Why Go Plastic-Free?

Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental issues of our time. Single-use plastics, such as bags, bottles, straws, and packaging, are convenient but have devastating consequences for our planet. Here are a few reasons to consider going plastic-free:

1. Environmental Impact: Plastics take hundreds of years to decompose, leading to overflowing landfills and polluted oceans. Marine animals often ingest plastic debris, which can be fatal.
2. Health Concerns: Microplastics, tiny particles of plastic, have been found in our food, water, and even the air we breathe. These particles can pose health risks to humans and wildlife.
3. Resource Consumption: The production of plastic relies heavily on fossil fuels, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.

Simple Steps to Reduce Plastic Use

Going plastic-free might seem daunting at first, but small, manageable steps can lead to significant changes. Here are some practical tips to help you get started:

1. Bring Your Own Bags

One of the easiest ways to reduce plastic use is by bringing your own reusable bags when shopping. Keep a few bags in your car or purse so you’re always prepared.

2. Say No to Single-Use Plastics

Refuse single-use items such as straws, cutlery, and coffee cups. Opt for reusable alternatives made from stainless steel, glass, or bamboo.

3. Shop in Bulk

Purchase items in bulk to reduce packaging waste. Bring your own containers to stores that offer bulk bins for grains, nuts, and spices.

4. Choose Plastic-Free Packaging

Support brands that use eco-friendly packaging. Look for products packaged in paper, glass, or metal instead of plastic.

5. Make DIY Alternatives

Consider making your own household cleaners and personal care products to avoid plastic packaging. There are plenty of easy recipes available online.

Community Involvement

Plastic Free July is not just an individual challenge—it’s a community effort. Here are ways to involve your community:

• Organize a Clean-Up: Plan a local clean-up event to collect litter from parks, beaches, or streets. This can raise awareness and bring people together for a common cause.
• Educate Others: Share information about plastic pollution and the benefits of going plastic-free. Host workshops or give presentations at schools and community centers.
• Support Legislation: Advocate for policies that reduce plastic use, such as bans on single-use plastics or incentives for using reusable products.

While Plastic Free July is a great starting point, consider extending these habits beyond the month. Sustainable living is an ongoing journey, and every effort counts. By adopting a plastic-free lifestyle, you’re contributing to a healthier planet for future generations.

Plastic Free July is more than just a challenge; it’s a movement towards

a sustainable future. By making conscious choices and encouraging others to do the same, we can reduce plastic pollution and protect our environment. Start small, stay committed, and remember that every step towards a plastic-free life makes a difference.

Join the movement today and see how much impact you can make in just one month. Let’s work together for a cleaner, greener world!

Additional Resources

• Plastic Free July Website
• Tips for Reducing Plastic Use
• Zero Waste Home

Bronwyn Reid | 4t Consultants

09 | 07 | 2024

World Soil Day 2022 (#WorldSoilDay), and its campaign “Soils: Where food begins”, aims to raise

awareness of the importance of maintaining healthy ecosystems. Addressing the growing challenges in soil management, increasing soil awareness, and encouraging societies to improve soil health will lead to greater human well being.

In recognition of this day, we thought we’d give you some facts on soil:

1. Soil is a living system, each gram containing millions of organisms: earthworms, mites, insects, bacteria and more.

2. Only about 1% of soil micro-organisms have been identified; it remains a frontier for exploration.

3. Soils process recycled nutrients, such as carbon, so that living things can use them over and over.

4. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN estimated that 33% of soil is moderately to highly degraded through processes such as erosion, chemical pollution and nutrient depletion. This is turn decreases the soil’s function and affects food production.

5. Soil that is not covered with vegetative matter is vulnerable and is being washed away 10-40 times faster than it is being replenished.

6. The mismanagement of soil has contributed to climate change. With 50-70% of the worlds soils original carbon stock being lost, most of which has been released into the atmosphere as Carbon Dioxide.

The health of our soil is degrading because of a loss of these nutrients. This is recognized as a critical problem, at the global level, for food security and sustainability across the globe.

Over the last 70 years, the level of vitamins and nutrients in food has drastically decreased, and it is estimated that 2 billion people worldwide suffer from lack of micronutrients.

Managing the soils health through regenerative farming practices will increase the health of the soil creating greater yields and sustainability.

It is essential to make the world aware of what is happening so together so we can start to take the right action.

Bronwyn Reid | December 2022

A fabulous evening celebrating the achievements of so many local businesses doing great things.

The Central Highland Development Corporation (CHDC) is a not for profit organisation and the lead economic and tourism development agency for the Central Highlands region of Queensland.

The corporation actively partners with industry experts, businesses, the government and local communities to drive growth, enable innovation, build capability and deliver economic outcomes.

CHDC advocates for sustainable regional and economic growth by enhancing workforces, promoting our region and supporting our local businesses in robust and innovative industries including resources, mining, agriculture, tourism, small business and start-ups.

20 years of experience has allowed the corporation to have an in-depth understanding of the local industry. This understanding and knowledge has helped them to deliver economic insights and strategic action plans for the region.

They have contributed to the development of many strong and capable businesses.

The Central Highlands Business Excellence Awards are a celebration of the efforts and achievements of our regions diverse and dedicated business community.
They recognise the contributions to not only economic vitality but to creating the strong, healthy, vibrant regional community that is the Central Queensland Highlands.

This year 4T Consultants were proud sponsors of the Professional & Business Services award which was won by Maraboon Veterinary Surgery (Sutherland and Reynolds)

Congratulations to all the nominees and winners this year.

In particular the first winners of the evening, our friends Andrew and Jocie Bate from Swarm Farm, who won the Agribusiness Award.

Bronwyn Reid | 4t Consultants

21| 09 | 2021

For a full list of all the finalists and winners Click here.

Our fledgling company started operations from a table in the corner of the dining room, with a single computer and a laptop. Computer cords, papers etc. had to be put up and away from the two children so they didn’t pull everything apart, or decorate a report with colouring in pencils and markers.

How it all started

For those of you who don’t know the history of 4T, the company was started when Directors Ian Rankine and Bronwyn Reid returned to Australia after years spent wandering the planet and working.  4T’s first contract was with an international agribusiness organisation, writing a series of books on Best Management Practices in plantation agriculture.

More sustainability projects

Following the completion of that project, we embarked on a series of research projects in partnership with the Federal and State Governments, and industry.  Again, the theme of  the research, and the projects that grew out of them, was sustainability.  Then, as the mining boom started to get going, 4T was engaged by mining companies to help them meet their environmental requirements and solve environmental issues.

The central theme of our 20 years in business has been to good science.  Our mission is to help our clients obtain economic production from our natural resources, be that agricultural produce, water, coal, gas or even urban developments, with the least environmental impact that we can manage. Our work has included developing several training courses that help spread the adoption of best management practices.

We recognise that, in order to exist on this planet, we have to make use of our natural resources, but that we also have to share them with the coming generations.  Providing accurate, reliable, and replicable data is critical to making good decisions, and that has always been our commitment to our clients.  If planning and production decisions are made using unreliable data, the effects can last for a very long time and be extremely expensive.

Over 20 years, there have obviously been some changes in our team.  As a small company, we have always been a close-knit team, and we remain close friends with many former employees.  Friday afternoons often find a former employee or two dropping in for a chat and a beer.  Christina and Pat, two of our very first employees, still work for 4T.

And now for the next 20 years….

We’ve survived 20 years of ups and downs, with both the resources industry and agribusiness experiencing booms and busts. We’ve also seen the commitment of governments to natural resource management ebb and flow.

2017 will see the original books on Best Management Practices re-launched.  They have been completely updated and are due off the printing press sometime in the next few months. We think that will be a fitting way to celebrate 20 years in business.