zero waste and recycling workshop 2023, Dunedin centric but relevant for all of New Zealand.

Earth Overshoot Day marks the date when humanity’s demand for ecological resources and services in a given year exceeds what Earth can regenerate in that year. In 2022, New Zealands Earth Overshoot Day lands on April 19th. We maintain this deficit by liquidating stocks of ecological resources and accumulating waste, primarily carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Earth Overshoot Day is hosted and calculated by Global Footprint Network, an international research organization that provides decision-makers with a menu of tools to help the human economy operate within Earth’s ecological limits.

As of April 19th in Aotearoa we have literally used up this years resources and are now borrowing from the future to live for the next 8 months. When we speak of leaving our future generations something to live on the way we act does not follow through with that kōrero.

“The fundamental principle of circular systems thinking is that everything is interconnected”

Dr Leila Acaroglu Disruptive Design Method

We are very excited to announce that Res.Awesome has partnered up with the amazing organisation Para Kore! The Para Kore programme works to promote zero-waste, closed-loop living and hopes to see Aotearoa transition to a circular waste economy. Para Kore is about honouring Papatūānuku, our natural land. Papatūānuku is a powerful force that gives life to all things and provides us with everything we could possibly need; physically and spiritually. Mother nature gives birth to all life and eventually, all life cycles fall back to the land. This is why we must treat her with gratitude and respect.

Everyone loves a laundry day companion and Res.Awesome is here to help. We are excited to introduce our latest stocked item available for purchase; The Guppy Friend. This is a truly revolutionary product that can help our community divert harmful microplastics from our waterways and natural environment.

The environmental impact of plastic has become a growing concern worldwide and here in Aotearoa. To uphold the belief that Kiwi’s are clean, green and environmentally conscious we must show respect for our land and ensure that the future production, consumption and disposal of plastics follow sustainable guidelines. One of the biggest barriers we currently face as a community is the lack of public knowledge around the different kinds of plastic. This blog post is dedicated to informing our readers about the different ways we can dispose of our plastic. We think is a good place to start when tackling our plastic problem.

At Res.Awesome we are all about showing appreciation for like-minded people in the community, those who are doing their best to tackle Dunedin’s waste flow. The humans at Connections Centre are doing valiant work and we want to use our platform to showcase their amazing community project. Connections Centre is a community-based support centre for people with increased needs due to intellectual and/or physical disabilities. Their kaupapa is to facilitate meaningful and active participation in community life with a holistic and collaborative approach. The folk here work to ensure the most vulnerable members of our community have access to all the resources they need to express themselves creatively. They offer excellent resources, well-qualified staff and a warm welcoming environment.

The Living Wage rate is voluntary and is paid by employers who want to make sure their workers get enough money to live with dignity.

Res.Awesome is proud to share the news that we are a living wage accredited business! The living wage concept is simply a common sense approach to looking out for our people. We believe that everyone should have access to adequate resources to keep their whānau safe and happy. Food, transportation, housing, childcare, clothing and healthcare are the basic things our wages should easily cover. Sadly a large chunk of the New Zealand population has been trying their best to survive on an inadequate rate of pay.

Heaps of R’s

Unless you have been living under a rock made of trash, you have undoubtedly heard of the three R’s commonly associated with best sustainability practices. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. While these terms pretty much explain themselves, we thought we would give this topic a wee breakdown for our Res.Awesome readers. While the focus on Recycling has been an important cultural shift over the past few decades, we would like to shed some light on some important steps that are perhaps more sustainable. Recycling is a great step in the right direction but if we want to really tackle our waste flow, we need to come at it from all angles. ReduceReducing our use of the petrol fuelled car is a great step for our environment. Biking, walking and using public transport are better choices and can take away the stress of looming parking tickets!In a consumer capitalist world, it has been drilled into us that we can buy items to make us feel happy or fulfilled.