Inverness social enterprise Àban Outdoor has teamed up with leading marine equipment manufacturer and supplier Gael Force Group on a cardboard packaging re-use initiative.
Earlier this year, Àban Outdoor launched Scotland’s first outdoor gear charity shop through eBay. The aim of the online shop is to get as many people outdoors as possible by reducing the sometimes-high cost to entry, as well as reducing the environmental impact of kitting up for the outdoors. The eBay shop stocks gear that has been donated directly to Àban, as well as goods which have recycled through the Continuum scheme at the newly-opened outdoor retailer Alpkit in the Ledge Climbing Wall.
100% of proceeds of the gear sales go straight back into running Àban’s own charitable work in Inverness. Their work includes outdoor activities for young people, holiday camps, Duke of Edinburgh Award activities, and hosting of the iconic Kessock Swim event.
The eBay shop has been a hugely popular with shoppers across the UK in a short space of time, with items such as hiking boots, wetsuits, jackets, and camping goods, all at bargain prices. To manage the increased packaging required for shipping items, Àban’s Business Manager Calum Smith turned to Gael Force for their assistance in donating used cardboard boxes and packaging. Gael Force’s established Inverness marine megastore and online shop sees thousands of products coming and going through its doors each week and has its own cardboard recycling process in place.
Both based in Merkinch, Àban and Gael Force first developed their partnership through the annual Kessock Swim event with Gael Force supporting the event by providing the swim buoy mooring chains and weights.
Commenting on the partnership, Àban’s Business Manager Calum Smith (pictured left):
“The growth and popularity of our eBay charity shop has been extraordinary, and it is all thanks to the generosity of the equipment donations we receive and through the welcome support of local businesses like Gael Force who are on our doorstep. It’s a perfect example of positive collaboration, working together for a better environmental outcome, and helping get people outdoors for less.”
Commenting, Gael Force Group’s Marketing Manager, Marc Wilson:
“We are delighted to be assisting our friends at Àban with this cardboard reuse scheme. All the cardboard boxes we receive through supplier deliveries are either recycled or re-used, so to be able to go a step further and know that regular donations of used cardboard boxes will support a social enterprise in the local community is hugely rewarding.”
People wishing to donate outdoor gear that they no longer use can donate it to Àban in the Merkinch Welfare Hall, Grant Street, Merkinch. Information can be found via their website at https://aban.scot/