Sea-Changers partners with Ecosurety to support Eco Refill Shops in Schools

Sea-Changers is delighted to have agreed a new partnership with Ecosurety (the leading packaging EPR compliance scheme). Ecosurety is donating funds to support a bespoke programme of Eco Refill shops in schools. Single-use plastic continues to be a significant polluter of our oceans. Over 460 million metric tons of plastic are still produced every year. An estimated 20 million metric tons of plastic litter end up in the environment. Changing behaviour and reducing demand, whilst educating future generations can be a vital part of the solution.

Sea-Changers has already funded such shops in several coastal schools and the programme has been very successful. The shops give young people the skills and tools to take practical action to support the environment, through school-based child-led Eco Refill Shop businesses.

The children follow enterprise training in order to plan, launch and operate their Eco Refill business, which sells refills of hand wash, body wash, washing up liquid, and laundry liquids to the wider school community (staff and parents). Every refill sold is a bottle saved from plastic waste. Feedback and evaluation has been strongly positive, with evidence of behaviour change and high levels of engagement.

Ecosurety’s funding will see these shops replicated more widely across the country. Rachel Lopata, Co-Founder of Sea-Changers said: "We are absolutely thrilled to start a new partnership with Ecosurety. They are a company with a genuine commitment to the environment and sustainability in all they do. Their desire to work with Sea-Changers and make a difference to UK seas and shores both through this project is brilliant. We know this is something that has a real impact and with this partnership we can support the creation of many more school refill shops in 2025. We hope that other businesses with a similar commitment to sustainability will see this programme and follow suit to make the programme even bigger.”

Jon Brookes, Partnership Director at Ecosurety commented: “We are excited to be working with Sea-Changers and supporting the expansion of Eco Refill shops in schools. As a B Corp since 2020 and guided by our mission to rid the world of unnecessary packaging, this programme is a perfect fit whilst also offering the chance to inspire future generations of environmental change-makers."