Nicola Giuggioli
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Welcome to Planet Green's series about Change Makers. This regular column features everyday people who have made a commitment, through their work, to creating a more sustainable world for us all to live in.
We're quite used to seeing celebrities take time out from their day jobs to support one environmental issue or another. We think it's great that they use their high profiles for the cause, but we also want to show you guys out there that it is possible to work towards being green in your day jobs, as well.
Everyone has the power to make positive change, whether it's in the job you already have, changing to new employment or even starting a business of your own. Today, we're going to meet Nicola Giuggioli the innovative thinker behind Eco, the recently opened ethical interior design store in London. Together with his sister Livia Firth, wife of Colin, Nicola has created Eco, a beautiful three-storey space in which to showcase the best of sustainable furniture, products and accessories. Alongside the store there is a consultancy business which advises customers on how to green their homes and lifestyles. Nicola is currently working hard to engage all the local businesses in his area of West London to form the city's first Eco-Village, banning plastic bags, campaigning for better recycling facilities and switching to a green energy supplier. He's certainly a busy man so while he's here let's find out how Nicola became a Change Maker.
My name is: Nicola Giuggioli
I live in: West London
I work in/at: Eco Age Ltd, which I founded 1 year ago
I used to work in: production companies and co-founded a web production company which is at the moment the first company in Europe for the production of book trailers and a distribution company called A Different Movie.
The reason I changed my profession/business is: two years ago the idea of Eco came to me as I thought that it was a good chance to start my own ethical business. There was a gap in the market and a rising demand for eco products.
With my business I am aiming to: support the huge number of people who actually want to make a change. A lot of people ask me if I am saving the planet, well the answer is "NO!" I sell goods, advise people on the issues and give them the opportunity to choose a product which is sustainable, that's it.
I hate the "don't do" politics on these important issues - "Don't fly! Don't buy! Stop driving!" It never really works. My approach is different, keep your life style, but if you have to buy, consider your purchase carefully. You are supporting a company with your purchase! So support one that doesn't destroy the world where we live. This is the point; we don't have to save the planet (it survived as a ball of fire or a ball of ice and this will happen again). What we have to do is save ourselves!!!
The most important eco aspect of my work is: being eco. That was the original idea, the main point of our vision. What we do is help other people to be more eco, no matter where you're starting from or where you want to arrive.
I am excited by what I am doing now because: I feel like I'm doing something good, I stopped thinking about "green dreams", I had an idea and now this idea is a reality! Even if is not a charity but a proper business, it is just great to know that you are really becoming an example that other business can follow.
The most challenging part of my work is: explaining to people the advantages of a green investment, researching new talented designers and discover market breaking products.
The most rewarding part of my work is: when I hear that customers are happy with our products or when I meet people on the street who tell me how important it is, what I'm doing!
The results I really want to see are: a new energy revolution (probably I'm crazy!!!), but I think we'll arrive sooner or later to a world where energy is shared between small residential producers. We will share energy as we now share information on the web. Years ago the only way to be informed was buying information (newspapers etc..) now we're all producers and share via the internet. This is what I think should happen with energy.
I work with colleagues: a fantastic team of really young and talented people who share the same vision, including our engineer David Davies, my sister Livia, our shop manager Jill Thornton and my fantastic partners who trusted me and my idea.
I was first made aware of environmental issues: by my family who have always been really conscious about the use of energy and resources. My mum started using low energy bulbs when I was probably 10 (I still remember the long length of time it took for the light to become bright). I lived in the countryside and we grew our own vegetables. I built my first solar panel when I was 12, to me this was a 'normal' way of living. I don't think of myself as an eco freak I just think I have a normal and conscious way of living!
One thing I do everyday at work is: I know it can seems like a strange answer, but my everyday job is making people more green, more aware and more conscious of how their decisions reflect their values.
One thing I do every week at work is: I know that I'm the CEO of the company, but I love going to the local recycling dump to take all our cardboard and glass from the shop. Sometimes you can also spot some interesting things and take them home with you!!!!!
I wish I could: make people understand that this is not a green wash!!!! Explaining to people that this is not a cyclical phenomenon, we are really destroying the place we live in. It is not a problem for people that will come in 500 years; this is our problem and the effects are going to be on our children's shoulders, so lets take action now and make a practical step to protect our world.
I think everyone can: change their light bulbs, stop using plastic bags, stop leaving the water running for a long time just to drink a glass of water, walk a bit more, take a bit more time to think about our actions, enjoy what we do and what we have.
I call this "slow life" but really, the problem is that we always run, we always work, to earn money to enjoy our free time. We now have got to the point where we don't have free time to enjoy so.....what we should all do is take a step back!!!!!
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