Sustainability & Environmental Consulting

Bioregional, co-founded by Sue Riddlestone OBE and Pooran Desai, faced the challenge of promoting sustainability in a market that often prioritized cost and convenience over ecological considerations. Established in 1994, the organization aimed to create sustainable products and services that could compete in the mainstream economy. Their initial focus was on developing local production systems for charcoal and paper, utilizing sustainable resources to reduce pressure on global forests. This approach led to significant achievements, including a two-thirds reduction in resource use and an 80-90% decrease in carbon emissions, demonstrating that sustainable practices could be both economically viable and environmentally beneficial.

One of Bioregional's landmark projects was the BedZED eco-village, initiated in 1997 when the organization sought to expand its office space. Collaborating with local authorities and green architect Bill Dunster, they transformed a larger site into a sustainable community. The project not only served as an eco-office but also became an international icon for sustainable living. The lessons learned from BedZED influenced industry practices and policies, notably contributing to the UK's zero carbon homes policy. The success of BedZED also led to the creation of the One Planet Living framework in 2003, which has been adopted globally to promote sustainable living.

Despite facing challenges such as the financial crisis and difficulties in local authority partnerships, Bioregional successfully launched Bioregional Properties Ltd to pursue eco-developments on their terms. Their first project, One Brighton, was a joint venture that delivered an award-winning housing development adhering to One Planet Living standards, achieving strong sales even during economic downturns. An independent study revealed that four years post-completion, the property values outperformed local benchmarks, showcasing the commercial viability of sustainable development.

As Bioregional celebrates its 20th anniversary, it continues to focus on enabling others to adopt the One Planet Living framework while collaborating with industry leaders to demonstrate that sustainable living is not only beneficial for the environment but also makes economic sense.