Pledge for the Planet
For the second year running, we are excited to announce that this year's Geelong Business Excellence Awards will be certified carbon-neutral under the Australian Government's Climate Active Scheme. Our partnership with Climate Society allows us to estimate the carbon footprint of the 2023 Awards presentation event. We then re-calculate the carbon footprint post event after implementing a number of strategies to reduce our footprint.
Sustainability is the heart of everything we do. Here are some areas we have been focusing on to reduce our carbon footprint:
- We have engaged local talent for the role of MC and entertainment
- The team at Higher Mark are developing a customised menu focused on locally sourced ingredients
- There will be NO printed menus or order of proceeding. All will be accessible via a QR code
- QR Code will be printed on 100% recyclable card imbedded with seeds that guests can plant at home
- Audio visual screens will display the table number – again no printed tickets!!
- Centrepieces will be locally sourced. One lucky person on each table can take it home to plant in the garden
We have estimated our carbon emissions from the event and will be offsetting these emissions by contributing to the Carbon Offset Project. Please click here to view the report.
Carbon Offset Project
We are supporting the Improved Cook Stove Project 1, Nkhata Bay District, Malawi, certified by the United Nations. This project benefits approximately 200,000 people. Traditional three-stone fires are used by local people:
- Consume a huge amount of wood resulting in major deforestation. It also takes a lot of time to collect all this wood. This time can be spent on education and other activities.
- Produce lots of smoke and therefore causes health problems such as lung cancer and child pneumonia, mostly affecting women and children.
- Are unsafe for children.
We are replacing traditional three stone fires with a fuel-efficient cook stove, that has improved health of local communities and has already significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Click here to learn more.
Acknowledgments
The Geelong Business Excellence Awards team would like to thank Luciana Manrique and Craig Kennedy from Kenstra for their inspiration and support to take on this amazing initiative.
Thank you also to Armando Aragon from Climate Society for their services in calculating the carbon footprint.