Laura Harnett’s Post

💰💰 3 Food Waste Grants to Apply for Before the End of the Year 💰💰 If you’re working on food waste reduction or recycling initiatives, these funding opportunities could be game-changers. Act soon to take advantage of them! 1️⃣ US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Recycling Education and Outreach Grant Program Purpose: Develop and implement a national consumer food waste reduction campaign, boost compost sales, and educate households on composting. Funding: $39 million Deadline: December 20, 2024 Eligibility: States, local governments, tribes, nonprofit organizations, and public-private partnerships. 2️⃣ Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) Grants Purpose: Improve collection, transport, systems, and processes related to post-use materials, including food waste. Funding: $78 million total ($58M for local governments, $20M for tribes/intertribal consortia). Deadlines: December 20, 2024 (local governments); March 14, 2025 (tribes). Eligibility: Local governments and tribes. 3️⃣ ReFED Catalytic Grant Fund Purpose: Drive innovative solutions to reduce on-farm food loss, maximize the value of surplus produce, and establish new market opportunities. Funding: Grants ranging from $100K–$250K, plus non-financial support from ReFED. Deadline: Letters of intent due January 21, 2025. Eligibility: Nonprofits and for-profits reducing food waste in the U.S. ✨ Need help securing funding? ✨  We know that finding funding can be challenging, which is why we created the 5-week Climate Messaging Mastery Course. This program empowers food-focused nonprofit leaders with the skills to craft compelling impact narratives that resonate with climate-focused donors—creating pathways to secure the funding you need to propel your mission forward. To be notified when applications for our next cohort open, sign up here: https://lnkd.in/eac5pjEs Know someone who could benefit from knowing about these opportunities? Tag them in the comments! 👇

BioPak is on a mission to achieve a world without waste 🙌 Founded in 2006, BioPak has become a globally recognised brand, loved by businesses and consumers across Australia, New Zealand, the UK, the US, Hong Kong and Singapore for their sustainable food packaging solutions. BioPak is a true profit-for-purpose business, proudly holding B Corp certification, actively measuring its carbon footprint, and contributing 5% of all profits to positive change through their Give Back Fund - so far they have donated £2.4m. As part of this commitment to supporting positive change, BioPak has also funded the planting of over 102,000 trees with Ecologi! 🌳 Sam Walker, Technical Director at BioPak UK, highlighted: “It's great to partner with Ecologi and support both the large scale reforestation projects they do and the more grass roots initiatives which really make a difference locally. Reforestation and habitat restoration are the foundations of reversing biodiversity loss and critical in the fight against climate change. We're proud to work with Ecologi and share the impact data with our customers.” Dive into the full business success story, here: https://lnkd.in/etsaR8tM #ForOurPlanet #Communications #ClimateAction #SustainableBusiness #ClimateChange #NetZero #Innovation #ConsciousConsumers

Why should environmental awareness be your target? Because the air we breathe, the food we eat, the clothes we wear - for the generation we care about- depends on the environment. So why not contribute to it? Not just for CSR, but because (MSR) MY SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. . . #4socio #4socioNGO #4socioVolunteers #NGO #NonProfit #EnvironmentalAwareness #Sustainability #EcoFriendly #GreenLiving #ClimateAction #CSR #MSR #SaveThePlanet #FutureGenerations #GoGreen #EcoWarrior #NatureLover #ProtectOurPlanet

🌿 Building a Greener Future, One Tree at a Time 🌿 At RECOR, we’re turning our commitment to sustainability into impactful actions—and we couldn’t be prouder of the progress we’ve made this year. Since January 1, 2024, we’ve partnered with CarbonInvoice™ to support the planting of 759 native Australian trees in Western Australia through Carbon Positive Australia. This incredible charity has restored over 5,000 hectares of land, planted 6 million trees, and captured nearly 650,000 tonnes of carbon. These aren’t just numbers. Over the next 50 years, these trees will sequester the equivalent of 63,273.56 kg of CO2e—a meaningful step toward offsetting our carbon footprint. And we’re just getting started! By this time next year, we’re set to fund an additional 819 trees, keeping the momentum going strong. A big thank you to CarbonInvoice™ for making the process seamless and to our dedicated team at RECOR for fully embracing this mission. It’s inspiring to see how small, consistent actions—like planting trees—can lead to significant results. Here’s to growing together and continuing to make a positive impact. After all, every tree counts. 🌱 #Sustainability #CarbonNeutral #RECORImpact #MakeADifference #RestoreNature

Ending #Throwaway society! Are you a social enterprise or a not-for-profit organisation, involved in innovative and/or scalable solutions to ensure waste prevention, with the aim of advancing the circular economy in Ireland and raising awareness of the need to transition to a circular economy. Then apply here: https://lnkd.in/e4c7zBeQ for the #CircularEconomyInnovationFund grant round This grant round is open to applications for projects working on waste prevention in the following thematic areas: • Plastic Waste • Construction and Demolition Waste • Food Waste • Resources and Raw Materials Waste (Electrical and electronic equipment, textiles, furniture), and applications must be aligned to ONE of the following areas. This grant round is in partnership with Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and Ossian Smyth, under Ireland's first National Policy on Philanthropy Denise Charlton Eamon Ryan Roderic O'Gorman Jerry O'Connor Oisín Coghlan Friends of the Earth Ireland Philanthropy Ireland Karen Ciesielski Irish Environmental Network The Wheel Charities Institute Ireland Abbeyleix Business Community & Development Forum

EcoEmpower Alliance Weekly Update Greetings, EcoEmpower Community! This past week has been a whirlwind of impactful activities and inspiring progress. Here’s a recap and what’s coming up next: 1. Human-Elephant Conflict Project: Our team made a significant visit to the communities around Mole National Park, addressing the human-elephant conflict. We engaged with local residents, listened to their concerns, and discussed sustainable solutions. We're thrilled to see the positive impact and welcome we've received. 2. Women's Empowerment through Plastic Waste Recycling: Our meeting with the women of the Murugu community was a huge success! They are excited to begin our first clean-up exercise and start transforming plastic waste into useful products. Empowering these women through recycling not only promotes environmental sustainability but also economic independence. 3. Youth Empowerment for Cocoa Farmers: Our youth groups have been diligently training to provide essential services to cocoa farmers. By equipping these young individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to support cocoa farming, we are fostering both agricultural success and youth empowerment. 4. Supporting Women Farmers: Our dedicated women's groups continue to receive support and resources to thrive in agriculture. We are committed to empowering women farmers, ensuring they have the tools and opportunities to succeed. 5. Sea Turtle Conservation Initiative: We are in the planning stages of our next big project to save and protect sea turtles. Stay tuned for more details on how you can get involved and support this critical conservation effort. How You Can Help: - Donate: Your contributions help us sustain and expand our projects. - Volunteer: Join us on the ground or virtually, to make a difference. - Spread the Word: Share our mission and activities with your network. Thank you for being part of the EcoEmpower Alliance family. Together, we are making a lasting impact on our planet and its people. Stay connected and follow our journey! #EcoEmpower #Sustainability #CommunityEmpowerment #WildlifeConservation #PlasticRecycling #WomenEmpowerment #SustainableAgriculture #YouthEmpowerment #CocoaFarming #GrantFunding

🌳 The Paradox of Time: A Tale of Trees and Sustainability 🌳 It takes merely 5 minutes to cut down a tree, a living entity that has taken years to grow and mature. Yet, the process of planting and nurturing a new tree to its full growth takes anywhere from 3 to 4 years. This stark contrast in time frames is a powerful reminder of our responsibility towards our environment. As we continue to advance and develop, it’s crucial that we also remember to give back to nature. After all, the oxygen we breathe, the water we drink, and the soil that grows our food, all come from the very environment we live in. As founder of an NGO the Tree Huggers Foundation. Our mission is to plant and nurture as many trees as possible, to help offset the rapid deforestation happening around the world. But we can’t do this alone. We need your help. I urge all corporations and individuals to consider making a donation to our cause. Your contribution will go directly towards planting and caring for trees, helping to create a greener, healthier planet for future generations. Remember, it’s not just about planting a tree. It’s about giving life to a new ecosystem, a home for countless organisms, and a future for our children. Let’s embrace the paradox of time, and invest our minutes today for a greener tomorrow. #TreeHuggersFoundation #Sustainability #Environment #DonateNow

Last week the first Global Nature Positive Summit happened in Sydney! 🌏🇦🇺 But what can a small business do to be nature positive? As always, it depends on your activities and influence. Here are 5 areas you can make a nature-positive impact: 🌱 Do you own or manage land? Consider planting native species (even in small spaces!), regenerating ecosystems or using regenerative farming. 🛒 What goods or commodities do you buy? Look for materials that are responsibly mined, sustainably harvested, use regenerative agricultural practices or recycled content. 💸 How is your money invested? Consider switching to a bank and super fund that invest in nature-positive practices, or you can also donate a portion of profits to environmental causes. 🧑🤝🧑 Could you inspire your team or customers to take action? Try organising a volunteering day or set up a donation option at checkout to support local nature conservation efforts. 🗣️ How could you influence broader policy? From advocating for change in your local council or business association to joining community campaigns to protect a local ecosystem, your voice matters. Which one area could you take action on in your business? Let us know in the comments! 👀 And share this post to inspire others! 🙌 #NaturePositive #GlobalNaturePositiveSummit #ESGforSMEs #SmallBusiness #SmallBizAU

It's the end of a big meeting. There's loads of food left over. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁? 💀🥗  Lots of us do our best to cut down food waste at home. But at work it can be a different story. Too much. Too complicated. Someone else's problem. And what do you do with 29 croissants and a huge bowl of fruit anyway? 🤷 There are some simple hacks that can help. Check out the below, taken from our experience working with other businesses (and our own office life in Somerset House 😉). They're mostly for small and medium-sized organisations like us. If you're at a large company and need help cutting your food waste, then come and have a chat about how behaviour change campaigns could help. 🤝 ++ P.S. I'm CEO of environmental charity Hubbub. We create campaigns with business, government and civil society that inspire environmental action. Follow me - Alex Robinson - for insights on environmental change, leadership and more. #environment #sustainability #zerowasteweek #foodwaste

Recommended for sustainability practitioners trying to accelerate movement and impact in their organizations! Behaviour change is a crucial element in making a difference and collaborating for a better environment.