Aiming to make a positive impact on the environmental sustainability for the exercise and active health sector while also supporting its registered business members, AUSactive has been conducting the ECOactive Pilot program.
Funded by the City of Sydney the program is looking to reduce the high costs that fitness facilities frequently spend on energy and water while also reducing waste, water and chemical usage.
Working with AUSactive business members, the program has compiled data that will help the industry peak body provide in-depth recommendations for businesses to foster a more cost-effective and sustainable future with initiatives ranging from structural changes such as solar panels to impactful simple measures that are easy for facilities to introduce.
Explaining the program in a feature in the latest edition of the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine (issue 160), AUSactive Chief Executive, Barrie Elvish advises that findings from the pilot program “can help fitness operators of all sizes stand out from the crowd”.
Elvish went on to state “our mission (in creating ECOactive) was inspired by a simple realisation: our environmental sustainability awards category was underrepresented. This prompted us to investigate global sustainability trends within our sector and discover a wealth of innovative initiatives.
“As a result, we conceptualised the ECOactive Pilot Program, a groundbreaking initiative designed to help businesses reduce energy consumption, minimise waste, conserve water and optimise chemical use.
“We understand that rising utility costs were adding pressure to our members bottom line, and we were determined to address this issue head-on.”
AUSactive webinar
AUSactive is staging a free webinar on at 2pm (AEDT) on Tuesday 27th March 2024 to introduce ECOactive with questions answered by AUSactive's Billie Cox and Sustainability expert Fran Nicols from ECOadvantage.
Click here to access and read Australasian Leisure Management issue 160.
AUSactive’s Federal Budget acknowledged by mainstream media
AUSactive presentation of set of strategic initiatives for inclusion in the Federal Budget has been picked up by mainstream media with The Australian focussing on the call for tax deductibility for gym memberships.
Elvish told The Australian “these changes need no budget allocation but will support employers to promote physical activity to improve people’s wellbeing, and will incentivise individuals to invest in their health by taking up exercise.
“The whole health system in Australia is geared to dealing with people once they get sick, rather than preventing them from getting sick in the first place. There has to be a complete reset on how we deal with health.”
Click here to view AUSactive’s full budget submission.
Images: ECOactive Pilot Program participants One Playground (top) and KX Pilates (below).
Nigel Benton is the co-founder and Publisher of Australasian Leisure Management, Australia and New Zealand’s only magazine for professionals in all areas of the leisure industry. Having established the magazine in 1997, shortly after his relocation to Australia, he has managed its readership rising to over 11,500 and its acceptance as the industry journal for professionals in aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues.
Among a range of published works and features, his comments on a Blog (blogspot) from 2007 to 2011, when this website went live in its current form, may be interesting to reflect back on.
Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?
As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.
INTRODUCTION
Abel Sports is Australia’s leading manufacturer and suppliers of Goal Posts, sports ground safety netting systems and coaches boxes for Stadiums ,Sports Clubs, Councils and…
Yellowbox is an Australian technology company that has developed smart locker technology operated through an app with a focus on experience for users and facility managers. Found at Beaches, Aquatic…
Since 1989 Elite Pool Covers have designed and manufactured an extensive range of high quality affordable manual,semi-automatic and fully-automatic pool cover systems for the harsh Australian…
BioGuard is Australia and New Zealand’s most trusted supplier of premium, innovative and affordable commercial water treatment systems and chemicals. BioGuard offers a comprehensive range of…
Australia’s leading manufacturer of horizontal and vertical media filters suited to all types of commercial pools, water playgrounds marine parks, aquaculture and zoos. They are an ideal…
Track. Engage. Retain
GreeneDesk is a suite of cloud based software solutions helping health clubs, leisure centres and swim schools to effectively track progression, improve customer engagement and…
BH Fitness, part of the long-standing and iconic bike manufacturer BH Group, is a global leader in fitness equipment for both Commercial and Home markets. The company, with the headquarters based in…
Parkequip is an approved supplier under the NSW LGP Contract 308 for a range of products including play equipment, shade, shelters, safe fall, park furniture and school outdoor seating.
All materials…