Charitable trust, Mytime Active, has removed all single-use plastic overshoes from its swimming pools and leisure centres, as part of ongoing sustainability efforts.

Across the trust’s six swimming pools in the Borough of Bromley, this will save 432,000 pairs of plastic overshoes from going into landfill every year. The trust is asking its community to bring their own flip flops, or other suitable footwear, to use around its swimming pools.

“This is an important step in helping make Mytime Active plastic free, part of our responsibility to reduce our environmental impact within the local community,” said Mytime Active CEO, Jason Stanton.

“There's growing awareness of the issue of plastic and other waste and we're taking positive steps towards lessening our impact on the environment. We have clear sustainability goals and work hard to communicate these to everyone in the organisation and beyond, helping employees and members understand how they can contribute to our environmental and sustainability targets.

As it targets net zero, Mytime Active is working with a range of partners, including England Golf and Community Leisure UK, which has just launched a new Carbon Literacy Course aimed to help public sector operators reduce their carbon footprint.

A team of energy champions has been appointed to serve as ambassadors for the company’s environmental and sustainability efforts. Other initiatives underway include replacing all light fitting with energy-saving LEDs and installing energy-efficient speed controllers to pumps and ventilation equipment, to reduce energy consumption.

Steps are also being taken to improve biodiversity and promote ecological sustainability across its golf courses, including incorporating native plants to provide habitats for wildlife and minimising the use of herbicides and fertilisers. Designated areas of the golf courses are protected as wildlife habitats to provide shelter, food and breeding grounds for a variety of species and the trust has added nesting boxes and insect houses.