News From Good Environmental Choice Australia

Welcome Back from the Festive Season
Welcome back from the holiday break! We hope everyone had a safe and fun holiday season. We are very excited about 2011 and look forward to a great year.

GECA Staff and Board Member Update
Since our last Newsletter we have gained and lost staff members. Sara Kovari (Strategic Projects Manager) joined us mid 2010 as Sonya Ku farewelled us as the year came to a close. Lara Montebello is currently filling in for Katie Paterson as Administration Assistant while Katie takes some time off.

We are also delighted to welcome the new Chair of the GECA Board, Gordon Renouf. Gordon took the reigns from Jack Josephsen in November 2010. GECA thanks Jack for his valued leadership and hard work during his tenure and wish him all the best for the future. Gordon worked for many years as a lawyer and consumer advocate including as a senior executive at the consumer group CHOICE, where among other things, he lead work on sustainable consumption and challenges to 'greenwash'. Further information about all Directors is available at http://www.geca.org.au/corporate/team.htm

Thank-you Gregory Commercial Furniture!
GECA would like to thank Gregory Commercial Furniture for supplying us with 5 new office chairs at a generously discounted price. Gregory Commercial Furniture has been a GECA Licensee for over three years and offer a wide range of ergonomic task and visitor office chairs which are available in a large assortment of GECA certified fabrics. We chose the 'Inca' chairs and have found them very well made and extremely comfortable. To have a look at the Gregory range click here. Once again thank-you Gregory Commercial Furniture for your ongoing support and wonderful chairs.

GECA In the Media
Good Environmental Choice Australia has had a few mentions in the media of late. Current licensees Jardan and Koskela were mentioned in an article written by Fiona Rutkay in Sancuary Magazine on the subject of reupholstering old furniture. Rutkay wrote 'Jardan implemented it's "closed-circle manufacturing" model as part of its GECA accreditation, and includes accepting and rejuvenating pre-loved Jardan Furniture'. If you would like to read this article in full click here.

GECA has also been mentioned in an article released by Fuji Xerox Australia titled 'Fuji Xerox Australia awarded the GECA Ecolabel for Sustainability'. Click here to veiw this article.

Standards Update
In 2010, the Green Building Council of Australia recognised 5 GECA standards under their new Green Star Product Certification Scheme Assessment Framework. This included the following 3 draft standards at Level A (which will be released as final over the coming months): Carpets 2010, Floor Coverings 2010, Panel Boards 2010; and the following 2 final standards (see more below): Furniture and Fittings 2006 (modified 2010) - Level B, to be phased out by July 2011 - and Furniture and Fittings 2010 at Level A.

Good Environmental Choice Australia is pleased to announce the release of new standard for fully finished furniture - GECA-28 Furniture and Fittings 2010 and the revision of existing standard - GECA-28 Furniture and Fittings 2006 (Modified 2010). GECA has decided to retain the 2006 version in an amended form until July 2011. This will enable existing licensees to maintain their certification if they wish to, or for other manufacturers to obtain certification under the old (modified) conditions until GECA completes further consultation on an important aspect of its furniture standard. For further information see the Technical Note

Green Cities Sector Partner
GECA is proud to be a Sector Partner at Green Cities 2011. Green Cities is back with a fresh new approach in 2011. Whether you are new to green building or have been committed for years, Green Cities 2011 has the essentials for green buildings and sustainable communities. The conference and exhibition will be held in Melbourne from Sunday 27 February to Tuesday 1 March, with interactive green building site tours and master classes on Wednesday 2 March.

Come visit us at the GECA stand in the exhibition hall and meet some of our licensees!

GECA 2010 Annual Review
We invite you to read the GECA Annual Review to see the considerable progress we have made with the program over the past 12 months, and the important improvements that will flow from our plans for the first half of 2011 which include the introduction of multiple auditors, new Scheme Rules and a review of our remaining Standards. View our 2010 Annual Review at the following link: http://www.geca.org.au/corporate/Publications/Annual%20Review%202010.pdf

GECA on Facebook and Twitter
GECA is now on Facebook and Twitter!! To 'like' us on Facebook click here. To become a follower on Twitter click here