Titirangi Painters’ exhibition rescheduled companies and their suppliers have a greater responsibility to reduce the environmental harm their products may cause. Bostok Brothers, who supply chicken products to Foodbox, are an example of a company taking this seriously. Its packaging is compostable and they also offer a free reusable courier box in which packaging can be returned to their own composting plant. (The compost is spread on their maize and broad bean crops which in turn feeds the chickens.) The company will also recycle any ice packs returned. As food box companies begin to embrace product stewardship, food boxes will become more attractive. Exploring reusable container options, minimising or eliminating plastic packaging, providing larger unit sizes instead of multiples of the same item, and listing the staples that they expect consumers to have in their pantries are areas that need more consideration from the companies involved. These measures should reduce the cost of the food boxes and potentially benefit the supplier, the consumer, and the environment. In September Kirsty Lorson’s Zero Waste in NZ Facebook site began encouraging ‘zero wasters’ to contact Woop, Hello Fresh and My Food Bag to ask when they intend to phase out their plastic packaging and replace their single-use packaging with plastic-free reusable options. Consumers can contact these companies at any time with their concerns and, the more who do, the more likely improvements will be made. Kristy Lorson cites Yum Jar NZ in Wellington and Noodie Foodie in Mt Maunganui as forward-thinking companies providing food box options without waste. They offer a 100% plastic-free service and use reusable jars which are collected and sterilised. Note: The West Auckland Resource Centre is happy for people to drop the cardboard boxes, large plastic pouches, insulation and ice packs into them at 2 Seabrook Avenue in New Lynn. They are open 12-2pm on Wednesdays and 10am-12.30pm on Saturdays.
Solutions to Food Box Waste • • •
Use the large plastic pouches as bags to collect soft plastic recycling. Woolcool can be used for animal insulation (worm bin cover, kennel, chookhouse), for hanging baskets or as a mulch around plants. The SPCA is happy to take Woolcool also. Ice packs can be used for strains and sprains, lunchboxes and chilly bins or donate to your local food banks or sports clubs.
Titirangi Painters were set to go with the club’s annual exhibition in August, but the Auckland-wide Covid-19 lock down put paid to those plans. However, club members remained determined to hold an annual exhibition this year and, on the first weekend of December, more than 30 painters will show works in the club’s rescheduled twoday display in the Titirangi War Memorial Hall, December 5 and 6. The paintings range from traditional and contemporary landscapes, still life, Safe harbour. Acrylic, portrait and figure studies, to floral, bird Lou Walters. and animal subjects and paintings of everyday life. Members work in styles ranging from representational and hyper-realist to abstract. Artists will vie for the club’s major award, Reflections of the West, featuring paintings with a West Auckland theme. Entries for that category will be displayed on the hall’s stage. A special feature this year is a memorial display of paintings by the late Barbara Leikis who passed away earlier this year. They will take pride of place near the hall’s front doors. “Barbara was a hard-working, respected and valued club member who held executive positions over the years and played a pivotal part in the success of the annual exhibition,” says Titirangi Painters’ President Mike Stock. “It’s important that we honour Barbara’s contribution to West Auckland art and the club.” During the show several artists will create paintings, giving attendees an insight Old trees. Acrylic, Tania Sunde. into the creative process, and visitors can vote for the People’s Choice award honouring the most popular work. The Titirangi War Memorial Hall is near the top of South Titirangi Road and the show is open to the public from 10am to 4.30pm on Saturday, December 5 and Sunday, December 6. Admission is free.
Coming up in In the December/January issue of The Fringe we will continue our build up towards Summer and the Festive Season. Yep, it’s that time of year. Not only are our many thousands of readers thinking about Christmas shopping and festive dining but also summer and the holiday season are looming large for many. Special rates and complimentary editorial space will be available to advertisers who would like to participate in this feature. The Fringe is well aware of the problems being faced by local businesses as a result of Covid-19 and the associated lockdowns and we are committed to supporting our local businesses and community organisations. Our keeping it local section remains available to support our advertisers and our community with free editorial space available to all advertisers and local community organisations.
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The Fringe NOVEMBER 2020
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