Dr Manuel Seidel

Will New Zealand set national targets for material use to achieve our climate targets? Measuring- Non- renewable v renewable inputs Recycled content, systems and processes to drive equal and higher value creation than original input use Reuse amd resale Reducing waste and improving the productivity of the resources we already have in the economy.

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I was greatly interested in reading the recently released Interim Report from the Circular Economy Ministerial Advisory Group in Australia, which features recommendations for a National Circular Economy Framework. While it’s disheartening to see that Australia has some of the highest waste per-capita rates of countries in the report, and one of the lowest rates of material productivity, it’s encouraging to see the insights from the Group into how we can improve these statistics. Some of the key take away's for me was the benchmarking of our country’s impact, investment in better recovery infrastructure for commercial waste, the redesigning of products for continued reuse and eventual recycling, and the ultimate need to drive end markets with the use of recycled content. The notion of recycled-content first, and the structuring of policy to encourage construction and other industries to utilise such materials in their projects will be beneficial- The report indicates that recycled materials, such as our TonerPlas® product from Close the Loop Australia, could replace approximately 27% of virgin materials in road infrastructure- just one of many opportunities that exist now. The new reporting requirements for ASX-listed businesses to align with international sustainability reporting standards will assist in bringing much-needed transparency to our business landscape, with the data more accurately able to determine the overall position of Australia within a circular economy, and give us a baseline to track real, tangible progression in the space. This is in conjunction with the incoming mandatory reporting driven by APCO for packaging materials, in which Close the Loop Group are active contributors. We are involved with the Recycled Content Reference Groups currently underway, helping to determine the landscape for the use of recycled content in Australia. It won’t be a perfect start for Australian businesses in such incredibly challenging areas, but I believe that the collaboration which is emerging now will see industry advance quickly, and progress our position in a circular economy as the report indicates we must. https://lnkd.in/gSj-MXuM #sustainability #asx #australianbusiness #circulareconomy #circular #framework #reporting #closetheloop #reducereuserecycle #recycling #packaging #packagingdesign #design #traceability #reuse

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Upcoming mandatory climate-related financial disclosures signal a major shift in corporate responsibility - and an even bigger opportunity to address risks and reduce scopes 1, 2 and (soon) emissions. What’s the timeline, what do you need to do, how to comply with standards - check out our quick guide.

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Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) is inviting APCO members to an online stakeholder webinar on the Commonwealth’s national reform of Australia’s packaging regulation. Due to overwhelming interest there will be two seminars covering identical content held on:   ◆ Wednesday 25 September 2024, 11am – 12pm AEST (FULLY BOOKED) ◆ Thursday 26 September 2024, 11:30am – 12:30pm AEST (Register here: https://shorturl.at/M0q1l) Please note registrations are limited to two spots per organisation. The webinar will be recorded and made available on the DCCEEW website for businesses that are not able to attend and for members of the public to support the public consultation process.   The webinar is intended for stakeholders involved, or interested in, the production, use and recovery of packaging in Australia. Topics covered in the webinar will include:   ◆ a presentation on the consultation paper, including the proposed options for reforming packaging regulations ◆ how to participate in the consultation process; and ◆ continuation of the current co-regulatory arrangement while the reform is being developed.   There will be a moderated interactive Question and Answer session for attendees following a presentation by DCCEEW. We encourage all APCO members to attend and be involved in the consultation process. #APCO #Webinar #Members

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