Our Impact Action Group (IAG) kicked off the start of their team events this summer with ‘Bangers and Trash’ which took place on Sunday 14th July on Marazion Beach.
Social impact has been at the heart of our mission-led CIC since our beginnings in 2016 and, thanks to our B Corp certification, we’re now better balancing our social and environmental impact.
Complementing our Impact & B Corp Steering Group which is chaired by Chris Hines MBE and attended by various internal and external colleagues, we have an Impact Action Group (IAG). The IAG meet monthly and work together to come up with ideas to improve our impact as a company.
Holly, Purchasing Specialist, who is part of the IAG explains: “We wanted to set up some regular social events throughout the year which would take place outside of work time for colleagues to enjoy quality time with one another, while doing some good for our environment. And so, Bangers and Trash was born – combining a BBQ on the beach, with a beach clean!”
We were already signed up as a corporate supporter with Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) for their ‘Million Mile Clean’ as we organised a beach clean in Newquay during our Smiles at Sea tour last year. Therefore, it was great to further our support for the organisation and tackle plastic pollution in our local community. So armed with gloves, litter pickers and rubbish bags, we set out along the shoreline at Marazion to see what we could find.
We collected a surprising amount of rubbish, ranging from plastic litter and food wrappers to discarded fishing gear. Our team were blown away by how much fishing line was found as well as bits of rope and string. Two of the strangest finds were an F12 keyboard key and a pair of pants!
Following the beach clean we were tasked with sorting through the rubbish so that we could feedback to Surfers Against Sewage on our findings. In particular they wanted to know which retail brands were most commonly found. By understanding which brands contribute to beach litter, we can work towards promoting sustainable practices and encouraging responsible consumer behaviour. This information will also help to hold specific brands accountable for their impact on the environment, ultimately working towards a cleaner and healthier coastline for all.
Holly concludes: “It was a fantastic afternoon and opportunity to share some yummy food with colleagues, many whom brought their families along too. It was so rewarding to come together to make a difference and protect our beautiful Cornish landscape. Some of the team even braved it for a sea swim!”
The IAG are currently planning their next event at a different location in Cornwall to encourage even more of the Smile Together team to get involved and make a difference together.
