Latest news with #MartinCharter
Hans India
02-08-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Decathlon and UK University Launch Circular Cricket Gear Initiative in India
Bengaluru: In a first-of-its-kind initiative, sportswear brand Decathlon has partnered with the UK-based University for the Creative Arts (UCA) to develop mass-market cricket gear rooted in circular economy principles. The collaboration, named the Circular Cricket Gear Partnership (CCGP), aims to redefine how cricket equipment is designed, manufactured, and reused—beginning with gloves and leg guards. The effort brings together Decathlon India's industrial capacity and market insight with the expertise of the Centre for Sustainable Design (CfSD) at UCA. It seeks to create gear that is not only durable and repairable but also designed for disassembly, recycling, and reuse—minimising waste and cost. With India being the largest consumer of cricket gear and cricket forming a central part of its sporting culture, the partners believe the project has the potential to make a global impact. Prototypes are expected by early 2026, and future plans include 'buy-back' schemes and refurbishment programmes aimed at making equipment more accessible for aspiring cricketers. 'This collaboration allows us to evolve not just the game but the way it's equipped,' said Rob Davies, Sport Director for Cricket at Decathlon. CfSD Director Prof Martin Charter added that embedding circularity in cricket gear from India could create scalable models for the global market. The CCGP also aims to become an open-source framework for circular design across other sports, marking what Decathlon calls a 'strategic shift' toward more regenerative and responsible manufacturing.
BBC News
08-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Faversham Repair Café celebrates decade of reducing waste
A Kent repair café which has become a "cornerstone of sustainability and community spirit" is celebrating a decade since its Repair Café runs on the second Saturday of each month at The Spire Church, and this month's session will be exactly 10 years since it café's volunteers have repaired more than 2,800 items, from household appliances to cherished personal and chairman Prof Martin Charter said he and the team were looking forward to reducing waste and strengthening community bonds for years to come. Prof Charter began a series of pilot repair cafés in 2014 before officially launching the project the following than a hundred sessions have since been held and the café even picked up the King's Award for Voluntary Service in 2024."The award highlights the vital role the café plays in promoting sustainability and building strong community connections," said Prof Charter."The award also reflects the dedication of its team of volunteers, whose diverse skills and commitment have been the driving force behind its success."More than 6,000 people have visited the café, all playing their part in diverting an estimated 7.5 tonnes of waste from landfills and saving roughly 70.1 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.
