Businesses committed to improving sustainability

1 November 2010

Businesses committed to improving sustainability gear up for Expo

More than 20 businesses and community associations are to exhibit at this Friday’s (November 5) first Queenstown Lakes District Sustainable Practice Expo.

‘Showcasing Sustainable Practice’ takes place from 9am to 4pm at Queenstown Memorial Hall, hosted by the Centre for Sustainable Practice in collaboration with the partners of the Queenstown Lakes Sustainable Business Programmes.  Entry to the expo is free and people are encouraged to come along and see what people are doing to make their businesses and homes more sustainable.

Organiser Sharon Schindler of the Queenstown Lakes Sustainable Business Programmes is delighted with the response and says it’s a real opportunity for people to see the results being achieved by businesses in the region.

“The expo is shaping up to be a unique and compelling gathering of local leaders in sustainability from all business sectors.  Rilean Construction will launch a locally designed house that’s affordable and energy efficient, Ziptrek Ecotours will showcase their new ziplines, Interface New Zealand will show how they’ve redesigned carpeting so everything can be reused and recycled ...  There will be a demonstration of the Otago Polytechnic Solar Hot water trailer and a Ricoh Eco bike that people can ride to see just how much energy it takes to generate power to run an appliance,” she said.  

The expo also includes expert keynote presentations via Skype from Rod Oram - International Business Journalist, Sunday Star Times and Good Magazine Columnist, Rachel Vaughan - Green Globe Certified Kaikoura Community, and CEO of Envirocomp Ltd Karen Upston. Paula McCallum GM of Qualmark will deliver a keynote speech in person. 

Brief presentations and a panel discussion from the Queenstown Lakes Sustainable Business Programmes steering committee (Destination Queenstown, QLDC, Lake Wanaka Tourism and Chamber of Commerce) will cover the importance of this work to our region.

To view the full Showcasing Sustainable Practice agenda visit the Centre for Sustainable Practice website.

The Expo takes place this Friday, November 5 from 9am to 4pm.  All visitors to the Expo go into a draw for a prize pack which includes a Ziptrek Ecotour for two, a Dart River Jet Safari, a bottle of local organic wine, a Mobil prize pack and a $50 voucher from Queenstown Office Supplies.

ENDS

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