Awards make a change

By Casey Neill
FERNTREE Gully businesses were among those recognised in the Victorian Premier’s Sustainability Awards.
The awards acknowledged Victorian businesses and groups for their contribution to tackling climate change.
Etiko Fair Trade took won the small business category for its initiative in introducing products that comply with strict ethical and environmental standards.
Company founder Nick Savaidis said: “Etiko Fair Trade strives for the highest possible ethical standards for our producers and suppliers ensuring that our customers can have access to the most ethically sustainable products available.”
Mr Savaidis said all products sold in the store were sourced from worker or farmer owned cooperatives or from manufacturers which were certified as fair-trade and did not use sweatshop labour.
The rubber used in sports balls and footwear has also been certified as sustainable by the Forest Stewardship Council.
“We work with passion and we are in continual dialogue with a range of partners and supporters to ensure that we deliver the most ethical product possible,” he said.
The Ferntree Gully store is staffed by two full-time and two part-time employees.
“We also seek to reduce our own carbon footprint by investing in carbon offsets and, for instance, we are currently discussing opportunities with a carbon credit company in Lahore, Pakistan,” Mr Savaidis said.
Premier John Brumby presented awards to the winners of the five categories in a ceremony at the Crown Palladium on 20 April.
“The aim of these awards is to recognise Victorian businesses and groups that are reducing their environmental footprint and using resources in innovative ways,” Mr Brumby said.
“The five winners are standout examples of sustainability in action and I hope that other organisations will follow their lead as best practice examples in their respective fields.”
Davey Water Products was the winner of the large business category.
The business has manufactured rainwater pumps, filtration and water treatment equipment for the past 73 years.
The Ferntree Gully producer has reduced its use of drinking water by 50 per cent – or one million litres – per year, and its waste by 82 per cent.