Planet Ark

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Planet Ark Environmental Foundation is an Australian not-for-profit environmental organisation, founded in 1992, which works with the public and business alike to help find the simple ways in which they can reduce their impact on the planet, at home, at work and in the community.[1]

Planet Ark’s Campaigns include National Tree Day, Australia’s largest tree-planting and nature care event, National Recycling Week, ‘Cartridges 4 Planet Ark’, BusinessRecycling.com.au, Recyclingnearyou.com.au, Make it Wood and Aluminium Can Recycling.[1] Planet Ark also endorses a number of products it considers to be environmentally friendly in production and manufacture, including recycled toilet paper, cleaning products and car tyres.

Planet Ark’s campaigns seek to drive positive action that directly changes people’s behaviour. The organisation is non-political and non-confrontational, aiming to unite people and business in action.[1]

Planet Ark is best known for its high profile recycling campaigns including 'Cartridges 4 Planet Ark' and Australia's 'National Recycling Week' and the country's biggest annual community tree-planting event, 'National Tree Day', founded by Olivia Newton-John with the organisation.

In 2006, Planet Ark established the National Recycling Hotline in partnership with the Australian Government as well as the website recyclingnearyou.com.au,[2] a comprehensive directory of recycling services available in over 500 local council areas across Australia. In the last three years, Planet Ark has also introduced a specialised website to assist businesses to find appropriate recycling services.[3]

Celebrities who have fronted Planet Ark campaigns include Pierce Brosnan, Olivia Newton-John, Jamie Durie, Steve Irwin, Kylie Minogue, Dannii Minogue, Nicole Kidman, Tom Cruise, Rolf Harris, Layne Beachley, Shelley Craft and Sir Richard Branson.

Popular with the Australian media, Planet Ark's official spokesperson is former actress and television presenter turned environmentalist, Rebecca Gilling.

The organisation is operated from its office in Sydney's Circular Quay.

One of the founders, former CEO of the organisation, John Dee, renounced his membership in 2012 citing the organisation links to the Timber Industry and involvement in drafting the Australian Forestry Standard. Planet Ark has also been allowed its logo to be used a controversial commercials promoting wood as a building material.

The organisation is also in financial trouble having made a loss in the last few years. In 2011 it sold its Blue Mountain headquarters for $875,000 AUD, significantly less than what it was originally worth.[4]

The property was purchased for $500,000 and sold for $875,000 - a return of over 8% pa over the 7-year period, which is in line with long-term property returns.[1]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "About Planet Ark". 
  2. ↑ "Recycling Near You". 
  3. ↑ "Business Recycling". 
  4. ↑ "Planet Ark founders cut ties with 'lost' organisation", ABC News (Australia), From: August 01, 2012 07:43:05.

External links

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