Simon Weston

Scar Free Foundation announces plans for new burns scarring research

featured news, Health & Social Care, news

Scarring affects over 20 million people in the UK, according to new figures released today by The Scar Free Foundation. Yet the findings reveal that scarring is not talked about enough in our society and there is still a lack of public awareness of the physical – as well as emotional – impact that scarring can have on people. One of the most common causes of scarring is burn injury, with 64,000 children seeking medical treatment in the UK alone last year, and yet it is an area of medical research that has been critically underfunded.

The Scar Free Foundation is the only medical research charity which focuses solely on scarring, and is today announcing plans to establish the world’s largest cohort of children with burns to take part in research and inform future treatments, in partnership with University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. The charity, along with world leading clinicians and scientists, is now calling on government and other major funders to further invest in developing effective new treatments to reduce – and eventually eliminate – scarring from burn injuries, which affects four million people in the Western world.

According to the survey commissioned by The Scar Free Foundation, despite over a third (38%) of the UK population having a scar, it is often a ‘hidden issue’. Three times as many respondents feel we don’t talk enough about the impact of scarring as a society as those who think we do – the reasons given range from it being seen as a ‘taboo’ and ‘too personal’ to ‘being embarrassed’ about the subject. Over a third of women (38%) and a quarter of men (26%) would feel uncomfortable asking someone how they got their scars, yet talking more openly can raise awareness of the problems people face and reduce stigma.

Although nearly half of people questioned (47%) are aware of emotional problems related to scarring, less than a quarter (24%) knew about the physical impact that scarring can have, with a further quarter being unaware of either the physical or emotional impact on people. The physical impact of severe scarring can include pain, itching and loss of movement, requiring the need for frequent operations, skin grafts, cream application multiple times a day and daily physiotherapy.

Simon Weston CBE was badly burned all over his face and body during the Falklands War when the RFA Sir Galahad was destroyed in the Bluff Cove Air Attack in 1982: “They hit the ship and ignited the fuel. We lost 48 men on board, most of them my friends, and of the 97 that survived I was told I was the worst injured.”

Simon Weston
Simon Weston CBE

Simon is passionate about the issue of scarring and is proud to have been a part of The Scar Free Foundation since it started: “As people with scarring, our contribution is as valuable as all the clinicians and the researchers. We’ve been the tapestry for them to work with. The Scar Free Foundation has such a great vision. There’s a heck of a lot of work to do – we need to have something in place to minimise scarring and eventually eradicate it. To end up with a scar free world, wouldn’t it be wonderful?”

“My scars stretch and hurt and they are itchy, I can’t hold onto the bars in gymnastics because I don’t have very many fingers and it hurts my arms,” said 5 year old Elizabeth Soffe, who was badly burned in a house fire when she was 6 months old. Scarring affects almost all of her body, and she lost her hair, a lot of her fingers, part of her nose and one of her ears in the blaze. The parts of her body that were not burned have been used to provide skin grafts and she has restricted movement due to scarring on her elbows, wrists and other joints. “People say mean things because I look different to them, but I know I’m beautiful.”

Scar Free Foundation Ambassador Elizabeth
Scar Free Foundation Ambassador Elizabeth

For Elizabeth and her family, the physical impact of scarring and how it restricts her life, is significant. She has to have frequent operations and skin grafts, and her scars itch constantly which keeps her awake at night. She also has to have cream massaged into her skin several times a day and daily physiotherapy to help her movement. Elizabeth’s father, Liam Soffe, said: “Elizabeth just wants to do the things that other 5 year olds enjoy – playing with friends, swimming and having fun. The Scar Free Foundation’s aim for a scar free future is a fantastic goal. Life without scars and their associated physical impact: the restrictive movement, the pain, the itch and the visible differences would make things much easier for girls and boys like Elizabeth. What The Scar Free Foundation can do is move treatments forward massively through funding medical research so that children like Elizabeth can benefit and do all the things that other children take for granted.”

Burn injury is one of the most common forms of trauma worldwide, over two-thirds affected are children. This is an area of research that has been historically underfunded, as statistics[1] from 2011 showed that overall research expenditure on complex trauma, of which burns is one small element, was less than 1% of total UK public expenditure on health research. Data from 2019[2] reveals that studies looking into skin and inflammatory conditions – of which burns is again just one small part – account for 6% of Medical Research Council funded research over the last five years.

Brendan Eley, Chief Executive of The Scar Free Foundation, said:

“The NHS provides excellent burn care within the boundaries of what is currently possible. However, we want to highlight that burn care – particularly the prevention of scarring from burns and scalds – has not moved on in the way that other areas of medicine have, which is why we need more medical research in this area. Burns patients tell us that they are most concerned about longer term scarring and the impact that it has on their movement and quality of life. We want to help people living with scarring achieve their full potential, as well as moving forward towards a scar free future. A cohort study would be groundbreaking – enabling us to map the DNA of an enormous range of children with burns, so we can isolate those factors which influence the severity of scarring and improve patients’ lives.”

Dr Amber Young, Consultant Paediatric Anaesthetist and International Burns Researcher, said:

“The NHS provides the UK with a unique opportunity to undertake world class research into scarring. The Scar Free Foundation’s previous investment has transformed burn care research from ‘silo’ small scale projects into collaborative cross-service, multi centre research projects undertaken on a larger and more meaningful scale. We want to put the patient at the centre of our research and establishing this new children’s burns cohort study will enable us to develop treatments which will have a real impact on children with burns in the future.”

Visit www.scarfree.org.uk for more information.

people enjoying Borough Market

Borough Market brings community together to celebrate 21 Years

Charities, Food and Drink, news, Sustainability

London’s iconic Borough Market turns 21 this November and to celebrate it is inviting communities from across the capital to come together in its new communal kitchen in a bid to combat the loneliness and social isolation that many people experience.

Research has shown that a lack of social connection has an effect on mortality comparable to that of smoking and twice as bad compared to the effect of obesity.1 Markets across the country create a unique space for economic development and social interaction in a society that is becoming increasingly insular. A local market brings diverse groups of people together to support traders from their local area, creating a sense of community and belonging.

On 19th November from 11am to 12:30pm Borough Market will be holding a community lunch with its charity partners and their beneficiaries as well as local clubs and groups. Charities FareShare, School Food Matters, PlanZheroes and United Saint Saviours will be bringing young, old and everyone in between together in the Market’s brand-new Market Kitchen, to celebrate 21years since its rebirth as a retail market and food destination.

Dr Glenn Mason, Psychologist says; “We live in a fast-paced society and fewer of us are now sitting down and having regular meals with those who are nearest and dearest to us. Eating together can have benefits upon both our emotional and physical health. It can be a time where we share experiences about our day, learn from each other’s experiences, a place to externalise our worries and concerns and to build and maintain relationships through communication. Research suggests that spending this quality time with others, over a meal, can have a positive impact upon our well-being.

In considering the benefits of communal eating this new initiative at Borough Market is likely to have a positive impact upon the emotional and physical health of those taking part. We have evolved to be part of small social groups, needing social connection and interaction to combat loneliness. I believe this initiative can raise awareness around the importance of addressing social isolation and loneliness in our lives. I think we need to take the concepts from this initiative and ensure in our own lives that we are making a conscious effort to be socially connected to others, to reduce the negative impact of loneliness.”

Borough Market has been operating in London for over 1000 years but the Market in its current form was born in November 1998, when pioneering traders such as Turnips, Brindisa and Neal’s Yard Dairy started to sell their produce directly to the public, cementing its position as a world class food destination. 21 years on and the Market is celebrating its coming of age with a brand new look.

The Borough Market Kitchen opens 13th November and will be open between 10am and 5pm (Mon-Thursday, Saturday) and 10am-6pm (Friday), it is located in Jubilee Place, the Market’s current wholesale area.  Once the kitchen closes for the day, Jubilee Place will revert back to wholesale operations.

Darren Henaghan, Managing Director, Borough Market, said: “Borough Market has long been a place for London locals and visitors alike to come together over a love of great food and so what better way to celebrate our 21st birthday than to invite people to come and sit together in our new Market Kitchen to eat and connect in a shared space. We are aware that loneliness is now not just a problem for older people but that young children and adults also suffer and so we will also be introducing a ‘buddy bench’ where people will be encouraged to share food and conversation with others.” 

69 million items of unloved furniture languishing in UK homes

news, Public Sector, Sustainability

From unwanted gifts to dated hand-me downs, Britons are sitting on 69 million items of unloved furniture, according to new research released today by North London Waste Authority (NLWA). 

‘Furniture fatigue’ – the hating of furniture in perfectly good condition – was exposed in a nationwide survey ahead of the fourth annual London Upcycling Show this Saturday, which found that 62% of Brits own items of furniture they actively dislike. Loathed furniture languishes in lounges, bedrooms and tucked-away corners for a range of reasons. One in five feel too guilty to let go of a gift or preloved hand-me-down and 30% hang onto pieces as they think they might use for something else one day. In a sign that people are concerned about the climate emergency, the most common reason for hanging on to hated furniture is feeling wasteful throwing away an item that still works (39%). 38% are unable to afford replacing an unwanted piece and 29% simply never get around to getting rid of certain items.

With two thirds believing at least one item of furniture in their home could be upcycled and made more attractive, useful or modern, NLWA is urging Brits to help combat their ‘furniture fatigue’ by having a go at upcycling. While 72% say they have either tried upcycling or would be keen to learn, there are some common barriers putting people off sanding, painting and gluing – 27% think they are not creative enough, a quarter don’t feel they have the right skills and others are worried about having the right equipment, space or time.  

To help Brits gain upcycling confidence and refine their skills, NLWA has developed the following resources (available on the website):

  • Inspiration: Follow the journeys of three amateur upcyclers as they turn unappealing objects into desirable pieces and compete to win this year’s London Upcycling Show competition.  
  • Hints and tips: Three step-by-step mini-guides with tips on upcycling an armchair, chest of drawers or cabinet, as seen in the videos.  

 Tommy Walsh, TV presenter, DIY and building expert and judge at this year’s Upcycling Show said: “Furniture fatigue can really get you down – when you’re looking at a piece day after day and just not feeling the love, but not really knowing what to do about it. Upcycling is a fantastic way to breathe new life into a plain – or plain ugly – piece of furniture and it’s much easier than people think. For relatively little effort or cost you can create a beautiful piece that’s totally unique to your home.”

Managing Director of NLWA, Martin Capstick said: “While holding onto frightful furniture is good from an environmental perspective as it means people aren’t dumping items, it’s not necessarily good for our wellbeing at home. Rather than replacing unloved items with cheap furniture that’s unlikely to last, we’d encourage people instead to consider upcycling. It’s the perfect solution as it saves waste from landfill, helping us to tackle the climate emergency, and it can make us feel good about what we already have. That’s why I’m so excited about our fourth annual London Upcycling Show – it’s a chance for people to learn how easy, inexpensive and fun it can be to turn ordinary objects into extraordinary ones.”  

Visit wiseuptowaste.org.uk/londonupcyclingshow for more information. For videos of the Upcycling Show visit NLWA’s YouTube channel.

#LoveNotLandfill presents the most beautiful pre-loved fashion in Seven Dials, London

Charities, news, Sustainability

Fashionistas take note:  14-17th November 2019, eco-fashion campaign #LoveNotLandfill will be championing pre-loved fashion at a unique Seven Dials, London pop-up store featuring collections from charity shops curated by some of fashion’s most style-savvy influencers.

Check out the Barnardo’s Collection by Emma Breschi; Cancer Research UK Collection by She Wears Fashion; The Oxfam Collection by Elizabeth Whibley; The Royal Trinity Hospice Collection by Oenone,  plus depop sellers Past Trash and Youth ID and a special menswear collection gathered from all the charities curated by sicckm8.

Each influencer has chosen 500 pieces from their partner charity, which will be sold by at the #LoveNotLandfill pop-up store with all profits going straight to the charities.  Expect designer labels you know and love at shockingly affordable prices, plus one-off gems – that is the beauty of preloved fashion.

As well as the place to discover the most on-trend sustainable fashion in London, the store will be a space to find out more about eco-fashion and the climate emergency with notice boards, talks and demos. People can bring along old and damaged clothes to donate via a #LoveNotLandfill exclusive Bambi-designed clothes bank and the Clothes Doctor will have a mend and repair station offering alterations and showing fashion lovers how to repair and upcycle their clothes.

Also expect special guest DJs and other events to be announced nearer the time.

Hannah Carter from the #LoveNotLandfill campaign said: “The sustainable fashion movement is gaining traction. More and more young people are concerned about climate change and want to get involved, whilst still looking great in beautiful clothes.  Our messaging at #LoveNotLandfill is very clear: Buy second hand, never put clothes in the bin (take them to a charity shop or put in a clothes bank) and care for your clothes so they last.”

But there are still some hurdles to get over when persuading fast fashion lovers to buy second-hand. A survey by WRAP for #LoveNotLandfill found that 1 in 3 young people in London won’t buy clothes that have been worn by someone else – but a recent report from C40 Cities shows that if we want to reduce the carbon emissions of the fashion industry and help to keep global warming at 1.5°, we can only buy 3 new items of clothing per year[1].

 

Charities such as Oxfam and Barnardo’s have hugely promoted buying second-hand instead of new in the past six months with campaigns such as #secondhandseptember and #SingleUseFashion which flooded Instagram with high profile influencers styling trend-leading second-hand looks. Along with Royal Trinity Hospice and Cancer Research UK, they continue to support the #LoveNotLandfill mission to get young people in London to try second-hand first.

 

Samantha Bain-Mollison, Head of Retail at Shaftesbury, the landlord which has provided the space for the #LoveNotLandfill pop-up: “We love the work of #LoveNotLandfill and are delighted to be able to support them. We are dedicated to supporting environmental and sustainability causes throughout Seven Dials and think the #LoveNotLandfill pop-up will be an exciting activation with a great message.”

 

Mayor for Environment and Energy, Shirley Rodrigues, added: “Tackling the climate emergency demands action across all sectors and London’s fashion industry needs to lead by example. Fast fashion has seen an increase in the consumption of low-cost clothing, leading to more waste. Recycling clothes and reclaiming fabrics like the many items in this pop-up shop will lead to a significant reduction in waste as well as reducing the environmental impact.”

 

The #LoveNotLandfill Pop-Up Store will be open from Thursday 14th November to Sunday 17th November at 47-49 Neal Street, Seven Dials, WC2H 9PZ. Click here for more info.

 

Opening times: Thursday 14 Nov 11am-9pm; Friday 15 Nov 10am-8pm; Saturday 16th Nov 11am-8pm; Sunday 17 Nov 11am-6pm.

[1] https://www.c40.org/consumption

2500+ organisations make changes to support disabled customers

Charities, news

Household names including Sainsbury’s, Sky, West Ham United, The Crown Estate and M&S to improve the customer experience for disabled people by supporting Purple Tuesday on 12th November.

New research published for Purple Tuesday reveals that poor customer service and a lack of staff understanding are among the key barriers preventing disabled consumers purchasing goods and services. The research has prompted calls for businesses and organisations to rethink how they target disabled consumers and their families, whose spending power – the so-called Purple Pound – is estimated to be £249 billion every year.

75% of disabled people have had to leave a store or website, unable to go through with their purchase because of their disability1. New research shows that most complaints from disabled people relate to experiences within the business/organisation premises, with disabled people more likely to spend money with organisations if they improve2:

  • staff understanding about different disabilities (56%)
  • the overall customer experience for disabled people (41%)
  • store/shop/location accessibility (41%)
  • website accessibility (16%)

More than 1 in 3 disabled people (34%) said poor customer service prevented them from making a purchase, while 33% blamed a lack of understanding from staff about their needs. Some disabled respondents said improvements should include ‘being treated the same as anyone else’ and having ‘knowledgeable staff’.

The research has led Purple Tuesday to call on organisations to focus on straightforward, low-cost solutions to improve the customer experience for disabled people – changes that go Beyond the Front Door. Of the 13.9 million disabled people in the UK, 80% have a hidden impairment, meaning improvements and enhancements are needed to improve access for disabled people, beyond having a ramp installed to help enter a site.

More than 2500 businesses, organisations and stores from a range of sectors have collectively pledged to make more than 3500 long-term changes to the customer experience as part of Purple Tuesday on 12 November.

This includes:

  • Sainsbury’s and Argos, who have announced a new trial of a weekly ‘Sunflower Hour’ in 30 stores, which involves creating a calmer environment by reducing background noise and sensory overload that launches on Purple Tuesday. The trial gives customers the option to pick up a sunflower lanyard which has been purposely designed to act as a discreet sign for store colleagues to recognise if they may need to provide a customer with additional support. Sainsbury’s was the first retailer to trial this initiative in 2018.
  • Microsoft Store, which has committed to educating not only the community but retail businesses on how to create accessible retail experiences, work environments and improving the lives of customers and employees living with disabilities. Register to attend a free accessibility workshop here.
  • The Crown Estate, which is working to assess the accessibility of its places in order to provide better information for disabled people and to identify areas for plan improvement.
  • Arsenal FC, which has a Sensory Room and Sensory Sensitive viewing room for people who are Autistic or who have Sensory Needs and their families. Arsenal have also launched their first Sensory Hour within the club shop and have introduced a bespoke workshop on Sensory needs for all match day stewards and other key public facing members of staff, as well as launching a new service for deaf or hard of hearing fans that use British Sign Language and setting up a Disability Forum.
  • M&S, which is committed to being the U.K.’s most accessible retailer and has introduced a number of improvements to its stores and website over the past few years – including becoming the first retailer to introduce Sunflower Lanyards into all stores for those with hidden disabilities. Earlier this month M&S ran a colleague campaign “Making Every Day Accessible” introducing a number of resources for colleagues including a top tips for being disability confident video, a guide on how to run sensory friendly shopping hours and a new ‘hard of hearing’ uniform.
  • Blakemore Retail, which is providing training for 4300 staff and making training available to their 700 independent SPAR Retailers
  • Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, which has shopping centres participating across Europe, including Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City as well as centres in Spain, Germany, Slovakia, Poland and the Czech Republic.

Mike Adams OBE, Chief Executive of Purple, said:

“Meeting the needs of disabled customers makes commercial sense for organisations of all sizes, from all sectors, but our message to organisations is: you don’t have to spend big budgets to make lasting change. That’s why we’re urging organisations to focus on improvements that go ‘beyond the front door’. Introducing staff training and improving website accessibility are low cost changes, but the difference to a company’s bottom line – as well as to a disabled consumer’s personal experience – can be significant.

“Purple Tuesday has more than doubled in size this year, with more than 2500 organisations from a variety of sectors making commitments to improve the customer experience for disabled people. These are long-term changes that will have a lasting impact for millions of customers – and improve the commercial opportunities for the organisations involved.”

The purple pound is worth £249 billion and is rising by an average of 14% per annum, yet it is estimated that less than 10% of businesses have a targeted plan to access this disability market. 3 Purple Tuesday’s research shows that more than 80% of disabled people say businesses could do more to be accessible and encourage them to spend money.

Organisations can contact Purple for advice on how they can improve their approach to disabled consumers. Example changes include:

  • Conducting an online audit of your website to improve accessibility
  • Training staff to know and understand how to communicate effectively with disabled customers
  • Getting front line staff to learn basic British Sign Langue skills to communicate with those customers from the deaf community
  • Conducting an on-site audit to ensure the physical space is suitable for every customer to get around the area easily
  • Improving wayfair signage around the facility
  • Introducing quiet hours on a regular basis to help people who struggle with music, tannoys and noise.

 

Participating organisations’ comments

West Ham United Vice-Chairman Baroness Karren Brady said:

“Equality is at the heart of everything we do at West Ham United and ensuring that our club is accessible to everyone is a way of thinking which is embedded throughout our club.

 “The Disabled Supporters’ Board, which I am proud to Chair alongside our fantastic supporter co-Chairs, has led the way on these important topics since moving to London Stadium. There are obvious ways in which our fans see this; through services like our 18 strong fleet of free supporter shuttle buses on matchdays which just gets bigger and better, our disability liaison officers around the stadium, new audio commentary devices with wider range of collections points, or the installation of RADAR lock system across all accessible toilets throughout the stadium.

“Purple Tuesday is a fantastic initiative going on across the nation in lots of different shops, and we’re proud to support it for the second year running.”

Tim Fallowfield, Board Sponsor for Disability Carers and Age at Sainsbury’s and Argos, comments:

“We’re proud to show our continued support to Purple Tuesday and believe all our customers should feel confident when shopping, all year round. Not all disabilities are visible so by taking steps such as introducing a weekly Sunflower Hour, we hope to provide an enhanced experience and reassurance for our customers.”

John Carter, Senior Store Manager of the flagship Microsoft Store in London, said:

“Technology is a tool for everyone and our products and services are designed for people of all abilities. We are supporting Purple Tuesday’s call to improve the customer experience for disabled people, by inviting retailers to learn how to create accessible experiences and cultivate a diverse and inclusive workplace for customers and employees.  We will also be running free customer workshops on our accessibility tools and features. From supporting students living with dyslexia to read with confidence, to helping people with limited mobility to write with their voice, we’re calling for everyone to learn how accessibility tools can empower you to achieve more in your life.”

Judith Everett, Chief Operating Officer at The Crown Estate, said:

“We recognise the need to improve the experience for disabled people whether shopping, eating out or at work and, with some of the world’s most historic and iconic destinations on our portfolio, we’re proud to support Purple Tuesday and play our part in generating meaningful long-term change.

“Over the past year we have continued to progress on our disability journey and have carried out detailed audits of our websites and some of our most popular destinations, including Regent Street and flagship retail centres around the UK. We are also working closely with our extensive network to raise awareness and provide practical tips on changes that can be made to target disabled customers.”

Zoe Mountford, Lead Sustainability Manger at Marks & Spencer said:

“We’re committed to making M&S the UK’s most accessible retailer, whether customers are shopping online or in-store. Earlier this year we became the first retailer to introduce sunflower lanyards for customers with hidden disabilities into all of our stores, this came one year after we launched daywear for children with disabilities and two years after we published AccessAble Guides. We know that the very best thing we can do is give great service and we work hard to make sure all our 80,000 colleagues feel disability confident.

“Purple Tuesday is a great opportunity to remind our stores of all the great resources we have introduced over the past year such as our colleague guide on how to support customers who are hard of hearing and our top tips video on how to be confident serving customer with disabilities.”

Alun Francis, Arsenal’s Disability Access Officer, said:

“We recognise that British Sign Language is most deaf people’s first language. As part of our Arsenal for Everyone programme we are committed to making our services as accessible as possible to everyone. This new service is part of this.

Helen Honstvet, Campaigns Manager at Guide Dogs, said:

“It’s great to see so many big names supporting Purple Tuesday and trying to make shopping more inclusive and accessible. We recognise that many retailers have come a long way, but we still hear all too often from people with sight loss who face persistent and unnecessary difficulties when shopping.

“When somewhere like a shop or restaurant can’t or won’t accommodate someone with sight loss, that’s not only potentially illegal but it can also be a huge blow to that person’s feelings of acceptance in society and willingness to go out independently.

“At Guide Dogs we help people with sight loss to have independence – whether that’s through our life-changing guide dog partnerships or other services. If an individual is prevented from making a purchase due to their sight loss, it can understandably knock their confidence and stop them living life to the full.”

Matt Teague, Managing Director, Blakemore Retail, said:

“We are proud to support the step change that Purple Tuesday drives. We understand the importance of creating an inclusive and positive shopping experience for all of our customers, no matter their personal needs. For the second year running we’ll be training all of our store staff to ensure that they are considerate of all shoppers needs – as well as providing them with hints and tips on how to create a positive customer experience. It’s important that we all get on-board with this campaign and I really hope you will join the campaign to make a difference”

Last year more than 750 organisations participated in Purple Tuesday, making a collective 1,500 commitments to improve how they meet the needs of disabled consumers.

For more information on Purple Tuesday, please visit www.PurpleTuesday.org.uk.

 

Alupro Executive Director Rick Hindley

823 million extra plastic bottles under proposed deposit return scheme

news, Sustainability

An ‘all-in’ deposit return scheme for drinks containers could result in an extra 823 million plastic bottles being producedi, inadvertently adding to plastic pollution – one of the key issues the scheme is trying to solve. 

As part of research released today by Alupro, the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation, 2,000 UK adults were asked to imagine there was a 20p deposit on every can or bottle of any size, as proposed in Scotland. This would mean consumers face paying an upfront deposit of £4.80 on top of the purchase price of a 24-can multipack compared with a deposit of 80p for four large plastic bottles containing the same amount of liquid. When faced with this choice, two thirds of those currently buying cans in multipacks would be likely to switch to the plastic bottles. Even if the deposit was 10p, half (51%) said they would still be likely to choose the plastic bottles over the multipack of cans.

The government has recently signalled that it favours an ‘all-in’ deposit return scheme. This follows plans in Scotland to implement a deposit return scheme in 2021, where plastic, glass or metal drinks containers of any size will have the same deposit attached, likely to be 20p. Alupro, whose aim is to maximise the amount of aluminium packaging being recycled in the UK, is warning that attaching the same deposit fee to all sizes of container will lead consumers to opt for larger plastic bottles, having consequences for the environment and encouraging the purchase of larger portion sizes.

Consumers will, of course, be able to recoup any deposit they pay by taking their empty containers to a designated collection point – most likely a supermarket or local shop – but the survey revealed that one in five people (19%) would still end up using their recycling bin at home, which would leave them perpetually out of pocket. Alupro is also concerned that some of those who can least afford to lose a deposit will be those most likely to struggle with returning their drinks containers – 22% of those surveyed said it would be difficult to regularly take their cans and bottles to a collection point.

Executive Director of Alupro, Rick Hindley, said: 

“We are very concerned that if the same deposit fee is applied regardless of container size, it will have a significant impact on multipacks of aluminium cans. The majority of consumers buy multipacks, and these will become twice as expensive as the equivalent volume in plastic if a deposit return scheme is introduced with the same deposit fee. This would be a significant upfront cost for household budgets and, as our survey has confirmed, it will influence purchasing habits.

“However, a variable deposit fee based on the size of the container avoids changing current consumer purchasing habits.  Consumers are sophisticated enough to understand a variable deposit fee as is the norm in Scandinavian countries where deposit return schemes are well established. We urge the Scottish Government and UK Government  to consider the impact of otherschemes; the German drink can market is only just starting to recover following the introduction of a poorly designed deposit scheme in 2003 that all but wiped out can sales, which plummeted by 96% almost overnight.Our survey found 83% of people are concerned that a deposit return scheme could increase the consumption of plastic.We must avoid this scenario playing out in the UK.”

Maurice Golden MSP, Shadow Climate Change, Environment, Land Reform Secretary, commented:

“We want to see an ambitious and inclusive system that works well across the whole of the UK. It is concerning that a flat deposit fee could lead to a dramatic increase in the amount of plastic being purchased and a decline in the use of aluminium. We must ensure that the deposit return scheme is well designed and does not discriminate against one material over another.”

Did you know? Aluminium facts:  

  • 75% of the aluminium ever produced is still in use today: 79% of those surveyed didn’t know this. 
  • 75% of the plastic ever produced is now in our oceans: 66% didn’t know this. 
  • Aluminium can be recycled again and again without ever losing quality: 71% didn’t know this. 
  • Aluminium is the most valuable recyclable material and generates a lot of money for councils: 73% didn’t know this. 
  • We have capacity in the UK to recycle all the aluminium sold: 77% didn’t know this. 
  • Plastic degrades every time it is recycled: 82% didn’t know this. 

Deposit return scheme infographic

A quarter of dog owners say fireworks are their dog’s biggest fear

Charities, news

The charity Guide Dogs has issued advice on fireworks for pet dog owners ahead of Bonfire Night, as new data reveals pet owners said their dogs were more scared of fireworks than being left alone or going to the vet.

Over 32,000 dog owners were polled about their pet’s biggest fear in Guide Dogs’ Great British Dogs Survey and a quarter (8,473) said their dog’s biggest fear was fireworks and loud noises.

Dogs are more sensitive to sound than humans. They can detect sounds that are up to four times quieter than the human ear can detect, so it’s not just fireworks directly outside that need to be considered – it could be some much further away that can affect a dog.

While every dog is different, there are a number of common signs your dog might be scared of fireworks, including destructive behaviour, cowering or hiding, shaking or pacing, being scared to leave the house, urinating unexpectedly or even vomiting or diarrhoea.

As part of the socialisation of puppies at Guide Dogs, the charity provides all volunteers who look after guide dog litters with CDs to play for the puppies from the moment they begin to hear. This has a range of noises for them to be socialised to including fireworks at low volume and other noises.

With firework season approaching it can be a stressful time for dogs and their owners, so Guide Dogs has prepared some top tips for pet dog owners to follow:

  1. Know if your dog is stressed – there can be many warning signs to indicate your dog might be scared of fireworks including shaking, hiding, whining or barking all the way through to vomiting or diarrhoea. Look out for these signs in the run up to fireworks season, as well as on Bonfire Night itself.
  2. Make the noise less of a shock – leading up to fireworks season you can get your dog used to the noise in a number of ways, including playing music and videos that simulate the sound of fireworks so your dog becomes used to the noise. It is important that these sounds are initially played quietly with the volume gradually increased over time. The volume should be turned down or the sounds stopped if your dog shows any signs of worry.
  3. Make your dog relaxed on the day – there are many things you can do in the lead up to Bonfire Night that can help relax your dog, including making sure your dog has a good walk before dark so they are tired and relaxed for the evening, feeding your dog earlier than normal so they can relieve themselves before fireworks start, by closing curtains and leaving the lights on or by creating a quiet, dark den for your dog to go if it becomes scared. It’s important to always give your dog a choice, and don’t force them to interact if they want to hide.
  4. Make sure your dog is happy after the fireworks – some dogs can remain scared even after the fireworks are over. It can be helpful not to make a big fuss of the fireworks ending and act like nothing has happened. If you let your dog out, make sure that your garden is secure and be prepared that your dog might have an accident overnight as it may have been too scared to relieve itself, and always be prepared for more unexpected fireworks.

Guide Dogs volunteer Sophie Vann suffered her own negative experience around fireworks while walking her one-year-old guide dog puppy, Vixen, last year.

Sophie said: “I was out for a walk with my partner when a firework was thrown into an underpass we were heading through. The noise scared the life out of us, especially Vixen. She wasn’t herself for a few months after.”

Sophie explained that it took about three months of careful training to get Vixen used to loud noises again and that she was already thinking about this year’s fireworks back in July: “It’s all about building layers of confidence. Since the incident, I prepare for fireworks season early and start by playing a fireworks playlist on my computer in the weeks and months leading up to it. Gradually I increase the volume, but I’m careful to ensure this is done gently to avoid making Vixen feel anxious. As for Bonfire Night itself, I’ll make sure she gets fed earlier, so that she can go out in the garden before the fireworks start. I’ll also move her bed away from the backdoor so that she can’t see the flashes. Vixen is going to be a guide dog mum in the future so I have to make sure she’s as comfortable as possible.”

For more information and advice on fireworks visit: guidedogs.org.uk/fireworks 

If your dog has a severe reaction to fireworks, you should seek advice from your vet. 

Thousands of pupils join campaign to cut single-use  plastic  in UK schools

Charities, news, Sustainability

Thousands of primary and secondary school pupils have joined a major new campaign to drastically cut the consumption of single-use plastic in UK schools

More than 7,000 pupils, across 12 schools, have signed up to Plastic Pioneers a campaign led by environmental charity Hubbub, and sponsored by retailers TK Maxx and Homesense.

The schools benefit from being part of a community stretching from Scotland to the south coast, sharing ideas on how to reduce their consumption of single-use plastic.

As part of the campaign, pupils form a Plastic Pioneers  committee and audit their school’s consumption of single-use plastic. They then advise on – and experiment with – ways to reduce single-use  plastic, coming up with their own initiatives including replacing plastic  bottles with reusable ones, banning yoghurt pots and rethinking lunchtime packaging.

Committee members wear  Plastic  Pioneers  badges to encourage their classmates to think carefully about their consumption of single-use  plastic.

They have also scheduled workshops with expert guest speakers, including Dan Webb, who last week launched the Everyday  Plastic  Survey – a nationwide campaign to enable participants to discover more about their  plastic  foot print; TEDx teen speaker, Amy Meek, from Kids Against  Plastic  and Mel Fisher, who runs Christmas markets with zero waste brands.

Researchers have found that on average in the UK we each throw away over 34kg of  plastic  packaging every year – nearly the weight of 5,000 pencils. Much of this cannot be recycled and ends up in landfill, floating around in our rivers and oceans.

In December, the government urged schools to stop using single-use  plastic  items such as bags, straws, bottles and  plastic  food packaging by 2022, and to consider environmentally friendly alternatives instead.

Natalie Bayliss, Creative Partner at Hubbub, who is leading the  Plastic  Pioneers  campaign, said each school involved in the campaign has been coming up with different, innovative ways to cut down on single-use  plastic.

“Pupils up and down the country have devised some brilliant ideas – from cutting out  plastic  in canteens to experimenting with alternatives to  plastic  prizes at school events,” she said.

“Single-use  plastic is everywhere and our schools are no exception. It’s so ubiquitous, we often don’t even register it’s there. “And yet it’s having an extremely damaging impact on our wildlife and environment. This campaign helps empower young people to challenge whether single-use plastic really needs to be used and to come up with alternatives.”

A YouGov survey in April showed just under half of us – 46% – feel guilty about the amount of  plastic  we use, while more than eight in 10 of us are actively trying to reduce the amount we throw away. 

At Westhoughton High School in Bolton, 35 pupils are on the  Plastic  Pioneers  Committee. They persuaded the school to stop selling bottled water and through the campaign, have provided classmates with reusable bottles, which  Plastic  Pioneers  pupils helped design. They have also removed  plastic  packaging from their canteen. 

At Saint Gabriel’s College in Lambeth, the  Plastic  Pioneers  campaign has helped put sustainability at the top of the school’s agenda. Hazel Millar, Head of Key Stage 3 Science and  Plastic  Pioneers  Coordinator, Saint Gabriel’s College, said: “The crucial thing about this campaign is that it is student-led. It has shown my students that they have a voice. Their ideas on how to reduce single-use  plastic  have been taken up by the whole of the school with huge enthusiasm.”

Just as the schools are looking at ways to cut consumption of single-use  plastic,  Plastic  Pioneers  sponsors TK Maxx and Homesense have so far removed the nine biggest contributors to ocean waste  plastic  from their stores and offices. These include  plastic  drink bottles, single use carrier bags, straws,  plastic  cups and non-biodegradable wipes.

Next year, all the schools involved in the  Plastic  Pioneers  campaign will report back on the single initiative that has made the biggest difference to cutting the consumption of single-use  plastic  in their school.

For more information on  Plastic  Pioneers, contact Natalie Bayliss at  hello@hubbub.org.uk 

On-Street recycling launches for first time in Edinburgh

Charities, news, Sustainability

Bubble-blowing bins and an eye-catching art installation will appear in Edinburgh City Centre from today [Tuesday 22 October], as a new on-the-go recycling initiative is launched by environmental charity Hubbub and The City of Edinburgh Council. Edinburgh #InTheLoop is a five-month trial which will allow people passing through the city centre to recycle plastic bottles, cans and coffee cups on the street, for the first time.  

Whilst recycling at home and kerbside collections have improved over the years, the rate of recycling on-the-go is still low. In the UK around 5.5 billion plastic bottles, 2.7 billion drinks cans and 2.5 billion coffee cups get thrown away every year! Yet, recent research by ReCoup found that only 42% of local authorities provide on-the-go recycling facilities.

Two Scotland-based artists, Sam Cornwell and Cody Lukas, have created an innovative geometric installation, which will display plastic bottles, drinks cans and coffee cups to demonstrate the value of these materials. It will use solar panels to glow up at night to captivate members of the public and further raise awareness of the issue. The artwork will be located in St Andrew Square from 21st October until early 2020.   

Our Edinburgh #InTheLoop is being supported by local partners including The City of Edinburgh Council, Changeworks, Waverley Mall, Essential Edinburgh BID and Scotwaste. 

The initiative – which is the UK’s biggest collaborative approach to boost recycling on-the-go – is being backed by Starbucks, Ecosurety, Asda, Bunzl, Caffè Nero, Coca-Cola GB, Costa Coffee, Danone (owners of the evian and Volvic brands), Highland Spring Group, Innocent Drinks, Lucozade Ribena Suntory, Marks & Spencer, McDonald’s, Nestlé and Pret a Manger. 

Hubbub launched its inaugural on-the-go recycling scheme #LeedsByExample in 2018, which saw on-the-go recycling rates in Leeds increase from 17% to 32% in just six months. The campaign has sparked national interest from cities across the UK, with the scheme now being rolled out in Swansea and Edinburgh.   

Alex Robinson from Hubbub said: “For the first time, the people of Edinburgh will be able to recycle whilst on the move. The impact our pilot campaign had on the city of Leeds far surpassed our expectations and with the support of the local community, we hope Edinburgh will do the same. 

We’re urging people working, living or visiting Edinburgh New Town to use the new-look bins and help us ensure that as much valuable packaging is recycled as possible. We also look forward to launching coffee cup recycling facilities in the city in the near future.”  

Transport and Environment Convenor for The City of Edinburgh Council, Councillor Lesley Macinnes, said: “We’re delighted to be collaborating with Hubbub on this project, which will help us to explore ways of encouraging recycling on the go and plan for the future impact of the Deposit Return Scheme.   

“As a Council we are committed to increasing recycling rates amongst residents and visitors, and as we’ve seen from previous work with Hubbub, their innovative approach to behaviour change has made a real impact on the public.” 

Head of Projects Sam Mills from Changeworks said: “We’re excited to be working with Hubbub to deliver this campaign, combining their creativity and our 30 years’ experience in delivering local solutions for low carbon living across Scotland.  

“Disposing of packaging on the go can be really challenging. These new recycling bins will make this much easier across the city centre, and we’re excited to see just how much waste we can keep from being thrown away.” 

To maximise the amount we can recycle, we ask that the public use the bins as follows:

  • Cups from hot drinks (coffee, tea, hot chocolate) and cold drinks (ie, McDonald’s paper cups) can be recycled in the orange cup bins. These need to be empty of any liquid  
  • Lids, stirrers and straws should go in the general waste bin 
  • Compostable cups cannot be recycled and should go in the general waste bin 
  • Plastic bottles and cans should be put in the yellow bins

For more information, visit: http://www.ouredinburghintheloop.co.uk 

Borough Market teams up with Good Sixty to offer a brand-new online shopping experience

Charities, Food and Drink, news, Sustainability

London’s iconic Borough Market has teamed up with tech and logistics business Good Sixty, which focuses on independent food retailers, to create a new online market shopping experience in the capital. Advances in technology have given people the option of carrying out their weekly shopping online and Borough Market is the first UK produce market to participate in this growing trend by launching a ‘click and collect’ shopping option for customers, along with a sustainable local delivery service powered by zero emission electric bikes.  

Although steeped in tradition through its 1,000–year history, London’s oldest market has long been a pioneer of sustainable innovation – such as with the installation of its water fountains in 2017, drive to eradicate single use plastic bottles and the recent introduction (in September 2019) of compostable bags for traders to use. Driven by the vision of Borough Market’s charitable trust, and the technology developed by Good Sixty, the Market is preparing for this exciting next stage in its evolution as a provider of world-class national and international produce.   

The Market’s online shopping platform is available now for customers to order delicious produce from a wide range of participating Borough Market traders, and those that like to forward plan will also be able to book their slots for Christmas deliveries. Shoppers can visit as many of the trader pages as they wish, adding goods to a virtual shopping basket as they go. Once the order is placed, Good Sixty will gather the produce from the relevant traders and place them in a designated hub within the Market. From here, customers can either collect their order at the Market between 12pm and 9pm – perfect for London’s commuters – or it will be dispatched via state of the art zero-emission electric cargo bike to their address at a pre-booked time slot.  

At launch, the delivery service will be available to residents within a 1.5-mile radius of the Market, (please see attached map for service coverage) with a view to expanding across London in 2020. 

Darren Henaghan, Managing Director, Borough Market said: “Those who shop at Borough Market do so because they know that the produce here is high quality, sustainably sourced and often unique. While shoppers will continue to want to peruse our many market stalls – taking in the atmosphere, speaking to our knowledgeable traders and discovering something new – we are delighted to be working with Good Sixty to offer an alternative to those who for whatever reason are unable to make it down to us in person. Our online service will ensure that more people are able to regularly get hold of ingredients that they simply wouldn’t be able to find elsewhere. We have listened to what our customers want and are excited to be able to spread our wings in this way, focusing first on local customers in London, but with a view of increasing our reach later down the line.” 

Good Sixty was founded in Bristol in 2016 and it currently operates a similar service for local retailers in Bristol and Bath.  

Chris Edwards, Founder and Managing Director, Good Sixty said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be working with Borough Market. The quality and provenance of the produce is outstanding, as is the traders’ passion in what they do. The new service has been designed to reflect these qualities online, giving users real insight into each stall and the individuals behind them.  Discovering new delicacies and the traders who make the Market so special makes shopping on the platform really enjoyable.  And what is more, the service will make the Market accessible to many more, opening it up to those who love shopping there but don’t always have the time to explore it on foot. Through Good Sixty, people will be able to shop seamlessly and securely and have their favourite produce from Borough delivered directly to their door. The new platform not only helps support Borough’s independent retailers and producers but ensures the Market is ready for the future, offering Londoners an ethical way to shop online. Borough Market can become a place where more people do their weekly shop, instead of having to rely on supermarkets.  This is why we’re called Good Sixty – because research shows that every pound you spend with a local independent producer has a 60% greater benefit to your local community than spending it with a large supermarket.” 

To order unique and delicious UK and international produce from a range of Borough Market’s traders, please visit http://boroughmarket.org.uk/online.  Orders can be placed from Monday 21st October. 

Map showing 1.5 mile radius for Electric Bike Deliveries: 

Customers can visit the Borough Market/Good Sixty online ordering page to check postcode eligibility for electric bike delivery, or choose to use the click and collect service. 

Climate emergency: It’s time to cotton on to organic fashion

Charities, Food and Drink, news, Sustainability

Soil Association and Hubbub partner to create impactful water installation at Westfield London

We are in a climate emergency and our thirst for fashion is a big contributor, which is why Hubbub and Soil Association Certification are urging fashionistas to go organic.

On 3rd and 4th October at Westfield London, environmental campaign group Hubbub and Soil Association Certification, the UK’s largest organic certifier, will open a 3.5-metre-high installation to show shoppers how much water organic cotton saves versus non-organic cotton.

Cotton is a notoriously thirsty crop. In fact, growing cotton accounts for 69% of the water footprint of textile fibre production; just one kilogram of cotton takes as much as 10,000-20,000 litres of water to produce.

The World Economic Forum has identified water scarcity as one of the top ten global risks to society over the next ten years, yet the majority of cotton is grown in countries that are already facing severe water stress.  But there is hope. Growing cotton organically uses significantly less water than conventional cotton – up to 91% less (Textile Exchange 2014).

Organic cotton works with rather than against nature. By using natural techniques, good soil management and seed varieties that are drought resistant, and by growing in areas more suited to cotton farming that are rain-fed, rather than irrigated, organic farmers are saving precious water.

And it isn’t just in the field that organic cotton is saving water. The dyeing and finishing of non-organic textiles can require as much as 200 tonnes of water for every tonne of textiles produced. Around 20% of all global water pollution results from the dyeing and finishing of textiles.  

Fabrics carrying the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) logo have been made using low-impact dyes and inks in factories where waste water is properly treated before being released. As a result, organic cotton does not pollute water ways. And when you wash it, micro plastics don’t end up in the ocean (which happens when you wash synthetic clothes). 

The story of organic cotton doesn’t stop at water. Textiles carrying the Soil Association or the GOTS logo have been made in factories that have met strict social and environmental criteria. This means that working conditions are safe, and workers’ rights are protected.  

Choosing organic clothing can have a positive impact on people and the planet.  Visit the installation at Westfield London on the 3rd and 4th October and find out how much water growing organic cotton saves as well as the other huge environmental benefits organic cotton brings and follow the tips below for simple actions everyone can all take. 

Clare McDermott, Business Development Director, Soil Association Certification said: “We’re in a climate emergency and awareness of the damaging impact of the fashion industry has never been higher. People want more sustainable clothing options and retailers need to step up and play their part by making options like organic more available in store.

“Our activation at Westfield London is a light-hearted way of doing something serious. Hopefully we can engage shoppers with the benefits of choosing organic and show retailers that there is a real demand for clothing options that reduce the impact of the fashion industry as the organic textiles market continues to grow.” 

Sarah Divall from Hubbub said: “The call for a more sustainable fashion industry has never been louder and encouraging people to make easy switches when they do buy something new, like to organic cotton, can make a real difference. Hubbub is committed to making the fashion industry better for the planet and making it easier for shoppers to make the right choices. This installation is a great way to show brands and customers at Westfield what they can do to make their stores and wardrobes more sustainable.”

Myf Ryan, CMO Europe and Group Director of Brand and Strategic Marketing for Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, said: “We are delighted to welcome Soil Association and Hubbub as partners to launch their campaign to educate and champion organic cotton. Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield continues to positively shape a sustainable positioning and working strategically with expert partners to deliver experiences that can make a difference, and be front of mind for the high-volume of visitors we see at the centres every day.” 

Act now! Together we can make the world of difference 

  • Change the way you shop: Look for organic cotton when clothes shopping, if you need something new. Look for the Global Organic Textile Standard and Organic Content Standard logo on the label. Shop from Soil Association certified organic brands and discover other brands and retailers stocking organic on the Good On You website or app
  • Ask your favourite brands to go organic: Want your favourite brands to stock more organic cotton? Tweet a message (use link that the SA is using) and tag in your favourite labels, asking them to stock more #OrganicForThePlanet @SoilAssociation
  • Share: 39% of people* say they care about the environment, but it’s never occurred to them that their clothes might have an impact. Help us spread the word to your friends – share @SoilAssociation’s social media posts using the hashtag # OrganicForThePlanet
  • Stock it: Are you a brand or retailer? Find out why organic textiles are good for business here 

The sustainable fashion hacks we can learn from Baby Boomers

Charities, news, Sustainability

Britons buy five times the amount of clothing they bought in the 1980s*, so environmental charity Hubbub and natural knitwear experts WoolOvers have come together to look at the generational differences in attitudes towards fashion among British women; To explore how attitudes differ by age and what knowledge can be shared.

The survey of 2,000 women by Censuswide, alongside a series of focus groups found that younger women can learn a lot from their mothers’ and grandmothers’ about what makes a good quality product, and how to extend its lifetime through care and repair.

Women aged 54 and above take a much more mindful approach to fashion, spending £49 each on average per month but spreading the cost and only buying a new item of clothing every 3-5 months. And almost two thirds (62%) expect their clothes to last for several years.

Whilst British women aged 16-37 (Generation Z and Millennials) spend on average £81 each per month, with 26% of Generation Z buying new clothing between 2-3 times per month. But not even half of these young women (47%) expect their clothes to last many years, with the quality of the design being prioritised much lower than price and fit.

So what is influencing this difference in attitudes towards buying and caring for clothes between the generations?

One of the biggest impacts is likely the shopping experience itself. A third of Baby Boomers (54-72 year-olds) and the Silent Generation (73 year-olds +), shop seasonally, only 18% of Generation Z do the same, as fast fashion allows them to shop 52 ‘micro seasons’ a year.

With the introduction of online shopping in the late 1990s, young women have gone from being influenced by their mothers and grandmothers on where to shop to having multiple avenues of influence via their phone from apps and social media. Generation Z’s spending is impulsive, with social media and the media playing a big part in influencing them on what to buy. They admit to feeling guilty about the money they have spent and are left stressed that they have spent more than they can afford.

It’s also clear that the implications of buying new clothes this way are not fully understood, despite there being concerns about the environmental implications of fashion, less than half (42%) of Generation Z women know what the term ‘fast fashion’ actually means, compared to more than two thirds – 67% – of Baby Boomers.  

Fast fashion items, which are produced rapidly by mass-market retailers in response to the latest trends, are then consequently falling apart, and when clothing become damaged only 30% of Gen Z will repair it  themselves, with a quarter asking a friend of relative to fix it for them. Whereas more than half (51%) of Baby Boomers repair their own clothes. This was explored further in the focus groups, which resulted in women admitting that fashion had become so cheap that even sewing a button back on seemed like a useless skill. The main reason for not knowing how to repair clothing being down to whether or not they were taught how to by a family member or at school.  

Heather Poore, Creative Director at Hubbub, said: “In a world where sustainable living is so high on the agenda, the fashion industry is somehow still getting away with a ‘business as usual’ approach. While some retailers have introduced ethical lines, people still do not feel educated on the environmental impact of the industry and so are prioritising price and convenience over sustainability. Our research shows that the Baby Boomers and Silent Generation seem to hold the secret to how to buy good quality items and if needed, repair them to extend their lifetime. We need to get women across the UK talking and sharing these invaluable skills and insights, in a bid to tackle the damaging effects of fast fashion.” 

Mike Lester, CEO of WoolOvers, said: “The relationship between generations is important: young women often learn their first style lessons from their mothers and grandmothers while daughters educate their elders on new fashion trends. However, little is known about what older women’s think about the environmental impact of fashion and how and whether they are communicating on this with younger women, so it was something we were keen to explore. It’s clear just how much attitudes differ between the generations and the valuable knowledge mothers and grandmothers can pass on to young women to help them make a positive impact on both their bank balance and the environment.”

To help pass the knowledge on, Hubbub and WoolOvers have collated some of the Baby Boomers’ fashion advice in a series of tips and infographics, download Images and Infographics here.