Aberdeenshire pupils receive sustainable netball shirts and environmental books from Clean Planet Foundation
- 6 hours ago
- 3 min read
The Clean Planet Foundation has supported Hillside School in Aberdeenshire with the full sponsorship of new eco-friendly netball shirts for the school’s netball teams, alongside the donation of HAPSIE comics and Ellie Ment books for the school library.
The new netball shirts were manufactured by Selekt Run & Cycle, which is the UK’s only fully sustainable custom sportswear supplier. The netball shirts are produced from post-consumer recycled PET plastic bottles. For every garment, Selekt says five recycled bottles are used.
The collaboration between Hillside School and The Clean Planet Foundation brings together three core themes: young people’s sport, sustainable materials, and environmental education.
The Clean Planet Foundation, the not-for-profit arm of the Clean Planet Group, supports projects that help young people better understand environmental issues in accessible, positive and practical ways. Through its HAPSIE comics and Ellie Ment books, the Foundation introduces topics such as plastic waste, biodiversity and scientific problem-solving through stories, characters and creative learning.
The donated books and comics have already been launched into circulation at Hillside School’s library, with pupils also introduced to the Foundation’s online resources during a whole-school assembly. One recent HAPSIE story about rainforests was particularly well timed, supporting a Primary 4 class topic.
The school’s new netball shirts are also now being prepared for use, giving pupils a smart new team kit with a sustainability story behind it.
Bertie Stephens, CEO of the Clean Planet Foundation, said:
“This is exactly the sort of project we love to support. It is practical, positive and easy for children to connect with. The pupils get new netball shirts they can be proud to wear, whilst the shirts also carry a wider message — that materials matter, and that even something as everyday as a sports top can be made in a more thoughtful way.
“We are also pleased to provide HAPSIE and Ellie Ment books for the school library. Sport, reading and environmental learning do not need to sit in separate boxes. When young people see these ideas connected in real life, it makes sustainability feel relevant rather than abstract.”
Gill Burnett, Depute Head Teacher at Hillside School, Aberdeenshire, said:
“We are very grateful to Clean Planet Foundation, the netball shirts look fantastic. The pupils are excited, and we are looking forward to showcasing them through our school newsletters and wider community. It is a brilliant example of supporting school sport while also encouraging pupils to think about sustainability in the real world. This has featured on our school improvement plan this year and pupils are expanding their knowledge, skills and actions around these themes.”
The partnership reflects the Clean Planet Foundation’s wider mission to help young people engage with environmental issues through education, creativity and real-world examples. By combining sustainable sportswear with library resources and school-wide learning, the Foundation hopes the project will give pupils a visible and memorable example of how everyday choices can contribute to a more sustainable future.
About the Clean Planet Foundation
The Clean Planet Foundation is the not-for-profit and educational arm of the Clean Planet Group. The Foundation develops projects and resources that help young people understand environmental issues through storytelling, education, creativity and practical engagement.
About HAPSIE
HAPSIE is Clean Planet Foundation’s environmental comic series for young readers, using fun characters and stories to introduce topics including plastic waste, climate change, nature, recycling and biodiversity.
About Ellie Ment
Ellie Ment and the Material Matter is a science adventure book for children, combining real scientific principles with an imaginative story about environmental responsibility, curiosity and problem-solving.
About Selekt Run & Cycle
Selekt Run & Cycle supplies custom sportswear, including sustainable garments made from recycled plastic bottles and organic cotton. Its Selekt Sustain range uses yarn made from post-consumer recycled PET bottles. Each product uses five recycled bottles, according to Selekt.
About Hillside School
Hillside School is a primary school based on Newlands Drive, Portlethen, Aberdeenshire. The school focuses on building positive partnerships with families and the community to support pupils in having an enjoyable and successful school experience. Its website also highlights a range of pupil, parent and school-life resources, including Eco School activities, various clubs, Active Schools involvement alongside continual school improvement.