circular economy

Engineers in Melbourne have discovered a way to replace conventional aggregates in concrete such as gravel and crushed rock with rubber from discarded tyres that meets building codes. 

Five successful projects will share in $630,000 to design and develop new uses for recycled materials in everyday products under the Recycling Victoria Innovation Fund. 

Venlo Holdings, an Australian design and manufacturing group, has acquired Resitech, a Queensland-based plastic waste and recycling group, to continue its commitment to a circular economy. 

A circular economy is a systemic approach to economic development designed to benefit businesses, society and the environment. It is regenerative and aims to gradually decouple growth from the consumption of finite resources. 

Diversified battery industries could contribute $7.4 billion annually to Australia’s economy and support 34,700 jobs by 2030, according to a new report prepared for the Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Centre (FBICRC) by Accenture. The Future Charge: Building Australia’s Battery Industries report is a comprehensive assessment of Australia’s economic opportunity to leverage its competitive advantages … Continue reading New report: Australia’s $7.4bn opportunity in future battery industries →

An industry-first apartment made using waste materials has been revealed by the UNSW SMaRT Centre and industry partner Mirvac. At the unveiling of the revolutionary Pavilions apartment at Sydney Olympic Park, attended by NSW Energy and Environment Minister Matt Kean, industry leaders had a glimpse into the future – flooring, wall tiles, kitchen and lighting … Continue reading Apartment made from waste glass and textiles showcases “green” ceramics →

A new roadmap released by Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, has developed key strategies for creating jobs and reclaiming billions in economic value from plastic, glass, paper and tyres currently going into landfill. The National Circular Economy Roadmap found innovation is crucial to realising Australia’s largest economic gains, which will come from designing new products … Continue reading Advanced manufacturing could help solve waste problems →

The consortium delivering the Regency to Pym Project, R2P Alliance, has selected building materials made from waste products as part of the project. To seal the construction office carpark a product consisting of 100 per cent recycled materials has been chosen. The material used is made up of 110,000 plastic bags, 324 kilograms of recycled … Continue reading Recycled asphalt used in Regency to Pym project →

A report from Arup has set out a roadmap for a circular economy in photovoltaic panels. Acknowledging that PV solar rooftop panels can provide a sustainable energy source for Australian businesses and household, the report outlines that with the current adoption of solar, there will be between 300,000 and 450,000 tonnes of panel waste by … Continue reading Plan to create solar panel circular economy →

Food packaging could be made from the by-products of fresh fruit, through research conducted by chemists from the University of New South Wales (UNSW). Professors Jayashree Arcot and Martina Stenzel have been experimenting with the pseudostems of banana plants, and turning this discarded by-products of the banana harvest into a material suitable for food packaging. … Continue reading Food waste turned into fresh packaging →

At an industry awards night for the packaging industry, manufacturers were recognised for their innovative approaches to packaging. Presenting the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) awards, Trevor Evans, Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management, noted that the winners of these awards demonstrate how the sector is pursuing national objectives. “The achievements on show … Continue reading Awards recognise excellence in manufacturing packaging →

Manufacturers continue to have a growing role to play in ensuring that waste is diverted from landfill and used in the creation of new products. After the joint meeting of Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Environment Ministers, a tight timeframe for a resolution to the waste crisis was agreed upon. The ministers agreed to phase … Continue reading COAG waste timeline puts emphasis on manufacturers →

A global, challenge-based initiative to encourage greater re-use of materials has kicked off in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. Led by the World Economic Forum, the partnership, named SCALE 360, will involve government, business, civil society, and entrepreneurs to reduce waste and find alternative uses for extracted materials. Today, only nine per cent of … Continue reading Alternative paths for waste circulated through new initiative →

With only 10 per cent of the 56 million tyres discarded in Australia annually domestically recycled, this stream of product presents an opportunity for businesses, the environment, and the economy. Tyre Stewardship Australia explains the value of this material. The Australian manufacturing sector could play a pivotal role in developing new markets and products using … Continue reading Recycled tyres are providing a new material stream for innovative manufacturers →

The NSW Circular network was launched on October 9 by Planning and Public Space Minister, Rob Stokes. Housed at UNSW, the Circular Economy Innovation Network aims to grow manufacturing jobs in the re-use of materials. “With China no longer accepting our recycled waste, our manufacturing industry must evolve. This is our chance to bring more … Continue reading Circular economy network to spur growth in local manufacturing →

 A project to turn textile waste, including manufacturing scraps, unwanted clothing, and cotton gin trash into new products, has been supported by the Queensland University of Technology’s (QUT) Institute for Future Environments (IFE) Catapult program. The program aims to turn textile waste into carbon material for potassium ion batteries (KIB). As a significant waste stream, … Continue reading Textiles to be turned into potassium ion batteries →

Manufacturers have the potential to play a key part in tackling the waste crisis. Connor Pearce reports. A term that is gaining broader recognition to describe a new production paradigm is the circular economy, whereby products are produced from materials already in the market, rather than extracted from the environment, and when they reach the … Continue reading Manufacturing and the circular economy →

A new research hub, led by UNSW professor Veena Sahajwalla, will investigate the recycling of battery and consumer wastes to create useful materials for manufacturers. The Australian Research Council (ARC) Research Hub for Microrecycling of Battery and Consumer Wastes will take metallic allows, oxides, and carbon and divert these elements from landfill and turn them … Continue reading Hub to transform battery waste into valuable materials →

The potential of products made from recycled materials was on display at the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre’s (AMGC) “The Path to a Circular Economy” event. In focus were materials such as plastics and textiles, which through advanced manufacturing processes are being re-used or recycled to create new products. Single-use plastics, which would otherwise end up … Continue reading Circular economy: closing the loop →

Manufacturers seeking to use recycled materials, or ensure that their products have an extended lifespan, have now further options thanks to the recent independence of Advisory System for Processing, Innovation & Resource Exchange (ASPIRE). Since its development in 2015, the facility was located in CSIRO’s Data61, the data and digital specialist arm of the science … Continue reading Circular economy tool expands for greater recycled materials use →