Sustainability agency Republic of Everyone, is this week celebrating a big win at Australia’s green awards, The Banksia Awards.
The Banksia Award for Leadership in Citizenship and Communities went to the homegrown collective impact project, The Garage Sale Trail.
As a partner in The Garage Sale Trail, Republic of Everyone helped start it four years ago in Bondi and plays a key role in program creative and communications, helping to amplify awareness of the program and participation on the day.
The Garage Sale Trail works hand in hand with government, business and community to inspire social and environmental change. It’s a national program that’s about sustainability, community, commerce and fun. By organising communities around Australia to hold garage sales on the same day, The Garage Sale Trail aims to promote reuse, reduce waste to landfill, enable new neighbourly connections, provide a platform for fundraising, inspire creativity and stimulate local economies.
“The biggest evil of advertising is creating demand for things people don’t need,” said Ben Peacock, founding partner at Republic of Everyone. “With programs like The Garage Sale Trail, we set out to prove that people can buy things but without creating unnecessary consumption – and most importantly have fun doing it. With a bit of clever thinking, advertising can be part of the solution instead of always being part of the problem,” said Ben Peacock.
In just four years, Garage Sale Trail has grown into an epic national event involving over 100 councils, 8,000 sales and 400,000 participants Australia-wide. This year alone, it helped re-distribute over 6.5 million items, getting them out of cupboards and keeping them out of landfill.
“We are honoured and delighted that The Garage Sale Trail is a Banksia Award winner. The Banksia Awards are the best of the best in the area of sustainability – awarded to innovative programs that deliver tangible outcomes to help drive a sustainable Australia,” said Scott Matyus-Flynn, Partner and Head of Strategy.
