Environmental champions, The Wombles have teamed with the Northern Ireland’s Environmental Street Furniture to launch an innovative product range that includes outdoor benches, picnic tables, and more all made using recycled plastic and post-consumer waste.
Tapping into the iconic IP’s reputation for driving awareness and action around recycling and up cycling, the new collection boasts ‘The Tobermory Smart Bin’, a fully solar-powered bin equipped with an automatic compactor that reduces street litter collections by up to 90%; and the Wellington Solar Bench, a solar powered bench with wireless and wired phone charges and LED lighting.
The collection is made complete with the ‘Orinoco Activity Picnic Table’, a customisable, wheelchair accessible picnic table with activities including Wombles Ladders or Wimbledon Common Maze.
All the themed recycled products in the collection have been manufactured using Plaswoodä, a Berry Global Product, which is a leading name among recycled plastic profiles and applications, and recycled post-consumer waste. The material is also recyclable if returned to the company’s plant in Scotland.
First aired in 1973, The Wombles tells the story of a secretive group of creatures who live beneath Wimbledon Common. The original environmental champions, their adventures involved recycling and reusing the discarded things left behind by humans on the Common.
The characters were brought out of hibernation in 2020 and have since inspired a new generation with their sustainability and positive environmental messages, encouraging them to think about the impact littering has on their own environment.
Managing director of ESF, Alan Lowry, said: “Getting the opportunity to launch The Wombles Collection by ESF to a global audience as the show celebrates its 50th anniversary, is a very proud moment for our company. We want to promote the message that the show is renowned for – encouraging recycling, reducing waste, upcycling items, and making good use of bad rubbish.
“Now more so than ever when the green and circular economies are to the fore, it’s important that we maximise the opportunities for people to recycle and reduce littering, contributing to a low carbon economy.
“We’re confident that through The Wombles Collection by ESF, this can be achieved. The collection is ideal for locations including public parks or spaces, educational facilities, zoos, and theme parks, as well as for businesses or organisations that are investing in their ESG.”
Passionate about sustainability and tackling issues that impact the environment, ESF has also announced its recent affiliation with Leave No Trace Ireland, Ireland’s only Outdoor Ethics Education organisation. This partnership marks the beginning of a collaborative journey in the environmental sector, aimed at fostering responsible outdoor recreation through a series of actions and initiatives.
Commenting on this membership, Maura Kiely, CEO of Leave No Trace Ireland said: “We are delighted to welcome Environmental Street Furniture as a member of Leave No Trace Ireland. The Wombles Collection encapsulates our shared vision with ESF, to protect the environment for future generations. Through our membership programme, we look forward to working with ESF to promote the responsible enjoyment of outdoor spaces.”
