My interest in environmental issues and zero-waste lifestyles is something that I'm exploring in my personal and business life. The impact we have on our planet can be overwhelmingly scary, but small changes make a big difference and can be surprisingly easy to put into place.
Here are some steps I've taken towards becoming more sustainable.
Alongside efforts to reduce energy use and waste, Billie Brook Photography is part of the Native Forest Restoration Trust's Carbon-Partner Program. Through this partnership, contributions towards the Permanent Forest Sink Initiative at Pigeon Bush near Wellington help maintain and restore native bush which mitigates the carbon created by me and my business. Carbon reduction projects like this provide benefits to the global climate and also the local community. You can read more about these benefits here.
In an effort to reduce waste, my parcels come in wooden boxes made by the ethically minded Wooden Box Shop. I avoid plastic and disposable packaging in all of my business practice as much as possible. My images are printed using 100% cotton rag paper which has a low environmental impact are are stored in re-usable cotton bags. All notes/thank you cards are written on 100% recycled paper. For client gifts, I support Wellington or New Zealand based businesses that have a sustainable and ethical ethos. Within Wellington CBD, I either hand deliver my parcels or use bicycle couriers, preferably the wonderful Nocar Cargo.
In order to give back a little, Billie Brook Photography is a part of the brilliant One Percent Collective team of givers. This Wellington based organisation’s concept is to give 1% of your income to a selection of charities that they partner with.
They pass on 100% of donations to a wonderful range of causes around NZ. Everything from cleaning up our coastlines and food-waste reduction to feeding and educating our most vulnerable people. They do a phenomenal job of reporting what their charities are up to and how your donations have helped with images and articles in their Generosity Journal and I’m proud to be playing a small part.
Have a look at their work here…
https://www.onepercentcollective.org/
Read their latest edition of the Generosity Journal here…
https://www.onepercentcollective.org/generosityjournal
And if you want to join the giving evolution, you can sign up here…
https://give.onepercentcollective.org/new