The brief

Litter is more than just an eyesore – it damages ecosystems, affects public health and disproportionately impacts deprived communities.

Keep Britain Tidy tasked Barley with amplifying its landmark report ‘A Rubbish Reality’, which highlighted the worsening litter crisis in England. The report aimed to raise awareness of the scale of the litter problem – and call on government, industry and individuals to take action. Barley’s brief was to craft a compelling narrative – shaping the story to drive national media interest – and position Keep Britain Tidy as a leading voice on environmental policy and behaviour change campaigning.

Insights and approach

To maximise impact, we advised on and identified the strongest, most newsworthy findings from the report, in addition to refining the consumer polling angles and developing key messaging to ensure clear, compelling headlines and talking points.

We developed a robust media strategy, built around three core themes:
Scale of the crisis – 90% of surveyed areas in England were found to be littered over the past decade
Social inequality – the prevalence of litter was nearly three times higher in deprived communities than affluent areas
Policy solutions – urging action on preventative measures like the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS).

A highly targeted media sell-in ensured widespread coverage. We crafted a compelling press release, developed detailed media Q&As and offered one-to-one interviews with our key spokesperson to discuss the report in more detail, ensuring depth of messaging in resulting articles and features.

Through tailored engagement with top tier social affairs and environmental correspondents, we positioned Keep Britain Tidy as the go-to voice on Britain’s litter problem and a driving force in environmental policy and behaviour change campaigns.

Results

The campaign exceeded all expectations, achieving hundreds of pieces of media coverage across national and regional broadcast, print and online titles which led to increased awareness of Keep Britain Tidy’s role as a thought leader and environmental campaigner as well as driving discussion and debate about tackling England’s litter crisis.

Over 350 pieces of media coverage were achieved, including pieces in The Guardian, Daily Mail, Good Morning Britain, The Independent, and a 15-minute feature on BBC Radio 4 You and Yours.

The campaign achieved a total reach of over 390 million opportunities to see and hear and resulted in engagement and commentary from key stakeholders.

The brief

The National Preparedness Commission (NPC) asked Barley to launch its landmark report on the UK’s food resilience, authored by Professor Tim Lang. Just in Case: 7 steps to narrow the UK civil food resilience gap examines public readiness, vulnerabilities in the food system and how crises could limit access to food. The report issued a stark warning: the UK’s food security is fragile, and current government, industry and civil-society planning is insufficient. NPC Chair Lord Toby Harris tasked Barley with developing a targeted media strategy, drafting a hard-hitting release and securing coverage to influence policymakers and food-sector leaders.

Insights and approach

Barley worked closely with the NPC and the report’s authors to distil clear, compelling messages that would attract media interest while avoiding alarmist or sensational framing. Our focus was to communicate the seriousness of the UK’s food-security challenge in a credible, policy-relevant way.

Given the report’s call for stronger food policy and improved government planning, we targeted a mix of food, science and farming trade titles, alongside national social-affairs, policy and environment correspondents to reach policymakers and industry leaders.

To maximise impact, we set an embargo for the morning of publication and began outreach to priority journalists and broadcasters well ahead of launch. This enabled us to secure pre-recorded interviews for release on launch day, including Farming Today, as well as longer-lead programmes such as The Food Programme. We also anchored our pitch to current debates on proposed US trade tariffs, ensuring timely relevance and strengthening the news hook.

As a result, we secured high-quality interviews for Professor Tim Lang with leading journalists, including the Guardian’s Environment correspondent, Financial Times’ Public Policy Correspondent and The Grocer’s International Trade Editor, positioning the report at the centre of national and sector-specific conversations on food resilience.

Results

The report generated strong national and sector media impact. Its findings were covered by The Guardian and highlighted in Politico’s London Playbook. It led BBC Radio 4’s Farming Today, which ran an in-depth interview with Professor Tim Lang. Barley also secured an interview with Lord Ed Davey on Times Radio and a full BBC Radio 4 Food Programme dedicated to food preparedness, featuring both Sir Toby Harris and Tim—directly reaching core policymaker audiences.

Extensive trade coverage across food, retail, supply chain, farming and agriculture titles ensured the report reached senior industry figures. Advance briefings with the National Farmers’ Union generated additional attention, supported by comments from the NFU President.

The report also gained significant traction on X (Twitter), including engagement from influential farmer and commentator James Rebanks. Monthly title BBC Science Focus further amplified the findings in a wider feature on national preparedness.

LONDON, 26 February 2025 – A recent survey conducted for London Recycles ahead of Repair Week 2025 has revealed that Londoners spent an average of £464.21 per person replacing damaged or broken items they believe could have been repaired over the past year. This adds up to a staggering £3.24 billion across London, marking a £240 million increase from a similar poll conducted for London Repair Week 2024.

The findings highlight the significant environmental and financial benefits of repairing rather than replacing items. However, many Londoners are unaware of affordable repair options or don’t feel they have the skills to fix things themselves.

London Repair Week 2025: free workshops and events

London Repair Week 2025, running from 3rd to 9th March, aims to inspire Londoners to embrace the repair revolution. With almost 90 active partners holding over 220 events across the city, many of which are free, the week offers opportunities to learn practical repair skills while connecting with others in the community.

56% of Londoners from the survey agreed that participating in a repair workshop would make them feel more connected to their local community, and 33% claim to have made friends at similar events in the past.

Workshops will cover a wide range of skills and items. Confirmed event hosts include London National Park City, Decathlon, TRAID, Kundakala, NOW Gallery and Trash Club. These workshops are designed to empower participants to extend the life of their belongings while reducing waste and saving money.

Repair Week has expanded beyond London again this year, bringing the repair movement to even more communities across the nation. Greater Manchester will be taking part for the third year running, while Cardiff, County Durham, Liverpool City Region, Belfast and Northern Ireland will take part for the first time.

Ali Moore, Head of Campaigns for London Recycles, said: “London Repair Week is about empowering people to make their stuff last longer, meet people and connect with their community. Whether you’re motivated by financial savings, environmental

concerns, or simply want to learn a new skill, there’s something for everyone at this year’s event.”

For a full list of workshops and events during #RepairWeekLDN, visit the London Recycles website London Recycles | Repair Week – What’s On.

Survey findings: a growing appetite for repair culture

The survey conducted by Censuswide reveals a growing interest in repair culture among Londoners:

77% want to learn repair skills to save money
67% would prefer repairing items themselves if they had the knowledge
57% are concerned about the cost of replacing broken items in the coming year
56% enjoy repairing items with others and want to learn more
58% would attend more local repair events if available locally
80% feel a sense of achievement when repairing things

Despite these positive trends, commonly discarded items like shoes (31%), clothing (29%), and kettles (27%) are often thrown away without exploring repair options.

Launching the UK’s first electrical repair voucher scheme

In addition to the events and workshops, an innovative repair voucher pilot scheme is being announced during the week. Funded by the North London Waste Authority and delivered in partnership by The Restart Project, ReLondon and FixFirst, this scheme is the first of its kind in the UK and aims to tackle one of the biggest barriers to repair: cost[2].

Key details of the scheme include:

Vouchers offering consumers 50% off repair costs (up to £50)
A trial run will take place across North London, with businesses accepting vouchers in Haringey, Hackney and Waltham Forest.
Launch date set for 1 April 2025, running for six months
The vouchers are available for use on repairs to household electrical items like toasters, kettles, lamps and tech including mobile phones and laptops

How it works: North London residents can apply for a voucher online and will receive a QR code to use at participating repair high street businesses listed on an interactive map. Once a repair is booked , customers receive their discount at payment. Businesses then claim back the cost from partner Fixfirst.

Fiona Dear, Co-Director at The Restart Project said: “Repair is hugely popular, but cost is one of the main reasons that people don’t fix their electricals. So we’re delighted to be trialling a repair voucher scheme in North London. The trial will directly reduce repair costs for Londoners, encourage more people to try out repair, and support North London’s repair businesses. We look forward to seeing the impact of the pilot, and making the case for further, longer-term schemes in the UK.”

The brief

CIWM is a membership organisation working towards a world beyond waste. As momentum grows around the circular economy, CIWM wanted to strengthen its leadership role by actively supporting innovation across the sector.
CIWM launched its first Circular Economy Innovators Fund to help six start-ups fast-track their communications, marketing and design. Barley was appointed to support both the launch of the fund and the delivery of tailored communications support for each successful business — demonstrating how strategic communications can accelerate growth, visibility and impact for early-stage circular economy innovators.

Insights and approach

The fund brought together six very different organisations, operating across fashion, packaging, electronics, construction and materials innovation. Our challenge was to move quickly, while ensuring each business received support that was genuinely relevant to its needs, audiences and ambitions.
We began with a strong strategic grounding, running workshops with each innovator to understand their proposition, challenges and opportunities. This audience-first approach ensured messaging was focused, credible and designed to drive action — whether that meant media engagement, customer sign-ups, event attendance or behaviour change.
From there, we developed bespoke communications plans and delivered high-quality content across channels, including press releases, leadership commentary, social media assets and brand video. Alongside delivery, we provided ongoing counsel to help teams make the most of their new assets and build confidence in using communications as a tool for growth beyond the six-month support period.

Results

Barley delivered tailored communications support for all six innovators, helping them sharpen their stories, raise their profiles and build momentum at critical points in their development.

The work resulted in widespread media coverage, significant growth in social media audiences, increased commercial traction and successful product and brand launches. At the same time, CIWM strengthened its position as a forward-thinking, practical membership organisation with a clear role in supporting the next generation of circular economy leaders.The Circular Economy Innovators Fund also exceeded expectations at launch, attracting strong interest from across the UK and Ireland and reinforcing CIWM’s credibility as a champion of innovation within the waste and resources sector.

New report reveals top three priorities for government and businesses to support householders to deliver emission reductions
75% of homeowners polled are open to making changes with the right help and support
Wide-ranging study from environmental charity informed by funding and expertise from well-known household brands

Today, the environmental charity Hubbub launches ‘Home Advantage’, a blueprint for government and businesses to support UK households to live more sustainably. The report draws on the findings of an in-depth study working closely with 175 UK homeowners over three months, supported by polling of 501 UK homeowners¹.

The research covered a wide range of everyday habits – from the food we eat, to the stuff we buy and throw away, as well as home energy and heating. Participants in the Home Advantage study were furnished with advice and inspiration to help them make sustainable changes at home and to have their say on what kind of support would help them go further. While the recommendations are made by Hubbub, the Home Advantage study has been supported by a cohort of businesses, B&Q, Barratt Redrow PLC, Starbucks UK, TSB, Unilever UK and Virgin Media O2, who provided funding for the study, as well as lending their subject matter expertise and insights from their sector.

Household action on climate change is an essential part of the combined effort needed from all corners of society to reach net zero, including businesses and government too. According to the Climate Change Committee², 32% of the emission reductions needed between now and 2035 to meet net zero rely on the choices made by households, and the rest involve them in some way. Reassuringly, Hubbub found that UK households believe everyone has a responsibility to act, including themselves, as 75% polled¹ are open to making changes to how they live to help do their bit for climate change and help balance emissions, with the right help and support from business and government.

The report identifies the top three areas of support that UK households need most to be more sustainable:

1. Confidence: Following their involvement in Home Advantage, many participants became more willing to make changes at home such as cutting home energy use and reducing meat and dairy intake by 20%³, thanks to increased awareness, knowledge and seeing other participants act. 75% of 175 participants felt more confident about reducing and preventing food waste at home, whilst over half of participants became more confident in making ‘veggie’ dishes at home. The report points to the need for government and business to improve trust and instill confidence to inspire households to act, using positive narratives and trusted messengers.

2. Clarity: Home Advantage participants indicated their need for clarity to make the right choices. For example, over a third (35%) of households polled¹ said knowledge (not knowing where to get started, how to do it myself or how to navigate funding) was the biggest barrier to making home energy upgrades. They noted wanting to know which technology would work best for their home and saw a role for the government to support this transition. There is also an opportunity for more clarity on which actions make the most difference, such as meat and dairy reduction, over turning off lights. In all of these areas, householders need a clear end-to-end journey to support them to act, with simple, accessible language (i.e. removing jargon such as ‘net zero’ or ‘retrofit’) and smaller incremental actions so it is more easily understood and less overwhelming.

3. Cost: 65% of UK households polled¹ identify cost as the biggest barrier stopping them making home energy upgrades, making their home more energy efficient or using cleaner heat and power. Cost perception and affordability are big barriers for households taking sustainable actions, including the ‘squeezed middle’. Cost was also found to be a motivator for sustainable behaviour, including saving energy or buying second-hand. Households need funding support, evidence of value for money and clear return on investments to help them act.

The insights from Home Advantage have helped create 12 recommendations for business and/or government. These include:

Helping drive demand and public confidence: to launch unprecedented communication and behavioural campaigns, develop an impartial advice platform on sustainable living and for businesses to raise awareness and inspire action among customers.
Clean heat and home energy upgrades: to build consumer willingness and confidence, to review the end-to-end experience for homeowners and tackle trust and skills gaps in the supply chain.
Food waste and sustainable diets: to enable households to buy more loose fruit and veg, and reframe meat reduction more positively while offering greater veggie options.
Things we buy and throw away: to introduce legislation to help create a circular fashion economy and legislation to tackle e-waste by enabling more repair and reuse, plus support the local sharing economy.

Gavin Ellis, Director and Co-Founder at Hubbub said: “We’ve listened carefully to homeowners across the country, and we are encouraged by the overwhelming appetite to act. Householders have told us they want to understand where to start, what will make the biggest difference, how much it will cost, what the wider benefits will be and how others will also play their part. We believe this challenge requires a radical rethink of how these issues are presented to the public to stimulate a step change in demand for sustainable choices, in a way that builds confidence, improves clarity and provides financial incentives and reassurance.

“Applying the overarching principles from this report alone could help the UK to make huge strides towards the third of emissions reduction required by 2035 that relies on the decisions of households.”

Kerry Lloyd, a part-time personal trainer from Ormskirk, who took part in Home Advantage, said: “My journey to being more efficient in my home and trying to navigate what is best practice for things like food and energy has been a big learning curve. I’ve stopped throwing out food that’s past the best before date and I use my app to manage energy costs. Being part of the Home Advantage group really educated me on many things that I would normally not have given a second thought. I now feel proud that I can do a lot more. And I will try to educate my daughter and hopefully she will do the same to her friends, so we can all do our own part to make a big difference.”

For access to the full report, please visit: https://bit.ly/hubbubhomeadvantage

The National Preparedness Commission (NPC) today issued a critical warning about the precarious state of the United Kingdom’s food security. In a new report published this morning, the Commission is urging immediate action to safeguard the nation’s food supply against mounting global pressures, including climate change, geopolitical instability, extreme weather events, fragile supply chains and the ongoing repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The NPC’s groundbreaking report concludes that considerable change is needed to bring UK food policy into a fit state of preparedness. It provides a critical framework to ensure that the UK’s food systems are resilient, sustainable and able to feed the nation in both ordinary and extraordinary times. Authored by Professor Tim Lang, Professor Emeritus of Food Policy at City St George’s, University of London, Just in Case: 7 steps to narrow the UK civil food resilience gap (linked here), calls for a decisive shift from reactive food policies to proactive, community-centred resilience planning – examining in detail for the first time how the British public can be better prepared.

Serving as a rallying cry for policymakers, the report draws on lessons from ten countries to stress the urgency of embedding food resilience into national policy, proposing a strategic reset from “just-in-time” to “just-in-case” logistics. Highlighting a convergence of threats, the Just in Case framework offers a blueprint for stability and preparedness: recommending a coordinated approach from government, industry and crucially, civil society.

Among 15 key recommendations, the report calls for new legislation to formalise the state’s obligation to feed the public in a time of crisis. A new legally defined UK food policy, including increased domestic production, is also recommended. Elsewhere, the report urges changes to food distribution systems, the introduction of town-to-town food resilience learning exchanges and research into current thinking around stockpiling and rationing, all to better prepare Britain for food shocks.

Over 70 people from organisations as diverse as the food industry, government, academia, and community groups were interviewed by the authors. In one-to-one interviews, they were asked to judge risks, fragilities, options and recommendations for how to improve food system resilience, and particularly to advise on how to accelerate what the report calls ‘civil food resilience’. These extensive interviews are cited throughout the report, all anonymised to encourage frankness. Case studies from Birmingham, Bristol and international cities underscore the potential of grassroots initiatives, which often outpace government in innovation and community engagement. The report measures ‘civil food resilience’ by considering the public’s awareness of risks, ability to reduce unnecessary risks and preparedness to act inclusively with others to ensure all society is well fed during crises.

The detailed research is presented in a 370-page main report, with a standalone Executive Summary. It highlights that enhancing resilience is not a “bolt-on” solution but an integrated effort requiring coordination and collaboration across different levels of society and between different sectors – government, industry, commerce, science, education and civil society.

Professor Tim Lang said: “The UK’s post-War food system, while revolutionary in its time, is no longer fit for purpose. To safeguard our future, we must prioritise resilience at every level – from local communities to national frameworks. There is a gap between the official risk and resilience framework which presents a picture that all is OK, and the realities that people in senior and frontline roles read differently. There is too much complacency about UK food security and civil food resilience barely features at all in forward planning. Food resilience is not just about surviving a crisis but thriving despite it. This report stands apart from current frameworks by taking into account the public’s current attitudes and understanding of food risks, and asking how civil society can be better engaged to ultimately become more resilient.”

Lord Toby Harris, Chair of the National Preparedness Commission said: “Food security is a cornerstone of national resilience. This report highlights the urgent need for a coordinated, whole-society approach to ensure that no one in the UK is left vulnerable in the face of future crises. The risks to our food systems are more pronounced than ever before. From floods in key farming regions to disruptions in global trade, we are facing a confluence of threats that could undermine our ability to feed ourselves. The recommendations provide a clear path forward, and it is vital that these are considered urgently.”

The NPC’s new report outlines several key areas of concern and presents actionable recommendations to protect the UK’s civil food security.

The report proposes seven steps to civil food resilience:

1.. Learn from others

The UK should emulate steps taken by other counties, including improving coordination across government levels, ensuring public advice is accessible and the introduction of community guidelines around stockpiling.

2. Assess the public’s mood, perceptions and engagement

Develop a comprehensive food resilience tracker, increase public awareness of food risks, and promote clear, accessible guidance to enhance trust and preparedness.

3. Map the community’s food assets

Shift from individual stockpiling to collective approaches, enabling shared food skills, resources, and multi-level coordination for equitable crisis preparedness.

4. Local authorities are key to building civil food resilience

Cities and regions play a vital role: fostering local frameworks, partnerships, and integrated policies to enhance sustainability and readiness.

5. Create local Food Resilience Committees to co-ordinate resilience preparation

Use local Food Resilience Committees to map supply chains, build networks, assess risks, and coordinate tailored, community-based food preparedness.

6. The UK central state must create and maintain a coherent food policy

A clear national food policy is urgently needed to set goals, improve coordination, and ensure resilience through proactive legislation and strategy.

7. Re-set the Government Resilience Framework for food

A National Food Resilience and Security Council should integrate food resilience into policy, ensuring preparedness, sustainability, and public trust through interdisciplinary collaboration.

Key recommendations in the report include:

Legislate for a comprehensive UK food policy: Introduce a Food Security and Resilience Act to ensure a sustainable and resilient food system.
Pass law that obligates the government to feed the public in crises: Formalise government responsibility for crisis food provision, drawing on Sweden’s model.
Shift to a just-in-case food system: Reform logistics to prepare for supply chain shocks, replacing the Just-in-Time approach.
Reassess food as critical national infrastructure: Require Defra to treat food security as a core component of national infrastructure planning.
Create a national council for food security: Establish an advisory body to provide evidence-based, consistent advice on food resilience.
Integrate food into National and Community Risk Registers: Risk assessments should include food-related risks, considering local conditions and community responses.

Include food in the National Infrastructure Commission’s workplans:
The National Infrastructure Commission should incorporate food security into its workplans and advice.
Update crisis communication: Revise public messaging and integrate food issues into messaging planning.
Research stockpiling and rationing: Investigate stockpiling, rationing, and integrating local food providers into emergency food systems.
Engage civil society: Engage civil society organisations to improve emergency food advice, replacing the ‘Prepare’ programme with trusted systems.
Form local Food Resilience Committees: Create committees at the local level, building on existing food policy networks and chaired by trusted local experts.
Prioritise urban and decentralised food production in planning: Amend land-use policies to support regional and urban food production while addressing climate and social equity goals.
Promote regional food strategies: Encourage collaboration among metro mayors and devolved governments to develop regional food policies.
Foster food resilience learning exchanges: Establish town, city, village and institution exchanges for knowledge-sharing on sustainable food systems.
Invest in research: Fund studies into food vulnerabilities, crisis impacts, and demographic-specific resilience measures.

These steps aim to fortify the nation’s food systems, ensuring they remain robust in the face of growing global uncertainties.

Over 90% of places surveyed across England blighted by litter

Environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy has today released a landmark report that exposes the alarming scale of England’s litter crisis and its disproportionate impact on the nation’s most deprived communities. The report, drawing on a decade of on-the-ground research combined with public opinion data, unveils growing concern over the worsening impact of litter on public health, the environment and the economy.

Key findings include:

Litter is everywhere: More than 90% of the 1,140 miles of urban and rural sites surveyed by Keep Britain Tidy over the past decade were found to contain litter, with the latest survey showing just nine in every 100 locations in England to be litter-free.

Litter anxiety is high: Over three quarters (77%) of people believe the country’s litter problem has got worse in recent years, with seven in ten now noticing litter in their local area daily.

Deprived communities are disproportionately impacted: Researchers found almost three times as much litter in the most deprived areas compared with the least deprived, while litter-free spaces were seven times less likely to be found in the most deprived communities.

Along with damaging the environment, this report shows litter also negatively impacts our mental health, sense of safety and economic prosperity. When shown an image of a heavily littered street, two thirds of survey respondents (66%) said that they wouldn’t feel safe walking there at night, 86% said they would feel embarrassed to live there and almost one in seven (67%) felt that living in such an area would negatively affect their mental health. Furthermore, almost nine in ten (87%) said they would be discouraged from buying or renting in such a littered area and more than three quarters (78%) believed the high levels of litter would deter business investment.

The report revealed overwhelming public support for prevention measures to tackle the problem, including anti-littering campaigns. A lack of pride in maintaining local community spaces was seen as a contributing factor to an increasing litter problem by six in ten people (62%), while more than half (52%) believe that littering has become normal behaviour.

Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, Chief Executive at Keep Britain Tidy, said: “Our report is a wake-up call. It shows that litter is more than an eyesore – it prevents investment, creates inequality, damages the environment and makes people feel depressed and unsafe. It’s unacceptable that the most deprived communities are bearing the brunt of the country’s litter problem. We believe that everyone, wherever they live, should be able to take pride in their environment – but we cannot achieve this alone.”

“If we are to make significant strides towards creating litter-free spaces for everyone, we need to set a new course and take coordinated action. Our research shows strong support for preventative measures to tackle this issue, demonstrating the public desire to ‘turn off the tap’ of litter, rather than ‘mop up the problem’.

“However, this requires a plan and cooperation at every level. We need a national strategy with robust targets and monitoring, clear focus and adequate resourcing. We’re calling on the government, industry and individuals to work together with us to create a future where litter-free spaces are the norm, rather than the exception.”

With on-the-go consumption firmly embedded in 21^st century society, discarded packaging from drinks, snacks and fast food were second only to smoking-related litter in prevalence in the latest survey data. Sweets and chocolate wrappers were found in more than half (52%) of surveyed sites, followed by drinks bottles and cans, which were present in almost a third of all locations (31%). Fast food-related litter was present in 22% of areas, and crisps and snack packets in 16%.

However, when it comes to public perceptions, drinks-related litter is cited by more than nine in ten survey respondents (92%) as the most problematic type of litter. The Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) is welcomed by Keep Britain Tidy to specifically address this issue, which has been shown to disproportionally impact the most disadvantaged in society. Drinks-related litter was found to be almost three times as prevalent in the most deprived areas compared with the least deprived locations.

Allison added “Keep Britain Tidy supports the introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) as a significant step towards tackling drinks-related litter, which is especially problematic in the most deprived communities. With government estimates suggesting the DRS could cut littered drinks containers by 85%, this initiative has the potential to deliver profound benefits where they are most needed.”

Costa Coffee, Caffè Nero, Burger King^® UK and local cafes join forces to offer returnable cups in groundbreaking collaboration

The UK’s first-ever returnable cup initiative between multiple national brands launches in Glasgow today, making it easier for people to skip the disposable cup when they next buy a drink.

Major retailers including Costa Coffee, Caffè Nero and Burger King® UK are joining forces to participate in Borrow Cup, a project set up by environmental charity Hubbub and reuse start-up Reposit. Over 40 outlets, including several local cafes such as Tinderbox, Sprigg, Kelvingrove Museum and Glasgow City Chambers are also part of the initiative, which aims to expand further across Scotland and the UK in future depending on the success of an initial three-month period.

Customers purchasing a drink at any participating store will be given the option to use a Borrow Cup for a £1 deposit and will receive a discount or extra loyalty rewards at most participating locations*. Cups are available in three different sizes, and customers can return them at any participating location to either use again, swap for a clean cup for their next drink, get their deposit back at the till or a £1 voucher at a return point.

Recent research from Hubbub reveals that nearly three-quarters of UK residents own a reusable cup, however only a third say they use it at least once a month[1]. Borrow Cup will test whether offering returnable cups within a pioneering collaboration between major brands and local cafes, a high concentration of participating locations and a simple user journey makes it easier for people to borrow and return a reusable cup and improves the success of the initiative compared to other previous trials.

According to Zero Waste Scotland, 388 million² disposable cups are used in Scotland each year. It’s a topic of focus for the Scottish government who recently launched a consultation into whether they should introduce a charge on all single-use cups in Scotland, similar to the plastic bag charge.

Gavin Ellis, Co-founder at Hubbub said: “We know disposable cup waste is an issue Scotland is keen to tackle so we are delighted to launch the UK’s first cross-brand returnable cup initiative here in Glasgow. By making it easy and convenient for people to choose reusable cups, we hope Borrow Cup will shift habits and help to make reusable cups the norm. The success of the project hinges on how many people use it, and crucially how many cups are returned to be used over and over. For it to be a success, we need the people of Glasgow to get behind Borrow Cup so we can show the rest of the UK what is possible.”

Stuart Chidley, Co-founder of Reposit said: “As a local business we are delighted to be enabling local people, local and national businesses to make a simple switch from single-use to returnable cups. The world is watching how Glasgow is leading the way so that they can follow”.

Nicola Pierce, Director of Commercial Planning & ESG at Burger King^® UK said: “Burger King^® UK is excited to partner with Hubbub to bring Borrow Cup to Glasgow. This industry collaboration allows us to explore innovative ways to offer our customers a convenient and sustainable alternative and we look forward to seeing the results.”

Gareth Hopley, Head of Communication at Caffè Nero said: “We have long been supporters of recycling schemes for disposable cups, such as the Valpak Scheme, and we’re delighted to be partnering on Borrow Cup. We already offer additional loyalty stamps to any customer who uses a reusable cup in any of our stores, and Borrow Cup will sit perfectly alongside it. I’m sure it will be hugely successful.”

The initiative is being introduced by Hubbub, who specialise in creative environmental campaigns, and Glasgow-based reusable packaging systems provider Reposit, who are leading on operational delivery of Borrow Cup including logistics, washing and reporting.

Hubbub are working with Carbon Bright to assess the environmental impact of the initiative and then aims to expand Borrow Cup further based on the success of the first three months.

The project has been funded by the participating brands (Costa Coffee, Caffè Nero and Burger King® UK) along with Ecosurety, Bunzl, British Plastics Federation and KFC, and with support from industry partners Berry, Electrolux, Avery Dennison, Biffa and Keep Scotland Beautiful.

For more information on Borrow Cup visit hubbub.org.uk/borrow-cup.

Winners set to reduce food waste in prisons and schools, transform surplus into preserves and use tech to detect food waste in fridges

Environmental charity Hubbub has today announced seven winners of its Eat It Up Fund*, which powers bold and creative solutions to tackle food waste.

In the UK, 10.7 million tonnes of food are wasted each year by UK households, food service, food manufacturers, retailers and farming.**

Now in its second year, the Eat It Up Fund looks for innovative solutions to address pre-farmgate edible waste, prevent edible food from being wasted at manufacturing and processing stage, minimise edible food waste from retailers and find ways to use surplus edible food in creative ways in communities or at home.

Meet the Eat It Up Fund Winners

This year’s winners, who will each receive a grant of up to £60,000 and support from Hubbub to develop their ideas over the coming 12 months, are:

Newcastle University

With their ‘Waste Not!’ initiative, Newcastle University aims to minimise household food waste through an innovative ‘Internet of Things’ platform assessing food freshness in fridges. This platform will combine low-cost networked sensors and a user-friendly mobile app, backed by cutting-edge technologies, to provide accurate, real-time insights, empowering users to make timely, informed decisions for easy food sharing and waste reduction within communities.

Chefs in Schools

Chefs in Schools will train school chefs and kitchen teams to deliver nutritious, delicious, inexpensive food, with creative menus to reduce food waste. The project will see the organisation engage with schools in a 10-week training programme that will involve in-person kitchen training, live online sessions and individual learning, transforming school chefs into food educators to help tackle the 96,000 tonnes of food waste that is generated by schools in England every year.

Big Ideas Company

Big Ideas Company are a social impact agency that creates new spaces for communities to come together and make lasting change. They are an all-woman team empowering participants to make a difference on the big issues. With their ‘Clean Plate’ initiative, they plan to collaborate with a prison to address the overlooked issue of food waste in prisons and create a world-first toolkit, with staff and prisoners on the ground to take to the impact in other prisons.

The People’s Pantry

The People’s Pantry at Govanhill Baths is a community project in Glasgow that will take a grassroots approach to tackling food waste – bringing together diverse cultural groups to share skills for making delicious preserves and ready-meals from surplus food. They plan to collaborate with partner organisations to bring in traditional techniques and methods from Eastern European Roma communities and engage migrant women using traditional South Asian culinary preservation techniques.

The Felix Project

The Felix Project is London’s largest rescuer and redistributor of surplus food, supporting over 1,000 community organisations across the capital, helping to tackle London’s food poverty crisis and reduce food waste. Their grant from the Eat It Up Fund will support the development of a processing unit that will slice, dice, freeze, and create an array of soups and sauces from surplus food. This will allow them to take bulk surplus food, store and distribute, meaning they no longer have to turn surplus food away due to capacity.

Streetbox

Streetbox will repurpose surplus fresh produce that others leave behind and turn them into delicious ingredients. The project will start by rescuing 10 tonnes of surplus fresh tomatoes to turn into tinned passata sauce. Collaborating with growers and packhouses, they’ll take seasonal gluts and process them with expert chefs alongside local producers, Forage & Fern.

Angry Monk

In partnership with HERD by Will Murray & Jack Croft, Angry Monk plans to launch Herd Chefs x Angry Monk – a platform offering surplus meat, seafood and produce to the hospitality industry, supported by recipes developed by HERD. The initiative will play a pivotal role in driving HERD and Angry Monk’s shared mission to help producers sell their full output and enable chefs to use those ingredients to prepare lower cost, more sustainable menus.

Since 2023, Starbucks have donated £763,442 to Hubbub, funding 13 projects to tackle food waste through innovation. (Registered Charity No. 1158700)

Last year, The Wonki Collective received a grant for their innovation to stop supply chain waste. They have pioneered the first business-to-business matchmaking technology to enable food and drink manufacturers to efficiently identify and sell surplus ingredients. They now have over 120 companies buying and selling ingredients active on their platform and have saved 334 tonnes of Co2e. With their platform proving both popular and increasing active, their next step will be growing the businesses they work with and their environmental impact.***

Mark Breen, Senior Creative Partner at Hubbub said; “Food waste is a sticky problem that needs fresh ideas to address it. This year’s entries for the Eat It Up Fund have been nothing short of extraordinary. From using tech to detect food waste in fridges to transforming surplus into preserves and passata, the creativity and ambition behind these projects is inspiring. We’re excited to support these initiatives as they develop solutions that not only tackle waste but spark a movement of change for communities and industries alike.”

For more information on the Eat It Up Fund, and for more details on each of the winning projects, visit eatitupfund.org.uk.

The brief

Uber Boat by Thames Clippers was preparing to launch Europe’s first high-speed hybrid passenger ferries — a major milestone for river transport in London and a significant step in the organisation’s journey to net zero.Our brief was to communicate progress to net zero by positioning Uber Boat by Thames Clippers as leaders in sustainable river travel. We were tasked with maximising media coverage around the arrival of the new vessels, using key moments to support the wider business growth story, and increasing awareness of the River Bus and its environmental credentials among both commuters and leisure passengers.

Insights and approach

We identified that the arrival of the first hybrid vessel would be a powerful news moment — but that relying on a single launch risked limiting the lifespan of the story. Our approach focused on creating momentum over time, using creativity and careful planning to extend media interest across the full fleet launch.

We anchored the campaign around the arrival of Earth Clipper, hosting a launch event onboard and inviting a broad mix of national, London and trade media to experience a battery-powered sail through central London. Journalists were given direct access to the co-founder and CEO, allowing sustainability commitments and future ambitions to be communicated with authority and credibility.To create a second standout moment, we worked closely with partners and the Port of London Authority to secure permissions for an early-morning formation sail of all three hybrid vessels. Drone footage and still photography captured the boats moving through central London against iconic landmarks — distinctive, highly shareable content that strengthened broadcast, print and online pitching and reinforced Uber Boat by Thames Clippers’ leadership in sustainable transport.

Results

The campaign secured high-impact coverage at every stage, firmly establishing Uber Boat by Thames Clippers as pioneers in low-emission river travel and clearly communicating progress towards its net zero ambition.

Tier A outlets followed the story closely, including BBC London, which reported live from the boatyard and broadcast from onboard Earth Clipper on launch day. Coverage spanned national, London-wide and hyperlocal media, alongside transport, travel, sustainability and trade titles — reaching commuters, policymakers and leisure audiences alike.Crucially, reporting focused not just on the innovation of the vessels themselves, but on the wider role sustainable river transport can play in reducing emissions across the capital’s transport network.

Pioneering zero-emission vessel named and launch date set for March 2025
New vessel increases crossing capacity, enabling over 150,000 passengers to cross every week

In a groundbreaking advancement for sustainable river transport, Uber Boat by Thames Clippers has announced that the UK’s first fully electric zero-emission cross-river passenger ferry, Orbit Clipper will launch in March 2025. Currently under construction at Wight Shipyard Co in East Cowes, Isle of Wight, this innovative vessel will provide an accessible, green and fast route across the Thames seven days a week, enabling over 20,000 Londoners and visitors to travel every weekday.

Orbit Clipper will operate between London’s Canary Wharf on the north side of the Thames and Rotherhithe on the south, offering an efficient and eco-friendly service for cross-river transport. The vessel will cross the river every 10 minutes from each side on weekdays and every 15 minutes at weekends. The 150-passenger ferry, with capacity for 100 bicycles, features a roll-on/roll-off design that enables automated docking on both sides. This innovation enhances accessibility, reduces journey times, and increases capacity for both foot and cycle passengers.

A commitment to a greener future

This zero-emission vessel is part of Uber Boat by Thames Clippers’ broader sustainable innovation initiative. Following the recent addition of three hybrid high-speed vessels to its main fleet of River Buses, each cutting emissions by up to 90%, Orbit Clipper underlines the business’s commitment to creating green transport solutions for London’s commuters and leisure travellers. The project is a significant step towards Uber Boat by Thames Clippers’ ambitious target of reducing carbon emissions by 50% by 2035 and achieving net-zero by 2050.

Sean Collins, co-founder and CEO of Uber Boat by Thames Clippers, said, “It’s a real British success story. All of our new boats are proudly built in the UK using the latest green technology at Wight Shipyard Co on the Isle of Wight. This new vessel will launch within our 25^th year of operation and it reaffirms our investment in both the local Isle of Wight economy and in London.

“This zero-emission solution also comes after the recent launch of our third hybrid boat – Mars Clipper – into our main River Bus fleet and is the next step on our journey to advancing sustainable maritime technology. The Thames is the lifeblood of our great capital and it’s our ambition to continue to push for further progression along the river – we’re calling upon London’s maritime businesses and government bodies to collaborate and ensure a greener future for all.”

Toby Mumford, CEO, Wight Shipyard, said: “At Wight Shipyard we’re thrilled to strengthen our partnership with Uber Boat by Thames Clippers by building its first zero-emission vessel. This was our first build accessing the Innovate UK grant funding in partnership with Uber Boat by Thames Clippers, Beckett Rankine and Aqua superPower. Having already delivered six vessels, of which three are hybrid boats, for the fleet, this milestone represents not only a significant step forward for sustainable maritime innovation in the UK but also highlights the international potential for British-built electric vessels. We hope and expect that it is the first of many.

“It’s an honour to contribute to Uber Boat by Thames Clippers’ 25-year legacy, and we’re proud that our work here on the Isle of Wight supports both the local economy and the evolution of cleaner, greener transport solutions for London and beyond.”

Tim Beckett, Director, Beckett Rankine, said: “It’s now five years since Beckett Rankine and Uber Boat by Thames Clippers came up with the concept for a zero-emission roll-on/roll-off ferry at Rotherhithe, as an alternative to the then proposed bridge. I am delighted that this vision is now being realised, with the aid of Wight Shipyard building the vessel and Aqua Superpower providing the shore power connections.

“Orbit Clipper is a groundbreaking vessel in many respects, not least in that it is a double-ended, self-docking, auto-mooring ferry. This has, in turn, required the design of a novel new pier for Rotherhithe and a pier extension for Canary Wharf. The new pier is designed with a gentle gradient to make the ferries accessible for cyclists and people with restricted mobility. Improved cycle access supports wider plans for e-cargo bike river crossings. Beckett Rankine is proud to have been responsible for the design and consenting of these pier works, on which construction is due to commence in January. As London extends eastward, there is an increasing need for cross-river pedestrian and cycle links across the Thames, so Orbit Clipper couldn’t be launching at a better time.”

Matt Holland, chief project engineer, Aqua superPower, said: “Aqua superPower is proud to contribute its marine fast-charging expertise to this pioneering project, which sets a benchmark for future initiatives. The launch of Orbit Clipper marks a significant step in decarbonising diesel ferries on the Thames, playing a vital role in London’s clean mobility efforts. Our involvement highlights Aqua’s commitment to marine electrification and cutting-edge infrastructure, and we are excited to collaborate with fellow industry leaders to drive this transformation forward.”

Orbit Clipper (designed by Aus Ships Group) will replace the current cross-river ferry service, continuing to serve the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Rotherhithe and meeting the demands of Canary Wharf’s growing employment centre and burgeoning residential neighbourhoods on both sides of the river. A new step free pontoon is being built on the south side as part of the project, and the existing pier at Canary Wharf will be modified to accommodate the new fully electric ferry berth. This initiative has been made possible through partial sponsorship from the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 3 (funded by the Department for Transport with Innovate UK), and with project partners high-speed aluminium ship builder, Wight Shipyard Company; maritime civil engineering consultants, Beckett Rankine; and electric infrastructure specialists, Aqua superPower.

For over 25 years, Uber Boat by Thames Clippers has spearheaded innovations in the marine sector, consistently supporting the Thames’ role in Greater London’s sustainable transport future. As part of this mission, the business has also been exploring advanced fuel options, including compressed hydrogen gas, liquid hydrogen, and methanol.

For more information about Uber Boat by Thames Clippers and its sustainability initiatives, please visit uberboatbythamesclippers.com.

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