IKEA has announced the winners of its ‘Let’s Go Zero’ competition, working with four schools to help them drive forward new sustainability projects. The retail giant will provide products and co-worker expertise to bring their visions to life.
Pupils at East Barnet Secondary School in London, Fixby Junior Infant School in Huddersfield, Saint Christopher’s C of E High School in Accrington and Lochfield Primary School in Paisley, scooped the prize for ideas which include the creation of a pre-loved uniform swap-shop and product refill station, a sustainable outdoor classroom, allotments for growing and selling produce and composting areas.
IKEA will give the schools products (up to the value of £2,000 for each project), solutions and sustainable living expertise, engaging young people on the topic of the environment, while providing a space for hands-on, outdoor learning, with opportunities for community outreach and support.
IKEA UK is working in partnership with the Let’s Go Zero campaign, coordinated by climate solutions charity Ashden and including a coalition of environmental NGOs, which calls on all UK schools to become zero carbon by 2030. The competition encourages teachers, nursery children, primary and secondary pupils to sign up and do their bit to reduce carbon emissions.
It’s the second year IKEA has run the competition in partnership with Let’s Go Zero. More than 2,100 schools, colleges and nurseries have signed up to Let’s Go Zero since the initiative launched in November 2020, collectively educating over a million children and young people across the UK.
This year’s competition saw a rise in applications for the creation of dedicated uniform swap shops, with 18% of schools looking for IKEA’s support with upcycling programmes, which look to rehome pre-loved items such as out-grown uniforms, prom dresses, Christmas jumpers and more.
More schools are looking to create outdoor learning areas – climbing from 16% in 2022 to 25% in 2023 – with benefits for both the environment and student health and wellbeing. A quarter of entries in 2023 also incorporated ideas for plant and vegetable growing and compost areas.
Marsha Smith, deputy country retail manager at IKEA UK and Ireland, says: “This years’ competition has been a great success. It’s fantastic to see so many young people engaging with this initiative and learning more about simple but effective ways we can all help the environment.
“The entries we received demonstrate that children and young people across the UK are very aware of the importance of sustainability, recycling, upcycling and reducing waste. What’s great about this initiative is that it inspires hands-on, outdoor learning and resourcefulness whilst also supporting families and enriching local communities. That’s something we’re passionate about at IKEA and we look forward to supporting the schools as part of this process.”
Alex Green, schools lead at Let’s Go Zero says: “We are delighted to be working with IKEA UK to help support UK schools working to be zero carbon. We have had an amazing response to the competition – really showing the enthusiasm and demand in school for climate action. We look forward to working with the winning schools and helping bring their sustainable ideas to life.”
According to Let’s Go Zero, schools will play a critical role in helping the UK cut carbon emission levels, with the power to prevent 625,000 tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere.”
Head over to the Let’s Go Zero’s website to sign up and support the campaign at https://letsgozero.org/.
