June 2016 – for SustainabilityNews.net.au

An app to check your “free range” eggs from CSIRO

Food Comments Off

Jun 222016

Hi everyone,

Free range eggs are pretty much available everywhere these days, which is a good thing. What you may not realise is that there is a vast difference between the CSIRO definition of free range and the one fixed by the government. The draft CSIRO code, which is endorsed by the RSPCA, states free-range hens should be stocked at no more than 1500 a hectare unless regularly rotated. This standard gives hens plenty of space to roam. According to CHOICE only eggs that meet this standard should be considered truly free-range. However the government standard is 10,000 hens per hectare. Most of the free range eggs on offer at supermarkets fall outside of the CSIRO draft code. The good news is that new national laws to be introduced shortly will force producers to label their outdoor stocking density.

To take the guesswork out of buying “real” free range eggs, CHOICE has developed the CluckAR app. With the app, you simply point your phone at the top of the egg carton and it will tell you whether or not it’s free-range. It will also let you know how good its free range claims are.

To download the app, search for CluckAR at your Apple or Google Play store.

To find out more go to:

https://www.choice.com.au/consumer-advocacy/campaigns/free-range-egg-labelling

Source: Free range? It’s all a bit scrambled, The Sunday Age, 5th June 2016, pg. 12

Download the CluckAR app and make sure what you’re buying are real free range eggs.

Many thanks

Lila

Resource Management Specialist,

Sustainable Skiing

Uncategorized Comments Off

Jun 212016

Hi everyone,

The ski season is officially open. The keen skiing enthusiasts amongst us will be hoping for lots of snow and already thinking about heading off to do a bit of skiing, snowboarding or tobogganing. Some of us might even be thinking about a visit to simply check out the lovely snow covered scenery and no doubt many have already booked a trip.

If you’re planning to hit the slopes this year, please consider the environment while you’re there. Here’s some tips to get you started:

Transport is probably the biggest environment impact of going to the snow – avoid flying if you can, catch a bus, train or car pool
Choose ski resorts close to home rather than overseas to reduce the transport miles
Carbon offset your travel
Use public transport to get to the slopes and use public transport or walk to get around the resorts
Choose skis and snowboards from companies that follow green principles and make products from sustainable resources such as bamboo
Look for eco-friendly ski gear and vegetable- based snowboard wax
Recycle / Donate your old equipment and ski gear
Don’t litter, use recycling bins where available and carry a rubbish bag around with you in case there’s no bins when you need them. You could even take that extra step and pick up litter you see. Note: At high altitudes, orange peel takes up to 2 years to break down and cigarette butts up to 5 years
Respect out-of-bounds areas and stay outside national parks whenever possible
Consider cross-country skiing or snow walking as these activities don’t need cleared, graded slopes, chairlifts etc.
Choose environment friendly resorts – check environment pages on resort web sites
Turn down the heat to 20 degrees and wear an extra jumper etc inside to keep nice and warm and turn off the heat when you go out
Switch off lights when leaving rooms and electrical appliances when not in use, just like you would at home
Take shorter showers (e.g. 4 mins max), turn down the hot water pressure and be frugal with water usage
Reuse towels when you can instead of getting fresh ones every day
Take your own refillable water bottles

Source: G magazine, Issue 12, July 2008, pg 57, www.gmagazine.com.au, How to Go Green: Skiing & Snowboarding, treehugger, http://www.treehugger.com/htgg/how-to-go-green-skiing-snowboarding.html#tips

Practice green skiing tips when you next venture to the snowfields and do something good for our precious environment

Many thanks

Lila

Resource Management Specialist,

It’s World Environment Day this Sunday!

Activism, Climate Action, Events, Wildlife Comments Off

Jun 032016

Hi everyone

It’s World Environment Day this Sunday!

World Environment Day was established by the United Nations in 1972 and is celebrated on the 5 June each year. The theme for this year’s World Environment Day is “Go Wild for Life” which encourages you to celebrate all those species under threat and take action of your own to help safeguard them for future generations.

The illegal trade of our wildlife is having a devastating impact on the future of so many of our planet’s precious animals and plants. There is a desperate need to change our habits and behaviours so that the demand for wildlife products falls. You can help by actively demonstrating zero-tolerance for the illegal trade in wildlife. Collectively we can push governments and internationals bodies to introduce tougher laws and penalise those willing to break them.

Sign the pledge at:

https://wildfor.life/act

For more information about World Environment Day, go to:

http://www.unep.org/wed/

Source: World Environment Day, United Nations Environment Programme, http://www.unep.org/wed/,

Let’s make World Environment Day a special day by taking action to help stamp out illegal trade in wildlife products!

Many thanks

Lila

Resource Management Specialist,