Home in Place has again been recognised as a Gold Partner of Sustainability Advantage, being re-accredited for another three years.
The business support program of the NSW Government’s Office of Energy and Climate Change recognises organisations that can demonstrate outstanding environmental achievements and leadership.
Executive Manager Social and Environmental Sustainability, Jandy McCandless, said to be reaccredited at gold status is a credit to the hard work and commitment to social, environmental and economic sustainability by everyone at Home in Place. She said Home in Place understands the importance of sustainability to its own business success as well as to the environments and communities in which it operates.
“Sustainability is more than protecting the environment,” Ms McCandless said.
“It is at the heart of our operations because it makes good business sense,” she said.
“Home in Place has taken a lead role in advocating for sustainability nationally and internationally particularly through the promotion of the implementation of the United Nations’ Sustainability Goals (SDGs) and New Urban Agenda,” Ms McCandless said.
“We’ve aligned our business operations to the SDGs to play our part in ending poverty, protecting the planet and ensuring prosperity for all. We are currently implementing our Environment, Sustainability and Governance (ESG) Framework to ensure we set and meet benchmarks and can demonstrate outcomes.”
Some of Home in Place’s recent sustainability initiatives include:
- reducing CO2 emissions in line with Net Zero targets
- diverting vacated properties’ waste from landfill to be repurposed, recycled or reused
- being the first not for profit organisation and first community housing organisation to sign up to the Plastic Police® soft plastics recycling program a part of its “towards zero” waste program in line with our commitment to circular economy
- installing community and sensory gardens provide tenants with access to fresh fruit and vegetables, and create a platform for social inclusion and addresses good health and wellbeing on a number of levels
- continued social inclusion and tenant participation programs to promote engaged and sustainable communities
- KPIs for all staff on sustainability and waste and emissions reduction
- mental health programs for staff and tenants
Underpinning Home in Place’s commitment to sustainability is a belief that safe, affordable and adequate housing is a basic human right.
Ms McCandless said Home in Place works with its tenants help them to participate in building resilient, sustainable and inclusive communities. She said the Sustainability Advantage program has been a big help in supporting Home in Place’s focus on sustainability.
Home in Place joined the program in 2009 and achieved silver status in 2011 and gold status in 2019.
“Sustainability Advantage has helped us to understand sustainability and strengthen our environmental performance.”
