1.What’s trending ?
Changing Psychology of Waste
The Perception of ‘waste’ as opportunity is becoming more and more mainstream. “A weed is a plant out of place.” Quoted by Jim Thompson is very much the same concept as what is happening in waste in Queensland.
The ‘odd bunch’ that started in 2014 within Australia has been changing our perceptions and challenging our Ego’s around what food really is. Could we actually love fruit and Veg that only a mother would? The answer is a resounding yes.
We have emotional connections to things that we value, that serve ‘us’ in that moment and when it no longer serves us the decision to disconnect is often far too easy!
Due to waste export restrictions, passionate people becoming more conscious in the creation, management and re-use of waste we are seeing this more and more. A recent great commercial example of this in a very active sustainability sector is Wyndham’s launch of their Full Circle Sustainability Program.
So far in 2019, the company has donated more than eight tonnes of furniture to local community groups associated with the areas in which its resorts are located. This has included 238 beds, 160 dining tables, 382 bedside tables and 611 chairs, among others. Earlier this year, 750 pieces of furniture from Club Wyndham Cairns was donated to Lifeline, which are now being sold through its network of shops, which help fund its 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention services.
2.What’s impacting the industry?
Public displays of commitment to reducing impact for companies and countries.
What behavioural science tells us is that we are loss-averse, social animals that make decisions in a time-inconsistent manner.
Simply put, we hate losing things and often give into immediate gratification (e.g. eating a donut) at the expense of our long-term goals (e.g. losing weight).
The good news is that research has discovered two factors that effectively help people achieve the behavior change they desire: incentives and accountability.
Commitment contracts, stakes, recognising who will receive the impact and or stakes (Recipient of money), Social displays of commitment and accountability partners that you respect who will support and also administer tough love are all effectual in outcomes.
The International Institute Sustainable Development has stated in a recent article that:
· Fifteen countries have announced their intention to achieve net zero carbon emissions by mid-century.
· A net zero target is the most important single indicator of a country’s commitment to fighting climate change.
· The UK is expected to become the largest economy with a legally-binding net zero target, with legislation currently before Parliament.
Closer to home along with many others, Victoria’s La Trobe University has set an ambitious target of net zero emissions by 2029, launching a $75 million initiative involving 20 projects.
One project involves the installation of more than 7000 solar panels on 27 buildings across the Melbourne campus, the equivalent of more than 17 km of panels. At the peak of solar efficiency, the panels will supply up to half of the campus’s daytime power usage. More than 3300 solar panels have already been installed on rooftops at regional campuses in Mildura, Shepparton, Bendigo and Albury–Wodonga.
If you personally want to stick to your goals and want to have fun with it, have a look at Stickk – its fun and it works!
3.What technology is available right now.
Plant Identification apps localised to Native Australia with integrated walking tracks and guidance. Naeus Explore is something to explore if you are visiting the regional area of Ipswich.
Embracing technology and also getting children excited by scanning nature is a definite plus. The app is fantastic and will continue to get better as more and more data around Australian natives is acquired.
Check it out here.
4. What are we watching?
If you drink wine, you probably buy for the wine, not the bottle!
Free Flow Wines 2019 KEGGY Awards at Sebastiani Winery & Vineyards to celebrate wine-on-tap’s incredible sustainability achievements.
Avoiding 22 Million bottles is something to be celebrated.
5. What are we listening to?
The Sustainable Jungle Podcast is a mission driven show, focusing on solutions for the world’s sustainability and conservation challenges. Hosts, Lyall & Joy, talk with some of the most interesting and inspiring people working to future proof our planet. Join us as we create a place to encourage and galvanize positive change.
Check out podcast #41
Danielle Doggett is the co-founder and Managing Director of Sailcargo Inc, the “freshly emerging freight company, here to make a name in the sustainable transportation market.” SailCargo are currently building their very first ship in their rustic shipyard on the Coast of Costa Rica. Ceiba, this first ship, “will offer something unique to both exporters and importers: the opportunity to finally close the loop for their most important organic, sustainable products.” – they will transport these important products between the Americas, all while running an entirely carbon negative operation.
Highlights
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Danielle’s background growing up in Kingston, Canada, her career path in sailing and more recently, her exposure to sustainable shipping (~02:00)
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Danielle’s early inspiration working with Tres Hombres and more about this inspirational ship (~03:15)
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A quick overview on how shipping works today (~05:30)
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How the existing approach is detrimental to the environment from the sourcing of materials all the way through to the end of life process of the actual ships (~06:00)
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An overview of Sailcargo Inc and Ceiba including how it will be a sustainable, carbon-negative shipping operation (~11:00)
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How the wood being used for Ceiba is responsibly sourced in Costa Rica and what Sailcargo is doing to build a carbon negative shipping company (~11:50)
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Clients that Sailcargo plans to work with and how these clients have been waiting for a solution like this (~13:40)
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Planned shipping routes between the Americas and the sustainable, important and “necessary” products that will be transported (~15:40)
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How Ceiba will be powered (in addition to wind power) using an electric engine, the largest of its kind in the world (~17:00)
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How Danielle’s family encouraged her sailing to help her overcome confidence issues (~19:20)
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Starting and running a sustainable company in Costa Rica and the support they’ve received there to make this project a reality (~20:10)
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Choosing the for-profit business model for Sailcargo vs the not-for-profit path (~22:20)
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The role Sailcargo will play in the local community including an educational center, providing employment, a give back program and the sustainable partners reinvestment system (~23:30)
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How Sailcargo is funded through selling shares in the company and the impressive uptake on this so far (~26:20)
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Who is investing in Sailcargo so far? (~28:00)
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Sailcargo’s progress to date and how long it will take before Ceiba is on the water (~29:00)
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The Sailcargo team and what life is like on the shipyard (~30:30)
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The use of film in telling the Sailcargo story (~33:15)
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The goal of planting trees on the shipyard to help reconnect a broken part of the biological quarter (~34:00)
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How these sustainable shipping ideas are starting to catch on around the world, particularly in Europe and growing interest in doing this at a larger scale (~35:00)
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Key requirements to make Ceiba economically viable (~36:40)
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Use of solar in powering the ship, how the team is waiting to be approached about making sails out of flexible solar panels and how they plan to use Ceiba to help test and refine innovative sustainable solutions (~39:25)
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Why Danielle has chosen to focus her time and energy on this project (~40:50)
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Danielle’s advice for mission based start-ups wanting to solve real problems (~41:50)
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Danielle’s advice for all humanity (~42:40)
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How to support Sailcargo and the Ceiba project (~44:30)
Quote we are contemplating:
“The greatest danger to our future is apathy”
– Jane Goodall, Conservationist.