Businesses of all sizes across Australia can use their financial and social power to uplift others. Engaging a social enterprise brings unique benefits to each partnership.
Mirvac‘s portfolio includes commercial offices, retail centres, and industrial properties across Australia, and they own and manage 59 properties valued at more than $7.8 billion.
Across their offices, two types of waste were proving difficult to divert from landfill – paper towels and coffee cups.
Through their ongoing relationship with Social Traders, an organisation that connects businesses with social enterprises, Mirvac teamed up with Mates on the Move, an initiative of the Prisoners Aid Association of NSW.
DoSomethingNearYou founder Jon Dee with employees of Mates on the Move
Mates on the Move is a removal, recycling, and storage company that creates jobs for men and women making the transition from the justice system. Mates on the Move is also a social enterprise, so their revenue goes back into funding programs to train and reintegrate ex-prisoners.
Through this partnership, Mirvac has been collecting paper towels and coffee cups across ten of their sites in NSW, reducing contamination and improving their recycling.
In just the first 12 months Mates on the Move collected over 90 tonnes of paper towels and coffee cups, and they received great feedback from Mirvac’s tenants. On the back of this success, Mirvac promoted them in the City of Sydney Better Buildings Partnership.
When Mirvac moved into their new headquarters at EY Centre, 200 George Street, they chose to engage the YWCA to develop a ‘profit for purpose’ cafe, with 100 per cent of proceeds going to the YWCA’s programs for women and children experiencing domestic violence.
YWCA’s Profit for Purpose business model is an alternative to relying on donations and other forms of fundraising. It means operating a business as if it were commercial, but reinvesting all profits into their community programs.
Song Kitchen
One woman in Australia dies each week at the hands of a current or former partner, and 1.4 million Australian women are living in abusive relationships. So it’s great to know that every purchase Mirvac’s staff make at Song Kitchen is funding work that saves lives.
YWCA also successfully run the following businesses: Song Hotels (Sydney & Redfern), Song Catering, and Food for Futures, as well as venue hire services in Rockhampton, with plans to continue expanding across the country.
Interested in engaging a social enterprise? Any business can do it! Select the ‘Corporate Action’ button for your postcode on this site to find social enterprises near you, and read DoSomething’s tips for selecting the perfect partner for your business!
Kate Cole
Coordinator
DoSomethingNearYou
30 October, 2019