Green Thumbs Up.

Celebrate Earth Hour this month by making changes for good

Be Conscious

Be Genki is an Australian company that makes natural products for bath, body and home using recyclable glass bottles and recycled paper packaging. We ask founder Sam Sample about taking care of the environment and ourselves.

What made you decide to use recyclable packaging?
Be Genki’s philosophy is all about incorporating positive rituals into daily life to help you on the path to holistic happiness. This includes reducing the impact that we have on the planet.
When you purchase a Be Genki product, you are making a positive choice for the environment.

How can we make a difference?
Choose brands that take positive action towards environmental sustainability. When you purchase products that have recyclable packaging, make the effort to recycle appropriately. Most councils provide rubbish bins for recycling and it’s up to us to use them. Glass jars and bottles can be recycled for home use. When I finish using a Be Genki body cream, I re-use the 120ml jar for storing everything from loose tea leaves to hair bands. Stockists: +61 (2) 9130 8833.

Earth Hour 2008, 29 March

More than 10 cities across the world are making a stand to turn back the tide on climate change with lights being switched off for an hour at 8pm (your local time). Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney are committed to this initiative started by WWF Australia. Turn off to show you give a damn. Find out more at www.earthhour.org.

Do your part with Jetstar!

Jetstar passengers are continuing to embrace the airlines’ carbon offset program. Jetstar’s “greenest” route is Sydney to Ballina Byron, with almost a third of all passengers choosing to offset their travel with carbon credits. From mid-2008, the airline will introduce onboard purchasing of carbon offsets across all domestic, short- and long-haul international networks giving passengers who did not book online a second opportunity to offset their travel.

Another way to help reduce your environmental impact is to travel light. JetSaver Light is a new reduced airfare available to passengers travelling around Australia and to New Zealand whenever they travel with just hand-luggage up to 10kg. Less luggage = less weight = less fuel needed – so go for it and save on all fronts!

Clean up your act

Kyocera Mita produces environmentally friendly copiers and printers. Its Australian managing director David Finn ensures the company is a responsible business citizen with many green initiatives.

Not only was Kyocera Mita named Green Vendor of the Year 2007, you were named Green Crusader of the Year 2007. Why?
One of the biggest initiatives we got involved in was Business Clean Up Day, part of Clean Up Australia. We did a major cleanup of Pembroke Park in Marsfield, New South Wales, together with Clean Up Australia chairman Ian Kiernan AO and media personality Ross Greenwood. We also worked together with Clean Up Australia to restore Brush Farm Park, a heavily polluted parkland which is now enjoying the return of native animals.

I also implemented KyoCollect, where we collect and recycle your printer and copier consumables, ensuring 100% zero-waste-tolandfill disposal.

What questions should we ask before we purchase equipment?
What will happen to my old equipment? Will the manufacturer take it back? Is it recycled or does it end up in landfill? Too often people go for the cheap option, only to find that it ends up costing them (and the environment) many times more in maintenance and consumables.
For information, call +61 (2) 9888 9999.

Live today for tomorrow

Danin Kahn is the founder of Todae, a lifestyle store with products and services for all your eco needs. We ask him about investing in the future.

What were the factors that convinced you the time was right to start Todae?
I had been very passionate about environmental issues and global warming for a long time – but it had been very much a fringe issue. I was starting to interact with people who wanted to know more about what was going on – and also people who wanted to do something about it but didn’t know how. After our store opened An Inconvenient Truth came out, which really brought the issue into the mainstream. People finally realised that global warming is getting worse and there is no more time to wait. I didn’t want to wait any longer to start making a difference.

How can we make a difference?
Firstly through education. If people actually make an effort to understand what’s going on that encourages them to make changes in their lives. Secondly, through lighting. It’s not just about switching your light bulbs to energy efficient versions, but your downlights too. They can easily be replaced with energy efficient versions that are just as trendy and effective. They also last up to 50 times longer – big savings! Thirdly, through solar power. Government rebates are making solar installations far more accessible. If your system is connected to the grid, you can actually make money on electricity that you create but don’t use.
Tel: 1300 138 483 within Australia.

Spend Green Dollars

EARTH FRIENDLY
Let Climate Friendly help you become carbon neutral. They’ll help you calculate your carbon emissions and purchase green energy credits to offset against your environmental footprint. Then they’ll invest in renewable energy projects on your behalf that create alternative power from green sources, such as solar and wind, geothermal, biomass and biofuels. It’s just AU$25.30 for a one-tonne credit. Tel: +61 (2) 9356 3600.

ETHICAL INVESTMENT
Australian Ethical Investment (AEI) invests your money in businesses that are based on environmental or social ethics. Companies include Energy Developments, which develops and manages renewable energy and waste fuels, and even a house leased to the Sapphire Coast Tenancy Scheme which sublets it to low-income families. Ten percent of AEI’s profits go to charity. Freecall 1800 021 227 within Australia.

FUTURE FASHION
Australia has its very own green guru in the making: Rachael Cassar. Cassar’s one-of-a-kind high-end designs focus on dresses and outfits made from sustainable fabrics, demonstrating that luxury and sustainability can fit. Tel: +61 417 974 004.

ECO-SHOPPING
For guilt-free sustainable shopping, Neco offers a vast range of goodies from furniture to stationery. Toys, clothing and even fuel cells and rainwater tanks are displayed on their website, making shopping a cinch. Go to www.neco.com.au or call +61 (2) 9028 7900. – Phoenix Arrien