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Sustainable Initiatives Fund was originally set up as the Business Development Fund and grew out of a Christchurch City Council Initiative; a charitable trust (SIFT) was later formed to manage, invest and distribute this fund within the Canterbury region, and the fund was subsequently renamed the Sustainable Initiatives Fund. Original seed funding came from waste levies from Kate Valley Landfill Gate Charges.

SIFT has earned a reputation for excellence and leadership, and established a strong track record promoting sustainable initiatives projects. We focus on the building of collaborative networks, advancing solutions and progressing knowledge through projects of regional importance.

As a leading independent waste funding trust, SIFT has a vital role in promoting a broader understanding of waste issues in industry, through partnering with existing or start-up enterprises on waste initiatives. We do this by connecting people with funding and encouraging waste minimisation projects across Canterbury through our regional SE5 sustainable initiatives.

The SIFT Concept

The purpose of the Sustainable Initiatives Fund is to support projects that will contribute to establishing, managing, implementing and stimulating the sustainable development of Canterbury businesses in a unique, practical and productive way, which is relevant to the New Zealand economy through addressing some or all of the following issues:

a) Utilise recovered materials in their existing product streams and develop the growth of useful sustainable applications

b) Develop new products and/or technologies that utilise recovered materials and develop the growth of useful sustainable applications

c) Develop new products and/or technologies that avoid or minimise disposal of waste material into the environment

d) Create useful sustainable educational applications from their products and/or technologies

e) Create sustainable energy products and/or technologies that utilise recovered materials

f) Create sustainable job opportunities from the above products or technologies

SIFT therefore supports the sustainable development of Canterbury through

Our Five Key Sustainable Ideas = SE5

SIFT has a portfolio of projects already underway within the SE5 vision which help reduce waste and boost sustainable development for the region. Many of our projects are linked across more than one initiative which provides spin-off benefits across functional units. It is anticipated that Cantabrians will benefit from the economic success of SE5.

Our Five Unique Abilities are centred on:

• Funding Sustainability
• Leadership
• Colloboration with other parties & Joint Ventures
• Market Focus
• Research & Development
  

As the key driver of the trust is waste minimisation and diversion, and ultimately a reduction in pollution and climate change, we therefore seek through our own goals and objectives to:

• Distribute funds and invest in promising waste minimisation projects in our SE5 sustainable initiatives programme that benefit both present and future Cantabrians.
• Help provide new opportunities to reduce waste streams that may also simultaneously generate employment and growth within the Canterbury region
• Plan ahead by making investments in the people of Canterbury by co-funding waste minimisation educational & leadership programmes for young people of Canterbury