PANASONIC JOINS FORCES WITH PARALYMPIC CHAMPION HANNAH COCKROFT FOR ‘BIG COMMUNITY CLEAR UP’

• Mount Tabor’s Big Community Clear Up saw multiple generations of the local community – including Para Athletics World Champion Hannah Cockroft – come together to take action against environmental issues in the area
• Litter pickers collected over 250 kilograms of litter and fly-tipped waste from Mount Tabor’s roadsides, parks and surrounding areas
• The Big Community Clear Up is part of a number of initiatives that the sustainably engaged athletes of ’Team Panasonic’ are taking part in to promote actions tackling climate change and pollution issues

LONDON, UK, 2024-11-06, Many of the UK’s communities and highways are struggling with the amount of litter and fly-tipping taking place. According to Keep Britain Tidy, over two million pieces of litter are dropped in the UK every day.

The local community in the village of Mount Tabor, near Halifax in West Yorkshire, is taking a proactive approach to tackling these issues with support from Panasonic and nine-time Paralympic wheelchair sprint champion Hannah Cockroft, who hails from the area.

On Tuesday, 29th October, Mount Tabor’s Big Community Clear Up brought together multiple generations of the local community to address environmental issues in the area, such as plastic pollution. The event allowed even the youngest members to witness Hannah’s passion for sustainability and environmentalism firsthand, inspiring them to get involved. In just one morning, the dedicated local group of litter pickers collected over 250 kilograms of litter and fly-tipped waste from the roadsides, parks and surrounding areas of Mount Tabor village. The local council provided support by maintaining the verges to prevent further fly-tipping.

The Big Community Clear Up is part of a number of initiatives that Team Panasonic athletes – Hannah Cockroft, Hannah Mills, Malaika Mihambo and Vahine Fierro – and Panasonic are taking part in to promote sustainability throughout Europe.

After picking up wheelchair racing at a talent day at Loughborough University in October 2007, Hannah Cockroft has blazed a trail straight to legend status. Following her 2x Gold medal-winning success at this year’s Paris Olympics, Hannah is using her platform to make a difference in issues beyond the sports arena. 

Hannah Cockroft commented: “Besides my absolute love for racing, I am passionate about being an ambassador for sustainability and social change. I and my fellow Team Panasonic sustainability ambassadors have a shared goal – to raise awareness of the fight against climate change and inspire others to act.

I feel so privileged to have such an amazing training ground growing up in Mount Tabor, but littering and fly-tipping is on the increase and not only is it ugly, it affects local wildlife. And unfortunately it’s not just a problem in Mount Tabor. It’s happening all over the UK.

It’s amazing to have the support of Panasonic and the Mount Tabor Community Association to inspire all generations and communities to do all we can across the UK for a cleaner, greener future.”

Making a GREEN IMPACT – locally

The Panasonic Group is committed to its long-term environmental and business vision, "Panasonic GREEN IMPACT," to create a positive impact from actions that reduce its own CO₂ emissions, contribute to avoiding CO₂ emissions of society, and realise a circular economy. 

Panasonic has strategically teamed up with professional athletes who have a shared commitment to sustainable practices. By collaborating with and financially supporting these dedicated athletes, their goal is to inspire and drive awareness of the importance of fighting climate change at a local level as well.

The Big Community Clear Up is a community event to inspire all generations and communities across the UK to look after our local environments – and to take simple action, together. Environmental sustainability is about dealing with what’s happened so far but also looking ahead – not just at how we can prevent a worsening situation, but rather to work towards consistent improvement, including reduction and avoidance of regular litter picking. We must be doing all we can for a cleaner, greener future, such as deterring future litter dropping and fly-tipping and avoiding single use plastics.

In support of Mount Tabor Community Association’s ongoing efforts, Panasonic not only sponsored some of the prizes for the best litter pickers at the Big Community Clear Up as well as a road sign design competition, but it is also financially supporting the community keep on top of littering and fly-tipping, including roadside and verge clearance (for ongoing easy maintenance), anti-litter signage, safety high-vis jackets for litter pickers, and larger bins (to encourage their use and prevent overspill).

Kathrin Schlangenfeldt, Manager, Sustainability & Environment Communication, Panasonic Europe, commented: “In spite of the astounding beauty of the natural landscape in and around Mount Tabor, as well as monthly litter picking activities organised by Mount Tabor Community Association, grass verges in the area have been overgrown for a long time and fly-tipping and litter dropping have been steadily increasing. 

By sponsoring the tidying of verges and other practical solutions in Mount Tabor, Panasonic hopes to help maintain and nurture the local environment’s natural beauty and biodiversity.

Everyone can make an impact. Picking up just one piece of litter each time we are out, for example. Because every individual action can contribute to an amazing collective Achievement. It’s why the Team Panasonic motto is Together. Action. Progress.”

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For more information about Team Panasonic and Panasonic GREEN IMPACT visit: https://www.panasonic.com/uk/corporate/teampanasonic.html