Blog

Cultivate & Motivate

Learnings, teachings and tips & tricks to educate you how to reduce and reuse.

Reuse in action

The team at Res.Awesome love supporting community reuse in action. Moving towards zero-waste means taking many pathways and investing in multiple solutions. Creating results that are higher up the zero-waste hierarchy than just recycling.

Refuse and Reuse is at the top of the zero waste hierarchy, and these are new old skills that we need to rediscover and part of our infrastructure system we must invest in. We are pleased to see that there is investment happening in this space locally from the Dunedin City Council. With these new upgrades to our curbside recycling systems being put in place over the coming years, we also need to invest in a reuse economy for all the other stuff that needs to be rehomed, and rediscover others’ treasures.

This is why we at Res.Awesome support and are now collaborating with The Restore Dunedin, our Kaiwhakaara Fi was invited to join the Restore Dunedin’s committee table as they go through some exciting upgrades.

The Restore Dunedin supports Habitat for Humanity’s Dunedin efforts to support the community with low-cost housing and housing repair.

Habitat for Humanity New Zealand is a not-for-profit organisation that works in partnership with people of goodwill and families in housing need, to eliminate sub-standard housing.

When you shop or donate goods to the Restore you are supporting your local community to have better housing. Now that is Reuse in action.

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Recycling - Just one part of a wider system

Achieving a circular waste economy will require action on many levels and will mean we must transition to using only renewable materials and energy sources. A zero-waste way of life will mean adopting new habits… and recycling is just one part of a much more comprehensive waste minimisation process. When looking at the zero-waste hierarchy, recycling actually sits pretty low on the list!

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How to Get it Done! Release yourself from Single-use throwaways!

Our society is ready for change. This one is for you coffee slingers!

When it comes to making a positive change for our local communities and our wider world, the good news is it is easier than ever to do your bit as a coffee retailer! Alternatives to the dreaded takeaway cup do exist. Thankfully the use of ‘keep cups’ has increased massively. If you own, manage or work in a coffee dispensary here are a few suggestions to get you started.

Talk it through with your staff

Their engagement is key. Talk together about how you all feel and reassure them that they will be supported moving forward.

Line up your alternatives

This is key. It’s like parenting (as is much of hospo right?)! It is always best to anticipate the objections you may face and line up solutions before they come up. Do your research on how to transition away from throwaway culture to ensure the switch is smooth sailing. That could look like a mug library, a reuse system or giving your keep cup users a bonus for getting on board.

Engage with your customers

Talk to your locals and regulars. Use your social media (if you have it) and posters to prepare your customers. There are free downloads on the UYO website via the ‘SIGNS CAMPAIGNS GUIDES’ button that you are welcome to take, edit or use as inspiration.

Talk it through with your coffee supplier

Coffee roasters are happy not to have their branding on single-use rubbish as they clog up rubbish bins or are littered on the street. Run your ideas past them. Some are more progressive than others and may have ways to support you in regard to supplying reusables for retailing or to loan you cups as you move forward. And the next time you order single-use cups (it won’t be forever right?) request that they are plain, unbranded. This will remove the temptation to your staff, and your customers, to promote throwaway culture on social media.

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Let’s Break Down That Single Use Cup!

Takeaway or disposable cups are gradually being eliminated from hospitality vendors around the country, as the use of ‘keep cup’s has increased massively. Good on you Kiwi’s! Most of us know by now that takeaway cups and service-ware are not doing us or our world any favours, but lets break this issue down a little further. When it comes to takeaway cups, what are they really made from and what keeps the coffee inside? All disposable coffee cups have something more than paper present in their design. There are many reasons we encourage consumers to put down the paper cups in favour of the keep variety and we would like to share some right here.

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Wash Stations - Our Zero Waste Future

The fast-paced nature of modern life often means we find ourselves participating in a ‘throwaway culture’ in which our food packaging and service-ware are designed to be disposable. Takeaway containers, plastic bottles, glass bottles, plastic bags, boxes, condiment packets, plastic cutlery, coffee cups, lids and napkins are a massive part of the hospitality supply chain. Much of this avoidable waste is generated at large community events; local food stalls and food trucks often rely on disposable service-ware to provide their goods and services. The great news is the Res.Awesome team know the perfect solution for diverting unnecessary waste from landfills. Wash Stations are one component of initiating an alternative, reuse economy.

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Home Waste Audit Time!

It's important to know where our waste is coming from so that we can make moves towards zero waste alternatives; within our budget of course, and one step at a time! Many households can agree that their waste problem is getting a little out of hand, but simply do not know where to start when it comes to tackling their trash. Without a good idea of what our waste is really made up of or the habits that contributed to its sheer size (and stench!)- it is hard to engage in the correct management of our waste. We totally understand why many people struggle to know where to start - which is why the team at Res.Awesome are here to help!

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Bee the Solution!

As all of our Res.Awesome followers will have gathered by now…. Plastic is terrible for the environment and we are straight up not a fan! Most plastic has a very short lifespan, especially the stuff we use to wrap up and preserve our food. Around 32% of the plastic we use in Aotearoa ends up in our natural environment; damaging and polluting our Papatuanuku. We are here to share with you a positive and hopeful solution to some of our plastic kitchen waste; Beeswax wraps!

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A Call to Action for Coca Cola!

Coca Cola is one of the biggest companies in the world and was the world’s worst plastic polluter for the fourth year in a row in 2021. This was confirmed by Break Free From Plastic’s annual report 2021. Coca Cola produces over 120 billion plastic bottles every year with many of these harmful products ending up in our oceans and polluting waterways, our ecosystems, our kai and our people. Our Res.Awesome followers know we are amidst a global plastic crisis. Microplastic and plastic waste has become inescapable - with more plastic still being produced.. The Coca-Cola Company have announced they will aim to make 25% of their global packaging reusable by 2030.

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The Kiwi Bottle Drive

Let us introduce you to the Kiwi Bottle Drive; an initiative designed with the aim to educate the public AND our politicians on the many benefits of a comprehensive Container Return Scheme. The Kiwi Bottle Drive is New Zealand’s campaign for bottle deposits. They have been working alongside communities, councils and organisations for over 20 years to get a bottle deposit scheme and start building a zero waste society.

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Circular Systems

Many of us don’t think twice about dipping into our local coffee shop to grab a cup of Jo on our way to work or grabbing a pre-made smoothie from the supermarket when our mornings become a little too hectic to make ourselves a proper breakfast. While many of us consider ourselves lucky to have such convenient options, the fast and casual nature of takeaway dining habits are not holding up so well on the sustainability front. The fast-paced nature of modern life often means we find ourselves participating in a ‘throwaway culture’ in which our food packaging and service-ware are designed to be disposable.

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All Eyes on UYO!

It is time to shine a spotlight on one of our favourite change agents in New Zealand, Laura Cope from UYO (Use Your Own) and Takeaway Throwaways! This badass, environmental pro-activist, waste crusader has been making waves around the country with her volunteer-based Use Your Own cup initiative. UYO is a not for profit enterprise that encourages people to steer clear of single-use cups with positive messaging and a nationwide presence. UYO has a very accessible online cafe guide which has various options for finding the right cafe for you.

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It’s time for us to be smarter