What a year!

Leadership in Modern Slavery legislation, major organisations committing to doing things better through the ISO 20400 across their whole supply chains and a feeling of collaboration and commitment.
Australia and our businesses are taking the next step in making sure we do what matters and are making a difference.

I can’t think of a better end to the year and a reason to celebrate.

GECA voted in the Top 100 Trusted Brands! 

We're proud to announce we've been voted again into Architecture & Design's Trusted Brands 2018 survey, taking out the 32nd spot! 
Companies were voted on three pillars of trust - consciousness, quality and candour. As Australia's only not-for-profit multi-sector ecolabelling program and advisory, we value our independence and transparency.
This recognition is also a reflection on all the GECA Certified products and services, certified under our trusted ecolabel. Thank you to all of you who voted for us!

Working Together to do GOOD: GECA Shares Expertise with Global Ecolabels 

GECA's Standards & Technical Manager Judith Schinabeck participated in an educational and inspirational event in Berlin, 21-25 October, to highlight the success of ecolabelling around the globe, and celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Blue Angel and the first annual World Ecolabel Day.
 

South African Visit

It was with great pleasure that GECA hosted the South African Government, who in search of an ecolabel with international excellence, chose GECA to come, visit and learn from.

The government are forming an ecolabel to define and deliver best practice products for private and public works in infrastructure.

A Circular Economy Approach for NSW - GECA's submission response

The NSW Government is developing a Circular Economy Policy to deliver positive economic, social and environmental outcomes for the NSW community. They released a draft Circular Economy Policy and also a Circular Economy Discussion Paper. Recently they welcomed consultation on this draft. All submissions will be reviewed and used to finalise the Circular Economy Policy. You can read GECA's sumission here.

GECA Licensee a Crowd Favourite at DENFAIR Sydney

The Speaker Space at this year's DENFAIR in Sydney featured a seating area made entirely out of uncovered GECA certified foam from Joyce Foam Products. According to the designer, Arthur Koutoulas, "the clusters of fleshy pink curved foam dissolved distinctions between furniture and sculpture offering immersive and utterly Instagrammable moments."

Premier’s Sustainability Award Winners Announced

The group behind the Caulfield to Dandenong level crossing removal project has won the Built Environment category in this year’s Premier’s Sustainability Awards. Sustainability Victoria’s Chief Executive, Stan Krpan said winners across ten categories should be applauded for demonstrating the best of sustainability diversity.

NABERS Report: Wellbeing and the Built Environment

According to their recently released annual report, over the past 12 months NABERS has had record-levels of certified shopping centres throughout Australia. They have also seen a 32% increase in NABERS Indoor Environment ratings in offices. The new NABERS for Public Hospitals had the fastest uptake of any new NABERS tool ever, with 274 hospitals certified.

Koh (formerly EkoWorx)

Koh have added a new exciting product to their GECA certified range - The Koh Dishwashing Tablet! It has been carefully designed with environmental impact and performance in mind.

''We’ve taken all of the unnecessary harsh chemicals out of traditional dishwashing tablets and come up with a tablet that outperforms the current market leaders without costing the environment.'' Adam Lindsay, Koh Founder.

Zippy Cleaning & Maintenance Services

Zippy, is a family owned and operated business who value their clients and staff, working collaboratively to provide exceptional commercial cleaning and maintenance solutions to a wide range of clients.
As a premier commercial cleaning organisation with interstate operations and some 600 staff, they pride themselves on exceeding client expectations.

Clean Plus Chemicals 

Clean Plus Chemicals formulates and manufactures high standard cleaning and hygiene chemicals.

They supply through a network of distributors to the hospitality, healthcare, aged care, food processing, laundry, automotive and commercial industries.

TSA Metals

TSA Metal Products was formed in 1995 and quickly developed a market for high quality, Australian designed and made office furniture.
The founding partners have a strong background in engineering and metal fabrication with an emphasis on commercial fit-out to fruition. They have a dynamic core team with over 100 years of combined experience in metal fabrication and know the importance of delivering quality products and on time. 

Sydney Build
14-15 March 2019

Sydney Build connects Australia’s leading architects, building professionals, contractors and construction community together with manufacturers, suppliers and service providers who work across the residential and commercial industry sectors in New South Wales and beyond. This year Sydney Build will be held in partnership with CIVENEX, Australia's premier infrastructure expo. The two shows combined look to form the largest construction trade show in Australia. 

GECA is delighted to be an event partner, exhibitor and our CEO, Kate Harris will be taking part in the speaker program. We look forward to seeing you there.

Total Facilities 
20-21 March 2019

Total Facilities leads the future of Australia's facilities and workplaces through a two-day collaboration into the world of facilities management (FM).

GECA is proud to once again be a supporting partner and will be taking part in their speaker program. We'll also be exhibiting with our Materials In Mind pod and hope to see you and many of our licensees there - mention your GECA certification to receive a 10% discount to exhibit. 

Registrations for Clean Up Day 2019 are now open

During a week of action in 2018 an estimated 668,850 volunteers joined together to clean up their local parks, waterways, beaches, bushland and roadways – reinforcing the relevance of Clean Up Australia day as the largest community mobilisation event of its kind in the Asia Pacific region.

With the recent passing of its founder, Ian Kiernan, and the fact that 2019 is the 30th anniversary of the first Clean Up, Clean Up Sydney Harbour, the aim is to make this event even bigger.

There are many ways you and your business can get involved.
GECA licensees receive a 10% discount on the cost of a Business Site registration. Contact paula@geca.org.au for more information.

Vale Ian Kiernan

It was with great sadness that we heard the news of Ian Kiernan's passing. What a wonderful human being and what an important legacy he has left for our planet and for us all. Ian was a true champion for our environment and a kind gentleman along the way. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues. One of Ian's requests was that, rather than sending flowers, people support his passion and commitment by making a donation to Clean Up Australia.