COVID-19

Lauren Bartsch

Future shapers wage war on waste

16 June 2017

Australia’s future leaders will be part of a war on waste when The Sir Roland Wilson Foundation hosts its first waste-free and environmentally conscious event.

From 20-22 June, the Foundation will host 60 delegates from around the country for the Future Shapers Conference. The conference brings together young people for a unique opportunity to develop professionally and build enduring networks across academia, business, the public sector, and advocacy.

Forum organiser Lauren Bartsch said that the event will demonstrate that with some planning, creativity and commitment from external suppliers, events such as these can be held using an environmentally sustainable approach.

“The event will be ‘paperless’,” she said. “A special conference app has been developed which will mean that there will be no printed programs as each delegate will receive their individual itinerary and program straight to their device.

“Using this app, delegates will also be able to pre-select their food preferences in the week leading up to the forum. This will allow the caterer to accurately predict the amount of food that will be required.”

The caterer was selected due to its commitment to sourcing local and in-season produce, composting and the use of re-useable crockery and cutlery. All food waste from the conference will be collected by the Canberra Environment Centre.

A coffee cart will prepare tea and coffee for the delegates, but no paper cups will be used and delegates have been encouraged to bring along their own cup. If they prefer – delegates can pre-order a new KeepCup. The forum organisers have also arranged to return the packaging that the KeepCups will be boxed back to KeepCup to be reused for future products. Coffee grinds will be collected and composted.

“On top of that, name tags will be made from recycled paper that is impregnated with native seeds and will be housed in lanyards recycled from previous events,” said Lauren.

“These initiatives will go a long way in reducing the waste that is often produced for events such as these.”

To find out more about the Future Shapers Forum go to: http://www.futureshapers.org.au/

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Updated:  20 March 2024/Responsible Officer:  Crawford Engagement/Page Contact:  CAP Web Team