Sustainable living

Food and grocery items can have a big impact on the environment and the people that grow and produce it. Things to consider when buying your weekly groceries include: 

• Buy in bulk and avoid unnecessary packaging. 
• Look for fair trade and organic labels. Fair Trade ensures that workers within the supply chain are paid an adequate living wage. Buying organic ensures that the health of the environment, farmers, animals, and consumers are not compromised by the application of synthetic chemicals. 
• Only buy what you need. Food waste has become a huge global issue. Write a weekly meal plan to limit over-buying, grow your own, or start composting at home.
• Shop local, at farmers markets, food co-ops or see Northern Rivers Food and Byron Bay Food Producers for more options. 

Community gardening is a great way to: 

• improve your wellbeing,
• connect with your community,
• grow your own supply of nutritious food, and 
• share your tips and learn new skills. 

There are multiple community gardens in the Byron Shire: 

• Mullumbimby Community Gardens
• Ocean Shores (Shara) Community Gardens

Byron Shire Council recognises community gardens as legitimate social assets that enhance local food security. Council is committed to the promotion, development, and management of community gardens across the Shire in accordance with best practice guidelines. 

Thinking about starting a new community garden? Read our Byron Shire Community Gardens Policy and Guidelines. 

Transport can have a huge impact on carbon emissions. 

There are options available to help reduce your transport footprint: 

• Walk, roll, or ride throughout Byron Shire. Learn more about our pedestrian and cycle friendly towns on our Footpaths and cycleways webpage and in our Map of existing and proposed cycling infrastructure. 
• Riding buses are made easier with upgraded bus shelters for cover and accessibility throughout our Shire. See TransportNSW’s Trip Planner tool to plan ahead.
• Ridesharing reduces the number of cars on our roads and is estimated to reduce ride-share users’ total emissions by up to 10 per cent. 
• Pop Car has 14 car share bays in the Byron Shire. For information, see the Pop Car website or our Car Share Policy. 
• Electric car charging stations are available in Mullumbimby and Byron Bay. See our Net Zero Projects for more information.

Being energy efficient is an important part of being sustainable at home and in the workplace. There are many ways in which we as individuals can improve our energy efficiency, reduce emissions, and save on energy bills. 

We are working hard on its Net Zero Emissions Action Plan for Council operations, to help us reach carbon neutral status by 2025. See our Net Zero Projects for further information on partnerships, community action on climate change, solar mapping and much more.  

Check out the following resources to learn and take active steps to become more energy efficient - 

• Building energy efficient communities - Watch episode 1 to see the retrofit of Byron Community College.
• Zero Emissions Byron have partnered with Adult Learning Australia to develop 19 energy efficiency fact sheets.
•  Love Water Save Water - find out what you can do to save water.
• Renters Guide to Sustainability - there is plenty that renters can do to save energy. 
• Review Byron Shire’s emission Snapshot with Ironbark Sustainability and Beyond Zero Emissions’ community climate tool. 

Considering the life cycle and origin of goods and materials you purchase can also help to reduce waste and energy.  

Check out the following resources to get inspired for sustainable design and construction: 

• Sustainable house design checklist - a handy resource by Zero Emission's Byron, to help you design your home with a lighter footprint 
• Your Home website - the Australian Government guide to passive design, materials, energy, water, and housing 
• Sustainable House Day website - see how other Australian homeowners are incorporating sustainable design into their homes. 
• Renew website - Renew is a national, not-for-profit organisation that inspires, enables, and advocates for people to live sustainably in their homes and communities. 
• Green Building Council Australia - learn about the Green Star tool, a framework of best practice benchmarks for sustainable buildings, fit-outs, and communities. 
• Sustainable Procurement Guide - an Australian Government resource to guide purchasing decisions based on positive environmental outcomes. 
• Sign up to Council's Sustainable Development E-news for the latest initiatives and projects within Byron Shire.