By JO HORSLEY
Let’s GET ONE THING STRAIGHT. RUNNING AN ENVIRONMENTAL NOT FOR PROFIT IS HARD BLOODY WORK! LAST WEEK I HAD THE PLEASURE TO SPEAK TO ONE OF MY FELLOW WASTE WARRIORS IN NEW ZEALAND WHO RUNS A KIND OF GORGEOUS STEP SISTER ORGANISATION CALLED UYO – USE YOUR OWN, and we had a great chin wag that I want to share with you.
Laura Kitty Doyle (pictured below!), started UYO in New Zealand after a pinnacle moment in her life. You may have heard of the ‘Attenbourough Affect’. In short it means the shedding of new light on environmental issues – specifically the damage that single-use plastic is having on our wildlife. Well, Laura and her daughter got the full affect when they were lucky enough to spend an evening listen to Sir David speak about his life experience in the wild and the concern he has for our planets future. After the talk, Laura and her daughter spoke to David and asked what they could do to help… David said go DO SOMETHING! Get your grass roots hat on and start to make an impact. Any impact is better than nothing.
On the way home, Laura noticed single-use plastic waste on the pavements and knew what needed to be done… and the next day started on her mission to engage the cafe community of New Zealand to reduce their waste, and BOY OH BOY SHE HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB!! We love you Laura for your commitment. When I asked her why? She said that it is what she owes in rent for living on this incredible planet – in particular the stunning countryside of New Zealand. We couldn’t agree more with you Laura!
Here is a bit more from Laura about UYO:
Before we start, you should know: this isn’t a money making gig. No one takes a wage. It’s a teeny group of friends who give their time and energy and money to support hospo, while hospo makes the world a better place for us all.
UYO.CO.NZ is a not-for-profit, responsible-cafe finder. UYO stands for Use Your Own.
We use the guide, and the associated instagram @uyo.nz, as a tool to help customers, cafes and communities break up with unnecessary single use, while keeping everyone happy (including the accountant). Why? Because single use waste is a menace to our planet’s resources, our societies’ way of treating each other, and our one home.
We represent our planet, and we work for cafes who are committed to minimizing their environmental impact by welcoming us to use our own cups and containers, plates, bowls, cutlery, anything, when we take out. Every cafe listed on our website will pour a brew into any vessel we bring them, and will smile while they do.
We use social media to engage, connect, incite, inform, rant, rally, share, create and represent the reuse evolution, and the hospitality businesses who are stepping up.
We also work as a philanthropic social enterprise, stepping in to connect folks who can help each other do good, and stepping up to fund local projects and initiatives. We have no ego – we just want to see the world we leave behind to be one that life can thrive in, respecting the rights of all living things to clean air, water and land.