Research reveals shocking levels of inequality of access to safe, well maintained green spaces, despite proven benefits to wellbeing and quality of life

People living in Britain’s most deprived communities are more than twice as likely to describe their local park as ‘unsafe’ compared to those in the most affluent areas, according to new research by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, published to mark the 30th anniversary of the Green Flag Award.

The findings reveal a growing ‘Green Divide’ across Britain, with those who stand to benefit the most from access to safe green spaces the least likely to have them.

The nationally representative YouGov survey of more than 2,000 adults found stark differences in the quality and safety of local green spaces between the richest and poorest areas in the country.

Just 27% of people in the most deprived areas describe their local park as ‘safe’, compared to 46% in the least deprived areas

21% of residents in the most deprived areas say their local park is ‘run-down’, compared to just 9% in the least deprived areas

Only 39% of residents in the most deprived areas rate their local park as ‘good’, compared to 49% in the most affluent communities

The research also reveals that parks in the most deprived communities are most likely to fail to meet basic human needs, in contrast with those in affluent areas. The top priorities for park improvements in the most deprived areas are cleanliness (27%), toilets (25%), safety (23%) and maintenance (23%). In more affluent communities however, the top priorities are enhancements such as community activities (29%) and nature areas (17%), with almost a third (30%) saying their local park needs no improvements at all.

This inequality has widespread implications for wellbeing, community safety and economic opportunity. Evidence shows that parks are one of the most cost-effective public assets available; every £1 invested delivers more than £7 in wellbeing benefits. Yet, despite physical inactivity costing the UK £7.4 billion each year, investment in parks has accounted for less than three per cent of local authority budgets in recent years.

Keep Britain Tidy’s findings are published as this year’s Green Flag Award winners are announced, recognising a record 2,391 of the UK’s best-managed parks and green spaces.

Paul Todd MBE, Green Flag Award Manager at Keep Britain Tidy, said: “Parks are essential public spaces that support our wellbeing, our communities and our economy. Yet for millions of people, particularly in the most deprived areas, local parks simply don’t feel safe or welcoming.

“In an age of rising concern about community cohesion, young people’s wellbeing and time spent online, safe local parks are becoming more important than ever. Yet the communities who need them the most are sadly the least likely to have them.

“With public services under pressure, investing in parks is not a luxury, it’s a practical, preventative solution and one of the most visible ways councils can improve people’s quality of life.

“Every pound invested in a park, particularly in a deprived community, delivers real returns – improving wellbeing, bringing communities together, reducing loneliness, giving people somewhere safe and free to spend time and, ultimately, reducing pressure on public services like the NHS.

“Today’s Green Flag Award winners show what can be achieved when parks are properly supported and managed. As we celebrate 30 years of the Green Flag Award, we want every community, especially those in areas of high deprivation, to have access to green spaces that are safe, welcoming and maintained to the highest standards.”

The Green Flag Award is the international benchmark for quality, recognising sites that meet rigorous standards for safety, accessibility, environmental management and community engagement. Keep Britain Tidy is calling on local authorities to prioritise investment in parks in areas of greatest deprivation and to use the Green Flag Award as a benchmark standard to drive improvement.

New Oceana UK report exposes the hidden environmental legacy of decades of offshore oil and gas extraction, revealing a total of 1,685 active or unplugged oil and gas wells within UK marine protected areas.
More than 31,000km of pipelines stretch across UK seas risking toxic chemicals leaching into some of the UK’s most important marine habitats.
New YouGov polling shows 77% support government action requiring oil and gas companies to remove offshore infrastructure once it reaches the end of its life.
Early and effective decommissioning would protect our marine wildlife and create 25,000 jobs across the UK supply chain, helping deliver a fair and prosperous transition for offshore workers and coastal communities.

Marine conservation charity Oceana UK has revealed the scale of the UK’s offshore oil and gas legacy, identifying 1,685 active or unplugged wells inside marine protected areas and warning that ageing infrastructure could pose growing risks to marine wildlife if not properly decommissioned.

The findings come as ministers prepare the Energy Independence Bill, which is expected to legislate for an end to new oil and gas licences. Oceana says the UK now has a major opportunity to tackle the environmental legacy of decades of offshore extraction while supporting a fair transition for workers and coastal communities.

Oceana’s “oceo-economic” assessment combines environmental and economic analysis of decommissioning in UK waters. It concludes that delaying decommissioning could increase pollution, damage marine habitats and allow methane leakage to continue for decades.

Acting sooner will help restore ocean ecosystems, create skilled jobs and deliver lasting benefits for coastal communities. As infrastructure ages, toxic contaminants, including mercury, lead, and radioactive material – which builds up inside pipelines – can pose severe risks to marine wildlife.

These chemicals can damage the nervous system and disrupt reproduction in marine wildlife, with the potential for population decline and ecosystem-wide damage. More than 1,700 km of pipelines run through two protected marine areas[1] that are home to a range of sea life from the protected harbour porpoise to the threatened ocean quahog clam.

Hugo Tagholm, Director of Oceana UK, said:

“UK seas are home to extraordinary wildlife. They are also criss-crossed by pipelines, potentially leaching toxic chemicals, that cover a distance equivalent to 38 round trips to the International Space Station. Without timely and effective decommissioning, this growing legacy of infrastructure risks becoming a ticking timebomb for UK seas.

Our ocean is not a rubbish dump. It is a vital part of our life support system. The Energy Independence Bill promises the end of new oil and gas and the UK now also has the chance to lead the world in how it manages the transition away from fossil fuels. Effective decommissioning, paid for by the companies that have been extracting billions of pounds of profit from our seas for decades, is a clear-sighted strategy to a fair and prosperous end to oil and gas in UK waters.”

Oceana’s findings reflect public concern about the impact of offshore oil and gas infrastructure on UK seas. Nearly two thirds of British adults are concerned about the impact of oil pollution on UK waters, while 77% support government action requiring oil and gas companies to remove offshore infrastructure once it reaches the end of its operational life, the YouGov polling commissioned by Oceana UK found.

Analysis cited in the report suggests accelerated decommissioning could support 25,000 jobs across the UK supply chain, including extending the careers of around 15,000 existing offshore workers, while generating significant economic benefits for coastal communities.

The report calls on the UK Government to maintain its commitment to end all new oil and gas, hold industry accountable for cleaning up its infrastructure and invest in the workforce and supply chains needed to deliver a world-leading decommissioning industry.

[1] The Faroe-Shetland Sponge Belt Marine Protected Area and the Southern North Sea Special Area of Conservation.

Keep Britain Tidy programme with KFC, Mars Wrigley, McDonald’s and Nestlé delivers measurable impact and a scalable model for councils

A pioneering pilot led by independent environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy has demonstrated how sustained behaviour change activity can improve both the physical environment and people’s perceptions of their local area – delivering cleaner streets, stronger community pride and renewed economic confidence without putting additional pressure on council budgets.

The 12-month “Love Where You Live Heckmondwike” programme, funded through the Litter Pact and delivered in collaboration with KFC, Mars Wrigley, McDonald’s and Nestlé, achieved a 16% reduction in food and drink-related litter– providing robust, real-world evidence of what works at community level.

In 2024, Keep Britain Tidy embarked on a project with the aim of pulling together all the research, insights, interventions and approaches the charity had delivered in the previous decade and see if it could make a measurable difference to the levels of litter on the ground and, importantly, to people’s reported behaviour and perceptions of the place they called home.

Key results include:

16% reduction in food and drink packaging litter overall

20% reduction in confectionery litter

52% reduction in littering around “Bin it for Good” installations – where bins are converted into charity tins*

A 22-percentage-point increase in public satisfaction with cleanliness (rising from 14% to 36%).

The initiative highlights the critical role that shaping consumer behaviour can play in addressing environmental challenges, beyond packaging design and recycling infrastructure,

Through co-investment in research, campaign development and local activation, partners supported a coordinated multi-channel programme that combined:

Evidence-led messaging tailored to specific litter behaviours like “careful littering” and dog fouling

Strategic placement of litter interventions in high-impact locations

Community engagement and localised creative

Collaboration with businesses, schools and the local community.

The campaign achieved strong public engagement, with 70% of residents recalling activity.

Among those with highest exposure:

83% said they would pick up litter near their home

68% were more likely to take personal responsibility for keeping the area clean

63% were more likely to use bins.

Importantly, the findings reinforce a clear link between perception and behaviour, demonstrating that individuals who viewed their area as clean were significantly more likely to act responsibly.

The programme also saw a significant reduction in those who perceived fast food litter to be a problem between the beginning and end of the project, with the number of people saying it was a problem falling from 86% to 42%.

The pilot also underscores the commercial relevance of tackling litter with 16% of businesses in the area saying customers would spend more in cleaner areas and 30% believing that improved cleanliness would attract new businesses.

The findings underline the role of environmental quality in supporting thriving high streets and inward investment.

Allison Ogden CEO of Keep Britain Tidy said: “Keep Britian Tidy has decades of understanding of – and unparalleled experience in – changing littering behaviors.

“This pilot shows that working in partnership with funders, businesses on the ground, local authorities and leaders from within the community in a sustained, joined up way delivers far greater results than solo or siloed efforts.

“We welcome food and drink brands showing this kind of leadership.”

Kim Leadbeater, MP and chair of the Tidy Britain All Party Parliamentary Group said: “I’m deeply invested in the town of Heckmondwike, it’s where I was born, where I grew up.  

“Being part of a project that not only reduced litter in my hometown but improved how residents feel about their neighborhood makes me so proud”.

Dr Emma Keller, Head of Sustainability at Nestlé UK and Ireland, said: “Nestlé is proud to be joining other industry leaders in the Litter Pact. Every year, we see employees from up and down the country getting involved in the annual Great British Spring Clean, an important initiative for local communities. We are excited to build on this through the Litter Pact.

Helen McFarlane, Sustainability Manager at McDonald’s, said: “McDonald’s is delighted to have supported the Litter Pact alongside Keep Britain Tidy and to see such strong results for the Heckmondwike community. Addressing litter is a shared responsibility, and this initiative demonstrates how effective partnership working and local engagement can deliver tangible benefits. We are proud to be part of something that is helping to create cleaner, more welcoming places for everyone.”

As part of the project’s legacy, Keep Britain Tidy has launched a full report and place-based litter toolkit for councils available online at keepbritaintidy.org.

Barley Communications has won Marketing/Advertising Campaign of the Year at the UK Green Business Awards 2026 for our Fight Fly-tipping Fortnight campaign with Keep Britain Tidy.

We also received a highly commended award in the same category for our work launching Oceana UK’s Deep Declinereport and were shortlisted for Communications Agency of the Year, recognising the breadth of our work across the environment, sustainability and climate sectors.

The judges described the Fight Fly-tipping Fortnight campaign as “hugely impactful”, praising its ability to raise the profile of fly-tipping through an integrated communications campaign that combined national media engagement, digital communications and stakeholder partnerships. They also recognised its success in engaging businesses on their legal responsibilities and helping to move the issue higher up the political agenda.

The recognition comes just weeks after we were named Consultancy of the Year at the Better Society Awards, making 2026 a landmark year as we celebrate our tenth anniversary.

Over the past decade, we have had the privilege of supporting organisations across the environmental, sustainability and climate sectors to communicate complex issues clearly, engage audiences effectively and drive meaningful change. These awards are a reflection of the brilliant clients, partners and collaborators we have worked alongside during that time, and we are grateful for their continued trust and ambition.

Our award-winning Fight Fly-tipping Fortnight campaign helped tackle one of the root causes of fly-tipping by encouraging householders to check that anyone removing their waste was a licensed waste carrier. Through an integrated programme of behaviour change communications, media relations, stakeholder engagement and digital activity, we helped raise awareness of individual responsibility while supporting wider efforts to reduce environmental crime.

Our work with Oceana UK on the launch of the Deep Decline report was also recognised by the judges. The campaign raised awareness of the scale and impact of overfishing in UK waters, engaging government, retailers and the public while strengthening calls for better protection of UK seas.

As we look ahead to the next chapter, we remain focused on helping organisations navigate change, build trust and tell compelling stories that inspire action. Whether supporting behaviour change campaigns, launching major research or helping organisations influence policy and public debate, we are committed to delivering communications that create lasting impact.

If you would like to find out more about our work with Keep Britain Tidy, Oceana UK and other organisations driving positive environmental change, or discuss an upcoming communications, PR, brand or marketing project, we would be delighted to hear from you.

The brief

Keep Britain Tidy asked Barley Communications to develop and deliver a national behaviour change campaign that would help reduce fly-tipping by addressing one of its root causes: householders unknowingly using unlicensed waste carriers.

Research showed that many people were unaware they could be held legally responsible if their waste was illegally dumped. The challenge was to communicate a complex issue in a simple, engaging way that would increase awareness, encourage responsible waste disposal and deter consumers from choosing suspiciously cheap waste removal services.

Insights and approach

Audience research identified a clear risk group: cost-conscious, time-poor consumers aged 25–44 who often use online platforms such as Facebook Marketplace and TikTok to find low-cost services. Many were unaware of their legal duty of care when disposing of household waste.

Our strategic insight was that fly-tipping could be reframed as a consumer protection issue rather than purely an environmental one. This led to the creation of #RubbishDeal, a simple, memorable campaign concept showing that cheap waste removal can come at a much higher cost to communities and the environment.

To drive action, we developed a clear behavioural framework built around three simple steps:

Ask for a waste carrier licence
Check it on the Environment Agency register
Always get a receipt

Barley led the creative development and delivery of the campaign, creating an integrated communications programme spanning media relations, social media, paid advertising and local authority engagement. Creative assets used a crime-prevention visual style inspired by CCTV and surveillance footage, helping to communicate the reality of waste crime while maintaining credibility and trust.

We also developed a comprehensive campaign toolkit, enabling councils and partners across the UK to deliver consistent messaging through local channels. Seventy councils and partner organisations adopted the campaign resources, extending reach and impact nationwide.

Results

Fight Fly-tipping Fortnight successfully transformed a complex legal and environmental issue into a clear public call to action.

The campaign generated national visibility, widespread stakeholder support and measurable shifts in awareness and behavioural intent. Independent evaluation showed the campaign increased understanding of householders’ responsibilities and made audiences significantly less likely to use suspiciously cheap waste removal services.

Importantly, the campaign delivered evidence of real-world action. Visits to the Environment Agency’s licensed waste carrier register increased sharply following launch, indicating consumers were taking practical steps to check waste operators before hiring them.

By combining behavioural insight, creative storytelling and coordinated local activation, the campaign helped position Keep Britain Tidy as a leading voice in the fight against waste crime while encouraging more responsible waste disposal behaviour across the UK:

74% of audiences exposed to campaign content were less likely to use cheap waste removal services advertised online
55% said they would follow all three recommended actions
58% learned something new from the campaign

by Laura Harrison, head of sustainability, Barley Communications

It’s World Environment Day and it’s almost exactly ten years since we launched Barley’s first environmental campaign, a couple of months after Barley was conceived. Happy Birthday to us! We were teeny tiny when we started (a handful of us sitting round the table wanting to change the world) but our drive for doing good was gargantuan. It’s been an exhilarating ride….

Our first campaign was for Hubbub, a fabulous charity also in its infancy at the time. Our task was to get Londoners to think twice about buying bagged salad. Polling data concluded that a million bags of salad were thrown away each week in London in the summer. The topic was a hard sell to media but nevertheless we landed some great coverage including the Evening Standard. Environmental stories were fairly tricky to land in 2016. But something seemed to shift in 2017-2019. Coffee cup recycling, river pollution, plastic litter, air pollution, fast fashion – these topics started gaining traction and mainstream media suddenly couldn’t get enough environmental stories. “Finally people are waking up to the crisis, they want to take action,” I thought. It was quite a relief.

Then Brexit happened. Then COVID hit. Aside from some remarkable stories on the reduction in carbon emissions from the quiet streets and blank skies, the world and its media had (understandably) more immediate issues to cover. The environment got sidelined and I’m not sure it ever really got back on the playing field in the same way. The bottom fell out of the reuse movement – who wanted to risk getting covid from a fork or coffee cup? New policies and legislation got delayed and delayed. Environmental issues became increasingly politicised and sucked into the culture wars. It divided people and this was reflected in how the media covered (or actively avoided) environmental stories. Some talented environmental editors and writers lost their jobs and the demand for content on how consumers can take environmental action tailed off.

Despite the challenging landscape we continue to land stories and engage audiences with our campaigns; shining a light on micro-fibres, river pollution, peat-free compost, recycling contamination, e-waste, fly-tipping and over-fishing to name but a few. We’ve often chosen to pivot, using cost-savings and local pride to draw in our audiences rather than the environment which is sometimes a topic they’re less likely to engage with.

The media and digital landscape has shifted so much over these ten years. We now make use of many more channels to reach and influence people. Inspiring individuals and organisations are using social media platforms to challenge, call out, shine a light on the ludicrous, igniting important discussions and prompting e-petitions and community action.

Something else is shifting too. More and more people are beginning to experience the impacts of climate change. The floods, the heatwaves, the failed crops. This should be a catalyst for action. And maybe that action is now more focused on resilience and adaptation rather than prevention. Because climate change is already here. The media could play a key role in informing and educating people and I do hope we see the same kind of enthusiasm that we did back in the 2017-2019 “sweet spot” I mentioned previously.

Barley will continue to advocate passionately for the natural world and the fight against climate change. We are privileged to work with some brilliant environmental charities, public bodies and councils and have some really exciting and impactful work lined up over the coming months.

As we plan our birthday celebrations ten years on, we’re putting the finishing touches to a creative campaign for ReLondon to get more Londoners recycling the food they can’t eat. I do wonder how much salad Londoners are still throwing away?

We are delighted to have been named Consultancy of the Year at the Better Society Awards 2026, making this the second consecutive year we have received the award.

The judges recognised our evidence-led approach to communications and our ability to help charities, public bodies and purpose-driven organisations translate complex social and environmental issues into clear, accessible and impactful public engagement.

As a certified B Corp consultancy, we specialise in sustainability, social impact and environmental communications, working exclusively on projects where communications can contribute meaningfully to positive change. Over the past year, we have continued to expand our strategic consultancy offer, helping organisations strengthen messaging, demonstrate impact and build public trust.

The judges were particularly impressed by our ability to combine measurable communications performance with genuine societal impact, highlighting our work translating complex evidence into communications that improve understanding, influence behaviour and support informed public debate.

Among the projects recognised was our work with Oceana UK on the launch of Deep Decline, a major scientific report examining the environmental impact of overfishing in UK waters. By helping translate complex scientific evidence into clear, accurate and compelling communications, the campaign generated extensive national and international media coverage while maintaining the integrity of the research.

The award also recognised our wider work supporting organisations including Hubbub, Nordoff and Robbins, Keep Britain Tidy and National Trading Standards.

The Better Society Awards celebrate organisations and partnerships making a positive contribution to society through responsible business and impactful communications. We are incredibly proud to see our team, clients and partners recognised once again for the role strategic communications can play in creating meaningful social and environmental change.

Barley Communications has been recognised in three categories at the UK Green Business Awards 2026, marking an exciting moment for our team and the work we deliver with our clients.

We are named in Marketing/Advertising Campaign of the Year for two campaigns that put behaviour change and public engagement front and centre. Our work with Keep Britain Tidy on the #RubbishDeal campaign tackled fly-tipping with clear, insight-led messaging designed to shift attitudes and drive action. Alongside this, our Deep Decline campaign with Oceana UK brought the impact of overfishing into sharper public focus, combining robust evidence with compelling storytelling to build momentum for marine protection.

We are also recognised in the Communications Agency of the Year category, reflecting the consistency, care and impact we bring to our work across policy, media and public affairs.

Together, this recognition speaks to how we approach sustainability communications. We believe complex issues can be communicated with clarity and confidence, without losing nuance. And when that balance is right, campaigns do more than raise awareness — they connect, resonate and lead to real change.

At a time when expectations on organisations are only increasing, communications has a vital role to play in building trust and shaping informed debate. We are proud to be working with clients who are serious about making a difference, and to see that work recognised in this way.

The awards will be announced in London later this year, bringing together leaders from across the UK’s green economy.

Barley Communications has been shortlisted for two Better Society Awards, recognising our work in strategic communications and public affairs.

We are proud to be named finalists for Consultancy of the Year, a title we were honoured to win in 2025. To be shortlisted again reflects the consistency of our impact and the trust our clients place in us to deliver communications that drive change.

We have also been shortlisted for the Communication and Education Award for our launch of Oceana UK’s Deep Declinereport. The campaign translated complex scientific evidence about the state of UK seas into a clear, compelling public narrative. Through a focused media strategy, targeted stakeholder engagement and accessible messaging, the launch helped elevate ocean recovery on the national agenda.

Barley Communications has been shortlisted for two Better Society Awards, recognising our work in strategic communications and public affairs.

We are proud to be named finalists for Consultancy of the Year, having won the category in 2025. To be shortlisted again reflects the strength and consistency of our consultancy offer and the impact we deliver for clients across policy, media and public engagement.

We have also been shortlisted for the Communication and Education Award for our work launching Oceana UK’s Deep Decline report. The campaign focused on raising awareness of the environmental impact of overfishing and brought renewed attention to the state of UK seas. Through clear messaging and a focused communications strategy, the launch helped ensure the findings reached key audiences and contributed to the wider conversation about ocean recovery.

You can read more about our work with Oceana UK here

The Better Society Awards celebrate organisations making a positive difference across sectors and communities. The full 2026 shortlist is available here.

Being recognised in two categories builds on last year’s win and underlines our commitment to delivering evidence-led communications that inform debate, influence decision-makers and support meaningful social and environmental change.

Findings highlight a major challenge, and opportunity, for schools working towards Department for Education climate targets

The daily school run is the single biggest source of carbon emissions associated with England’s schools, according to the first national Count Your Carbon report, published today by Eco-Schools and Keep Britain Tidy. The findings arrive as schools across England are expected to have Climate Action Plans in place under the Department for Education’s Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy, which includes a target to cut school emissions by 50% by 2030.

The report shows that pupil commuting accounts for 21% of a school’s total carbon footprint, making it the largest individual contributor – ahead of electricity use, which represents 11%, and any other single emission category. When expanded to include staff travel, school vehicles and school trips, transport generates around 40% of total school emissions. Taken together, this means that the full transport footprint of a school now outweighs the emissions from heating and powering its buildings, which together make up 27%.

The hot school dinner emerges as one of the most significant contributors to emissions within the school gates – and the largest individual contributor for primary schools – accounting for around 16% of a school’s carbon footprint(rising to 21% for primary schools). With 73% of meals recorded as omnivorous, 23% vegetarian and only 4% plant-based, the report suggests that small adjustments towards plant-forward menus could have a meaningful impact on overall emissions, providing a direct and practical route for schools to make measurable progress for climate action.

Drawing on data from more than 1,600 primary and secondary schools, the Count Your Carbon report provides the most comprehensive picture to date of emissions across England’s education sector. The findings challenge long-held assumptions that school carbon footprints are driven mainly by buildings and energy use, and point instead to everyday operational decisions – particularly around travel, food and procurement – that sit at the heart of school life and community engagement.

As a whole, secondary schools record the highest total emissions due to their size and operational complexity, with a typical secondary emitting 1,031 tCO₂e per year, the equivalent of almost 300 economy return flights from London to Hong Kong, and five times more total carbon than the average primary (204 tCO₂e). 

Rising car dependency, longer travel distances and limited alternatives mean the carbon cost of getting pupils to school has quietly overtaken some of the most energy-intensive activities within the school itself. Currently, across all school types, an average of 42% of pupils travel by car and only 9% utilise public transport, indicating that coordinated action with local authorities and transport planners is needed to reduce emissions.

Energy use within the school buildings adds significantly to emissions, with electricity contributing 11%. The fact that only 15% of schools are currently purchasing 100% renewable electricity suggests a real opportunity for schools to reduce their carbon footprint further by switching providers/tariffs. Encouragingly, close to 22% of schools indicated onsite self-generation of renewable electricity – such as via solar panels. Fuel contributes a further 16%, with 87% of schools relying on gas as their primary heating source, emphasising the ongoing importance of building energy efficiency and heat decarbonisation initiatives in educational settings.

While capital investment in buildings remains important, the report shows that many of the emissions schools are responsible for, particularly travel, food and procurement, sit outside of traditional estates management and have historically been difficult to measure. Keep Britain Tidy and Eco-Schools’ Count Your Carbon tool is the UK’s first free, full-scope carbon footprint calculator, built for – and in collaboration with – nurseries, schools and colleges. It supports educational settings to calculate, understand, reduce and track carbon emissions. This gives schools the data they need to meet the DfE expectations, prioritise action and embed sustainability across leadership, operationsand learning. Importantly, it also contains recommendations on how schools can take action to reduce carbon emissions, build a carbon reduction plan and monitor progress over time.

The data also highlights stark differences between communities. Rural schools have the highest carbon intensity (22 % higher than an urban school), producing almost one tonne (0.99) of CO₂ per pupil per year due to longer travel distances and limited alternatives to car travel. By contrast, suburban schools generate 0.84 and urban schools generate an average of 0.81 tCO₂e per pupil, reflecting shorter journeys and better access to public and active travel.
 

Under the Department for Education’s Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy, which includes a target 50% reduction in schools’ carbon footprint by 2032, all schools in England were expected to have a Climate Action Plan in place by 2025. These plans must set out how schools will reduce emissions, improve energy efficiency, promote sustainable travel, adapt to climate risks and make more sustainable procurement choices.

What the findings mean for schools

Schools are increasingly expected to take practical, measurable steps to reduce their environmental impact. The report shows that:

The school run is the single biggest source of emissions in England’s schools overall
Pupil commuting produces more carbon than electricity use and any other single category.

Take action: host active travel weeks, introduce reward schemes for walking or wheeling and install secure bike storage.

Transport must be part of every school’s Climate Action Plan
With transport accounting for 40% of total emissions, schools will need to work with families and local authorities on safer, lower-carbon travel options.

Take action: staff commuting also contributes significantly at an average of 12% of a school’s total footprint, so encourage staff to car-pool or introduce a salary sacrifice scheme to promote use of electric vehicles.

Food choices matter more than many schools realise
Hot school dinners account for around 16% of emissions and are the leading emissions source for primary schools. Menu changes can deliver rapid, visible reductions.

Take action: Encourage more plant-based eating by making plant-based menu items more appealing, increasing the vegetable content in mixed dishes, and introducing regular days when only plant-based meals are offered.

Energy efficiency remains important
Only 15% of schools purchase 100% renewable electricity, despite electricity accounting for 11% of emissions.

Take action: Reducing energy use through behaviour change and building efficiency is important, but one of the quickest and most impactful steps is switching to a renewable electricity contract, which cuts emissions significantly without requiring major infrastructure changes.

Schools need clear data to prioritise action
Count Your Carbon offers the sector a practical way to understand its full footprint, including Scope 3 emissions, and to build action plans that meet DfE expectations.

Take action: Every school’s circumstances differ, but Count Your Carbon’s action-planning resources – featuring nearly 70 practical recommendations – enable schools to choose the right actions for them, making meaningful emission reductions achievable.

Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, Chief Executive at Keep Britain Tidy said: “Our inaugural Count Your Carbon report shows that schools have an extraordinary opportunity to lead on climate action through everyday changes that pupils can engage with directly. Schools often prioritise recycling, but to meaningfully address climate change they must focus more on transport, energy use and purchasing decisions.

“We’re urging every school to sign up to our free Count Your Carbon tool to empower them to cut emissions and protect their pupils’ futures. The tool simplifies complex data into clear, practical actions for schools and families. When young people see how their travel, meals and school environment affect the climate, they become powerful advocates for change.”

Matthew Hill, deputy chief financial officer and sustainability lead at Bradford Diocesan Academies Trust, said: “We started using Count Your Carbon because we wanted a practical way to measure and understand our environmental impact across the trust. The tool offers us a clear, data-driven approach that aligns with our Climate Action Plan and helps engage our schools in meaningful sustainability work. The biggest surprise was how much of our footprint came from areas we hadn’t considered, such as travel. Reducing emissions isn’t just about buildings, it’s about the daily choices a school makes. The tool has helped to make sustainability part of everyday conversation across the trust.”

Louise Bostock, facilities manager at St Richards RC Primary in Manchester said: “When we looked at our Count Your Carbon data, we were surprised at the number of children who came to school in cars, especially as they live locally – some only five minutes away. As a result, we are now encouraging more parents and children to walk, through a school-wide challenge. Using Count Your Carbon has improved our whole school’s awareness, it’s a really interactive tool for the children and is a great starting point for any school wanting to take climate action.” 

Schools can register and begin measuring their footprint today at www.countyourcarbon.org.

Key statistics from the Count Your Carbon 2025 report

Transport

Transport-related activities account for approximately 40% of emissions

Student commuting alone accounts for approximately 21%

42% of pupils travel by car; 9% use public transport

Energy

Energy use (fuel + electricity) represents around 27% of emissions

Electricity accounts for 11% of emissions

Fuel use accounts for 16% of emissions

87% of schools rely on natural gas for heating

Scope 3 emissions dominate

Making up 72% of school carbon footprints including commuting, food, purchases,

school trips, waste, and water

Food

Hot school dinners account for 16% of emissions

Food procurement and preparation for hot school dinners = 16% of total emissions
Meal composition: 73% omnivorous; 23% vegetarian and 4% fully plant-based

Procurement

Procurement accounts for 16% of emissions

Location

Rural schools emit nearly 1 tCO₂ per pupil annually

Urban schools emit an average of 0.81 tCO₂e per pupil annually

Typical secondary school emits 1,031 tCO₂e per year

The average primary school emits 204 tCO₂e per year

East London Waste Authority (ELWA) is inviting local artists, makers, and creative organisations to submit proposals for a bold, engaging, and educational public installation. The aim of the installation will be to ‘power up’ East London residents and encourage them to recycle their small electricals and batteries at dedicated recycling points, and never put them in any bin at home.

Lithium-ion batteries hidden inside small electrical devices, such as vapes, ear pods, e-scooters, or children’s toys, can set fire when compacted in waste collection vehicles and facilities. These kinds of fires have been increasing nationwide, prompting an urgent need for more awareness of the issue amongst the public.

The selected designer will be commissioned by ELWA to create an eye-catching installation, which will tour the boroughs of Barking & Dagenham, Havering, Newham and Redbridge in 2026.

The new initiative sees ELWA join forces with Recycle Your Electricals ’ “Stop Battery Fires” campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of incorrectly disposing of electricals and hidden lithium-ion batteries. This follows the success of ELWA’s Battery Recycling Roadshow campaign in February 2025, which saw over 1000 people interacting with the engagement team at busy venues across East London.

Artists and creators interested in finding out more about the brief should visit www.eastlondonwaste.gov.uk/batteries. The installation should stand out from the crowd, spark curiosity, and deliver a clear message about electrical recycling.

Interested applicants must submit their proposal by 9am on Monday 9th February 2026. Delivery will be required by June 2026. Email any questions to campaigns@eastlondonwaste.gov.uk

Councillor Miraj Patel, Chair of ELWA said “Battery fires in bin lorries and waste sites remain a challenge across all local authorities. There were 229 fires in ELWA’s waste facilities last year, a 57% increase over the previous year. These fires cost the waste industry millions of pounds each year, but also pose a significant risk to frontline staff collecting and treating waste.

The public can play a really important role in helping stamp out this issue by disposing of batteries and electrical items correctly. We want to use art to engage and shift recycling habits in communities across East London, and I’m really excited to see what our brilliant creative community can come up with.”

Scott Butler, Executive Director, Material Focus, the non-profit leading the Recycle Your Electricals campaign said: “With more and more products containing lithium-ion batteries, and battery fires on the rise, it’s vital that we stop these fires and reduce the air pollution impact that they have on our local communities and the dangers they present to fire fighters and waste officers. This project is a fantastic way to make sure that everyone knows to never bin and always recycle their electricals and their batteries. Just search recycle your electricals to find your nearest drop off point.”

Keep Britain Tidy urges the nation to ‘mend, not spend’ this January

Despite the cost-of-living crisis, Brits are throwing away millions of items of clothing that could be saved with a few simple stitches, according to new research from environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy to mark the start of Buy Nothing New Month (1-31 January 2026).

Key findings include:

More than half of UK adults (52%) admit they have binned repairable clothing in the past year, rising to almost two thirds (60%) of 18–24-year-olds

Shockingly 3% – equivalent to 2.1 million* people – threw away more than ten repairable garments in the past year, collectively sending more than 20 million items of clothing to landfill

Only half of Brits (50%) would bother to fix an item that needed a minor repair themself, such as a missing button. Nearly a third would recycle the item (30%) and almost 1 in 7 (13%) would simply throw it in the rubbish bin.

The YouGov study of over 2,000 adults revealed a wide generational repair gap. Only 14% of 18–24-year-olds always repair their damaged clothes – compared to 41% of over 55s – and only a third of young adults (33%) feel very confident in tackling basic repairs such as sewing on a button, compared with 77% of older adults (55+).

In response to the findings, Keep Britain Tidy is urging Brits to take part in Buy Nothing New Month this January. The charity is encouraging the nation to ‘mend, not spend’ and embrace ‘Mendfulness’ – taking joy and pride in repairing items as a practical, calming and creative alternative to buying new. With 58% of people worrying about having enough storage space at home and more than a third feeling overwhelmed by their belongings, January is the ideal time to sign up to the challenge to resist the lure of the sales and learn a valuable new skill.

Dr. Anna Scott, Director of Services at Keep Britain Tidy, said: “The findings expose how far fast fashion and convenience culture have overtaken basic repair skills. Despite the cost-of-living crisis, millions of items that could be fixed in a matter of minutes are being thrown away, contributing to our growing clothing waste crisis. With two thirds of young people feeling guilty about the amount of clothing they throw away and over three quarters keen to learn repair skills to be able to ‘stitch rather than ditch’ their own garments, there’s hope that this worrying trend can be reversed.

“This January we’re inviting people to join Buy Nothing New Month, spend less and rediscover the satisfaction of making things last. By mending clothes, borrowing, swapping, buying second-hand or simply pausing new purchases, people can save money, reduce waste and rediscover valuable lost skills.”

Slow Stitch Club owner Skye Pennant, who runs visible mending workshops, said “Clothing repair has become a creative outlet for so many over the last few years and visible mending has really encouraged that. By choosing to mend our clothes in a visible way, we get to show off a new skill and turn our clothes into a wearable scrapbook that makes them unique to us. By drawing attention to the fact that we are choosing to keep and mend our clothes, we are actively showing the big clothing companies that we don’t want more stuff; we value the clothing we already own.

“Buy Nothing New Month is a great place to start if you’re looking to reconnect with your wardrobe and spend some time learning a new skill. Remember, mended is better than perfect and your visible mending is unique to you and your well-loved clothes.”

About Buy Nothing New Month (1 – 31 January 2026)

How to get involved

Sign up now at www.keepbritaintidy.org/ and join thousands of others ready to save money, reduce waste and live lighter in 2026. Follow @keepbritaintidy on Instagram for tips and inspiration throughout the month and share your journey on social media to encourage and inspire others.

Why take part?

Save money: Resisting the lure of the sales and avoiding making impulse purchases could save you hundreds in January and get your bank balance back on track

Try something new: January is a time for embracing new hobbies and learning new skills. Take on the challenge of repairing clothes instead of discarding them, upcycle household items or experiment with second-hand fashion.

Live more sustainably: Every new item you buy has an environmental price tag, from the carbon emitted during production to the water and energy used in manufacturing and transportation. Getting into the habit of buying less helps to reduce waste and conserve resources.

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