A treasure trove, a pataka kai for those in need, a library of clothes of any size – this is Super Swop Stop, the “free op shop.” Tucked away in the midst of a Spotswood neighborhood, one would drive right past.

Single-use takeaway containers are a big issue, so it’s no surprise that businesses have come up with ideas to reduce their waste and bring awareness to the alternatives. Some coffee shops, food stalls, and sushi storefronts, for instance, are meeting their customers halfway by providing compostable containers. But is this solving the problem, or creating a bigger one?

A lively turn out of twenty-five people attended the first Taranaki Soup event hosted by Startup Taranaki at the Do Box on 24th February. A collective $500 raised went to the winning idea - Victor Anton’s Wētā Watcher, a device that autonomously takes photos of ground-dwelling invertebrates and herpetofauna (lizards/geckos).

Our Taranaki region prides itself on its sustainable efforts, and we are here to help. Sustainable Taranaki provides education, workshops, and tours at The Junction - Zero Waste Hub on Colson Road. The Recycling/Zero Waste tours are free and can be booked for your group, family, school, kindergarten, business or organisation.

NZAEE Seaweek is New Zealand's annual, national week celebrating the sea funded entirely through sponsorship and in-kind support. Coordinated by Sir Peter Blake MERC since 2020 in partnership with NZ Association for Environmental Education (NZAEE).

Elvisa Van Der Leden is one of our newest team members at Sustainable Taranaki, and she’s come on board wearing a few hats but mainly will be our Zero Waste Educator at The Junction - Zero Waste Hub.

This April we are teaming up with Zero Waste Aotearoa to explore and understand all aspects of zero waste and the circular economy.

“Taranaki is a region rich in history, resources and fantastic people with the skills to create a sustainable and just economy fit for the future. Join the Zero Waste Network and Sustainable Taranaki to explore and understand how you can be part of the emerging circular economy at our upcoming networking event.

Tane Manu has joined the Sustainable Taranaki tīma as an Education Coordinator for Te Ara Taiao o Kaitake Conservation Education project in the Kaitake rohe/region.

Since its first hui in November, the Marfell Community Garden has made considerable progress and has brought together neighbors near and far to help develop the space. With 24 fully planted rows of vegetables, a kumara patch, corn clusters, teepees of runner beans and sunflowers as well as a perimeter of native trees…

It’s no surprise that more than just a few ears are pricking up at the thought of buying an electric vehicle, especially after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced “New Zealand must ban the import of petrol and diesel cars by 2032 in order to reach its climate change targets and de-carbonise the economy.” Electricarna parallels Americarna and showcases electric vehicles (EV) and E-bikes for anyone wanting to test drive and engage with local owners.

We’ve seen it all: compostable, bio-degradable, eco-friendly, plant-based... single-use takeaway containers are big issue around the world and in Aotearoa, so it’s no surprise that businesses have come up with ideas to try to reduce the impact of their coffee cups in the environment.

Summer is the best time of the year to get out and about on adventures, explore new places and spend some time relaxing, recharging and enjoying nature. If you’re travelling by car, van or motorhome, camping, hitch-hiking or renting a bach, there are really no barriers to continue to engage in our low-waste home habits.

How can we come together to address food security?

This was the main question that guided our actions in organising and promoting our Food Resilience Talks event on Thursday, 3rd of December. Given the importance of this topic and its growing relevance in the post-Covid context across Taranaki and Aotearoa, Sustainable Taranaki is now involved in the facilitation process to co-create a food secure communities plan for our region.

There are lots of ways to help our environment, and live a little lighter this holiday season. Therefore, we are proud to feature Karen Danenhauer from MamaGaia as our Sustainable Business Champion this month for her ingenuity in repurposing plastic into soap dishes.

Mummys in Need is a rapidly growing organisation that provides mothers and children with essentials that support the healthy growth and early development of their babies.

What is food resilience and how can we address the challenges that it implies? The conversation around food resilience in Taranaki is getting more relevant every time, as more and more actors, those who wish to enact positive change, start to engage in ways to secure our access to healthy, nutritious and affordable kai.

Kinderen Early Childhood Education Centre received the NPDC Waste Levy Fund this November for the purchase of reusable nappies to exclusively be used at their centre. With policies and procedures already in place, they are poised to make the transition. In order to commend their bold efforts to enact change as well as bring awareness to this more sustainable approach to running a childcare centre, we have named Kinderen our Sustainable Business Champion this month.

Ground Breaking Mushrooms hit the New Plymouth food scene with a spring debut at the Taranaki Farmers Market just a couple of weeks ago.

What an incredible 10 days with our garden hosts putting so much time and energy into sharing their knowledge and gardens with our community. We had record numbers attend this year and with the collaborative effort from the Taranaki Garden Festival and Arts Trail, we were able to engage new audiences and inspire people to take steps towards a more sustainable life.