Our unique relationship with Tops Day Nurseries
Tops are constantly identifying and acting on areas for improvement in their day-to-day operations; GECCO is Cheryl’s vehicle for sharing what they learn with others in Early Years childcare and education.
No politics, no hidden agendas, no conflicts of interest
Cheryl, a leading advocate for sustainable business and education, gained global attention in 2017 for banning plastic glitter in Tops nurseries and later replacing commercial baby wipes with homemade alternatives. Under her leadership, Tops Day Nurseries has embraced impactful environmental changes, earning her the title of Most Influential Person in Childcare (2018) and the group the award for Dorset Environmental Business of the Year.
EY Eco-Sustainability Conference 2020
The first GECCO Early Years Eco-Sustainability Conference ran alongside the Nursery World Show in London, February 2020.
Prior to the event Cheryl had the opportunity to chat on camera with Matt Arnerich from Famly, about her own journey in sustainability, and how settings can work to be more sustainable every day.
reducing the use of all single-use plastics
Small steps towards a sustainable future
Tops aim to stop or at least reduce the use of all single-use plastics, in addition to which they:
- No longer use disposable plastic aprons when serving food, using washable cotton aprons instead;
- Display ‘Switch it off’ stickers in all nurseries and head office, and gave them to every child to use at home;
- Communicate with parents by email, saving on printing costs and paper;
- Savings made go towards further improvement to their green credentials, such as paying for food waste to be collected;
- Swapped light bulbs for LED bulbs;
- Installed time and light sensors;
- Installed timers on water coolers and heaters;
- Set printers to sleep rather than standby;
- Fitted fuel saving magnets on gas and water mains;
- Fitted solar panels at 6 sites, and we’re working on the rest, also tesla “wall”;
- Have made cycling to work more accessible for staff with electric bikes; Tops received a grant for an electric bike pool funded by the Business Travel Network, an initiative set up and supported by the local authorities;
- Have identified sustainable travel options for every nursery, including walking, bus, train & cycle routes; implemented incentives such as a bus pass loan, cycle to work scheme, and installed lockers & showers.