Celebrating World Earth Day 2025 at The Dolphin

On Tuesday 22nd April 2025, we’ll be celebrating World Earth Day!

This year, we’re partnering with Extinction Rebellion Bournemouth Christchurch Poole to bring greater awareness on how our lifestyle choices can impact the planet. We’ll be exploring the hidden cost of fast fashion, the benefits of renewable energy, and the dangers of single-use plastics, as well as other hot topics. 

Why World Earth Day matters to us 

Here at The Dolphin, we’re committed to reducing our carbon footprint and operating sustainably in all areas of operations. Our current sustainable practices include: 

• 100% of our waste is diverted from landfill 
• Expanding our recycling streams to include glass, cardboard and even WEEE waste 
• Encouraging local biodiversity with our rooftop wildflower garden and pesticide-free vegetable allotment 
• Installation of LED lighting and smart meters to improve our energy efficiency 
• Reducing lighting throughout the centre to reduce energy consumption 

We encourage our retailers to implement similar policies whenever possible. Lots of The Dolphin’s retailers have made changes to reduce the use of single-use plastics, maximise their energy efficiency, and invest in sustainable manufacturing processes.

How our retailers are helping the planet

Sustainable Fashion at The Dolphin

H&M encourages conscious consumption with its garment recycling scheme. Customers who bring in a bag of clothing for recycling receive a £5 voucher when they spend £25 or more (up to 8 bags per customer, per month). H&M’s green-labelled products are made from recycled materials, and members earn extra points when purchasing these eco-conscious items.

Next has reduced their lighting costs by 40% by switching to LED bulbs, while packaging for their directory items has been reduced by half. They also ensure all plastic hangers are reused rather than discarded.

Primark is embracing circular fashion by using recycled materials and eliminating single-use plastics from its operations. Customers can bring in used clothing and textiles for recycling at in-store bins, while reusable shopping bags are made from recycled materials. Unsold clothing is donated to New Life, a charity supporting disabled and terminally ill children. The company’s wider sustainability mission includes responsible sourcing, water conservation, chemical and pollution management, energy efficiency, and protecting animal welfare and biodiversity.

New Look has made significant strides in sustainability with its Kind to the Core promise. 60% of their range is already Kind, meaning it’s made with less water or recycled materials. New Look is also a proud member of the Better Cotton Initiative, promoting cotton products that are made using less water and energy. Their vegan-friendly range and products labelled as using kinder materials make it easy for customers to shop more consciously.

River Island is reducing waste by minimising the use of cardboard and single-use plastics. All store plastics are returned for recycling, and customers can participate in a recycling scheme by exchanging a bag of clothing for a £5 store voucher.

Loope offers unique style with low environmental impact, offering a wide range of vintage clothing and accessories. Their mission champions ethical consumption, as many items have been reworked, upcycled, and remade into something new to reduce textile waste. At Loope, garments are given a second-life to help curb the fast-fashion cycle.

Clarks has sustainability in its DNA. Their first slippers were made from leftover sheepskin, and they’ve continued to innovate ever since. Clarks shoes are made to last, using durable, quality materials that stand the test of time. Their Origin collection features glueless shoe constructions to reduce waste, and they incorporate recycled materials into their products. They also support shoe recycling projects to close the loop and support communities locally and globally.

Skechers offers a vegan shoe range and recycles all store waste, showing that comfortable style can be environmentally friendly too.

Saltrock sends all plastic and paper packaging back for recycling and incorporates recycled yarns into many of their clothing lines.

Brakeburn is committed to low-impact practices, using sea freight over air travel to reduce emissions. Some garments are made with recycled yarns, and packaging is recycled through The Dolphin’s own recycling scheme. Their first store was even partly built using reclaimed timber from their trade stands!

Green Health & Beauty

The Perfume Shop offers customers 15% off when they return an empty bottle for recycling. The company has also planted over 52,000 trees and promotes the use of refillable perfume bottles.

The Body Shop has an in-store refill station for their most popular products, which offers a significant discount for customers who choose to refill instead of buying new packaging. Their Community Fair Trade recycling program sources recycled plastic from marginalised waste pickers in India, ensuring a fair price and good working conditions. Most of their product packaging is recyclable, and they are gradually eliminating virgin plastic in favour of recycled plastic.

Sustainable Living

Sports Direct has created a dedicated sustainability department to lead change. They’ve switched to LED lighting and ensure all lights are off overnight. Packaging has been reduced, and deliveries are only dispatched when lorries are at full capacity. All staff rooms are equipped with recycling bins, and cardboard, plastic and paper are sent back for recycling.

HMV uses e-receipts where possible, recycles electronic waste appropriately, and ensures store waste is recycled.

Wild Roots Greenery takes a holistic approach to sustainability. They avoid printing receipts unless requested, reuse packaging, and use recycled and recyclable materials for all bags and wrapping paper. Their soil and plant pots are sustainably sourced and peat-free, and they avoid pesticides and harmful chemicals. Wild Roots also has a “Rescue Me” section for imperfect plants at discounted prices to reduce waste and encourage plant care. They partner with over 40 UK brands with similar sustainability goals, and aim to continue improving their environmental practices while educating customers on the importance of respecting nature.

Smiggle avoids plastic bags entirely, offering reusable alternatives made from recycled materials. Their stock packaging is recyclable and chemical-free, and they recycle all in-store waste.

Clintons has made big steps in eco-packaging: some product lines are made from recycled materials, glitter use has been reduced, and Christmas wrapping paper rolls are no longer wrapped in plastic. Store waste is recycled as well.

Eco-Friendly Eats

Starbucks donates 5p from every takeaway cup to the Hubbub Foundation, recycles coffee grounds, and their paper cups are also made from recycled materials. Starbucks Poole will also be giving away reusable cold drink cups on World Earth Day!

Grounded Coffee ensures their coffee bags are carbon neutral and recyclable, and their takeaway cups are fully compostable. They work closely with coffee farms to promote fair working conditions and sustainable sourcing.

Zeen Cuisine, Chuck and Blade, noodlebar, Wraps ‘N’ Roll, and Loco Lime all focus on reducing waste through recyclable containers and compostable cups. Zeen Cuisine and Loco Lime of them are partnered with the Too Good To Go app, helping to reduce food waste by selling surplus food at reduced prices.

Wenzels, Morrisons Daily, and Muffin Break also partner with in Too Good To Go, supporting efforts to divert good food from going to waste.