This Month
How socks sparked a recycling revolution
Upparel has won the Sustainability Leaders award for the manufacturing and consumer goods category for changing the concept of textile recycling in Australia.
The recycling firm keeping Australia’s secrets safe
Destroying devices that hold Australia’s secrets is big business for WV Technologies, which wins the Sustainability Leaders’ retail, media, tourism and technology category.
May
Core-plus infrastructure owner Infragreen launches IPO for $220m listing
Infragreen CEO Declan Sherman and chief financial officer Martin McIver are due to present to fund managers after Thursday’s market close.
Greensill family whacks locals for waste fees
Once you make something free, it’s hard to wind that back. Even at bargain prices.
November 2024
Macquarie offers $1.4b in cash in fresh bid for Renewi
The asset manager said it has reached a preliminary agreement with the London-listed waste management company on a possible cash offer.
The ‘bad habit’ that turned into a $7.5m business opportunity
Using refurbished components to overcome supply shortages for renewables projects turned into a lucrative business.
September 2024
Warning on the growing solar panel scrap heap
The industry is nearing a tipping point as the nation grapples with unprecedented levels of waste.
August 2024
‘Circular economy’ to be examined by Productivity Commission
The government has asked its economic adviser to explore ways to cut waste going to landfill and encourage the more efficient use of raw materials.
PE-backed Minemet buys Victorian scrap dealer, hunts for NSW bolt-ons
The business, which is among the state’s leading scrap metal dealers, is understood to have rung in $21 million revenue for the 2024 financial year.
July 2024
Showing the way: Major brands embrace new recycling symbols
Making it easier for households to recycle packaging for food and consumer goods has won Australasian Recycling Labels a special award for Education Enabler.
How Amcor gave us guilt-free cream cheese
Soft plastics are piling up in warehouses around Australia. Amcor says it has a solution, taking out the Manufacturing category.
Customers love this cool solution to getting rid of old fridges
Winning Group brand Appliances Online has stopped 80,000 tonnes of electronics and appliances from being dumped in landfill, earning the company top spot in the Retail category.
How to get to net zero with recycled building rubbish
Nu-Rock founder Maroun Rahme says reusing waste products could deliver Australia its net-zero target by 2030 as the company takes out the Property and Construction category.
May 2024
Government-backed green tech firm goes broke, gets acquired for $5m
Scipher Technologies, an e-waste processor that the government invested $15 million in, has been bought for $5 million after it entered administration in March.
April 2024
Federal contract bidders will need to hit sustainability targets
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said government departments would use their purchasing power to reduce waste and promote recycling, part of new reporting rules.
Plastic recycling needs to be freed from the oil price cycle
Until it’s always cheaper to use repurposed materials, the industry has little hope of success.
March 2024
Turning turbines into sneakers: a recycling idea takes flight
Renewable energy giant Acciona was unsure how to dispose of its fibreglass and carbon-fibre wind turbine blades. Its solution came out of the box.
February 2024
Victoria’s PE play on scrap metal recycling turns to junk
Pacific Metal was backed by the state’s investment fund and big super. But its collapse raises the question of whether governments can really pick winners.
November 2023
Why it’s getting harder to find a designer label op-shop bargain
Charities and dedicated boutiques know the value of second-hand luxury goods and are tapping into a growing market for these items.
Why glass is the material of the moment in homewares
Alchemist Ben Edols has produced a series of exquisite works for Sydney interior designer Alexandra Kidd’s inaugural Prima collection.