Maarten van Andel’s Post

What’s happening in Dorking that makes a difference? With Dorking businesses and initiatives working hard to be eco-friendly, create green practices and using sustainable products - quite a lot! Our town really is playing a part in protecting our planet, and what better day than World Environment Day to share our events to celebrate with you. Here they are: Join us today for a special Dorking BID Guild Talk with the founders of Circular Dorking. Wendy Saunders and Paul Street will be talking about The Great Big Green Week and share how you can get involved. Come along and learn how you can take action for a greener future. 📅 Wednesday, 5 June, 6 PM at Ralph James Estate Agents. Roll up your sleeves and join our Hello Dorking Big Green Week Street Clean Up! From digging up a few weeds to picking up some litter, every small effort counts in making a big impact. 📅 Friday, 7 June, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM, Dorking Town Centre. Circular Dorking is hosting a community celebration at St Martin’s Walk. Swap, switch, and share ideas on how we can live more sustainably. From swapping clothes and books to sharing tips on eco-friendly living, there’s something for everyone. ♻️ 📅 Saturday, 15 June, 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM. Take our trail and discover the amazing steps our local businesses are taking to go green. From using recycled materials to hosting mending workshops, Dorking’s businesses are leading the way in sustainability. Pick up your trail form from S.C. Fullers or download to participate for a chance to win a shop local voucher. 📅 Saturday 8 - 16 June We’re proud of the efforts made by local businesses to reduce their environmental footprint. From eco-friendly practices to sustainable products everyone is playing a part in protecting our planet.🌎 Take a moment to appreciate our planet, join our events, and support the local businesses making a difference. PS. If you have any questions about these events, just send us a message. 📸: @jaynekempimages #WorldEnvironmentDay #WorldEnvironmentDay2024 #HelloDorking #SustainableDorking

Happy #WorldEnvironmentday everyone! 🐋💫 Let's keep on working together to protect our beautiful planet and of course...our whales! ♻️ 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗦𝘄𝗶𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: - Eco-tours guided by trained naturalists to minimize impact on whales and respect their natural behavior. - Collecting humpback whale I.D. photos and recording whale songs to support ongoing research and conservation efforts. - Partnering with local businesses to benefit communities and promote sustainable tourism. - Using reusable water bottles and lunch boxes, and avoiding printed brochures to reduce waste. - Recycling all paper and plastics in our offices and homes. - Minimizing plastic use by avoiding plastic bags and wrapping whenever possible. #whale #humpbackwhale #whaleconservation #savetheocean

Cork is one of the most sustainable materials in the world, produced from the bark of cork oaks, trees typical of the Mediterranean region, where the hot and dry climate favors their growth. This bark has remarkable properties, such as the fact that it is naturally fireproof, protecting against the frequent forest fires that occur in these areas. Cork extraction is a manual process, carried out with great skill by experienced cork harvesters. This careful method ensures that no trees are cut down, preserving the cork oaks and allowing the bark to regenerate naturally. It takes approximately 25 years for a cork oak tree to produce its first harvest of cork, known as “virgin cork”. After this initial period, the bark can be harvested every 9 years, for several decades, with each tree capable of providing cork up to 17 times throughout its life. Over the course of its existence, a single cork oak can produce around 700 kg of cork, a versatile, biodegradable and 100% natural material. Furthermore, cork oak forests play a crucial role in environmental balance, contributing to carbon capture, the preservation of biodiversity and the prevention of desertification.💚🌿 For all these reasons, we are proud to have developed a brand of products that are one hundred percent cork-based, both in our yoga and office lines. #cork #ecofriendly #corkoat #sustentability #green #bornfromnature

The Slate remains dedicated to creating a positive impact on both the environment and our community. Our mission is to enhance guest experiences while minimising our environmental footprint, ensuring a sustainable future. We are continuously seeking ethical solutions, products, and partners to reinforce our commitment to the environment. Here are some examples of our ongoing actions: 1. Transition to eco-friendly bamboo key cards: We have replaced plastic hotel key cards with bamboo, significantly reducing plastic waste and promoting eco-friendly practices. 2. Conserving natural resources: We encourage our guests to participate in our conservation efforts by reusing bedding and towels throughout their stay. This simple act helps conserve energy and water resources. 3. Beach cleaning: We host a daily beach cleanup at Nai Yang Beach. Our staffs, along with our guests, are invited to join in this effort. Since 1st May, we have collected a total of 2,230 kilograms of trash, making our community a cleaner and better place to live. Thank you for supporting our efforts towards a more sustainable future. We are committed to growing and expanding our actions for the benefit of our environment and community. Explore our sustainability and community outreach at https://lnkd.in/gd-_3WpJ #TheSlatePhuket #Sustainability #EcoFriendly #NaiYangBeach #CommunityEngagement

#vanlife just got an impactful update! All the campers by our partner Cheeky Campers are reused and refurbished with a high degree of recycled and reused materials. The latest generation of their vans contain furniture made from our #tide ocean material® 🌍♻️ 🌊 But that’s not all – with every Cheeky Campers booking, you're helping to support the Road to 1 Billion Bottles impact program! Each trip contributes to the goal of removing 1 billion plastic bottles from our oceans, turning waste into a valuable resource. 🌊💧 So not only can you explore the world sustainably, but you’re also helping to clean up the oceans one adventure at a time. 🌱🌍 #ecotravel #fightplasticpollution #circulareconomy #wastetovalue

Beyond the bottle the green spirit of Cairngorm Bothies Blog by Cairngorm Lodges and Bothies Nestled amidst the ancient Scottish pine forest of Blelack Estate, at the foot of Morven and the Cairngorms National Park; there's a spirit of environmental responsibility within the team at the award-winning Cairngorm Bothies. These 12 off-grid self-catering bothies offer sustainable pet friendly havens for hikers and adventurers. After Earth Day, with its theme on the awareness of the 'Planet vs Plastics, it is worth highlighting one of the key areas that the staff at Cairngorm Lodges and Bothies hold as a passion in their Gold Green Tourism award status. This is the ongoing eradication of single-use plastic bottles in their cleaning routines and their use of environmentally friendly detergents and disinfectants. They, like many hospitality businesses face challenges of disposing of all types of plastic waste and it's a major consideration for those businesses aiming for sustainable tourism. At the bothies they continue to strive at ways to combat these challenges. Their Bio-Hygiene cleaning products that are locally sourced from JAMES MUTCH LIMITED are one of the ways that they do that. Cleaning products are decanted into clearly labelled refillable containers, opting for monthly delivered concentrated solutions that minimise transportation needs and use of single use plastic. Reusable spray bottles are a familiar sight within the bothies, a constant reminder of the team's commitment to responsible practices. Overall this helps the range of green practises in the Cairngorm Bothies operations that leave a lighter environmental footprint for their off-grid retreats. Their focus to use eco-friendly cleaning products whenever possible, is a testament to their dedication to preserving the natural Scottish wilderness that offers their guests a unique escape in the Cairngorms, where their everyday, plays a small part in positive change & supports the global efforts of Earth Day. Read more about Cairngorm Bothies Gold Green Tourism practises - https://lnkd.in/ej9bhh3t #ecofriendly #sustainability #enviroment

We're helping you make more sustainable choices: Introducing our Green Leaf Mark🍃 While searching on our online platforms, you’ll see our Green Leaf Mark on eligible products. Any product given the Green Leaf Mark has met a clear list of criteria, which is displayed in the product information across our online platforms. This means you are not only able to make more sustainable choices, but understand what criteria makes it a more sustainable choice. Want to learn more? https://lnkd.in/e_MM7pDr

At Revino, we are dedicated to preserving our sand beaches through sustainable practices, including the reuse of glass bottles. By reusing glass, we can alleviate the pressure on sand resources and contribute to their conservation. The significant benefits of glass reuse and its impact on beach conservation, should encourage all to protect our sand and water resources! Curious about what it takes to begin making change? Check out our new blog post: How Glass Reuse Benefits Our Beaches by following the link below! https://lnkd.in/gzUGSXCk

“Being a nature lover, I would go to the beach every day, and notice the amount of garbage that was washed up by the tide or littered by people. This triggered me to start volunteering at beach clean-up drives. I started using the material collected to generate awareness about marine pollution in the best way I know how -  art! Each of these objects has its own story. We usually buy items without thinking about where they will end up after they have served their purpose. More often than not, they end up in the ocean, acting as a massive threat to marine life and increasingly so, a threat to us. Every time I go to the beach, I make it a point to pick up some amount of waste. Organized beach cleanup drives are of course amazing, for doing good to our natural surroundings and making people aware, but we do not need to attend a cleanup drive to feel the need to pick up garbage. On my local beach, the sand is often strewn with glass and plastic bottles, cups, cutlery, and food packaging. If people were more conscious of the serious threat that their garbage creates to life on the beach, they may rethink their decision. There are a few small changes one can make that will create a great difference. Firstly, think about what you consume. Instead of buying single-use plastic items like bottles and bags, get reusable, durable ones, and switch to metal straws and bamboo toothbrushes. If you menstruate, consider switching to the menstrual cup. For picnics in public spaces, why not take your reusable plates, cups, and cutlery? Secondly, think about what you discard. Instead of directly throwing trash into a bin, check whether it can be recycled or reused. And third, pick it up! Don’t litter. Volunteer for beach cleanup drives or pick up whatever you can by yourself. We shouldn’t be needing to clean up, we should be stopping it from entering the ocean and natural environments altogether. That’s the most important thing. Imagine a world that does not need a Coastal Cleanup Day!” - Tamsin Noronha, a Goa-based artist who makes installations with waste washed up on the beaches. #EcoHero #USIndiaFwd 

Preserving Our Hill Stations: A Call to Responsible Tourism: Recently, I visited a beautiful, lesser-known hill station, expecting untouched beauty and tranquility. However, in an area seemingly untouched by the usual crowds, I came across plastic wrappers, bottles, and bags scattered across the landscape. This sight reflected an unfortunate trend we see across popular and hidden hill stations alike: irresponsible waste disposal. Despite awareness campaigns, visitors often leave plastic waste behind, polluting ecosystems and burdening locals who rely on tourism. Why Does This Happen? A mix of factors contributes to this issue: Lack of Awareness: Many visitors are unaware of the impact plastic has on these fragile ecosystems. Inadequate Disposal Facilities: Some areas lack waste bins, leading people to discard trash thoughtlessly. Convenience Over Responsibility: Some people assume that "one wrapper" won't make a difference. The Impact on Hill Station Ecosystems Plastic waste breaks down into harmful microplastics that contaminate soil and water, affecting both plants and animals. Wildlife can mistake plastic for food, which can be fatal. Additionally, litter detracts from the natural beauty that tourists come to experience, ultimately impacting the local economy. Small Changes We Can Make We can all contribute to protecting these beautiful spaces: Carry a Waste Bag: Take all trash with you until you find a disposal bin. Educate Others: Gently encourage fellow travelers to dispose of waste responsibly. Support Local Clean-Ups: Many hill stations have eco-volunteers working to maintain these areas. Donating or volunteering can go a long way. A Call to Action As visitors, it’s our duty to protect and respect the places we enjoy. Let’s make an effort to leave these spots as pristine as we found them. By taking responsibility for our actions, we’re preserving not just a destination, but a piece of nature’s beauty for future generations. #ResponsibleTourism #EcoTravel #SustainableTourism #SaveOurHills #EnvironmentalResponsibility #LeaveNoTrace