Allens' employees put shoes on the other foot
3 November 2010
With National Recycling Week 2010 beginning on 8 November, Allens Arthur Robinson (Allens) is highlighting one innovative scheme where shoes and clothes from Perth are being redistributed to children in Third World countries.
Led by Perth-based Business and Technology Services Manager Susan Pestana, Allens staff have been collecting 'unwanted' shoes and hats from friends and colleagues and delivering them to disadvantaged children overseas.
'My favourite form of recycling is collecting shoes and hats from friends and neighbours, taking those items with me on overseas trips (or getting others to take them for me), and distributing them to the really needy,' Ms Pestana said.
'Its a win-win-win-win situation: contributors get rid of unwanted belongings, which lessens landfill; carriers have the pleasure of making a difference to someone; and there's enough room created in the suitcase for carriers to purchase new local goods, which, in turn, supports the local economy.'
Ms Pestana said she appreciates the support of her colleagues at Allens, who were quick to sign on as luggage 'carriers'.
From those donating items, to those volunteering to take the extra luggage on overseas trips, everyone involved – especially the children receiving the goods – have found the recycling mission extremely rewarding.
The initiative is one of a number of recycling schemes that Allens staff have developed and which contributed to the firm's recent United Nations Association of Australia World Environment Day Award for Sustainability and Leadership.
Allens has in place a Footprint Committee, which oversees the firm-wide implementation of initiatives including 2010's successful 'Reduce the Use' and 'Thought for Food' campaigns.
'The 'Reduce the Use' and 'Thought for Food' campaigns reduced paper consumption and catering by 55 per cent and 20 per cent respectively,' Ms Pestana said.
'In the six years in which our firm has been involved in sustainability initiatives, we have saved millions of sheets of paper, many Olympic-size swimming pools of water, a substantial amount of electricity, and we've significantly reduced landfill.
'Before you throw something away, always ask yourself: "could someone else, somewhere else reuse this?"'
According to Ms Pestana, the firm is dedicated to its environmental initiatives.
'Everyone is very supportive of my recycling/reusing efforts, including the stationery amnesty I'm helping run to coincide with National Recycling Week.
'Allens has also held numerous educational sessions to increase staff awareness and all recycling efforts are now catalogued online.'
For more information on the Allens Footprint programs, visit: http://www.aar.com.au/comm/env.htm.
Ends
Allens Arthur Robinson
Allens is an international law firm with offices throughout Australia and Asia.
The firm has been committed to sustainability for the past 10 years. It has Footprint Committees in each of its 15 offices, both in Australia and Asia.
The Footprint Committee's aim is simple: to reduce Allens' environmental footprint as much as possible in the areas of: energy; water; waste (reuse and recycling); greenhouse emissions; and procurement.
Footprint Committees are made up of partners, senior management and junior employees whose fresh ideas, enthusiasm and passion help implement initiatives that reduce environmental impact.
Susan Pestana
Ms Pestana began at Allens in 1998. She joined the firm's Footprint Committee in 2006.
Ms Pestana's work redistributing pre-used items of clothing and footwear is inspired by the work of Nashville-based charity Soles-4-Souls.
The charity argues that there is a silent crisis affecting many of the world's poor, whereby parasites such as worms are infecting underprivileged people via the cuts on their shoeless feet.
These people desperately need shoes and that's where people like Ms Pestana come in.
For further information, please contact:
- Susan CowenCommunications Coordinator,
Melbourne
Ph: +61 3 9613 8374
Susan.Cowen@allens.com.au
Notes for editors..
Allens Arthur Robinson has staff in 14 cities and eight countries across the Asia Pacific.