Bring Your Old Mobile Phones to Work and Save Lives!

Bring Your Old Mobile Phones to Work and Save Lives!

The Starship Foundation is asking companies both big and small across the country to register for ‘Bring a Phone to Work for Starship’ and support New Zealand’s national children’s hospital.

Starship Foundation partners with recycling company Swapkit to refurbish and on-sell the old phones to developing economies around the world or recycle phones that are beyond repair through the correct environmental channels. Proceeds help fund Starship’s National Air Ambulance Service which flies top medical experts to life-threatening emergencies around the country, bringing children to Starship where they can receive life-saving care when they need it most.

In support of World Environment Day on June 5, the month of June is the focus for the ‘Bring a Phone to Work for Starship’ appeal. It is a simple and practical way for organisations to support Starship and the planet at the same time. Every old mobile recycled also helps prevent hazardous, toxic substances from entering our precious environment.

Starship Foundation CEO Brad Clark says ‘Bring a Phone to Work for Starship’ is a practical way for staff to feel a sense of pride in belonging to an organisation that is committed to sustainability and helping the community.

“‘Bring a Phone to Work for Starship’ brings colleagues, teams, family and friends together for a great cause. It’s not only about protecting our environment, it’s about protecting New Zealand’s most precious treasure – our children,” Mr Clark says.

Veolia Transport is one company that has participated in the ‘Bring a Phone to Work for Starship’ campaign since it began in 2009.

Veolia Transport Managing Director Terry Scott says, “The Mobile Phone Appeal is a favourite amongst staff as it encompasses values important to the Veolia culture; taking care of the environment and people in need. Each year we recycle every phone taken out of service and staff are encouraged to bring in their old phones as well”.

Long time Starship supporter, Air New Zealand’s 3000-strong Greenteam, an in-house staff programme, will run a competition to encourage colleagues to get behind ‘Bring a Phone to Work for Starship’ and collect as many mobile phones as they can.

Thanks to the support of organisations across New Zealand, together with thousands of individuals, the Starship Mobile Phone Appeal has raised more than $2 million for the national children’s hospital since the ongoing campaign launched in February 2009.

Organisations interested in taking part in ‘Bring a Phone to Work for Starship’ should visit www.starship.org.nz/phone for more information or contact Wendy Nesbit at Swapkit on 09 377 4750 or email wendyn@swapkit.co.nz

ENDS

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