The sun-fired travel cup

Environmentalist Meghan Halvorson joins forces with ZEN. Supplied.

By Zero Emissions Noosa

Pottery For The Planet is using its influence and creativity to tackle climate change and make a big difference to your morning cuppa.

The Noosaville-based pottery business, renowned around the world for its beautiful hand-made travel cups, will this week launch Australia’s first commercially solar-fired travel cup.

“We are transforming our business and using our resources to inspire change,” director Renton Bishopric said.

“Achieving a low-emissions travel cup involved big changes to the way we make our products, switching out part of our production from a gas-fired kiln to a solar-fired kiln, thanks to new and exciting solar technology.”

Ninety-eight solar panels were installed on Pottery For The Planet’s studio in Noosa, harnessing enough solar energy to power the kiln and run the operations side of the business.

With an Instagram following of more than 104,000 and a production line of more than 500 cups a week, Pottery For The Planet plans to use its social influence to encourage other people and businesses to re-think their energy use.

“We are passionate about playing a role in reducing carbon emissions, and with solar you not only fulfil your duty of care for the planet, you’re also reducing your energy bills and enabling your business to grow,” Renton added.

“We’ve already prevented 9.3 tonnes of carbon from entering the atmosphere so far – that’s the same as planting 278 trees – and that figure is only going to grow. So we’re encouraging other businesses to jump on board the renewable energy train, because it’s a sure-fire winner.”

Engaging the community

Well known Noosa environmentalist and founder of Queensland Koala Crusaders Megan Halverson has joined forces with Zero Emissions Noosa to present a series of forums on reducing emissions.

“I am really excited to be working for Zero Emissions Noosa Inc,” Meghan said, “because it’s an opportunity to be involved in something I am really passionate about – reducing our emissions to help the Noosa community to reach zero net greenhouse gases by 2026 to reduce the impacts of climate change. We will deliver forums at both Noosaville and Cooroy libraries and at Peregian to help people in our local communities learn more about how to reduce emissions or our carbon footprint as some people call it, and to do our bit to help reduce the impacts of climate change.”

For more information about ZEN Inc, visit zeroemissionsnoosa.com.au