Summer is the Silly Season for Fast Fashion

Charities, featured news, news, Sustainability

Summer is the season for occasion wear, special outfits purchased for weddings, BBQs, holidays and festivals. Millions of these outfits are bought new every year and never worn again, damaging people’s purses and the planet. That is why Barnardo’s is asking people to think ‘pre-loved’ before buying new and check out the gems to be found at their local Barnardo’s store.

According to a new poll conducted by Censuswide for Barnardo’s* this year Britons potentially will spend an extraordinary £2.7 Billion on fashion that will only be worn once.

Brits spend an average £79.76 on a wedding outfit, nearly 10m of which are expected to only be worn only once, meaning they are potentially forking out nearly £800 million on single-use wedding outfits alone. But by far the biggest indulgence is outfits for holidays, Brits spend over £700 million on 11 million outfits brought purely for the holiday and never worn again. See table above for details.

This is wasteful, expensive and unsustainable – both in terms of the environmental costs of making new outfits and the tonnes of wasted clothes which then end up in landfill.

Buying new is not only costly to purses and the planet, you are also more likely to see someone else in the same outfit – 26 per cent of people polled have turned up to a special occasion in the same outfit as another guest. Barnardo’s are suggesting this is the year to turn to charity shops to find a unique and beautiful vintage piece instead,

Barnardo’s Chief Executive Javed Khan said: “Choosing to buy pre-loved clothes for a special occasion from a Barnardo’s shop means you don’t have to worry about bumping into someone wearing the same outfit.

“It is also kinder to the environment and your wallet, getting more wear out of clothes which might otherwise only be worn once and end up in landfill.

“Buying from Barnardo’s also means you will be helping to transform the lives of vulnerable children across the UK.”

Currently a quarter (25 per cent) of people would be embarrassed to wear an outfit to a special occasion such as a wedding more than once – this rises to 37 per cent of young people aged 16-24 although just 12 per cent of those over 55 feel this way. This needs to change.

It’s not all bad news however, 55 per cent of people would like to get more use out of the clothes they buy to reduce their impact on the environment, and four in ten (40 per cent) have worn a second hand item to a wedding.

What’s more 46 per cent of people think you get good value for money by shopping second hand and a further 45 per cent believe it’s more affordable than buying new – with 28 per cent saying they can find designer bargains they wouldn’t have been able to afford at full price.

But with more than half (51 per cent) of people say buying new clothes for a festival or holiday adds to the excitement of the build-up, Barnardo’s are launching a special in store booklet with tips on finding and styling occasion wear from its stores. There is also a short film with tips from sustainable fashion experts Paloma in Disguise, and Jade from NotBuyinNew.

OCCASION NUMBER OF SINGLE USE OUTFITS BOUGHT MONEY SPENT
BBQ 6,368,240 £197,606,487
FESTIVALS 7,400,928 £247,931,088
OTHER 8,724,845

£329,188,401
BALL OR OTHER FORMAL EVENT 6,837,473 £491,545,933
WEDDINGS 9,997,636 £797,411,447
HOLIDAYS 11,052,809 £711,137,731
TOTAL 50,381,931 £2,774,821,087

1 in 10 Parents Admit Throwing Dirty Nappies in the Recycling

featured news, news, Public Sector, Sustainability

A new campaign has been launched today to encourage parents to dispose of used nappies in their general rubbish bin, after one in 10 UK parents of under 3s admitted to putting them in with the household recycling.North London Waste Authority (NLWA) has revealed how lorry-loads of recycling have to be thrown away because they have so many nappies in them. The scourge of nappy contamination also forces recycling centre workers to pull filthy nappies off conveyor belts by hand so the rest of the recycling can be processed properly.NLWA wants to help parents do the right thing with used nappies and avoid causing these problems. Disposing of nappies properly not only helps the environment, it also helps reduce the staggering £1.5m cost of contamination met by north London taxpayers every year.The #BinYourNappy campaign reminds parents to put used nappies in their general waste bin.

NLWA has launched the campaign after carrying out new research, which found there is widespread confusion about correct nappy disposal; 10% of parents of under 3s think nappies should go in a bin other than general waste. And of those who have put nappies in the recycling, more than a third say it’s because the outer packaging shows the ‘recycling logo’, whilst a fifth say it’s because they are termed ‘disposable’.

With labelling on nappy packaging at the heart of the confusion, NLWA is calling on manufacturers to make it clearer on-pack, and through their marketing communications, that nappies must go in the general rubbish bin.

Chair of NLWA, Councillor Clyde Loakes, said: “It’s hard to overestimate the scale of this unsavoury problem. We know parents want to do the right thing. That’s why we’re asking parents to put used nappies in the general waste bin. Contamination of recycling damages the environment, is costly for taxpayers and leaves recycling centre staff having to remove soiled nappies by hand.

“Our research shows that there is huge confusion about the labelling on packs. We’re calling on nappy manufacturers to come on board and make things clearer for their customers and help parents’ understanding.

“The estimated cost of dealing with contaminated recycling in the next year in north London alone is nearly £1.5million – money which I’m sure most taxpayers would prefer was spent elsewhere.”

Steve Oulds, National Commercial Manager at Biffa Waste Services Ltd, a Materials Recovery Facility which deals with recycling from households across north London, said: “We see millions of nappies arrive at our facility each year. Contamination is the single biggest challenge we face on a daily basis.

“Nearly half of parents in the survey didn’t know that recycling is sorted by hand. I hope that this knowledge helps encourage everyone to dispose of every nappy in the general rubbish bin.”Further confusion has been found around nappies marketed as ‘biodegradable’ or ‘compostable’, with half of all respondents believing these are recyclable in some form. Some respondents also thought whether a nappy is clean, wet or soiled makes a difference to whether it can be recycled. In fact, it is not currently possible to recycle any type of nappy through mainstream council recycling services.

The ‘Green Dot’ symbol (two intertwined arrows forming a circle) has been shown to be the most baffling for parents. Of those surveyed, 55% thought that this meant the outer packaging could be recycled and 13% thought it meant that either clean or used nappies could be recycled. In fact, the symbol only indicates that the producer has made a financial contribution towards the recovery and recycling of packaging in Europe and does not mean that the outer packaging or its contents are recycled or recyclable.

At the heart of the #BinYourNappy campaign is a video which helps explain the problem to parents – set to the tune of a familiar nursery rhyme.

As well as working with nappy manufacturers, NLWA will be enlisting the help of health services, toddler play centres and parenting groups to help spread the #BinYourNappy message. You can watch our campaign video, which explains the problem of nappy contamination here.

Visit wiseuptowaste.org.uk/binyournappy to find out more about the campaign.

Starbucks and Hubbub launch first ever airport reusable cup trial with Gatwick Airport

Charities, featured news, news, Sustainability

Today, 10th June 2019, Starbucks and Hubbub have launched the first airport reusable cup trial in partnership with Gatwick Airport. The trial will offer drop off points for Starbucks reusable cups throughout the international airport’s South Terminal to help cut paper cup waste and address throw-away culture.

This trial aims to offer a new approach to reuse, helping customers reduce disposable cup usage within closed environments such as travel hubs. Customers at the Starbucks store, which is operated in partnership with SSP, will have the option to borrow a free reusable cup for their drink instead of using a paper cup, which they can then drop off at one of five ‘Cup Check-In’ points throughout the airport before they board their flight.

Over 5.3 million of the seven million paper cups used at Gatwick each year are already being recycled but as recycling requires empty cups to be placed in the dry recycling bins, Starbucks and Hubbub have identified the potential to increase reusable cup options as well to limit the number of cups used in travel hubs where on-the-go packaging is prevalent.

The aim of the trial is to put 2,000 reusable Starbucks cups in circulation throughout Gatwick’s South Terminal, which could drastically reduce the number of paper cups being used each day. For example, if only 250 customers opted for reusable each day, it could see over 7,000 paper cups saved in one month.

Starbucks. South Terminal. Gatwick Airport,
Photo: Zute Lightfoot

Jaz Rabadia MBE, UK Senior Manager of Energy and Sustainability at Starbucks, said: “The purpose of working with Hubbub and Gatwick is to help create a new culture of reuse on-the-go by giving customers the option of a reusable cup instead of paper for free. We are optimistic that the ‘Cup Check-In’ points around the airport will provide enough places for customers to return their cups on the way to their gate, but also recognise this might not for everyone. Our goal is to save 7,000 disposable cups over the course of the month to find out the best ways to drive reuse where it is typically harder to do so – such as airports.”

Rachel Thompson, Sustainability Lead, Gatwick Airport said: “There is strong public support for measures to reduce waste and we are delighted to support one of our retailers with an innovation that can help travellers do that. We are looking forward to seeing how the trial goes and what we can learn to improve the solution.

“This trial fits well with Gatwick’s own circular economy ethos, which sees us utilise as many recovered resources as possible from within the airport estate.  By redesigning and investing in new waste collection and sorting facilities, and also in training to raise awareness about our journey toward zero waste, we have so far managed to hit a waste recycling and reuse rate of 70% this year. This includes all empty coffee cups and plastics and we also send zero waste to landfill.”

How It Works

  • Starbucks customers will be offered the option of having their drink in a reusable cup when they get to the till
  • Customers keep hold of the cup for the time they are in the airport
  • Before boarding, cups can be returned to one of five ‘Cup Check-In’ points located throughout the terminal, including at the Starbucks store
  • Cups will be collected by Gatwick’s waste management team to be washed and sterilised in line with the airport’s safety standards and returned to Starbucks ready for customer consumption
  • Any customers wishing to choose a disposable paper cup are still welcome and able to do so and will incur the 5p paper cup charge that is live in all Starbucks stores.

Trewin Restorick, CEO and Co-Founder, Hubbub said: “We know that people care about waste, but it’s often hard to ‘do the right thing’ when travelling. We want to find out whether people will get on board with reusing cups, if we make it easy and convenient. The airport is the ideal environment to trial a reusable cup scheme, as it is a closed loop environment and has the potential to reduce large volumes of paper cup waste. What we learn here will provide valuable insight into how to deploy a reusable trial in not only other airports, but many other environments.”

This trial is part of Starbucks and Hubbub’s on-going partnership and commitment to reducing paper cup waste. After introducing a 5p charge on paper cups in 2018 to encourage reuse, Starbucks has donated all proceeds to Hubbub to carry out environmental projects and research that increase sustainable consumer behaviour, such as this Gatwick trial.

Borough Market showcases pioneering spirit of new traders at Food Futures Market

Charities, Food and Drink, news, Sustainability

This weekend (31st May and 1st June), London’s iconic Borough Market is showcasing traders and social enterprises who are innovators and disrupters in their field, at its Food Futures Market.

Borough Market has long been committed to working with its traders to identify and support a more sustainable way of shopping and living for its customers. The traders joining the historic Market Hall this weekend highlight the pioneering spirit that Borough Market embraces and supports. These innovators are at the forefront of a new generation of high quality, ethical and environmentally friendly food, drink and household products. 

Featured traders for the Food Futures Market include innovative stalls from London based Breadwinners, who provide training and jobs for refugees across their London farmers market stalls and Storimarket, the world’s first farm-to-fork trade platform for smallholder farmers. Storimarket connects ethical and sustainable smallholder farmers and producers in Africa with customers in a way that rewards farmers for producing food that builds their community and cares for the environment. Zero waste, vegan, toxin free cleaning and household products will also be available from Green Boutique. 

Sustainable food will be available from Hackney based vegan cheesemongers, I AM NUT OK. Vegan and gluten free nut butters by Jake’s Boost. Raw fermented nut cream cheeses handcrafted in Crystal Palace by Palace Culture. Nutritional and delicious snacks by Oh Lily! made from water lily seeds which have been used for centuries in ayurveda medicine for their nutritional value. Push chocolate, which is vegan and free from dairy, gluten, nuts and refined sugar. BEASTFAST make delicious granola with gluten free oats and free from refined sugar. myTEA is Mighty! make plant based ready meals, free-from gluten, nuts, palm oil and pesticides. 

Drink traders include Binary Botanica, whose ground-breaking infusion of hop leaves and wine yeast make a vegan and gluten free ‘table beer’. Mitch’s Kitchen will be providing natural, vegan tea lattes real-brewed with Fairtrade tea leaves and organic ingredients.  

Fashion retailers leading sustainability trend by trialling new business models

news, Public Sector, Sustainability

The London Waste and Recycling Board (LWARB) and QSA Partners have today announced that they are working with a number of fashion retailers to develop and pilot a range of new circular economy business models such as clothes hire, product resale, repair and rental services. The retailers – including Ted Baker, Farfetch and FW – will be exploring more sustainable ways of operating through the Circular Fashion Fast Forward project.

Each retailer will explore its own bespoke approach to becoming a more circular business, developing new business models which will be trialled and ultimately, if successful, brought to market. Projects like this also create great opportunities for learning, so case studies will be created and shared once the project is complete to help other fashion retailers and brands develop and adopt their own circular business models. 

More and more businesses are realising the competitive advantage that circular business models can bring.  Consumers are increasingly demanding more sustainable options from the brands they love, and circular approaches offer companies a real opportunity to create more value and profit whilst reducing their environmental impact.

Resale is a particularly strong growth area for fashion businesses to consider: a recent report by thredUP1 puts the value of the second-hand market at $24 billion, a figure which is expected to double in the next five years. The Business of Fashion report, “The State of Fashion, 2019”2 highlights that resale is growing nine times faster than traditional retail and The Ellen MacArthur Foundation estimates that an industry-wide move towards circular fashion could add €160 billion in value by 2030.

Brands connected to the project are motivated by the chance to prove the benefits of circular business models. Thomas Berry, Director of Sustainable Business at Farfetch, says: “Circular models like resale or rental are big commercial opportunities for Farfetch. They are a very natural extension of our long-standing vintage offer, and we have started to pilot a few new models. Since 2018 our Browns retail store has been in partnership with rental platform Armarium, and we have just launched Farfetch Secondlife – a handbag resale service for our customers. We are excited to be working with LWARB and QSA to build the business case to accelerate our work in this area.” 

Customers are also the main motivation for Kate Wakeling, Ted’s Conscience Manager at Ted Baker, who says: “Ted Baker are excited to be exploring opportunities within the circular economy and are pleased to have teamed up with QSA Partners and LWARB. Ted’s wholly unique way of looking at things means we look forward to delivering something very special and meaningful for our customers.”

FW is an exciting new outdoor brand launching in Autumn 2019. Anna Smoothy, FW’s Senior Marketing Manager, emphasises that sustainability is at the core of what they want to achieve: “FW’s approach to sustainability is an open-ended conversation. We are constantly searching to refine our materials and reduce our impact. At FW, quality is sustainability. We make products to last while incorporating eco-materials that are proven to be durable like Oxford Recycled Yarn. We are not just making eco-friendly products destined for landfill – we would like to underline the fact that we are developing a Repair Program with QSA and LWARB so that our fans invest in FW for life.” 

Megan McGill, Programme Manager for the C&A Foundation, is pleased to see these important projects underway: “The fashion industry needs to rapidly adopt new business models that increase the use of clothing and stop the use of unsustainable materials. This is a critical step towards a circular fashion sector. The Circular Fashion Fast Forward project and the participating brands will demonstrate what can already be done today and inspire more industry players to follow.” 

Leeds residents ready to reduce waste

Charities, featured news, news

As the UK becomes increasingly concerned about plastic pollution and sustainability, Leeds residents have already shown the rest of the country how keen they are on recycling on-the-go. The pioneering #LeedsByExample campaign to improve recycling on-the-go has proven a huge success. The number of people recycling paper cups, cans and plastic food and drink packaging in Leeds City Centre has almost doubled during the six-month trial, inspiring other parts of the UK to follow suit. 

Whilst recycling on-the-go has come a long way, there are still over 600,000 tonnes of waste being thrown away from homes and businesses in Leeds annually according to Leeds City Council – the weight of a small car per resident. However, new research released by the environmental charity Hubbub reveals that the residents of Leeds want to change this, with more than half (51%) saying they want to reduce the amount of waste their household produces.  

This enthusiasm in response to the issues of plastic pollution and sustainability has inspired a new phase of the #LeedsByExample campaign. The ‘Agree your three’ initiative will find out how much further Leeds locals are willing to go to reduce the waste they throw away and reuse and recycle more. 

In the study of 1,000 Leeds residents, the most common moves currently being taken to reduce waste include:  

  • Eating leftovers, freezing more and planning meals to reduce food waste (70%)  
  • Recycling plastic bottles (89%) and food tins & drinks cans (84%) 
  • Buying items second-hand such as books (63%), adult clothes & shoes (51%) and furniture (50%)

That said, there seems to be reluctance to seek out other used items such as baby/child equipment (23%) and baby/children’s clothes and shoes (24%).  Currently only 29% are switching the products they buy to reduce packaging, for example having milk delivered in glass bottles or using soap instead of bottled handwash, but 55% said they would be willing to do so in the future.  

Now Leeds residents are being asked to join the conversation and vote on the top three small changes they would be willing to make to reduce the amount they throw away, reuse and recycle more, from a shortlist of 10 already popular actions: 

  1. Compost my kitchen food scraps 
  2. Use a reusable coffee cup or water bottle 
  3. #LeedsByExample and inspire, persuade and, where needed, nag my family and friends to recycle more and waste less 
  4. Try to shop smarter and use up food in my fridge 
  5. Give away any unwanted clothes or recycle them in a textile bank 
  6. Take electrical items (plus batteries!) to my local recycling centre 
  7. Recycle glass bottles and jars at my local bottle bank 
  8. Take my reusable bag when I go shopping and buy stuff with less packaging 
  9. Swap or share more items with others (e.g. DIY/ gardening tools) 
  10. And if nothing else…Put cans, plastic bottles and cardboard in my green bin

Ideas generated will be used by Leeds City Council to develop a city-wide action plan to tackle waste based on what people most care about. 

Gavin Ellis, co-founder and director of environmental charity Hubbub, said: “The good news is there is a real appetite in Leeds to reduce waste – more than six in ten people are thinking more carefully about what they buy and half want to reduce the amount of stuff they throw out. We’d like to hear from residents about what they would consider doing to reduce the amount they throw away and recycle more – you can ‘Agree your three’ by visiting the website or our installation at Trinity Leeds.”  

Councillor Mohammed Rafique, executive board member with responsibility for the environment, comments, “We are very supportive of the expansion of the #LeedsByExample campaign. I am excited to learn what pledges people will be making across the city. We will work with Hubbub and others, such as Zero Waste Leeds, on how the results of the ‘Agree your three’ can be put into practice.” 

To find out more about the ‘Agree your three’ campaign, residents can vote online via www.leedsbyexample.co.uk or in person at a ‘pledge tree’ installation between 29 May – 11 June (11am-2pm) at Trinity Leeds shopping centre. 

4 in 5 people worried about the effect of air pollution on themselves and their families

Charities, news, Sustainability

Fifty nine per cent of parents say they would move house to escape air pollution if they could afford it, according to new research1 released today by environmental charity Hubbub and Investec plc. More than one in ten parents of under 18s (12%) have already fled to cleaner areas due to concerns over their children’s health and a fifth are actively considering it. Almost a third (31%) said that air pollution has been or will be a factor in deciding which school their child attends. These new findings have been released today to mark the launch of the #AirWeShare, a campaign created by Hubbub and supported by leading companies including Investec plc, Bunzl, First Mile, Grosvenor, Kingfisher and Innogy EMobility UK. The campaign will provide practical advice about how people can protect themselves and their families, what they can do to reduce their own emissions, and how they can add their voice to the wider call for cleaner air. The #AirWeShare will also build a coalition of leading companies who want to test new ways of reducing air pollution; creating greener, safer and healthier cities that are better for employees and communities.   Overall 83% of those surveyed are worried about the effect of air pollution on themselves and their family. This rises to 89% for parents with primary school–aged children and 92% for those with under-fives. 37% believe air pollution in their nearest town or city is getting worse. When it comes to the impact of air pollution on health, most people are aware of the link with respiratory conditions such as asthma, bronchitis and lung cancer, however awareness of emerging links with conditions such as strokes, obesity and diabetes is low (at 11%, 2% and 2% respectively). Following the research, Hubbub has released their top 5 actions people can take. 

  1. Use cars less – Where it’s easy to make the switch – choose public transport instead of taking a car on your commute or going between meetings. If you walk or cycle you can help keep the air clean, keep fit and you’re generally less exposed than you’d be in a vehicle.   
  1. Re-route your commute – Travelling down back routes, away from busy roads can dramatically reduce your exposure to polluted air. Try downloading City Mapper and selecting the ‘quiet route’, when looking for ways to get from a to b.  
  1. Change delivery habits – 40% of us get deliveries to city centre workplaces, which directly creates more vehicles on the road – meaning more traffic and pollution. Click & collect is an easy, free alternative.  
  1. Burn less at home – Fuel-burning in our homes contributes to pollution. By keeping your home cosy and insulating it well, you can turn down the thermostat, helping reduce pollution and saving you money on energy bills. If you need to burn solid fuels to heat your home, make sure your stove meets legal requirements and use smokeless fuels.  
  1. Make your voice heard – Join a local group campaigning for change, such as Mums For Lungs and The Air Team, or get in touch with your employer or local MP to ask them what they’re doing to clean up our air.

Elle McAll, Creative Partner at Hubbub, said: “There is mounting evidence that breathing in polluted air can affect our health in the long-term. Despite this, not enough has been done to clearly communicate the risks of poor air quality. The good news is, there are steps that everyone can take to help protect themselves and their families. Through this campaign, we aim to help individuals make the changes that are right for them, as well as bringing together leading companies to collaborate on making change happen at scale. Today I’m calling on businesses to step forward and join the coalition backing this campaign so we can accelerate the process of cleaning up the air we share.”  The survey also revealed 58% of respondents said they do nothing to reduce their exposure to air pollution, while just over a third (34%) say they sometimes do but often find it is not possible. Many say they simply can’t avoid polluted areas or live on or near a busy road and almost a fifth (18%) don’t believe the small changes they could make would make a difference.   To find out more about how individuals are exposed to air pollution, Hubbub carried out air quality monitoring with 10 people in London, in partnership with King’s College London. Participants with different hobbies, occupations and travel routines carried portable air pollution monitors for a week. The monitors detected levels of black carbon, which in an urban environment is most likely to be from vehicle exhausts. Black carbon is strongly correlated with PM 2.5, known to be most damaging to human health. Results showed that everyone experiences pollution differently – and that everyone can probably do something in their day to reduce their exposure.   One of the participants A level student Kacie Curtis said: “The study found that I’m most exposed to air pollution while I’m waiting for my bus to school.  It’s a busy road and there are so many big cars passing by with only one person in them, so it’s not surprising the area is polluted. It’s really worrying though when you see reports of the links between air pollution and teenage mental health problems and I wish more could be done to stop people being so ridiculous about driving everywhere.”  Emily Bernstein, a Private Banker at Investec plc, also took part in the study.  She said: “Taking part in the study has been a real eye-opener for me.  Prior to my involvement, air pollution wasn’t something I spent much time thinking about but now that I know its effects on my health, I will be making changes to the way I travel.  As part of my training for this year’s marathon, I spent a lot of time running in central London which I thought would be particularly bad for me, but what really shocked me from taking part in Hubbub’s study was the spike in my exposure to air pollution when travelling on the underground and even more so when I lit a scented candle at home one evening. And it’s not just my own health I need to consider – as a parent of three children who also live and attend school in London, I really worry about the long-term effects it might have on them.” To find out more about the campaign and to download a letter to your MP calling for action on this issue, go to www.airweshare.co.uk. Follow the campaign’s progress at #AirWeShare. Businesses who would like to join the coalition should email hello@hubbub.org.uk. 

New patient network to support people with obesity across the Middle East

Health & Social Care, news

A new Patient Network to support people living with obesity, backed by clinicians across the Gulf and Lebanon, is being launched by the World Obesity Federation. Designed to raise awareness of the multiple causes of obesity and provide access to information about healthier lifestyle choices, treatment options and ongoing management, the programme marks World Obesity’s first major initiative in the region.

Image: World Obesity Federation

Dr Nasreen Alfaris, Endocrinologist and Obesity Medicine specialist in KSA and co-chair of the World Obesity Gulf & Lebanon Network Steering Committee, said: “In some countries in our region a third of our people are living with obesity*. This initiative will help people make informed choices about healthier lifestyles and the different treatment options available. Obesity is a complex disease that is driven by a multitude of factors, including our living environment, cultural traditions and genetics. It’s also one of the key health and lifestyle challenges facing our region. The Patient Network is an opportunity for people to share their own experiences and, in doing so, support other people living with obesity to manage weight loss and live a healthy, active lifestyle.”  The Global Patient Network hosts evidence and features on several key factors associated with obesity in the Gulf including: changes in food habits and increasing consumption of fast food; rising levels of childhood obesity; supporting men and women living with obesity and explaining treatment options; and promoting higher physical activity levels.   Speaking in the UAE, Lucy Keightley, Director of Communications and Partnerships at World Obesity, said:  “If you are living with obesity and want a source of evidence based information, please join the Patient Network at www.worldobesity.org/patient-portal – a source of facts and information on obesity. The Patient Network is an online hub enabling people to connect with other people’s stories and experiences. We are looking for people living with obesity to share their story. By sharing your personal experience, more people living with obesity will have access to the information and support to enable them to live a healthier active lifestyle.”   World Obesity has worked in collaboration with a steering group of leading clinicians from across the region, drawing on their experiences to develop and roll-out the initiative. The Gulf and Lebanon Steering Committee met in Muscat earlier this year and will continue to provide expert advice to the Network.   The website will be promoted over the coming months via social media and traditional media channels. If you have a story or experience to share, simply log onto www.worldobesity.org/patient-portal 

Businesses urged to open doors to billions held by purple pound consumers

Charities, news

Businesses are being encouraged to register for Purple Tuesday to learn more about the purple pound – the spending power of disabled people and their families. Over 13 million people in the UK, one fifth of the population live with a disability and households with a disabled person spend a combined £249 billion a year. But many businesses could do more to provide for disabled customers, according to the organisers of Purple Tuesday.   Purple Tuesday is an international call to action which will take which place on 12th November 2019. Created and coordinated by disability organisation Purple, it celebrates the power of the purple pound and asks businesses to make a commitment to improve their offer to disabled people. Businesses that register for Purple Tuesday will benefit from free resources from Purple on topics such as website accessibility and customer service training.  Last year over 750 organisations participated, including retail giants Asda, M&S and Sainsbury’s. This year, Purple Tuesday will engage with organisations across multiple sectors on an international level.  Geraldine El Masrour, Centre Manager of Motherwell Shopping Centre, worked with Purple to prepare the centre for Purple Tuesday and saw first-hand the impact of the day on her staff and customers: “Following Purple Tuesday, one of our Security Officers put his dementia training into action to support a shopper, who had previously been seen as disruptive, to make a purchase. The customer was so happy he cried.” Geraldine has since been nominated as Centre Manager of the Year for the SCEPTRE Awards, she says: “I’m sure that working with Purple and taking part in Purple Tuesday has helped me to be shortlisted and I’m looking forward to making continued improvements to our services for disabled people as we build up to Purple Tuesday 2019.” Mike Adams OBE, Chief Executive of Purple Tuesday said: “Meeting the needs of disabled customers makes commercial sense for businesses of all sizes, from all sectors. “Purple Tuesday is a milestone moment, but the issue is relevant 365 days a year. From retail to restaurants, tourism to insurance, we’re calling on businesses across all sectors to back Purple Tuesday and commit to changing the customer experience for disabled people for good.” Minister for Disabled People Justin Tomlinson said: “A day out for disabled customers should be an enjoyable experience to share with family and friends, but for so many it can be such a hassle that they end up staying at home instead. “That is a terrible shame, not only for the UK’s 13 million disabled people but for Britain’s businesses who are missing out on the huge spending power of these valuable customers. It’s also not acceptable in this day and age. “I want businesses across the country to get involved with this year’s Purple Tuesday and open their doors to disabled customers – not just on this day but all year round.” Disabled people tend to be more brand loyal than the average consumer, yet less than 10 per cent of businesses worldwide currently include disabled customers in their marketing plans. By failing to meet the needs of disabled people, businesses could be missing out on a share of £2 billion a month. As well as providing free resources for Purple Tuesday participants, Purple provides tailored accessibility consulting and support to businesses through paid Purple Memberships and Partnerships.   Purple Members receive benefits including website accessibility diagnosis with recommendations which are free of low cost to implement, as well as consultancy with Purple and support through the Government accredited Disability Confident programme.   A Purple Partnership is designed for organisations with experience of disability issues who want to benefit from longer-term consultancy to address employee, consumer and supply chain related issues. Both Members and Partners receive discounts on Purple’s additional training and auditing services.  To register for Purple Tuesday and join organisations across the globe in changing the customer experience for disabled people, visit https://purpletuesday.org.uk/. 

British workers’ ‘lunch on the go’ habit generating 11 billion items of packaging waste annually

Charities, Food and Drink, news, Sustainability

From sandwich boxes, to crisps and napkins, British workers’ ‘lunch on the go’ habit is generating 10.7 billion items of packaging waste annually – 276 items per person – according to new research from environmental charity Hubbub.

The research of over 1,200 UK full and part-time workers revealed they use an average of four packaging items for each lunch purchase, with 76% picking up a main item e.g. sandwich container, 70% a packet of snacks and 65% a napkin. With the majority (64%) saying they buy lunch on the go more now than they did five years ago – spending 13.6 billion annually – this is naturally leading to an increase in packaging waste, much of which isn’t recycled or recyclable. The rise in eating out is partly down to the fact life has got busier (26%) and also because of the UK’s evolving food culture, with 20% of workers saying there are more places to eat out now and 19% saying eating out is more tempting these days. 

To help create a new culture of meal planning and reusable lunch packaging that reduces food and plastic waste, Hubbub, in collaboration with Norfolk and Suffolk Councils, have launched a new campaign, #FoodSavvy Lunch Club. It is encouraging people across the UK to get involved and rethink their own lunch habits by visiting www.foodsavvy.org.uk to take a quiz and find tips on how to plan their lunch meals to save time, packaging and money. 

The #FoodSavvy Lunch Club was trialled in March 2019 in East Anglia with businesses Aviva, AXA, Environment Agency and BT, challenging a total of 50 employees to go for a month without using single use packaging at lunch time. Supported by Hubbub, participants were given a #FoodSavvy Savings Guide, which provided them with the golden rules for reducing packaging and food waste.   

The businesses followed a three-week meal plan packed with simple, healthy, sustainable meals and were challenged to make their own meals for the trial’s final week. Results were encouraging – of the employees taking part, 83% said the Lunch Club helped them reduce their single use plastics, with participants on average reducing their usage by 54%. Food waste was reduced by approximately 52% per participant and 67% said the trial had helped them to save money. Challenge participants and local eateries also took part in a pilot BYO Tupperware scheme, Take Away, Give Back where they received a small incentive for bringing their own packaging.   

Hubbub is also now inviting businesses and employees to take part by registering their interest via campaigns@hubbub.org.uk. Cafes and local businesses can get in touch to join Take Away, Give Back and receive artwork and resources to support customers to bring their own containers. 

Trewin Restorick, CEO of Hubbub said: “’Lunch-on-the-go’ items create huge levels of waste and unfortunately much of this isn’t recyclable as it’s made from mixed materials or isn’t recycled due to contamination from food residue. By planning lunches in advance and using up items in your fridge you can massively reduce the amount of packaging you use while saving money by cutting down on food waste – in the UK we could save £58 million a day just by making our own lunches.iv If you do buy lunch on the go, don’t be shy – take along your own container to your favourite lunch spot. We’d encourage anyone wanting to get involved in the campaign to visit the Food Savvy website and we’d love more businesses to take on the challenge too – just register your interest on the Hubbub website.” 

The #FoodSavvy Lunch Club is part of a wider #FoodSavvy initiative which is designed to tackle food waste and launched in September 2018. For more information on the #FoodSavvy campaign, visit the #FoodSavvy website.

500 vulnerable Veterans find long-term social housing thanks to scheme from charity Stoll

Charities, news

A scheme run by the UK’s leading provider of supported housing for Veterans, Stoll, has now secured long-term social housing for over 500 ex-Servicemen and women through its high impact Veterans’ Nomination Scheme.

Veterans who find it difficult to adjust to civilian life can end up homeless or in unstable or temporary accommodation. Many have low support needs and are ready and able to live independently, but struggle to find affordable accommodation.

The Veterans’ Nomination Scheme (VNS) was set up by Stoll, in partnership with the Royal British Legion, to find stable and affordable homes for Veterans. Stoll secures properties from over 90 housing associations and Local Authorities across the UK, and matches them with ex-Servicemen and women in need of a home. The VNS has now resettled 510 Veterans in long-term tenancies within their community and boasts a tenancy success rate of 95 per cent.

With demand for homes far exceeding supply, Stoll is calling on more housing providers to join the scheme. To sign up to the VNS, please phone 020 7381 8652 or email julian.coates@stoll.org.uk.

Julian Coates, VNS Project Manager at Stoll, said: “The VNS is making a considerable impact on homelessness and it feels great to have found homes for more than 500 vulnerable Veterans who fought for our country. But we have a long waiting list of Veterans and are always in need of more Housing Associations and Local Authorities to sign up. London is the area of highest unmet demand, where we have about five homeless Veterans chasing each property that becomes available.”

The Royal British Legion has supported the VNS for many years. Steve Baynes, Head of Grants and Social Policy at The Royal British Legion, said: “Securing access to housing that is both suitable and sustainable is a difficult task for a significant number of people who are eligible for the Legion’s help. We are pleased that the Veterans’ Nomination Scheme has been able to provide housing for more than 500 veterans, giving them and their families the stability they need to make the most of their lives after leaving the armed forces. Our contribution to this project is one of a number of grants to other organisations that highlights the Legion’s commitment to providing lifelong support for the Armed Forces Community.”

Josh Crooks, Veteran and VNS beneficiary, said: “I Served with the Corps of Royal Engineers for seven years before I was medically discharged. When my private accommodation fell through I wound up living in a caravan in Clapton-on-Sea. Within six weeks of first applying to Stoll’s Veterans’ Nomination Scheme, I had the keys to my flat and I even have a garden for my rescue dog Mowgli. Stoll sorted me out when I was in dire straits. I’m looking ahead to the future and I’m excited to see what it holds.”

Progress Housing Group, one of the UK’s leading supported living providers with nearly 11,000 homes, has been actively supporting the Veterans’ Nomination Scheme for a number of years. Stephen Spencer, Progress Housing Group’s Head of Customer Service, said: “We’re really proud to be part of the Veterans’ Nomination Scheme, helping Veterans who may otherwise be homeless to move into quality, affordable homes. Stoll helps to make the process as smooth as possible by assessing the candidates for initial suitability and, if they’re matched, they then come to us for the usual pre-tenancy checks. We urge other housing providers to do their bit.”

New drinking fountains success as Londoners choose to drink water sustainably

Food and Drink, news, Sustainability

Data released today from the #OneLess campaign shows that public drinking fountains installed across London over the past year, as a part of the campaign’s pilot project with the Mayor of London, are being widely used and could be contributing to a reduction in plastic bottle usage across the city.

Photo credit: Rachel Shairp

77,737 litres of water have been dispensed by 15 fountains in the last 12 months, that’s – the equivalent of 155,474 500ml single-use plastic water bottles.

Since March 2018, the fountain in Kingly Court, Carnaby has dispensed the equivalent of 37,158 500ml plastic water bottles and the two fountains in Liverpool Street Station have dispensed the equivalent of 57,785 500ml bottles since July 2018. All public drinking fountains in the initiative were installed by the #OneLess campaign’s Fountain Fund, with funding from the Greater London Authority (GLA) and MIW Water Cooler Experts, a #OneLess champion and pioneer.

For many busy Londoners, buying a plastic water bottle may once have seemed like the only way to access drinking water when moving through the city. However, preliminary research – carried out by Masters Students at Imperial College London on behalf of #OneLess – indicates that these new drinking fountains could be contributing to a reduction in bottled water usage.

More than half (53%) of fountain users surveyed self-reported that they use fewer plastic bottles due to more fountains being available. And 84% of fountain users surveyed agreed or strongly agreed that they consciously avoid using single-use plastic bottles because they want to protect the ocean.

The #OneLess campaign is led by international conservation charity ZSL and is working to drastically reduce the amount of single-use plastic water bottles in London, creating a city-wide refillable drinking culture. ZSL’s Fiona Llewellyn, Project Manager of the #OneLess campaign said: “We’re delighted that this #OneLess initiative has already proved such a tremendous success and that Londoners are choosing to hydrate in a way that supports a cleaner and healthier ocean.”

“The fountains have already dispensed the equivalent of more than 155,000 500ml single-use plastic water bottles over the last 12 months. These initial results are very positive and indicate that drinking fountains could play a key role in reducing London’s plastic footprint and creating a more sustainable city.”

Mike Winter, CEO of MIW Water Cooler Experts said: “Our aim is to make drinking fountains as much part of our street landscape as the post box – the latest models of Elkay outdoor fountains are tougher, safer and more accessible than ever before, and it’s clear that people love to use them.”

As part of a wider initiative to reduce single-use plastics in the capital, the Mayor of London working with Thames Water on a £5 million project to install a wider network of over 100 more fountains in locations across London.