By Anne RinaudoFriday 3 Aug 2018Open House InterviewsInspirational StoriesReading Time: 2 minutes
Listen: Richard Fine in conversation with Stephen O’Doherty.
As we wake up to the reality of environmental impact of the rubbish we create there is a tiny spot of good news. There is a plastic made, not from fossil fuel, but corn and it is totally compostable.
Australian company biopack are using it in a range of takeaway coffee cups that allow you to have a guilt-free cup of joe and support disadvantage artists too, thanks to a partnership with social enterprise, Open Canvas. BioPak founder, and CEO, Richard Fine told Stephen O’Doherty on Open House, that the company was proud to support and promote the arts community with the BioCup Art Series.
A unique canvas
The coffee cups give Australian artists who have faced homelessness or other adversity a unique new canvas to show off their work. Open Canvas, a Melbourne social enterprise, has partnered with environmentally responsible packaging business BioPak to feature their artists’ work on the BioCup Art Series compostable coffee cups range.
Open Canvas founder Dan Rath says the artwork featured on the cups depicted the beauty of nature and the environment.
Cup art by Renata Bruynzeel, David Parkinson and Brian Marshall
Empowering disadvantaged artists
“For a long time, coffee cups and homelessness have only been linked through the visions of a homeless person begging for spare change, this partnership turns that stereotype on its head – BioPak Art Series coffee cups are allowing our artists to showcase their work to a national audience in a unique way. All Open Canvas artists – whether they have experienced homelessness, addiction, mental health issues or disability – are united in their desire to be recognised through their art” says Mr Rath.
Open Canvas was created to empower disadvantaged artists and help them earn an income from their art. Six Open Canvas artists have their work featured:
- Brian Marshall’s Otway Coastline
- Renata Bruynzeel’s Weedy Sea Dragons
- David Parkinson’s Birds
- Irene Hwang’s Feathers
- Patrick Francis’s Hawk
- Charmaine Tracey’s Desert Dreaming.
Art about sustainability and natural beauty
BioPak founder, Richard Fine explained that the company was proud to support and promote the arts community with the BioCup Art Series.
Designs by Patrick Francis and Charmaine Tracey
“We seek out artists who explore environmental themes at the core of their practice. We know that the cups engage coffee drinkers across the country with this changing series. The cups feature art that looks at sustainability issues, from what is involved in building a house, to the beauty of Australian bush flowers or the urban environment. ” Richard Fine told Open House.
To listen to the podcast of this conversation click the red play button at the top of the page, or you can subscribe to Open House podcasts in iTunes and they will appear in your feed.