This is an archived page from the Website Archive of British artist Ellie Harrison from Version 3.0 (active 2008 - 2015). New website: www.ellieharrison.com

last updated
15th July 2015

Ellie Harrison has been registered as self-employed with HM Revenue & Customs (UK) since April 2004. In February 2010, she launched this Environmental Policy so that visitors to her website, people interested in her work and potential collaborators are made aware of the personal commitments she makes to reducing her carbon footprint. She takes full accountability for ensuring that the following objectives are adhered to, wherever possible.

Diet

Since January 2009, Ellie Harrison has adopted a vegan diet and no longer consumes any products or by-products of the livestock industry. This decision was taken in light of the findings of the report Livestock’s Long Shadow published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 2006. The report concludes that the livestock industry (farming of cows, sheep, pigs and foul for meat and dairy products) is the single greatest contributor to climate change - producing 18% of the whole world’s greenhouse gas emissions. This is more than the 13.5% produced by all transportation in the world (including cars, trains, planes and everything else). She maintains a zero food waste policy in her kitchen, carefully planning and preparing meals to ensure that all produce is consumed before it goes bad.

Energy

Since 2004, Ellie Harrison has used 100% renewal electricity at her home (and at her studio from 2005 - 2008), supplied by Good Energy. Since February 2010, she has also switched to using Good Energy’s gas supply at her home, which uses profits to fund the research and development of Renewable Heat initiatives. She only uses energy saving light bulbs at her home and attempts to operate best energy saving practice, turning appliances off at the plug sockets when not in use and using a cup to measure out the exact amount of hot water necessary to boil for hot drinks. In summer 2013, she used the Scottish Government’s Green Homes Cashback scheme to have her loft insulated with mineral wool to the full recommend depth of 270mm and install LED light bulbs in the majority of her rooms at home. In October 2013, she set-up and launched Power For The People - the sister organisation to Bring Back British Rail (see Transportation section below) - to campaign for the public ownership of the UK’s energy infrastructure and the removal of the profit-motive from all energy production and supply.

Transportation

Ellie Harrison has held a full UK Driving Licence since June 1996, but chooses not to own a car. All her local journeys are made by bicycle, on foot or on public transport. Taxis are used only on occasions when large amounts of luggage or equipment need to be transported or when it may be unsafe to travel by other means. Long distance journeys within the UK are made by train, coach and occasionally by car, but never by plane. Ellie is a long-term supporter of the improvement of public transport and in 2009 launched Bring Back British Rail to campaign for a re-unified national rail network run for people not profit. She attempts to limit international flights to one trip per year, and to make all shorter journeys to northern Europe by train or coach.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Ellie Harrison recycles all of the day-to-day waste that is practically possible given the facilities provided by Glasgow City Council. This includes paper, cardboard, plastic bottles (not other types of plastic), tins and cans, glass, clothes and shoes, plus compost, which she processes in her own back garden. She reuses envelopes and refuses plastic bags and other packaging whenever possible. She is registered with the Mail Preference Service to reduce the volume of junk mail sent to her address. She opts into all ‘paperless billing’ schemes offered by her suppliers and obsessively returns any other unsolicited mail received. She carries a refillable BPA free flask for drinking water and will never buy water unless in emergency. She uses rechargeable AA / AAA batteries and ensures that all other necessary batteries are responsibly recycled. She is also an advocate of reusable feminine hygiene products. When creating gallery based work she attempts to use objects or materials which are either temporarily loaned or second-hand from local sources or eBay. She uses eBay to sell on redundant objects or makes frequent donations to charity shops. She always prints her documents double-sided.

Banking

Since 2004, Ellie Harrison has done all her personal and business banking through The Co-operative Bank and Smile (the Internet bank from The Co-operative Bank), which both operate strict ethical policies with regards to human rights, international development, ecological impact and animal welfare. She took part in The Co-operative Bank 2008 ethical policy vote, helping to shape the current version of their policy. (She is also a member of The Co-operative Group and supportive of other co-operative ventures.) In October 2013, much to the concern of Ellie and many of its other customers, The Co-operative Bank’s ownership was taken over by a group of US hedge funds. Over a year later, however, the bank still seems to retain its ethical policies and remains in the Move Your Money ‘top three ethical banks’ (the only one of these to offer a current account). She is monitoring the situation closely and will indeed ‘move her money’ in the future if necessary. Also in 2013, after her appointment as Lecturer (Teaching & Research) in Contemporary Art Practices at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, she joined the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), which, she soon discovered, does not adhere to any ethical guidelines at all. As this was clearly a breach of this Environmental Policy, Ellie decided to become actively involved the Share Action campaign to demand that USS invest its funds more ethically, and continues to support other ‘divestment’ campaigns.

Continuous Improvement

Ellie Harrison is continually looking to improve on her environmental commitments and to influence those who she works with to modify their own behaviour. When she moves home and / or studio she will, wherever possible, ensure that the modifications outlined above are made. She continues to lobby for the mainstreaming of the vegan diet, for improved public transport and recycling facilities and for the promotion of democratically owned, renewable energy and ‘divestment’ from fossil fuels. She is keen to collaborate and work with like-minded artists and organisations.

Last updated: 10th December 2014