Stewart Oliver is a maverick, an entrepreneur who has made it his mission to live in a world without waste. Now, he’s teaching others to do the same.
“Nature is so productive – there should be plenty for everyone without unnecessary excess,” says Stewart, who owns Heart Eco, a reclaimed timber business in Westmead that embodies the values of community and sustainability.
12 years ago, Stewart started sourcing timber for picture frames at The Complete Picture Framing Co in Hillcrest and realised the demand for reclaimed timber. From there, Pinetown Timber and Boards was born, reclaiming and reselling timber on a wider scale. The company has now rebranded as Heart Eco, reflecting its core principle of environmental preservation.
This DHS old boy has always been self-employed, working with the resources available to him to make a living for himself and those around him. Over the years, he has been involved with a multitude of cottage craft industries, from manufacturing gifts to toys, kitchens, furniture, flooring and ceilings, and even house building. “Heart Eco is the culmination of a lifetime’s experience,” says Stewart. “I want to share my knowledge with others.”
Spend a few minutes listening to Stewart’s philosophy on consumerism and you’ll find it difficult to fault his logic. For him, the secret lies in using what is readily available to you to live happily and healthily, while boosting your local community. “In order to achieve sustainability for individuals and for our planet, we need to establish the balance between health, abundance and no excess. That means no dumping, no defect and no debt.
“The traditional economy is focused on growth, which invariably means increasing excess. We want to teach people to be productive without destroying our planet. It requires a change in mindset, but once you see the difference it makes, it’s impossible to go back.”
Think about how much energy is used in the western world to manufacture goods and transport them thousands of kilometres, only to have many of them end up as landfill. The same can be said for people travelling vast distances to their places of work, rather than making a living closer to home.
“Buy local” has become a catchphrase over the past decade or so, but Stewart wants us to go further, by actually producing things ourselves. “All it takes is a few basic skills and a bit of creativity,” he says. “It’s amazing what you can make from what are essentially seen as ‘waste’ products.”
To this end, he has set up a training system called Woza Workshops, where people are taught to see the potential in the materials around them, giving value to something that may previously have had none. This could mean making your own furniture from reclaimed timber or producing garden accessories to sell at a local market. “The opportunities are endless. You just have to look at Pinterest,” Stewart continues.
“We teach through games, with each session tailored to the community, and include lessons on economics and relationships. We are looking to get NGOs and community leaders involved so that we can empower more people.”
As an added bonus, the process helps build community connectedness, which often manifests itself in shared food gardens and a renewed drive to improve conditions for all.
How can you live more sustainably at home? Start by sorting your rubbish. The success of local recycling centres shows that Upper Highway residents are increasingly aware of the benefits of recycling, but it’s something that everyone could and should be doing. “The key is in separating different materials before they go in the bin,” says Stewart. “No one wants to stick their hand into a grubby bin bag!”
In Norway, recycling has become such a way of life that the country actually imports waste to help fuel its power plants!
So, for today, try to be more aware of the decisions you make and how each one affects your environment. As Mahatma Gandhi said, “Be the change that you wish to see in the world”. Start living more sustainably today and you’ll soon see the benefits.
Story: Hayley Dennyson