Logo - The Wheel

The Wheel

The Ecobusiness Newsletter

Vol. 1 No. 1 September, 1995

All Aboard : Investing in the Environment

A landmark seminar will bring together a unique combination of expertise...an investment advisor that has spent the last 9 years researching the social and environmental performance of Australian Companies.... a conservationist that believed there must be a better way of saving Australian wildlife.... a stockbroker that has extensive experience in advising people on investments .....and an accountant that understands that profit can be calculated in a number of ways.

The speakers Robert Rosen, Dr. John Wamsley, the stockbroker and Lou de Leeuw will be at The Grand Hotel on Tuesday the 17th October, 1995 with a half day seminar entitled "Investing in the Environment.".

Robert Rosen, A regular investment writer for the ACF's "Habitat" magazine said, "The seminar with it's support by The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, MFP- Australia, The Centre for Urban Ecology and other groups promises to be the biggest in Australia ."

The Programme will include a look at investing in shares of environmentally responsible companies by Robert Rosen plus his knowledge of Ethical Investment Trusts will be available to those who intend. Well known director of Earth Sanctuaries Ltd , Dr John Wamsley, will present his view on raising capital for conservation.

A balanced view will be presented by A stockbroker that will look at the investments discussed in terms of returns, capital growth and security.

How to get environmental information on companies will be discussed by the convenor of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Environmental Accounting Interest Group and Chief Executive of Ecobusiness , Loude Leeuw.

Alternatives to motor car transport is a policy of Ecobusiness : a tram will be provided at 9.00am from Victoria Square and will return at 1.15pm. Cyclists will be provided with secure parking at Glenelg or Victoria 9.00am Square.

Telephone Ecobusiness on 6+08+ 8211 8171, fax 61+08+82126170 or E-mail :lou@ecobusiness.com.au for a registration form.

Ecobusiness: Books

Environmental Management Systems Verification Test - The Dutch Test

The Test endorsed by The International Chamber of commerce, Paris France and the Minister of Housing, Physical Planning and the Environment , The Hague, The Netherlands is now available to Australian Companies.

Wide Ranging
The EMS can be used in all types of business, processing and manufacturing as well as in the transport section, warehousing etc. It is specifically aimed at :

corporate executives
environmental managers
management (general managers and line managers with specific environmental duties ).

Get the experts to work for you
The test has been compiled with great care by the experts of KPMG Environmental Consulting, the Hague, The Netherlands. These include partners George Molencamp, Jan van der Kolk and consultants John van Engelen and Ingrid Bins- Hoefnagels. The EMS test has been put into practise by the industries in the Rotterdam area. George Molencamp said "This can be applied anywhere in the world, we conducted a test in Indonesia and the staff there found it excellent"

Three Components
The Test comprises of three separate components- A loose leaf introduction, the Core Test ( about 100 questions) and the extended test ( about 300 questions) arranged in a binder to ensure you can quickly collate information on site.

Australian conditions
We are currently compiling an Australian appendices and would expect the Test to be available by 31st October,, 1995. The cost will be $220 + PP orders received and paid before the 31st October, 1995 will receive a special price of $195 + PP. Of course if you are not completely satisfied your money will be refunded.

An evaluation copy and further information can be obtained from Ecobusiness.

Ecobusiness Headquarters:1882 to 1995

The new Ecobusiness headquarters at 193 Victoria Square has a history dating back to 1882. The Victorian style building on the western side of the Square had its first registered owner as The National Building and Investment Society. In 1905 this was transferred to The Herbert District No. 83 Independent Order of Rechabites Salford Unity. Ownership changed again in 1913 The Australian Temperance and General Mutual Life Assurance Society.

The ownership was maintained until 1983 when it was taken over by the Vanguard Insurance company Limited. They left this building in 1991 when a succession of tenants occupied the building. The surrounding buildings are also of some interest, in 1979 the 1000 tonne ANZ building was moved 34 metres south to make way for the SGIC Building.

Our tenancy required some alterations to the interior of the building. Kyun Tai the manager of the building said, "the interior of the building has been torn out so many times not much of the original is left." Ecobusiness's boardroom overlooking the Square does have some of the 1882 character with large oval windows and ornate ceiling.

Bio paint has been on surfaces painted during the alterations, doors from Stepney Salvage and our internal partitions were recycled by The Partition Company for us, they also supplied our ,lets say unusual, board table.

Staff can take advantage of the central location by using public transport and cycling to work. An other advantage is being within walking distance from the CBD.

Ecobusiness is on the way . We have started from humble beginnings but we do have grand plans for the future.

From The Hub by Lou de Leeuw, Chief Executive

At times the wheel seems to be turning at an excruciatingly slow rate but it is moving. The spokes are also being developed with Ecobusiness Consultants being the most active. However, Ecobusiness: Books is gathering titles for distribution and Ecobusiness: Software is gathering momentum with expressions of interest being received with Environmental Management Systems Evaluation software and for our Home Page Development..

In April we provided an Expression of Interest , said to be one of the most creative, presentations, for the South Australian Development Council's "Renewable Technologies " project.. At the same time we were working on a project for Aboriginal Business Breakthrough in looking at their processes and marketing strategies.

In July I visited George Littlewood, External Affairs Vice- President of CRA Ltd to present my view of Environmental Reporting based on my visit Europe. This resulted in a valuable referral to the Minerals Council of Australia.

Ecobusiness has also been represented on the "Integrated Waste Management Strategy for the Adelaide Metropolitan Area" and the Environmental Management Plan - Local Agenda 21 for The City of Adelaide . We ,also, provided input into the "Cycling Strategy for South Australia". Our wheel is one of change in business and the environment..... the wheel has been put in motion.