{"id":3338,"date":"2019-06-22T12:08:59","date_gmt":"2019-06-22T11:08:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gecco.org.uk\/blog\/?page_id=3338"},"modified":"2026-03-26T11:42:46","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T11:42:46","slug":"sustainable-childcare","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/gecco.org.uk\/blog\/sustainable-childcare\/","title":{"rendered":"Sustainable Childcare"},"content":{"rendered":"

SUSTAINABLE<\/strong> Childcare<\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Being respectful of the environment and acting to reduce, re-use and recycle resources should be an important part of the culture and routine for both the children and staff in a childcare setting, leading by example and helping to educate a generation of children growing up in a world that is grappling with huge environmental issues.<\/p>\n

Through GECCO Cheryl shares the lessons learned through creating a business that now provides the most sustainable childcare and education<\/strong> in the UK. Cheryl is renowned for the 2017 \"glitter ban\" that brought global media attention to a simple crafting product that represents the ever-growing problem of microplastics in the marine environment.<\/p>\n

Since then Cheryl, through Tops Day Nurseries, has become a champion for sustainability in the early years<\/strong> - carrying out local beach cleans, investing in renewable energy, electric vehicles, real nappies and more, whilst working hard to cut out the use of all single-use plastics in the day-to-day operation of her businesses. As a result of all this hard work Tops Day Nurseries has become the first day nurseries in the UK to become a certified B. Corp business. Find out more about how Tops Day Nurseries achieved B.Corp certification.<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\""Teaching\"<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>

Natural curiosity<\/h2>\n

Why environmental issues are best introduced in the early years - and how practitioners can do so<\/h4>\n

by Annette Rawstrone, in Nursery World Nursery Equipment supplement 2019<\/p>\n

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Download the article<\/a> (pdf)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Sharing<\/strong><\/span> the learning experiences<\/h2>\n

Ideas and suggestions you may wish to learn from<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Bamboo Toothbrushes<\/h3>\n

Millions of plastic toothbrushes end up in landfill every day; bamboo is the sustainable alternative!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

Sustainable Food & Feeding<\/h3>\n

Making sustainable decisions for the health of the child and the health of the planet<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Nappies & Toilet Training<\/h3>\n

Everyone wins by potty training earlier (except manufactures of single-use nappies)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

Real Nappies in a Childcare Setting<\/h3>\n

Tops preferred option is the super-absorbent bamboo nappy, because bamboo is more sustainable than cotton<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

DIY Baby Wipes<\/h3>\n

A helpful way to avoid the environmental and financial cost of commercially made baby wipes<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

Sustainable Play & Activities<\/h3>\n

A helpful set of criteria for considering play activities from an eco-sustainable perspective<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"

Leadership style has a huge influence on how new ideas are effectively passed to your team. Knowing your own strengths and weaknesses as a leader is crucial for success. Both schools of research celebrate and value colleagues, in all their diversity, but also lays responsibility at the feet of the leader for communicating the vision and ensuring appropriate training and support is in place to enable colleagues to do what they do best for the business.<\/p>

With this grounding, here are some steps you may like to consider to start your eco-journey:\u00a0<\/a><\/p>