This week is Recycle Week, organised and promoted by Recycle Now, the national recycling campaign aimed at motivating people to recycle more of the right things, to help increase sustainability and protect the planet.
This year’s theme is ‘Rescue Me’, focusing on rescuing recyclable items from heading to the rubbish bin.
That ties in nicely with the aims and ambitions of both Wolves and Wolves Foundation all the year around, with the club following a ‘One Pack One Planet’ strategy which features several key commitments to environmental sustainability.
And the Foundation are equally focused on the value of recycling wherever possible, and have been delivering that to practical effect in recent weeks.
Firstly, as part of the Supporting Our Pack project, the valuable link up with the national re-distribution charity His Church involves not just accessing food which can be given out locally rather than going to waste, but also other items as well.
It’s a process which works both ways and so, during the summer, surplus Wolves kit and other clothing was donated by the Foundation to His Church, to be sent to people in Europe, Africa and beyond, rather than just be thrown away.
“At His Church, it’s all about finding creative solutions so we don’t waste perfectly good products, and that’s not just food but other areas of surplus stock,” says Richard Humphries, director of operations with His Church.
“Receiving the donation of kit from Wolves was a massive bonus for us and means we will be able to distribute it all over the world, with plans to send some to an orphanage in Kenya and also to Ukraine and Liberia.
“It brings some cheer to the local children who have heard all about the Premier League but would otherwise never be able to get their hands on any kit, and are able to see that someone is thinking about them and caring for their predicament.”
Closer to home, the allotment project being run as part of the Head 4 Health initiative supporting adults with their mental health, not only supports sustainability in its own right, but can also serve as another vehicle towards an effective use of recycling.
This summer, the pallets in which the new club’s kit and workwear was delivered to the Foundation, were repurposed by Head 4 Health participants to be used for the raised beds at the allotment, as seen in this picture.
“Those are just two examples of the way the Foundation are committed to an effective use of recycling as part of our overall approach to sustainability,” added Rachel Smith, health & wellbeing manager and sustainability lead for the Foundation.
