News - Centre of Excellence

Media Release: The Hidden Cost of Discarded Whitegoods and Who Pays?

Producer responsibility for large household appliances is well overdue in Australia. In 2019, an estimated 360,000 tonnes of large household appliances and temperature exchange equipment entered the Australian market.

At the end-of-life stage, this translates into nearly 200,000 tonnes of e-waste generated, comprising around 68% metals, 13% plastics, 4% glass, and 15% other materials – some precious, hazardous or non-renewable. While around 90% of used products are being collected, only 57% of the material (predominately metals) is being recycled with the rest of the material ending up in landfill.

Other materials like plastics and ozone-depleting gases in refrigerators and heat pump dryers can be difficult to recover, with only a handful of brands providing a take-back service for old appliances when a new product is being sold and delivered to a consumer.

This means that many end-of-life whitegoods end up being placed in council clean up collections, placing the financial and environmental burden on local councils.

With immediate action on product stewardship for large household appliances needed, the Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (SSROC) and the Product Stewardship Centre of Excellence spearheaded a product stewardship project for large household appliances.

Funded by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Sustainability Partnerships Program, the project focused on how to improve the low material and gas recovery rates and better understand the appetite and opportunities for stewardship initiatives.

Economic modelling undertaken as part of the project showed that transferring financial responsibility to industry for the current collection and recycling costs for large house appliances would require an estimated levy on average of $37 per appliance (or around 2.58% of current retail price).

However, to increase repair and significantly increase material and gas recovery rates, the levy would need to be increased by $11 to $49 per appliance. This investment could create an estimated 496 jobs in the repair sector if progressed.

Interviews with the appliance industry were conducted as part of the project and found strong support for a stewardship scheme if it was codesigned with industry.

The project recommends that the Federal Government works with manufacturers and brands to design and implement a producer responsibility regulation for large household appliances.

Opportunities also exist for the NSW Government to create a state-based producer responsibility regulation for large household appliances under the Product Lifecycle Responsibility Act 2025.

With NSW facing a looming landfill crisis and Greater Sydney projected to run out of space by 2030, now is the time for producers to step up and own their role and reduce their cost to the environment.

Cr John Faker, Burwood Mayor and President, Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (SSROC) said:

“All appliance manufacturers and brands that place whitegoods on the Australian market need to take responsibility for their end of life recovery, rather than leaving that burden to councils and the community.”

John Gertsakis, Director – Product Stewardship Centre of Excellence said:

“The need for a regulated product stewardship program that enables more whitegoods to be repaired and recycled is well overdue in Australia, compared to Europe where the European Commission laws require manufacturers to fund and participate in repair and recycling schemes.”

Kurt Hegvold, Chairperson – Coalition for Sustainable Solutions (Set up by manufacturers and retailers to reduce the environmental impact of appliance goods in Australia) said:

“We favour a co-regulatory approach where there is significant stakeholder engagement and industry involvement. We see this as a hallmark of a successful product stewardship scheme for large household appliances.”

Alice Kuepper, Head of Sustainability and Industry Impact – Winning Group said:

“Through our free take-back and recycling program, we provide a convenient solution addressing a critical market gap: the collection and responsible end-of-life management of old appliances and packaging at scale. To further help reduce climate risk and unlock economic value through improved circular economy practices, a national product stewardship scheme for large household appliances is needed.”

Alexandra Geddes, Executive Director of Programs and Innovation at NSW EPA said:

“An important part of NSW’s transition to a circular economy is to ensure that products can be designed to reduce waste and pollution as well as repaired and recovered easily, we want to work with all sectors to keep materials circulating in the economy for longer.”

_____________________________________________________________________________

About Southern Sydney Regional Organisations of Councils The Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (SSROC) is an association of 12 councils spanning Sydney’s southern suburbs covering a third of Greater Sydney’s population, over 1.8m people. Its councils manage around 655,000 tonnes of household waste each year, which is about 20 per cent of all NSW household waste. SSROC provides a forum through which member councils can work collaboratively to solve regional issues and contribute to the future sustainability of the region. More information: https://ssroc.nsw.gov.au

About the Product Stewardship Centre of Excellence The Product Stewardship Centre of Excellence is an independent not-for-profit registered charity. It exists to facilitate the avoidance and reduction of waste and create positive environmental and social outcomes through sustainable design, resource conservation reuse, repair, and recycling. The Centre helps businesses, industries, associations and product stewardship organisations to adopt a strong lifecycle approach to deliver their ESG and circular economy objectives. More information: https://stewardshipexcellence.com.au

MEDIA INQUIRIES

John Gertsakis, Director – Product Stewardship Centre of Excellence M: 0409 422 089 E: john.gertsakis@stewardshipexcellence.com.au

Kate Hannan, Communications and Government Affairs Lead – Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils M: 0434 133 228 E: kate.hannan@ssroc.nsw.gov.au

Investing in intelligent product stewardship regulation .. White Paper released

The Product Stewardship Centre of Excellence’s submission in response to the Productivity Commission’s Inquiry into the Circular Economy.

Centre responds to Productivity Commission’s Inquiry into Circular Economy Opportunities

To view Centre’s submission click here.

Centre Directors present at Senate Inquiry into Waste Reduction and Recycling Policies hearing

To see full transcript click here.

To see the Centre’s submission click here.

Media Release: Forum focuses on how to produce and consume with reduced planetary impact

Product stewardship is the pathway for businesses and governments to a real-world circular economy, and for the first-time leaders in product stewardship from these sectors in Australia and Europe are coming together on 9 May in Sydney.

At the 2024 Australian Product Stewardship Forum, these changemakers will share practical and strategic steps that manufacturers, brands, retailers, and governments can take to produce and consume products without waste.

Engaging international and Australian speakers, and interactive panels will inspire and challenge businesses and policy-makers on what they can do to ensure that products sold in Australia cause less harm to the environment and society across their entire lifecycle from design and manufacture through to use and end of life.

The full-day program kicks off with a conversation between the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, Minister for the Environment and Water, and John Gertsakis, Director of the Product Stewardship Centre of Excellence.

“More than a Q and A, this open-ended dialogue will discuss the challenging issues, opportunities, and reforms underway to help achieve producer responsibility across the product lifecycle. It will set the tone for the frank and productive conversations we’ll have throughout the day,” John said.

The Forum will also feature a presentation from Aurel Ciobanu-Dordea, Director for Circular Economy in the European Commission. This will be positively revealing and informative.

Leaders from diverse sectors and industries will then share their experiences of making product stewardship a reality. Each panel discussion will focus on one of the three product lifecycle stages. Facilitated by Claire Kneller, Managing Director of WRAP Asia Pacific, time has been allocated to allow and encourage questions from Forum delegates.

“We are thrilled with the calibre of speakers and the people who have registered to attend the forum – these are people who represent brands, retailers, schemes, associations and government agencies that are innovating to prevent waste and pollution by changing how products are designed, made, used, repaired, reused and recycled,” John said.

“Whether you are starting this journey or further progressed, join us to learn and share practical solutions to maximise sustainable consumption and the circular economy.”

The Australian Product Stewardship Forum will be held on Thursday, 9 May 2024 at Aerial at UTS Sydney.

Register now to secure your ticket at stewardshipexcellence.com.au/forum-2024

Download this media release here.

2024-25 Pre-Budget Submission to Treasury

To see the Centre’s submission to Treasury click here.

Media Release: November 2, 2023: Product Stewardship Excellence Awards 2023 Winners Announced

Consumers today are demonstrating an increasing awareness of the environmental impacts associated with the products they purchase, use, and eventually discard. Authentic product stewardship is expanding its role of collecting and recycling, by evolving into a more holistic approach embraced by manufacturers and brands who put products into market.

Product stewardship encompasses all facets of a product’s lifecycle, from design, durability and repairability, to effective consumer education, decarbonisation, using sustainable materials, eliminating hazardous materials, reuse, and increasing the amount of recycled content in new goods. Being a responsible product steward is not a new approach, but it certainly indicates that brands are increasingly taking greater environmental responsibility for their products.

This year’s Product Stewardship Excellence Awards recognise outstanding commitment and innovation in product lifecycle management through national stewardship initiatives across diverse industries and sectors.

The Awards were presented at an event in Sydney on Thursday 2nd November. The Federal Minister for the Environment and Water, the Hon. Tanya Plibersek has been very clear about the need for Australia to transition to a circular economy and to place greater emphasis on designing-out waste and pollution while also prolonging the life of products and materials. This includes current government activity to regulate industries and products such as solar panels, packaging and small electronic products

Entrants this year reflected a growing number of companies, brands, and associations, that are acutely focused on minimising environmental impact, optimising resource use, and enhancing overall sustainability right through to managing products and materials at end-of-life.

Environmental issues are firmly on the agenda for governments, industry and the public, and the demand for effective national solutions is a high priority for all stakeholders. Best-practice product stewardship enables manufacturers and brands to transform their high-level ESG promises into real-world action that has meaning for consumers and the public.

The Product Stewardship Centre of Excellence congratulates all winners for their outstanding efforts in championing better product lifecycle management through product stewardship. Their commitment to environmental responsibility and innovation serves as an inspiration to other brands and industries.

Congratulations to the 2023 Product Stewardship Excellence Awards Winners:

Best Stewardship Outcomes Collective Scheme: Australia New Zealand Recycling Platform

Australia and New Zealand Recycling Platform (ANZRP) demonstrated exceptional commitment to product stewardship. They highlight how industry can work together to achieve sustainable outcomes through reuse, repair, and recycling. ANZRP’s collection of 21,460 tonnes of e-waste in 2021/22 and the reuse of 91% of recovered materials in new products showcased their unwavering commitment to sustainable practices.

Best Stewardship Outcomes Large Business: Schütz Australia

Schütz Australia demonstrated an innovative approach and commitment to circular practices with their reusable packaging systems through responsible product management, minimising waste, and maximizing the reuse of resources. Their Ticket Collection program, first initiated around 30 years ago, has grown rapidly recently. Schütz have successfully recovered around 16,000 tonnes of plastic over the last 4 years. They collect used containers, repair, and reuse them, and efficiently manage any that can’t be reused through recycling.

Best Stewardship Outcomes SME: Cultivated

Cultivated advocates for longevity and repairability in the furniture circular economy. Their commitment to quality materials and thoughtful design ensures products endure, contributing to a more sustainable and circular approach in the industry.

Excellence in Design for Product Stewardship: A.H. Beard

A.H. Beard demonstrated exemplary efforts with their Origins mattress range. Addressing the environmental crisis of mattress accumulation in landfills, the company’s innovative design approach tackles waste, pollution, and emissions, paving the way for a more responsible and sustainable mattress industry.

Product Stewardship Champion of the Year: Sophi MacMillan

An accomplished and respected product stewardship professional, Sophi MacMillan is a deserving recipient of the 2023 Product Stewardship Champion Award. Her contribution over two decades has been impactful, and always focused on uniting industry stakeholders towards action and solutions. From her work with the Vinyl Council and the Asia Pacific Vinyl Network to her current role leading the ResiLoop scheme for the Australian Resilient Flooring Association, Sophi is a key player who understands the value and role of product stewardship in a sustainable future.

John Gertsakis, a director of the Product Stewardship Centre of Excellence, expressed gratitude for the remarkable work of all entrants, stating, “The Awards shine a light on those individuals and organisations that go above and beyond in managing products responsibly. This year’s winners have demonstrated what is possible when manufacturers, brands and industry associations activate the potential of product stewardship.”

The Centre applauds their achievements and expects that their success will inspire other businesses and industries to follow. As consumers, we should expect much more from the brands we use and support.

The Centre looks forward to the continued growth of product stewardship thinking and action and encourages all participants to build on this momentum and drive positive change in their industry.

For media inquiries, please contact:
John Gertsakis
Director
john.gertsakis@stewardshipexcellence.com.au
0409 422 089

Download a pdf of this media release here.

Media Release: June 28, 2023: Six new data reports on how product stewardship delivers environmental, social and economic benefits.

Australia’s landmark study of the benefits and effectiveness of product stewardship today released six new data reports to further understanding of how product stewardship can deliver environmental, social and economic benefits and provide businesses and government with a pathway to transition to a circular economy.

These reports provide an important and timely evidence base as governments, businesses and the community place greater emphasis on creating a sustainable future. The findings also confirm the importance of product stewardship being a major business-focused approach to design out waste and pollution, keep products and materials circulating in the economy, regenerate natural systems and decarbonise the economy.

The six reports are:

Evaluating Stewardship Benefits and Effectiveness, Summary Report which provides an overview of the research findings including extent of product stewardship activity, benefits, levels of engagement, challenges and future opportunities.

Product stewardship benefits assessment 2022: General population report based on a survey of 1,000 Australians to measure awareness and understanding of product stewardship. A key finding was that product durability and longevity are key purchase considerations for consumers.

Product stewardship benefits assessment 2022: Business report based on interviews with 600 Australian businesses which found businesses are most engaged with product stewardship activities that relate to the production stage of the lifecycle, especially consideration of improved material choices and responsible supply chain practices.

Product stewardship benefits assessment 2022: Local Government report based on a survey of 89 local government staff to assess awareness and understanding of product stewardship among staff and assess the nature of their engagement with product stewardship initiatives.

Effectiveness and Benefits of Product Stewardship: Themes from 60 Qualitative Interviews with Stewardship Actors and Experts. This report found the key environmental performance indicators reported ranged from diverting materials from landfill (e.g. material recovery, product repair and reuse, recycled content in products); preventing waste (e.g. making products more durable, dematerialising packaging); reducing greenhouse gas emissions (e.g. powering supply chains with renewable energy); and conserving natural resources (e.g. substituting virgin materials with recycled materials, using less water and energy).

Environmental, social and economic benefits of product stewardship initiatives in Australia: A survey of publicly reported environmental, social and economic performance data for 106 product stewardship collective schemes and individual business initiatives which provides insights into what makes product stewardship schemes successful. This data is made available on the Product Stewardship Gateway, a detailed database of existing and emerging product stewardship initiatives run by industry sectors and businesses in Australia.

All reports are now available on www.stewardshipexcellence.com.au.

The Product Stewardship Centre of Excellence and consortium partners will unpack the content in the six reports during three webinars in July and August.

• Product stewardship effectiveness – 13th July 1-2pm – Dr Nick Florin UTS ISF and Lina Goodman (Tyre Stewardship Australia)
• Business and consumer engagement – 20th July 1-2pm
• Performance metrics for product stewardship – 3 Aug 1-2pm

Register for the webinars via https://stewardshipexcellence.com.au/events/.

Study co-author Dr Nick Florin, Institute for Sustainable Futures, said the reports and webinars would be highly useful for policy makers, product stewards and business decision makers.

“This is the most comprehensive data set in Australia on product stewardship with insights around what stewardship has achieved and how it can be extended and made more effective,” Dr Florin said.

“There is an intense amount of policy work underway as Australia continues to search for answers to our environmental problems, including the impacts of production, consumption and waste generation. These reports can help inform the work of Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek’s Circular Economy Ministerial Advisory Group, the work of State Government environment agencies and for brands and industries looking for sustainable solutions,” Dr Florin said.

The studies were conducted by UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures in partnership with the Product Stewardship Centre of Excellence. UTS was funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

For more information:
Dr Nick Florin
Nick.Florin@uts.edu.au

Media Inquiries:
Tim Powell 0411 725 595
tim.powell@dentsu.com

Media Release: Growth in Product Stewardship continues as Spyro Kalos joins the Centre of Excellence

The Product Stewardship Centre of Excellence is very pleased to announce that Spyro Kalos has joined the team as a senior adviser.

The former head of MobileMuster will play an important role in several key Centre activities, including our highly successful awards program and other business-focused services.

His extensive experience in the telecommunications industry with Optus and Vodafone (now TPG Telecom), involved numerous roles across the product lifecycle including channel management, customer relations and operations.

“Spyro’s expertise and real-world understanding of business priorities and product stewardship solutions will be a major asset to the Centre as its programs expand in 2023,” Product Stewardship Centre of Excellence Director Professor Damien Giurco said.

Spyro’s vision for product stewardship schemes and initiatives has always been that they expand and become more than just take-back programs. In the last seven years he has not only grown MobileMuster’s recycling volumes, maintained high levels of industry participation and strengthened its reputation, but has also broadened its product scope and integrated circularity principles, specifically around, reuse, repair, and recycling.

“At a time when consumer expectations are demanding higher levels of product and service sustainability, Spyro will expand the Centre’s capabilities and networks with a view to delivering positive outcomes” Professor Giurco said.

The Centre welcomes Spyro to the team and looks forward to him being part an exciting growth phase of more businesses adopting product stewardship as they look towards implementing real-world circular economy outcomes by 2030.

Click here to download the media release.

Media Release: Comprehensive online-tool will inform and improve product stewardship action in Australia

Australia’s first comprehensive study of the benefits and effectiveness of product stewardship has highlighted the significant environmental, social and economic outcomes delivered by product stewardship initiatives.

Click here to read the media release.

Click here to access the Product Stewardship Gateway.

Click here to access the webinar presentation.