Environmental Sustainability Strategy
Summary
At Hopscotch, we are committed to reducing our environmental footprint and promoting sustainability across all our nursery settings. Teaching young children about sustainability is crucial for fostering a generation that values and actively participates in protecting our planet. By integrating concepts such as recycling, conservation, and respect for nature into their daily routines, children learn to make environmentally responsible choices from a young age. This foundational knowledge not only promotes lifelong sustainable habits but also empowers children to become advocates for the environment, influencing their families and communities.
Our goal is to become a leader in sustainable childcare within our local community. This policy outlines our commitment to environmental stewardship and the actions we will take to minimize our impact on the planet, in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), . It applies to all employees, contractors, suppliers, and partners associated with Hopscotch and will be communicated to all relevant stakeholders to ensure a collective effort towards environmental sustainability.
We are selecting a range of actions for the short, medium, and long-term. These objectives will be frequently reviewed by senior leaders and our staff teams to measure progress and identify necessary changes and amendments. This policy serves as a guide and is not exhaustive or binding, but it is designed to provide a clear idea of where and how we can improve and achieve our sustainability goals.
This strategy works in tandem with our Climate Action Plan which includes climate resilience measures such as ventilation improvements, shaded outdoor areas, and flood risk mitigation. Together, these ensure our nurseries are both sustainable and prepared for a changing climate.
Objectives
1. Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Objective: Reduce energy consumption across all our settings whilst continuing to source 100% renewable energy.
As a childcare provider, Hopscotch has a responsibility to create safe, comfortable, and sustainable environments for children while reducing its impact on the planet. Improving energy efficiency not only reduces operational costs but also helps combat climate change and significantly reduce pollution caused by the burning of fossil fuels. Renewable energy solutions help improve air quality, creating cleaner and healthier environments for children and the communities we serve. This approach aligns with our mission to lead by example, fostering a culture of sustainability that staff, children, and parents can embrace. By adopting cleaner energy solutions, Hopscotch supports its long-term commitment to nurturing a greener, healthier future for the children in its care and the communities it serves.
Current Actions:
Maintain our commitment to sourcing 100% renewable energy for gas and electricity across all our facilities.
Continue to promote energy-saving habits among staff, such as switching off lights and equipment when not in use.
Actions to Implement:
Regularly conduct energy efficiency audits and implement the resulting recommendations to minimise energy consumption.
Install energy-efficient lighting across all settings.
Improve the efficiency of our heating and cooling systems.
Install a heat pump at our Hove Station nursery.
Install solar panels at select nurseries, using any surplus energy to support our other locations.
2. Carbon Footprint Reduction
Objective: Achieve a 50% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030, with the aim of being Net Zero across all greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Reducing carbon emissions is essential for addressing the urgent challenges of climate change, a topic increasingly important to families and communities. Hopscotch has a responsibility to contribute to the United Kingdom’s commitment to achieve Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. By embedding sustainable habits in our operations and educating children about environmental responsibility, we are ensuring our nurseries play a part in this national effort. Striving for significant carbon reductions not only supports this goal but also ensures that we create a cleaner, healthier planet for the children it nurtures and reinforce our commitment to responsible childcare practices that align with parents’ values.
Current Actions:
Continue to use an exclusively electric company van.
Support staff in purchasing bicycles through the Green Commute Initiative.
Continue to use public transport when going on outings or trips and teach the children about the benefits of taking this mode of transportation.
Actions to Implement:
Encourage staff, parents, and carers to walk, cycle, or use public transport.
Survey the staff on their method of commuting.
Collaborate with University of Brighton students to calculate our carbon emissions and develop reduction strategies.
Explore carbon offsetting options.
Ensure any future company vehicles are electric.
3. Waste Management
Objective: Reduce our food waste and single-use plastic consumption.
Waste management is a critical aspect of sustainability, particularly for childcare settings where materials, food, and resources are consumed daily. Reducing food waste is especially important as it directly impacts our journey to achieving Net Zero, given the significant greenhouse gas emissions associated with food production, transportation, and disposal. By minimising waste and promoting reuse, Hopscotch not only limits its environmental footprint but also instils essential values in children about thoughtful consumption and the importance of caring for the planet. This focus on waste minimisation aligns with our nurseries’ educational mission, fostering creativity and resourcefulness while ensuring operational efficiency.
Current Actions:
Prohibit environmentally harmful materials, such as glitter, from all settings.
In 2024, we changed our name badges from plastic to oak-veneered MDF, sourced from sustainably managed forests.
Actions to Implement:
Conduct audits to assess our food waste and minimise accordingly.
Pilot wormeries at one nursery with the goal of expanding them to most settings to reduce food waste.
Promote the use of reusable materials in nursery activities, for example using Makedo kits and recycled materials for Boogie Mites instruments.
Review our Caring for Children Policy to identify ways to reduce single-use plastics within our settings.
Conduct audits to minimise single-use plastics.
Replace single-use plastic nappy bags with eco-friendly alternatives across all settings.
Educate parents on the environmental advantages of earlier toilet training and motivate staff to advocate for it.
Donate toys that are no longer in use to charity.
Implement a uniform recycling program where departing staff can return their uniforms to the Head Office for reuse.
4. Water Conservation
Objective: Reduce water usage over the next 5 years.
Water is a vital resource, and its conservation is crucial for both environmental and financial sustainability. Hopscotch has a unique opportunity to lead by example, embedding water-saving practices into its daily operations while educating children on the importance of protecting this essential resource. Efficient water use reduces waste and supports the company’s commitment to creating sustainable environments where children can thrive. This effort not only helps preserve biodiversity but is also critical for the long-term health of our water systems. By teaching children the value of water conservation, Hopscotch helps nurture a generation that will value and protect our natural resources.
Current Actions:
Continue building on the wetlands project in all nurseries which utilises rainwater collected from our gutters.
Actions to Implement:
Install water meters in all nurseries in order to monitor water usage across all settings to identify and reduce waste.
Install rainwater harvesting systems.
Install water-saving fixtures such as self-closing taps or flow regulators.
Educate staff and children on water conservation practices.
5. Sustainable Food Practices
Objective: Encourage, implement and maintain sustainable food practices within our nurseries.
Sourcing and preparing food sustainably is a natural extension of Hopscotch’s commitment to the health and wellbeing of the children it serves. By focusing on sustainable food practices, our nurseries ensure that children enjoy high-quality, ethically sourced meals that support their growth and development. These practices also provide a foundation for teaching children about where food comes from, the importance of responsible consumption, and the connections between nutrition and sustainability.
Current Actions:
Continue sourcing meals from Little Tums, who:
- Source their meat from a local butcher, exceeding UK welfare standards for meat production.
- Use free-range eggs with the British Lion Quality Mark.
- Partner with a fish supplier who guarantees all fish are caught within set quotas.
Actions to Implement:
Encourage children to make sustainable food choices and learn about agriculture by growing vegetables and herbs in various settings.
6. Digital Sustainability
Objective: Integrate sustainable digital practices across all operations and minimise electronic and paper waste.
In an increasingly digital world, adopting sustainable practices in technology is essential for reducing environmental impact. For Hopscotch, this means leveraging technology to streamline operations, reduce waste, and improve efficiency, all while maintaining a focus on childcare excellence. By embracing digital sustainability, Hopscotch can lead by example, showing staff and families how innovative solutions can support environmental goals while improving everyday workflows.
Current Actions:
Adopted a cloud-based file system for seamless document sharing and collaboration.
Primarily utilise the Famly app and social media for digital advertising.
Centralised children's data access for staff and parents through Famly, significantly reducing paper usage for forms, registers, and reports.
Only digital signatures are required for registration forms and session amendments.
Send all outdated electronic devices to our IT consultants to be refurbished or recycled.
Conduct or participate in online meetings and webinars whenever feasible.
Actions to Implement:
Introduce an HR system to minimise paper use for tasks such as time sheets, holiday forms and payroll.
Encourage staff to turn off devices when not in use and utilise energy-saving settings.
Create a digital library of resources accessible to both staff and parents.
Conduct a survey of our website to confirm that we are using a green web hosting provider and assess its carbon emissions.
7. Environmental Education
Objective: Educate the children in our care on the importance of protecting our planet and all organisms within it.
Environmental education is at the heart of preparing children for the future, making it a core component of our mission. At Hopscotch, we integrate sustainability into our curriculum and provide hands-on learning experiences. By introducing children to concepts such as biodiversity, climate change, and sustainable living, our nurseries foster a sense of responsibility and connection to the natural world. This educational focus empowers children to develop habits and values that will benefit the planet, ensuring they grow into environmentally conscious individuals who feel empowered to make a positive impact.
Current Actions:
Provide a curriculum that encompasses various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Offer outdoor learning experiences through the Hopscotch Explorers program, including trips to Rampion Wind Farm to learn about renewable energy.
Each of our nurseries feature outdoor spaces and are situated near parks, green areas, and beaches.
Educate children about the importance of looking after the planet.
Educate children on local biodiversity and animal life cycles.
Actions to Implement:
Organise more beach clean-ups and gardening activities to foster a connection with nature.
Collaborate with wildlife and environmental organisations to bring experts into our nurseries for workshops and talks.
Collaborate with the children to create a book highlighting ways they can help the environment at nursery.
8. Biodiversity and Greenspaces
Objective: Enhance biodiversity and create green spaces in and around nursery settings.
Creating and maintaining green spaces enhances the physical and emotional wellbeing of children, providing them with opportunities to play, explore, and learn in natural environments. We recognise the importance of urban biodiversity, particularly in our Brighton and Hove settings, where green spaces are limited but crucial for supporting local wildlife and improving air quality. By engaging children in nature-based activities and fostering an appreciation for wildlife, Hopscotch helps children develop a deeper connection to the natural world. These initiatives not only enrich the childcare experience but also contribute to the health and vitality of urban ecosystems, ensuring that even in a city environment, nature can thrive.
Current Actions:
Continue planting a tree for every child registered with Hopscotch through Ecologi.
Maintain our commitment to providing 100% organic cotton t-shirts as uniforms, sourced from the Fair Wear leader SOL’s.
Actions to Implement:
Engage children in gardening and nature projects.
Create wildlife-friendly gardens to encourage the presence of insects through building on our wetlands project and creating habitats for pollinators.
Participate in local community projects to enhance green spaces and promote urban biodiversity.
Collaborate with local wildlife organisations to create habitats or corridors for native species within nursery grounds.
9. Community Engagement
Objective: Collaborate with and engage our local communities to foster a positive environmental impact.
Strong community engagement is essential for building lasting relationships and amplifying the impact of sustainability initiatives. Hopscotch is uniquely positioned to bring together families, staff, and local organisations to collaborate on environmental efforts that benefit the entire community. This strengthens our parent partnership and community bonds which are of the upmost importance to us. By fostering a sense of shared purpose, our nurseries strengthen their role as trusted partners in childcare while inspiring collective action to protect the planet for future generations.
Actions to Implement:
Communicate our environmental initiatives to the communities we serve.
Host community events focused on sustainability, such as planting days and beach clean-ups.
Share our sustainability practices and successes through social media and our website.
Work with local environmental charities.
Encourage parents and carers to participate in our environmental programs.
Establish an Eco Committee amongst staff to oversee and coordinate sustainability initiatives.
10. Monitoring and Reporting
Objective: Establish a system for monitoring and reporting environmental performance.
Tracking and evaluating environmental performance is essential for ensuring accountability and driving continuous improvement. For Hopscotch, establishing monitoring systems allows our nurseries to measure progress towards their sustainability goals while identifying new opportunities to reduce their environmental impact. Transparent reporting not only builds trust with parents and stakeholders but also reinforces Hopscotch’s commitment to adapting and evolving for the benefit of future generations.
Actions to Implement:
Calculate data for carbon emissions and water usage using 2019 as a baseline year.
Track progress using key performance indicators (KPIs) such as greenhouse gas emissions and waste reduction.
Establish an environmental management system to track progress against objectives.
Create reports to keep stakeholders informed about Hopscotch's progress in achieving these goals.
Regularly update policies and practices, including this strategy, based on new scientific data and technological advancements to enhance environmental performance.
Manager Roles and Responsibilities
The senior management team at Hopscotch are responsible for overseeing the implementation of this policy. They will:
- Lead by example and promote environmental responsibility at all levels.
- Review and update the policy annually to ensure continuous improvement.
- Monitor progress and continue to set targets for reducing our environmental impact.
- Provide training and resources to staff to support the implementation of this strategy.
Hopscotch is dedicated to creating a sustainable future. By implementing this Sustainability Strategy, we aim to reduce our environmental impact, support our communities, and ensure long-term economic success. We call on all stakeholders to join us in this important journey. Together, we can make a significant difference and build a better world for future generations.
Compliance and Supporting Documents
We comply with all relevant environmental and health and safety legislation, ensuring that our sustainability practices meet or exceed regulatory standards.
Internal Hopscotch Documents:
- Hopscotch Climate Action Plan
- Hopscotch Curriculum
National Frameworks and Guidance:
- Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
- UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Department for Education Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy (2022)
- UK Government’s Net Zero Strategy
This strategy will be frequently reviewed by our senior management team.
V1 (February 2025)
Hannah Charlton, Business Support Officer
February 2026
Created
V2 (January 2026)
Hannah Charlton, Sustainability & Systems Coordinator
January 2027
Updated to include reference to Climate Action Plan in introduction and added supporting documents