NatureFlex cellulose-based biofilm
27 April, 2011 | Supplied by: Innovia Films Pty Ltd
Innovia Films has announced that its cellulose-based biofilm NatureFlex meets the Australian AS4736 standard for biodegradable plastics suitable for composting and other microbial treatment.
Sustainability - a global opportunity
27 April, 2011 by Megan Motto*
According to Consult Australia CEO Megan Motto, a new report highlights the international opportunities available for Australia to lead the way when it comes to sustainability. The right policy framework could give Australia a distinct competitive advantage and enable us to bring best practice to the global arena.
Sydney printing company achieves sustainability gold
27 April, 2011 by Glenn Johnson
Sydney printing company Focus Press started out in 1994 with only four people, but has since grown to 100 people at two locations. Now it has another achievement to be proud of - becoming one of the few printing companies that can claim to be truly environmentally sustainable. This achievement in sustainability leadership has been recognised by the NSW Government, with Focus Press being awarded with Gold Partner status in the Sustainability Advantage program of the Department of Environment, Climate Change & Water (DECCW), in January 2011.
Supplying Sydney’s water
27 April, 2011
Sustainability is ‘business as usual’ for the largest water utility in Australia, Sydney Water. The utility’s annual report defines sustainability according to seven corporate goals based on social, economic and environmental aspects and it’s now being mapped to the UN Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) reporting framework. Nefley Hetherington*, Strategic Directions Manager, Sustainability Division at Sydney Water, talks about the utility’s achievements and visions for the future.
Panax announces Indonesian development project
21 April, 2011
Panax Geothermal has signed an agreement with PT Bakrie Power to develop a geothermal project in East Java.
Sustainable Energy Association 2011 Award for Excellence shared
15 April, 2011
BuildingIQ and Perth’s Western Power have received the annual Sustainable Energy Association 2011 Award for Excellence in Innovation for their work on Perth’s historic Council House.
carboNZeroCert program becomes stand-alone corporate
12 April, 2011
The carboNZero program is changing to a stand-alone corporate business with a strong eye on international markets under the leadership of new Chief Executive Graham Carter and a fresh board of directors.
Sustainability in telecommunications
12 April, 2011
Bell Labs, the University of Melbourne and the Victorian Government opened the Centre for Energy Efficient Telecommunications (CEET) at the University of Melbourne on 28 March 2011.
Ecoscientists precinct established in Queensland
12 April, 2011
Solutions to Australia’s biggest environmental problems could be closer following the co-location of Queensland's best and brightest minds to a new ecosciences precinct at Brisbane’s Boggo Road.
Advance towards making biodegradable plastics from waste chicken feathers
11 April, 2011
In a scientific advance literally plucked from the waste heap, scientists have described a key step towards using the billions of waste chicken feathers produced each year to make one of the more important kinds of plastic. They described the new method at the 241st National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society, which was held in Anaheim in March 2011.
National program targets sustainability and profitability in manufacturing
07 April, 2011
The Gillard Government has established a national Clean 21 Technology Innovation Network to help small and medium businesses reduce running costs and become more competitive, sustainable and help protect the environment.
Achieving carbon emissions targets: market mechanisms work, other models fail
07 April, 2011
Grattan Institute today released its latest energy report detailing the failure of past government initiatives to reduce carbon emissions. “A study of 14 years of Australian programs to tackle climate change shows that only a carbon market can reduce emissions quickly and deeply enough for Australia to meet its 2020 emissions target,” the CEO of Grattan Institute, Professor John Daley, said today on the launch of a new Grattan report - Learning the hard way: Australian policies to reduce carbon emissions.
Manufacturers and producers go green
06 April, 2011
A meat processor and a dairy manufacturer are among 16 Australian manufacturers going green to tackle climate change and ensure a healthier future for all Australians.
Beverage containers made from by-products
06 April, 2011
PepsiCo announced last month a beverage container packaging called the Green bottle to compete with the PlantBottle which was announced by Coca-Cola Company in 2009 and is already in use. Both the bottles are being made from by-products of each company’s food production facilities.
Carbon forest sink project developer expands to New Zealand
06 April, 2011
Australasia’s leading carbon forest sink project developer, Carbon Conscious Limited, has announced an expansion into the New Zealand market through a carbon forest sink deal agreed with a major Australasian energy company.