Tops Day Nurseries have just been made Gold Award holders by Plastic Free Plymouth. The B Corp certified group has 6 nurseries across Plymouth and Torquay including Tops Prince Rock, Tops Efford, Tops Stonehouse, Tops Bretonside, Tops Devonport and Tops Babbacombe

For the last four years Tops have been working with Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) Plastic Free Communities project to gain Plastic Free Community status for the city.

Tops Day Nurseries have gone above and beyond the SAS requirements, by banning more than three single-use plastic items including cling film, carrier bags, food bags, aprons, and wet-wipes, replacing them with reusable containers, homemade, washable and flushable wipes and other eco-friendly alternatives. Not only this, but Tops have also been very proactive in promoting less plastic by asking suppliers about their plans to reduce waste, make their products recyclable, and to deliver less often.  The nursery children taking part in local beach cleans and street cleans and want to be proud of their local area.

The new gold award comes shortly after Tops achieved a Queens Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development, for providing inspiration and being genuinely driving change in the early years sector.

Amanda Vardy, regional manager, said: “I am so proud of the managers and their teams, they have worked really hard on their pledge and to receive the gold awards. This award makes it clear that we are doing our utmost, in the hope that many more will join us to provide a better environment and future for our children”.

Tops Day Nurseries provides eco-sustainable early education and care for children aged 3 months to school age. Tops also offer before, after-school and Hi5 holiday clubs for children up to the age of 11. They have also recently launched a Hi5’s Forest School, a way for children to have fun and learn whilst being outside.