sustainability
Our Survival Day
Our Survival Day goes carbon neutral
Overall, Our Survival Day 2023 was a remarkable achievement in terms of sustainability and waste management. The event diverted 90% of its waste from landfill, an incredible effort that reflects the conscious efforts of the organisers and attendees in reducing their environmental impact. We commend the organisers for their dedication to promoting sustainability and protecting the land. We look forward to collaborating on OSD 24 and providing tailored waste management and resource recovery services for future events.
"We were so proud to be able to walk behind the true Custodians of this Country. With all they have to manage being able to support their love and protection of country is a real honour. It's a drop in the ocean, and really we are only addressing an issue that would not currently exist without colonisation."
- Jason Rahilly, Founder and Director, B-Alternative
Thank you to B Alternative, who managed the waste and education in the lead up and during the event. They also put together this incredible report.
2023 OUR SURVIVAL DAY
Results
A total of 221kg of materials were managed into different recovery and waste streams this year at Our Survival Day.
90% (198kg) of waste was diverted from landfill and utilised as various resources.
This doesn't include the single use items avoided through implementing a reusable crockery system. Total landfill was 23kg.
1452 single use food packaging items were avoided through implementing a reusable system.
TREE PLANTING day
On top of the sustainability practises on the festival day in January, Our Survival Day will host our annual tree planting event in NAIDOC week this year. Register here.
intertwined our 'Reconnection' theme of 2022 throughout the year by achieving the status of a carbon neutral Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander festival. Our Survival Day gained this status through imparting caring for country practises throughout the planning and managing of the event and offsetting the minimal carbon footprint through a community tree planting day during NAIDOC Week.
Our Survival Day is an Indigenous-led community event, providing a safe and culturally empowering space for First Nations people and their allies, to gather on January 26th. The day focuses on celebrating the survival, continued growth, and access to Indigenous culture, with a strong focus on the underlying values of Our Songlines and its founder; Kayla Cartledge.
In alignment with the 2022 Reconnection theme: to land, to community, to culture; and the Our Songlines values which are ingrained in protecting Mother Earth, the OSD 2022 edition which had over 1000 mob and allies in attendance gathering from all over the Kulin Nation, was a zero waste event.
2022 OUR SURVIVAL DAY
Sustainability and caring for country at Our Survival Day
Sustainability principles were initiated such as: encouraging patrons to bring their reusable items with them {including keep cups, shopping bags, water bottles, straws, and cutlery}, utilise ride sharing, biking or walking to the event and public transport options. OSD vendors, artists, stallholders and workshops practised caring for country by using environmentally responsible packaging, materials, and saying no single use plastics. Plastic-free signage was used on the day to educate people, and the incredible Sustainability volunteers spread awareness about correct ways to compost, recycle and landfill, as well as manning the wash up station with a reusable scheme bringing in reusable cutlery, plates and cups for those who forgot to BYO. Waste and water consumption was reduced by diverting what would have gone to landfill through the reusable scheme, compost facilities for stallholders, and recycle bins, as well as having a compostable toilet system to reduce water consumption and pollution.
TREE PLANTING day
On top of the sustainability practises on the festival day in January, Our Survival Day hosted a Community Tree Planting event in NAIDOC Week in July to carbon offset the festival. Together with Landcare, the community planted over 800 trees on Bunurong land, connecting to country and taking action for our climate. Through this community day where 72 guests planted Indigenous and local species, we made Our Survival Day carbon neutral. This will continue to be an annual event where people can connect to culture throughout the year.
Through this event, Our Survival Day supported 3 Aboriginal owned and operated businesses: Our Songlines, Jillian and Josh West who welcomed us to Bunurong land, and performed a special smoking ceremony, and Cooee Cafe by Sharon who left everyone full and happy with her damper and Indigenous treats, after a morning of tree planting.