Powering a Greener Future at The Crystal Caves
At The Crystal Caves in Atherton, we’ve always been passionate about more than just crystals. We’re equally committed to protecting the environment that has created them.
Since joining the ecoBiz sustainability program in 2023, we’ve taken a closer look at how we use energy, water, and materials across the business. We were proud to learn that our carbon emissions were already low as a result of small, intentional choices we’ve made over the years.
Here’s a snapshot of the steps we’ve taken to reduce our environmental impact:
- Suppliers package goods in newspaper instead of bubble wrap
- Minimal use of plastic bin liners
- Kraft paper bags offered well before plastic bags were banned
- Use of 100% recycled toilet paper
- Double-sided printing only — if we print at all
- No printed EFTPOS receipts to reduce paper waste
- Guidebooks and brochures available on a QR code
- Shredding all paper and cardboard into eco-friendly packaging
- Use of rechargeable Ledlenser headlamps in the cave
These operational changes have made a real difference – but we knew we could go further.
Solar Panels - Our Next Big Move
When our new Digital Marketing Manager, Anna, joined the team, she brought a fresh perspective. As part of her review of business operations and ecoBiz sustainability modules, she realised solar energy was the next obvious step in our commitment to sustainable tourism.
While solar had always felt complicated and overwhelming, Anna committed the time and energy to explore it properly. With so much information (and misinformation) out there, she turned to trusted sources like the New Energy Tech Approved Seller website and reviewed government guidelines under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) to find a solution that made sense.
That’s when we connected with William from Treu Solar. William impressed us with his honesty, knowledge, and his clear commitment to helping us a find real, cost-effective solar solution. He didn’t oversell; he simply listened, explained, and delivered a system that suits our site and our long-term goals.
