Brisbane Eco Expo 2018

BRISBANE will take ‘One Eco Step’ this September, as it plays host to Australia’s largest consumer sustainability expo in a move to help save the world.

Running from September 14 to 16, the inaugural Brisbane Eco Expo will join the global fight against climate change and increased health concerns to connect Queenslanders with Australia’s emerging ‘green market’.

Held at one of the world’s leading energy-efficient facilities, the Brisbane Showgrounds, this event will see eco-friendly businesses and keynote speakers congregate in a market-like space to offer natural, organic and sustainable products across dedicated home, food, beauty, health and lifestyle sectors.

With Australia recently ranked in the top five worst countries for waste pollution and negative impacts from climate change on the rise, the need to conserve Australia, and the world, should be on everyone’s mind.

Eco Expo Event Director and Unified Events Managing Director, Kiara Sullivan, said the event was created to showcase eco-friendly alternatives to everyday products and to inspire the community to take just one step towards being more sustainable. Exhibitors are showcasing a range of goods and services from electric vehicles and a range of solar powered Tesla Tiny Houses, to chemical-free gardening, food, wine, beauty and skincare.

“We have tiny houses on display for those looking for the full eco experience. However, this event is not about everyone taking drastic measures, just to promote that if we each take one eco step, together we can make a difference!”

“We want to open people’s eyes to eco-friendly alternatives that will not only benefit health, lifestyle and wallet – but be one step closer to saving the world,” Mrs Sullivan said.

People conscious about their health, wellbeing, and how diet impacts the environment will find the ‘Vegan Pop Up Market’ run by the Brisbane Vegan Market crew, along with a dedicated sector focusing on food and wine exhibitors with options of chemical-free, natural, fair-trade, gluten-free, certified organic, to non-GMO.

For foodies wanting to learn more, there are free health and cooking demonstrations available such as DIY cheese making, edible herbs and DIY fermented foods, as well as free eco workshops and educational sessions with notable guest speakers including legendary Sea Shepherd captain Peter Hammarsted; urban farmer, permaculturist and gut health guru, Green Dean; sustainable gardener, Kate Wall; and vegan activist, Scott Wallace.

TV climate change guru and documentarian, Khory Hancock, known as the ‘The Environmental Cowboy’, will host the ‘Commune Eco Brunch’ each day, a dining experience where guests can enjoy delicious foods accompanied by organic and vegan wines.

Families will find a range of fun and engaging ‘How-To’ workshops and performances for kids to inspire our future generation and can meet mini movers and shakers such as 14-year-old environmentalist and worldwide eco activist, Holley Somerville Knott, and 11-year-old eco entrepreneur, Megan Mandikos.

The Eco Expo promotes reduce, reuse, refuse, recycle – and is a single-use plastic free zone, with a ban on plastic utensils and plastic bags. A waste management policy is in place with the assistance of ‘Mallow Sustainability’, a Brisbane organic waste company. This will allow the Eco Expo to reduce and recycle efficiently, as well as composting all organic waste from the event. Carpooling is encouraged, with the event’s sponsor, ‘Think Hitch’, a new ride share app launching in Brisbane just in time for the expo.

ECO EXPO BRISBANE

Date: Friday September 14 to Sunday September 16, 2018 – open to the public 10am to 4pm each day
Location: Brisbane Showgrounds, Exhibition Building, 600 Gregory Terrace, Bowen Hills, Brisbane
Cost: Tickets are available at the event, or online from $14 + bf. Children under 14 are free with a paying guardian. Each ticket purchased includes a $2 donation to the visitor’s choice of charity at the event entry, including Sea Shepherd and the Australian Conservation Foundation. For more information, visit savetheworldexpo.com.au