Give a Shirt Campaign.mp4 from Metro Vancouver on Vimeo.
Shumpert highlights the message the display is sending about textile waste.
“We are here at the Vancouver Aquarium as part of our “I Give a Sh!rt Event†and so we’ve got a clothing spill and it’s a visual representation of the impact of textile waste on the environment. So what we are trying to do is help people understand the impact of textile waste on the environment. It takes seven hundred gallons of water to make one cotton t-shirt. One of the things that’s not top of mind is what happens to clothing when you are done with it. And so this campaign, and part of our installation today is to help people connect to how powerful reuse can be. In North America, over 26 billion pounds of textiles are making their way into the waste stream every single year. And what’s crazy is that 95% of that material can be reused or recycled and so we’ve definitely got a long way to go. What we are working on is trying to create more and more awareness around what can be done with those items and the opportunities for people to incorporate reuse into their buying habits as well as their habits around donating and using channels like that to ensure that items don’t make their way into the waste stream.”
Shumpert will be bringing his expertise and industry experience to Metro Vancouver’s 2016 Zero Waste Conference.
“I’m going to participate as a member of the circular economy discussion group. Candidly, I’m there to learn and find out what else is going on in Canada that we may be able to incorporate into our business, where we may be able to partner with others to keep advancing the movement toward waste reduction.”
He is also a member of the National Zero Waste Council
“I’m part of the National Zero Waste Council’s discussion group centered around the circular economy, which is a perfect fit for us, because recently there has been a lot of work done inside the circular economy that talks about reuse. And in particular I’m very interested in seeing how those who are in attendance embrace something which has recently been launched which is a toolkit in support of the movement towards the circular economy. As business leaders we are all gravitating to figure out ways we can incorporate sustainability, and a movement toward reducing waste and the circular economy in our business. And for the very first time the council is going to be able to provide information and sort of a guide post to the group as to how to do that.”
Shumpert sees the 2016 Metro Vancouver Zero Waste Conference as unique learning opportunity for anyone involved in waste reduction.
“Business and political leaders that come to the Metro Vancouver Zero Waste Conference will see things that are happening all across Canada, ways that both municipalities and businesses are advancing their efforts in waste reduction. One of the best ways to advance your own efforts in waste reduction is to find out what’s going on somewhere else and figure out if it fits for you, and if so, advancing that in your own operation. What people will be surprised about is that there are all sorts of things going on and we can learn from each other to help advance the cause very quickly.â€
Tony Shumpert is just one of the industry experts who will be sharing their circular economy knowledge and experience at the 2016 Metro Vancouver Zero Waste Conference. Don’t miss this opportunity to take learn from their insights. On November 3 network with leaders from across the country and the globe, contribute your ideas, and join a national conversation on how we can scale impact through innovation. Find out more and register at: http://www.zwc.ca/Pages/default.aspx and remember to subscribe to our blog for ongoing updates on this year’s program, speakers, and related zero waste happenings.
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