Home Blogs WASTE NOT, WANT NOT – KIDS LEAD THE RACE AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
BlogsEventsGlagow PhotographsGlasgowNewsPolitics

WASTE NOT, WANT NOT – KIDS LEAD THE RACE AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE

car
car
  • Envision Virgin Racing collaborate with campaign group – Kids Against Plastic, COP26 and Glasgow City Council – to create scale replica Formula E race car from single use plastic waste
  • The plastic Formula E car highlights the need for rapid action against plastic pollution and has appeared as a world-first at COP26 in Glasgow
  • A partnership with COP26 and Glasgow City Council, the Recover E car was unveiled on 1 November at Glasgow’s Silverburn Shopping Centre. It will then take to the stage at the World Leaders’ presidency session (Blue Zone) on 2 November before returning to Silverburn for residents and visitors to see.

Envision Virgin Racing has collaborated with Kids Against Plastic – a campaign group founded by inspiring sisters Amy and Ella Meek – to elevate the voice of young people and demonstrate the importance of youth engagement in the race against climate change. Inspired to make a positive change after learning about the UN Global Goals, the Meeks have focused their efforts on collecting single use plastic litter and encouraging children, schools, businesses and councils across the UK to do the same by becoming “Plastic Clever.”

Three years since the European Parliament voted for a total ban on plastic cutlery, cotton buds, straws, drink stirrers and plates, Plastic Oceans estimates that 10 million tonnes of plastic are dumped into the oceans each year. Figures show the world produces more than 380 million tonnes of plastic annually, and up to 50% of that is for single use.

The 1:1 scale replica Formula E car has been made from 100kg of plastic litter collected by Kids Against Plastic and the school litter picks to highlight the role of plastic reduction in the race against climate change. Taking more than 700 hours, the replica has been created by British design studio Lazerian.

The Recover E initiative has engaged schools across the UK and aims to raise awareness of the issue of single use plastic on a global stage to accelerate change in the race against climate change. The participants have included a Primary 7 class of children from Glasgow City Council School, Garrowhill Primary School also took part in a litter pick and the class attended the unveiling at Silverburn Shopping Centre on 1 November.

Envision Virgin Racing, Managing Director and Chief Technology Officer Sylvain Filippi said: “Plastic has long been regarded as a villain when it comes to the environmental efforts of economies across the globe. Billions of tonnes of plastic waste are estimated to have been produced, with only a small percentage being recycled.

“Calls to tackle the plastic problem have led to a raft of green initiatives and the emergence in recent years of sustainable packaging solutions aimed at tackling plastic waste, such as the UK’s imminent plastic packaging tax. The time for action is now and the fantastic efforts of young people such as Kids Against Plastic and schools like Garrowhill Primary show the next generation is driving the race against climate change.”

Amy and Ella Meek, founders of Kids Against Plastic added: “It’s really fitting that the Recover E car will be seen by audiences from school children to shoppers and world leaders because to make change happen, we need everyone, to join a movement of people that are breaking their plastic habits and lobbying for change. It’s been amazing to partner with an organisation like Envision Virgin Racing, whose values and goals match ours, and can help put our campaign on the world stage.”

Councillor Chris Cunningham, City Convener for Education, Skills and Early Years said: “Our children and young people have been able to take part in so many wonderful opportunities in the run up to COP26 and as part of a climate legacy for our schools.

“I know that the pupils at Garrowhill Primary had an amazing day when the EVR team visited their school and they were able to help collect the litter that’s now incorporated into the racing car – recycling in perfect harmony.

“They will have a great day at Silverburn when they get to see the car in all its glory.”

Visit Envision Racing to find out more.

Envision Virgin Racing is calling for people to make their own pledge in the race against climate change.

https://envisionvirginracing.com/what-is-race-against-climate-change/make-a-pledge/

Tickets for COP26 are available here: https://greenzonetickets.ukcop26.org/home

You can also join events virtually by subscribing to the COP26 YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/cop26

Related Articles

sps featjpeg
News

Service which stops ex-prisoners from reoffending to close after funding slashed

A critical program that collaborates with former inmates to prevent their reincarceration...

proxy jpeg
News

Scots asylum seekers driven to suicide while living in hotels

Five asylum seekers residing in Scottish hotels were reported to have attempted...

JS
News

There are some ways to tell if your games console is genuine

When sales hit the high street, it is an excellent opportunity to...

JS
News

Union boss in probe after recording reveals how he treated woman

The chief of one of the UK’s foremost trade unions is under...