Stuart Mitchell
Verified
“Ethical marketing’s first influencer”, podcaster, owner of the biggest ethical marketing resource online. Fan of silly things from Falsetto Socks to Dr Who...
Articles by Stuart Mitchell
Maternal deaths are up 20% since 2010 as new charitable organisation launches to help
A new charity dedicated to improving the care, recovery and long-term support of women who become critically ill during pregnancy or after birth will launch on 10 September – pending charity commission approval – the same day as the virtual MBRRACE-UK conference which will discuss findings from the 13th MBRRACE-UK report into maternal deaths.
Human ‘word of mouth’ beats AI for brand loyalty, new DMA research finds
Consumers who discover new brands, products and services through word-of-mouth recommendations and reviews are five times more likely to be loyal to those brands than those which are discovered using AI (56% net positive impact on loyalty vs 11%). That’s according to a new report from the Data and Marketing Association (DMA) that has revealed a stark disconnect between the customer engagement tactics marketers are adopting and what consumers actually value.
Women in Scotland facing significantly poorer outcomes across life-changing health conditions
WOMEN in Scotland are suffering avoidable deaths because of barriers to accessing healthcare for chest, heart, stroke and other long-term conditions. Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS) has launched a three-year Women’s Health Plan setting out clear actions to improve prevention, diagnosis, treatment and support for women across Scotland.
Young environmental leaders from India, Portugal and Ghana win The Iris Prize 2026
The winners and runners-up have been announced for the fifth installment of The Iris Prize, an international award that recognises and backs young environmental stewards dedicated to catalysing climate action within their communities, and safeguarding the future of our planet’s ecosystems. This year’s winners and runners-up, collectively, will receive $45,000 in prize awards alongside mentoring and other non-financial support to help scale their work for years to come.
Orizon achieves unprecedented carbon credit rating in the sector
Orizon, Latin America’s largest waste management company, has achieved an unprecedented milestone: the carbon credits generated at its Maceió (Alagoas state) and Sergipe (Sergipe state) Ecoparks have received an AA Rating from Sylvera, one of the world’s most rigorous carbon credit rating agencies. With this achievement, the two facilities become the only landfill-based carbon credit projects operated by Orizon worldwide to receive an AA rating from the institution.
Orizon achieves unprecedented carbon credit rating in the sector
Orizon achieves unprecedented carbon credit rating in the sector Orizon, Latin America’s largest waste management company, has achieved an unprecedented milestone: the carbon credits generated at its Maceió (Alagoas state) and Sergipe (Sergipe state) Ecoparks have received an AA Rating from Sylvera, one of the world’s most rigorous carbon credit rating agencies.
New WARC x LinkedIn research: How to build more Buyable brands. Introducing the 3Rs that make B2B brands more buyable
B2B buying has changed. Cycles now stretch 272 days with 22 stakeholders, and decisions are driven by social and emotional factors. Additionally, AI is changing how B2B buyers discover, research, and validate brands, with research finding that 94% of B2B buyers used LLMs during their buying journey in 2025. New research from WARC, LinkedIn, and LIONS Advisory reveals that the most effective B2B creative does more than build awareness, it strategically builds decision defensibility.
The Earthshot Prize Announces City of Barcelona as a 2026 Finalist
The city of Barcelona is today revealed as a 2026 Finalist of The Earthshot Prize, the world’s most prestigious environmental award, for turning one of Europe’s most intensively used urban coastlines into a global blueprint for climate adaptation for other cities to replicate. The Earthshot Prize, founded by Prince William in 2020, recognises solutions from different geographies, sectors and stages in their life cycle, dedicated to solving our planet’s greatest environmental challenges.
The first International Conference of the UN Global Framework on Chemicals
The first International Conference of the Global Framework on Chemicals will take place from 16 to 20 November 2026 in Geneva, Switzerland, bringing together countries, and representatives of industries, financial institutions, international organizations, science and civil society, to accelerate action for a planet free of harm from chemicals and waste.
BWP Launches Corporate Reputation And ESG Offering To Support Growing Client Demand
Integrated marketing agency BWP has announced the launch of a new corporate reputation and ESG offering, marking a strategic expansion of its services to support clients with business-critical communications.
Dynamic Earth shortlisted for Scottish Thistle Awards Inclusion Award
Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh’s Science Centre and Planetarium, has been named a regional finalist for the Inclusion Award at the 2026 Scottish Thistle Awards, recognising its ongoing commitment to ensure more people can experience, explore and engage with science. The Central and East finalists were celebrated at The Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh on 17 September, with Dynamic Earth shortlisted alongside Edinburgh International Conference Centre, Edinburgh Zoo, The Enchanted Forest and Rosslyn Chapel.
National Lottery marks the biggest Lotto changes in eight years with ‘You’ll See The Signs’
The Irish National Lottery has launched ‘You’ll See The Signs’, a campaign created by Folk VML to mark the biggest set of changes to Lotto in eight years. From Saturday 5 September the game drops from 47 balls to 45, shortening the odds of winning the jackpot from 1 in 10.7 million to 1 in 8.1 million. A third weekly draw arrives on Mondays, and the Lotto Plus 2 top prize rises from €250,000 to €1 million.
People’s Pension warns millions of savers could miss out on free targeted pension support
Millions of hardworking workplace pension savers risk missing out on free targeted support with important retirement decisions because of how their pension is regulated, People’s Pension has warned, as it calls on Government to address the gap between contract and trust-based schemes.
The Hague looks upwards to build climate resilience
The Hague is looking upwards as it adapts to a changing climate. During Uit je Dak on 12 and 13 September, six locations demonstrated how rooftops can support biodiversity, store rainwater, generate solar energy, and help reduce heat. The initiative highlights how overlooked urban space can become practical infrastructure for a greener, more resilient city. Three venues took part for the first time: Leiden University, Centrum Laakhavens, and Living Lab Binckhaven.
Renewable supply shortfalls threaten companies’ 100% clean energy goals
Global businesses are making progress towards 100% renewable electricity, but many say policy, market and procurement barriers are still slowing adoption and limiting access to the renewable energy they need. Leading companies switching to 100% renewables are citing “limited supply and cost” as the biggest barrier in key markets, followed by a “lack of procurement options” and “regulatory barriers”.
IPA backs industry concerns over proposed NPM changes
The IPA is supporting wider industry efforts to challenge Government proposals to apply the Nutrient Profiling Model 2018 (NPM 2018) to existing less healthy food and drink advertising restrictions. The move follows a report by Oxford Economics estimating that the proposals could affect up to £1 billion of advertising investment, with implications for growth, jobs and the UK’s creative industries.
£3m to UK Youth Fund to support small youth organisations across the UK
The Julia Rausing Trust has announced a £3 million grant to the UK Youth Fund, helping to provide small youth work and outdoor learning organisations across the UK with long-term, unrestricted funding. Building on £10 million already committed by Pears Foundation, the new grant brings the total value of the UK Youth Fund to £13 million.
New CATF tool provides framework for self-assessment and strengthening of biomass carbon removal protocols
A new interactive tool from Clean Air Task Force (CATF) provides a practical framework for the self-assessment and strengthening of biomass carbon removal (BiCRS) protocols to help ensure that carbon removal projects deliver measurable and durable climate benefits. The BiCRS Benchmark enables users to evaluate a protocol against 18 critical features that underpin high-quality carbon dioxide removal.
New CATF report identifies how states in deregulated power markets can achieve long-term clean energy goals with state-led planning and procurement
A new report from Clean Air Task Force (CATF) identifies how establishing state-led planning and procurement can help state governments in deregulated electricity markets meet their power sector decarbonization goals and lays out the components needed to put that planning in action.
Community Municipal Investments can bring the benefits of NS&I-style funding to local government, says GFI and University of Leeds Original
The Green Finance Institute (GFI), in partnership with the University of Leeds, today launches new research showing Community Municipal Investments (CMIs) have matured into a credible, scalable and value-for-money addition to the local authority borrowing toolkit.
PRSA Celebrates the Profession’s Standout Leaders at ICON 2026 in Orlando, Oct. 17–20
PRSA, the US’ leading professional organization serving the communications community, today announced the recipients of its 2026 PRSA Individual Awards, celebrating outstanding communicators who have made exemplary contributions to the public relations profession, academia, and society. The six honorees will be officially recognized during PRSA’s annual conference, ICON 2026, the largest gathering of communications professionals, taking place from Oct. 17–20 in Orlando, Fla.
Britain steps outside: how active lifestyles are thriving despite economic pressure
In a country where household budgets remain under pressure and people are increasingly prioritising how they spend their time and money, new research commissioned by Bauer Media Outdoor shows that active lifestyles are becoming a bigger part of everyday life. From early morning run clubs to the rise of padel, people are finding more ways to get active and socialise, with 38.5% of UK adults now spending more time outdoors than they did a year ago.
Two in five UK adults interested in listening to television drama without the screen, RNIB research finds
New research commissioned by sight loss charity RNIB and conducted by Ipsos found that 42 per cent of UK adults aged 18 to 65 expressed interest in listening to television drama without the screen after hearing examples of the experience. The research tested ‘described drama’: a television programme’s original soundtrack – including dialogue, music and sound effects – mixed with audio description (AD) and presented as an audio-only experience.
ICAS Welcomes KARB’s Vision for the Future of Advertising Self-Regulation
The International Council for Advertising Self-Regulation (ICAS) welcomes the new Vision Statement presented by the Korea Advertising Review Board (KARB) at its international conference on AI and Advertising Self-Regulation, held in Seoul on 10 – 11 September 2026.
Bezos Earth Fund Expands Its Pacific Ocean Conservation to Five More Nations
The Bezos Earth Fund is granting more than $25 million for ocean conservation efforts in the Cook Islands, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, and Vanuatu spanning more than 625,000 square miles of ocean, an area larger than Alaska.
ICCO Launches Industry-First Mis/Disinformation Training & Certification Program to Combat Global Information Crisis
The International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO) has announced the launch of its flagship Mis/Disinformation Training & Certification Program, designed to equip communications professionals with the critical skills needed to identify, counter, and prevent misinformation and disinformation in an increasingly volatile information ecosystem.
Ørsted CEO Rasmus Errboe becomes Chair of WindEurope and calls for action on Europe’s competitiveness, energy security, and electrification
As Rasmus Errboe begins an 18-month term as Chair of WindEurope, he calls for Europe to turn its wind ambitions into action through more projects, stronger supply chains, accelerated electrification, and expanded grids. Recently, Rasmus Errboe, Group President and CEO of Ørsted, becomes Chair of WindEurope, the association representing the European wind industry and will be working alongside WindEurope CEO Tinne Van der Straeten to continue to advance the industry’s agenda.
ZEV Mandate changes could delay £1.56 billion in UK EV home charging sales and installations, BEAMA warns
Weakening the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate could delay up to £1.56 billion in UK EV home charge point sales and installations, according to new analysis from UK trade association BEAMA. Reducing the 2030 target could also slow the rollout of flexible charging capacity at a time when Government expects EVs to provide a growing source of flexibility to the electricity system.
Government cannot expand Heathrow without requiring aviation industry to clean up its emissions
The Climate Change Committee (CCC) has advised that there is no credible pathway for Heathrow Airport expansion within the UK’s climate commitments under current policies. In additional advice requested by the UK Government, the independent statutory body says that the only way that expansion could be consistent with the UK’s carbon budgets and Net Zero target is if ministers implement a robust set of policies requiring the aviation industry to get to zero emissions by 2050.
Leading companies advance science-based action for nature as new report highlights business value
14 new companies are publicly disclosed new progress through the Science Based Targets Network (SBTN), independently validated through the Accountability Accelerator — including the first science-based targets for seafood, new land targets and first validated disclosures from companies in Japan and the U.S. Waitrose, the UK supermarket chain owned by the John Lewis Partnership, Danish aquaculture company Musholm and Rederiet Isafold A/S, a member company of the Danish Pelagic Producers...
EY Birmingham Names FareShare Midlands Chosen Charity
EY in Birmingham has named FareShare Midlands as its chosen charity for the next two years, supporting the organisation’s efforts to tackle food insecurity and reduce food waste across the region. FareShare Midlands is one of the region’s largest surplus food redistributors, supporting more than 60,000 people every week through its network of community organisations. Last year alone, the charity redistributed enough food to provide more than 12 million meals.
Chartered Institute of Fundraising launches partnership with monthly public tracker to help understand fundraising activity
The Chartered Institute of Fundraising has partnered with CharityTracker to look at monthly fundraising activity at a sector level. The new long-term study aims to better understand fundraising trends, while identifying opportunities for charities to grow public support. The amount donated by the British public fell in 2025 for the first time in five years*, and the cost-of-living crisis continues to put pressure on both public generosity as well as charity fundraising budgets.
Fairtrade programme to support child labour prevention and remediation expands to 12 cocoa cooperatives and 5,000 children in its third year
According to its third annual report, the Fairtrade Child Labour and Forced Labour Prevention and Remediation Programme has funded 12 West African cocoa cooperatives to conduct their own projects, reaching 5,000 children. Livelihood support to reduce poverty, and enable parents to hire temporary farm workers if needed. School infrastructure and support for children to attend, such as school supplies and lunch. Easing transportation to school.
Fairtrade programme to support child labour prevention and remediation expands to 12 cocoa cooperatives and 5,000 children in its third year
Fairtrade programme to support child labour prevention and remediation expands to 12 cocoa cooperatives and 5,000 children in its third year According to its third annual report, the Fairtrade Child Labour and Forced Labour Prevention and Remediation Programme has funded 12 West African cocoa cooperatives to conduct their own projects, reaching 5,000 children. Livelihood support to reduce poverty, and enable parents to hire temporary farm workers if needed.
Six weeks’ paid leave for fathers could boost the economy — and reduce relationship breakdowns
A new report released recently – Economic and Social Benefits of Enhanced Paternity Leave: Scoping Review – from King’s Global Institute for Women’s Leadership in partnership with Equimundo: Center for Masculinities & Social Justice, reveals that some of the strongest evidence was the link between longer and more generous, protected leave for dads and a reduction in relationship breakdowns after birth.
Syklo’s factory complex unique on a world scale now produces high-quality recycled plastic pellets and biocomposite
Finnish circular economy company Syklo Group officially opens its complete Hyvinkää circular economy hub today. The hub combines Finland’s largest plastic recycling plant with an industrial-scale biocomposite facility. The total investment is 70–80 million euros, making it unique in scale on an international level. The plastic recycling plant can process 50,000 tonnes of plastic waste every year. This is material that would otherwise be incinerated or sent to landfill.
August was the world’s joint hottest month on record, pushing global temperatures back above 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels
August 2026 was the joint warmest month ever recorded, tied with July 2023. Last month also saw the average sea surface temperature (SST) over the extra-polar ocean reach a record high, due to global heating from burning fossil fuels and rapidly increasing SSTs in the equatorial Pacific associated with strong El Niño conditions – as reported by the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), implemented by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF).
Just two new data centres will pump out more planet-heating carbon emissions than ExxonMobil – Foxglove analysis
2026 is already the hottest year ever the UK has ever seen, and heatwaves this summer have reportedly led to the deaths of around 30,000 people in Europe alone so far.
SAITEX Releases 2025 Impact Report
“We don’t believe better ways of working should be guarded. We believe they should be shared, tested and improved. Our Impact Report is about passing on what we’ve learned, because good ideas are meant to travel.” – Sanjeev Bahl, CEO, SAITEX Regarded by Bloomberg as the “Cleanest Denim Factory in the World,” SAITEX today releases its 2025 Impact Report.
IKEA accelerates affordability efforts across Europe
With many people continuing to face pressure from higher living costs, IKEA is taking a significant step toward lowering prices across Europe. Starting on 1 September, customers in the region will benefit from price reductions of up to 25% on a wide range of selected products.
GRI seeks experts to help shape future sustainability reporting for food and beverage companies
Food and Beverages is the next Standard to be developed under the Sector Program, and the pilot for our new streamlined Sector approach. This standard will cover food processing, manufacturing of beverages, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, as well as tobacco products. Food and beverages respond to some of the most basic human needs.
A house that changed architecture: Richard + Su Rogers’s modernist masterpiece given to the nation
The modernist family home designed by architects Richard + Su Rogers that inspired some of the world’s most celebrated buildings has been given to the nation by the Rogers family. 22 Parkside in Wimbledon, London, created for Richard’s parents, will be cared for by the National Trust in a move that will protect one of the UK’s most important examples of modern architecture for future generations.
More than 1,800 emergency grants given to struggling families this summer
Barnardo’s has provided almost £400,000 to families since July, with parents seeking help for food, clothing and beds as well as activities to stop children missing out during the school holidays. New analysis from Barnardo’s Child Poverty Fund shows that more than 1,800 applications, worth just over £395,000, were approved in the period 1st July – 31st August, with an average grant of approximately £200 per application.
Britain’s largest listed businesses give less to charity despite record profits
The UK’s largest listed companies are giving less to charities today than they did in 2009 in the wake of the global financial crisis, according to a new report. The Charities Aid Foundation’s (CAF) annual Corporate Giving Report analyses the charitable giving of the 100 largest UK companies listed on the London Stock Exchange. Following the global financial crisis, giving by FTSE 100 companies equated to 1.7% of pre-tax profits (£1.84bn). This compares with just 0.8% most recently (£1.69bn).
Britain’s largest listed businesses give less to charity despite record profits
Britain’s largest listed businesses give less to charity despite record profits The UK’s largest listed companies are giving less to charities today than they did in 2009 in the wake of the global financial crisis, according to a new report. The Charities Aid Foundation’s (CAF) annual Corporate Giving Report analyses the charitable giving of the 100 largest UK companies listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Join Saturday Kitchen’s Matt Tebbutt: Swap your £4 meal deal to help feed hungry children
Saturday Kitchen star Matt Tebbutt is encouraging people across the UK to swap their £4 supermarket meal deal to help feed hungry children. Matt, who is one of Britain’s most recognisable chefs, having also hosted Food Unwrapped and Drop Down Menu and been a judge on MasterChef: The Professionals, has teamed up Mary’s Meals to promote our Meals Deals campaign.
Channel 4’s A Comedy Thing teams up with Movember for first-ever branded partnership
Channel 4’s digital comedy channel, A Comedy Thing, is partnering with leading men’s health charity Movember for a special edition of Guess The Moustache, marking the channel’s first branded partnership. Produced by Strong Watch Studios, the episode launches on 4 October and sees comedians Vittorio Angelone, Finlay Christie and Ed Night enter a world of dubious facial hair, as they attempt to spot the real moustache from a line-up of convincing imposters.
WRAP warns fashion brands to make longer lasting clothes as durability is the top purchase decision for shoppers worldwide.
WRAP’s Durability Accelerator Initiative unites leading brands and retailers to define durability standards, prepare for regulation, and meet growing consumer demand for quality and value. Environmental action NGO, WRAP, highlights the urgent need for clearer, evidence‑based approaches to garment durability, as more than a decade of their research shows that consumers and many industry experts cannot reliably identify durable clothing.
Boosting Brits’ connectivity confidence could give us back more than three weeks and add £115.5bn to the economy yearly
Brits could unlock more than three weeks* of unproductive time a year by running their lives more effectively from their mobiles on-the-go, according to new research by VodafoneThree. Productivity potential: UK could compete with European counterparts such as Germany, France, Spain and Hungary and tackle a £115.5bn productivity gap each year by getting more things done on the move.
This Girl Can launches challenge to help more women get active
A new national challenge designed to tackle the stubborn gender activity gap has been launched today by our award-winning campaign This Girl Can. Move for 10 makes physical activity more accessible by offering women an achievable goal – moving for just 10 minutes, 10 times in a month.
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