Welcome to Symmetry Sustainable Business

Dear {FIRST_NAME},

Sustainability means making the future a priority in today's decision making.

The Symmetry Sustainable Business Newsletter is a quarterly publications that keeps Symmetry Subscribers up to date with the latest Symmetry news and Sustainablity tips and information. If you have any information that you feel is of interest to the Sustainable business community please email us at: symmetrynews@symmetry.org.au

President's Remarks

I would like to welcome you to this first newsletter - Symmetry NewsLink. Through this medium we hope to engage you in sharing information on sustainability, which we hope will support and enhance your personal endeavours in this regard.

We at MACROC take sustainability seriously and holistically, focusing not only on its environmental aspects but also on its economic and social dimensions. The Symmetry Sustainable Business is a good manifestation of this philosophy and we hope that businesses participating in this program would acquire requisite skills to not only reduce their carbon footprint but enhance their bottom-line as well. It also demonstrates best practice in partnership and regional collaboration, with active support from our project partners - the University of Western Sydney, Macarthur Business Enterprise Centre and Macarthur Centre for Sustainable Living. C91.3 and The Advertiser provide useful media support. I acknowledge that the project would not have been possible without the funding support from AusIndustry under the Building Entrepreneurship in Small Business Program.

We encourage our readers, especially small businesses, to consider how Symmetry Sustainable Business Program can help you achieve greater sustainability. Remember: A good environment is smart business.

Cr Rob Elliott
President
MACROC

Symmetry Workshops

Camden, Campbelltown, Wollondilly and Liverpool Councils in the South West Sydney are leading the way in small business sustainability through the Symmetry Sustainable Business program. Almost thirty businesses have entered the Symmetry Sustainable Business program since our first workshop in early April. Our participants know that a good environment is smart business.
Read more about the Symmetry Workshops

Bronze Graduates

15 businesses achieved Bronze Symmetry Certificate at the graduation ceremony held at the premises of Beer Shed, a boutique brewer, in Leumeah. MACROC President Cr Rob Elliott said that these firms have taken an important step in reducing their carbon footprint by adopting sustainable business practices, which should provide new opportunities for growth.
Find out more about the Bronze Symmetry Certificate Graduates

Solid Waste Management

As of 1st July 2008, charges for disposal of commercial waste will increase by up to 33.92% for local businesses. This will bring the cost for some services in Macarthur and Liverpool up to $165 per tonne. This is a great time for all small business to consider ways of not only reducing waste. Remember, refuse, reduce, reuse and recycle.
Find out more about Solid Waste Management

Did you know?

Green House Gas Data Collection

• Only 2% of Australia's top companies have high confidence in their GHG emissions data and have implemented strategic response to climate change, says PricewaterhouseCoopers PwC survey EMN.net.au search:PwC

Garnaut Report

• The environmental policy landscape is changing fast. The Australian Government has rectified the Kyoto protocol and once the Garnaut report has been considered National emissions trading Scheme will be instituted by 2010. View Garnaut report at www.makeitinmacarthur.com.au/symmetry/

Waste Recycling

• With over 75,000 tones of mixed crushed glass sent to the landfill every year, civil construction firms can improve their triple bottom line by using recycled crushed glass as a substitute for natural sand. How? Visit www.environment.nsw.gov.au, follow links to recycling and waste section.

Water savings: Benchmark for Cooling Towers

• Sydney Water has established benchmarks for water usage in offices with cooling towers and shopping centers. The best practice was 0.77kL/M2/year for the former and 1.35 for the latter. Get a copy of the guidelines at www.sydney-water.com.au.

Refillable Pens

• Disposable pens add 700 tonnes to landfill each year in Australia. Reduce waste sent to the landfill by using refillable pens, recycled pens or even biodegradable pens.

Camden Airport Bushland Project

Preservation of Camden Airport Environmental Protection Zone is essential for conservation of the area's fragile ecosystem. Thanks to Greening Australia, a number of initiatives are being undertaken such as bush regeneration and control of noxious weeds. Businesses participating in the Symmetry Sustainable Business Program can get appropriate recognition if they are involved in program such as this.
Find out more about the Camden Airport Bushland Project

Attention:

This newsletter is purely for information. MACROC takes no responsibility and provides no guarantees, warranties or representations, implied or otherwise, for the content and accuracy of the newsletter, featured products and links.