Can you recycle an idea – or is it all in the packaging?

This week has once again proved that the best ideas aren’t always the new ones.

Yesterday the news was dominated by M&S’s decision to charge for carrier bags, generating so much interest that even the PM felt the need to get in on the action today.

Earlier in the week, the Conservatives announced an ‘honesty box’ campaign for supporters to become friends of the party to much fanfare and a £500,000 ad campaign.

Both these campaigns have something in common (and it’s not just their apparent virtue) – the ideas are nothing new, but have been presented as revolutionary.

Netto have charged for carrier bags since the late 90’s, while David Cameron has admitted the Conservative idea is lifted from Radiohead’s online approach for their latest record, In Rainbows. (For the record – pun intended - I paid £40 for the box set. MP3’s still can’t compete with heavyweight vinyl in the artwork stakes.)

Just goes to show that it isn’t always the new idea that gets the attention, but those who shout the loudest.