Sustainable Spoon Mug Wall via Re-Nest

It is a lovely 26 degrees (C) in the garden city today and no doubt the rest of Canterbury will be enjoying the lovely weather as well. Here are a few tid bits from home and abroad to tide you over till Monday.

• Last Friday Environment Minister Nick Smith stated that the government is in discussion with the Australian government for a joint processing plant to extract the lead from old televisions. Hon. Dr Nick Smith stated that they expect “a surge of about 500,000 older TV’s containing about 1000 tonnes of lead”. More here at the NZ Herald and originally via PattersonEnvironmental.
• A summary of the Signs of Change conference SIFT attended on Monday and Tuesday from the Hot Topic team.
• A new laptop has been designed so that all of the individual parts can easily be pulled apart and recycled or disposed of appropriately. More from GOOD USA here.
• Doing good – the businesses that won this year’s Sustainable Business Network awards via Good New Zealand. Top prize went to Resene who are doing the right thing and being innovative everyday.
• The spoon wall – a place to put reusable mags in a school via Re-Nest – genius. A small but very practical and impactful sustainable living solution.
• The House of Contamination made entirely of Waste via Inhabitat.
• DIY Snack Bags made from old magazines via Re-Nest.
• Announcement from the Beehive – the Environmental Protection Authority Bill. One regulator to rule them all.
• Trashing the planet ultimately trashes people - Beth from Fake Plastic Fish looks into how waste (specifically plastic ) is also a Social Justice Issue.
• Love this – wood planks made from newspaper – can you imagine what a whole “weatherboard” house would look like covered in these planks?!

Have a great waste free weekend (start making Christmas presents from things around the home, second hand goods or baking).

Fashion Trade - www.countryroad.com

Following on from Olivia’s blog on the Lyttleton Harbour Festival of lights and the ‘clothing swap-o-rama-rama’, we have found out that there is another opportunity for eco-friendly fashionistas to pay it forward with their well worn duds.

Introducing the launch of Fashion Trade on 1st July, being run by Country Road in co-operation with the Red Cross. Fashion Trade is a clothing donation program that focuses on rewarding Country Road customers, and their social conscience, by giving a $10 Country Road voucher to be spent in store on any item over $50 in value, when clothes are donated to the Red Cross (must include at least one Country Road item of clothing). Country Road is an international brand with 11 stores throughout New Zealand. The clothes are going directly to the Red Cross which has 6 shops in the Canterbury region, so you can be sure that your donation is reaching people in who are in need. More information on Fashion Trade here.  Or to find out more about the work of Red Cross visit www.redcross.org.nz

Spare a thought to the effects textiles have on local landfill every year: Textiles waste accounted for 4% of all waste to landfill in the 2007/08 year, which to make more tangible  equates to approximately 126,000 tonnes. Think about every time you overfill your suitcase to go on holiday (it is about that much added to landfill per person per year).

Follow Country Road’s lead, and ask your favourite clothing retailers what they are doing to minimise the amount of textile waste that is landing in Canterbury’s landfills. As the consumers, our power is in our wallets; by preferring to spend with the brands that instill a social conscience and are actually reducing their impact on the environment, than less environmentally aware brands who are sure to follow suit.

This got us thinking of all the cool ways to reinvent your current wardrobe, or tips to reduce the amount of textile waste that is being sent to landfill.

1) Have a swapping session – (This really is one for the ladies!) – but it requires no money to change hands, just a big enough lounge to sprawl all of your no longer worn clothes, and sitting room for who ever else is invited to swap your clothes with. Beware, it can get ugly!

2) Quality over quantity. In a buy now society, sometimes it is hard to resist opening up the wallet and splurging on the current must haves. Restricting your buying to fewer, higher quality purchases, will ensure that they last beyond one winter and will take a lot longer before they reach landfill.

3) Be environmentally conscious when choosing what your clothes are made out of – We have wools from numerous animals,  bamboo, mercot, cotton and hemp to name a few, these natural fibers wear beautifully – and if you shop carefully, a lot of labels are now listing their fair trade inclusion – so you know the farmers and manufacturers are getting a just deal too. So you no longer need to buy anything with poly in the ingredients list.

4) Buy vintage and second hand. There are lots of great second hand and vintage stores around Canterbury including places like Save Mart and also online like Trademe.

A new agricultural plastics recycling campaign, partly funded by the Sustainable Initiatives Fund Trust, aimed at Canterbury farmers has recently been launched by Agpac. Agpac are running a new recycling scheme called Plasback – on farm collection of agricultural plastic wastes such as baleage wrap and silage sheets, polypropylene bags and HDPE Drums. The education campaign includes a helpful and instructional brochure for famers showing them how to recycle each type of waste stream which will be mailed to farmers in Canterbury as well as radio and press advertising and is part of the Plasback Product Stewardship Scheme.

Farm feed wrapped in Baleage

This new campaign not only educates farmers on who can take their waste but how to handle it while it is on the farm such as the importance of triple rinsing HDPE drums and not including balenet or twine in the balewrap collection bins. Plasback also offers a recovery programme for the return of 100 and 200L containers for reuse.

The Plasback Product Stewardship scheme for recycling farm plastics will go a long way to helping to clean up Canterbury’s countryside, reduce hazardous toxins and chemicals from the soil (from burying the plastic) and the air (from burning), reducing waste to landfill and recycling the approx. 4000 tonnes of LLDPE (Linear Low Density Polyethylene) used as crop packaging on New Zealand farms each year. The recycled plastic will be turned in pellets that can be reused as new resin stock for plastic production.

For more information on the Plasback Education Campaign visit www.plasback.co.nz.

Source: Flickr Ed's Photostream 11 Butterfly

The Sustainable Initiatives Fund Trust is a catalyst for change. We know (roughly) how much waste is generated, how much goes to landfill, what the negative environmental impacts are of that waste (leachate, toxins, global warming from methane emissions etc) and the amount of work and cultural behaviour change that is required to reduce how much waste is generated and sometimes that can be rather overwhelming and depressing. But, everyday we are reminded of those individuals, businesses and community groups who are doing good work and we are uplifted everyday by those we are helping to make the numbers better and improve the health of our environment – one step at a time, one day at a time.

Sometimes it can take a few years from the start of the relationship to the final outcome of the project. And that final outcome may just be the first step in many steps to creating a sustainable and commercially viable process that can help to significantly reduce the amount of waste that goes to Canterbury’s landfills.

It is about having a long term goal for our future – a sustainable Canterbury future where any waste generated is reused, recovered or recycled on shore first and where landfill and sending it offshore is the last resort (for all waste streams). But it will take time, patience, innovative ideas, advancement in technology, sound investment, collaboration (public and private partnerships), commitment, affecting cultural behaviour change, walking the talk, leading and being the catalyst for change. That is what SIFT is about – being a positive force for good as a social lender.

We have profiled a few businesses that are leading in waste management on our blog in the past and you can see some of the good and impactful work that we have done  here. We have a number of super exciting projects on the go at the moment that will make a difference to Canterbury’s waste and will let you all know in due course about what they are and what good they will do.

If you are looking for funding for a project that will reduce the amount of waste going to Canterbury’s landfill or have a new idea that we could help with you can apply here.

You can check out our Flickr photos here too.

And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Source - Flickr From youmakemehappywhenskiesaregrey

For Christchurch, in 2008/2009, nearly a quarter of all waste sent to landfill was kitchen waste. This is one of the waste streams that can be reduced the fastest and that each household and business in Canterbury can directly impact. Not only does wasted food impact the space in our landfills but also impact on global warming with the methane emitted as it breaks down (not to mention all the emissions from the production, manufacturing and transportation of the food that isn’t eaten before it gets to the consumer).

Reduce your food waste by firstly recognising what, when and how  you are buying (maybe buying less more often will mean less spolied food), by planning your meals and using leftovers and then what is left over can go into a compost bin or EM Bokashi system breaking down and then providing much needed nutrients for your garden (or potted plants).

Or if you are a business in the food service, hospitality or produce industry look at how you can reduce the amount of unsold food that is wasted. Can it be reduced in price on or just before the use by date or can you set up a business composting system or give the food away to a community garden’s compost?

There are  some great ideas for creative uses for kitchen scraps from Re-Nest.

Or check out the wonderful UK site Love Food Hate Waste for some excellent practical actions that you can do today.

Love to hear your ideas on how business can help to reduce food waste.

Plains FM Mornings' Ed Swift

Ed Swift is the presenter and producter of Plains FM Mornings in Christchurch, one of the few local radio shows in Canterbury. Ed presents the SIFT sponsored Green Biz segment on Monday mornings when we talk about sustainable businesses in Canterbury.

1. What do you do to live more sustainably (with a low impact) in your life?

One of the big things I do is bike and walk to wherever I need to get to, and if it’s not within walking distance, I’ll try to catch a bus! We also use the three bin system as much as possible (recycling, organics, etc.) and we use a push lawnmower on our little patch of grass (it’s hard work but it’s not using petrol and polluting the place).

2. How do you live more sustainably at work?

We recycle as much paper as possible, making little note pads out of any scrap possible. Also basic things like turning off the lights in rooms I’m not using and turning off the computer and screen at night – it’s just common sense.

3. What do you think is the biggest environmental issue we need to deal with in Christchurch/New Zealand?

I think we’ve nailed the rubbish problem pretty well with the 3 bin system, but now we all need to look at the difference we can make at home and work.

4. What makes you smile?

Having a good laugh with mates, and seeing my 3 year old niece.

5. What is your bigget pet peeve?

Being trained as a journalist and having a mother who has exceptional grammar, I get peeved when people don’t get apostrophes correct, and also when people don’t know the difference between “affect” and “effect”. It seems weird but it just bugs me for some reason!

6. What id your favourite colour and why?

Red – not too sure why, I just always have! I could say something funny here like “red things always go faster!”

7. Do you have a favourite place in the world? Describe why?

Sumner Beach, a great place to be at in the summer, sitting in the sand, swimming in the sea, and there are lots of good cafes around too!

8. What’s your connection to SIFT?

I present and produce Plains FM Mornings, where we have a weekly slot with SIFT on Monday at 9.10am looking at sustainability (shameless plug – tune in weekdays from 8am on 96.9FM or streaming live at plainsfm.org.nz!).

9. Do you remember your favourite teacher and why they were your favourite?

Dr Huffadine from King’s College in Auckland – wasn’t officially my teacher but he was my Housemaster and he taught us a lot at school, and was always up for a game of pool in lunchtime.

10. What do you want to leave behind?

As little waste as possible.

11. What do you think the future will bring?

Who knows – 2 years ago I would’ve never predicted I would be hosting my own radion show in Christchurch, so I’ve given up trying to predict the future!

12. Who is someone you really admire and why?

My mum – she’s raised 4 children (of which I’m the youngest) while finding time to volunteer in the community, work as a part-time journalist in Auckland, and finish her BA with First Class Honours last year – now all she needs to do is start her PhD!

13. What is happening outside your window right now?

I see trees of green (but not red roses too), plus the redevelopment of Visions of Campus at CPIT.

14. What is your favourite breakfast?

Nothing beats scambled eggs on toast, especially if a nice flatmate brings it to you in bed (hint hint).

15. What is the best piece of advice you can give us?

Always have a positive outlook on life, and don’t forget to smile.

ASB Classical Sparks

Last Friday the Christchurch City Council put on one of the favourite events of the Summertimes festival, the ASB Classical Sparks. Classical music, a picnic and some fireworks brought between 80,000 and 100,000 Cantabrians to North Hagley park. But, that also brought a mammoth amount of rubbish as well. People brought their own picnics with varying degrees of preparedness and others were able to purchase food onsite.

Being a waste minded person I was a little worried about what would be on offer for festival goers in the way of waste disposal but, the City Council had the waste logistics covered. All around North Hagley park there were the recognisable Christchurch City waste bins – yellow for recycling, red for rubbish to landfill and green for food waste. It was great to see these waste depots dotted around for easier access. As well as being told by the emcee about how to dispose of rubbish (and even told to take it home with you) there were also city council events people standing next to each depot to help event goers put the right rubbish in the right bin. An excellent opportunity to increase a population’s knowledge (and therefore change their behaviour) of how to dispose of their waste in the right way.

It is hoped that every event provides easy access for people to dispose of their waste appropriately or even better events become zero waste.

Regardless of the waste element a great night was had by all.

Source: Flickr frank-chimero

The 21st century is going to be about radical change. A radical change to the way humans live. In order to create this change for a better and healthier earth we need ideas, motivation and action (and funds).  SIFT can help those individuals in Canterbury who have the ideas* (that need to be proven or are ready to be implemented) that will create a life with less waste and more sustainable living. We can also help with the motivation and the action!

Christmas is a good time to slow down and take the time to just be quiet and let the brain have a rest. But, this is also normally when the good ideas are generated. So, if you start 2010 with an idea that you think might make difference to Canterbury’s waste then don’t hesitate to apply to SIFT.

As No Impact Man recently said we have to choose whether we we want to be people who will at least try to create a better world.

*Eligibility criteria applies

Glen Saunders (R) with Tindall Foundation's Trevor Gray (Foundations Manager) on the left

SIFT CEO Linda Norris travelled to Auckland on Wednesday to attend an insightful workshop on Social Lending. Presented by Glen Saunders the workshop was on his recently completed research into social lending in New Zealand that had been commissioned by the ASB Community Trust and the Tindall Foundation. Glen Saunders was the Managing Director of the European bank Triodos Bank and has experience in socially responsible investment and global investment markets.

The ASB Community Trust and the Tindall Foundation wanted to find out:

• What trusts and foundations are doing overseas in social lending and investment?
• What is happening in social lending in New Zealand.
• And what are the prospects of increasing social lending in New Zealand.

Social lending is a type of investment that “sits between commercial loans and investment, on the one hand, and charitable grants and donations, on the other.” Social Lending has been used overseas for many years to help fund initiatives with a social goal but isn’t been utilised in New Zealand much at all. In fact, Glen’s reserach found that New Zealand isn’t keeping pace with “the international development of social enterprise and lending”.

As Glen Saunders states in the handout “Foundations should consider [social lending] for a number of reasons:

• [That it will] increase their impact by extending their reach both in amount and type of project,
• Allow successful projects to achieve greater scale,
• Build stronger projects by improving a project’s management,
• Provide better focus on long-term operational sustainability in projects,
• Allow projects to acquire assets,
• Avoid the weakening of a project through inappropriate grants,
• Help build social markets, and
• Allow systematic interventions where a mixture of loans and grants are needed.”

Along with diligent investment/lending practices and sound management of the project social lending will allow many with the ideas and projects to make them happen. If New Zealand is to become a more sustainable country reducing its waste to landfill and tackling climate change then individuals that have the solutions will need a hand to make them successful. Social lending will allow for public-private partnerships and the individuals and communities to lead the change required. All will benefit from this new way of investing.

Since the reserach has been collected SIFT has grown its loan portfolio in both number and size and we have made our first major investment in a project. SIFT is moving towards being the key social lender for waste reduction initiatives in Canterbury.

You can find more information here (a presentation by Glen Saunder’s to Philanthropy NZ in March 2009).