Portfolio updates

Check out the latest updates to the Collective Encounters page in our design portfolio.

Eco Certifications

Here at Ultimate Holding Company we're always challenging ourselves to explore every angle of ethical print production. Schemes, certifications and processes change rapidly so its important to keep on top. So having put the work in we thought we'd share a selection of some of the commonly used certifications we have come across recently. We'll also be following up this post with with an introductory glossary of some environmental sound print processes too.

EMAS – This stands for the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme, an initiative designed to improve companies’ environmental performance. EMAS sets the highest environmental standards of all the environmental management schemes (EMS).

IS0 14001 – This is an internationally recognised scheme. It provides a framework for environmental awareness, monitoring and continual improvement.

Green Dragon – This scheme is for Welsh companies that wish to improve their environmental performance but don’t have the resources for ISO14001. There are five levels, each one contributing towards the achievement of international and European environmental standards

Greenmark – This was developed by the London Environment Centre (LEC), part of London Metropolitan University and is more appropriate for smaller companies who lack the resources for IS0 14001

FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) Chain of Custody – If a printer holds the FSC Chain of Custody and the paper being used in a project is FSC certified, the end product can be labelled as FSC certified. This certificate is about the fibre tracking process only and ensures that there is no contamination between FSC and non-FSC material. It is not about environmental standards maintained within the factory.

'Carbon neutral' schemes – Please be aware that so-called ‘carbon neutral’ status is not a good indication of environmental performance. There is currently no regulation in this area and so it can simply be bought through offsetting schemes.

If you found this post of interest you may also be interested in our design newsletter, you can view it here or if your confident you'll like it sign up here! Dont worry, it's not shameless self promotion, its more of a place for us to share our knowledge of the things we find important. Socially engaged and environmentally friendly design to be precise ;)

NESTA Creative Credits round 2

NESTA is doing another round of their brilliant Creative Credits scheme, the deadline is 1st March so if you haven't got your application in yet make sure you do! More info on: www.creative-credits.org.uk/apply-for-a-credit/

Leeds Plan B & Scouse Soul Stew books online now!

We are pleased to announce that the beautiful hand bound books documenting the Ultimate Holding Company's Leeds Plan B and Scouse Soul Stew projects have been completed and uploaded to the project pages on to our website. The books were designed in-house by UHC and bound by Lucy May Schofield.

To download a pdf of the Leeds Plan B book please click here.

To download a pdf of the Scouse Soul Stew book please click here.

Reclaim Power posters

A couple of poster design proposals we supplied to Climate Justice Action recently!

RSA Arts and Ecology - The highlights of 2009.

We are extremely happy to announce that Ext Inked has been selected by the RSA as one of the arts and ecology highlights of 2009!

To see the full list of highlights please visit the RSA Arts and Ecology website.

Picture of the day

Our image of the day shows Ink V's Steel hard at work tattooing Ext Inked ambassadors with their chosen species. Ext Inked, the latest art project from Ultimate Holding Company, in conjunction with the Marine Conservation Society, Buglife (The Invertebrate Conservation Trust) and the People's Trust for Endangered Species.

To find out more about this project please visit the Ext Inked project page and to see more images of the exhibition and the tattoos please visit the Ext Inked facebook page.

UHC on Twitter

UHC has started Tweeting, follow us on http://twitter.com/Ult_Holding_Co!

Principle Six

Co-operatives UK have produced a worker co-operative Code of Governance with seven principles providing a guide for running a successful co-operative business . One of these principles, number six, advocates co-operation, networking and trading between co-operatives to strengthen the co-operative economy and broaden the movement.

UHC attended a business referral event today, which was based on Principle 6 and organised by Co-operatives North West, giving co-operatives in the north west an opportunity to think about how we can bring more business to each other, or in other ways help with the development of each others activities.

It was a great event in terms of getting to know other regional business better and get ideas for how we can help promote each other or contribute to the growth of the sector. More Principle 6 events are planned for the north west over the spring and we are looking forward to attending the next one!

ExtInked Press

Amelia's Magazine by Adam Sutcliffe
Amelia's Magazine by Grace Beaumont
BBC Manchester
The Guardian by Jenny Jones
The Guardian by Hugh Warwick
New Scientist by Jessica Griggs
The Mule by Samantha Bradey
South Manchester Reporter by Amy Glendinning