability is through?user testing.?

But if?there’s?anything else?you’d?like to add to our pot of email deliverability knowledge, we want to hear from you!?

Whether?you’re?an existing customer or are experiencing poor delivery rates with another email provider,?let's?talk over tea.?

(Yes, caffeine is a common theme?of our newsletter?and?that?isn’t?set?to change anytime soon). ??

WHY WE NEED MORE GREEN ROOFS ??

A green roof not only has fantastic environmental benefits, but can also deliver huge cost savings too?

Traditionally, our roofs?are made?from?materials such as?slate, concrete and asphalt.?

However, if you’re planning a roofing project anytime soon,?then?take inspiration from this?Harlem bus shelter?by opting for a green roof?instead.?Harlem’s green roofs are?being installed?to cut the number of heat-related deaths in the city, and there’s growing evidence they could?just?be a game-changer.?

A fascinating film by?NPR?explained the benefits of green roofs based on the green roof installation which sits on top of the Javits Center in New York.

Installing a green roof resulted in the building:

? - Reducing energy usage by 26%

?? - Achieving a $3 million yearly saving on energy bills

?? - Saving 7 million gallons of rainwater

?? - Reducing the outside temperature on the roof by 6°F (14.4°C)

?? - Attracting 300,000 bees and 25 different species of birds

New York alone has over 1 billion square feet of unused roof space that?could be converted?to green roofs to enjoy similar benefits.?

So whether you have a shed, traditional house or large commercial building, green roofs offer a climate-friendly alternative to try!?In search of more ideas to make your home or office greener? Check out?this post on the EcoSend blog.?

Happy Eco News

SHOCKING SCALE OF UK RETAIL WASTE EXPOSED BY YOUTUBER

So-called 'dumpster diving' is highlighting how perfectly good items are being incinerated or sent to landfill??

A term first coined in the US, dumpster diving involves people going through the bins of various retailers to find hauls of items that have?been thrown out. Shockingly, most of the time, the items have no?obvious?signs of damage on them. Yet, they?are earmarked?for landfill or incineration.?

In the UK, a YouTube channel called Dumpster Diving UK has gained millions of views exposing the ‘waste’ thrown out by various retailers here in Britain, including this?Amazon returns bin.?

Hundreds have commented on the video of their dismay at seeing endless pairs of shoes (including children’s school shoes) being thrown?away,?for seemingly no good reason.?

At the end of the video,?all?of?the items were donated?to?Gillingham Street Angels, who support local people?who are?experiencing homelessness, financial hardship and food poverty.?

While you do need permission before?going through any bin or skip that doesn't belong to you, this video?definitely?raises concerns about just how much stuff retailers are wasting. One viewer said they ‘counted 63 pairs of shoes and?5?handbags’ from this one haul alone.

EVERY CITY CAN LEARN FROM SHEFFIELD'S URBAN GREENERY ?? ????

With so much time spent staring at a screen these days, it’s?important?to be able to switch off. That’s?exactly?what I did during a visit to?Sheffield Winter Gardens last weekend. ?? ??

Housing 2,500 exotic plants from around the world, the Winter Garden?is proof that any city can become an oasis for all things greenery, with Sheffield traditionally being associated with the steel industry.?

Now one of Europe’s greenest cities, we think towns and cities anywhere can learn from the example of Sheffield, including what’s on offer inside the Winter Garden.

Don’t live near Sheffield? You’re missing out on friendly people and?rather?modest coffee prices. ??

Not to worry, as you don’t have to miss out on sustainable days out or holidays?too, as Visit England has released their?top eco-friendly places for a green getaway in 2024.?

Answer:?ChatGPT is estimated to generate 43,200 kg of CO? per day. (Source: Piktochart)

#EcoSendQuote

“We never know the worth of water till the well is dry.”

— Thomas Fuller