Month: April 2020

UNESCO provides Ethical Frameworks to COVID-19 Responses

Stuart Mitchell

As the world is responding to the global COVID-19 pandemic, quick decision-making is vital. But it can also become a challenging exercise when ethical questions and sometimes dilemmas arise in a context of emergency where human lives and human dignity are threatened. The UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa (ROSA) has stepped up to provide ethical frameworks to decision-makers and frontline professionals in this difficult time. When medical resources are scarce in times of pandemics, what are the criteria for choice and decision-making? In times of national lockdowns, whose dignity…

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McDonald’s pledges to remove non-sustainable hard plastic from its iconic Happy Meal

Stuart Mitchell

McDonald’s UK and Ireland will no longer include toys made from non-recycled or non-renewable forms of hard plastic in its iconic Happy Meal. In 2021, the Happy Meal will only include soft toys, sustainable paper-based gifts or books as the company works to find sustainable alternatives to hard plastic. This represents the biggest reduction in plastic by McDonald’s UK and Ireland to date and is the next step in its mission to reduce its environmental impact across all areas of the business. The move will eliminate over 3,000 metric tons…

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Biffa sets out long-term strategy to drive sustainability agenda for UK waste management

Stuart Mitchell

Biffa plc, has published its long-term sustainability strategy ‘Resourceful, Responsible.’ The strategy, which builds on the Group’s long track-record of making a positive contribution to the environment and communities it operates in, outlines Biffa’s ambition to drive the sustainability agenda within the UK waste management space for the next ten years. It is underpinned by an ambitious but deliverable plan, which is aligned to Biffa’s strategic framework and fully supported by the Group’s previously outlined investment plans. ‘Resourceful, Responsible’ will see Biffa leverage its position as the leading UK sustainable…

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PR firms urged to donate un-used IT to help vulnerable during COVID-19

Stuart Mitchell

PR and communications firms can now donated any un-used (or under-used) IT equipment such as laptops, tablets and mobiles to help the lonely and vulnerable. Social enterprise SocialBox.Biz works with local and national charities to put laptops into homeless centres to provide social and digital inclusion to those who need it the most. They also support refugees living in the UK who need access to IT to connect with their families and their new communities. They have also recently started to include older people and care homes in the scheme. Simon Francis, Chair of…

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PRCA COVID-19 Taskforce launches support service for communications leaders

Stuart Mitchell

The PRCA’s Global COVID-19 Taskforce has launched a free consultation service to help communications leaders manage their organisations and agencies through the COVID-19 crisis. 77% of PR businesses expect the current pandemic to cause a loss of earnings, according to research published by ICCO and PRovoke. The new service – led by Lansons Chief Executive and Co-founder, Tony Langham – connects highly experienced advisors from around the world with communications leaders seeking support. The PRCA has partnered with international associations including EACD, IABC (EMENA), ICCO and IPRA to ensure the…

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