I’m surprised by the conscious, obvious, effort that UK companies are taking to reduce their carbon footprint. It’s everywhere and it has changed so much even though I’ve only been gone a year.

On my lunch break from learning about the role of International Trade Advisers, I wander into Sainsbury’s, one of the leading UK supermarket chains (similar to Coles or Woolworths in Australia) and the message is loud and clear. I’m asked if I “really need a carrier bag?” to which I answer no and am rewarded with a loyalty point for every bag re-used (I had two). I also save myself 10p for not paying for my carrier bags.

96% of Pret's rubbish is recyclable

 The next morning I walk into Pret A Manger, my favourite coffee shop, for a quick latte (no one understands a flat white outside Australia) before my course on Customer Relationship Management. I notice a large, shiny, stainless steel bin on the way out…

 The green plug is obvious. OK it’s a little daunting, but logically it all makes sense if you take 10 seconds to actually read it. It makes me proud that a company would want to and is encouraging is customers to do the right thing. It also reminds me of the bokashi bin we’ve got going, back in the office in Sydney (Good work Jane!).

I wonder what other innovative and green business examples I’ll find whilst back here?

Craig O’Kane, Trade Manager, UKTI Australia, Financial Services and Business and Consumer Services