4S: Sustainable & Social Suppliers' Stories

ZOLO

We live in a world with a lot of 'stuff' — and an increasing amount of tech — but what if there was a company built not around taking more out, but putting more back?

ZOLO is an Australian startup driven by purpose: providing equal learning opportunities for everyone while reducing e-waste.

THE PROBLEM: E-WASTE

According to Clean Up Australia, around 88% of replaced computers and TVs in Australia will end up in landfill.

This represents over 4 million computers and 3 million TVs entering landfill every year.

The consequences of improper e-waste disposal in landfills or other non-dumping sites pose serious threats to current public health and can pollute ecosystems for generations to come. 

When electronics are improperly disposed, toxic chemicals are released, impacting the earth’s atmosphere, soil, water and ultimately, human health. 

Fewer than 1% of TVs and around 10% of our PCs and laptops are recycled every year, and electronic rubbish is growing at three times the rate of any other waste stream. 

THE END OF WISHCYCLING

Zolo wants to improve one of the main challenges that recyling has: wishcycling

Wishcycling is the feeling of disposing stuff in the recycling bin but not knowing where the rubbish is going, or if you’ve gotten rid of the right things in the right way in the first place.

Tech alone is a mighty complex thing, and all of a sudden we’re now realising the climate absolutely needs us disposing and extending the life cycles of our waste responsibly. 

SOCIAL MISSION: A DUAL APPROACH

Zolo supports businesses to properly manage their e-waste in a way that is better for the planet and the people. 

As well as making the tech disposal process easier for businesses, Zolo is committed to a broader sense of ethical sustainability. Creating a positive impact to both the planet and society.

They have partnered with different organisations to align their social efforts:

-Need a Tutor: a social enterprise incorporating educational technology to help Indigenous children by connecting them to world-class teachers and tutors online.

-Women's and Girls' Emergency Centre: connecting devices to women and children in crisis. 

If your business partners with Zolo, you'll not only be doing better for the planet, you'll also be helping the next generation skill up so they can take care of planet Earth too. 

Driven by passion for kids being the future, Zolo's Co-Founders Franz Siasat & Ryan Zhou are on a mission to create a sustainable future for the next generation, where all children have fair and equal access to a good a quality education regardless of race, social background, gender and religion through ethical and sustainable disposal of business' old tech. 

HOW COULD YOU ONBOARD THEM INTO YOUR BUSINESS? 

If you want to create a positive impact with your business and promote sustainability across your organisation, partner with Zolo for sustainable disposal of your business' old tech. 

Zolo will wipe data securely, delivering that same tech to kids and communities in need. Creating equal learning and access opportunities for more. 

A NEW ECOSYSTEM FOR SUSTAINABLE AND SOCIAL SUPPLIERS

givvable is an innovative technology platform helping businesses capture and track the sustainability credentials and attributes of suppliers.

Founded by Frances Atkins and Naomi Vowels, givvable is an ecosystem of sustainable, social and diverse businesses. These two sisters are on a mission to activate the purchasing power of businesses for better environmental and social outcomes.

givvable is supported by the University of NSW, Singapore Management University, the Impact Accelerator, X15 Ventures, Optus Future Makers and Microsoft Sustainability and Social Entrepreneurship.

Join givvable's community today.