Transforming Trash into Garden Miracles: Charli Walters and Koh's Innovative Approach to Waste Management
In a forward-thinking endeavor, Charli Walters, CEO of Koh, discusses an innovative project that marries sustainability with creativity. The project involves repurposing biodegradable sponges into water banks for plants, creating a solution that is not only eco-friendly but also engaging for families and communities.
This initiative stemmed from a potential waste issue, with Koh having thousands of compostable sponges in their warehouse that started biodegrading. Committed to the environment, sending them to landfill was not an option. Partnering with Regenerative Designer and Horticulturalist Benoit Luc, they found a creative way to repurpose the sponges. The Dish Sponges, made from wood pulp and devoid of harmful chemicals, serve as water retention, feeding plants until they decompose and turn into plant food.
To demonstrate the project's scale and accessibility, Koh partnered with Community Gardens Australia to create the Sponge Garden Project in their Randwick site. This initiative is designed to inspire green thumbs nationwide.
For Charli, a mother of two, her children have shown immense interest in the sponge garden project. They've enjoyed participating in gardening activities as a family, learning new skills, and gaining a profound appreciation for nature. The project serves as a platform to educate her kids about reducing, reusing, and recycling, as well as the impact consumption has on the environment.
The environmental benefits of this project are significant. Deloitte and Good360 have reported that every year, $2.5 billion of brand new household goods are wasted. Koh's initiative has diverted thousands of products away from landfill, contributing to the growing issue of waste management. Teaching kids about sustainability from an early age is crucial, as good habits start at home and play a vital role in reducing what we send to landfill.
Balancing her role as a CEO and a mother is a delicate juggling act for Charli. Maintaining consistent family rules, creating normality, and setting aside quality time together help her manage effectively.
Parents looking for eco-friendly activities to teach their kids about sustainability need not look far. Engaging children through hands-on experiences, such as sorting waste, creative books, outdoor activities, composting, and vegetable gardening, fosters an understanding of environmental responsibility from a young age.
The sponge garden initiative has garnered positive feedback, with interest spreading to daycares. The project's educational and fun nature has made it a hit with parents and teachers alike.
Looking ahead, Koh is continuously seeking innovative ways to benefit its customers and the planet. With eco-friendliness at the core of their brand, they aim to create safe, sustainable, simple, and super-effective products. Their goal is to make cleaning a better experience for customers while being kinder to the environment.
- Charli Walters, the CEO of Koh, has extended the innovative project that marries sustainability with creativity to include environmental science, as the company now aims to educate children about reducing, reusing, and recycling through the Sponge Garden Project, providing a hands-on learning experience that fosters an understanding of environmental responsibility.
- In the space of home and garden, the sponge garden project, a creative collaboration between Koh and Benoit Luc, combines gardening with a lifestyle that values sustainability, showcasing how everyday household items can be repurposed and integrated into a garden environment, promoting a greener lifestyle that not only benefits the environment but also engages families and communities.
