Media

Media coverage is being posted for now on the Greener Kew blog.

Media enquiries should be directed to Michael Glazebrook at the Kew Society, email chair@kewsoc.org.uk

Media coverage links are is posted on the blog as they come in.

Kew Makes Plastic Bags History!

Launch 7pm Monday 30th June, 2008

Baroness Tonge of Kew will launch this campaign and other speakers include Susan Kramer MP and well-known environmentalist Zac Goldsmith.

From the moment the shops open on Tuesday 1st July, Kew will be the first area in London to go plastic bag free. Over 50 independent traders are taking part in this initiative, as well as the Royal Botanic Gardens, a World Heritage Site. All have signed a pledge agreeing not to give out or sell plastic bags in future.

Shopkeepers in Kew already report that many customers now bring their own bags to local shops because of their environmental awareness and determination to ‘do their bit’.

Some shops, like the award winning independent butcher Pethers, have already taken the initiative and had their own hessian bag made up. Every year they have a competition to see who can photograph one of their bags in the furthest away/ most unusual setting. Last year’s prize – which went to a customer on a nudist beach, unfortunately went unclaimed, perhaps due to reasons of modesty.

Unfortunately, the Tesco Express store in the village is not able to take part. Their national policy is to offer plastic bags to customers, in order to give them a choice. Sara Novakovic of Oliver’s Wholefoods said “Tesco seem to be falling behind their competitors and rather out of touch on this issue. It is disappointing, but the door is always open to them and we hope they will have a change of heart.”

From 1st July, residents and visitors will be encouraged to bring their own bags when they shop in Kew. A cornstarch, biodegradable bag that is fully compostable is available as an alternative, but customers may be charged for one. Fairtrade cotton “Greener Kew” shopping bags with the attractive “Greener Kew” logo will also be available throughout the village at a cost of £2.00. Traders have already been giving out fridge magnets to remind people to bring shopping bags with them when they visit the village.

The scheme, ‘Greener Kew’, has been organised by The Kew Society together with Kew’s traders – see www.greenerkew.org for more information. They have received support from a wide cross section of the community. A number of volunteers have been working hard to make this happen and Richmond Council has kindly made a grant towards the costs.

Michael Glazebrook, Chairman of The Kew Society said “Two million whales, dolphins, seals, turtles and seabirds are killed every year by plastic. In the UK alone, we use around 15 billion plastic bags each year. We hope to show other villages and towns all over the country what they can and should do to change things if they get together. All things are possible”.

Site design by Spider Creative 

Site Design © GreenerKew 2008 with thanks to www.Fixed-Price-Websites.com 

 Contents © Greener Kew 2008 Site design by Spider Creative