Tag Archive for: social enterprise

Bundaberg Social Enterprises Recognised Globally for Putting People and Planet First

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Two of Bundaberg’s leading social enterprises, New Image Laundry and the IMPACT Recycling Hub, have received global recognition for their commitment to social and environmental excellence, achieving People and Planet First verification via the Good Market platform. 

Both enterprises are proudly operated by IMPACT Community Services, and form part of its portfolio of purpose-driven initiatives that prioritise people, planet and purpose over profit. 

New Image Laundry was first verified in 2024 and has once again been approved as a People and Planet First enterprise, reaffirming its ongoing commitment to social and environmental impact. Since opening in 2018, the laundry has provided employment to over 70 individuals who may have otherwise struggled to find and maintain work. 

“The laundry is more than a business that provides commercial services, our team is a family that offers one another a sense of belonging,” said Rob Campbell, Acting Laundry Manager. 

“This renewed verification is a testament to the incredible team at New Image Laundry and the values we live every day. 

“We’re proud to be recognised for our commitment to our people and planet.” 

The IMPACT Recycling Hub has achieved People and Planet First verification for the first time, marking a major milestone for its operations. The Hub includes ABC Recycling, the Material Recovery Facility, and the Containers for Change Refund Point at University Drive. 

“We’re proud of the meaningful employment opportunities the Hub creates, including roles for people with disabilities, while also driving environmental sustainability,” said Gavin Steele, Recycling and Collections Manager. 

“Being verified is a big achievement for our team. It validates the work we’re doing to make recycling not just environmentally impactful, but socially inclusive. 

“We’re proud to be part of a movement that proves business can be a force for good.” 

These verifications place both establishments within a global network of social enterprises working toward a better future. IMPACT Community Services continues to seek new and better ways to support people and the planet over profit. 

Learn more about People and Planet First here.

View New Image Laundry’s profile here.

View IMPACT Recycling Hub’s profile here.

New iMage Laundry Earns ‘People and Planet First’ Verification

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New iMage Laundry has proudly received ‘People and Planet First’ verification from the Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF), a recognition that affirms its commitment to social and environmental excellence.

As a purpose-driven venture within IMPACT’s social enterprise portfolio, New iMage Laundry goes beyond providing professional commercial laundry services—it serves as an employment pathway for vulnerable individuals in the Bundaberg community.

“We are thrilled and honoured to receive this verification from SEWF,” said Brendan Laws, Manager of New iMage Laundry.

To be People and Planet First verified, an organisation must prioritise purpose, people, and planet over profit in operational decisions as it works to solve a social and/or environmental problem through a self-sustaining revenue model that reinvests profits into this purpose.

New iMage Laundry is committed to maintaining the highest standards of operation, continuing to innovate, and deepening its impact on the community and the environment.

“Since opening in 2018, the laundry has employed 72 people that may have otherwise struggled to find meaningful employment, providing them not just with a job, but with a supportive community and sense of belonging,” Mr Laws said.

This verification reflects IMPACT’s unwavering dedication to driving positive social and environmental change in the local community through its commercial laundry service—proof that business can be a force for good.

Turn your social enterprise idea into reality with Emerge

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Budding social entrepreneurs will have the chance to learn how to transform their ideas into a ready to launch social enterprise when IMPACT Community Services hosts the Emerge program this month.

IMPACT has partnered with StartSomeGood to Emerge. IMPACT will host the course in a face-to-face environment, allowing participants to benefit from learning alongside other likeminded people while building a local network and sense of community.

Program participants will learn how to take their idea for a social enterprise and develop a plan they can follow step by step to make their idea launch ready.

Social enterprises are organisations that apply commercial strategies to maximise improvements in financial, social and environmental well-being. IMPACT currently runs two social enterprises – New Image Laundry and our Material Recovery Facility.

IMPACT’s General Manager – Innovation, Nathan Spruce, said the program was a fantastic opportunity for budding socially conscious entrepreneurs to be part of a cohort of passionate founders who are on the same journey to design and launch a business that makes a difference within the community.

“IMPACT is excited to be partnering with Emerge to deliver this course, which will save participants time, money and frustration as they learn to organise their thoughts into a business model with thoughtful design for a product or service their customers will love, which generates profit and creates real change on the issues participants are seeking to impact,” Mr Spruce said.

He added: “The course is a fully subsidised program supported by the Social Enterprise Sector Development Grants, so there is no cost to those who take part.”

If you have any questions, please contact Nathan Spruce on 4153 4233.

Explore this opportunity via the StartSomeGood.com website: https://emerge.startsomegood.com/

New machines set to double capacity of NEW iMAGE Laundry

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More than 200kg of laundry just became light work at NEW iMAGE Laundry.

The commercial laundry is an initiative of IMPACT Community Services’ which serves Bundaberg and the surrounding areas.

IMPACT’s Laundry manager Daniel Leary said they recently installed two Jensen Washer Extractor 110kg machines.

These Front Loader single pocket machines will essentially double the capacity of the laundry.

“The current wash capacity at the Laundry was 180kg at any given time, with the average cycle being around 45 minutes,” he said.

“The current machines are 40kg, 60kg and 80kg. Meaning that it would take three machines to produce 180kg every 45 minutes.

“These 2 new machines are each 110kg which allows us to process an additional 220kg every 45 minutes.”

Daniel said this equated to a new capacity of 400kgs every 45 minutes.

He said without the new machines the laundry was operating at close to its maximum capacity and this made it difficult to pursue other contracts to drive production and sustainability further.

The new equipment allows the laundry to fine tune its operation, reduce overheads. It now also allows us to drop existing machine out of production for essential maintenance at given times while still maintaining good production levels.

Servicing a range of local aged care facilities, hospitals, medical practices, accommodation outlets and more, the laundry is committed to working to meet all guidelines set by the Australian Standards AS/NZS 4146.2000 for the collection, loading, storage and sorting, disinfecting, washing and delivery of linen.

Daniel said key aspects to commercial washing operations and remaining compliant to medical and aged care standards are Mechanical, Thermal and Chemical disinfection.  

The Mechanical Action is achieved by the engineering of the inner drum and the rigorous tumbling process. The Thermal action is achieved by the injection of steam continually throughout the wash cycle to maintain set temperatures. And the Chemical disinfection is maintained by the computer-controlled injection system which delivers concentrated wash, softening and neutralising chemicals.

Daniel said the washing machines operate up to 80 degrees Celsius depending on the fabrics being processed, while the ironer operates at 180 degrees Celsius and the dryers at 90 degrees Celsius. This will eliminate any pathogens or viruses that may have been in contact with the linen.

The machinery and wash cycles are calibrated each month to ensure that all the above measures are being meet. Importantly, the linen is also pH tested to confirm neutral pH linen was going back to clients. This is particularly important for use in hospitals and aged care facilities were when patients and residents will have contact with linen for prolonged periods.

The machinery was commissioned on June 8, 2022.

Some interesting facts:

Current research suggests that the covid virus cannot withstand temperatures at or above 70°C (158°F). All medical, aged care and accommodation linen at NEW iMAGE Laundry is washed at between 75 and 80 degrees Celsius.

When washing clothes for Bed Bugs or lice, wash cycles above 65 degrees for 10 minutes killed 100% of all life stages. Washing at 40 degrees killed all adults and nymphs, but only 25% of eggs. Therefore, washing clothes for bed bug dis-infestation should be done at the hottest temperatures. Most domestic washing machines will not maintain these temperatures for any period to eliminate these pests.

The extraction process of moisture or final spin cycle by our washing machines is done at 350 G-forces. In comparison, the massive G forces experienced by a space shuttle astronaut at take-off is 3 G, while fighter pilots can only manage up to about 9G for a second or two in a vertical manoeuvre.

NEW iMAGE Laundry is located at 4 Inglis Court, Svensson Heights, and is open 5 days a week from 8am to 3pm.

Want to know how our commercial laundering could benefit your business, visit webpage or call us on (07) 4152 6158.