Stories
Across the county, individuals and organisations are already taking the action that will propel us towards the vision. By sharing some of these below the aim is to encourage their sustainability, replication and escalation.
Repair cafes
There are Repair Cafés across the county, examples include Bournemouth, Wimborne, Dorchester and Marnhull, with over a thousand worldwide. Repair Cafés are free meeting places and they’re all about repairing things (together). In the place where a Repair Café is located, you’ll find tools and materials to help you make any repairs you need. On clothes, furniture, electrical appliances, bicycles, crockery, appliances, toys, etc. You’ll also find expert volunteers, with repair skills in all kinds of fields.
Visitors bring their broken items from home. Together with the specialists they start making their repairs in the Repair Café. It’s an ongoing learning process. If you have nothing to repair, you can enjoy a cup of tea or coffee. Or you can lend a hand with someone else’s repair job. You can also get inspired at the reading table – by leafing through books on repairs and DIY. There are also plans to repair old bikes in Shaftesbury.
Repair cafes
There are Repair Cafés across the county, examples include Bournemouth, Wimborne, Dorchester and Marnhull, with over a thousand worldwide. Repair Cafés are free meeting places and they’re all about repairing things (together). In the place where a Repair Café is located, you’ll find tools and materials to help you make any repairs you need. On clothes, furniture, electrical appliances, bicycles, crockery, appliances, toys, etc. You’ll also find expert volunteers, with repair skills in all kinds of fields.
Visitors bring their broken items from home. Together with the specialists they start making their repairs in the Repair Café. It’s an ongoing learning process. If you have nothing to repair, you can enjoy a cup of tea or coffee. Or you can lend a hand with someone else’s repair job. You can also get inspired at the reading table – by leafing through books on repairs and DIY. There are also plans to repair old bikes in Shaftesbury.
Win on Waste
Win on Waste started life as a local recycling project from Ideas2Action in 2014 with the aim to support and enhance the lives of people living in the UK by offering groups access to their portfolio of recycling projects. Their first session at Canford Heath began with a small selection of hard-to-recycle items being collected on behalf of local charities, and the network grew to 19 sessions that took 3,400 bags of recyclable waste out of landfill and kerbside collections between November 2019 and March 2020.
Win on Waste started life as a local recycling project from Ideas2Action in 2014 with the aim to support and enhance the lives of people living in the UK by offering groups access to their portfolio of recycling projects. Their first session at Canford Heath began with a small selection of hard-to-recycle items being collected on behalf of local charities, and the network grew to 19 sessions that took 3,400 bags of recyclable waste out of landfill and kerbside collections between November 2019 and March 2020.
Wimborne War on Waste
WoW is a focused and dynamic grassroots community group that seeks to raise awareness about the environmental impact of single-use plastic. Their aim is to inspire people to rethink and reduce their use of single-use plastic, in particular disposable coffee cups, plastic bottles, straws and bags. The group works closely with local Councils, MPs, Charities and other community groups.
In April 2018 WoW launched their vision to lead Wimborne to Plastic Free Community Status, which was achieved in just under 5 months. Surfers Against Sewage Plastic Free 5 step toolkithelps communities with each objective and gives them a framework with practical advice and guidance on how to free your community from single-use plastic. You can create a plastic free community best suited to your local circumstances.
You can see their video on tackling coffee cup waste here and discover more via the links below[2] [3].
WoW is a focused and dynamic grassroots community group that seeks to raise awareness about the environmental impact of single-use plastic. Their aim is to inspire people to rethink and reduce their use of single-use plastic, in particular disposable coffee cups, plastic bottles, straws and bags. The group works closely with local Councils, MPs, Charities and other community groups.
In April 2018 WoW launched their vision to lead Wimborne to Plastic Free Community Status, which was achieved in just under 5 months. Surfers Against Sewage Plastic Free 5 step toolkithelps communities with each objective and gives them a framework with practical advice and guidance on how to free your community from single-use plastic. You can create a plastic free community best suited to your local circumstances.
You can see their video on tackling coffee cup waste here and discover more via the links below[2] [3].
Lush Packaging
Dorset-based cosmetics company Lush believe that when a customer holds a Lush product, they are holding so much more than just that product. They are holding a complex web of relationships, of flows of materials, creativity, human labour, movement, life that had all to be arranged in a particular way, organised so that that product could be in their hands.
As such this “means instilling a zero waste and circular way of thinking throughout the business that informs company actions. As part of our budding zero waste culture, beside going naked, avoiding single-use, using regenerative materials when new materials are needed, buying quality materials that last, avoiding landfill, incineration, and recycling exports, and recovering legacy materials from the environment are all things that we have begun to practice but would like to take these ideas to their full potential. Collaboration is key for a circular economy, and we also aim to expand our ecosystem of partners.” Their target is zero waste to landfill; educating to reduce waste and maximising the value from waste.
When it comes to waste generated in Lush Cosmetics manufacturing sites & head office, the vast majority is sent to their own Poole-based recycling centre known as the Green Hub. The Green Hub allows them to sort, clean and reduce waste, taking full control over what happens to it at its end-of-life and ensuring that none of their waste is exported outside of the UK, helping them reduce their waste footprint from 180kg to 150kg of waste for every tonne of product made in 2020. Just 2.7% of that waste makes its way to landfill, however, this figure is constantly reviewed as they move forward with their zero-waste journey. For Lush, zero-waste means pushing for solutions that generate no waste to landfill or waste to energy, prioritising reusable materials and recycling as a last resort. Their Naked products received further recognition this year, with their Netherlands business receiving the most sustainable retailer award.
For the packaging used, 84% is reusable, recyclable or compostable and 72% is made from recycled, organic or regenerative sources. Digital fulfilment boxes are also now being sourced from a carbon-neutral company in the UK, drastically reducing the footprint of more than 637,000 boxes sent across Europe. They have also made great strides with their black pot take-back scheme, with a closed loop solution being set up at their manufacturing site in Croatia and more than 257,000 black pots being returned to stores in Korea.
Dorset-based cosmetics company Lush believe that when a customer holds a Lush product, they are holding so much more than just that product. They are holding a complex web of relationships, of flows of materials, creativity, human labour, movement, life that had all to be arranged in a particular way, organised so that that product could be in their hands.
As such this “means instilling a zero waste and circular way of thinking throughout the business that informs company actions. As part of our budding zero waste culture, beside going naked, avoiding single-use, using regenerative materials when new materials are needed, buying quality materials that last, avoiding landfill, incineration, and recycling exports, and recovering legacy materials from the environment are all things that we have begun to practice but would like to take these ideas to their full potential. Collaboration is key for a circular economy, and we also aim to expand our ecosystem of partners.” Their target is zero waste to landfill; educating to reduce waste and maximising the value from waste.
When it comes to waste generated in Lush Cosmetics manufacturing sites & head office, the vast majority is sent to their own Poole-based recycling centre known as the Green Hub. The Green Hub allows them to sort, clean and reduce waste, taking full control over what happens to it at its end-of-life and ensuring that none of their waste is exported outside of the UK, helping them reduce their waste footprint from 180kg to 150kg of waste for every tonne of product made in 2020. Just 2.7% of that waste makes its way to landfill, however, this figure is constantly reviewed as they move forward with their zero-waste journey. For Lush, zero-waste means pushing for solutions that generate no waste to landfill or waste to energy, prioritising reusable materials and recycling as a last resort. Their Naked products received further recognition this year, with their Netherlands business receiving the most sustainable retailer award.
For the packaging used, 84% is reusable, recyclable or compostable and 72% is made from recycled, organic or regenerative sources. Digital fulfilment boxes are also now being sourced from a carbon-neutral company in the UK, drastically reducing the footprint of more than 637,000 boxes sent across Europe. They have also made great strides with their black pot take-back scheme, with a closed loop solution being set up at their manufacturing site in Croatia and more than 257,000 black pots being returned to stores in Korea.
Pack a Range - Producing more sustainable toys
Handcrafted in Dorset, the Pack a Range collection is created using carefully selected materials and processes, right from the design stage, to ensure they create a positive impact on the environment through their products, employees and wider community. Like when they plant one tree for every Pack a Desk Jr sold! The majority of their products are plastic-free and made from recycled materials that are easily recycled at the end of their life. They continuously strive to become fully plastic-free and always seek ways in which achieve this!
Managing Director, James Martin, says, “After observing our own consumption of plastic through toys I did a bit of research to understand the issue better. The toy market is $20bn a year industry, of which 90% contains plastic. Unlike single use plastics, such as drink bottles, the toy market is not geared towards recycling with most ending up in oceans or landfill. Also, a recent study of 2000 parents found that 25% admitted to throwing away plastic toys that were in perfect working order. These alarming figures compelled me to take urgent action, which would enable a way for playtime to not only be fun, but also eco-friendly”.
Handcrafted in Dorset, the Pack a Range collection is created using carefully selected materials and processes, right from the design stage, to ensure they create a positive impact on the environment through their products, employees and wider community. Like when they plant one tree for every Pack a Desk Jr sold! The majority of their products are plastic-free and made from recycled materials that are easily recycled at the end of their life. They continuously strive to become fully plastic-free and always seek ways in which achieve this!
Managing Director, James Martin, says, “After observing our own consumption of plastic through toys I did a bit of research to understand the issue better. The toy market is $20bn a year industry, of which 90% contains plastic. Unlike single use plastics, such as drink bottles, the toy market is not geared towards recycling with most ending up in oceans or landfill. Also, a recent study of 2000 parents found that 25% admitted to throwing away plastic toys that were in perfect working order. These alarming figures compelled me to take urgent action, which would enable a way for playtime to not only be fun, but also eco-friendly”.
Zero Waste Shops
Zero waste shops have started to pop up in the high street to help consumers reduce the amount of waste they produce. Lydia is the founder of ‘Waste Not Want Not’, based in Bridport, which was the first Zero Waste shop in Dorset. She invites all of us to join her in becoming a pioneer to alleviate plastic production and live in harmony with nature and society.
We are all aware of the plastic epidemic that we face, and are waking up to one of the biggest decisions that we are confronted with every day; “Do I give into convenience?”
At ‘Waste Not Want Not’ you can support a circular economy by purchasing packaging-free and refilling your existing containers. We can all follow steps in our day-to-day life that would make an instant difference. By creating less demand for packaging and single use production, we can set the example and change consumer perception. With a change of habit, we can all be on a journey to Zero Waste and support each other along the way. Be a pioneer and turn the tide on plastic and packaging pollution. Be a part of the solution.
Zero waste shops have started to pop up in the high street to help consumers reduce the amount of waste they produce. Lydia is the founder of ‘Waste Not Want Not’, based in Bridport, which was the first Zero Waste shop in Dorset. She invites all of us to join her in becoming a pioneer to alleviate plastic production and live in harmony with nature and society.
We are all aware of the plastic epidemic that we face, and are waking up to one of the biggest decisions that we are confronted with every day; “Do I give into convenience?”
At ‘Waste Not Want Not’ you can support a circular economy by purchasing packaging-free and refilling your existing containers. We can all follow steps in our day-to-day life that would make an instant difference. By creating less demand for packaging and single use production, we can set the example and change consumer perception. With a change of habit, we can all be on a journey to Zero Waste and support each other along the way. Be a pioneer and turn the tide on plastic and packaging pollution. Be a part of the solution.
Industrial Symbiosis case study: Smart Ecosystems for Seaweed and Oysters, Portland Harbour
Covering the 100-mile stretch of coastline from Beer in the West to Swanage in the East the Dorset & East Devon FLAG[1] was launched in March 2017 with an award of £800,000 to deliver Community Led Local Development (CLLD) in the area’s fisheries, aquaculture, and seafood sectors. One of the key aims in the FLAG’s Local Development Strategy (LDS) is to “enable innovation to increase the value of catch and products”. The study area covers 8 main landing sites recognised by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO). These are: Axmouth, Beer, Lyme Regis, Lulworth, Portland, Swanage, West Bay and Weymouth.
[1] https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/fpfis/cms/farnet2/sites/default/files/7-2-oystersseaweed-imta.pdf
The Dorset and East Devon FLAG has supported a local aquaculture company in plans to integrate oysters and algae production. The production of specific types of algae on longlines involves removing unwanted species that also grow on the lines. From the outset, the FLAG put the aquaculture company in contact with other local companies with a view to redirecting these unwanted species of seaweed for cosmetics or food additives.
Covering the 100-mile stretch of coastline from Beer in the West to Swanage in the East the Dorset & East Devon FLAG[1] was launched in March 2017 with an award of £800,000 to deliver Community Led Local Development (CLLD) in the area’s fisheries, aquaculture, and seafood sectors. One of the key aims in the FLAG’s Local Development Strategy (LDS) is to “enable innovation to increase the value of catch and products”. The study area covers 8 main landing sites recognised by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO). These are: Axmouth, Beer, Lyme Regis, Lulworth, Portland, Swanage, West Bay and Weymouth.
[1] https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/fpfis/cms/farnet2/sites/default/files/7-2-oystersseaweed-imta.pdf
The Dorset and East Devon FLAG has supported a local aquaculture company in plans to integrate oysters and algae production. The production of specific types of algae on longlines involves removing unwanted species that also grow on the lines. From the outset, the FLAG put the aquaculture company in contact with other local companies with a view to redirecting these unwanted species of seaweed for cosmetics or food additives.
RNLI
Headquartered in Poole the RNLI are very clear about their commitment to eliminating and reducing waste and have set an ambition to become a 'zero waste to landfill' organisation by 2030. The scope of this ambition includes all waste produced by RNLI people at all RNLI locations of operation.
“To help achieve our ambition, we apply waste hierarchy thinking at the earliest stage possible in our planning, projects and decision making (for example with) lifejacket recycling - when they reach the end of their service lives, RNLI lifejackets are decommissioned. But to save them from going to landfill, we upcycled them into a hard-wearing and water-resistant product range, complete with many original lifejacket features. This pilot sustainability initiative saved the RNLI £17,000 in disposal costs and has generated tens of thousands of pounds’ income over the last 5 years – with 100% of the profits going directly back into our lifesaving service”.
Headquartered in Poole the RNLI are very clear about their commitment to eliminating and reducing waste and have set an ambition to become a 'zero waste to landfill' organisation by 2030. The scope of this ambition includes all waste produced by RNLI people at all RNLI locations of operation.
“To help achieve our ambition, we apply waste hierarchy thinking at the earliest stage possible in our planning, projects and decision making (for example with) lifejacket recycling - when they reach the end of their service lives, RNLI lifejackets are decommissioned. But to save them from going to landfill, we upcycled them into a hard-wearing and water-resistant product range, complete with many original lifejacket features. This pilot sustainability initiative saved the RNLI £17,000 in disposal costs and has generated tens of thousands of pounds’ income over the last 5 years – with 100% of the profits going directly back into our lifesaving service”.
Other local projects
As well as the proposals for cycle repairs noted above, Myrtle and Marigold are a liquid soap refill service for Shaftesbury and surrounding areas, selling environmentally friendly cleaning products such as shampoos, conditioners, laundry liquids, hand soaps, home sanitisers and lots more!
There are community fridges in Sturminster Newton and Shaftesbury which save food from waste.
Terracycling is collected in Shaftesbury, Stalbridge, Marnhull and Gillingham.
Men’s clothing, which is often unwanted by charity shops, can be donated for refugees via Blandford Cares and donated to Friends of Guys Marsh for ex- offenders.
As well as the proposals for cycle repairs noted above, Myrtle and Marigold are a liquid soap refill service for Shaftesbury and surrounding areas, selling environmentally friendly cleaning products such as shampoos, conditioners, laundry liquids, hand soaps, home sanitisers and lots more!
There are community fridges in Sturminster Newton and Shaftesbury which save food from waste.
Terracycling is collected in Shaftesbury, Stalbridge, Marnhull and Gillingham.
Men’s clothing, which is often unwanted by charity shops, can be donated for refugees via Blandford Cares and donated to Friends of Guys Marsh for ex- offenders.
Slow Fashion
REPEAT – Poole
Sustainable fashion is taking the world by storm, with more people than ever shopping consciously and avoiding fast fashion. REPEAT is a clothes shop in Poole that offers funky, recycled fashion and encourages people to 'Buy. Wear. Swap. Repeat.' The shop is run by Anna-Maria and Jemma, two enthusiastic friends who are keen to change people's approach to fashion. The shop offers second hand rails full of unique and vintage clothes and shoes, as well as items that can be hired and returned. The pair noticed that people were getting rid of amazing items, so were keen to open somewhere clothes would be sold and not thrown away. Jemma said: "People arenow realising that they need to be more sustainable and shop second-hand. We can’t continue with the throwaway society that we’re in."
Jolly Elephant – Shaftesbury
Jolly Elephant is a carbon-negative clothing brand that will make you look good, raise awareness of the ivory crisis, and directly support wildlife conservation charities throughout the world. “Channeling our love for elephants and wildlife, we design and print an array of premium clothes and donate 10% of profit to the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation. However, we also plant trees, use zero plastic packaging and more. By purchasing and wearing Jolly Elephant products, you are joining us in the fight to rescue the biodiversity of endangered habitats by preventing the effects of the ivory trade and the loss of habitats, while supporting ethical and sustainable manufacturing[3].”
Hawkers Re-Creatives
Hawkers Re-Creatives is a sustainable sewing hub in North Dorset, near to Gillingham Station. It’s aims are to:
• save clothing from landfill by re-designing and upcycling garments (waste textiles are purchased from charity shops)
• teach people to mend clothes
• provide a range of second hand and vintage clothing for sale
• provide a library of clothes and hats for borrowing.
REPEAT – Poole
Sustainable fashion is taking the world by storm, with more people than ever shopping consciously and avoiding fast fashion. REPEAT is a clothes shop in Poole that offers funky, recycled fashion and encourages people to 'Buy. Wear. Swap. Repeat.' The shop is run by Anna-Maria and Jemma, two enthusiastic friends who are keen to change people's approach to fashion. The shop offers second hand rails full of unique and vintage clothes and shoes, as well as items that can be hired and returned. The pair noticed that people were getting rid of amazing items, so were keen to open somewhere clothes would be sold and not thrown away. Jemma said: "People arenow realising that they need to be more sustainable and shop second-hand. We can’t continue with the throwaway society that we’re in."
Jolly Elephant – Shaftesbury
Jolly Elephant is a carbon-negative clothing brand that will make you look good, raise awareness of the ivory crisis, and directly support wildlife conservation charities throughout the world. “Channeling our love for elephants and wildlife, we design and print an array of premium clothes and donate 10% of profit to the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation. However, we also plant trees, use zero plastic packaging and more. By purchasing and wearing Jolly Elephant products, you are joining us in the fight to rescue the biodiversity of endangered habitats by preventing the effects of the ivory trade and the loss of habitats, while supporting ethical and sustainable manufacturing[3].”
Hawkers Re-Creatives
Hawkers Re-Creatives is a sustainable sewing hub in North Dorset, near to Gillingham Station. It’s aims are to:
• save clothing from landfill by re-designing and upcycling garments (waste textiles are purchased from charity shops)
• teach people to mend clothes
• provide a range of second hand and vintage clothing for sale
• provide a library of clothes and hats for borrowing.
Litter
Love Your Verge
Dorset Council’s Love Your Verge campaign which is a collaboration between the Council’s Greenspace Service and Litter Free Dorset. The verges in Dorset host a wide range of wildlife and need protecting. The campaign aims to promote the Dorset Council verge management techniques used to encourage roadside biodiversity while reducing incidents of littering in our county. The greenspace team are embedding a ‘cut and collect’ system across Dorset to reduce cutting schedules and fertility of the soil. This in turn saves money as well as increases the number of wildflowers and pollinators in Dorset.
Love Your Verge
Dorset Council’s Love Your Verge campaign which is a collaboration between the Council’s Greenspace Service and Litter Free Dorset. The verges in Dorset host a wide range of wildlife and need protecting. The campaign aims to promote the Dorset Council verge management techniques used to encourage roadside biodiversity while reducing incidents of littering in our county. The greenspace team are embedding a ‘cut and collect’ system across Dorset to reduce cutting schedules and fertility of the soil. This in turn saves money as well as increases the number of wildflowers and pollinators in Dorset.
Neat Streets: tackling littering with tech
In summer 2021, following the huge amounts of rubbish left on BCPs beaches in 2020 when lockdown lifted, Hubbub and Ellipsis Earth, who use cutting edge drone and AI technology to accurately identify up to 47 kinds of litter, collaborated with BCP Council to introduce targeted litter-busting interventions where they were most needed thanks to funding from McDonald's and their suppliers. Ellipsis Earth conducted test measurement during lockdown in March to get an initial idea of litter patterns. They then created their first full litter map based on data from a week period covering the late May bank holiday when lockdown restrictions were largely lifted. The results showed a whopping 454% increase in the total quantity of litter! Even accounting for a doubling in footfall, this still showed a big relative increase in litter.
Hubbub introduced proven behaviour change interventions to strategic locations across BCP Council and tested new experimental ideas with the aim of reducing litter across town centres, beaches and green spaces. They aimed to shift littering behaviours through a targeted campaign including a series of exciting bin-novations: glow in the dark bin vinyls to remind night time revellers where to bring their litter (‘lucky bin - use me to make a wish’), voting bins and ballot bins featuring topical questions (is it coming home?) as well as the world’s first disco bin which lit up and played music when used!
They also ran a ‘Catch of the Day’ spoof fishmongers stall at weekends throughout the summer to raise awareness of litter’s impact on our oceans in a fun way. The brilliant local litter picking group, the Dorset Devils provided us with a tasty banquet of freshly caught local litter including Masked Rollmops (PPE fresh from the sea) and Atlantic Spadefish (children’s toys left behind by families).
In summer 2021, following the huge amounts of rubbish left on BCPs beaches in 2020 when lockdown lifted, Hubbub and Ellipsis Earth, who use cutting edge drone and AI technology to accurately identify up to 47 kinds of litter, collaborated with BCP Council to introduce targeted litter-busting interventions where they were most needed thanks to funding from McDonald's and their suppliers. Ellipsis Earth conducted test measurement during lockdown in March to get an initial idea of litter patterns. They then created their first full litter map based on data from a week period covering the late May bank holiday when lockdown restrictions were largely lifted. The results showed a whopping 454% increase in the total quantity of litter! Even accounting for a doubling in footfall, this still showed a big relative increase in litter.
Hubbub introduced proven behaviour change interventions to strategic locations across BCP Council and tested new experimental ideas with the aim of reducing litter across town centres, beaches and green spaces. They aimed to shift littering behaviours through a targeted campaign including a series of exciting bin-novations: glow in the dark bin vinyls to remind night time revellers where to bring their litter (‘lucky bin - use me to make a wish’), voting bins and ballot bins featuring topical questions (is it coming home?) as well as the world’s first disco bin which lit up and played music when used!
They also ran a ‘Catch of the Day’ spoof fishmongers stall at weekends throughout the summer to raise awareness of litter’s impact on our oceans in a fun way. The brilliant local litter picking group, the Dorset Devils provided us with a tasty banquet of freshly caught local litter including Masked Rollmops (PPE fresh from the sea) and Atlantic Spadefish (children’s toys left behind by families).
Data-driven interventions reduce litter by 75%!
Ellipsis Earth conducted a final litter mapping survey at the end of August, to measure the impact of Hubbub's interventions. The findings of this independent scientific measurement were striking:
• Where Hubbub interventions were positioned according to Ellipsis Earth data, litter reduced by 75% on average in surrounding areas.
• When Hubbub's Ballot Bins were placed in data-driven cigarette litter hotspots, cigarette litter reduced by 73%.
• Hubbub ran an A/B test at the comparable East and West sides Bournemouth Pier. The West side had no interventions and there was a 0% reduction in litter. The East side featured colourful bins and cheeky glow in the dark messages for evening beachgoers and generated a 79% reduction in litter.
• The world's first Disco Bin led to a 42% reduction in litter in the surrounding area.
• A parallel communications campaign that Hubbub was not involved with used negative, finger wagging messaging to try and discourage littering. Surveying showed this increased litter in the vicinity by 10%, highlighting again the effectiveness of positive messages.
Hubbub and Ellipsis Earth plan to build on what they have learnt and create a successful template for tackling litter that can be scaled and repeated across the UK.
Litter Picking
Dorset Devils are like-minded residents who volunteer their free time to clear litter from where they live as well as nearby parks and our beautiful beaches, when it suits. “We are each fully kitted out as we look after our own patch and hope to encourage others to manage their own litter and raise awareness. We do it for ourselves, our community, our neighbourhood and our environment. We want our local areas to be as litter free as possible but that means everyone needs to play their part for this to happen.”
Active member range in ages from 4-84 with the junior devils section growing thanks to the support of Bournemouth University enabling them to be kitted out like their parents. Projects have been started with local primary schools and scout packs with activities on the beach and indoors. They also help youngsters with the voluntary element towards their Duke of Edinburgh Awards, and are linked to LitterAction, an online organisation which helps and supports volunteers within the UK who are prepared to pick up other people’s litter.
Litter Free Dorset aims to reduce the social, economic, and environmental impacts of litter as well as improve and maintain bathing water quality in Dorset, focusing on reducing litter and pollution from getting to our countryside and coast in the first place.
Litter Free Dorset is a community campaign made up of a core team of two, a full-time coordinator Sophie, and part-time support officer Carla, plus a working group, consisting of enthusiastic, motivated local organisations, charities and community groups.
You can find a list of local litter picking groups here: https://www.litterfreedorset.co.uk/get-involved/litter_picking_groups/
Hope to Cycle in Bournemouth and Shaftesbury
Hope2Cycle is a charitable community partnership promoting cycling, recycling, health and wellbeing. They have a fantastically dedicated team of skilled, trained volunteers and paid staff who offer a comprehensive and personal service. They service and repair unwanted bikes and put them back on the road. They also offer service, repairs to customers bikes in addition to new and recycled parts, cycle hire and maintenance training.
The charity has extensive experience in supporting people who are socially excluded or recovering from health-related problems in a work setting and are able to offer work experience and volunteering opportunities.
Further Information
Ellen Macarthur Foundation
The Ellen Macarthur Foundation’s mission is to accelerate the transition to a circular economy, developing and promoting the idea of a circular economy. Inspiring and working with business, academia, policymakers, and institutions across the globe. Their vision is “a new economic system that’s better for people and the environment”.
The Foundation works with businesses, international institutions, governments, cities, universities, non-governmental organisations, innovators, and many others to achieve the transition to a regenerative circular economy. They create resources, publications and tools to help stakeholders set effective policies, find new ways to do business and design better products. Their Network brings together industry leading corporations, emerging innovators, affiliate networks, government authorities, regions and cities and more. The goal is to build circular capacity, address common barriers to progress, understand the necessary enabling conditions, and pilot circular practices.
Guides on how to buy better
Various publications and websites provide advice and guidance on buying goods and services, such as Which (https://www.which.co.uk/), Ethical Consumer (https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/) and the Good Shopper Guide (https://thegoodshoppingguide.com).
Industrial Symbiosis: International Synergies Ltd
ISL is the world’s leading expert on industrial symbiosis, recognised by the UN, G7, EU, Global Green Growth Forum and the OECD through its award-winning flagship programme and international brand NISP®. The European Commission cites industrial symbiosis as an innovative means to achieve resource efficiency: calling for Europe-wide implementation of industrial symbiosis as part of its ‘roadmap to a resource efficient Europe’, the high-level ‘European Resource Efficiency Platform’ (EREP) and the 2020 circular economy action plan.
In 2018 industrial symbiosis was entered into European law via amendments to the waste framework directive. In addition, industrial symbiosis is acknowledged by the UN’s International Resource Panel (IRP) to support all SDGs through resource efficiency. In the UK industrial symbiosis is a key pillar of the industrial decarbonisation strategy published by BEIS in March 2021 and also is part of the Defra waste prevention programme as identified in its March 2021 consultation.
Eco-labels
Eco-labelling enables shoppers to select products and services according to specific environmental and social criteria. Consumers can use eco-labels to guide purchasing decisions by providing information about the ‘world’ behind the product. For businesses, eco-labels are a means of measuring performance and also communicating and marketing the environmental credentials of a given product. And for governments, crucially these tools encourage the behavioural change of producers and consumers towards long-term sustainability.
The Ecolabel Index is an example of where you can review a global directory of ecolabels.
ChangeNOW Resource Hub
ChangeNOW, held in Paris, claims to have been the “World’s Largest Event for the Planet” with more than 1,000 sustainability solutions and 500 speakers at their 2020 event. With subsequent activity being taken on-line there is now a wealth of information available to view on their website and virtual exhibition. Registration is required to participate but is available free of charge if only viewing material.
The following video explores the opportunities the circular economy presents for construction materials.
Ellipsis Earth conducted a final litter mapping survey at the end of August, to measure the impact of Hubbub's interventions. The findings of this independent scientific measurement were striking:
• Where Hubbub interventions were positioned according to Ellipsis Earth data, litter reduced by 75% on average in surrounding areas.
• When Hubbub's Ballot Bins were placed in data-driven cigarette litter hotspots, cigarette litter reduced by 73%.
• Hubbub ran an A/B test at the comparable East and West sides Bournemouth Pier. The West side had no interventions and there was a 0% reduction in litter. The East side featured colourful bins and cheeky glow in the dark messages for evening beachgoers and generated a 79% reduction in litter.
• The world's first Disco Bin led to a 42% reduction in litter in the surrounding area.
• A parallel communications campaign that Hubbub was not involved with used negative, finger wagging messaging to try and discourage littering. Surveying showed this increased litter in the vicinity by 10%, highlighting again the effectiveness of positive messages.
Hubbub and Ellipsis Earth plan to build on what they have learnt and create a successful template for tackling litter that can be scaled and repeated across the UK.
Litter Picking
Dorset Devils are like-minded residents who volunteer their free time to clear litter from where they live as well as nearby parks and our beautiful beaches, when it suits. “We are each fully kitted out as we look after our own patch and hope to encourage others to manage their own litter and raise awareness. We do it for ourselves, our community, our neighbourhood and our environment. We want our local areas to be as litter free as possible but that means everyone needs to play their part for this to happen.”
Active member range in ages from 4-84 with the junior devils section growing thanks to the support of Bournemouth University enabling them to be kitted out like their parents. Projects have been started with local primary schools and scout packs with activities on the beach and indoors. They also help youngsters with the voluntary element towards their Duke of Edinburgh Awards, and are linked to LitterAction, an online organisation which helps and supports volunteers within the UK who are prepared to pick up other people’s litter.
Litter Free Dorset aims to reduce the social, economic, and environmental impacts of litter as well as improve and maintain bathing water quality in Dorset, focusing on reducing litter and pollution from getting to our countryside and coast in the first place.
Litter Free Dorset is a community campaign made up of a core team of two, a full-time coordinator Sophie, and part-time support officer Carla, plus a working group, consisting of enthusiastic, motivated local organisations, charities and community groups.
You can find a list of local litter picking groups here: https://www.litterfreedorset.co.uk/get-involved/litter_picking_groups/
Hope to Cycle in Bournemouth and Shaftesbury
Hope2Cycle is a charitable community partnership promoting cycling, recycling, health and wellbeing. They have a fantastically dedicated team of skilled, trained volunteers and paid staff who offer a comprehensive and personal service. They service and repair unwanted bikes and put them back on the road. They also offer service, repairs to customers bikes in addition to new and recycled parts, cycle hire and maintenance training.
The charity has extensive experience in supporting people who are socially excluded or recovering from health-related problems in a work setting and are able to offer work experience and volunteering opportunities.
Further Information
Ellen Macarthur Foundation
The Ellen Macarthur Foundation’s mission is to accelerate the transition to a circular economy, developing and promoting the idea of a circular economy. Inspiring and working with business, academia, policymakers, and institutions across the globe. Their vision is “a new economic system that’s better for people and the environment”.
The Foundation works with businesses, international institutions, governments, cities, universities, non-governmental organisations, innovators, and many others to achieve the transition to a regenerative circular economy. They create resources, publications and tools to help stakeholders set effective policies, find new ways to do business and design better products. Their Network brings together industry leading corporations, emerging innovators, affiliate networks, government authorities, regions and cities and more. The goal is to build circular capacity, address common barriers to progress, understand the necessary enabling conditions, and pilot circular practices.
Guides on how to buy better
Various publications and websites provide advice and guidance on buying goods and services, such as Which (https://www.which.co.uk/), Ethical Consumer (https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/) and the Good Shopper Guide (https://thegoodshoppingguide.com).
Industrial Symbiosis: International Synergies Ltd
ISL is the world’s leading expert on industrial symbiosis, recognised by the UN, G7, EU, Global Green Growth Forum and the OECD through its award-winning flagship programme and international brand NISP®. The European Commission cites industrial symbiosis as an innovative means to achieve resource efficiency: calling for Europe-wide implementation of industrial symbiosis as part of its ‘roadmap to a resource efficient Europe’, the high-level ‘European Resource Efficiency Platform’ (EREP) and the 2020 circular economy action plan.
In 2018 industrial symbiosis was entered into European law via amendments to the waste framework directive. In addition, industrial symbiosis is acknowledged by the UN’s International Resource Panel (IRP) to support all SDGs through resource efficiency. In the UK industrial symbiosis is a key pillar of the industrial decarbonisation strategy published by BEIS in March 2021 and also is part of the Defra waste prevention programme as identified in its March 2021 consultation.
Eco-labels
Eco-labelling enables shoppers to select products and services according to specific environmental and social criteria. Consumers can use eco-labels to guide purchasing decisions by providing information about the ‘world’ behind the product. For businesses, eco-labels are a means of measuring performance and also communicating and marketing the environmental credentials of a given product. And for governments, crucially these tools encourage the behavioural change of producers and consumers towards long-term sustainability.
The Ecolabel Index is an example of where you can review a global directory of ecolabels.
ChangeNOW Resource Hub
ChangeNOW, held in Paris, claims to have been the “World’s Largest Event for the Planet” with more than 1,000 sustainability solutions and 500 speakers at their 2020 event. With subsequent activity being taken on-line there is now a wealth of information available to view on their website and virtual exhibition. Registration is required to participate but is available free of charge if only viewing material.
The following video explores the opportunities the circular economy presents for construction materials.