Creative businesses and individuals across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly are being inspired to step up their green efforts and come together to achieve a more sustainable future as part of CLASH Action Fortnight – with sixty small but powerful pledges to choose from and try.
Taking place from February 1-14, the change-making two weeks is a rallying cry from Creative Kernow and Cultivator – the home of Cornwall’s climate and sustainability ‘hive’ – to address the climate emergency and support creative businesses in treading lightly on the planet as they grow.
Businesses can head to cultivatorcornwall.org.uk/clash/ and pledge to make one, or multiple, changes from a rich and varied bank of ideas, from switching to a green energy supplier and unplugging electrical items when not in use, to lending and borrowing resources rather than buying new.
To help businesses on their way and turn pledges into action, four drop-in advice sessions are also available with Cultivator business advisors. In the Zoom sessions businesses can tap into extra ideas, explore sustainable challenges unique to them and share best practice.
“Stepping up your sustainability game can sound like a big challenge, especially for small creative businesses – but it doesn’t have to be,” explained Dr Fiona Wotton, chief executive of Creative Kernow.
“Simple changes and even a switch in mindset can trigger valuable green gains. This isn’t about overhauling your business or setting out huge green agendas, then letting good intentions wain because they’re unsustainable.
“We are encouraging businesses to pledge to do things better in a way that suits them. Make just one small change or a couple if you can. As the creative sector we are doing this together – every action counts.”
Glenn Caplin-Grey, CEO of Cornwall & Isles of Scilly LEP, agrees. He added: “The CLASH Action Fortnight coincides with the submission of Cornwall’s City of Culture bid which has planet at its heart. The passion of our creative businesses and their commitment to continually pushing forward is a perfect example of Cornwall leading the way in sustainable growth. Collaboration, as demonstrated by the tidal wave of green pledges, is Cornwall’s forte. By sharing ideas, ways of doing things and common goals, we can turn individual actions into cutting-edge achievements.”
CLASH Action Fortnight wraps up with a beach clean on Gwithian beach as part of the Cornwall Wildlife Trust ‘Love Your Beach Day’ on Monday February 14. A chance for the creative community to network and do good at the same time, businesses can also join one of the many beach cleans taking place around the coast of Cornwall near them.
