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Orewa Primary School has partnered with Sustainable Fundraising NZ to raise money for the conversion of their art room into a multi-purpose science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics room.
An idea from a parent resulted in a departure from traditional fundraising themes, which PTA chair Chanelle Probett says also aligns well with the sustainability and environmental issues that the children are learning about at school.
With the ‘Three R’ mantra of reduce, reuse and recycle central to Sustainable Fundraisings’ product selection, the eco-friendly items on offer include beeswax wraps, reusable coffee cups, steel straws, seed bombs, first aid kits, produce bags and many more.
The Eco Wraps are made from cotton, beeswax and pine resin and are an alternative to plastic cling film. “It’s really easy, just wipe or wash the food wrap after you’ve used it and you’re ready to use it again,” Year 5 student Libby Stefek says.
Most of the estimated 100-200 million disposable cups that are thrown away in New Zealand each year are lined with plastic and cannot be recycled without the proper facilities. The Cuppa Coffee cup is a lightweight, reusable takeaway coffee cup made from food-grade polypropylene – a plastic that can be recycled at the end of its life. The work of Kiwi artists decorates the cups.
Although plastic straws are increasingly being banned from drink outlets, if you go for a walk along one of our local beaches the chances are good that you will find a straw lying on the ground. The Sustainable Coastlines charity has collected more than 65,000 plastic straws in their 10 years of tidying up New Zealand’s beaches.
“The Orewa Primary School children feel so strongly about this that around 60 of them have written letters to the Prime Minister, asking for a ban on straws and plastic bags,” Chanelle says.
The eco-friendly Steely Straws on offer are made from premium food-grade stainless steel, are dishwasher safe, and resistant to bacteria, rust, and oxidation.
Another everyday item that people may not realise is a big cause of waste is the humble toothbrush, but there are more eco-friendly options. The students are selling toothbrushes with recyclable bamboo handles.
Info and orders (until November 11): sustainablefundraising.nz/campaign-products
