every day we are getting greener 

2008.  Going green...
At Early Learning Centre we believe in healthy play for children.  And a healthy environment for children to grow up in.
Which is why we're taking a close look at every aspect of what we do.
And we're doing everything we can to go greener.
But being 100% green is not something we can achieve overnight.  Here are some of the initiatives we've achieved to date.

Our stores now use 'green' electricity which comes from renewable sources such as wind farms and hydro-electric power

  

Our new carrier bags are made with 33% recycled plastic

  

20% of our toys have no packaging

  

25% of our toys are in recyclable packaging

  

We are also working to reduce packaging and to make as much of it as we can recyclable material

  

All of our instore display signage is on recyclable material

  

All or our catalogues and leaflets are printed on FSC or recycled paper

  

Early Learning Centre's innovative 'Book Amnesty' has recycled 130,000 books from one child to another

  

60% of our wooden toys are now made from 'forest friendly' wood. Look out for the FSC logo

  

The FSC logo identifies wood from well managed forests which have been certified by the Forest Steward Council

 

 

Even greener by 2010.
What we've achieved to date is quite modest.  However, we've only just got started.  The targets we have set ourselves for the future are really quite tough.
By 2010:

All our wooden toys will be made from forest friendly wood. This means either recycled wood, bamboo, rubber wood or wood independently certified by the Forest Stewardship Council

  

All of our packaging will be made from materials that are easy to recycle

  

All of our cardboard packaging will be made from at least 70% recycled fibre

  

We will have reduced the amount of packaging we use on our toys by 30%

  

We are going to cut carrier bag use by at least 30%

  

And all the wood, paper and cardboard we use to run our business will be FSC or recycled - from the paper and cardbaord we use in our offices to the wood we use to build the shelves in our stores

  

We will be a carbon neutral business

 
  

Children are at the centre of everything we do and believe in. Today, tomorrow and every day.

 

 

And here are some simple and fun ideas for families who want to go greener

Plant a tree. Name it after a member of your family.

  

Plant a family of trees!

  

Why not turn off the TV and play some board games or make music instead. Call it 'green time'. You'll be surprised at how much fun you'll have

  

Make bathtime greener by sharing the tub. Altogether, or one after the other

  

Walking and cycling to school or the shops is good exercise and helps to reduce C02 emissions

  

Use both sides of the paper for painting or drawing

  

Instead of running taps, why not let children wash fruit and vegetables in a bowl?

  

Make compost for your garden with kitchen waste. Its's mucky, stinky, green and fun

  

Recycle much loved, outgrown toys and books bygiving them to your local charity shop, school or nursery

  

Let your children teach you about being green. You may be surprised at how much they know already!

  

Share your green ideas with us at www.elc.co.uk/goinggreen

 

 

We will regularly paste our favourites on this page.

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