Bunzl’s Sustainability Ambassador Program allows our team to work with their customers to provide continuous education and support on the legislation that changes frequently in this space. Having this program also allows our Sustainability Ambassadors to prioritise sustainability goals across our branches.
We spoke with one of Bunzl Australia & New Zealand’s Sustainability Ambassadors, Blake Malsem, Sales Support/ Internal Account Manager for Hospitality, about why he chose to join the program and how important sustainability is to his customers.
Why did you volunteer to become a Sustainability Ambassador?
I was nominated by my manager, Lachlan Mann, to become a Sustainability Ambassador. With the ever-evolving legislation in each state surrounding Single-Use Plastic Bans and the change in consumer demands over the past few years, I thought it would be a great opportunity.
The program keeps me up to date with all the current legislations and policies regarding sustainability. It also allows me to feed this information back to the Corporate Hospitality team as well as to my customers.
Do you have any personal goals when it comes to sustainability in your industry?
My personal goals align with my ability to support and educate my customers with any sustainability goals or challenges they may have in the hospitality and catering industries.
What are you most excited to work with your customers about?
I am most excited to guide my customers through the Single Use Plastic Bans and explore better alternatives to plastic with them where possible. We have some great sustainable single-use items made from renewable materials like Birchwood or Sugarcane – and even some reusable products.
In partnership with my customers, we also work on many sustainability initiatives that include the reduction of carbon emissions, plastic reduction across sites, local Indigenous engagement, and ensuring responsible and ethical sourcing at all stages.
Is there anything that you’d like to see more of when it comes to sustainability in your industry?
The biggest issue I see within the industry is education around what sustainability means. There is a lot of greenwashing out there, which can cause a lot of consumer confusion, especially with our customers. Finding accurate information and educating our teams and customers in an easy and simple way will benefit everyone in achieving their sustainability goals and understanding sustainability terminology.
It would also be great if local governments get behind investing in Commercially Compostable facilities across the country. As of right now, a lot of products end up in landfill because there isn’t an accessible way for the product to complete its full life cycle as a sustainable product.
What changes do you find most exciting surrounding sustainability?
Innovation! As changes around Government legislation with single use plastic bans and consumer views move to more sustainable options in their day to day lives, I’m excited to see what new programs and product developments occur within my space.
