As the dust settles on another election, for some Australian businesses, governments – along with their policies – will come and go, but those that have taken an approach of resilience and look beyond the election cycle have their business strategies intact. Typically election cycles and the period post-elections are marked by poor market performance and consumer confidence, “Uncertainty created by the election has certainly not helped support business

Good Environmental Choice Australia's CEO Rupert Posner was recently interviewed by Dynamic Business magazine for his insights into the relationship between business and sustainability. Figures from the last two years show that, despite economical and political change, businesses are still implementing sustainability policies.

Sydney Indesign was a resounding success that saw the display of an assortment of innovative and exciting designs. The main hub of the event — the Galleria — presented a number of discussions; one of which GECA was led by GECA. The discussion showed the benefits and importance of GECA as well as the demand for it from the perspective of licensees and specifiers.

The newest film from acclaimed director and producer Ridley Scott hit the big screens last year with a cameo appearance from the GECA certified Brainwash tables. Prometheus is set in the year 2089 and takes viewers on a journey not to the end of existence, but the beginning. It has been dubbed sci-fi birth as opposed to the often-seen sci-fi apocalypse. The tables appear in one of the early scenes of the film in the crew dining hall on board the Prometheus Spaceship.

If there was ever any doubt that people are full of contradictions, just spend some time with industrial designer Taku Kumazawa. The creator of the GECA certified Tipo mesh stacking chair, and CTZ tilt-top table turns out to be a bit of a rev head, admitting that he secretly covets a gas-guzzling 1970’s lime-green Porsche 911 with a whale tail.

Koskela has now achieved GECA certification for its Anders table, Forbes chair, Jake chair, Kavella table, Konverse chair, Mika stool, PBS table, Saville row and Y series table.

Direct Ergonomics and Zenith Interiors were recently chosen to be the furniture suppliers for the University of Wollongong's Sustainable Building Research Centre.

This week we congratulate Eastern Commercial Furniture Pty Ltd on passing its audit and achieving a GECA licence for its Engage Desk Frames and Edge Screening.

The EZ65 office chair by Haworth Australia Pty Ltd is now GECA certified.

BSI incorporating NCSI has released its second biannual industry survey. Findings show that government organisations are lagging in sustainability practices. According to the Corporate Environmental & Sustainability Governance Survey 2013, 100 per cent of manufacturers indicated they have environmental and sustainability policies, conducted energy audits, and implemented energy efficient processes

Rupert Posner from Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA) recently answered questions for website and blog Otter. Otter is dedicated to helping consumers make more sustainable choices and selects a well-known figure in the sustainability sphere to interview each issue. The interview explores concerns such as confusion regarding ecolabels; current pressing sustainability issues; how this relates to consumers; how GECA can help; and where you can purchase GECA certified products.

Office furniture wholesaler and GECA licensee Office Link Group recently supplied workstations and tables for an eighty staff project in Sydney. This project was completed for an internationally recognised company using GECA certified products.

Office fit-out specialist and GECA licensee Sheldon Commercial Interiors recently completed an exciting fit-out for Faber-Castell in Sydney.

GECA is about to commence the revision of its standards that cover paper products and calls on interested, experienced stakeholders for their input. This process includes consultation with a Technical Advisory Group (TAG). The TAG functions as an interactive group who will work with GECA to assist in developing its standards and setting high environmental goals that are still achievable.

An innovative environmentally and socially responsible Melbourne-based company is doing great things in the world of recycling. Using products that would otherwise end up in landfill, Green Collect utilises one man’s trash to create another man’s treasure. Materials are carefully collected, sorted, disassembled and remade by hand by people re-entering work after long periods of unemployment or homelessness.

This Friday 16 August Rupert Posner, CEO of Good Environmental Choice Australia, will be presenting at one of Sydney’s most exciting design events: Sydney Indesign.

Australia’s largest sustainability event for business will be forming a strategic partnership with GECA, along with Sustainable Business Australia and the Banksia Foundation. Our CEO Rupert Posner is a member of the conference advisory board and will chair a number of sessions. It's a great opportunity to find out about the latest in the sustainability space and earlybird rates end soon.

The East Hotel in Canberra is fast gaining recognition for being one of the cooler spots in town. Its location; flanked by the trendy suburbs of Kingston and Manuka certainly gives it a foot in the door, but its fitout really gives it an extra edge. Recently conceived by local Canberran Dan Bisa, the hotel is dressed from head-to-toe with beautiful GECA certified products from long-standing GECA licensee KE-ZU.

GECA licensee Regupol has recently completed the flooring within a number of exciting retail projects, in particular, The Kidstores in Victoria. Both everroll Star Berlin and everroll Endurance Berlin in 4mm thickness were installed at the Fountain Gate, Chadstone and Northland stores. The Kids Store wanted an easy-to-clean flooring alternative that could be customised with colour to suit their company’s corporate design.

This week sees some exciting news from GECA licensee, Havwoods. Top international fashion and design house Marimekko recently opened two stores, one in the hub of Sydney and the other in Melbourne, using GECA certified Europlank timber flooring from Havwoods.