While most people are endeavouring to rid themselves of Japanese knotweed, some beauty product manufacturers are recommending that those of us of a certain age should put it on our faces to control the signs of ageing!  It seems a slight contradiction that Japanese knotweed, which has a reputation as being unpleasant and a financial nuisance, is now being used as a beauty product by Aveda called Inner Light Concealer. Now, it appears, that the plant that causes fractures to the foundations of buildings can also repair the fractures in your face if used as a foundation! Japanese knotweed, claim Aveda, contains resveratrol, which is a phytoalexin, produced naturally by several plants when under attack by pathogens, such as bacteria or fungi.  Several experiments suggest that it triggers mechanisms that counteract ageing-related effects in animals.

We can neither confirm nor deny this; at least until tests among Phlorum staff (who, on hearing this news, have been eagerly smothering themselves with Japanese knotweed rhizome paste) have been completed…

Phlorum embodied carbon tool at Ecobuild 2010

Phlorum will be exhibiting their life-cycle carbon footprint model at Ecobuild. The model has been created as part of a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with the University of Brighton, and the project is halfway through its two-year duration. Phlorum won the opportunity to exhibit through a competition run by the Modern Built Environment Knowledge Transfer Network (a subsiduary of CIRIA), which looked to find the most innovative and creative projects aiming to have an effect on sustainability of the construction industry in the UK.

The life-cycle carbon footprint calculator estimates the whole-life carbon emissions associated with new-build residential developments. This includes the carbon embodied within a dwelling, in its materials, methods and techniques of construction, associated with the use of the building, in the operation of its building services, lights and appliances, and emissions resulting from deconstruction or demolition of the building. The model is intended to be used as a design tool to reduce such emissions, promoting alternative materials and methods of construction, especially those with low embodied energy or embodied carbon. Use of the model could halve the amount of carbon embodied within the dwelling, and help with making the dwelling  ‘zero-carbon’ over its lifetime.

To see the model for yourself, come and chat with us at the innovation zone at Ecobuild, from Tuesday 2nd March 2010 to Thursday 4th.

On Saturday 23rd January 2010 Paul married his fiance Felicity Ventom.
The couple were wed at St Joseph’s Catholic Church here in Brighton, before the groom whisked his bride off on his bicycle (5 stars for environmentality, 0 stars for common sense) to the stunning Royal Albion hotel for the reception, which was attended by 300 guests (Paul claimed to know about half). The festivities continued into the late evening and various members of Phlorum were spotted strutting their stuff on the dancefloor after a brief introductory lesson in highland dancing. Rumours of spots at the Edinburgh festival are at present unconfirmed. Paul and Flick are seen here ‘dancing’ for the first time as a married couple to the Smiths, which was a great song of choice. Everyone present had a great time, and Paul is now on his honeymoon staying in a tent in Wales, partly due to the financial toll of a wedding, and partly as he believes in giving Flick an insight into the realities of married life as soon as possible.

We all wish Paul and Flick the best of luck as husband and wife. Congratulations!