Comic Relief has today revealed its first-ever 100% plastic-free, plant-based Red Nose, which will launch early next year for Red Nose Day 2021.
“Reducing single-use plastic is vitally important and Comic Relief is firmly committed to playing our part. Our Red Noses are very popular, and we have been determined to create a more sustainable plastic-free version for everyone to enjoy.
We know that making small changes can make a big environmental difference and I’m so pleased that school pupils across the UK have championed our decision to ditch plastic and deliver a ‘greener’ Red Nose!” – Ruth Davison, Chief Executive of Comic Relief
Comic Relief and its long-standing partner, Sainsbury’s, have created the new Red Nose from bagasse, a natural by-product of sugarcane, chosen for its widely celebrated sustainable qualities.
The new Nose has taken over 18 months to develop, following extensive research and testing into suitable plastic-free alternative materials. In keeping with the environmentally friendly theme, the Noses will be available in 10 different characters representing the great outdoors for the public to collect, including a squirrel, fox, badger and more.
Comic Relief and Sainsbury’s had been researching more sustainable materials for some time, when in early 2019, the charity received letters and emails from hundreds of school children from across the country, asking them to create a plastic-free Nose to help reduce single-use plastic waste and protect the environment. Hearing their voices encouraged the charity to step up a gear with their sustainability plans.
“I’m extremely pleased that we have created the first plastic-free nose for Red Nose Day 2021 – it is amazing what you can create from a sugar cane product. Our new Nose marks a strong step on our sustainability journey.
We are committed to designing a more sustainable Nose every year while continuing to make them attractive and fun, and recognise we still have a lot of work to do in creating the perfect model.” -Richard Curtis, Comic Relief co-founder
One school, Fourlanesend Community Primary School in Cornwall, received the backing of Sir David Attenborough when they wrote to him and shared their alternative Red Nose suggestion. Sir David sent them a handwritten letter which said, “you are perfectly correct to revise the question of replacing plastic products wherever we can, and I hope you get an adequate answer from Comic Relief.”
Later today, pupils aged between five and 10 from the school, will be given an exclusive first look at the new Noses and thanked for their environmental ideas and letters. They will meet a virtual panel of guests including Comic Relief co-founder, Richard Curtis, environmental broadcaster, Liz Bonnin, and host TV presenter, Ore Oduba, to discuss their views on the new Nose, why reducing single-use plastic waste is important and further steps we can all take.
“But this journey is an exciting one and we thank all the children and supporters who let us know they wanted a plastic-free option. I’m delighted to give the environmental champion pupils at Fourlanesend Community Primary School the first look at the new Noses. Children are at the heart of our Red Nose Day campaign and their opinions are really important to us.
The work we support at Comic Relief is more important than ever in the face of COVID-19 – so let’s hope we sell a lot of Noses and continue to help to changes a lot of lives at home and abroad.” – Curtis, Comic Relief co-founder
The Red Nose first launched in 1988 when Comic Relief founders, Sir Lenny Henry and Richard Curtis, wanted to create a symbol for the charity and its first event. Thirty-two years later, the Red Nose has raised over £70million for good causes, helping to change countless lives in the UK and all over the world.
Highlights from the school conference will be shared online later this week on comicrelief.com/nose
