We’re making sustainability our business
The majority of discussion about climate change and the importance of sustainable business practices has been directed at big industry. Mission Hall is a small business and it would be easy for us to slip under the radar.
Our core product is printed material, which we outsource the production of. Other than that, the majority of our work is within the bounds of our computers. We’re not hiding though! We want to make change from the ground up – on a personal level as well as on a larger ‘industry’ scale. This includes how we get to and from work and all the bi-products of our day in the office.
We kicked off a couple of interesting initiatives in 2006. A couple of our more public transport aware people took it upon themselves to start up an ‘Alternative Transport Week’, with the aim of getting people out of their cars. Information about alternative transport was spread through the office. A Metlink map was put up on the wall, bus and train timetables supplied, cycle route tips circulated and an amusing campaign developed to spread the word. The first week had prizes of special hand-made ‘Citizen of the Future’ badges. Reaction was positive and there were a few that realised public transport was in fact far from an inconvenience and actually made things easier and a lot less frustrating. The up-and-coming week included a prize draw, with first prize a fancy umbrella and second prize a cycle store voucher.
Citizen of the Future badges
Recycling was the second initiative. Our paper has always gone through a commercial recycling process, however general recyclables had been going into the rubbish bin. We now have a well-utilised recycle bin that has very strict policies for rinsing and sorting and our shredded paper is used by the SPCA.
Some composting is taking place. Admittedly, this is fairly low tech at the moment (three ice-cream containers), however our 15-litre Bokashi composting system is on its way. There are a couple of keen gardeners in the Mission Hall team, so the compost will be well used.
And, last but by no means least, we try to approach our design work in a sustainable way – through efficient internal processes, staff retention policies, and recommendations to our clients on their marketing requirements to name a few. We hope our small contribution will help towards a better world.
