Conscious consumption

With every dollar we spend acting as a vote for the businesses we buy from, Zoos Victoria is focused on supporting environmentally and socially responsible enterprises.

WORDS Jo Stewart

staggering number of products and services are necessary to keep Zoos Victoria operating, and each one has passed strict criteria – some of these include food, drinks, uniforms and utilities.

Zoos Victoria’s Procurement Manager, Naomi Muscat-Leov, is targeting 100 per cent responsible procurement by ensuring that Zoos Victoria’s suppliers are operating in sustainable and ethical ways that minimise environmental and social impacts.

“It’s something we take extremely seriously,” says Naomi. We must do everything we can to mitigate impacts on natural resources and not add to the problems we’re trying to tackle. It’s a complex, huge undertaking, but it’s necessary.”

To do this, the procurement team conducts thorough supply chain reviews to assess if suppliers are

Aand clothing featuring prints by Warlukurlangu Artists – an Aboriginalowned not-for-profit organisation. Naomi explains that responsible procurement can be complicated but leads to worthwhile outcomes.

aligned with Zoos Victoria’s values and ways of operating. Gender diversity, fair and safe workplace practices, and environmentally sustainable outputs and practices are essential.

Spotlight on the supply chain

From the food served at the three zoos, to the items stocked in the Zoo Shops, Zoos Victoria is focused on partnering with suppliers that operate in an ethical, fair and responsible way.

“Supporting local businesses is also important. We work with many Indigenous suppliers and social enterprises that support disadvantaged Victorians,” says Naomi.

You’ll find many eco-friendly and sustainable items in Zoos Victoria’s shops and online store. There are 100 per cent recycled plush toys, biodegradable dinnerware, homewares made with sustainably sourced Australian timber by local businesses,

Looking behind the curtain

Businesses that supply less-visible services such as banking, utilities and superannuation are also under review.

“We’re asking all the hard questions to ensure that they’re aligned with Zoos Victoria’s ethics,” says Naomi. Animal welfare is another piece of the puzzle. Naomi explains that when buying food for the animals in its care, Zoos Victoria sources the most ethical options that are accredited as best practice in the industry.

“For the animals that need aquatic species in their diet, we need to ensure that their nutritional requirements are

HOT ROT COMPOSTER

WATER RECYCLING PLANT

met, but that we’re also sourcing the most sustainable and ethical species so that we’re not adding to an existing issue,” she says.

Embracing the circular economy

Zoos Victoria also harnesses the power of the circular economy. Waste outputs are considered during purchasing decisions, with preferences given to systems or arrangements that minimise or eliminate waste.

“We’re single-use-plastic-free across all zoos. The waste streams are wellmanaged and contained,” says Naomi.

For instance, elephant manure and compostable waste and packaging from the restaurants and café outlets all end up in Melbourne Zoo’s in-vessel compost machine. The compost created is then used by the horticulture team to grow plants and is sold as Zoo Gro in nurseries. The zoos also capture and use recycled water. ZN

CHALLENGE YOURSELF AT HOME

Responsible procurement doesn’t stop with businesses and big organisations, it’s something you can be conscious of in your own home.

“We all do procurement every day and everything we buy has an impact. We can all make good choices to support organisations that are doing the right thing for the environment. You might not get it perfect every time, but it’s about being educated and making conscious decisions,” says Naomi. Take care to do your research when signing up for new household utilities and choosing where you do your grocery shopping and which organisations you support. Be on the lookout for ‘green washing’, where companies market themselves as being sustainable but their practices are far from ethical. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Source coffee beans from ethical, responsible growers

Find out where your coffee beans are coming from and whether the processes are ethical and sustainable. Ask questions such as: X Are the workers earning a living wage? X Are the growing and roasting practices sustainable? X Do the plantations destroy or impact local wildlife? X Can I source eco-friendly coffee pods if I don’t have an espresso machine that takes beans?

Choose recycled toilet paper

An easy place to begin is with your toilet paper. Recycled toilet paper brands such as icare sort lots of different paper products, including textbooks and office paper, and turn them into cushy loo roll that you can buy at the supermarket. Make the switch today and see if your family notices the difference. For more information Click here

Shop at farmers’ markets

Go straight to the source and buy your produce from local farmers’ markets. Not only are you getting a fresher product that will last longer, the carbon footprint to get the produce from the farm to you will be far less than if you’d bought from a major retailer. Supporting your small local shops is another great way to reduce your impact on the environment – and it will foster a great sense of community too.

Switch to a renewable energy provider

Find out which energy providers rely on renewable energy and separate those that buy electricity from the open market – which is dominated by coal. Greenpeace has put together a great resource list of renewable energy companies in each state and how they are each taking action to become greener.

Click here to access

the guide.

With every dollar we spend acting as a vote for the businesses we buy from, Zoos Victoria is focused on supporting environmentally and socially responsible enterprises.