Yay its summer, time to go to the beach for a swim or a paddle. For Cantabrians it’s good news. After previous concerns about water quality and whether our beaches were safe to swim in since the quakes, Canterbury beaches have been given the ‘all clear’. The latest Ministry for the Environment recreational water quality report says New Brighton, Sumner and Waimairi are rated “good”, or satisfactory for swimming in most of the time. The best beaches are Taylors Mistake, Spencerville, Woodend and Waikuku which rated “very good”.
School kids picking up rubbish at Waimairi Beach
Beach clean ups, like the recent one at Waimairi pictured above, have a profoundly positive effect on our beaches, particularly for the fish and bird life who call our coastlines home.
One organisation focussed on cleaning up New Zealand beaches is Sustainable Coastlines created by Sam Judd and James Bailey. The pair were motivated to start up the organisation after seeing first hand the impact rubbish had on marine life during a trip to the Galapagos Islands.
Since 2008 Sustainable Coastlines has organised volunteers to remove rubbish from coastlines around New Zealand and the Pacific, raising awareness about the challenges our marine environments face and giving people easy solutions for looking after our beaches.
One of their projects, Love your Coast, involved 5,500 people and resulted in tonnes of rubbish being removed from Kiwi beaches along with creating a free event planning tool to guide people running their own coastal clean-up. Such an event is a great idea for schools as it enables kids to gain first hand knowledge of the impact rubbish has on the environment and ways in which we can reduce this.
Sustainable Coastlines campaign "What goes around comes around"
One particular Sustainable Coastlines campaign “What goes around comes around” beautifully illustrates the effect rubbish has on our marine life and how it affects what food we eat. The graphic above shows the cycle of pollution. When we litter it has a massive impact on ocean life with litter flowing through our drains out to sea, polluting waterways and ultimately affecting our seafood. Over time ocean waves and the sun break plastic into smaller pieces which float in the sea, accumulating chemicals. For sea life these fragments of litter look yummy and therefore get eaten, thus entering the food chain and polluting our seafood. In summary; we’re eating our own rubbish!
So let’s be vigilant about putting our rubbish in bins only or when we’re at the beach, take your rubbish home. That way you’ll get the maximum enjoyment out your summer and your local beach!
We are embracing the future of electric cars and apparently, the electric vehicle market has gained enough interest from car manufacturers and everyone is gearing up their Research and Development to come up with the next big thing in the market.
Yes, it is not a car...it is a statement!
So we were stoked when Stuff reported that, “A leading mobile phone company has bought into world-beating technology from Auckland for wirelessly charging electric cars.”
Wireless charging in electric cars is a technological revolution that has the probability of changing our tech world the way Apple did.
Wireless giant Qualcomm has jumped into the electric vehicle market by acquiring the assets of a company called HaloIPT out of New Zealand that has developed wireless electric car charging tech. HaloIPT, a company that commercialized research from The University of Auckland, uses wireless induction for charging and has created a device or mat that an electric car drives over (or drives near), and which can wirelessly charge the car without it plugging in. (Gigaom)
We are in the adjunct of very exciting times as the world turns the tide and embraces cleaner energy and sleeker cars.
We can see that this will be the future of our children and it is good.
Photos via Flickr Creative Commons: Electric Car by Complexify
I received a draft Central City Plan for the Christchurch Rebuild in my mailbox last week and I am so intrigued with the plans of the Christchurch City Council especially on what my city will look like in the future. The Draft Central City Plan Summary Document August 2011 outlined interesting points and I love:
The Light Rail System which would really be a great support for public transport patronage around the city.
The pedestrian and cycle lanes which will really help identify Christchurch as a walkable city.
More parks and open spaces, creating a vibrant city that is more interactive and green.
And what struck me most was the plan to make a “Green City” by encouraging businesses to build or use “green buildings that are powered by renewable energy, use less water, are made with local and recycled materials and help to visibly green the city with roof gardens and green walls.” (Draft Central City Plan August 2011 – Volume1)
The opportunities for green business is limitless and it is not just limited to green building construction. The areas of green technology, innovation and even green tourism would be the dynamic soul behind these plans.
But what do Christchurch businesses think of the Central City Plan?
I can see a change of our city towards a more sustainable and green future. I love the plans of roof gardens and green walls and living in a more interactive Green city.
Supplier Check: Is your business ignoring supplier sustainability?
The profit margin has been the major factor in supplier selection for businesses but the call for corporate environmental responsibility has a good number of companies making a rethink of their corporate policies.
Where do NZ businesses stand in this equation?
Stuff reported that,
Whether outsourcing or not, fewer than a quarter of those surveyed for this year’s ShapeNZ Fairfax Business and Consumer Survey said their organisation actively bought goods and services from suppliers who acted sustainably.
Just 19 per cent included social or environmental criteria in their supplier terms and conditions, while 9 per cent had ditched a supplier in the last year for environmental, social or ethical reasons.
Business managers and executives were more likely to say their organisation had a sustainable supply chain – 34 per cent said they included social or environmental criteria and 26 per cent said their organisation had ditched a supplier for ethical reasons. (Gibson, Eloise, “Businesses ignoring supplier sustainability”, 01August 2011)
Sustainability reporting should come full circle and with full disclosure of their suppliers and business practices. But are businesses willing to do that at the thought of lesser profits? Well, that is the $64million dollar question.
The profit margin has been the major factor in supplier selection for businesses but the call for corporate environmental responsibility has a good number of companies making a rethink of their corporate policies.
Whether outsourcing or not, fewer than a quarter of those surveyed for this year’s ShapeNZ Fairfax Business and Consumer Survey said their organisation actively bought goods and services from suppliers who acted sustainably.
Just 19 per cent included social or environmental criteria in their supplier terms and conditions, while 9 per cent had ditched a supplier in the last year for environmental, social or ethical reasons.
Business managers and executives were more likely to say their organisation had a sustainable supply chain – 34 per cent said they included social or environmental criteria and 26 per cent said their organisation had ditched a supplier for ethical reasons. (Gibson, Eloise, “Businesses ignoring supplier sustainability”, 01August 2011)
Sustainability reporting should come full circle and with full disclosure of their suppliers and business practices. But are businesses willing to do that at the thought of lesser profits? Well, that is the $64million dollar question.
Photo via Flickr Creative Commons: Dog reading Newspaper by Seng1011
Though June has rushed by, SIFT did not want to neglect the well deserved attention owed to the recent winners at the Green Ribbon Awards. Held on June 9th, the Honorable Nick Smith described the awards as “Recognizing the efforts of New Zealanders who are taking action to address environmental challenges” (Beehive Press Release).
Comprising of eleven categories, individuals as well as companies and organizations, were recognized for their contribution within an array of environmental issues. The overall supreme winner was Eco Stock Supplies. Collecting food waste previously destined for landfill, Eco Stock upcycles the waste to stock feed. It is estimated that through the 25,000 tones of food waste utilised by Eco Stock within the last year, the production of 13,625 tonnes of CO2 has been prevented. While not only preventing green-house gas emissions, Eco Stock also offers a local alternative to imported stock-feeds.
Here is the full list of categories and the respective winners – all deserving for their commitment and effort towards New Zealand sustainability.
Category 1: Protecting our Biodiversity (joint winners)
Pomona Island Charitable Trust, Kiwi (Tokoeka) Crèche (Te Anau) – For its outstanding work in creating pest free sanctuaries on Pomona and Rona Islands in Lake Manapouri, Fiordland.
and Tuhoe Putaiao Charitable Trust (Opotiki) – For its outstanding commitment to environmental protection work in the Bay of Plenty, in collaboration with the Department of Conservation, local iwi, the Regional Council and forestry operators.
Category 2: Protecting our Coasts and Oceans
Sustainable Coastlines Incorporated (New Zealand-wide) – For its outstanding commitment to improving the New Zealand coastal environment through public education, beach and coast clean ups and removing debris and rubbish that poses a risk to coastal and marine flora and fauna.
Category 3: Caring for our Water
NZ Landcare Trust (New Zealand-wide) – For their outstanding contribution to improving fresh water management across the country by engaging private land owners in environmental protection work.
Category 4: Reducing our Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Wellington City Council (Wellington) – For its 2010 Climate Change Action Plan, and demonstrating outstanding commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in collaboration with all sectors of the community.
Category 5: Small Businesses Making a Difference
Eco Stock Supplies (Auckland) – For the development of an innovative commercial operation making a measurable difference to waste minimisation and reducing food waste.
Category 6: Community Action for the Environment: Young People
Brittany Packer (Nelson) – For her outstanding commitment to raising the profile of environmental issues, locally and internationally and demonstrating leadership for other young people.
Category 7: Community Action for the Environment: Volunteers and Not-for-profit Organisations
Mana Recovery (Porirua) – For its outstanding commitment to volunteer resource recovery services and providing a supportive environment for members of the community to learn and grow.
Category 8: Minimising our Waste
Conscious Consumers (Wellington, Auckland) – For its outstanding commitment to reducing waste and raising consumer awareness of waste issues.
Category 9: Environment in the Media
Emma Heke (Nelson) – For her outstanding contribution to environmental education through her DVD “OURS” that teaches children about conservation, sustainability and environmental care.
Category 10: Environmentally Responsible Large Organisations (joint winners)
Downer NZ (New Zealand-wide) – For its outstanding work in setting an example in environmental responsibility by implementing an environmental sustainability programme across its company operations in New Zealand.
and Meridian Energy and Department of Conservation, Project River Recovery – For their outstanding commitment to improving and protecting the unique braided river habitat around Twizel, Tekapo and Omarama in Canterbury and Otago.
Category 11: Central and Local Government Stepping Up
Kapiti Coast District Council (Paraparaumu) – For its outstanding contribution to reducing their environmental impact beyond statutory obligations and providing measurable benefits for the environment and the community of Kapiti Coast.
Supreme Winner Green Ribbon Award Winner 2011
Eco Stock Supplies (Auckland)
For the development of an innovative commercial operation making a measurable difference to waste minimisation and reducing food waste.
Congratulations to all of the winners. No doubt there were many more that entered but did not win that are working hard to create a more sustainable future for New Zealand.
A Takeaway Container You Can Eat and the Individually Wrapped Prune
The 2011 Unpackit Packaging Awards recently took place. Wanaka Wastebusters ran the awards as part of the Unpackit Demystifying Packaging Choices project and with over 100 product nominations and near to 9,000 votes, the winners of the best and worst packaging were recently announced.
The Best Award went to the Potato Pak. Made in New Zealand the takeaway containers made from potato starch waste from potato chip production. They can be composted, fed to birds, pigs or fish and even eaten by humans!
Runners up for the Best Award went to the Speights swap-a-crates, promoting reuse and recycling of used beer bottles and the humble egg carton – reusable, recyclable and made from recycled paper.
The Worst Award went to the ridiculous Sunsweet Ones – individually wrapped prunes, each prune providing waste for landfill.
Runners up for poor producer packaging responsibility went to were Brother Ink Cartridges for excessive, non-recyclable packaging and Cadbury’s Drinking Chocolate which comes in a ‘tin’ made from foil and cardboard destined for landfill.
The awards highlighted that even the best packaging does not have to be presented with glitz and glam and reflected customers’ awareness of good and bad packaging in relation to how wasteful it is.
I feel it might be time to start the mantra “Waste Not, Want Not” again after reading the below article from the NZ Herald on New Zealander’s wasting $750million in food a year. That is massive. Think of all the wasted energy in labour, food growth (sun, water), chemicals, fuel for tractors, fuel for ships to bring some of it here, transportation, energy used in our distribution warehouses, energy used in our supermarkets, energy used in getting to the supermarket, waster $ in our spending, the energy used by our refrigerators and freezers (for those products stored in the fridge/freezer), the human energy to throw it out and then the ultimate waste of it going to landfill (some still wrapped in plastic no doubt) and the energy it takes to pick it up from the kerb, truck it to our transfer stations and then to Kate Valley where it sits. Or hopefully, some it is going in the green bin or being composted.
Not really an efficient use of our resources.
It is interesting to read that in Britain they are reviewing their labelling standards to improve consumer education on when the food is good till. This is worth doing here (along with carbon information in its manufacturing/production and distribution).
Kim Hill also interviewed the Australian economist, Richard Denniss, quoted in the NZ Herald article on her show on Saturday morning (Radion New Zealand). Mr Denniss discusses the survey that was conducted and what we can do to reduce that waste (and other wasted items such as “things” and “stuff” that we think we need and never use). Hmm.. again it seems to be coming back to reducing our consumption to reduce our impact on the environment and reduce our carbon emissions.
A new petition has come through to SIFT from one of our new projects (and through my connections with the Lincoln Envirotown Trust) to make our voice heard to the government that we want to rebuild Christchurch sustainably. This is a great idea and I only hope that lots of people sign it (like all those who signed the pledge and more!) and that the town leaders, government, city planners and designers all listen.
This is a fantastic opportunity to rebuild Christchurch for a future whereby the buildings and citizens of the city have a positive environmental impact at all levels of sustainability (and are ready for the impacts of climate change).
After finding that there is currently no leadership on this issue Lou Warren (from over the hill in Diamond Harbour) started the petition on change.org.
You can sign the petition here and we encourage as many Cantabrians and New Zealanders alike to sign it and let our voice be heard (now’s our chance): “We, the people of Canterbury, the people of New Zealand and our friends internationally, want you to deliver a well-planned, environmentally sustainable re-build of Christchurch.”
Thanks to Lou for setting this up and we look forward to seeing how many people sign, who listens and the plans for our lovely city.
Found out about Reverse Garbage (via Re-Nest) and it looks like a great idea that we could use here. It is available in only Brisbane and Sydney at the moment and is run by a non-profit that takes industrial “waste” destined for landfill and sells the items to local communities at discounted (really discounted) prices. There is a long list of the items that they have here and it shows just how many resources could be resused before ending up in landfill. The Super Shed, Waste Exchanges (by council) and Creative Junk are similar.
It’s hard to think about blogging when the city is still in limbo and people are still taking daily steps to get their businesses (if they still exist) and lives back on track. Eclipsed by the Japanese disaster the changes that have occured in our city are still awfully sad and depressing – it has been three weeks and there is still a very long way to go.
SIFT is still moving forward though with current projects and new ones coming through the pipeline – hopefully some we can talk about soon for some positivity.
We are still on the look out for anything interesting that we can add to this blog and this morning I came across this awesome piece of new packaging from American green cleaning company Seventh Generation (read more of the article here on Re-Nest (links through to their source USA Today)).
The container is made from recycled cardboard and newspaper (the lid is still plastic) but this is a fantastic leap forward away from using plastic and something that could be done here in NZ. A type of packaging that we need more of across all plastic packaging lines – if it can be done with laundry liquid it can be done with all other cleaners, pet food and even cosmetics. And depending on what is inside the packaging maybe it could be compostable/biodegradable as well.
This is great!
Seventh Generation Laundry Liquid via ReNest via USA Today
