Conscious Consumption exhibition launches in Fort William

The Highland Community Waste Partnership (HCWP) team gathered in Fort William on Wednesday 7 February, to install the inaugural Conscious Consumption exhibition at the West Highland Museum.

The exhibition was a true team effort, bringing together information, artefacts, demonstrations, activities, media and testimonials from across the partnership. It provides an overview of our work across our three key waste reduction themes; food waste and composting, share and repair and single use items and packaging. 

The exhibition was brought together under the banner of our Conscious Consumption campaign, which launched at the end of the year. The campaign aims to raise awareness around the way that we consume, the choices available to us and what we can all do to reduce the amount or resources that we use and waste, through our daily habits.

The West Highland Museum is the first venue to host what we hope will be a touring exhibition, aiming to engage visitors with more sustainable alternatives to our current linear, disposable economy.

Founded in 1922, the museum collects, conserves and presents items of historical and cultural interest from the West Highland area. 

Karen Dean, Community Outreach Officer from the museum, said: "The West Highland Museum is delighted to be hosting this local exhibition on behalf of the Highland Community Waste Partnership and Lochaber Environmental Group.

"It's fantastic to see the exhibition now in place, show casing the hard work these groups put in throughout the Highlands. This concept started from a quick chat at a local networking event and has now become an exhibition which can travel the Highlands raising awareness of how we can all think about the way we buy, use and dispose of items nowadays.

"Please take some time to come along to the Museum in Cameron Square to view the exhibition for yourself."

Georgina Massouraki, HCWP Coordinator, said: "It is really exciting to share our Conscious Consumption exhibition with the world, bringing together so many different aspects of our work under one banner. It is a true testament to both the richness and diversity and the power of collaboration within the partnership.

"There are so many ways that we can all adopt more conscious consumption habits and support our transition toward a more circular economy, where we both use and waste less. We hope that visitors will be inspired to make changes where they can and encourage them to leave a small pledge in the pledge book.

"We look forward to growing and refining this exhibition over the remainder of the project and would encourage anyone interested in hosting it/working with us to get in touch."

The HCWP Conscious Consumption exhibition, which is free to visit, will be in place at the West Highland Museum until May 2024.

If you are interested in hosting the exhibition in your space, please get in touch.