Last updated: October 2021
In 2012 Marks & Spencers funded a volunteering initiative, the Big Beach Clean-up, through which their staff were able to volunteer to clean local beaches and waterways to make local environmental improvements. This initiative is part of M&S’ Forever Fish campaign which is funded by the profits from the 5p carrier bag charge in M&S foodhalls. The 4th annual Big Beach Clean Up (which took place in 2015) aimed to clean 135 beaches and canals up and down the country with over 8,000 people (3,000 M&S employees and 5,000 M&S customers) (ref. 5). As part of this initiative, around 30 members of staff from Nottingham’s local high street store went down to the canal, between Castle Meadow retail park and Meadow Lane Lock, and spent the day removing masses of litter from the water (ref. 3).
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries
Key challenges
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Improvements to water quality
- Coastal resilience and marine protection (SDG 14)
- Coastal protection / hazard mitigation
- Marine and coastal biodiversity protection
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Environmental quality
- Waste management
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Environmental education
- Social cohesion
Focus
Maintenance and management of urban nature, Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Knowledge creation and awareness raising
Project objectives
M&S Big Beach & Waterway Clean is part of M&S's Plan A (social and environmental commitments which includes 5 pillars: climate change, waste, natural resources, fair partnership, health and wellbeing) and part of M&S Forever Fish campaign (ref. 6)
M&S Beach Clean is a volunteering initiative through which their staff was able to volunteer to clean local beaches and waterways to make local environmental improvements (in the area of The Nottingham & Beeston Canal; which includes a surviving canal that was once part of a much longer route, which is now derelict). (ref. 2, 6)
“The Big Beach Clean Up is a great way to support the community and help safeguard the future of UK fish stocks. Clean waterways and beaches mean clean seas.” (Ref. 8) The aim of the event is to help preserve wildlife at risk from ingesting toxic pollutants in the water (Ref. 3).
Implementation activities
Since the M&S Big Beach Clean-up began in May 2012, over 20,000 people have taken part and 62.5 tonnes of litter – the weight of Challenger 2 tank – has been cleared from canals and beaches until 2015 (ref 3, 5).
The 4th annual Big Beach Clean Up (in 2015) aimed to clean 135 beaches and canals up and down the country with over 8,000 people (3,000 M&S employees and 5,000 M&S customers) (ref. 5). In that year, more than 9000 volunteers picked up litter from over 100 beaches and 50 canals up and down the country. Around 30 members of staff from Nottingham’s local high street store went down to the canal, between Castle Meadow retail park and Meadow Lane Lock, and spent the day removing masses of litter from the water (ref. 3).
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
- Reduce negative impacts and avoid the alteration/damage of ecosystem
- Protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect species
- Means for conservation governance
- Raise public awareness
- Public engagement
Biodiversity restoration:
- Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
- Public engagement
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Non-government organisation/Civil Society
- Private sector/Corporate/Company
- Young people and children
Governance
Management set-up
- Led by non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Private sector/corporate actor/company
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Dissemination of information and education
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
A volunteering initiative led (and funded) by Marks & Spencers, through which their staff was able to volunteer to clean local beaches and waterways to make local environmental improvements. In partnership with Groundwork Greater Nottingham and British Waterways. (ref. 3)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
No
(Initiated by M&S's 'Plan A' and goal to "become the world’s most sustainable major retailer by 2015". (Ref. 3))
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Corporate investment
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of labour
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
- Other
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Environmental quality
- Improved waste management
- Water management and blue areas
- Improved water quality
- Green space and habitat
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Increased protection of threatened species
- Restoration of derelict areas
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Increased opportunities for social interaction
- Education
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
- Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
Yes
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. Canal & River Trust. (2013). Focusing on the positives. News and views. Accessed 16 July 2020. Available at: Source link
2. Canal & River Trust. (n.d.). Nottingham & Beeston Canal. Our canal & river network. Accessed 16 July 2020. Available at: Source link
3. CBJ News Reports. (2014). Marks and Spencer big beach clean-up comes to Nottingham. May 6, 2014, Nelson C. Accessed 16 July 2020. Available at: Source link
4. Nottingham City Council. (n.d.) Nottingham Clean Champions. Bin and rubbish collections. Accessed 16 July 2020. Available at: Source link
5. M&S. (2015). M&S calls for volunteers to clean Britain's beaches and canals. Press release. Accessed 16 July 2020. Available at: Source link
6. M&S. (2013). Plan A Report. Marks and Spencer. Accessed 16 July 2020. Available at: Source link
2. Canal & River Trust. (n.d.). Nottingham & Beeston Canal. Our canal & river network. Accessed 16 July 2020. Available at: Source link
3. CBJ News Reports. (2014). Marks and Spencer big beach clean-up comes to Nottingham. May 6, 2014, Nelson C. Accessed 16 July 2020. Available at: Source link
4. Nottingham City Council. (n.d.) Nottingham Clean Champions. Bin and rubbish collections. Accessed 16 July 2020. Available at: Source link
5. M&S. (2015). M&S calls for volunteers to clean Britain's beaches and canals. Press release. Accessed 16 July 2020. Available at: Source link
6. M&S. (2013). Plan A Report. Marks and Spencer. Accessed 16 July 2020. Available at: Source link