Green goes mainstream

As the realities of climate change become more and more accepted across Europe, the expression ‘green-aware’ to describe everything from businesses to political parties to individual households is increasingly common.

More than common, in the developed world, being green has become cool – a sore subject for some who are speaking up against greenwashing and profiteers.

Not so for Danny Carnegie, founder of UK Aware, who thinks that engaging with the mainstream is where the future lies.

Back in 2006, when he was looking for a UK national event featuring green-orientated enterprises that could help him reduce his carbon footprint, he was shocked to find that none existed.

“There were a number of alternative shows, but none that seemed accessible to the general public,” he told me on the phone from London, where he was working from his garden shed.

Filled with inspiration, Carnegie, a firefighter by trade, cashed in his pension fund, and with the help of his brother, a teacher, he co-founded UK Aware, which three years later is UK’s largest green and ethical lifestyle show. Its next edition, running on April 16-17 at the London Olympia, is expecting 200 exhibitors and 15,000 visitors.

Attractions such as ‘the ultimate clothes swapping party’ and ‘the kids interactive area’ will try and show visitors how they can change their habits for the better without giving up on the fun.

Indeed, although the show is aimed at the average consumer, Carnegie says that it is thanks to his initial bottom-up story that the show is thriving.

“A number of attempts were made in the past to launch this kind of show by big event management companies, but they failed. I think our success is down to the fact that we are a real grassroots organisation that was born with the right ethics. We don’t overcharge exhibitors, our interest is to establish strong connections with real people in the green industry and help them to flourish.”

The social entrepreneur says he is surprised by the lack of coordination on a European basis of these types of events. Germany, France and Spain each have big ones, although the best practice in this case seems to come from Canada. The Go Green Expo, taking place next March 20-21 in Ottawa, promotes itself as the biggest of its kind with the motto ‘living green made easy!’

For Carnegie though, it isn’t always easy. “I work 120 hour weeks and I haven’t had a salary in three and a half years. But I am proud, very proud.”

 

Follow this link to get a special discount ticket to UK Aware

www.ukaware.com