To view Centre’s submission click here.

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.

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.

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.