GETTING SERIOUS ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY AT NORTHLANDS

At Northlands, sustainability is about way more than reducing plastic bag usage.

We’re proud of what we’ve achieved on the sustainability front, and excited about our ongoing endeavours. So much so, that this month we’re celebrating… and you get a wee treat as part of that, after all what’s a celebration without a gift (see below for more information.)

We have success stories to share with you as we take note of what our centre has already achieved as a whole. In addition, we’re thrilled to note plenty of individual sustainability-related efforts being taken by our stores.

What’s happening?

You’ll notice displays throughout our centre this month pointing out key areas we are working on. Stop and discover what we’re doing to: utilise LED and solar to save energy, compost coffee beans and food waste, recycle cardboard and glass, and reduce plastic waste through our water filling stations. Fill up rather than buy another bottle (our water filling station is near New Zealand Natural and it’s been used more than 6,500 times. That’s many bottles saved from the landfill.) Have you noticed we have no rubbish bins in our food areas? We’ll clear your plates and sort organic, recyclable and land-fill waste to reduce our impact on our earth.

Our displays also promote products that can be purchased from our retailers who are re-using and re-cycling.

Sustainable success so far

So how impactful are our sustainability efforts? Check this out for starters:

• Since 2012 Northlands has reduced its waste to landfill by 21 percent or 87,000 kg – that’s equivalent to nearly 14.5 African elephants
• Northlands has reduced its carbon emissions by 47 percent since 2012
• Northlands has 672 solar panels, as part of NZ’s largest solar power programme.
• We’ve reduced our water consumption by 27.8 million litres since 2012 (enough to fill 515 swimming pools)
• We’ve saved the use of more than 6,500 plastic water bottles by installing free water filling stations
• On average Northlands recycles 752kg of coffee grinds each month – the equivalent of just over 12 trailer loads annually
• The amount of cardboard recycled at Northlands each year is enough to make more than 2,300 houses
• At Northlands we recycle more than 360 bins a year of glass – the equivalent of over 36,000 wine bottles

We’re working on it!

Shout out to our stores

Our stores’ individual sustainability stories often involve environmentally aware products as well as packaging. The examples are impressive.

Take Pandora, for example, which is on track to this year recycle 100 percent of its wax, rubber, glass and gypsum waste produced during production. Also impressive is the Cotton On Group’s goal to have 100 percent sustainable cotton through its supply chain by 2021. Then there’s Kathmandu, which, in the past year, recycled more than 6.7 million plastic bottles to create outdoor gear. Wow! Pop into Just Jeans and check out the Lyocell shirts (made from wood cellulose or pulp with very little waste product). Meanwhile, at Lush, 90 percent of packaging comes from recycled sources. And we’re embracing The Body Shop’s “enrich not exploit” mantra. Their targets include ensuring 100 percent of their natural ingredients are traceable and sustainably sourced.

Other stores have their own initiatives as the sustainability drive is widely embraced at Northlands.

We were banking on our banks and calling on our communications companies too.  Did you know BNZ started on a sustainability journey years ago, becoming the first bank to become carbon neutral (back in 2010). This bank can lay claim to the Kauri Bond Initiative, which, to date, has involved the planting of more than 7,700 Kaura seedlings. Vodafone, meanwhile aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent and to purchase 100 percent of the electricity it uses from renewable sources, both by 2025. Once again, but two examples within those sectors.

There’s just so much greeny goodness.

Here’s something to think about over coffee. Robert Harris uses plant-based commercially compostable coffee cups (for when you forget your reusable one). Tank accepts reusable cups too and has its own reusable cup option available for purchase.

Speaking of coffee…let’s talk about our treat to you.

Have a coffee on us

We know reuse, reduce and recycle is done better together so… have a coffee on us. Bring in your reusable cup to the customer service desk (located near Vodafone and ANZ) to receive a free coffee (or medium hot drink) voucher, redeemable within the centre, at Esquires, Robert Harris, Illy Espresso Bar, Muffin Break and The Coffee Club.

Shouting you a drink is part of our sustainability efforts as we want to treat our customers who help reduce the number of 180 million takeaway cups New Zealanders use annually.

So, enjoy your drink and let’s toast on-going sustainable success stories.