When Innovation Creates A New Enterprise

Innovation Also leads to Positive Social Outcomes

There are approximately 54,000 Australian charities vying for not only a share of your wallet, but also a share of the corporate donation dollar. 

Ever increasing costs of living - energy, housing, petrol and food - mean a reduction in discretionary income and charitable giving. In business it’s no different with rising costs of employment, operational expenses and taxes making it difficult to give back to the community.

The pressure on charities to find solutions to longstanding, complex social issues, make inroads in health research, care for our spiritual welfare, educate our children and look after the elderly - all with shrinking donation income - is tremendous.   

However, disruption is on the horizon, helping us to look at giving in a new, innovative light.

What could happen if with one action you or your business could clean up the environment, send less waste to landfill, assist a charity or community organisation, create jobs, and even make a few dollars?

It’s not impossible. 

Behold the humble drink container, which in NSW can be exchanged for a refund, or contribute towards a charitable donation. 

The Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) is intrinsically worth more than 10c per container exchanged. So much more. 

As a participant in the CDS, the St Vincent de Paul Society NSW is harnessing the benefits of not only a sustainable revenue stream that contributes to an independent donation income, but the inception of a new social enterprise which is leading to the creation of jobs with associated skills training and development, collaboration with like-minded organisations, and the environmental benefits of litter reduction and diversion away from landfill of renewable resources. We have now removed from the waste stream over 5 million containers so far this year.

Importantly, this program doesn’t mean we need to dip into our wallets or find more corporate donation dollars to support a worthy organisation that makes a difference in the lives of thousands of Australians experiencing disadvantage every day.

Bulk donation processing centres such as the Vinnies Unanderra https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6395828077636751360 and South Nowra Bulk Container Processing Sites offer efficient processing for all – families with stripey bags full of containers from last weekend’s party, community organisations who held a sports event, and businesses whose employees have collected containers.

These containers are sorted efficiently using machines that can process up to 50,000 containers per day, and importantly, EFT refunds are issued on the spot. Or, the refund can be donated to Vinnies to assist in funding good works.

Additional Bulk Container Processing Sites will soon be opening in Penrith, Cardiff and Wagga, further rollout's in metro and regional areas if won throughout 2018, opening up opportunities for more people to participate in this innovative new way to collaborate for a better community.

For information about how you or your organisation can participate, contribute and benefit, contact the St Vincent de Paul Society at shops@vinnies.org.au