Spring Term Highlights
It’s been a great start to the Spring Term for the fifteen schools which are part of the second wave of the Eco Refill Shops for Schools. They have been opening at least once a month, with many opening for business more frequently. The pupil-led Enterprise Teams are trialling many different methods to sell their eco products, including an online app for product pre-order and collection, together with some excellent marketing and promotion presentations.
About 220 children and young people are running ECO Refill Shops within 15 school communities across the region. The shops are being run with Pupils Profit, an ethical enterprise, helping schools across the UK to creatively reduce single-use plastic.
The total number of refill shop openings is now 58 with body wash and hand wash the most popular products being refilled. Sales are looking very positive too with an overall 1497 plastic containers saved from waste.
We have also conducted the first survey within the schools and responses from parent / carers are very encouraging. The survey shows that 93% of respondents from primary schools would like a school-based refill shop!
Feedback from the school leaders is also very positive, reflecting the additional benefits hosting a School Eco Refill Shop is having on their pupils.
What Our Schools are Saying
Pear Tree Special Education Needs School, Stockport, reported:
“The refill shop was a real success on the open day, we opened during a disco and tea party, lots of positive comments from staff, parents and community members.”
Milton St John Primary School, Tameside, said:
“The children were confident during the shop opening and some really shone, who you wouldn’t have thought would. One girl in particular was very confident and introduced the shopping experience to the customers beautifully! She is usually quiet in class so it was so lovely to see her shine!”
St Peter’s RC Primary, Rochdale, reported: “There is a buzz around our school linked to our Eco Shop, our children are really proud of themselves for running the shop and creating logos and leading as assembly as part of our marketing. Parents have told us that they think the initiative is fantastic and teaching staff are happy to support the shop too.”
The Divine Mercy Primary School, Manchester reported:
“I really tried to emphasise that this project is not just about the environment or just about functional maths skills or what have you, but also has loads of art, creativity, opportunities to showcase their literacy skills, opportunities for speakers but also place for people who want to take a more support role. We now have friends of the group coming up to help and I am considering expanding the eco enterprise club so that more children can be involved on the margins.”
The GM School Eco Refill Shop programme has been funded by GMCA with additional funding from Salford City Council and Suez recycling and recovery UK, enabling 15 schools to host their own shop for 2025.
For further information about the programme visit: Greater Manchester School Eco Refill Pilot or email GreenCitySchools@greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk
