Mahrukh Choughtai finds out how
Nursery groups are increasingly facing up to concerns about the breakdown of the ozone layer, global warming and pollution and introducing environmentally-friendly policies. Whether by recycling paper waste, using biodegradable nappies or encouraging staff to cycle to work, a number of groups are investing in a greener future.
Child Base is one of the leaders in this area. For the past few years the group's energy has been provided by Green Energy, a company that supplies electricity from a renewable source. Managing director Mike Thompson says, 'We want to look after the next generation, so they in turn will actually have something to look after. The green energy doesn't cost any more and we are helping to care for the environment.' The group has also tried to encourage parents to use green energy by circulating information in its newsletter. Mr Thompson comments, 'If we can do it, it's a good idea for them to do it too.'
Child Base also uses longer-life light bulbs and has a paper recycling bin in the head office. Other initiatives have included offering staff interest-free loans for bikes and paying staff 1 for each day that they have not come in by car. However, although staff have shown an interest in such schemes, they haven't embraced them fully and many still drive in, although some cut down traffic by car-sharing (see picture).
The 14 nurseries in the Academy Childcare group are also doing their bit and have had paper recycling bins on each site for about a year. The nurseries recycle cardboard boxes and glass and encourage the children to put their scrap paper in the recycle bin too.
Stephany Short, nursery manager of Academy Childcare in Ashford, says, 'We are a big company and have a lot of waste paper so we felt we needed to do something. I think it is important to get children in the habit of recycling, so when they are older it becomes second nature to them.
'The parents have been very good too, especially after Christmas when the recycling bin needs to be emptied more often because of all the old cards and wrapping paper they bring in.'
Flagship project
Implementing green policies can be a challenge and as Stewart Pickering, commercial director of Kidsunlimited, points out, there may be financial implications. However, this hasn't deterred the chain from pushing ahead with its flagship green project. The group is working in conjunction with Taylor Woodrow, an international housing and development group, to build The Green Building in Manchester, which is due to open in 2004.
The Green Building will consist of a 150-place nursery, a medical centre and apartments and will use energy-saving equipment. Wind generators, non-mechanical ventilation, solar cells and insulation and heat pumps, which extract warmth from the earth, will ensure that carbon emissions will be down by 75 per cent compared to a conventional building.
In addition to this major project Kidsunlimited is also trying to be more environmentally friendly in its existing nurseries. They use recycled paper and have various transport policies in place. Staff are encouraged to use public transport and Kidsunlimited provides bicycles free of charge for employees who wish to cycle in. The popularity of the bicycle scheme varies from place to place, but it seems to work particularly well in Oxford and Cambridge.
Mr Pickering says, 'I have always felt that we should be taking care of the environment and it is frustrating that we can't be as green as we could be.
The Government and our local authorities need to be more pro-active.'
