Kingston pupils launch eco refill shops to encourage community to reduce waste
Kingston Council has partnered with ethical enterprise specialists Pupils Profit to launch three eco refill shops with local primary schools, to help residents to reduce waste and adapt to reusables.
The eco refill shops will be set up and managed by pupils in three primary schools in the borough, with the help of their teachers and Pupils Profit. They will run once a month, selling household cleaning products to classmates, teachers and parents. Those wishing to make a purchase from the shop will bring their own refillable bottles to collect and take home the products.
The initiative will support young people to learn enterprise skills, as well as help them understand and embrace the values behind reducing waste. Reducing waste is a key part of Kingston Council’s Climate Action Plan and will help deliver on its commitment to a cleaner, greener future for Kingston.
Councillor Noel Hadjimichael, Portfolio Holder for Assets, Commissioning and Waste said:
Reducing waste is a key part of Kingston Council’s Climate Action Plan and will help deliver on our commitment to a cleaner, greener future for Kingston.
It’s wonderful to see schools like St Matthews Primary School playing an important and active role in tackling climate change. Pupils will learn valuable skills and gain essential, environmentally friendly, habits. They will also encourage their families and friends to embrace reusables and reduce waste.
St Matthew’s Primary School in Surbiton was the first school to launch this project, and there are plans to launch two more shops in Kingston primary schools in the coming months.
One of the attending parents commented the eco-refill shop said:
We’re here to fill up our refill bottles - I bought refillable soaps elsewhere but kept forgetting to refill them. Then my son told me there was an eco refill day at school and they’re the same brand I like, which is really good and convenient.
Another parent praised the positive impact of the event:
The event is really nice! It’s always nice to have an event after school and this is great for making people conscious about reusables.
The pupils managed to sell 32 refills on the first day, effectively saving 32 plastic, fairy-liquid-sized bottles from being thrown away.