Unitec’s Sustainability Club
Our club brings together like-minded students and staff to action small but significant changes across our two campuses. The shared aim is to leave this place better than we found it. 
The club is engaged in a wide range of activities with varying levels of involvement from members, depending on people’s available time and capacity. Involvement can involve anything from contributing to a big project such as the carpooling app Uniwaka, to helping organise a clothing swap or support initiatives such as the Ugly Mug reusable Cup Library.
Some club members take wider action, lobbying on behalf of causes they believe in, others help by gathering and sharing useful information.
A few of the many and varied club projects were paused this year while we work from home, but here are a few areas of scope and upcoming projects you can engage with:
WELLNESS
Sustainable living workshop: Handmade Gifts for the Season
Craft is a great way to de-stress and make the most of resources. Have you done any craft this lockdown? We’re planning a casual Zoom session on Thursday 25 November, for anyone interested in sharing favourite craft projects or to be inspired with new ideas for sustainable items to buy and simple handmade gifts to make for the coming Christmas. See here for more.
—> Email connect@unitec.ac.nz for more information on this online event
TRANSPORT
Uniwaka is a carpooling app developed by an inter-departmental team for use by Unitec staff and students. This project is a key part of Unitec’s Transport Plan and is also supported by Auckland Transport. Testing of the prototype has been paused until we return to campus.
—> Click here to discover more about Uniwaka or to register for prototype testing
Cycling at Unitec is also encouraged by the Sustainability Club with a range of activities, including Bike Week events earlier this year, a permanent fleet of staff e-bikes for borrowing, the introduction of a wet gear storage cupboard in B110, and the installation of Locky Docks bike locks. 
Locky Docks at Unitec! The brainchild of Big Street Bikers, Locky Docks, have proved their worth in Christchurch and the New Lynn shopping centre and now around Auckland – including Unitec.
Locky Docks have been installed in the courtyard between buildings 112 and 111, Mt Albert campus. You can open or close the locks for free using your mobile phone or AT HOP card. Thick bars keep your bike super secure and you can also charge your e-bike while in the docking station. This initiative is part of an ongoing commitment to improve Unitec’s end of trip facilities and make commuting by bike easier and safer.
WASTE
Waste management audit: Towards Zero Waste
The push to improve waste management requires Unitec-wide action, and currently involves work by the Environmental Solutions Research Centre (ESRC) who are part of the Sustainable Business Network run Construction Waste Minimisation Group, as well as other external organisations.
In addition, Unitec has good relationships and collaborative projects with many contractors and organisations who are driving sustainability in the construction sector, including McConnell Dowell, Civil Share, Junk Run, Mitre 10 Mega, Naylor Love etc. Did you know, for instance, that a battery collection service is available in the same places on campus where you can drop off print cartridges?
In conjunction with these and other initiatives, the Sustainability team is planning to conduct a Waste Audit of the 4-bin waste sorting system.
—>Email connect@unitec.ac.nz for more on the next Unitec Waste Audit and to register your interest in being involved.
Clothing Swap 2022 
Good news! A repeat of the hugely successful Clothing Swap event has been rescheduled for the first semester of 2022. Please keep this event in mind when you’re having your lockdown spring-clean and save any quality clothing items or accessories to contribute to this event when we’re all back on campus.
—>Email connect@unitec.ac.nz for more information or to register your interest in being involved.
FOOD
Cooking Workshop for Beginners
We held a very successful cooking for beginners student workshop at Puukenga with a second Waitakere campus event cancelled due to lockdown. We hope to resume this workshop series in 2022.
—> Get in touch connect@unitec.ac.nz to schedule a cooking workshop for your team or your students.
STRATEGY
Te Pukenga
The Sustainability Club actively contributes to the development of Te Pukenga strategy. Read more on this here.
There is a Show and Tell series happening throughout November, starting November 2nd, followed by sessions on November 10th and 17th, 1.30pm – 3.30pm.
—>Email mzidov@unitec.ac.nz to hear what other ITO and ITPs are doing in the sustainability space. 
Ministry for the Environment
Taking Responsibility for our Waste is a consultation document setting out proposals for a new national waste strategy and options for developing new, comprehensive waste legislation.
—> Email mzidov@unitec.ac.nz to hear what other ITO and ITPs are doing in the sustainability space.
For anything else you feel passionate about in the sustainability space and would like action on in 2022, please email connect@unitec.ac.nz to let us know!