Thousands of travellers visiting Brisbane’s Virgin Australia airport lounge can help one of the country’s leading food charities by simply finishing a bottle of water or can of drink before their departure.
The new initiative from Virgin Australia and OzHarvest will help the environment and community by donating all eligible drink containers used in the lounge through Containers for Change.
Containers for Change is Queensland’s container refund scheme which provides a 10-cent refund to customers returning eligible beverage containers at any refund point across Queensland. The scheme also facilitates donations to charities and community groups through container refunds.
Virgin Australia already donates refunds from all eligible containers used at their Brisbane headquarters, and also donates surplus food from their lounge to OzHarvest to minimise food waste.
The airline has provided flight credits to support OzHarvest for the last few years and also donated excess food to OzHarvest’s food rescue operations, including a very large donation during travel disruptions caused by COVID-19 in 2020.
Speaking on the launch of the Containers for Change scheme at their Brisbane lounge, Virgin Australia Group General Manager of Product and Customer, Sarah Adam said they are committed to environmental and social change through container refunds and other waste reduction.
“OzHarvest do a tremendous job in supporting Australians in need through their food recovery program and it’s pleasing we can support their cause while reducing our own waste streams,” said Ms Adam.
“Having already kickstarted the Containers for Change scheme in our Brisbane head office, it’s great our Brisbane lounge members can now benefit from the partnership and support OzHarvest.”
OzHarvest is Australia’s leading food rescue organisation, stopping good food going to waste and delivering it to charities that help feed people in need.
Spokesperson Michaela Windsor says in Queensland, OzHarvest rescues over 30,000 kilograms of nutritious food and delivers it to more than 250 charities each week.
“With bushfires, drought, COVID-19 and now the rising cost of living impacting our community, demand for food relief has increased dramatically. Every $1 donated to OzHarvest means we can deliver two meals,” said Ms Windsor.
“Funds raised from every five containers will help us deliver one meal for someone in need.”
Virginie Marley, acting CEO of Container Exchange, the non-for-profit that runs Containers for Change said it was fantastic to see corporate organisations using the scheme to support the community.
“More than $7 million has been donated to charities and community groups through the scheme, so every container counts – each 10-cent donation adds up and means one less recyclable item ending up in landfill,” said Ms Marley.
“Working with organisations such as Virgin and OzHarvest means the environment benefits from litter reduction and the community benefits from the donations – it’s a win-win.”
Travellers at Brisbane Domestic Airport can also find Containers for Change donation stations located throughout the terminal, with those refunds going to local charity.
Media contact:
m: 0408 915 422
e: media@containerexchange.com.au
