SCHOOLS & BUSINESSES
Artytime Scrapstore
Artytime Scrapstore helps reduce waste by rescuing clean, reusable materials and giving them a second life through creativity. Open to individuals, families, schools and community groups, the Scrapstore provides affordable access to a wide range of craft and making materials while inspiring imaginative reuse and supporting sustainable living in the local community.
Sport & Sustainability
Green Transition Crowborough is working with local sports organisations to help reduce environmental impact while strengthening community engagement and participation in sport and physical activity.
We are supporting clubs to make practical changes that improve sustainability — from energy use, transport and facilities to reducing waste and single-use plastics. At the same time, we aim to raise awareness of how sport and active lifestyles can play a positive role in a low-carbon future.
If you are involved in a local sports club and would like to represent your organisation or contribute to this work, please get in touch.
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There is a wide range of advice available to support sports clubs at all levels on their sustainability journey. At an international level, the United Nations Sports for Climate Action initiative provides a global framework, while Sport England offers practical guidance for clubs, including how encouraging active lifestyles supports a carbon-free future.
Several specialist organisations focus on sustainability in sport, including the British Association for Sustainable Sport, which brings together organisations such as Active Sussex, British Swimming and England Golf. Issue-focused campaigns such as the Big Plastic Pledge help clubs reduce single-use plastics.
The sustainability.sport platform brings together sustainability activity across sport into a single resource hub, with information searchable by sport and geography.
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Many sports have developed their own sustainability programmes and guidance. In football, organisations such as the Football Foundation, Football for Future and Sustainable Football support clubs to reduce environmental impact, with clubs like Forest Green Rovers widely recognised for their leadership in this area.
Other national governing bodies are also taking action:
World Rugby and the England Cricket Board provide practical guidance for clubs, including improving the efficiency of facilities.
The Lawn Tennis Association has published an Environmental Sustainability Plan for tennis in Britain.
British Cycling has prioritised sustainable travel and active transport, working alongside organisations such as Sustrans.
England Athletics encourages sustainable event planning, including transport considerations for parkruns.
England Hockey works with facility partners to deliver more sustainable club environments.
Swim England and England Golf are supporting clubs to reduce emissions and improve long-term sustainability.
Business Group
Local businesses play a vital role in shaping a more sustainable future for Crowborough. From reducing emissions and waste to supporting local supply chains and biodiversity, businesses of all sizes can make meaningful changes. Many local organisations are already leading by example, helping to grow a greener local economy while strengthening links with the wider community.
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Local businesses have a significant impact on how sustainability is delivered at a community level. Whether large employers or small independent traders, businesses influence energy use, transport, waste, procurement and consumer behaviour. Encouraging sustainable practices across the business community helps reduce Crowborough’s overall carbon footprint while supporting resilient, future-focused local enterprise.
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Some local businesses demonstrate their commitment to sustainability through recognised environmental standards. The ISO 14000 family of standards, including ISO 14001, provides a structured approach to managing environmental responsibilities, while EcoVadis assesses sustainability performance across supply chains.
In Crowborough, companies such as Baldwin Boxall and Servomex have achieved ISO 14001 certification, with Servomex also awarded an EcoVadis Gold Rating for its sustainability practices. Their work includes reducing environmental risk, improving waste management and enhancing biodiversity, supported in part through collaboration with GTC volunteers.
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As organisations increasingly consider supply chain (Scope 3) emissions, even smaller businesses are being encouraged to understand and reduce their environmental impact. Sustainability is no longer just a concern for large companies.
Local supermarkets also play an important role by donating surplus food to initiatives such as the Crowborough Community Pantry, helping to reduce food waste while supporting the community. GTC also encourages the use of local food and drink producers, reducing transport emissions and supporting sustainable local supply chains.
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Item desSome Crowborough businesses are embedding sustainability directly into their services. Hair Gallery, the town’s first sustainable hair salon, has significantly reduced landfill waste and uses environmentally responsible products. As members of the Green Salon Collective, they recycle hair, chemicals, metals, plastics and paper.
Sustainability can also create new business opportunities. TransFunk Furniture promotes the circular economy by upcycling and restyling furniture using recycled and responsibly sourced materials — showing how environmental responsibility and creativity can go hand in hand.cription
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Green Transition Crowborough can help businesses take their next steps towards sustainability by offering initial ideas, sharing good practice and signposting further support. This includes links to organisations such as Brighton University’s Green Growth Platform and LoCASE, which provide guidance, funding and support for low-carbon and environmentally responsible business development.
If you’re a business owner or manager and would like to share what you’re doing, or explore how GTC can help, please get in touch.
Do get in touch with GTC, if you are a manager or business owner and want to let us know what you are doing or discuss how we can help: