Since 2011, the Litter Less Campaign has engaged over 3 million students from schools across 35 different countries, making it the longest-running school campaign on litter and waste. The campaign continues to inspire positive behaviour change by educating students, teachers, parents and communities about the critical environmental issues of litter, waste and pollution.
Launched in 2011, the Litter Less Campaign (LLC) is now entering the second year of its fourth phase, which means that Northern Hemisphere countries running the campaign have finalised the first year of phase four. The campaign is a joint initiative of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and the Mars Wrigley Foundation that educates children and youth about the issues of litter, waste and pollution and gives them the opportunity to seek solutions and engage their local communities in awareness-raising activities.
“The Mars Wrigley Foundation is proud to support millions of students around the world through the Litter Less Campaign. Empowering students to lead litter prevention efforts and identify solutions to minimize waste creates better communities for us all. We are particularly appreciative of student’s commitment, creativity and resilience this year as they continued to drive positive behavior change during this challenging time,”
- Anne Vela-Wagner, Executive Director of the Mars Wrigley Foundation.
The Litter Less Campaign focuses on creating positive behaviour change through education, and shapes students into young leaders driving sustainability in their own communities. Students carry out litter action plans and media campaigns aimed at specific litter and waste issues through FEE’s Eco-Schools and Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) programmes.
“We at FEE are excited to initiate the second year of this phase that, so far, has entailed countless challenges of restructuring and adjusting, and we are proud to say that we have continued to educate and empower children and youths around the world, undeterred by these new circumstances. The global threat of litter and waste is just as important now as ever, and we are privileged to be able to continue these efforts with the funding and cooperation of the Mars Wrigley Foundation,”
- Daniel Schaffer, CEO of Foundation for Environmental Education.
A campaign with a clear impact
Research from 2019-2020 shows that the Litter Less Campaign had a positive impact on students’ knowledge, behaviour and opinion leadership with respect to litter and waste management. The research indicates that students who participate in the LLC know more about waste management, are less likely to litter, and are more likely to conserve resources compared with students who do not participate in the campaign. LLC students are also more likely than their peers to encourage others to engage in environmentally responsible behaviour. During only this past year, an astonishing 464,533 students participated in the campaign and 193 schools implemented recycling systems in response to the campaign.
“The impact of the Litter Less Campaign during these last few years is incredibly huge. Schools have highlighted how the behavior of pupils, staff and members of the community has changed as a positive consequence of it. The increase in awareness in terms of recycling, reusing and reducing is the evidence of the success of this campaign,”
- Julie Giles, former national operator in Northern Ireland.
Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has been an unprecedented challenge in the latter part of this campaign year. With school lock-downs, curfews, and restrictions on gatherings in place, the whole campaign was forced to restructure. Despite these challenges, participants in the campaign have been incredibly creative and committed to continuing their efforts from home.
Special Eco-Schools and YRE and ES #stayhome campaigns were launched to encourage students and teachers to stay environmentally engaged during school lock-downs. The LLC lesson plans were adjusted for home schooling, and several online meetings and webinars were organised to ensure that participants had the tools and support to continue the campaign from a distance. Although it has been a big adjustment, the majority of participating countries were still able to complete the first year of phase four.
The Litter Less Campaign Video 2020
About the Mars Wrigley Foundation
The Mars Wrigley Foundation partners with organizations around the world to help people and communities flourish. Founded in 1987, the Foundation works to provide oral health education and care, improve lives in mint- and cocoa-growing regions, prevent litter and waste, and create vibrant communities. For more information: www.marswrigleyfoundation.com
Countries implementing the Litter Less Campaign in 2019-2021
Australia, Brazil, China, England, France, India, Ireland, Kenya, Malta, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Russia, Scotland, Spain and Wales.