Tesco, Veolia, Groundwork, and NHS Property Services, have joined forces to recycle soft plastics into outdoor furniture for upcoming social prescribing green spaces.
Since 2019, NHSPS has delivered 100 hubs and gardens across the country with the aim of ‘promoting community wellbeing and connectivity through nature-centric environments’.
Over six tonnes of soft plastics (or 155,500 individual soft plastics) were donated by Tesco, and transformed into a sustainable 100% recycled plastic lumber, Smartawood, which has been accredited by the British Board of Agrément (BBA) with a life expectancy of 120 years, requires little maintenance, and is designed not to rot or rust. Overall, this process resulted in approximately 15.5 kg of CO2 savings.
The first beneficiary of this collaboration is John Scott Health Centre in Woodbury Down, north London. The London health and care facility has seen its green space revitalised to give areas for community engagement and social prescribing activities. This space is a part of wider bigger scope; further projects are planned at Maghull Health Centre, Merseyside; Goscote Hospice, Walsall; Shaw House, St Austell, and Whitby Community Hospital.
John Scott Health Centre, Britain’s first purpose-built health centre in Britain, was once home to an active gardening group which lost its space to a pop-up vaccination centre during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, NHSPS has reinstated the garden area, making it a welcoming and usable area with decking and accessible picnic tables.
Dr. Min Rodriguez, head of Social Impact at NHSPS, said: “We are proud to see the continuous development of our Social Prescribing programme. This collaboration highlights the potential of innovative partnerships to not only create vibrant spaces for public benefit, but also to drive positive change in healthcare and environmental sustainability. It’s particularly special that we are repurposing soft plastics instead of increasing waste.”
Tony McElroy, Tesco head of Campaigns, added: “It’s fantastic to see the soft plastic that our customers are returning being turned into something new that will benefit communities and help give young people a stronger start in life. It’s still our absolute priority to remove and reduce as much plastic as possible, and make sure everything we use is recycled and kept out of the environment.”