Everyone at GECA would love to wish you all the best for a safe and relaxing holiday season and a happy new year for 2017!

2016 has been a huge year for us - you can read more about the highlights of the past year in our 2016 Annual Review (PDF). We are looking forward to an even bigger and better 2017 to keep driving solutions for sustainable consumption and production, and ultimately create a sustainable future for all.

The GECA office will be closed from 26th December to 2nd January, but we'll be back and ready for a brand new year on January 3rd. 

2016 has been a busy and successful year for solutions for sustainability leadership - and what an exciting year it has been for GECA. With our continued focus on integrity and independence, we have also ensured that we are ultimately looking at driving impact in all that we do.

In order to drive our impact for planet and people it has been a year of focus on relationships, relevancy and recognition. Read more from Kate in our 2016 Annual Review (pdf).

GECA has been officially endorsed by the APEC Ministers of Trade as being the Australian representative for the APEC Green Supply Chain Network.

GECA is one of the newest officially endorsed members of the network and will be working with the platform to promote certified products throughout the APEC region and to support developing South-East Asian countries in improving sustainable consumption and production practices. Read more.

The many benefits of moving towards more sustainable products and business practices are obvious – but how many people associate sustainability with savings?

While some aspects of ‘going green’ can come at a premium cost, there are many ways that sustainability can benefit your bottom line, even though these may not seem obvious to begin with. Read more at Sourceable.

One year has passed since the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030 (SDGs) were decided upon in New York. With a need to achieve so many objectives both locally and globally in a short space of time, Johanne Gallagher at The Fifth Estate spoke with a few remarkable and determined female leaders about what inspires them to take action.

“In my core, it’s what I am about. Being able to sustain our world and people; I see business as a mechanism and a driver to achieve that,” said GECA's Kate Harris. Read the full article here.

The public comment period for GECA's revised furniture standards has now closed. Our standards team is in the process of finalising and reviewing the standards (Furniture, Fittings & Mattresses Level A and Furniture & Fittings Level B), and the updated standards are due for release in early 2017.

GECA's new Cement, Concrete and Concrete Products standard has also been finalised and will be released in early 2017.

Registrations are now open for Clean Up Australia Day 2017! We're celebrating 15 years of Business Clean Up Day and now is the perfect time to be seen as an industry leader in staff mobilisation and sustainability goals.

Clean Up Australia Day generates excellent media coverage and support from a host of community, media and political sources. The Business Clean Up Day for 2017 will happen on Tuesday, 28 February.

To get involved, create a Clean Up Site, become a business supporter, or contact Clean Up Australia to find out how you can improve your sustainability.

Because when the rubbish is gone, nature can carry on.

Total Facilities presents two days of discussion and discovery for Facilities Managers and like-minded professionals. It combines Australia’s largest offering of innovative facility products and services with forward-thinking strategies to optimise facility and workplace performance. The event will be held from 29-30 March 2017 at the International Convention Centre, Sydney.

GECA is proud to be a Supporting Partner of the event, as well as exhibiting and getting involved with the series of free educational seminars. Plus, GECA licensees can get a 10% discount to exhibit at the event! Contact Paula for more information.

Sydney Build is back for 2017! GECA is proud to be a Supporting Partner, as well as exhibiting and presenting at the event, which runs from 30-31 March 2017 at Sydney's Hordern Pavilion.

Sydney Build 2017 will feature new exhibitors, speakers and themes, covering everything from sustainability to digital construction and BIM. There are also prize giveaways, networking opportunities and CPD points available.

Attendance is free - find out more and register here today.

FLiCKERFEST, Australia’s premier international short film festival, will be held at the Bondi Pavilion on Sydney’s Bondi Beach from 6-15 January 2017. The Festival in 2017 will celebrate 26 years of screening the best short films from Australia and around the world.

GECA's Kate Harris will be a member of the jury for GreenFlicks, held on Saturday 14 January, which showcases a selection of short films with environmental themes from around the world, screening in competition. More information here.

Carpet designer and producer Modulyss has added a huge range of new products to their list of GECA certified offerings! Their carpet tiles are certified under the GECA Carpets standard, meeting our requirements for lower environmental, health and social impact.

New products include the Patchwork, Pattern, Pixel, Perpetual, Step (pictured), Reverse 100, Affinity, Black&, Metallic, On-Line 1, On-Line 2, Unique, Cambridge, and Fashion designs. The full list is available here.

Having any type of certification, such as GECA's ecolabel, is an important investment for any organisations - but especially small to medium-sized businesses. How can you make sure you're using it effectively to communicate your commitment to sustainability?

Libby Staggs of Sustainable Business Matters shares her Top 5 tips for getting the most out of your sustainability marketing. Read more here.

Now's the time to enter the 4th International Green Interior Awards! This unique global program rewards industry professionals who create interior spaces using environmentally sustainable interior products. GECA is proud to be an Industry Supporter of the Awards.

Check out the website for more information, including how to enter and more opportunities to get involved.

Congratulations to the winners of the 2016 Banksia Sustainability Awards! Winners were announced on 30 November as part of the Sustainable Development Goals Australia 2016 conference.

John West Australia took out the Banksia Gold Award for their commitments to creating a sustainable seafood future. There were many other winners across the variety of award categories, and you can view all the winners here.