2018 actsmart winter newsletter › __data › assets › pdf... · winner – energy and water...

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Minister’s message Welcome to the winter edition.

It was with great pleasure that I attended this year’s annual Actsmart Business Sustainability Awards. It was a fantastic opportunity to hear businesses across the ACT

share their success stories. In this edition you will find further information, and perhaps inspiration, on the 2018 winners and their achievements.

I recently launched the Straws Suck campaign to help rid Canberra cafes and bars of single-use plastic waste, primarily plastic straws. Participating businesses pledge to reduce the amount of single-use plastic straws their business uses. Turn the page to see more information on how you can get involved as a business and as a consumer. I encourage all businesses to take the pledge and let your customers know— Straws Suck!

I encourage all residents to look for Actsmart accredited businesses and help support those who have made a real commitment to sustainability in the Canberra region.

Shane Rattenbury MLA Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability

Save the date! Don’t forget to pencil the upcoming Actsmart Business Sustainability Expo in your diary! This year’s Expo will be held on Thursday 13 September 2018 at the Southern Cross Club in Woden.

Stay updated with all things Actsmart on Facebook @SustainableCBR and our website at actsmart.act.gov.au

2018 WinterNewsletter

Now in its ninth year, the Actsmart Business Sustainability Awards were held at Hellenic Club Woden on Thursday 24 May. 160 guests attended the event and congratulated winners from a record 68 nominations – our biggest yet!

The awards acknowledge a wide variety of organisations for their outstanding achievements in efficient use of water and energy, better waste management and recycling practices. Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability, Shane Rattenbury, presented 13 awards recognising Actsmart clients who go above and beyond in all things sustainability.

Jenni Tarrant, owner of Bond Hair Religion, took out this year’s Minister’s Award for Leadership. Jenni deservedly prides herself on the positive environmental changes she has made in the salon, resulting in a dramatic reduction in waste. Eco towels, water efficient showerheads, a shampoo bottle buy back scheme for customers and iPads instead of magazines are just a few of her changes!

Flick the page to find out more about the great initiatives our award winning clients took!

2018 Actsmart Winter Newsletter.indd 1 06/08/2018 4:32:55 PM

Want your business to become greener but not sure where to start?Want a one stop shop for all things sustainability?

Then be sure to check out this year’s Business Sustainability Expo on Thursday 13 September at the Southern Cross Club in Woden!

You will find local businesses showcasing the latest technologies in waste, energy, water and recycling. You will have the opportunity to attend interactive and innovative workshops. And you will have the chance to network with likeminded people.

Last year’s expo saw a celebrity chef cook-off with recovered food from OzHarvest, a fashion show of upcycled second-hand clothes run by FASHFEST and an auction of a table made from recycled timber pallets by boyandgirlco. This year’s expo won’t be one to miss either!

And best part of all—it’s FREE to attend. For further details, keep an eye on actsmart.act.gov.au and our Facebook page @SustainableCBR

Interested in being a stallholder at this year’s expo? Please email [email protected]

Straws Suck is a campaign to help rid Canberra venues of single-use plastic waste, primarily single-use plastic straws. Single-use plastic straws are harmful to the environment and are regularly on the list of the top 10 most littered items. Straws are a non-recyclable type of waste and, as a soft plastic, don’t break down. They end up polluting waterways, harming wildlife. They are made from polluting fossil fuels.

We encourage all businesses to make a pledge to reduce or eliminate the single-use plastic straws they provide customers. We will provide marketing collateral so you can promote your pledge.

Straws suck. But you don’t have to.

Make a choice—Let your customers know that you think plastic straws suck!

To find out how you can get involved visit actsmart.act.gov.au or contact [email protected]


Cooleman Court Pharmacy

1. What was your main goal in signing up to the ACTSmart Business Energy & Water program? To ensure that we, as a business, were doing as much as we could for sustainability. The program allowed us to not only reduce our electricity usage but also gave us the opportunity to install new lighting (much brighter, which was highly desirable in our older store), reduce maintenance costs (through not having to get fluro tubes replaced) and save money on our electricity bill; wins on all fronts!

2. Have you seen a saving in your energy or water costs since implementing some/all of identified opportunities? Certainly. The electricity bill has been smaller and our shop is brighter, which makes for a better shopping experience and has helped sales.

3. What, if any, have been the major challenges you have faced? We were a little uncertain which lights and what ‘colour’ would be most appropriate in our store but this was overcome by using an electrician with a great wealth of experience and knowledge in the form of Frank O’Sullivan and his boys.

4. What is the biggest benefit in being part of the ACTSmart Business Energy and Water program?It’s good to know that we have been able to do our little bit to help out the environment and at the same time reduce our electricity usage hence reducing our expenditure

5. Would you recommend the program to other small businesses around the ACT?Of course. I couldn’t recommend it any more highly— it’s amazing how far the technology has come; reduced power usage, better brighter light, no old flickering fluro tubes that bring on migraines, cleaner (no flies/dust) to clean out of old fittings.

Five quick questions with....

1. What was your main goal in signing up to the Actsmart Business Recycling Program? To compete with the USA and achieve 100% success in staff training and awareness of what can be achieved as a measured result by a team effort in waste landfill reduction.

2. Have you seen improvements from staff in their recycling efforts since being involved in the program? Thus far, only two emails have been sent as a ‘naughty’ reminder for items in the wrong bin. The introduction of the organic waste bin has been taken on board and is now well accepted. Feedback from everyone has been good and our targets are being met each week.

3. What, if any, have been the challenges you have faced? With changes in our kitchen with the new organic bin, is the understanding of what goes in the bin. This has been one of our biggest challenges so far. Lots of questions in regards to tea bags and seeds or nuts from peaches, apricots and other nut fruits. The update from the staff education in regards to citrus fruits was a great start.

4. What is the biggest benefit in being part of the Actsmart Business Recycling Program? The staff meeting with an Actsmart representative. Feedback and points of interest have all been positive. It also backed what I have been doing as an individual as regards the recycle program.

5. Would you recommend the program to other businesses around the ACT? I would be very supportive of the program.

High Commission of Canada


actsmart Business Sustainability Awards 2018

Winner – Biggest Recycler – Large EventNational Multicultural Festival The 2018 festival attracted more than 200,000 patrons, who recycled an outstanding 8,829 kg that would have otherwise gone to landfill.

Winner – Waste MinimisationElections ACTThis year’s waste minimisation winner was hard to beat. Prior to starting the program this large organisation was sending 94% of their waste to landfill. Working with the Actsmart team, Elections ACT has reduced that to an impressive 1%!

Highly Commended – Waste MinimisationAusvetAusvet is very conscious of the environment and is always looking for ways to reduce their impact and carbon footprint. All its items is sorted into compost, recycling and secure paper with only 2% of waste going to landfill.

Winner – Biggest RecyclerACT Health Directorate (Canberra Hospital)The Canberra Hospital separates its waste into nine different streams, and diverted over 250 tonnes from waste to landfill between May 2017 and February 2018. In just two months, 2.5 tonnes of organic waste was processed using their new organics machine, ‘Feed Me Solutions’.

Winner – Biggest Recycler – Small EventThe Earth Festival The Earth Festival diverted over 368 kg of waste from landfill at their event held in April 2018, and hopes the event will be 100% waste free in the future.



High Commended – Biggest Recycler – Large EventKicks Entertainment Events/Oktoberfest 2017 Over 5,000 people attended last year’s event. With five waste streams available 1,950 kg of material was recycled including bottles, cans and cardboard resulting in more than 67% of total waste diverted from landfill.

Winner – Energy and Water StarSpielwelt German Parents Association & Pfadfinder Scout Group As a result of energy efficient upgrades by the association and scout group, electricity use reduced by more than 5,100 kWh, eliminating 4 tonnes of CO2 pollution and saving over $1,000 on electricity bills per year.

Winner – Corporate AwardLittle National Hotel Little National Hotel is environmentally savvy, reducing printed pages from more than 150,000 per year to zero to become completely paperless. The hotel has installed over 100 solar panels, which produce more than a third of the power used at the hotel.

Winner – Small Business AwardBond Hair Religion This salon has committed to making environmental changes. Easy dry towels are 100% water saving and biodegradable. New water efficient taps have reduced water use by 56%. A new shampoo buy back scheme helps customers recycle. Only 13% of waste is sent to landfill.

Winner – Motivation ExcellenceQueen Elizabeth II Family Centre The QEII Family Centre has been helping families since 1926. The team put together a short film to motivate and educate staff and visitors on the importance of responsible waste management, encouraging them to make conscious decisions when dealing with their waste.


Get involved today!

Printed on 100% recycled paper, made in Australia from Australian waste. No chlorine bleaching occurs in the recycling process and the paper has ISO 14001 environmental accreditation. A percentage from the sales of this paper is donated to Landcare Australia for the restoration and replanting of landfill sites throughout Australia.

Contact:GPO Box 158

Canberra ACT 2601

Phone: 13 22 81

Fax: 02 6207 2244

E: [email protected] W: actsmart.act.gov.au Follow us:


Winner – Motivation ExcellenceUS Embassy CanberraThe US Embassy’s Canberra Greening Initiative team finds new ways to motivate staff and family members to improve sustainable business practices. Their ‘Art from Trash’ competition proved to be a successful motivator, and allowed people of all ages to be a part of a great initiative.

Winner – Innovation ExcellenceGinninderry Joint Venture ‘The Link’ by Ginninderry is a sustainability focused education facility that showcases sustainable building design and practices. Thinking outside the box, ‘The Link’ has implemented solar panels, organic compounds and its very own ‘Air Bee and Bee’—a native bee hotel.

High Commended – Innovation ExcellenceDesign Construct IndustriesThis construction company has sustainable practices and has creatively used plastic drink bottles and rice husks to replace up to 20% of aggregate without reducing the strength of the wall being built.

Winner - Minister’s Award for LeadershipJenni Tarrant - Bond Hair Religion Jenni Tarrant, owner of Bond Hair Religion has been in the hairdressing industry for more than 35 years. Jenni prides herself on the success of her salon and is responsible for developing the initiative to make a positive environmental change by reducing waste dramatically within the salon.

For a full list of Actsmart Business accredited recyclers check out the NEW and improved map on our website at actsmart.act.gov.au


2018 actsmart winter newsletter › __data › assets › pdf... · winner – energy and water...

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