Enterprising pupils help reduce plastic bag usage

Pupils at an Inverness Primary School are helping local people to cut down on their use of plastic bags through a school enterprise project.
 
Primary 7 pupils at Balloch Primary School are now encouraging family, friends and locals to buy some of their specially designed eco-bags, which are made from hardwearing jute.
 
The bags which come in two sizes (small with green edging and large with purple edging) sport the school’s emblem which is an oak tree and carry the messages: ‘use me don’t lose me’; and ‘plastic really isn’t fantastic’.
 
Primary 6 pupils who are now in Primary 7 started the eco-bag project last term. They secured sponsorship money from local businesses to purchase the eco-bags. The aim of the project was to encourage local people to stop using plastic bags.
 
Project organisers Jemma Buchanan and Stephen Crawshaw said: “We think that the bags will make great Christmas presents for friends and family and they are ideal for everyday use. We want everyone to do their bit for the environment and go shopping with a clear conscience by not wasting resources on plastic bags.”
 
Head Teacher, Christine Scott said: “I am very impressed by the business-like manner in which the enterprise project team have put together their eco-bags initiative. Balloch Primary recently achieved Eco School ‘Green Flag’ status which is the highest level which can be awarded to schools and the eco-bag project continues to support our green status. The project is giving the pupils strong lessons in business processes from product conceptualisation right through, to production, marketing and sales of a sustainable product. I congratulate them on a great job.”
 
Anyone interested in purchasing eco-bags from Balloch Primary School can tel: 01463 790287 or email: balloch.primary@highland.gov.uk. People using the local Scotmid cooperative shop on Culloden Road in Balloch can also look out soon for pupils selling eco-bags at the shop.
 
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For further information please contact: Christine Scott, Head Teacher, Balloch Primary School 01463 790287