Author: Vitalija Narstyte

Sustainable Christmas Decorations: Where Tradition Meets Innovation

Vitalija Narstyte Insight
Sustainable Christmas Decorations: Where Tradition Meets Innovation

Sustainable Christmas Decorations: Where Tradition Meets Innovation

December 2024, by Katie Brown

Christmas is a time for tradition, but as we become more aware of how our choices impact the planet, it’s clear that some of these traditions need a little update. This doesn’t mean losing the magic of the season—it’s about finding new ways to celebrate that feels good for us and for the environment.

At MM-Eye Ltd, we love innovative thinking, so why not apply that same creativity to the festive season? With a little effort, we can create a Christmas that’s every bit as joyful but much kinder to the planet.

Why Sustainable Decorations?

Every year, tons of plastic decorations are thrown away, and many of them can’t be recycled. Then there’s all the packaging, glitter, and tinsel—most of it ends up in the bin. By switching to more sustainable options, we can cut down on waste and create something truly special that lasts for years to come.

It’s not about being perfect; it’s about taking small steps that make a difference. Plus, sustainable decorations often come with a story or a personal touch, making them even more meaningful.

Simple Ways to Make a Difference

  1. Invest in Quality

Instead of buying loads of cheap decorations, choose a few well-made pieces that can be reused year after year. Look for items made from natural materials like wood, metal, or glass. These not only look beautiful but also feel more special than mass-produced plastic.

  1. Bring the Outdoors In

Nature is full of inspiration, especially at Christmas.

Use greenery like holly, ivy, and pine to make your own wreaths and garlands. These smell amazing and can go straight into your compost after the Christmas season is finished.

Pinecones and acorns make lovely decorations—paint them, add glitter, or leave them as they are for a more rustic vibe.

  1. Get Creative with What You Have

You don’t need to buy new things to make your home feel festive.

Old jars can be turned into candle holders—tie some twine or ribbon around them for a simple but lovely touch.

Even cardboard boxes can be cut into star shapes or snowflakes to hang on your tree.

Making decorations yourself can also be a fun way to spend time with family or friends.

A New Way of Thinking

Sustainability isn’t just about the materials we use—it’s about how we think about the things we buy and keep. Choosing decorations that are reusable or handmade means you’re creating a Christmas that’s both beautiful and meaningful.

At MM-Eye, we always look for purpose in design, and Christmas is no different. A more sustainable approach doesn’t take away the magic—it adds to it by focusing on what really matters.

Start a Tradition

Sustainability can even become part of your family’s Christmas traditions. Here are a few ideas:

Make a new decoration every year to add to your collection. Over time, you’ll have a tree full of memories.

Pass down decorations to your kids or grandkids—it’s a lovely way to keep family history alive.

Shop locally or support small businesses that make handmade, eco-friendly decorations.

A Little Goes a Long Way

We don’t have to get everything perfect right away, but every small step adds up. By thinking a bit more about what we’re buying or making, we can create a Christmas that’s not just joyful but also kinder to the planet.

Let’s make this year’s decorations something to be proud of—not just for how they look, but for the difference they make.

From all of us at MM-Eye Ltd, happy Christmas! Let’s celebrate with a little more creativity and a lot more care this year. If you’re interested in learning more about MM-Eye and how we can help you with your sustainability goals, contact us today at info@mm-eye.com or use the form below to book a consultation.

 

 

HOW B CORP IS BENEFITING OUR BUSINESS

Vitalija Narstyte Insight
HOW B CORP IS BENEFITING OUR BUSINESS

HOW B CORP IS BENEFITING OUR BUSINESS

When we became a B Corp in September 2023, MM-Eye joined a growing community of businesses worldwide that have achieved high social and environmental performance standards and are committed to using their business as a force for good.  In the few weeks since becoming a B Corp, we have already seen the benefits of being part of a vibrant, positive community of like-minded businesses sharing the same values and seeking to drive positive change.

So, what is B Corp?

B Corp is an accreditation awarded to companies who have achieved high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability and meet targets across five areas: governance, workers, community, environment, and customers.  There are almost 6,000 B Corps worldwide, and more than 1,500 of these are in the UK.  We are very proud to have joined their ranks. In the UK, B Lab assesses a company’s achievement against a range of targets through a rigorous process resulting in a score.  To remain a B Corp, a company must recertify in 3 years and show an improved score.

We began our B Corp journey in 2022 when we began the application process.  In that time, we have seen three main business benefits to being part of the B Corp community:

  1. Renewed enthusiasm and motivation in our team;
  2. Attracting new staff in our recruitment campaigns;
  3. New business opportunities identified, specifically research and stakeholder engagement services tailored to support other B Corp companies.

Our Team

In preparing our B Corp application, we enhanced and recommitted to various staff welfare, well-being and training initiatives, which our staff enthusiastically engaged with and took ownership of, for example, our initiatives to achieving a net zero carbon footprint and improving engagement with our communities.  We are now proud partners of Ecologi (also a B Corp) to help manage and offset our carbon footprint, and through our community action team we recently partnered with Hands on London to spend a day working on a nature conservation project at Wormwood Scrubs Park, West London.

Recruitment

We have recruited several new team members in the last year to support our ongoing growth.  In a competitive recruitment environment, we felt our ethos of being a business driving positive change helped us to stand out from other recruiters, attracting quality candidates who share our values.

Tailored research services for B Corp companies: As a result of our experience applying for B Corp, we saw the potential for market research tools to make life easier for other companies embarking on their B Corp journey.  We created online surveys to gather data and opinions from employees, customers and suppliers as evidence to support our B Corp application.  These surveys are now available to be used by other companies applying for B Corp and for existing B Corps when they start their re-certification in 3 years or annual self-certification.

We also created a service to support companies through the Materiality Assessment process. This process helps companies prioritise areas where change will have the greatest impact, such as the environment, social impact, and governance (ESG).  Our insight-driven Materiality Assessment service, embedding stakeholder engagement and insight tools at the heart of the process, ensures the company identifies and prioritises key initiatives that are of most significant importance to stakeholder groups.

We are keen to collaborate with other B Corp businesses and share our skills to benefit others.  We also offer these services at a 10% discount on our usual day rate to B Corps and those companies applying for B Corp. If you want to learn more about our B Corp data collection surveys or our Materiality Assessment service, or indeed just want to chat about our B Corp journey, please do not hesitate to get in touch.  We look forward to speaking to you soon.

 


EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP

Vitalija Narstyte Uncategorized
EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP

EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP

In January 2023 we became employee owned. Employee ownership is an exciting, progressive way to structure our business, that holds benefits for staff, our clients as well as suppliers and everybody else we work with. From now on, all employees will have a say in how the business is run and will share in the profits we generate. We are the fifth in a growing band of market research agencies who feel that employee ownership is the right model to secure future growth and development.

MRS CLIMATE PLEDGE

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MRS CLIMATE PLEDGE

MRS CLIMATE PLEDGE

As a dedication to creating a sustainable future and driving positive change within our industry, we are very proud to have signed up to the Market Research Society (MRS) Climate Pledge.

By signing the MRS Climate Pledge we make the following commitments:

  • to track and publish our carbon emissions
  • to collaborate across the market research sector – sharing our learnings and best practices
  • to encourage conversations and call outs by our partners, clients and suppliers on environmental concerns.

Each year, we calculate our carbon footprint, aiming to reduce our Co2 emissions year on year wherever possible. And for the carbon that we’re not able to reduce, we’re now working with Ecologi to offset our emissions by investing in their climate projects which are not only beneficial to the environment, but also to the people behind the projects. These include renewable energy generation, forest protection, and community initiatives such as providing access to clean water.

By signing the MRS Climate Pledge, we are making a firm commitment to address the environmental challenges facing our industry. We aim to lead by example, inspiring others to join us in this crucial endeavour. Through our collective efforts in promoting positive change, we aim to create a sustainable future, reduce our carbon footprint, and contribute to the global fight against climate change.

 

B CORP

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B CORP

WE ARE A CERTIFIED B CORP!

We were officially certified as a B Corp in September 2023 and are committed to using our business as a force for good, by:

  • delivering insights for our clients which power positive change
  • empowering and nurturing our team
  • supporting our community
  • respecting our environment

WHAT IS A B CORP?

Certified B Corporations, or ‘B Corps’ are companies who are accredited to have achieved high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.  B Corps are a rapidly growing global community of 6,000+ organisations committed to using their business as a force for good.  The UK is home to upwards of 1,400 of these companies.

The process to becoming a B Corp Certified company is rigorous and requires meeting targets in five areas: Governance, Workers, Community, Environment and Customers.

Businesses must provide evidence of socially and environmentally responsible practices relating to energy supplies, waste and water use, worker compensation, diversity and corporate transparency.

Once B Corp status is reached – certified by B Lab UK for UK businesses – the company must make a legal commitment to maintaining these standards through amendments to its articles of association.  To remain a B Corp, companies need to keep improving and must recertify every 3 years, demonstrating they have made improvements since last being certified.

More information on becoming a B Corp can be found here: https://bcorporation.uk/

APPLICATION PROCESS

Companies applying to be a B Corp are independently assessed to ensure they meet the standards of social and environmental performance required for certification as a B Corp. The certification process is rigorous – taking up to a year to qualify. The assessment is continually updated and made harder, taking into account the way the world is changing.

As part of our application process we formed a working group looking at all areas of our business and operations, proposing changes to how we work, how we manage ourselves and how we engage with suppliers and clients.  The working group is now a focal point for continual improvement in our business and how we measure up to B Corp’s standards, looking forward to our recertification in a few years’ time.

OUR SCORE

We are very proud to have achieved an overall impact score of 125.6, well above the minimum score of 80 required to become a B Corp.

For more details about our score and how it is built up, please visit our page on the B Corp directory: https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/find-a-b-corp/company/mm-eye-ltd/

WHAT B CORP MEANS TO US

Our B Corp certification is important to us as it underlines to our staff, our clients, our suppliers and our wider stakeholders our moral and legal commitment to balance environmental and social considerations alongside making a fair profit, in all the decisions we make as a business.  Our B Corp certification reinforces our company values of acting with Integrity, being Supporting and being Empowered.

B Corp has given us a framework to bring together all the work we do around our agenda for positive change and has given us some practical tools and ideas for further improvements.

We are also delighted and proud to be recognised members of this growing global supportive community of like-minded, value-driven businesses.

POWERING ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLE DEVELOPMENT

Vitalija Narstyte Knowledge
POWERING ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLE DEVELOPMENT

POWERING ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLE DEVELOPMENT

We have worked on a number of projects to help our automotive clients address the many challenges and opportunities presented by the transition to electric vehicle ownership.

CHALLENGE

For many years the automotive industry has been making a slow, steady transition away from traditional petrol and diesel vehicles and towards alternative, renewable energy options.  The mainstream move to change kicked off as far back as 1997, when the Toyota Prius became the first mass produced hybrid engine car.

Our client came to us in 2016, knowing that the pace of change was speeding up, but still not certain as to where the market might end up or how it was going to get there.  Would full electric lead the way? Would there be a breakthrough in hydrogen technology? How and when might consumer choice influence the direction of travel?  What would be the main catalysts for change, the barriers to overcome and motivations that could encourage customer demand?

Customer research was needed to inform the pace and nature of change that the business needed to make, ensuring that that change could be closely aligned to customer needs and expectations and stimulate the demand needed to deliver commercial success.

ACTION

In partnership with our client we designed a tracking study that would stand the test of time, providing flexibility in terms of both survey content and analysis opportunities.  Just as well as it’s now been delivering insight to their business for 6 years!

Initially covering 8 markets and 13 passenger vehicle segments the project recently expanded to include compact, medium and heavy duty commercial vehicles in 5 of those markets.

A combination of traditional awareness, knowledge, interest and consideration questions, combined with our Thoughtscape approach, enables us to measure standard metrics and at the same time assess what drives buyer behaviour at a more spontaneous, emotional level.

OUTCOME

Our research has guided our client’s business strategy for alternative fuel vehicle development, helping them to understand consumer barriers and motivations. They have developed communications strategies that inform and guide consumer choice, initiated product development work to ensure vehicles that are fit for an ‘ICE-free’ future and are able to understand and address the non-vehicle related issues that consumers face when moving to alternative fuels, particularly plug-in vehicles.

EVOLUTION MONEY: EVIDENCING POSITIVE IMPACT

Vitalija Narstyte Uncategorized
EVOLUTION MONEY: EVIDENCING POSITIVE IMPACT

EVOLUTION MONEY:  EVIDENCING POSITIVE IMPACT

CHALLENGE

Evolution Money was established to provide credit and improve the quality of life for homeowners who, due to imperfect credit history, were being refused finance in a time of need.

They now needed evidence to further inform the Board how far they had progressed against delivering this business purpose and to seek opportunities to improve upon their offering.

ACTION

From the outset we built our research design to measure Evolution’s progress against their core business purpose – Does an Evolution loan have a positive impact on their customers’ quality of life?

Evolution themselves were going through the process of becoming a certified B Corp company and were new to conducting market research. As such, the programme had to be focused, with clear objectives and deliver actionable recommendations for further improvement.

Initially, we spoke to around 200 customers in a quantitative survey to build an understanding of the Evolution customer journey – covering both the highs and the lows – and evidencing the financial impact their loan had on their everyday lives. We then followed this up with in-depth interviews to uncover the personal stories and experiences of customers. What had bought them to Evolution? Had the loan had a positive impact on their personal lives? Had it changed their spending habits?

OUTCOME

Combining the evidence gathered from the quantitative stage with the depth of understanding uncovered in the in-depth interviews we developed positive impact stories which could be shared to evidence their business purpose.

The research delivered facts and stories which will be used to demonstrate the positive change that Evolution has to their customers’ lives, along with areas for further improvement where they can continue to evolve.

TESTIMONIAL

“MM-Eye helped us to evidence the positive impact we believed we had on our customers. We knew that our loans helped our customers when they had nowhere else to turn, but we lacked the data to prove this. The insight they provided not only gave us this evidence but painted real-life pictures of our customers – the financial situations they had found themselves in and the positive impact our loan had on their everyday lives. This research will be invaluable in helping us achieve our goal to become B Corp accredited and has given us clear, tangible recommendations on how to continue delivering against our business purpose.”

Susan Harrison, Head of ESG

Evolution Money