Issue 10 April 2014

Repak Update

Prevent & Save

A new social enterprise called ReCreate finds unwanted and surplus materials for creative reuse in schools, preschools and arts and crafts groups. ReCreate is an Arts, Play and Education Resource hub providing access to a huge range of affordable, creative materials, art & craft supplies and inspiration for people both locally and nationally. It is a not for profit social enterprise that believes in the creative reuse of resources and access for everyone to these resources.

What ReCreate Do:

Located on Ballymount Drive, just off the Long Mile Road and the M50, it is accessible by car or bus. ReCreate source end of line, surplus and unwanted materials and items with potential from local business which are then supplied as Arts & Crafts materials and Educational Play resources for Creative Groups groups working with children, young people and others.

This helps local business divert waste from landfill because all the stock is donated or diverted from the waste process to be recreated by members, which in turn helps schools and communities to stretch their budgets and their imagination.

This makes a positive impact both on the environment and on our creative community’s resource bank. ReCreate aim to re-distribute around 100 tonnes of materials per annum for creative re-use including:

• Cardboard & paper – all types & sizes, • Fabric & textiles, • Boxes, • Pots, • Bottles, • Foam & rubber, • Tubing and piping, • Bits, bobs, buttons and all manner of colours, textures and shapes to inspire.

How They Do It:

ReCreate is a not for profit membership organisation which anyone can join. Membership gives you unlimited access to the ReCreate SuperStore (and in the near future big discounts on Art & Craft supplies in the Retail Shop). They have a creative work room in-house which can be hired out for Arts workshops, Community or individual projects, children’s parties or corporate outings with a creative twist.

ReCreate source and collect their stock from all over Dublin city and County for free so if you are a business owner with a surplus of unused, unwanted and unloved items with potential get in touch. ReCreate collect the materials from businesses including Smurfit Kappa, Bewleys, Universal Records, Avoca and Gate Gourmet, who see their involvement as part of their corporate social responsibility programme.

Schools or other groups can access unlimited supplies of the materials for an annual membership of €60-€250 depending on size, with a school of more than 500 pupils paying the top rate. ReCreate currently employs two full-time and seven community work placement staff. Let ReCreate help you reduce your waste bills, while helping the environment and our Arts Community. They can arrange collections on an ad hoc or on-going basis.

Contact Dara by email: info@recreate.ie or by phone: 01 456 8798 or visit recreate.ie for more information.

Repak MeMbeRship news

Foodcloud.ieFoodcloud’s mission is to help reduce poverty, reduce waste and to restore that good old Irish community

spirit based on shared food.

The Problem

Over 600,000 people in Ireland, many of whom are children, suffer from food poverty. At the same time, one million tonnes of food is wasted. In fact, Ireland is the fifth worst waster of food in Europe. Supermarkets, restaurants, cafes and caterers contribute significantly to this figure. This isn’t their fault, it’s just that uncertain demand means that good food goes unsold. Disposing of food adds to the already high costs of running their business.

The Solution

There are many wonderful organisations helping the needy in every town in Ireland. On the other hand food businesses often have good food that they haven’t served at the end of the day. Often businesses and charities are unaware that they can help each other. To solve this problem, Foodcloud brings them together in order to reduce both food waste and food poverty. They do this with the use of a snazzy app, legal contracts (to make sure everyone follows all the food safety rules), and a network of businesses and charities willing to restore some of that old Irish community spirit based on shared food. Check out this video to find out more.

A Short History

Foodcloud was started by two students who, having witnessed people suffering, began to do some research. The facts spoke for themselves: copious amount of food was being wasted when people were going hungry. So they decided it was time they did something about it.

Foodcloud was born from the combination of idealistic optimism and the encouragement and support of Enactus (a community of student, academic and business leaders committed to using the power of entrepreneurial action to transform lives and shape a better more sustainable world). Since then Foodcloud has gone from strength to strength. Foodcloud is now registered as a non-profit organisation, has an app and has food businesses and charities registered to help correct the current situation. Today Foodcloud holds a Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Minnovation Award, a place in NDRC’s start up accelerator programme - Launchpad - and are recent winners of the Arthur Guinness Projects.

How it works

It’s deliciously simple! By using the Foodcloud.ie app, or through their website, businesses who have registered can upload details of their surplus food and the time period in which the food can be collected. The app then automatically sends a text message to the nearest community organisation in that area. If they can use the food on offer they accept the offer and collect it directly from the business. If they reject the offer (not every food type suits every organisation) the offer is sent to the next nearest organisation and so on.

For more information about foodcloud click here.

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making consistent impact: environmental trends, best practice and supports

New report highlights top Irish companies best practice in environmental responsibility.

Commitment to environmental responsibility has now become the norm for large Irish businesses. The vast majority have an environment policy in place and have set environmental objectives and targets. Many Irish businesses are now taking practical action particularly in relation to energy and waste. However, environment programmes need to be developed further to include issues such as water and biodiversity; areas that are currently lagging behind other environmental aspects.

Business in the Community Ireland has published a recent report highlighting the trends, challenges and best practices of its member companies in relation to their environmental responsibility. The report entitled ‘Making Consistent Impact: Environmental Trends, Best Practice and Supports’ outlines the significant benefits to business of taking action on the environment. Responsible environmental business practices not only result in substantial cost savings and the obvious positive impact on the environment, they also result in important knock-on benefits. These include improved employee wellbeing from promoting more sustainable forms of transport such as cycle to work programmes as well as improved community engagement

Waste has been on the business agenda in Ireland for some time and this is reflected in this report with all companies reporting that they have implemented at least some measures to reduce the impact of their waste on the environment. Recycling is still the main focus for many companies with some companies recycling up to 95% of their waste. However, a commitment to innovatively reusing waste or reducing waste at source is still not apparent on a widespread basis. Large businesses are in an excellent position to take a leadership role on this and other issues, using their influence and skills to drive change in their supply chain, in particular with small to medium enterprises. Government leadership in the form of a comprehensive sustainable procurement strategy is also necessary to have real impact here.

The last decade has seen immense positive change in how Irish businesses approach their environmental responsibility. Business in the Community Ireland hopes that the trends, best practice examples and the wide range of environmental supports outlined in this report will prompt further action in this area, inspiring all businesses to take on new challenges and continually evolve their approach to environmental sustainability.

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Training and Events SNS Manufacturing Exhibition.The 2nd Annual SNS Manufacturing Exhibition will take place on Wednesday morning, May 14th, 2014 in the conference centre of Southcourt Hotel, Raheen, Co. Limerick.

Overview: The format of the event is a table top exhibition of manufacturing companies in the Munster region coupled with Seminars in Process & Resource Efficiency via SNS. We have engaged with the buyers in & outside of the region to create a “meet the buyer” style event to promote business development.

Who should Exhibit? Any Manufacturing / sub-supply company interested in winning business.

Who should Visit? Companies / Individuals looking for:

• Manufacturing / sub supply contractors.

• Advice on Resource Efficiency and /or Process Efficiency.

Cost: Exhibition Stand - SNS Members: €75, Non Members: €125, Membership & Exhibition Bundle: €225 Entry to the Exhibition & Seminar.

Visitors and Exhibitors can register here.

Please contact Lorraine at lorraine@snshannon.com or at 085-8661498 for more information.

Through pooling existing competencies and developing new ones, collaborating networks of companies will succeed in the global competitive and rapidly changing environment.

Training Programme: Waste Collection Permit Compliance

Date & Location: April 10th, 2014 in Tullamore Court Hotel

A one day training programme - Waste Collection Permit Compliance - has been scheduled for the 10th April 2014 in the Tullamore Court Hotel.

This one day programme is aimed at waste managers who are responsible for the day to day operation of their waste collection permit. The course gives an understanding of the legislation and the requirements of the National Waste Collection Permit office. The course will also deal with the application, review and renewal process. Record keeping, use of EWC codes and the production of the Annual Environmental Report will be dealt with in detail during the training. Delegates will receive a comprehensive reference manual and copies of the relevant Irish Regulations and Consolidated Waste Management Act.

For the brochure on the programme content and the booking form please go to the web site: www.environmentaltraining.ie

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Repak Ltd.Red Cow Interchange Estate1 Ballymount Rd.ClondalkinDublin 22

www.repak.iewww.preventandsave.iewww.recyclemore.ie

membershipservices@repak.ie01 4670190