Speaking with eco-operator for Total Coverage

Linda Bratcher is the eco-operator for Total Coverage, a worker co-operative based in Southampton.
Total Coverage is a graphic design workers’ co-operative. Promoting sustainable design has always been part of Total Coverage’s ethos and one of the company’s unique selling points. “We’ve been promoting recycled paper and vegetable inks long before it became mainstream”, says Linda Bratcher.

For this reason, Linda was initially hesitant about joining Greener Together. “When I looked at the project, I thought that there wasn’t a lot of learning that we could get from it because we were already doing most of the things”, she explains. However, a few months later, Linda looked into Greener Together further and realised that even though her colleagues were already environmentally aware, it would be a good opportunity to push the green message a bit further afield to the company’s clients and suppliers. “I thought that signing up would mean that we could get the message out and, under the Greener Together banner, it would be easier to disseminate the message further afield. “Reaching out further really was the main reason it appealed to us”, she reiterates. “Most of us that work here are already pretty green and I didn’t see the point of preaching to the converted. Broadening it out to our networks and taking it out to people who might not be as green as they could be really appealed”. Linda realised that not everyone is as aware as herself and her colleagues. “Without us reaching out, the people might have been a bit aware of the issues, but I think signing up has made them more focused on actual change. It makes them concentrate on doing things, and on understanding the reasons behind what they’re doing, rather than just doing it because you  ‘should’ be doing it”.

Despite an initial positive response, Linda found that getting people involved and motivated hasn’t been without its challenges. “Some people had problems when they signed up with the website. It’s made them not want to join in or report any further”. The website teething problems meant that some people didn’t continue beyond signing up, with numbers dropping from the initial 44 sign up, to 33 going on to complete the baseline, and then just 18 going further onto the pledges themselves.  “I think people got cross with it and decided not to bother”, said Linda.  Linda has also been a little reluctant to follow up to find out how people are faring with the pledges. “People who’ve signed up are really busy and don’t want to be hassled”.  Even so, having Greener Together to talk about with clients has provided a source of conversation. “It’s just something to chat about and I can ask them how they’re getting on with it. It also makes it more personal too.” Of the changes that people have been making, Linda reported that quite a few were refilling bottles instead of buying more bottles of water.

Linda’s own experience with signing up to the pledges has made her realise that, although she was already doing a lot of green actions, there was still more that could be done. “I’ve already made quite a lot of changes in my lifestyle as a result of us being quite a green company, but when you have to tick a box and see it written down, it does make you focus more on action”. Linda has signed up to 15 pledges altogether. One recent purchase that was inspired by the initiative was replacing her old kettle with an Eco-kettle when the old one packed up. “I wouldn’t have gone for the Eco-kettle if it wasn’t for Greener Together – it’s not the nicest thing to look at”. Linda also used to be a big tumble dryer person, but hasn’t actually used hers since signing up in April. “We have had great weather, but also now when I’m doing the washing, I tend to leave it until I know I can dry it outside, whereas before, I’d do it just to get it out of the way”.

Linda’s key achievement has been using an electricity meter to monitor her electricity. “I’d been thinking about it before but never got round to it, so Greener Together pushed me into actually doing that one.  I’m trying to work on using less than £1 a day. The meter definitely makes you more aware of what energy you’re using and of the financial and environmental costs”.

Linda is 9 weeks into her pledges but doesn’t think that she’s finished making changes yet. “There are a few things that I haven’t yet got round to. For example, changing the waste water from the shower into a water butt, but it takes time and organisation. We’re also going to be filling the floorboards before the winter and we’ll put draft excluders round the door. I’ve wanted to do it before but signing up to Greener Together has made me more motivated to get it done sooner. I’ll definitely get that done before winter”.

Linda’s advice to others just starting Greener Together is to carefully consider what pledges you sign up to. “Don’t take on anything that you’re unlikely to achieve. I’d love to put solar panels on the roof and I could have signed up to it, but I knew that it just wasn’t going to happen”. Linda also recommends that you celebrate achievements along the way and chat to others about what you’re doing to spread the word. “It’s good to chat to others about it” she says, “people who perhaps don’t realise that these little changes really do benefit everybody.” 

Caption for photo: Linda Bratcher in her Toyota IQ, one of the greenest cars on the market.