Plant a tree

MANDEL is working with outdoor companies, where sustainability is an important issue. But did you ever thought that also blogs and websites pollute the environment?

How much?

From energy consumed by a bloggers computer, to the server where the files are hosted, to the readers’ computer, a typical blog generates about 3.5 kilograms of carbon per year. A study by physicist Dr. Alexander Wissner-Gross (Harvard University), who determined the CO2 emissions of website-usage, demonstrated this. 3.5 kilograms don´t sound much, but just imagine how many blogs exist out there.

Reduce!

The UNFCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) calculated that one single tree removes around 10kg of carbon from the atmosphere every year. So we thought to do something to reduce the Carbon Footprint of a our blog and joined the project “A blog, a tree” by I plant a tree and ITSTH. You simply blog about the project and they will plant a tree for you in an optional German region for free. Other comparable projects are: Ett klick för skogen (Sweden) and Plant a tree (U.S.). Let´s do this!

Day In A Live

Warm, sunny weather is finally coming to Europe. Recommendation by the MANDEL team: Click the player beneath this text and enjoy the song “Day In A Live” by Christin Sargent-Zetterström somewhere outside, no matter if you are out for a walk, sitting on a bench or have to go by car. And tell us about your favourite summer song!

Stockholm – European Green Capital 2010

Last year the city of Stockholm was announced the European Green Capital 2010.

The award is an initiative of the European Commission to reward and promote local authorities for their efforts in environmental improvement. The idea is, that cities become role models and inspire each other in friendly competition. From 2010 on a new Green Capital will be selected each year.

Now on 4th of May the introductory seminar “Stockholm, European Green Capital 2010: Role model for Europe” is going to be held in Brussels, Belgium. For more information see

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/europeangreencapital/events.html

Throughout the whole year different seminars, conferences and events will take place in Stockholm as well, for example the fair “Eco Now” in September http://www.econow.se/

Change with the help of a button

Ulrich van Gemmeren is the office manager MADE-BY Germany.

MADE BY is an independent label for brands and retailers who want to improve the social, economic and ecologic conditions of their collection´s supply chain. The mission: Get clothing, that was produced in a sustainable way, out of it´s niche and make it more common. In ten years  Ulrich van Gemmeren would like to see the market share of sustainable garments at 10%. Right now it´s 3%.

MADE-BY Track&Trace – transparancy for consumer

A code on the clothing´s label makes it possible for the consumer to track via the internet where and by who the garment has been produced.

Pop the questions and learn

Next seminar “The Case for Sustainable Fashion” will be held at Stockholm, May 26th-27th 2010.

You can register at http://www.made-by.nl/OE-MB-seminars/upcoming.php

When Past and Present mingle

The Nordic Council announced the winner of the Nordic Council Literature Prize 2010: Sofi Oksanen from Finland and her novel ‘Puhdistus’, which deals with the interwoven lifes of two women in Estonia. Oksanen will receive the prize at the beginning of November in Reykjavik and will find herself in excellent company since the award was handed to authors like Per Olov Enquist, Terjei Vesaas, Sara Stridsberg and others before.

Humorous History

In some cases the Swedes have a special way of looking at things. Like their country´s history for example. Not only do they proudly exhibit the majestic ship Vasa – that sank just a few minutes after setting sail – but now prince Carl Philip designed a fire screen that displays the castle Tre Kronor…which burnt down in the 17th century. Like the famous (fashion) designer Sir Paul Smith states: you can find inspiration everywhere!

Design and innovation – where else but in Stockholm?!

Stockholm is a city that harmonizes contrasts already by it’s structure: the Old Town and the modern City Center are simply connected by a bridge.  Now in the beginning of February Stockholm is hosting the annual furniture fair. We at MANDEL took a closer look at the exhibitors and their products in advance and proudly present you our Favourites. Criteria were the bridging of design, environmental awareness, and national manufacturing. Acqwool Development AB, Green Furniture Sweden, Kapabel AB, Matilda Ringer and Urnatur Hb are our choosen ones so far.

Acqwool’s Qwaiet Single: sound absorber made from 100% wool – a natural material that doesn’t burn and doesn’t attract much dust

Green Furniture’s @-space: armchair with integrated soundsystem and space for a computer. Made from recycled material, wool and Swedish wood. Why not putting one into the office

One of Kapabel AB’s desks: made from Swedish wood. Follows Kapabel’s standards: usable, beautiful, durable, environmentally friendly

Matilda Ringer’s rainman: hand-blown decanter, produced by the Swedish glasswork Skruf

Urnatur Hb’s design: urnatur is a wood hermitage with different hand-crafted cottages and a kitchen that works with local ingredients. Additional a store offers different design products which are inspired by nature. Wonder if that rabbit got to the kitchen after the photo shooting…