Queenstown’s Remarkables Market is on a mission to do better for the environment, with the whole community chipping in to make change happen. It’s the first market in New Zealand to be entirely free of single-use serveware, and they’re keen to become the country’s first waste-free market as well.

 

Throughout summer, the Remarkables Market in Queenstown is a thriving community hub that showcases local produce, food, and crafts. Partly housed in a recycled helicopter hangar, and utilising an old playground from a park in town, the market is an evolving showcase of sustainable practices.

After noticing that 800 single-use cups were ending up in landfill each week – equating to over 20,000 for a season – Remarkables Market Manager Sherryn Smith knew something had to change. Out went the single-use cups and in came ceramic mugs from the secondhand store.

‘We started our mug library to help reduce the single-use cups that were going into the rubbish bin ’cause we were getting sick of those!’ she said.

Since then, the market team has partnered with DISHrupt to replace all single-use serveware at the market. DISHrupt provides reusable dishes for hire, assisting many Queenstown businesses to wash rather than waste. Stallholders are encouraged to use home compostable products too.

‘We are trying to inspire people around the world to do what we are doing in our little corner of the world to keep it beautiful’, says Smith.

 

 

Want to hear more good news? The From the Ground Up video series showcases more locals building regenerative futures in Queenstown. Get around it!

See For Yourself

Visit the Remarkables Market every Saturday between 9am-2pm from October to April. You’ll find the market snuggled under the Remarkables Mountain Range, on the corner of Red Oaks and Hawthorne Dr, Remarkables Park.

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