Tag: reuse

Scottish libraries play key role in success of UK-wide circular economy project

Winners of the John Lewis Partnership’s Circular Future Fund – one year on

  • Four projects reveal their 12-month progress: creating ‘lend and mend’ hubs in libraries, helping to make menstrual cups mainstream, redesign children’s shoes to make them last longer and technology to enable polyester to be recycled again and again
  • The £1 million fund was launched in November 2021, calling for new ideas and innovations to transition towards a more circular economy
  • The Circular Future Fund was raised from the sales of 10p plastic bags
  • The Circular Future Fund impact report can be viewed at: hubbub.org.uk

An innovative ‘lend and mend’ initiative in nine Scottish libraries has played a significant role in the success of a new UK-wide circular economy project.

The John Lewis Partnership and environmental charity Hubbub, has this week published an impact report, detailing the progress of four trailblazing projects that were awarded funding as part of the Circular Future Fund, created to find pioneering circular economy ideas.

In 2022, four projects were each awarded grants of between £150,000 – £300,000, from 245 applications, to develop their innovative solutions that challenged the ‘make…use…throw-away’ culture of modern society. The £1 million fund was made possible by the sales of 10p plastic bags through the John Lewis Partnership.

Helping menstrual cups go mainstream, redesigning children’s shoes to make them last longer, creating ‘lend and mend’ hubs in libraries and enabling polyester to be recycled again and again were the winning projects chosen by an independent Grant Fund panel of industry experts. Each winner was then supported by Hubbub to develop and achieve their ambitions.

The successful projects have each reported significant progress with proven results that leave a strong legacy for their respective industries. By sharing their learnings and challenges in the report, they hope to inspire others to follow in their footsteps towards creating a more circular economy.

Key outcomes from each project are detailed below:

SCOTTISH LIBRARY AND INFORMATION COUNCIL (SLIC) – Establishing ‘lend and mend hubs’ in Scottish libraries  

SLIC’s project aimed to create a network of lend and mend hubs across Scotland to support communities to repair, reuse, rent and upcycle everyday items.

The difference made:

  • Nine hubs have been created, with early indications suggest hubs have the potential to reach around 2,000 people per year through sewing and mending classes alone.
  • All libraries are offering equipment, workshops, and tools free of charge to overcome cost barriers for the public, making everyday circular economy actions more accessible.
  • The hubs are fitted out with circularity in mind, using repurposed office furniture saving 5 tCO2 compared to buying new and upcycled peg boards that were part of Kenya’s display at COP26 in Glasgow.

SLIC plan to create a toolkit, disseminated through workshops, to share their learnings and help other library services across the UK replicate their approach.

Marion Kunderan, head of programme on the SLIC ‘Lend and Mend’ project team: “With the ongoing cost of living crisis, the Lend and Mend Hubs have the potential to support families to make more sustainable choices. 

“Libraries are trusted community spaces without agenda and have an opportunity to provide a space where communities can take action through practical everyday solutions locally.”

DAME – Helping menstrual cups go mainstream 

The perfect circular sustainable period product, the menstrual cup, has existed for decades, yet it remains a niche product that only 5% of people with periods use.  DAME aimed to break down the barriers to using menstrual cups. They gained insight of the barriers to cup use, through surveys and a small user group trial, identifying the main concerns as comfort, leaking, and inserting a menstrual cup, plus cleaning it.

The difference made:

  • To help combat these barriers, the project created a myth-busting cup user guide, featuring Hayley Morris which is viewed 4,500 times per day.
  • DAME also designed a groundbreaking self-sanitising menstrual cup, removing the need to boil or sterilise cups. Launched in June, the self-sanitising period cup has achieved several ISO standards to prove its safety and effectiveness.
  • Each cup is predicted to contribute 99 times less carbon over its lifetime[4] (compared to boiling a traditional cup) and avoids the need for 2,860 disposable period products per person over a lifetime of periods.
  • Next DAME are exploring charity partnerships to see if the cup could be available to those experiencing period poverty, and sharing the user guide content with educators to help more teenagers to try and stick with menstrual cups.

PIP & HENRY – Redesigning children’s shoes to make them last longer 

Pip & Henry’s research and development project explored extending the life of children’s shoes. Young children replace shoes every 4 months, while 85% of shoes currently end up in landfill. Pip & Henry’s project aimed to explore two solutions to disrupt the children’s footwear industry.

The difference made:

  • Over the year period, Pip & Henry actually developed three concepts to work towards their vision of an expandable shoe and shoe that can be more cleanly separated into their component materials and therefore more easily recycled.
  • They hope to launch a capsule collection in 2024 and are exploring licensing concepts to help scale their circular shoe innovations.
  • The project has provided in-depth knowledge about the environmental impacts of footwear manufacturing methods and material innovations, plus how to design for better end of life recycling.
  • Pip & Henry plan to share their learnings and insights with the footwear manufacturing and recycling industries, to help create an industry step change to more circular shoe designs.

UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS – Innovating technology to enable polyester to be recycled again and again   

Polyester is the world’s most common textile fibre and yet only 15% of polyester produced is made from recycled polyester (mostly from plastic bottles) [7]. Currently there is no true circularity in the polyester industry because the dyes in polyester mean it cannot be easily removed which prevents it being recycled back into new virgin polyester fibre. The University of Leeds’s innovation created new novel ‘switchable-solubility’ dyes that enables them to be switched from water-soluble to water-insoluble to colour and de-colour polyester.

The difference made

  • The research proves the dyes can be both added to, and removed from polyester, enabling the dye, water and fabric to be recycled with huge potential environmental benefits, needing less energy and water use, and removing the need for auxiliary chemicals in the dyeing process.
  • The introduction of the new CO₂ technology delivers a truly circular process that has the potential to recycle directly and mechanically some of the 57 million tonnes of polyester fibre produced globally each year[8].
  • The University of Leeds also made a bonus discovery, in that their technology also works on other fabrics such as denim and existing dyes in polyester.
  • Next the project plans to scale the technology to test at industrial scale, plus complete a full environmental lifecycle analysis.
  • The University of Leeds will share their discoveries with the textile and recycling sectors, plus exploring commercialising the technology to maximise its reach and impact.

Marija Rompani, Director of Ethics and Sustainability at the John Lewis Partnership, said: “The Circular Future Fund allowed us to connect and support leading innovators to enhance their circular business models and drive the shift in circularity within the industry and society.

“I’m so excited to share their findings, and hopefully this is just the beginning of the impact that each of the winning projects will have.”

Saskia Restorick, Director at Hubbub, said: “The four projects, while very different in nature, shared an ambition to bring innovative, creative and entrepreneurial approaches to designing out waste in their respective sectors.

“This forward-thinking fund, along with the winners’ hard work and dedication has enabled them to find tangible solutions and gain huge amounts of insight and knowledge. It has been a pleasure working with them and seeing their ideas come to life.

“We look forward to seeing how they develop and to sharing their successes to inspire even more innovation to speed up the transition to a more circular economy.”

The Circular Future Fund aimed to identify innovation and challenge the status quo, to boost the circular economy. The four projects have delivered on their ambitions, leave a strong legacy and offer tangible examples of the circular economy in action.

To find out more about the four projects, their impact and legacy, the Circular Future Fund impact report can be viewed at  hubbub.org.uk

Oxfam: Second Hand September

Is sustainability your bag? Sign up to Second Hand September and show the world that any outfit looks fabulous when it’s helping to protect the planet!

By shopping only second hand for 30 days with Oxfam, you can give everything from t-shirts to trousers a brand new lease of life. 

Plus, you’ll reduce demand for new clothes, help reduce damage to our planet, and raise money to help communities hit by poverty and the climate crisis.

Sign up to get:

  • Handy tips and tricks on how to revamp your wardrobe sustainably
  • 20% discount code for the Oxfam online shop
  • The chance of winning front row tickets to the Oxfam London Fashion Week show

Share your eco-friendly outfits on socials using #SecondHandSeptember and tag @OxfamGB

Artist J.O.T. and Royal Yacht Britannia

Following the successful ‘Meet The Artist’ event that took place earlier this week at the FROM WASTE TO WALL exhibition held at the Image Collective Gallery in Leith, James Owen Thomas (also known by his initials J.O.T.) arranged to meet Laura McCall, marketing manager of The Royal Yacht Britannia & Fingal Hotel Ocean Drive Leith.

The exhibition takes place directly opposite Britannia’s Visitor Centre and James was delighted to present Ms McCall with a framed original collage Emblem for the Royal Yacht Britannia. 

Laura received a personal tour around the art exhibition before inviting James for a tour on board the Britannia.  As a COP26 One Step Greener ambassador and environmental artist, James was very impressed with Britannia’s environmental commitment to eliminate, reduce, reuse and recycle waste and he hopes to collaborate with Britannia and Fingal on future projects. 

These are his thoughts exactly as James describes how the art he creates has all been made from recycled items. 

He said: “If what I can do will encourage and inspire people to re-use and recycle, then hopefully we can look forward to a more environmentally-friendly future.” 

James’ exhibition at the Image Collective Gallery, 2nd Floor, Ocean Terminal continues until 30th September and he can be contacted via his website www.jamesowenthomas.com or by email art@jamesowenthomas.com

Big Swap Event coming up in Dalry

GRANTON Goes Greener are very excited to be involved in another BIG SWAP event at St Martin’s Community Resource Centre on Saturday 16th July.

Few general rules, which we would appreciate you respect:

  • the event is absolutely FREE and anyone in need of clothes, household items/ books etc is more than welcome to attend,
  • it is NOT A SWAP, everyone is allowed to take anything they need for free. We already have quite a few bigger donations, please, DO NOT BRING ANY DONATIONS on the day,
  • be mindful of others on the day
  • finally, help us to spread a word and invite friends to attend the Big Swap 🙏🙏🙏

https://www.facebook.com/…/gm…/5226040720816416/

Lorna Slater to visit Fresh Start

Circular Economy Bill consultation on the way

The destruction of unsold, durable goods could be banned as part of plans to reduce waste, Circular Economy Minister Lorna Slater has announced.

Proposals for a ban will be put forward in a consultation on a new Circular Economy Bill, to be published in May.

It is intended to address public concerns about unsold products being destroyed or ending up in landfill. Retailers may be required to look for other options for unsold products, including donating and recycling them.

The proposals would make sure Scotland keeps pace with Europe as France has recently enacted such a ban and the EU is currently considering similar interventions.

To mark the announcement, the Minister will visit Fresh Start in West Pilton. The charity distributes essential household goods and white goods donated by retailers as part of their work to help people who have been homeless establish themselves in their new home.

Circular Economy Minister Lorna Slater said: “It is absolutely senseless for perfectly good products to end up in landfill. Rather than being wasted in landfill or incinerated, they should be reused or repurposed. 

“Organisations like Fresh Start show that there is a real need for items like these, and with the cost of living increasing this need is growing rapidly.

“We are living in a climate emergency. When goods go to landfill without having even been used once, we don’t just waste the product – we also waste all the energy and raw materials that went into making it.

“This proposal is a direct response to the public concerns about what happens to items that go unsold. By pursuing a ban, we can make sure they make it into the hands of those that need them, and help Scotland reduce its carbon footprint.

“This is the sort of action that’s needed to create a circular economy and shows the level of ambition that will be contained in our proposals in May.”

Michael Cook, CEO of Circular Communities Scotland said: “We are delighted a timetable has been set for consulting on the Circular Economy Bill and look forward to working with Scottish Government to deliver as ambitious a bill as possible.

“We have been campaigning for a ban on companies destroying products which could easily be repurposed for some time and, therefore, welcome, and fully support this proposal.

“Circular Communities Scotland represents a range of impressive charities and social enterprises providing a whole variety of creative alternatives for materials considered waste or surplus. This bill validates their significant contribution towards establishing a more circular economy in Scotland.”

Free sewing class tonight

Granton Goes Greener’s additional monthly EVENING FREE SEWING CLASS is on tonight (Thursday) at @GrantonParish (East Hall) from 6pm – 8pm.

It is a DROP IN so no need to book, ADULTS ONLY.

Free refreshments.

Any questions, email: anna@grantongoesgreener.org.uk

Dobbies marks ‘Bring your Christmas Tree Home’ Day

Dobbies is encouraging people in Edinburgh to think sustainably this Christmas, as they mark ‘Bring your Christmas Tree Home Day’ (today – 4 December 2021).

Dobbies’ annual ‘Bring your Christmas Tree Home Day’ takes place on the first Saturday of December and marks the day most shoppers visit their local garden centre to pick up their real cut or pot grown Christmas trees.

This year, the UK’s leading garden centre retailer has launched a new range of real Christmas trees for every space at its Edinburgh store, making it easier to find the perfect tree no matter your style or budget.

From small trees like the pot grown Picea ‘Conica’, ideal for compact spaces; to the slim grade Nordmann Fir, perfect for tight spots; to the impressive Premium grade Nordmann Fir for large rooms, there is something for every home, so you can do Christmas your way.

This ‘Bring your Christmas Tree Home Day’, Dobbies is encouraging shoppers buying real trees to think ahead about how they can reuse their Christmas centrepiece once the festivities are over.

The garden centre has announced its top tips on how people can repurpose their cut Christmas trees to create a wildlife haven for small animals and insects to shelter in during the winter months and reduce waste in the new year.

This is part of the #SustainableDobbies campaign, in which the retailer raises awareness of sustainable products and practices for customers and supporters.

Dobbies’ Horticultural Director, Marcus Eyles said: “Choosing a real tree is one of the most-loved Christmas traditions, and on this year’s ‘Bring Your Christmas Tree Home Day’, we want to encourage people in Edinburgh to be mindful of how they can recycle their cut real trees once the festivities are over.

“Cut real Christmas trees can be a great tool when it comes to creating a safe place for wildlife to shelter during the winter months, so we’re delighted to show people how they can make use of their trees once the Christmas decorations have come down.”

Fay Vass, Chief Executive of British Hedgehog Preservation Society said: “We’re delighted that Dobbies are shining a light on ways in which people can create a safe space for hedgehogs and other wildlife in their gardens.

“Hedgehog numbers are in decline, and they have recently been added to the UK Red List as a species that is vulnerable to extinction. We all need to play our part in improving their habitat and we hope people will take advantage of these tips to help create a safe place for wildlife in their gardens.”

Marcus has outlined a step-by-step guide on how people can reuse their real cut Christmas trees to make a wildlife haven in their gardens in the new year:

1.       Remove the tree from your house carefully to stop any loose needles from dropping. Marcus recommends wearing thick gloves to protect your hands.

2.       Using a good quality pair of secateurs, starting from the top remove each branch as close as possible to the main stem.

3.       Stack the branches together four or five pieces high and place onto soil or leaves under large shrubs, trees or hedges.

4.       Repeat this process until all the branches are used. This will provide a great shelter for small animals and insects to protect them from the worst of the winter weather. Marcus points out that the needles and branches will breakdown over time to produce organic matter than will enrich the soil.

5.       For the main trunk of the tree use a pruning saw to cut into 30cm lengths, which can then be stacked to make a mini log pile which is a great habitat for wildlife to shelter in.

Dobbies is encouraging the children who attend its Little Seedlings Club to take the lead in creating wildlife shelters.

Ethan Firth, Dobbies Little Seedling Ambassador, adds: “Christmas is a time to create fond memories and what better way than to keep a memory of Christmas whilst considering the environment and being sustainable all at the same time! 

“I plan to re-pot our family pot-grown Christmas tree and reuse for next Christmas, and the cut Christmas tree in my bedroom I’m going to recycle and make a hedgehog shelter.”

To find out more about Dobbies, visit dobbies.com

To find out more about the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, visit:  britishhedgehogs.org.uk

Edinburgh residents asked to buy responsibly this Christmas

A new campaign encouraging residents to have a less wasteful Christmas and help reduce their impact on the environment has been launched today.

Following on from the city-wide Net Zero Challenge, which encourages people learn about the cost to the climate of everyday actions by measuring their carbon footprint, the new multi-media campaign aims to build upon the momentum gathered by the COP26 conference.

Edinburgh residents are being urged to buy more responsibly and to avoid waste where possible, by choosing local suppliers and products, asking for pre-loved or home-made gifts and cutting down on food waste.

Residents will also be encouraged to use the Edinburgh Reuse Map, developed in partnership with Changeworks, to discover where items can be sourced second-hand or for free, fixed, donated or even upcycled.

As well as content promoted through billboards, bus shelters, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and radio, additional practical information and support on wasting less over the festive season, including details on recycling and Christmas tree uplifts, and plastic-free shops across the city is also available to residents at http://www.Edinburgh.gov.uk/GreenChristmas

Council Leader, Councillor Adam Mcvey said: “The Green Christmas campaign aims to build on the momentum and interest in the climate crisis from COP26 coming to Scotland, to encourage even more people across the city to take climate action and help deliver a cleaner, greener capital.

“The vast majority of people in Edinburgh agree that we  need to cut down on waste over Christmas. 

“And from choosing gifts with recyclable or minimal packaging, avoiding items that can’t be recycled – such as glittery cards or shiny wrapping paper, to supporting local shops and choosing local food to cut down on air miles – there’s lots of ways we can all be greener in the run up to holidays to be more sustainable and look after our beautiful city and precious planet.”

Depute leader, Cammy Day said: “Although going totally waste free this Christmas may be a tall order, there’s still lots we can all do to cut down.

“Small changes do add up and, as well as being good for the environment, can often save you time and money too. For example, planning your meals ahead of time so you only buy the food you need can help you save up to £437 a year, and helps us tread more lightly.”

Have a Greener Christmas

  • Second hand shops and online auction sites are great ways to discover meaningful, pre-loved gifts. They also help you avoid waste. Use the Edinburgh Reuse Map to discover local shops.
  • Making your own gifts – be it a tasty treat or crafty surprise, is a great way of giving a thoughtful gift without the waste. Get inspired with the Zero waste Scotland Sustainable Christmas guide
  • Use the Zero Waste Edinburgh map to find your nearest plastic free and wholesale grocery shops
  • Support local shops and choose local food to cut down on your carbon footprint.
  • New Christmas electronics? Join others and donate unwanted laptops and phones to Edinburgh Remakery for refurbishment and help cut down on waste.
  • Broken items? Borrow any tools you may need from the Edinburgh Tool Library, to try and fix it yourself or find a local businesses that can do it for you.
  • Buy more responsibly this Christmas by asking yourself these 5 questions:
    • #1 How sustainable is this? What’s it made of? What’s the energy efficiency rating?
    • #2 Can I find this second hand? You may find the same for much less
    • #3 How long will it be loved for? Choose things which will last
    • #4 Who made it? Can the brand you’re buying from guarantee that everyone in the supply chain was paid fairly and had safe working conditions?
    • #5 Do I really need it? Check what you already have
  • The number of brussels sprouts wasted over Christmas in the UK could power a home for 3 years. Turn any leftovers into tasty meals www.lovefoodhatewaste.com

Stocky & Dee’s ‘Pup-cycle’ charity initiative gives dog collars a new lease of life

–  Luxury dog brand encourages customers to return used puppy collars – 

Luxury dog accessories firm, Stocky & Dee, is encouraging pet owners to do their bit to cut out waste and return their used puppy collars. Stocky & Dee’s ‘Pup-cycle’ initiative up-cycles outgrown puppy collars and donates them to dogs homes to be worn again. 

The charity initiative from the Edinburgh-headquartered family business asks customers to send back collars which their puppy has outgrown in return for a discount on a future purchase.

Stocky & Dee refurbishes these collars, if required, and donates them to a different dog charity every month with the first being The Edinburgh Dog & Cat Home. Their Pup-cycle initiative is one of the many ways Stocky & Dee encourages the reusability of their products and helps in their drive to be a sustainable business that does not negatively impact the environment. 

Customers can follow the journey of their returned collar by visiting Stocky & Dee’s website where they can see their former puppy collar with its new owner.

To date the company has refurbished and donated 65 collars to five dog homes in the UK. This is an extension to their ‘Puppy Pack’ offer where customers are offered a puppy collar for half price when purchasing the fully grown collar. 

In addition to up-cycling outgrown puppy collars, Stocky & Dee will soon be launching a service that sees no used Stocky & Dee products end up in landfill. As each piece is built by one of the Stocky & Dee team they have the ability to up-cycle, alter and be creative with these used products so they can continue to be used. This includes anything from the metal on each product to the yarn fabrics used. 

Founder of Stocky & Dee and textiles graduate, Mairi Robb, said: “We want to be with our customers on their whole dog journey from pup to pensioner. As dog owners, we understand how much people want to spoil their new pups but appreciate how expensive this can be, especially considering how fast they grow.

“Our puppy pack allows customers to treat their puppies without breaking the bank and our Pup-cycle initiative allows them to send back these collars, in return for a voucher and see it continue it’s life with a new owner. 

Katie Kennedy, Corporate Engagement and Events Co-ordinator at Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home said: “Through Stocky & Dee’s support and their Pupcycle initiative we’ve been able to provide our furry residents with the trendiest collars. 

“As we receive no regular government funding we rely heavily on the generous support of the public, companies, and charitable trusts to fund our work. We are very grateful for the support that Stocky & Dee has shown us throughout lockdown to now and look forward to continuing the partnership.” 

During the peak of the pandemic when animal charities were hit hard across the globe, Stocky & Dee created a bespoke Rainbow Dog Collar with donations going to Mrs Murrays Dog & Cat Home in Aberdeen, raising over £1000 for them so far.

The design was so popular that it has been made part of the permanent collection.  

Stocky & Dee was launched in Scotland in 2019 by husband and wife team Mairi and Chris Robb. It has experienced rapid growth, partly as a result of the surge in pet ownership during the pandemic. 

Six simple ways to become more sustainable at home

There is no doubt that making simple changes in our everyday lives can reduce our impact on the environment.

Currently, around 15% of Scotland’s carbon emissions come from gas boilers in our homes being used for heating and hot water. However, cutting down on your carbon emissions and energy usage is much easier than you think.

From minimising household waste to installing eco-friendly heating solutions, there are plenty of ways to help reduce your impact on the environment, and if you’re looking to make a long-term investment, a heat pump could significantly reduce your bills and your carbon footprint.

Richard McLaren from The Natural Energy Company in Fife, which is part of eco-heating brand Daikin UK’s Sustainable Home Network, shares six easy tips to help you become more sustainable:

  1. Insulate and draught-proof your home

Insulation and draught-proofing your home are the most effective ways to save energy and costs, as your heating system will then need to use less energy to keep your home warm and cosy. You can stop cold air coming in and warm air escaping by using items draught excluders, which many high-street and online stores sell. Insulation of your home to as high a level as possible will result in lower bills and higher comfort levels.

  1. Swap your light bulbs to LEDs

Old school incandescent bulbs use up a lot of energy and are no longer manufactured. Instead of buying old stock, why not try using energy-saving LED lightbulbs? They are the most energy-efficient bulbs and use 90% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs. There is no need to worry about brightness – they are just as good as other bulbs and can even save you money on your energy bills.

  1. Install a heat pump

Investing in a greener alternative to your oil or gas boiler, such as a heat pump, could significantly cut your heating bills and lower your carbon footprint. A well designed and skilfully installed heat pump system will save many tonnes of CO2 per year and is a fantastic way of reducing your carbon footprint.

Heat pumps are a well-established technology that can be installed efficiently and quickly into your home. Homeowners can also apply for an interest free loan through Home Energy Scotland to help with the installation of a heat pump, along with 75 per cent cashback to the value of £7,500, so now is the perfect time to consider switching to an eco-friendly alternative for heating.

  1. Reducing water usage

Typically, the less hot water you use, the lower your energy bills will be. There are many ways to reduce your household usage such as installing a timer that turns off your electric water heater at night or when it’s not in use. Simple changes such as turning off the tap when brushing your teeth, taking shorter showers, repairing leaking pipes and doing a cold clothes wash, will all help reduce the amount of water and energy you’re using.

  1. Consider eating less meat

Eating less meat is crucial for a healthy planet as meat production creates large quantities of greenhouse gases. Reducing meat and moving to a more plant based diet will make a positive contribution to combating climate change, and will reduce soil, air and ocean pollution.

  1. Recycle, Refill and Reuse

The main benefit of recycling is that it saves energy by reducing or eliminating the need to make more materials from scratch. Brush up on your local council’s recycling rules and investigate local refill stations where you can refill your cleaning products and food containers, therefore removing any packaging or additional waste. Investigate eco alternatives to chemical based cleaning products which further harm the environment.