Ethics
Walking the walk since 2003
Having been a designer at leading green organisations and a campaigner with Greenpeace, our Creative Director – Mark Epton – established Advocate in 2003 to champion organisations and businesses wanting to make a social, environmental and ethical difference.
Through the work we do for our clients we have a positive influence on our environment and society. However, our business has a small environmental footprint, which we are committed to minimising further.
Energy
The electricity we use comes from 100% renewable sources. We are part of the Carbon Watchers scheme to save energy and our website is hosted on servers run by solar power.
Natural resources
Our stationery is printed on 100% recycled post-consumer waste, by a local environmentally accredited (ISO 14001) printer. We use electronic instead of paper-based communication wherever possible.
Travel
We use the phone, email and video calls to reduce the need to travel, but sometimes face-to-face meetings are much more productive and personal. We use public transport when we can and are based a five minute walk from our local train station with a direct-line to London.
Waste
We recycle all office glass, plastics, metal, paper, card and printer cartridges. Old computer equipment is either sold or recycled.
Electronic equipment
Electronic equipment is a big slice of a design consultancy’s social and environmental footprint. To minimise conflict over minerals crucial to the manufacturing of electronic devices and issues of workers rights in developing countries, we are very careful about what computers and phones we have – we certainly don’t blindly buy the latest Apple bling. See the Ethical Consumer website for more information.
Carbon offsetting
Offsetting is highly controversial, some even say a con. We’ve decided not to offset. For information read this article on the New Internationalist website, or this joint statement by Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace and WWF.
Green design
We advise and encourage clients to consider sustainability throughout the design process. We promote the use of green paper, printers, printing practices and hosting companies – thereby reducing our clients’ environmental footprint.
Associates
We tend to work with like-minded web developers, copywriters, photographers and illustrators.
Green award
Advocate claimed second place in the inaugural Stroud Green Business of the Year award, beating Ecotricity, Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust and a plethora of other green businesses.