Plastic Free North Devon Consortium

We are proud to have been instrumental in bringing together the innovatory and distinct Plastic Free Northern Devon Consortium (PFNDC).  This is a group of organisations, who are committed collectively and individually, to eradicating single - use plastics in northern Devon and building a more sustainable community for all.

The consortium was initially created in 2018 to help combat the global catastrophe of plastic pollution through local action.  Each partner understands the importance of working together to pool ideas and resources in order to make a real and noticeable difference to this crisis. Its strategy demonstrates a refreshing approach to inter-sector sustainable development and it has potential to drive significant change in the area.

Members fully recognise and want to build on the fact that the plastic-free message is a gateway to a wider engagement with and concern for nature and how to reduce human impacts upon it.  Plastic is one of the most visible faces of our largely unsustainable life-styles and is a powerful motivator for action; and once people have taken action on plastic then the door is open for conversations and programmes to address other aspects of our lifestyles and to grow community connectivity and resilience.  The challenge is to design a campaign that can also develop into a wider movement for social change, generating stronger communities that value and protect their local environment and live in closer harmony with it.

As Plastic Free North Devon we provide the ‘on the ground’ focus, knowledge and capacity for many of the consortium projects and campaigns, harnessing the passion and commitment of our volunteers.

As we go forward, it is hoped that other organisations, groups and businesses will join the consortium to help deliver this strategy. If your organisation would like to get involved please contact claire@plasticfreenorthedevon.org

Here are the organisations who make up the consortium:

Barnstaple Town Council, Barnstaple and District Chamber of Commerce, Beaford Arts, Devon County Council, Ilfracombe Town Council, Beachcare Keep Britain Tidy, National Trust, North Devon Coast Area of Outstanding Beauty, North Devon Council, North Devon Biosphere Reserve, Petroc, #2minutebeachclean, South Molton Town Council, Nurdle, Torridge District Council, Westward ho! Business Association, Town and Parish Councils and Exmoor National Park

NORTHERN DEVON VISUALISATION SURVEY 2020

In March 2020 the Plastic Free North Devon Consortium member organisations embarked upon a regional public survey to capture the public’s values and any behavioural changes they intended to make after the lockdown of spring 2020. This snapshot survey is providing local groups and organisations with a baseline of aspirations and experiences to help shape where we live and to improve the quality of life for all residents alongside an improved and flourishing environment. The full press release is available to read here.

Please see the key findings in the image below or click on the button to read the full report.