Following a successful year of encouraging people to use less plastic and make better choices for the environment Final Straw Foundation have received a grant to further their borrow bag scheme to reduce material waste heading to landfill and reduce the amount of new plastic bags coming out of shops.
To date Final Straw Foundation have enlisted the help of 100 volunteers to cut and sew waste material, such as old curtains, bedspreads, and tablecloths into reusable bags for local shops. Together they have sewn 1,378 bags, including some for a local children’s half term lunch scheme, with a total weight of 275.60KG. With the help of funding from Naturesave Trust, the scheme can continue to grow with an aim to expand into new villages and further educate people on the importance of refusing single use plastic for the environment.
The scheme also enables people to come together with a love for sewing and/or the planet and to meet new people to share a hobby. We hope this scheme will decrease loneliness whilst providing an outlet for creativity and expression.
The bags are delivered to local shops participating in the scheme and given to customers that have forgotten their bags. They can use the bags for free and return them the next time they are passing the shop or another participating in the scheme. Currently there are 65 shops participating over 3 towns.
Final Straw Foundation CEO, Bianca Carr “We are over the moon that The Naturesave Trust have chosen to help us with Borrow Bags. It’s a great project and we love the positive impact it has on the environment and that’s its encouraging people to get together to address issues to fight plastic pollution and climate change. We can’t wait to spread this further and reach 2000 bags this year”.
Final Straw Foundation is a registered charity in England that is working with businesses, communities and schools to raise awareness of plastic pollution in our oceans and land environment. You can learn more about their work here.