Element Magazine - July 2014 Element Magazine - July 2014

upfront Man’s best friend When a dog’s gotta go, it’s nice to be able to take solace that the bag it goes in, is 100% degradable or compostable, meaning less environmental waste. Introducing Earth Rated Poop Bags. Corn-based, 15 bags come in a convenient holder which clips easily to any dog leash. They even come lavender scented, just in case it needs to make the journey home with you. The numbers Photo: Dave Olsen Call for NZI Sustainable Business Network Awards entries The pre-eminent and longest-standing sustainability awards in New Zealand, the NZI Sustainable Business Network Awards is now open to entries. They celebrate the contribution businesses and individuals are making to transforming New Zealand to a model sustainable nation. The closing date for entries is 29 August 2014. Find out more at sustainableawards.org.nz A Trade Aid winter gift pack This winter Trade Aid is celebrating handcrafted products with texture and warmth. Element readers can go in the draw to win a chunky, hand-knit cotton scarf, a woven hogla shopper, and super soft alpaca gloves, which are hand spun and hand knitted in Peru from naturally black alpaca wool, and contain no chemicals, fertilisers or pesticides. WIN To enter visit elementmagazine.co.nz 80 MWh The Queen’s Wharf Shed 10 solar system has produced 80MWh of electricity in its ﬁrst year 240 The number of panels afﬁxed to the roof 10 The power produced is equivalent to the use of 10 households $10,000 Total electricity savings after ﬁrst year of operation 75% The estimated percentage of buildings on Auckland’s waterfront which are ‘panel ready’ Fact sheets on climate change released Important information about climate change is now becoming available in an easily accessible form, thanks to an initiative by two New Zealand professional groups. Engineers for Social Responsibility and the Sustainable Energy Forum have combined forces to produce a series of climate-related fact sheets, written by experts, but designed to be readable by the general public and by senior school students. The ﬁrst nine fact sheets are now available online at esr.org.nz and further sheets are in preparation. Vote for the climate The Climate Voter initiative has gathered pace since it was launched last month, with almost 24,000 people pledging to use their electoral vote to endorse the political party whose policies best address the issue of climate change and rising emissions. The result of a collaboration between NGOs Forest and Bird, Generation Zero, 350 Aotearoa, Greenpeace, Oxfam and WWF, the Climate Voter initiative will culminate in a live debate between political parties on September 3. Follow the progress at climatevoter.org.nz That’s a wrap on eco lunches Three enterprising Kiwi mums have solved the problem of using plastic wrap and tinfoil by coming up with an entirely natural, sustainable, pollutionfree alternative. Honeywrap is the combination of organic cotton, bees wax, tree resin and jojoba oil to create a food wrapping which can be used again and again, while making your lunch look amazing. Check out honeywrap.co.nz Talk on orangutan’s plight Dr Ian Singleton, director of the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme in Sumatra and previously featured in Element talking about the impacts of palm oil production to the orangutan’s habitat, is in Auckland for a one-off talk. The talk ‘In Your Hands’ will be on Tuesday, August 19 at 7pm at the Bruce Mason Centre. Singleton is raising funds for Earth 4 Orangutans – to help towards establishing an Orangutan Haven and Wildlife Conservation Education Centre in north Sumatra. Find out more and buy tickets at aucklandzoo.co.nz element 5

Element Magazine - July 2014 Element Magazine - July 2014 | Page 5