There are many individuals, communities and businesses taking action to help protect the environment and promote sustainability in Harlow.
Harlow-based graphics producer KGK Genix has developed the Totally Eco range, featuring 100% recyclable banner displays.
This innovation highlights their commitment to sustainability and positions them as leaders in eco-friendly display solutions. Unlike single-use roller banners, these banner displays are:
- made entirely from corrugated cardboard, durable, and fully recyclable
- designed for easy assembly and reuse of over 100 times, reducing waste
- produced locally in Harlow, cutting transportation emissions and supporting the local economy
Beyond banners, the company integrates sustainability into its operations, with 90% of its vehicle fleet already electric. Read more on the Harlow Business website.
Pokémon Go Harlow, led by Jupiter Hadley, Dann Sullivan, and Lewis Chalk, is an official Pokémon Go community that brings players together to explore, catch Pokémon, and help keep Harlow clean.
During the warmer months, the group organises litter-picking events where members are encouraged to collect rubbish while playing Pokémon Go. This includes rewards and prizes for achievements such as the most filled bag, strangest item found, and the coolest piece of rubbish collected.
In addition to running solo clean-up efforts, Pokémon Go Harlow has also teamed up with local volunteer groups like Potter Street Wombles to clean Potter Street. The group works together to tackle litter and improve public spaces—all while catching Pokémon along the way!
Based in Harlow’s Enterprise Zone, TipTop Media Management specialises in secure storage, shredding, scanning, and recycling while maintaining a strong commitment to sustainability. Some of the company’s sustainable practices include:
- responsible recycling of all materials, from tapes to hard drives
- zero-landfill policy, for example metals and plastics are reused in UK manufacturing and any excess electricity generated powers their plant or the national grid
- Green Small Business Certification and support for environmental initiatives like tree planting in the local community
Read more on the Harlow Business website.
Harlow’s Town Park Volunteers play a crucial role in maintaining the park’s green spaces and promoting sustainability. Meeting twice weekly, they plant drought-resistant, pollinator-friendly species, grow organic vegetables, and help reduce the park’s carbon footprint.
As part of a self-sufficiency initiative, volunteers grow vegetables in the Walled Garden, supplying both Spurriers House café—in exchange for coffee grounds for compost and funding for new seeds—and Pets’ Corner, where fresh produce is provided for the animals in return for animal waste to enrich the soil.
Their conservation efforts also include an ongoing project to transform an overgrown Water Gardens area into a wildlife haven, with plans for bird boxes, a bug hotel, and bee habitats. They also repurpose fallen trees for wood chipping, improving soil health and reducing waste.
The group welcomes community involvement, working with dementia support groups, rehabilitation programs, and Harlow College students to make the park a greener, more inclusive space.
See more on the Harlow Volunteering page.
Harlow Conservation Volunteers (HCV) work every Sunday to maintain and improve biodiversity across Harlow’s nature reserves and wildlife sites. Their efforts include:
- coppicing Willow at Stort Valley Meadows each winter to let light reach the water, encouraging plant growth and preventing willows from overtaking the meadows
- creating 'dead hedges' from cuttings which provide habitats for insects and birds while preventing carbon emissions
- removing invasive, non-native species like Himalayan Balsam, an invasive plant threatening wetland biodiversity, particularly in Terlings Wood and Parndon Moat Marsh
- switching from petrol to battery electric tools to reduce their carbon footprint and improve air quality while creating a more pleasant and quieter environment for volunteers.
Learn more on the HCV website or call Marilyn on 07799 731507.