Helen Tandy, Director

It’s only Wednesday yet my heart wants to sink with each and every news article I read.

In the U.K. most of us are worried about keeping a roof over our head with rising mortgage rates and rent, food on our table with rising food costs. Then we watch the news and see the devastating weather events which will only further impact on food prices yet….our….government is talking about Carbon Capture & Storage (that old chestnut) and drilling for new oil…….

I moved my career focus to help clients avoid investing in destructive companies, now via Castlefield. I’m our Carbon Literacy trainer, heading our #NetZero project supported by Positive Planet
In my spare time as you know Director of not for profit Eco Communities supporting projects around sustainability, plastic pollution, littering, sustainable food….

This all feels so insignificant when in a few weeks the government can trash so many environmental policies and bring in policies which will destroy our planet. I am starting to understand why we have a problem with Climate Anxiety around the world.

via Guardian, George Monbiot ‘Sunak, Trump and many others like them are not just desperate politicians who will try anything to retain or regain power (though they are that). Nor are they simply representatives of capital. They are representatives of the dirtiest, most destructive varieties of capital, the varieties engaged in a war against humanity. In the conflict between the two existential crises, they know which side they’re on’ LINK

Helen Tandy, Eco Commununities, Director

This weeks Climate Change news has all been doom and gloom. The Guardian reported on the heat waves spreading across Europe (READ ARTICLE) and started the week with stories that both the Conservative and Labour Parties are looking to water down green policies here in the UK. (READ ARTICLE)
World leaders signed an agreement in 2015 to try to limit global heating to 1.5C by the end of the century. Their current policies are set to heat the planet by 2.7C.

The future of the planet 🌎- our home and that of future generations is too import to become a game of political ping pong. We need ALL parties to agree on what needs to be done to protect us. They need to unite on the decisions when it comes to the #climateemergency.

We can’t allow politics to stop us making change to avoid even worse climate change. Having been campaigning for over 20 years I have seen a flip flop of support, this impacts on business innovation and the security of food, energy and the our economy.
I’m very worried yet again we are going down an even worse black hole, to ignore what is obviously going on around us and the world to not retain plans and support new policies would be catastrophic.

What are they thinking !

Then why were more oil and gas fields approved over the last two years. I can remember doing a talk at Chester Cathedral in 2018 saying we can’t afford to take any new oil from the ground to limit warming to 1.5c yet that has been ignored. This is bigger than a general election, yet they politicians are trampling over the issue in the hope of remaining or winning power. I’m more worried now about our future than I have been in the last 20 years. The issues are clear to see but they are met with inaction.

According to The Guardian three large oil and gas fields have been approved since the International Energy Agency warned in May 2021 that no new developments of fossil fuels could be constructed if the world was to limit global temperature increases to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. (READ MORE)

Sorry to bring everyone down to doom and gloom… I decided to spend some time finding some positive news stories around Climate Change but I had to give up…

We need to finish with some hope. I do have hope I promise. We can all do something how ever little to make a difference.

Sign up to Giki via carbon footprint account, why not measure your carbon footprint and commit to making some changes in August. Already signed up, log in and select some new challenges.

Support the Nature 2030 project – Over 70 environmental charities have joined forces to create a 5 point plan. They want to see this reflected in all Party manifestos, to put a stop to nature’s decline.

Support The Climate Coalition campiagn and ask your MP to do the following.

• Champion action on climate and nature: Commit to protect and restore nature and wildlife, and support those most vulnerable to climate impacts globally.
• Free us from oil and gas: Stop approving new oil and gas fields so that we can escape our dependence on volatile fossil fuels.
• Cheap energy: More than triple the amount of renewable energy in the UK by 2030, including wind and solar generated in harmony with nature, so that we can permanently lower bills.
• Help to upgrade homes: Launch a new, properly-funded programme of home upgrades and insulation across the UK to bring down bills and prevent energy waste.
• Emergency support now: Provide a new package of financial support to people on the front-line of poverty.‍

Helen Tandy, Director, Eco Communities

Members of the Plastic Free Neston community group, with Town Mayor, Councillor Stephen Wastell.

The Eco Communities team are proud to have helped Neston join a network of communities across the UK who are leading the way to tackle throw away plastic at source. Neston have been awarded Plastic Free Community status by marine conservation charity, Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), in recognition of the work it has done to start reducing the impact of single-use plastic on the environment.

Having achieved Plastic Free Chester in 2018 we decided to support other regions in Cheshire by managing Plastic Free projects around the County.

I have seen lots of communities starting Plastic Free Campaigns where they live and then running out of steam. I decided we could help co-ordinate, Project Manage and support regions with what we learnt through our work in Chester. It has been a hugely successful process and as a result we have been working with Neston, Tattenhall, Frodsham, Ellesmere Port, Willaston and Hoole in gaining its own status.

A region either comes to us or we contact people in the region to see if they are interested in campaigning against single use plastics where they live. I am so proud of the team in Neston for its achievement in a really short timescale. They couldn’t have done it without the support of Audrey Duncan from Neston Town Council and Angharad Armson from The End of the Avenue, who were both key in supporting the campaign in the region, along with Neston Earth Group.

Registering with the SAS Plastic Free Communities movement the region has to pull together key organisations and businesses in the town to put in place a five-point plan.

The objectives included us setting up a community led steering group, instigating the SAS Plastic Free Schools education programme, working with Neston Town Council, local businesses, organisations and community groups such as Neston Earth Group to spread the word and minimise the amount of disposable plastics they use.

The Surfers Against Sewage Plastic Free Community network aims to free the places where we live from single-use. Using the five point plan the aim is to empower communities to kick start local grassroots action, which can then be built upon. 

If you would like to support a region where you live and reduce its reliance on Single Use Plastic then please get in touch with Angharad, office@sustainablecheshire.uk

Helen Tandy, Director Eco Communities and Refill Chester Rep for City to Sea

When I was asked by City to Sea creators of Refill (a water refill project that’s now a National Campaign), could they interview me where else could I take them than New Chester Market. I am yet to see this footage but they spent a lot longer recording me filling up my water bottle at the various refill stations they have in the market, than interviewing me, so I decided it was time to quiz Adele and the team more about this quirky installation.

Friday 16th June was World Refill Day a global day of action to prevent plastic pollution and help people live with less waste. By choosing to reuse, we’re saving millions of pieces of plastic and sending a message to the rest of the world that the solutions to plastic pollution and the climate crisis are there – and together we can keep our environment, oceans, cities and communities plastic-free for the future.

Chester’s new market, in the heart of the Northgate Development, has been 30 years in the making. During that time, the designs may have evolved, but the aim has always been to build something unique for Chester. With this in mind they decided the Market water fountains needed to be unique too.

The market team provided me with the story:

‘The design inspiration has been taken from across the globe, in line with our ethos of ‘Shop Local, Eat Global’. We also wanted to make these fun, with each of the 3 water fountains having a distinct personality, but following a common theme of travel.

The Tardis – Dr Who is a British institution and what symbol could be more recognisable than a Tardis? Rather than transporting customers through time and space, just open the telephone door and our Tardis delivers water to the thirsty, and any visiting Time Lords.

The Tuk Tuk –a traditional mode of transport across most of Asia, our Tuk tuk has had many previous lives, and was most recently a retired prosecco bar. It now takes pride of place in the Market Garden, serving as a water dispenser, a give-and-take book shelf, as well as a display cabinet for the Market’s merchandise range of reusable cups, mugs, tote bags and aprons.

The Butcher’s Bike – this shed find is a 1957 Raleigh butcher’s bike which spent its best decades delivering local produce from independent businesses direct to their customers, and maybe even the odd Hovis loaf. This rusty old relic was saved from being scrapped and given a new lease of life. Where the wicker basket once sat there is now a basin and tap. You will find the bike at the main entrance by the florist.

Can you find these quirky refill stations mentioned above, take a picture of you filling up and share it on social media tag #refillchester @ecocommunities_ @newchestermarket. We can’t wait to see you all using these.

Great Big Green Week starts 10^th June for a week until 18^th June.  It’s usually a key part of planning in our Calendar, we even launched a local Great Big Green Week website in 2021. It has been falling in September the last few years and the move to June has thrown us out a bit this year. We agreed to support the stalls in the Green Expo this June and then host our usual event in Grosvenor Park later in the year.

The Green Expo is now in its second year and Sustainable Cheshire (Eco Communities project) have embedded the stalls part of the Exposition into our annual events programme. We didn’t wanted to cause mixed messages and so have been quiet on the Great Big Green Week front this time. Our website is therefore left to gather dust this year, but 2024 might be a great time to bring it back to action.

What is Great Big Green Week?

The idea was created by The Climate Coalition. The Climate Coalition is a group of over 100 organisations at 22 million members strong. Eco Communities are a member of what is the UK’s largest group of people dedicated to action against climate change. Along with key organisations like National Trust, WWF, Women’s Institute, Oxfam, and RSPB.

Now in its third year, the campaign events will draw attention to climate change and destruction of the natural world, while also making a connection with these issues in communities.

Where will Eco Communities be this Great Big Green Week?

Come and find us on Castle Drive, Chester (by the river). The Green Expo is a great example of what needs to be done to highlight the issues around climate change and we hope you all plan to come along and catch up with the team and support all the organisations involved.

We will have various talks. People Planet Pint and People Planet Pastry in the Green Hut area.

What else is going on in the region?

Cheshire West Libraries will be celebrating Great Big Green Week over the full week by holding a special Treasure Hunt for children with green tips scattered around the library shelves. Adults and children will be asked to write “Letters to Tomorrow”, explaining their hopes for future generations and fears about what life could be like if we don’t slow down climate change. (See More)

What can I do as an individual?

Come down to the Green Expo and speak to us and other stalls on things you might be interested in. You can also join our community of Carbon Footprint Friends on Giki to find out what your impact is on the planet and choose from over 160 steps to help you reduce your impact. The best bit, we can see what we are doing as a community working together to protect the planet.

Lisa started Cheshire Market Gardens,using the no dig process. She has taken an overgrown piece of land to a fantastic landscape of polytunnels and areas growing lots of vegetables and more types of squash than I have ever seen.

We have supported a recent Open day which was really well attended.

They aim to provide high quality, nutritious produce for the local community. Aim is to be zero carbon and low food miles. Growing a wider range of vegetables and lesser known varieties.

​Selling veg plug plants of the more exotic and interesting varieties for those of you who enjoy growing your own. You will find her produce stocked at Hoole Food Market and Fika uses ingredents in cooking.

We are setting her up as a Plastic Free Chester business and hope to do more projects with Lisa going forward.

94% of consumers are still not actively engaging with reusables, the direct ownership model has had limited success in the UK. Returnable is more ‘to hand’, convenient and in touch with consumer needs. If you won’t bring a cup, we already have one for you.

Paying ‘at point of use’ for these circular cups has limitations, as businesses move away from cash and would need to pay card transactions each time a circular cup is paid for and returned. That’s why we launched the scheme on a Cup Club basis.

The key to the scheme is that the cups are returned. We don’t want people taking them home only to forget to bring the, the next time they need a take away drink.

These cups can be used more than 500 times so to make it work, keeping them on the circular cup loop is key.

From research we’ve found the best way for this to work is for users to become members of our Cheshire Cup Club Scheme. Members pay £2 50 to Eco Communities to join the scheme. We own the cups. Cafes & businesses become members of the circular cup scheme paying a monthly membership fee (it is free to businesses during the trial period)

• During the trial – you save money for each reusable cup you encourage your customer to use.

• We both create a new way for people in Chester to enjoy a take away coffee with no waste.

Win Win

What do my team need to do?

• If someone is having a takeaway coffee think about the cost saving and saving the planet.

• See if you can encourage them to join cup club.

• They scan the QR code on the flyer and join. Then you can provide the coffee in one of our Cheshire Cups.

• If they decline or you are just too busy, see if they will take a leaflet.

• Try to display our scheme information somewhere within the business.

• Want us to speak to your team, then just ask.

We have the cups but we really need your help to encourage people to make the switch.

Circular and Co Cup Background Info:

• The cups are made from recycled plastic and can be returned to Circular & Co at end of life (after more than 500 washes) for recycling.

• These are 10 x less CO2e than a single use cup. This takes account of manufacture, shipping and in house washing.

• Circular & Co are looking at circular design, so the cups are used and re-used and then made into more cups…

• These cups are the first batch of this cup, which came by sea in a container from China. Ours are the first to be engraved in the UK. Many came from China already engraved.

Circular & Co are setting themselves up to make the cups in the UK going forward so we only bought a small batch of 1,000 units to start with for the trial.

Single Use Cup Info:

At the moment less than 1% of single use plastic lined cups are recycled, we have one plant in the UK that does take them from some of the big chains.

Almost no compostable cups are composted. Compostable cups need to be heat composted and almost all these plants in the UK have closed.

All street litter bins in Cheshire West go for incineration. So even if a single use cup gets into the bin and not the environment in Chester it is being incinerated. This is a debate we regularly have with the council.

Conclusion

Reusables are the only answer, creating circularity not waste has to be the way forward which I know you will completely understand. This is the basis of what Circular & Co are driven by and why we are excited to be a small part of its reusable coffee cup project. We hope you will embrase the scheme and help us to make this something bigger than just Chester.

I am not part of the scheme but would like to be?