Unilever Australia, in collaboration with Clean Up Australia, Cool.org, and Coles, is embarking on a mission to support environmental education in Australian schools by providing free Clean Up kits and online education resources.
To coincide with World Environment Day on 5 June 2024, Unilever and Coles encouraged teachers to register for a free Clean Up Kit and organise Clean Up activities for a chance to win one of three $1000 Coles gift vouchers.
This initiative comes at a time when 44 per cent of young Australians list the environment as their foremost concern, signalling a growing need for environmental literacy among the youth.
The partnership aims to equip schools nationwide with the necessary tools to address environmental challenges. Unilever’s contribution of $150,000 to Clean Up Australia is funding the update of five lesson plans on Cool.org, an online platform dedicated to providing curriculum-aligned resources for Australian educators.
These update lessons cover crucial topics such as the impact of litter on nature, understanding the circular economy, decoding the Australasian Recycling Label, and proper waste disposal techniques.
Nick Bangs, head of country for Unilever Australia and New Zealand, underscored the significance of environmental education in shaping a sustainable future. He emphasised Unilever’s commitment to minimising environmental impact through initiatives like packaging redesign and renewable energy adoption. Bangs expressed pride in collaborating with Coles, Clean Up Australia, and Cool.org to foster environmental stewardship among the younger generation.
Cool.org CEO, Thea Stinear stressed the importance of sustainability education within the Australian school curriculum. With Unilever’s support, Cool.org estimates reaching around 30,000 students, empowering teachers with resources to inspire environmental consciousness.
“We’re taking actions across our business to reduce our environmental impact – from redesigning our packaging to use less plastic and using renewable energy to reduce our emissions,” said Bangs.
“Sustainability education is a vital component of the Australia school curriculum. Through our lesson plans, we aim to make it easier for teachers by equipping them with the knowledge and resources they need to inspire their students. With Unilever’s support, we estimate we reach around 30,000 students,” said Stinear.
Unilever’s contribution is facilitated by Coles’ shoppers, who are encouraged to contribute 10 cents from the purchase of participating Unilever products at Coles supermarkets or online between 1 May and 28 May, 2024.
This marks the fifth consecutive year of the initiative, which has seen Unilever donate over $400,000 to Clean Up Australia facilitating the distribution of more than 6000 free Clean Up Kits.
“With this wonderful campaign, it’s a matter of 10 cent donations adding up to something big and impactful,” said Clean Up Australia CEO, Jenny Geddes.
As Australia’s largest community-based environmental event, Clean Up Australia Day has garnered participation from over twenty-one million individuals over the last three decades.
