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Comparing Sustainability Factors of Disposable Catering Consumables

Comparing Sustainability Factors of Disposable Catering Consumables. Brittany Packer – Greenteens Ian Challenger – Cawthron Institute 15 th October 2009. The Cawthron Institute. Established in 1919 as an independent community-owned research centre Employ 180 staff in Nelson, Blenheim

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Comparing Sustainability Factors of Disposable Catering Consumables

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  1. Comparing Sustainability Factors of Disposable Catering Consumables Brittany Packer – Greenteens Ian Challenger – Cawthron Institute 15th October 2009

  2. The Cawthron Institute • Established in 1919 as an independent community-owned research centre • Employ 180 staff in Nelson, Blenheim • Cawthron provides research, advice and analytical services to support New Zealand’s seafood industry and sustainable management of the coastal and freshwater environment

  3. Sustainable Business Group A team of 7 multi skilled researchers who will help organisations that depend on natural resources to improve their performance, financially, environmentally, … sustainably. Ian Challenger – Sustainable Business Analyst • Expertise – sustainability strategies and tools (such as carbon and waste management) • Background – community led environmental management, Led Kaikoura’s Green Globe process, Manager of Innovative Waste Kaikoura

  4. Brittany Packer

  5. Partnership Problem: consumable products used at public events • BayerBOOST Scholarship • Nelson City Council sponsored Envirolink funding for Cawthron time • Hosted by Cawthron to do the research

  6. Comparing Sustainability Factors of Disposable Catering ConsumablesBrittany Packer – Greenteens,greenteens@hotmail.comIan Challenger – Cawthron Institute,ian.challenger@cawthron.org.nz

  7. Endangered Leopard fund-raising museum August 2001

  8. Environmental concerns talkCold Spring Harbor Lab, NY, March 2004

  9. Greenteens: Plastic not so fantastic

  10. My thoughts on triple bottom line • That we should build the value of ecosystem services and the real costs of the things we use into our lives

  11. The aim of the project • To promote a process for local authorities that will enable them to determine which products being used at public events will assist them to reduce waste

  12. Approach • It was hoped that a full life-cycle impact analysis could be done to determine the best products to use • Would also allow me to learn this technique to apply to other sustainability issues

  13. Recyclable products • Those that can collected and reprocessed to produce new items

  14. What’s the difference between biodegradable and compostable? • Compostable: undergoes biological degradation during the composting process (up to 2-3 months) and leaves no visually distinguishable or toxic residues. This is the ideal model for disposables used at events. • Biodegradable: degradation results from the action of naturally occurring microorganisms over a period of time. Biodegradability is just one aspect of compostable. • Degradable: undergoes significant change in its chemical structure causing it to break down into smaller particles. The degradation process is triggered only when material is exposed to specific environmental conditions (such as ultraviolet light, heat and moisture). Residues are not biodegradable or compostable.

  15. Time didn’t allow for the full life-cycle analysis to be done • However, I researched different products, their origins and their advantages and disadvantages

  16. PotatoPak potato starch • Renewable • Byproduct of the potato industry • Made in New Zealand • Biodegrades in four weeks • Product does not withstand hot food or beverages

  17. It’s all context specific • There are no clear winners, so it’s important to understand what products have the least impact in a particular situation

  18. Community Education • A goal was to help inform local bodies • Put together a guide as a summary of the report • http://www.nelsoncitycouncil.co.nz/recycling-events-guide/

  19. Future directions • Complete life-cycle analysis • How reusables can be promoted at events • Raising awareness

  20. Acknowledgements • Karen Lee, Nelson City Council • Ian Challenger, Cawthron • Jim Sinner, Cawthron • Bayerboost Scholarship / Royal Society NZ

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