Redefining The School Uniform

Redefining Sport FIRBANK GRAMMAR SCHOOL SPORTS ECO-UNIFORM

This year, Firbank Grammar School is launching its eco-school uniforms, a series of collections dedicated to promoting new, more sustainable materials, technologies and production processes within the school garment industry, in association with Dobsons.

This sports uniform is the first rollout, with the academic uniform coming soon. It has been a challenging 18 months for production and transport, so thank you for being patient. We look forward to releasing the next stage soon. www.firbank.vic.edu.au

Our new uniform range continues Firbank Grammar School’s journey towards a sustainable future by creating desirable and longlasting pieces that we hope our community will love and be proud of.

www.firbank.vic.edu.au

Hard wearing sustainable and recyclable

www.firbank.vic.edu.au

The ocean is Earth's life-support, with 97% of the world's water held by the ocean. We rely on it to regulate our climate absorb CO2, and it is the number one source of protein for over 1-billion people.

However, it is estimated that 4–12 million tonnes of plastic enter the Earth's oceans each year. At this rate, the damage this causes to marine ecosystems is severe and of significant concern. Our actions over the next ten years will determine the state of the ocean for the next 10,000 years to come, and there is so much we can do to make a positive difference. That's why any poly elements of our uniforms are made from retrieved ocean plastic and recycled PET. Our uniforms and commitment to sustainability are endorsed by the Marine Mammal Foundation, the leading Australian marine mammal conservation, research and community education organisation. With our support, we can help Australian and international scientists and researchers to establish and advance the knowledge, preservation and protection of Australia's marine mammals and the oceans in which they live. www.firbank.vic.edu.au

Introducing Sandy, Turner and Hindley

As part of our partnership with the foundation, we have officially adopted three local Burrunan Dolphins into the Firbank Grammar School community. We will, through the MMF, continue to provide updates to the community on their progress.

Every time you purchase an Eco Uniform, recycle your old uniforms or learn more about this unique species right here on our doorstep, you are helping protect our local and unique wildlife.

We thank the MMF for their support of our uniform initiatives and education sessions with our students.

You, the community, helped shape the designs with your feedback contributing to changes in designs and structure. As we switch to our eco-friendly uniform, we have a responsibility to ensure that our old uniforms are disposed of correctly, rather than going to waste.

Our eco uniforms are a science and sustainability story, a collection that challenges the status quo by championing cutting-edge textiles developed by brilliant thinkers, researchers and scientists. Did you know that around 15,000 tonnes of uniforms and workwear are discarded in landfill each year in Australia alone?

To play our part in eliminating this waste, we are working with SCR Group to make sure our old uniforms are correctly recycled. SCR Group has helped recycle uniforms from over 60,000 students since 2015, collecting over 200,000 kilograms of clothing. By participating in their programs, we can earn 10 cents for every kilogram collected to further Firbank Grammar School sustainability projects. www.firbank.vic.edu.au

www.firbank.vic.edu.au

We have introduced the new Firbank Grammar School Greenbanks, designed to make recycling easier than ever. There will be two kinds of Greenbanks: one for pens (an item not easily recyclable) and another for uniforms. This is in addition to the other paper plastic and traditional recycling bins located around our campuses.

Greenbanks will be available at each school reception and Dobsons for convenience.

Every innovation is a step forward. Every positive change is an act of progress.

Together, we have the power to shift the narrative of education toward a more sustainable future.

www.firbank.vic.edu.au

www.firbank.vic.edu.au

www.firbank.vic.edu.au

OUR ADVENTURE TOGETHER STARTS HERE

www.firbank.vic.edu.au

In addition to the positive impact of the wholly sustainable materials utilised to produce the uniforms, each piece will be wrapped in compostable packaging.

Students can return all old uniforms to the Firbank Grammar School Greenbank to repurpose textiles for future usage, alleviate landfill, and up-cycle the materials into future uniforms. All three campuses have also had a clothing recycling bin installed for other clothing items.