Two Bembridge businesses have been awarded plaques and certificates because of their efforts to reduce use of single use plastic.
Plastic Free Communities is a Surfers Against Sewage Project designed to raise awareness and help tackle our plastic pollution. Businesses can receive Bronze, Silver and Gold awards.
The Sea Room
The Sea Room have achieved all three awards. They have worked from removing three pieces of single use plastic to removing all possible single-use plastic; taken part in community work and national action to help reduce our plastic waste.
They are estimated to have prevented at least 35,000 plastic bottles from entering the environment so far. The Sea room is a refill shop for many different household products including toiletries and cleaning liquids.
Bembridge Barbers
Bembridge Barbers, owned by Gail Cooper, has received a bronze award today and has fulfilled the criteria for a silver award by removing significant and commonly used plastic items from her business.
She has also supported beach cleaning to remove plastic and other waste from our beach and sea. She is on the path to achieving gold status as well.
Plastic Free Bembridge
Plastic Free Bembridge is a community initiative started in 2024 with the support of Surfers Against Sewage. It is also supported by Bembridge Parish Council. We work with businesses, community groups and individuals to help reduce plastic pollution.
Bembridge has achieved 89% of the outcomes to be accredited with Plastic Free status and is on track to be the first Isle of Wight community to achieve this. Our work to reduce plastic pollution will be ongoing after this is achieved.
Bronze Award
David Hunt Tai Chi is to receive it’s bronze award in the next couple of weeks.
We are planning an exhibition in Bembridge Library to highlight the issues around plastic pollution and what we can do about it.
Get in touch
If anyone would like to know more or become involved, please contact: Lindsey Newberry or Ally de Trey (community leads) at: [email protected]
Note of appreciation
Many thanks to Fiona Taylor and Alison Austin at The Sea room and Gail Cooper at Bembridge Barbers for all their effort.
Thanks also to Bembridge Parish Councillor Martin Groom for support and monthly beach cleans.
News shared by Lindsey as Plastic Free Bembridge Community Lead. Ed
