Kamilaroi man Aron Kurzydlo has spent his career in both corporate environments and community organisations. And wherever he went, one thing stood out to him: when it came to refurbishments and renovations, waste was everywhere.
“Countless items are needlessly discarded into landfills due to a lack of collaboration between industry and charities,” Aron explains, adding that it was rarely as simple as businesses just ‘donating’ the furniture they no longer needed. “Aligning the schedules of charitable organisations with corporate refit timelines proved to be a big challenge.”
It’s a challenge Quest Apartment Hotels has experience with. “Refurbs are a part of life in hospitality,” says The Ascott Limited Australasia Managing Director, David Mansfield. “But the cost of refurbs, to both the business and the environment, is considerable.”
Aron’s experience spurred him to create Project Net Zero, a 100% Indigenous-owned social enterprise that aims to reduce landfill by diverting furniture and other surplus items to community organisations that really need them.
This brilliant, circular economy solution – as well as the values behind the creation of Project Net Zero – is why Quest announced a partnership with the organisation in 2024. Project Net Zero is now our preferred supplier whenever we embark upon a refurbishment project – across Quest and its parent company, The Ascott Limited, Australia. And already the results speak for themselves.
Quest Breakfast Creek x Project Net Zero: A powerful collaboration
In August and September of this year, Quest Breakfast Creek enlisted the help of Project Net Zero for a de-fit of loose furniture. “The process was very simple,” says Quest Breakfast Creek business owner, Ben Burns. “Before knowing about Project Net Zero, we could not find any charity or association that had the means to repurpose surplus mattresses, so we instead sadly disposed of them to landfill.”
“With Project Net Zero, the cost is neutral to disposing of them ourselves,” he continues. “A brilliant outcome when you consider that the mattresses are going to people, as opposed to landfill.”
In total, PNZ collected 72 assets from the hotel, diverting over two metric tons from landfill. Even better? All furniture items were donated to Project Net Zero’s charity partners.
“We initially focused on supporting Indigenous community organisations,” Aron says of the early days of his organisation. “However, the demand and impact of our work quickly expanded, allowing us to extend our support to all types of charities and community organisations.”
Among the organisations helped through the Quest Breakfast Creek de-fit are Muslim Charitable Foundation, helping those facing poverty and hardship; Serving Our People, an organisation developed during the pandemic to support people by delivering any items they need; and Togoba Kofi, which helps revive rundown coffee plantations in PNG in order to increase exports and help the local economy – beans are delivered to Australia, the containers are refilled with much needed supplies to distribute remote PNG villages, schools, hospitals and communities.
“By redistributing surplus resources, we are addressing essential needs, reducing waste and fostering sustainability,” says Aron. “The positive ripple effect in these communities is profound, with resources reaching those who need them most.”
Our Quest to do better
“It’s vitally important to Quest that our actions align with our values, particularly when it comes to partnering with diverse organisations,” says Anthea Dimitrakopoulos, Ascott Australia’s General Manager Brand and ESG.
“Not only is it a key part of our Diversity and Inclusion policy, but with a network of over 120 properties in Australia, Quest has the ability to amplify the work of sustainable and ethical organisations. We’re thrilled to be partnered with Project Net Zero, an organisation whose values so closely align with our own.”
