These upcoming campaigns are asking people around the world to join together and take action to help protect our environment.                             

World Refill Day (16 June)

Small daily habit changes can have a big environmental impact. If you’ve not already switched to using a reusable water bottle or coffee cup, why not start today?

If you want to go even further than using a refillable water bottle, check out your local packaging free shops. In these shops you can use your own refillable containers to buy a wide range of products, including store cupboard staples such as rice, and cleaning products like laundry detergent.

Plastic Free July

We make and use 20 times more plastic today than we did 50 years ago even though it can take up to 500 years for plastic to fully decompose.

Did you know that plastics from items such as carrier bags and bottles that end up in our seas kill around 1,000,000 sea creatures every year?

Get ready to refuse single use plastic like plastic straws, disposable cups and cutlery to be part of the solution to plastic pollution during Plastic Free July. 

Net Zero Week (1-7 July)

We all have an important role to play in putting an end to global warming. Recycling correctly, washing clothes at a lower temperature, driving an electric vehicle and having a meat-free Monday are just a few ideas to help you on your road to net zero.

The Veolia Orchard aims to improve the wellbeing of young people and nurture their skills to create a positive change to their environment. The maturing fruit orchards will become a source of healthy food for schools, whilst also helping to improve local air quality and create new habitats for wildlife.

Last year we supported seven schools across Nottinghamshire and donated 35 trees but this year we want to grow this network of orchards even wider.

Applications for 2023 opened on World Environment Day (5 June). For your chance to win, tell us how your school intends to use the trees to develop inspiring educational lessons and improve pupil wellbeing.

Did you know people in the UK buy the most clothing in Europe? London Fashion Week takes place this month (9-12 June), and while we may not be dressed head-to-toe in catwalk haute-couture, as a nation of fashion fanatics the average person buys 26.7kg of new clothes every year.

To make room for all the new items, over 300,000 tonnes of clothes unfortunately end up as waste.

So, before you bin your battered bomber or throw your threadbare jeans -STOP! Repair, donate to your local charity shop or recycle!

Did you know that you could save up to £720 a year if you cut down on food waste? Help to save the planet and money with these three simple food hacks.

1. You can freeze more foods than you may think - grated cheese, milk, cooked pasta and rice and even nuts and cracked eggs. All pocket, planet and time savers!
2. Check your fridge temperature is set below 5ºC to ensure food stays fresher longer. Most of us have our fridges set 2ºC too high.
3. Don’t bin veggies ‘on the turn’, make a nutritious minestrone soup instead or other delicious recipes from the Love Food Hate Waste collection.

Don’t Miss Out! If you belong to a not-for-profit community group, school or charity in Nottinghamshire (excluding the city of Nottingham), now is your last chance to apply for a grant of up to £1,000 from the Reduce, Reuse, Recycling Fund. 

If you want to join previous successful groups like Bassetlaw Food Bank or Men in Sheds, apply today to help get your project off the ground!