To mark Mental Health Awareness Week, Emilia Peters, ESG Policy Officer at ESA, reflects on how we can better support ourselves and one another. This year’s theme was community which highlights the crucial role our connections with others play in promoting mental wellbeing.
The waste sector offers distinct opportunities to support and strengthen communities. Through local engagement, sustainability programmes, and workplace policies, we can contribute in ways that go beyond environmental benefits. The sector can create spaces for connection, improving access to essential resources, and enhancing overall wellbeing.
One powerful example of this is the work of the Company Shop Group, part of the Biffa group, and their award-winning social enterprise: Community Shop.
Community Shop operates in 14 locations across the UK serving areas within the top 10% of deprivation. Their shop is built on three pillars:
- Community Store, which offers heavily discounted food and essential household items;
- Community Hub, delivering life-changing personal development and support programmes;
- Community Kitchen, a café space that fosters social connection and reduces isolation.
By using surplus products from retailers and manufacturers, Community Shop not only prevents thousands of tonnes of waste but also provides vital services to families who need them most. In 2024 alone, over 46,000 tonnes of food and drink were redistributed, equivalent to more than 110 million meals, and more than 54,000 personal development programmes were delivered. Over the past five years, the initiative has returned £188 million in value to industry partners, allowing it to scale and continue transforming lives.SA members – which address common risks that arise in the day-to-day operation of goods vehicles across the sector.”
To see more about their work, click here
