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From mid- April, leading outdoor retailer BCF – Boating, Camping, Fishing is removing plastic shopping bags from its entire national network of 64 stores, making it the first major outdoor retailer to do away with the environmental hazards.
Having reviewed the successful transition in its stores from plastic to environmental bags in South Australia throughout 2009, BCF has actioned the phasing-out of all plastic bags used at the point of sale, instead offering customers an environmental bag for $1.
BCF Chief Operating Officer Mr Steve Doyle said the decision was not a hard one to make, citing its customers’ passion for protecting the country’s natural assets as being the only encouragement needed to make the switch.
“Our business has a strong environmental focus, with the BCF team and loyal customers who are really passionate about protecting parks and waterways that we all spend so much time enjoying,” Mr Doyle said.
“As well as being a part of the company’s corporate social responsibility initiatives, we just simply didn’t want to see any more plastic bags where they shouldn’t be,” he said.
The Federal Government ruled out the possibility of banning plastic bags from sale in May last year, however businesses like BCF are making the change voluntarily.
BCF environmental bags are available for $1 as an option to customers, whilst newspaper will be utilised for consumables such as frozen bait.
With this year’s storm season already well underway and experts predicting it could be in-keeping with those of recent years, a survey conducted by NRMA Insurance has found at least 20% of Queenslanders are ill-prepared despite warnings.
The NRMA Insurance Storm Readiness and Response Survey* found that more than one in five Queensland households in storm-prone areas did not have an emergency kit prepared, and more than half did not have the QLD SES flood storm emergency number – 132 500 – on hand.
In response to these statistics the State Emergency Service has launched an initiative with community sponsorship partner and leading outdoor retailer BCF– Boating, Camping and Fishing to create an emergency kit checklist that will assist Queenslanders in preparing a kit that could potentially save lives.
BCF Chief Operating Officer, Steve Doyle said that the company is proud to continue to provide support to the Queensland SES, whose volunteers help play a vital role in helping thousands of Queenslanders each year.
“The emergency kit checklist will assist people with knowing what to have on hand in the event of an emergency,” Mr Doyle said.
“The team at BCF support the need for Queensland families to be prepared for natural disasters which have become increasingly frequent over recent years”
“Queensland SES volunteers work around the clock during emergencies, highlighting the need for Queensland families to lessen the load for SES volunteers anyway they can,” he said.
The Executive Director of the Emergency Management Queensland (EMQ), Frank Pagano, said Queenslanders needed to ensure that their family has developed a plan in the event of an emergency.
“We cannot stress enough the importance of being prepared for emergencies this summer season,” Mr Pagano said.
“Families can easily minimise the impact of severe weather to both their home and their personal safety by taking a few simple steps.
“The products on the emergency kit checklist will provide Queensland families with some peace of mind; should they find themselves in an emergency, they will have the bare essentials to make their home a safer environment during severe weather,” he said.
NRMA Insurance spokesperson Sue Hawkins said most households had some items, such as candles, on hand but not a complete emergency kit within easy reach.
“We are still in the initial stages of storm season, so now is the time to put together your emergency kit and ensure everyone in your house knows where it is kept,” Ms Hawkins said.
The emergency kit checklist will be available at Queensland BCF stores and lists a number of high quality BCF products including an emergency whistle, LED torch, waterproof matches, emergency ‘how to’ guides, an emergency thermal bag and water purification tablets.
Download the Emergency Kit Checklist Here.
To find out how you can donate to the SES or become a volunteer, visit: www.emergency.qld.gov.au
* Survey of 400 households in Southeast Queensland in June 2009, commissioned by NRMA Insurance.
As part of their ongoing commitment as community sponsor of the Queensland State Emergency Services (SES), outdoor retailer BCF – Boating, Camping and Fishing has raised more than $50,000 through its in-store “round-up” initiative.
Since March 2009, BCF has been working closely with the SES to help provide funding and attract more volunteers to the organisation, a partnership BCF Manager Ben McConnell said the outdoor retailer’s team was really getting behind in support of the Service.
“The BCF ‘round-up’ initiative involves dedicated BCF team members across our 23 Queensland stores asking customers if they would like to round-up their purchase price to an even dollar figure – to any value they nominate – providing a donation to Queensland SES,” Mr McConnell said.
“Our customers at the BCF Virginia, Gold Coast, Townsville and Gladstone stores have led the way by contributing significantly to the overall donations, highlighting their strong community commitment and proving that every donation helps.”
Executive Director of Emergency Management Queensland Frank Pagano said the money raised from the BCF community sponsorship program would significantly assist the SES to purchase equipment crucial to the day-to-day operations of its volunteers.
“The SES is volunteer driven, with the vast majority of our male and female crew selflessly giving up their own time to help those in need, as we have seen a number of times in Queensland already this year,” Mr Pagano said.
“This community partnership with BCF is helping to support our volunteers and the vital service they provide every Queenslander.
“The Department is delighted to work with an organisation such as BCF that understands the importance of volunteering and community safety,” he said.
People all throughout Queensland are able to donate money to the SES simply by rounding-up the value of their transaction to any price they nominate. All contributions received through the BCF community sponsor support program are delivered to the Queensland SES.
In addition to financial aid, BCF is also serving an important role in raising awareness of the Service, encouraging volunteering through their extensive customer network and playing host to local SES fundraising, demonstrations and recruitment events.
To find out how you can donate to the SES or become a volunteer visit: www.emergency.qld.gov.au or www.bcf.com.au
Volunteer State Emergency Services (SES) Queensland has received a major boost through the announcement of the state’s first community sponsorship agreement with leading outdoor retailer BCF – Boating, Camping and Fishing.
Starting this month, the SES will receive sustainable donations through the implementation of a new ‘round-up’ initiative, along with support at a community level across BCF’s 22 Queensland stores.
Department of Emergency Services Director General, Jim McGowan said over the next 12 months the Department of Emergency Services will work closely with BCF in generating further volunteer support and providing more funding to people across Queensland.
“The 22 retail outlets across the state will act as a key focal point in attracting like-minded people who understand the importance of emergency rescue operations and share a tendency to support services such as the SES.
“This partnership will directly assist Queenslanders in times of need and attract much needed volunteers to the SES, we are therefore extremely grateful to Boating, Camping and Fishing (BCF) and look forward to working with them,” Mr McGowan said.
BCF Chief Operating Officer, Steve Doyle was proud of the company’s new association with the Service, whose volunteers play a vital role in helping thousands of Queenslanders each year.
‘In recent months we have seen the SES come to the aid of storm victims in the state’s south east as well as flood victims in central and northern Queensland, working tirelessly to restore some amount of normality to people’s lives,” Mr Doyle said.
“Many Queensland BCF customers will know first-hand the effort and dedication of SES volunteers.
“Now through simply shopping at BCF, every customer can show appreciation for the work of the SES by simply rounding up their transactions as a donation to the Service. As it is a small donation, it is money you won’t miss, but with the hundreds of thousands of BCF customers, the financial aid will certainly add up,” said Mr Doyle.
The round up function is already achieving positive results, with a solid start to the campaign.
In addition to financial aid, BCF will also play an important role in raising awareness of the Service, encouraging volunteering through their extensive customer network and playing host to local SES fundraising, demonstration and recruitment events.
To find out how you can donate to the SES or become a volunteer visit: www.emergency.qld.gov.au or www.bcf.com.au
