Published 28 June 2022

Sustainability Expo 2022

On the 8th of June 2022 the inaugural Sustainability Expo was held at Parliament.  The purpose of the day was to showcase the organisations and businesses based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara/Wellington doing great things locally, nationally and internationally in the zero waste, low carbon circular economy space.  

The event was hosted by the Hon Grant Robertson and organised jointly by Sustainability Trust, Zero Waste Network and Grant Robertson’s electoral office. 

If you couldn’t make it along on the day, here’s a download of the action.

Hon Grant Robertson opened with Lani from Para Kore giving an inspirational speech about deepening our connection to Papatuanuku and circular systems being an ancient idea not a new one. Lani spoke specifically about kai, and the restoration of food sovereignty, and how our wellbeing is intimately connected to our environment, our soil. Watch this opening.

There was a fantastic buzz and energy all day with people learning about all the amazing initiatives happening in our own backyard and making new connections. Visitors to the event included MPs, staff from various government ministries, Councillors, Council staff, school children and members of the public. 

Stalls

To make the shift to a circular economy* we need to design different ways of producing and consuming. The transition requires continuous innovation, based on learning by doing. This happens in the messy real world and needs support from new models of policy and investment. We had loads of stallholders on the day who are all innovating in this space.  

Full list of stallholders:  two/fiftyseven / Again Again / Bata Industrials / Climate Club NZ / Cogo / Defying Obsolescence- Steve Almond / Ekerua Rebicycle / Energise Ōtaki / Hand Sewn - David Roil / Hardieboys Beverages / Hopper Refill Shop / Kaibosh Food Rescue / Kaicycle Urban Farm & Compost Hub / Method Recycling / Mugcycle / Nonstop Solutions / Organic Wealth with Gratitude / Pact Group - Flight Plastics / Place for Local Making / Recycle A Device / Reusabowl / Seasick Sunscreen / Solid Oral Care  / Sustainability Trust / Switched on Bikes / Takeaway Throwaways / The Free Store / The Rubbish Trip / The Tiny Plastic Factory / Tip Shop & WCC Waste Minimisation Team / Usedfully / VUWSA / Waste Free Welly / Waste Reduction Policy Stimulator - Victoria University / Why Waste Worm Subscriptions / Zero Waste Network 

*Circular economy is about making the best possible use of the resources and energy we draw into our economy by: designing out waste and pollution, keeping resources (materials and products) in circulation for as long as possible, and regenerating natural, social and economic systems. 

Talks

As well as stalls, we had talks throughout the day on different zero waste strategies that can enable the circular economy. 

Local Food Systems: Kaicycle, Everybody Eats and Kaibosh started off the speaking slots, with a very well attended session. Clearly there is a lot of support for local food systems and ensuring everyone has access to quality kai. Watch the livestream.

New Business Models: Again Again, Washing Up Welly and Hopper Homes introduced some of the new business models that eliminate waste from the supply chain. Watch the livestream.

Product Stewardship: Little Yellow Bird, Usedfully and Recycle a Device brought attention to the role manufacturers and suppliers have in ensuring products don’t end up in landfill. Watch the livestream.

Resource Recovery: The Tip Shop, Sustainability Trust and Energise Otaki brought it back to local action; talking about different aspects of community resource recovery and how it can improve people’s lives. Watch the livestream.

Sharing Economy: We finished on a high with Reusabowl, Mevo and Switched-on-Bikes talking about the sharing economy, how we move away from thinking we need to individually own stuff for the benefit of people and planet. Watch the livestream.

What next? 

We would love to see MPs and Councils supporting and replicating this event in future years in Wellington and around the country. Events like this are an awesome way for everyone in the community to find out more about local action and for likeminded organisations to gain inspiration and new connections. We’d also love to see such events deliver deeper connections with key decision-makers in Government. 

Want to find out more about the circular economy? 

• All the livestreams can be accessed on the Zero Waste Network Aotearoa Facebook page.

• Zero Waste Network’s Sue Coutt’s delivered a talk at this year's WasteMINZ Conference. This talk gives an overview of the connection between zero waste, emissions reduction and circular economy. It is about 25 mins long and covers a lot of useful stuff.

• The Ellen MacArthur Foundation has identified five universal circular economy policy goals that provide a framework for national governments, cities and businesses to create a transition that fosters innovation and decouples growth from finite resource consumption and environmental degradation.

  These are: Collaborate for systems change, Stimulate design for the circular economy, Manage resources to preserve value, Invest in innovation, infrastructure and skills, and Making the economics work