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AMS announces 2026 Beamex User Group meeting

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +1000

Following a two-year break, AMS Instrumentation & Calibration has announced the 2026 Beamex User Group event will be held on the Sunshine Coast at Marcoola Beach, Queensland, 17–18 November 2026. The event returns after a high level of support expressed by the Beamex customer base in Australia.

The meeting will be held over two days and is free to attend. With a number of recent and pending product releases, the User Group will allow attendees to familiarise themselves with the latest Beamex product range and discuss strategies to improve management of their calibration workloads. AMS said it was excited to have this opportunity to work with customers to build upon their existing Beamex user experience.

The program is being finalised and a number of speciality presenters from Beamex will assist in running the program. Other presenters will include Mike Farkas from AMS with further guest speakers to be confirmed in the near future.

Specialty presenters include:

Mike Farkas, Calibration/Flow Product Manager, AMS-IC
Antti Koivisto, Senior Vice President of Sales, Beamex OY
Antti Mäkynen, Product Manager, Beamex OY
Roberto Guaranha, Regional Sales Director, Beamex OY
Jari Kiili, Area Sales Manager, Beamex OY

The deadline for registrations is 16 October 2026.

What: 2026 Beamex User Group
When: 17–18 November 2026
Where: Ramada Marcoola Beach
923 David Low Way, Marcoola Beach, Qld, 4564
Beach Front Ball Room.

Businesses use AI to manage sustainability reporting

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +1000

Australian businesses are accelerating their adoption of automation to stay competitive, but research from Schneider Electric shows many still face significant barriers to realising the full potential of AI.

Findings are based on the company’s 2026 Energy Tech Pulse survey, which surveyed 500 Australian decision-makers across multiple industries to understand how economic, energy and technology trends are shaping investment priorities. The results show strong momentum for automation and AI, but also highlight financial, technical and capability gaps slowing progress in critical sectors.

According to the survey, Australian businesses are embracing automation as a core strategy for competitiveness, with 67% of leaders calling it essential for success. Yet progress is uneven: while half of Australian businesses expect AI investments to pay off within three years, many face roadblocks — from upfront costs and cybersecurity concerns, to limited technical skills and uncertainty about integrating new systems — revealing a gap between strategic intent and operational readiness.

“These insights demonstrate that Australian businesses clearly see the value of automation and AI in driving efficiency and competitive advantage,” said Farokh Ghadially, Vice President IT and Data Centres, Schneider Electric.

“However, cost pressures and capability gaps are slowing the pace of progress. The challenge now is to make digital tools more accessible and scalable, so that organisations of every size can capture the full benefits of automation.”

AI transforming energy and sustainability management

Despite these challenges, the survey revealed that AI adoption is advancing fastest in areas where efficiency, energy management and sustainability intersect. Smart building control has emerged as the leading application, with 38% of respondents identifying it as a top priority, followed by sustainability reporting (29%) and energy forecasting (24%), highlighting strong links between automation, efficiency and decarbonisation.

Looking ahead, business intent is strong: over the next three years, four in 10 leaders plan to implement smart building solutions and battery energy storage, while a third intend to deploy electric vehicle charging infrastructure, signalling a broader shift towards digital and electrified systems designed to improve efficiency and operational resilience.

“As technology continues to evolve, automation will be the foundation of a more resilient and sustainable economy,” Ghadially said. “With the first round of sustainability compliance reports to be released this year under Australia’s Sustainability Reporting Standards, businesses are entering a new era of accountability that goes far beyond compliance.

“To prepare, organisations will need accurate, auditable data and digital systems capable of turning complex sustainability metrics into actionable insights. As an energy technology partner, we see every day that the businesses who succeed are those that combine innovation with capability, and who use AI to strengthen data integrity, improve transparency and turn digital ambition into measurable impact,” Ghadially said.

The full survey results can be accessed on the Schneider Electric website.

Image credit: iStock.com/MF3d

Victorian wind farm project to power 1.2 million homes

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +1000

The Victorian Government has taken a step towards providing what it states is the biggest wind farm in the Southern Hemisphere.

Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny has signed off on the Environment Effects Statement (EES) for the Warracknabeal Energy Park — marking a milestone in the state approvals process. Once complete, the 219-turbine wind farm is planned to deliver more than 1.5 gigawatts of renewable energy — enough to power up to 1.2 million homes.

The government said the project would become the highest-producing wind facility in Victoria and generate around 12.5% of the state’s future energy needs. It is expected to create almost 950 jobs during construction, with ongoing local jobs once operational.

“This project would be a massive boost to Victoria’s renewable energy capacity — powering more than one million homes with cheaper, cleaner energy,” said Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio.

The project will also contribute to Victoria’s renewable energy targets of 65% by 2030 and 95% by 2035.

The Warracknabeal Energy Park has gone through Victoria’s EES process, including technical studies, community consultation and a public inquiry. Further approvals are still required before a final decision is made, including Commonwealth approval under national environmental laws.

“This is a major step towards delivering the biggest wind farm in the Southern Hemisphere, right here in Victoria,” Kilkenny said.

Image credit: iStock.com/clintscholz

Battery-free sensors close to reality

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +1000

With lithium-ion battery waste in Australia projected to exceed 100,000 tonnes by 2036, and hundreds of millions of household batteries discarded each year — many used in low-power indoor sensors and data loggers — there is an urgent need for cleaner power solutions.

An NSSN Grand Challenge Fund project has demonstrated a viable pathway to producing a battery-free, sustainable alternative.

Led by Macquarie University researchers, the project achieved a breakthrough in a key manufacturing step for perovskite photovoltaic (PV) cells which can be designed to generate power from ambient light.

The team found a way to manufacture these PV cells faster and more energy-efficiently using microwaves. They also worked out how to scale the process for real manufacturing, where material is produced continuously on a moving roll.

“If this technology can be scaled, it unlocks sensing applications that simply aren’t viable today, such as sensors embedded in concrete, environmental monitors in remote infrastructure, long-term medical devices, and agricultural sensing under greenhouse lighting, all operating continuously without maintenance,” said Dr Binesh Veettil, Project Lead and Senior Lecturer in the School of Engineering at Macquarie University.

The breakthrough uses a microwave-based process to reduce perovskite PV cell annealing from around 30 minutes to about 30 seconds while cutting energy use, enabling fast, scalable manufacturing and supporting future low-cost, self-powered indoor sensor applications.

The project also provides the opportunity for more flexible production where perovskite PV cells could one day be printed and integrated into materials like packaging, buildings and clothing rather than just manufactured for traditional panels.

“The real barrier has always been the cost and complexity of battery replacement, but once each sensor is self-powered, dense networks with tens of thousands of sensors become practical,” Veettil said. “With indoor-light-optimised perovskite cells, which are highly efficient in low light and can be printed directly into devices, we can move to truly ‘install-and-forget’ sensors with no need for separate panels or additional engineering to integrate them.”

A major focus of the project was adapting the process for high-speed production, essential for low-cost, large-scale deployment.

Veettil said the project’s main challenges were scaling the process to continuous roll-to-roll manufacturing, where material is produced on a moving surface like printing, and achieving uniform heating over a large area.

The team overcame two key challenges: managing the naturally uneven distribution of microwave fields to ensure uniform heating, and delivering sufficient energy within the few seconds the material spends in the system.

“One of the key challenges was that microwaves naturally produce uneven heating, so we had to engineer a system that spreads energy more evenly and works reliably across a moving surface rather than just small lab samples,” Veettil said. “We addressed this by using continuously varying frequencies and a specially designed cavity to reduce hot and cold spots, allowing us to achieve consistent results.

“The key outcome was showing that microwave annealing can be made robust enough for continuous, industrial-scale manufacturing rather than remaining a lab-based technique.”

The project was conducted in partnership with co-investigator Dr Robert Patterson from the School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering at UNSW.

“In energy-constrained applications from sensing and portable devices to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), every watt of on-board generation is a game changer,” Patterson said. “Self-powered sensors remove some key energy storage barriers and make dense, large-scale sensor networks more viable.

“Even partial adoption of portable generation for devices like sensors would greatly extend battery lifetime, diverting millions of batteries from landfill each year.”

The industry partner in the project was Halocell Energy Ltd, one of the few companies globally manufacturing flexible perovskite cells at commercial scale.

Halocell Energy’s Chief Technology Officer, Dr David Pham, said the project has demonstrated the feasibility of microwave-based processing for perovskite solar cells, supporting its ambition to develop low-cost, high-throughput manufacturing for indoor photovoltaic applications.

“This project has demonstrated a clear pathway toward commercial deployment, with microwave-based processing showing strong potential for integration into high throughput manufacturing,” Pham said. “The collaboration with Macquarie University has been highly productive, and we look forward to progressing this technology through scale-up and pilot testing.”

Looking ahead, the next steps in the project include extended production trials, lifetime testing and scaling the technology for commercial deployment. Early applications, such as electronic shelf labels, could reach market in three to five years. The project has also established a dedicated microwave annealing facility at Macquarie University, enabling new areas of research extending beyond perovskite materials to other thin-film semiconductors, 2D materials and oxide electronics.

“Microwave processing isn’t limited to perovskites: it can be applied to a wide range of advanced materials where rapid, selective heating is needed, and it provides industry with a capability that is difficult to find elsewhere in Australia,” Veettil said.

Image caption: Abstract porous perovskite material structure macro shot. Credit: iStock.com/corrigan201

Manufacturers could be missing out on govt energy funding

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +1000

Australian manufacturers could be missing out on millions of dollars in available government energy funding — said energy advisory firm DETA Consulting — not because the programs don’t exist, but because most businesses haven’t done the groundwork to access them.

The energy advisory firm said the pattern is consistent across manufacturing: funding rounds open, businesses scramble to respond, and most aren’t ready in time.

Managing Director Jonathan Pooch said the manufacturers securing grants aren’t necessarily running more sophisticated projects — they’re simply better prepared.

“Government energy-funding programs can open and close in weeks,” Pooch said. “If you haven’t already mapped your energy baseline, identified your projects and understood your eligibility, you’re not applying. Someone else is.”

Australian manufacturers are now paying nearly 50% more for gas than they were in 2019, according to a 2025 report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis — yet many are not adequately positioned to access the government support designed to help them respond.

“Every manufacturer wants a grant,” Pooch said. “But when a round opens, you typically have a short window. You need a current energy audit, a costed project, and baseline data already in place. Most manufacturers have none of that ready to go.”

Pooch said the preparation required to be funding-ready is the same preparation that makes energy projects financially viable in the first place.

“It’s imperative to understand where energy is actually being used across a site, identify which projects stack up now versus those that need different conditions to work, and to have a staged plan that allows fast execution when the timing is right,” he said. “The manufacturers that keep missing funding windows aren’t unlucky. They’re unready.

“And the fix isn’t complicated — it’s groundwork that most organisations simply haven’t prioritised.”

DETA’s work with Alsco, an industrial laundry operator, illustrates what a structured approach can deliver.

Rather than chasing one-off projects, the work focused on building a pipeline of opportunities, including:

heat recovery systems
baseline efficiency improvements
electrification and alternative fuel initiatives across multiple sites.

And then executing them as economic and operational conditions aligned.

Alsco Energy and Utilities Manager Haris Murtaza said the approach had helped support significant emissions reductions while also improving long-term planning capability.

“We have reduced emissions by 31% in Australia and 60% in New Zealand relative to production,” Murtaza said. “The staged approach has also helped us secure more than $1.5 million in government grants and identify over $500,000 in energy cost savings.”

Pooch said the $1.5m in grants was the result of being consistently ready, not opportunistic applications.

“When a funding round opened that matched a project they’d already scoped and costed, they could move immediately,” he said. “That’s the difference.”

Becoming funding-ready doesn’t require a large upfront investment, Pooch said, but it does require the right sequencing:

Conduct a current energy audit to establish a baseline and understand where consumption actually sits across the site.
Identify and cost a pipeline of projects, not just a single initiative.
Understand funding eligibility before rounds open, not after.
Stage projects so they can be executed quickly when conditions — cost, technology or policy — align.
Track trigger points such as equipment reaching end of life, energy price movements, or new program announcements.

“Energy is an area where most manufacturers have more control than they realise,” Pooch said. “The funding is there. The projects make sense. What’s missing for most businesses is simply the preparation to act when the window opens.”

Image credit: iStock.com/Juan_Gomez

Epson renews fashion partnership

Thu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 +1000

Epson has announced the continuation of its partnership with the FASHION FRONTIER PROGRAM 2026 (FFP), a program that discovers and supports next-generation fashion designers. Beginning in 2022, the partnership is now in its fifth year.

Under its long-term corporate vision ‘ENGINEERED FUTURE 2035’, Epson aims to drive technological advances, engineer the optimal future and deliver value to society. Through this partnership, the company will provide its technologies and expertise to the next generation of creators, supporting their creativity and challenges in manufacturing and design and contributing to the realisation of this vision.

Since 2021, Epson has continuously provided technical support for the creation of collections presented at Paris Haute Couture Week by YUIMA NAKAZATO, the fashion brand led by Yuima Nakazato, the initiator of FFP.

Through this co-creation, the company has advanced its inkjet technology and leveraged digital textile printing to expand freedom of expression while reducing environmental impact and exploring new possibilities in sustainable fashion.

As part of the FFP, Epson plans to provide lectures and organise tours of its Solution Centres, providing participants with opportunities to deepen their understanding of its printing technology and gain hands-on experience.

In addition, the company will support the production of participants’ works by drawing on the technologies and expertise it has developed through its co-creation activities and business operations.

The FASHION FRONTIER PROGRAM 2026 schedule

Application period closes on 31 May 2026
Primary selection: Late July 2026
Secondary selection: Mid-September 2026
Incubation period: August–November 2026 (only for those who were selected)
Final selection and awards ceremony (winner announcement): December 2026

Top image caption: Providing technical support for FFP 2025 finalists at Epson’s Fujimi Plant. Images: Supplied.

Renewable energy to power 4 million Aussie homes by 2030

Thu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 +1000

The Australian Government is backing 19 new renewable energy projects that will supply enough electricity for four million Australian households by 2030.

Supported through Tender 7 of the federal government’s flagship Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS), the projects will deliver 7.8 GW of renewable generation and a further 7.9 GWh in battery storage through hybrid projects.

Across 19 projects, the wind farms, solar installations and battery developments will be built in NSW, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria and South Australia to service the National Electricity Market (NEM). The projects are set to unlock an estimated $17 billion in private investment and create an estimated 19,000 construction jobs.

More than $257 million worth of Australian steel will be used, supporting Australian workers and Australian industry.

Also, nearly $1.2 billion in social licence commitments are planned to deliver shared benefits across local communities and provide employment pathways, ranger programs, mental health support programs, and capacity building to increase the participation of First Nations communities in the renewable energy transition.

“This is not just about megawatts. It is about jobs on the ground, investment in local communities, and making sure communities share in the benefits of the renewable energy transition,” said Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen. “Cheaper, cleaner, more reliable renewable energy. That’s what we promised, that’s what we are delivering.”

Building on the high quality of Tender 7 bids in the NEM and the broader success of the CIS to date, Tender 9 will open to bids from Monday, 25 May 2026.

Tender 9 will target 5 GW of renewable generation and will be open to all NEM jurisdictions except NSW, where proponents can participate in the re-started NSW Roadmap generation tenders. It will include a dedicated capacity allocation for projects that commit to 5% or higher equity and/or revenue-sharing agreements with First Nations communities.

This follows a recent boost to Western Australia’s energy system, with 1.9 GW of renewable generation and 482 MW of battery storage as part of 10 new projects set to be built across regional WA.

“At a time when we’re all feeling the pinch from volatile fossil fuel markets, these investments are more important than ever, and, as demonstrated by the quality and volume of bids, the market is responding to the stability the CIS offers,” said Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy Josh Wilson.

“Coming off the back of the two best quarters for renewable energy, and as we see coal and gas generation in decline, these 19 projects will help drive even more investment in cleaner, cheaper energy across the NEM.”

Image credit: iStock.com/Avee-Jay

Urban farming network provides sustainable food to CBD

Thu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 +1000

Greenspace is transforming how hotels and businesses approach food, sustainability and ESG with the launch of a sustainable commercial urban macrofarm in Brisbane.

The company has delivered a commercial integration of its centralised macrofarm in the Amora Hotel Brisbane, embedding food production directly into the hotel environment. The expansion for Greenspace follows successful macrofarm networks in both Sydney and Melbourne.

Greenspace’s urban farming model is designed to bring food production right next door to where it is consumed. Macrofarms are designed to transform underutilised urban spaces into optimised hydroponic farms which grow diverse produce year-round in indoor environments.

The ready-to-harvest produce is then distributed locally to smaller microfarms (hydroponic cabinets) that are located within hotels, workplaces, restaurants and retail environments, where it remains living and until harvested based on demand.

The microfarm redefines how organisations approach food, sustainability and ESG. It enables hotels like the Amora Hotel Brisbane to grow, maintain and harvest living produce like micro greens, herbs, lettuces and Australian natives onsite. It delivers living produce directly in the dining room, where chefs can harvest ingredients on demand in front of their diners, often moments before being served.

“We’re moving beyond sustainability as a concept and into something you can see, touch and taste,” said Peter Fox, founder and CEO of Greenspace.

“We’re shifting from a framework where buildings simply consume resources, to one where they actively produce them as well. It’s a model that makes both commercial and environmental sense for some of our customers like Amora, Sofitel, the Greenbank SC and W hotel.

“By embedding networked food production into a community, we’re reducing supply chain reliance and food miles, while improving nutrition, consistency and quality for that urban environment.”

John Bristowe, General Manager at Amora Hotel Brisbane, said the Greenspace Urban farm is reshaping how the hotel approaches both sustainability and food operations.

“Sustainability is an important part of our hotel’s ongoing journey, and working alongside Greenspace allows us to further embrace ideas that are practical, purposeful and aligned with the future of hospitality. This collaboration is a wonderful example of how businesses can work together to create something meaningful for guests, visitors and the wider Brisbane community.”

Greenspace’s measurable impact includes:

Hyper-local supply
Produce grown and harvested onsite, reducing food miles and transport emissions
Resource efficiency
Uses up to 95% less water than traditional farming methods
Higher yield
Produces at least four times more produce within the same footprint
Year-round reliability
Indoor farming enables consistent supply regardless of weather conditions
Low waste model
Living produce harvested on demand reduces spoilage and packaging waste
Chemical-free growing
No sprays or chemical pesticides used

The Brisbane expansion builds on Greenspace’s Sydney CBD macrofarm launched in 2021, which also includes a dedicated edible flower farm, followed by a second macrofarm in Melbourne’s Southbank.

Greenspace’s microfarm network is now embedded within hotels, workplaces and event venues across the country, including Hyatt Regency Sydney, Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park, Park Hyatt Melbourne, Langham Melbourne and Swissotel Sydney.

Image caption: Peter Fox, founder and CEO of Greenspace in the macrofarm. Image: Supplied.

Collaboration advances Digital Metering Program

Wed, 27 May 2026 00:00:00 +1000

Itron is expanding its collaboration with Hunter Water to support the utility’s digital water journey as part of its Digital Metering Pilot Program.

Hunter Water aims to use data to improve water network management and reduce non-revenue water while enabling customers to better understand their usage and conserve water.

As part of the pilot program, Hunter Water is deploying a variety of meters including Itron Intelis wSource NB-IoT ultrasonic water meters that will be managed through Temetra, Itron’s cloud‑based, multi‑vendor, multi‑commodity meter data management solution, which is already in use by the utility.

The Digital Metering Pilot Program is focused on building a more data‑driven and resilient water network. With Itron’s technology, the utility aims to advance program objectives and detect leaks sooner, reduce water loss, improve operations and empower customers with better insight into their water use.

The pilot program will include 2000 Itron Intelis wSource NB-IoT ultrasonic water meters, which the utility will begin deploying in Q3 2026, helping Hunter Water to better understand how digital meters can support future water services.

The technology will provide near real-time visibility of customers’ water consumption, enabling faster leak detection and quicker response to reduce water loss.

“At Hunter Water, we are committed to embracing innovative solutions that support our community and help us reduce water losses across our network,” said Matt Hingston, Executive Manager, Customer Services. “Digital water meters provide more timely and detailed insight into water consumption, which helps us identify potential leaks sooner and respond more effectively. Just as importantly, this data helps Hunter Water to tailor our approach to directly engaging with customers about their water use and to encourage them to make more informed decisions about conservation.”

Justin Patrick, senior vice president of Device Solutions at Itron, said, “With decades of history working together, Itron and Hunter Water have delivered projects that reflect evolving operational goals and changing environmental conditions. As an existing Temetra customer for more than five years, deploying Itron digital water meters represents the next step in Hunter Water’s digital water journey. Temetra gives Hunter Water the flexibility to adopt and deploy new technologies at its own pace, supporting both current needs and future innovation. We look forward to continuing our work together and helping the utility achieve its long-term operational and water management goals.”

Image credit: iStock.com/Flashvector

Retread tyre industry under threat: report

Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 +1000

Tyre Stewardship Australia’s recently released report, ‘Retread Tyre Sector in Australia: Comprehensive Market Analysis’, has found that the retread tyre industry’s share of the Australian heavy commercial replacement tyre market has fallen from around 20% in 2017 to just 10% in 2025.

The report states that since 2003, the number of retread facilities in Australia has declined from 61 to just 22 due to an influx of lower quality, lower upfront cost, single-use truck and bus tyres.

TSA said that Australia’s retread industry traces back to the 1920s, when Melbourne-born Olympic swimming champion Sir Frank Beaurepaire established one of the country’s first retreading businesses in Sydney after encountering the process in Canada while competing at the 1920 Antwerp Olympics.

“This report is a call to action. Australia’s retread industry has been contributing to a circular economy for around 100 years and today produces a top-quality product that delivers significant cost, productivity and environmental benefits for the heavy commercial vehicle sector,” said CEO of Tyre Stewardship Australia Lina Goodman. “Yet without government support, we risk losing our last onshore tyre production capability to a flood of lower quality and lower upfront cost, single-use tyres.

“The United States and the European Union have both acted to protect their retread industries. If Australia does not follow suit, we will become a ‘soft target’ for trade dumping of lower quality tyres.”

Report key findings

Shifting market dynamics
While retread production has remained relatively steady at around 390,000 tyres per year, the sale of new heavy commercial drive and trailer tyres has surged by approximately 80% — from 1.5 million to 2.7 million — driven largely by low-cost single-use imports.
Significant underutilised capacity
Australia’s 22 remaining retread facilities have the capacity to retread 55–80% of the estimated three million heavy commercial tyres sold in 2025, yet the industry is currently operating at only 31–56% of its single-shift capacity.
Jobs at stake
Around 125 people are currently directly employed in tyre retreading in Australia. If existing facilities were supported to operate at full capacity, the industry could directly employ approximately 1000 people — creating an estimated 850 additional jobs.
Major environmental benefits
The Australian retread industry currently reduces waste generation by approximately 16,000 tonnes per year and cuts emissions by around 44,500 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent annually — the equivalent of taking roughly 10,000 cars off the road each year.
A growing market opportunity
The total number of heavy commercial tyres in use is estimated at approximately seven million in 2024 and is projected to grow to around 10 million by 2045, presenting an opportunity for the retread sector if the right policy settings are in place.

Report recommendations

The report sets out a roadmap of market development and government actions to reverse the decline and ensure the long-term viability of Australia’s retread industry.

Key recommendations include:

development and implementation of a mandatory product stewardship scheme designed to incentivise the use of retreaded heavy commercial tyres re-manufactured in Australia;
investigation by the Australian Government of options to incentivise retread and/or prevent trade dumping of lower quality, lower upfront cost, single-use heavy commercial tyres;
promotion of the waste reuse achievements of the retread industry in national waste reporting;
increased enforcement of Australian Design Rules to prevent non-compliant tyres being imported into the Australian market.

The report was commissioned by TSA in May 2025 and aligns with the Australian Government’s Circular Economy Framework, which commits to doubling Australia’s circularity rate, reducing the national material footprint by 10%, lifting materials productivity by 30%, and safely recovering 80% of resources.

To support practical uptake, TSA has also developed a dedicated tyre retreading resource page, bringing together key insights from the analysis alongside guidance and clear entry points for fleets, retailers and industry to assess where retreading fits within their operations.

Goodman concludes that “supporting the retread industry could create an additional 850 direct jobs, lower transport sector costs and emissions, and grow Australia’s circular economy. The evidence is clear — it’s time for the Australian Government to act”.

To read the full report, visit the website.

Image credit: iStock.com/PeopleImages

Aussie founder reduces need for plastic pallet wrap

Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 +1000

frank green founder Benjamin Young has found a way to replace pallet plastic wrap with a system of reusable Backbone Corner brackets and high-tension Loop and Lock straps that fit existing pallets.

Designed, patented and manufactured in Victoria, the No Wrap system aims to disrupt the $10 billion global packaging industry.

Australian companies use 100,000 tonnes of plastic pallet wrap every year, and 95% is dumped in landfill after just one use. The launch of No Wrap — endorsed by Sustainability Victoria — comes as the price of oil-based plastic wrap has risen by 25%.

“My vision is we stop using single-use plastic pallet wrap,” Young said. “Almost everything we buy in retail, health care, supermarkets or department stores is at some point transported on a pallet and the boxes are secured in position using plastic wrap.

“Single use plastic wrap is growing every year in Australia by about 3% and globally creates about 6 million tonnes of waste, which is obviously unsustainable and no one seems to be talking about it.

“This is not just a plastic wrap replacement. It’s the future operating system for sustainable logistics because it simply makes sense and is cheaper, faster and safer than plastic wrap.’’

Young said implementing No Wrap at his frank green Dandenong Distribution Centre eliminated approximately seven tonnes of plastic wrapping each year.

“I knew there had to be a better way to secure pallets and avoid all the plastic going into landfill, so we invented the solution,” Young said. “We removed plastic wrap from our business and cut minutes of wrapping time per pallet. Our operations team prefers it because it’s safer and easier, because there are no cutters — and our waste bins stay empty.”

Benjamin Young with the No Wrap system. Image: Supplied

Under new mandatory climate-related financial disclosures, businesses need to treat carbon emissions such as plastic use like any other cost in their profit and loss statement. Environmental, Social and Governance scores now influence access to capital, insurance premiums, and mergers and acquisition activity.

Tender requirements in retail, transport, tech and public sectors now include carbon audits, and businesses must prove they are reducing emissions or risk financial penalties, customer loss and regulatory investigation.

“Sustainability is no longer a marketing trend, it’s an operational imperative,” Young said. “Failing to act is no longer just non-compliance, it’s commercial negligence.”

Sustainability Victoria Chief Executive Matt Genever endorsed No Wrap.

“We are excited that a Victorian company has developed a world-leading innovation to help eliminate single-use plastics across our retail and logistics supply chains,” Genever said. “No Wrap is a simple concept, but with the support of Australian businesses the positive impact on our environment promises to be huge given the many tons of plastic wrap sent to landfill every day.

“frank green’s reusable containers helped eliminate millions of plastic bottles and single-use coffee cups and hopefully No Wrap can create the same transformational change with plastic wrapping.”

Watch the video below to discover how the No Wrap system is used.

Top image caption: frank green founder Ben Young using No Wrap in his distribution centre. Image: Supplied

CSIRO job cuts cause industry concern

Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 +1000

Planned CSIRO job cuts are causing concern among industry organisations, with Farmers for Climate Action (FCA) calling for the Australian Government to ensure there is no impact on the climate modelling and projections from the organisation.

FCA said Australians should be proud of Australia’s contributions to the global understanding of climate science and that farmers rely on modelling and projections for critical farm management decisions.

“We need more data — not less — on the impacts of climate change and it seems insane that Australia’s peak research body would contemplate cutting resources from such a critical area of work. We need solid assurance that the slated changes don’t risk jeopardising the integrity and quality of our climate science,” said FCA Acting CEO Verity Morgan-Schmidt.

“It’s especially important for farmers who are already dealing with lost agricultural productivity due in part to a changing climate. If there is a reduction in information available to farmers as a result of the outlined changes, how can they be expected to keep farming productively?

“This data and service is too important to be at the whims of staffing and funding cuts. We welcomed the federal government’s recent additional funding of $387.4m into CSIRO and I call on the federal government to ensure that Australian farmers can rely on the CSIRO to continue to do this vital work.”

CSIRO announced in November 2025 that it needs to cut 350 full-time roles, a move which the agency said is “to support the long-term sustainability of the organisation”. It is still unclear exactly which roles are on the chopping block; however, it has been speculated that they will be within the team working on the national climate model.

Image caption: The CSIRO Research Facility in Hobart, Tasmania. Credit: iStock.com/mtcurado

Renewable energy tender to power a third of NSW homes

Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 +1000

The NSW Government is launching a renewable energy tender seeking enough new generation to power about one-third of homes across NSW.

Tender 8 is seeking 2.5 gigawatts of renewable energy, making it the largest generation Long-Term Energy Service Agreement tender under the NSW Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap. The tender will be run by the independent Consumer Trustee, AusEnergy Service Limited (ASL).

Once awarded, it will pave the way for NSW to achieve up to 90% of its renewable energy generation target of 12 gigawatts by 2030.

“This is the largest renewable generation tender in NSW history, and it shows just how serious we are about delivering cheaper and more reliable power for households and businesses,” said Minister for Climate Change and Energy Penny Sharpe.

At the same time, ASL will open Tender 9, seeking up to 12 gigawatt-hours of long-duration storage.

“Tender 8 alone will deliver enough energy to power about one-third of homes in NSW, marking a major step forward in our plan to future-proof NSW’s electricity system. Tender 9 ensures we can store renewable energy, so it can be released on demand when needed, making our grid more stable and reliable,” Sharpe said.

NSW is already on track to exceed its long-duration storage targets for 2030 and 2034. The state government is seeking to unlock 50% more capacity beyond those benchmarks, to build a stronger pipeline of projects and a more reliable electricity system for the people of NSW.

Long-duration storage is critical for reliability, as it allows energy to be stored for extended periods and dispatched when demand is high or when weather conditions are not ideal for renewables to generate power. Eligible technologies include large-scale batteries and pumped hydro projects.

When delivered, the state government said Tenders 8 and 9 will boost the state’s generation and storage capacity, helping ensure energy is always available when households, industry and businesses need it. They will result in enough generation capacity to power 1.26 million homes.

The government said Tender 8 will also be the first to introduce a new Hybrid Generation Long-Term Energy Service Agreement product, allowing applicants to combine solar or wind generation with battery storage in a single project. This will make it easier for investors to bring forward projects that deliver the best outcomes for consumers.

“This is about keeping the lights on when aging coal-fired power stations retire and doing it in a way that puts downward pressure on electricity bills for NSW families,” Sharpe said.

The successful projects under Tenders 8 and 9 are expected to be determined by late 2026. To find out more about the ASL tenders, visit the NSW Climate and Energy Action website.

Image credit: iStock.com/Surasak Suwanmake

Tassie off-grid pod selected as water prize semi-finalist

Wed, 20 May 2026 00:00:00 +1000

A pendulum-shaped, off-grid pod floating off Tasmania’s coast has been named as a contender in an international innovation competition to solve global water security.

Developed by Queensland company Blue Carbon, the oPod Aqua has been selected as one of 20 category semi-finalists from an initial pool of 674 teams across 86 countries in the XPRIZE Water Scarcity competition, a $119 million, five-year global initiative focused on enabling widespread access to clean water through reliable, affordable and sustainable seawater desalination technologies.

Tethered in Okehampton Bay near Orford, the Australian-designed, self-powered desalination unit uses wave, solar and wind energy to convert seawater into drinking water. Most of the 26 m-long oPod sits beneath the surface, with only a 5 m buoy-shaped structure visible above water.

Unlike power-hungry, land-based desalination systems, the oPod Aqua works totally off-grid. Using wave action, it draws water from deep below the surface and then desalinates it, using onboard solar panels and wind turbines. The prototype unit can produce 100 L/hour and stores more than 6000 litres in onboard tanks.

Leftover brine is only slightly saltier than the surrounding seawater and is rapidly diluted in open water. The oPod’s upwelling flows further mix the discharge, preventing the ‘salt hotspots’ often associated with traditional desalination.

Next-generation units are now in development, expected to produce 20,000–50,000 litres per day from a single unit by replacing electric pumps with wave-driven flow.

The oPod Aqua is part of a broader suite of ocean-based technologies being developed by Blue Carbon — co-founded by Dr Ana Novak and Eva Chiu.

In 2025, the oPod Aqua was recognised as one of Queensland’s leading innovators in the Brisbane Lord Mayor’s Business Awards and in 2026, it won both the main prize and people’s choice award in the KPMG Nature Positive Challenge.

“At the heart of the system is Blue Carbon’s passive fluidic logic — a mechanical computer that removes the need for complex sensors and controls,” Novak said. “With fewer moving parts, it’s more durable, easier to maintain and lowers the cost of water.”

Blue Carbon is the only Australian entry in the award’s systems and innovation category; there are two other Australian semi-finalists in the novel materials and method category.

“We acknowledge the outstanding contributions of the team supporting the deployment. Their expertise, commitment and hands-on support have been instrumental to the project’s success,” Novak said.

“This includes the teams from BLW Marine Management, Rock Electrical & Solar, Marine Solutions and West Marine, whose efforts and collaboration were critical in making the deployment possible.”

“Blue Carbon also extends its appreciation to all supporting crew and contractors whose dedication and collaboration helped make the deployment a success.”

For more on the XPRIZE Water Scarcity competition, visit the website.

Image caption: Blue Carbon CEO Dr Ana Novak and Eva Chui with the oPod Aqua launch team. Image: Supplied

Ecolab releases 2025 report

Tue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 +1000

Ecolab has released its 2025 Growth & Impact Report highlighting how the company continues to deliver strong business performance while deepening its impact on customers and communities.

The company said technologies like AI promise extraordinary progress, but they cannot scale without mastering water.

“Water is the foundation of life and business. We cannot create more water, but we can reimagine how we use it,” said Christophe Beck, Chairman, President and CEO, Ecolab. “Companies that act decisively, apply proven solutions and work in partnership will lead the next era of growth.”

In 2025, Ecolab partnered with customers across more than 40 industries and 170 countries. Together, the partnership helped customers:

conserve the annual drinking water needs of more than 849 million people, equivalent to 245 billion gallons of water
safeguard 7.7 million people from pollution-induced illnesses by avoiding 4.7 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions
protect 1.7 billion people from foodborne illnesses and infections
realise $12.9 billion in cumulative value using Ecolab solutions and services.

The company said this performance translated into real-world results, reinforcing how performance and impact fuel each other.

Ecolab applied the same discipline across its operations and communities. The report stated it:

Delivered record sales, earnings per share, operating income margin and cash flows, fuelled by a culture of safety, inclusion and performance.
Reduced Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 44% from a 2018 base year, powered 92% of operations with renewable electricity and improved water use efficiency by 36%.
Advanced basin-level action as a co-founder of the United Nations Water Resilience Coalition, expanded Alliance for Water Stewardship certification to 16 Ecolab facilities and partnered with Water.org to expand global access to safe water and sanitation.
Accelerated water, digital and AI solutions, including the Water Use Efficiency Index with CDP and Ecolab Water Navigator IQ.
Invested $24.2 million globally through the Ecolab Foundation to strengthen communities where Ecolab operates.

Read the company’s full report here: 2025 Growth & Impact Report.

Image caption: Ecolab headquarters in Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA. Credit: iStock.com/JHVEPhoto

$1m partnership to protect Australian waterways

Tue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 +1000

Suntory Oceania has announced a $1m partnership with Griffith University’s Australian Rivers Institute (ARI) to fund critical research and help inform how we protect water for future generations.

The company will partner with Griffith University’s ARI researchers, who will examine how climate change has impacted Australia’s waterways and whether environmental ‘safe zones’ (Safe and Just Earth System Boundaries) hold true for protecting river and wetland health.

Researchers will analyse global data to understand how altered rainfall patterns, floods and prolonged droughts are affecting water flows. They will also examine the connections between land and water systems, and how these interactions impact water health.

When the program concludes, ARI researchers will apply their findings to model quality and quantity of water flows and establish refined safe zones across Australia’s waterways. This will pinpoint areas where catchment and river flow restoration can improve water quality and ecosystem health. The research will also inform policymakers in strengthening the long-term resilience of rivers and lakes, and the communities that depend on them.

The research team will also draw on evidence from Suntory’s new water replenishment project to be established in Queensland’s Lockyer Valley.

Professor David Hamilton, Australian Rivers Institute and Liliana Pagliero, Australian Rivers Institute Senior Research Fellow. Image: Supplied

The project supports the company’s commitment to replenishing the water used at its Swanbank multi-beverage facility and aligns with Suntory’s global approach to water stewardship, including its Natural Water Sanctuary forests in Japan and watershed conservation initiatives across the United States, Mexico, Scotland, France, Spain and India.

Suntory Oceania has already set local targets to reduce its water footprint — including a 35% reduction in water use per unit of production by 2030, cutting total water use across its plants by 50% by 2050. These initiatives sit alongside Suntory’s global ‘Mizuiku’ water education program, which has operated for more than 20 years across nine countries.

Image caption: Water replenishment project at Lockyer Valley, Qld. Image: Supplied

Green schemes take a hit in federal Budget 2026

Wed, 13 May 2026 00:00:00 +1000

The Australian Government announced its Budget for the 2026–2027 financial year on Tuesday, 12th May 2026.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers said, “This is the most significant tax reform package for more than a quarter of a century and it continues the Albanese Labor government’s record of responsible economic management.

“Our reforms will make our tax system better, fairer and simpler and make our economy and our tax system work in the interests of more Australians.”

Focused on younger voters, it will provide financial benefits to first-home buyers and working families; however, some sustainability projects and future EV buyers have taken a hit.

Here are some of the budget reforms that may affect Australia’s ongoing sustainability progress:

The Electric Car Discount will wind down, albeit slowly, with the tax exemption for EVs worth over $75,000 reduced from April 2027. New owners of electric vehicles worth below $75,000 will still receive the exemption until April 2029.
A $500 million package to implement Australia’s nature law reforms was announced. The package includes $250 million to establish the National Environmental Protection Agency.
The Hydrogen Headstart project will lose government funding as it believes the program was not being adopted as anticipated. This project offers tax credits for projects producing hydrogen from renewable energy.
Unallocated funding for the Solar Sunshot and Battery Breakthrough Initiative will be withdrawn.
Financial savings will be made from other grant schemes, including the Powering the Regions Fund and the National Water Grid Fund.
No new tax was announced on Australian gas exports.

Commenting on the budget changes, Australian Conservation Foundation national climate policy adviser Annika Reynolds said, “While we welcome measures to ensure the longevity of the electric vehicle FBT exemption and the successful cheaper home batteries program, these are modest measures.

“In this moment, Australians are calling for government to tax gas exports fairly and use that money for cost-of-living relief and the restoration of nature.”

Along with these changes, no further relief measures were announced for fuel — with the fuel excise discount winding up in July 2026. However, a $10bn package was announced in the Budget to expand domestic fuel stockpiles. The federal government said this will ensure at least 50 days of supply for jet fuel and diesel, and 37 days of petrol.

“A budget measure to build up onshore fuel reserves is understandable in the short term, but it reinforces a narrow definition of energy security centred on fossil fuel supply,” said Nicole Forrester, Chief Regenerative Officer, WWF-Australia. “Real, long-term energy security and cost-of-living relief will come from reducing our reliance on fossil fuels altogether.”

Businesses, however, are set to benefit with the announced productivity package, including $3.5bn in new measures that will lower tax. These changes include:

Permanently introducing two‑year loss carry back for all companies up to $1 billion in turnover from 2026–27, to support resilience, investment and sensible risk-taking by Australian firms. This is set to benefit up to 85,000 businesses each year.
Introducing loss refundability for startups from 2028–29, to help new businesses invest and grow in their first two years. Refundability will be capped at the amount of fringe benefits tax and PAYG withholding from employees’ wages. This is set to benefit up to 25,000 startups each year.
Expanding tax incentives for venture capital from 2027–28, by increasing some asset caps not adjusted for over 20 years, to unlock more investment in venture capital by global and local investors — including super funds — supporting the next wave of innovative Australian businesses to start up and scale up.
Better targeting and simplifying the Research and Development Tax Incentive from 2028–29, to support more high‑impact innovation.
Making the $20,000 small business instant asset write‑off permanent, to support small businesses to invest and deliver around $890 million in cash flow support over the next five years.

“This is a responsible budget that is all about resilience and reform,” Chalmers said. “It’s all about getting Australians through the global oil shock and building an economy that works for more people.

“We’re delivering more cost‑of‑living help and building a more productive economy, a better tax system, a fairer housing market and a stronger and more sustainable Budget.”

Image credit: iStock.com/djgunner

70% of Aussies can recycle soft plastics again

Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 +1000

Australians will now once again have access to soft plastics drop-off collection points following the collapse of REDcycle.

The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) said the progress reflects growing industry collaboration to rebuild soft plastics recovery capability in Australia, while reinforcing the need for coordinated national stewardship and clear, consistent consumer guidance.

The return of collection access across much of the country demonstrated that industry remains committed to supporting practical recovery solutions and helping Australians recycle more confidently, said APCO CEO Chris Foley.

“Australians have consistently shown they want to recycle soft plastics correctly,” Foley said. “What’s critical now is ensuring that the system supporting them is credible, coordinated and built to last.”

The APCO CEO said rebuilding confidence in soft plastics recycling requires more than collection points alone.

“It requires viable infrastructure, end markets for recycled content, transparent governance, strong industry participation and long-term accountability to ensure the system can expand responsibly over time,” he said. “It also requires clear, consistent communication to households, including the use of evidence-based tools like the Australian Recycling Label, so Australians know exactly what can and can’t be recycled.”

“While future packaging regulation continues to evolve, businesses have an opportunity to act now by supporting credible stewardship solutions and helping Australians with clear and consistent consumer guidance.”

Early adopters of the soft plastics recycling program, such as supermarket giant Woolworths, are helping promote the transition towards a stronger national stewardship system.

“Early participation sends a clear market signal that industry is helping rebuild soft plastics recovery in a coordinated way. It supports the investment, collection growth and recycler confidence needed to move from isolated activity to a more viable national stewardship system,” Foley said.

Through APCO’s partnership with Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia, the organisation is supporting industry participation, reporting and scheme administration to help build national soft plastics recovery capability over time.

The partnership provides APCO members with a pathway to participate in soft plastics stewardship through their existing APCO membership, supporting coordinated industry action and the continued expansion of soft plastics recovery in Australia.

APCO members interested in expressing interest in SPSA participation through their existing membership can do so by completing the online form.

Image credit: iStock.com/faithiecannoise

University uses AI to accelerate solar panel recycling

Wed, 06 May 2026 00:00:00 +1000

University of New England (UNE)researchers have found early promise in using AI to accelerate the recycling of solar panels.

While up to 95% of a panel’s mass can already be recovered using standard mechanical methods, the silicon wafers cannot currently be recycled. These wafers absorb photons from sunlight, releasing electrons and producing electric current.

To be able to survive at least 25 years in sunlight and weather, the wafers are bonded to their substrate using special compounds that can’t be effectively degraded in a way that allows clean separation of the silicon.

The UNE team — part of the university’s new Australian Institute for Strategic Artificial Intelligence (ISA) — is using AI and supercomputers to assess potential solvents that enable the silicon to be separated from its substrate with minimal contamination.

The researchers said the approach represents a fundamental shift in how chemical solutions are discovered. Rather than developing and testing potential compounds in a laboratory — a process that might take years without success — AI-driven quantum chemical simulations can propose potentially useful molecular formulations, evaluate their chemical efficacy, flag new pathways, and then move onto the next computation.

“Now we can use advanced quantum chemical simulations and AI models to predict how these panels can be disassembled at the molecular level,” said UNE computational chemist Dr Kasimir Gregory. “These technologies are giving an exponential boost to the process of scientific discovery.”

Another team member, Professor Amir Karton, said the discovery process is being driven through a pairing of an AI platform based at UNE, and a $2.7 million ARC-funded automated robotic laboratory shared by several institutions.

With this system, Karton said, “We can efficiently create an effective feedback loop between AI-driven predictions and experimental observations. This allows us to actively steer the experimental discovery of optimal recycling pathways at unprecedented speeds.”

The research aligns closely with NSW Government capability commitments to address renewable energy waste. It has attracted attention from the solar energy sector, which recognises that maximising material recovery is an important element in the long-term sustainability of solar power.

Renewables developer ACEN Australia is supporting the research by providing panels from its New England Solar project, near Uralla in the NSW Northern Tablelands. The company’s Managing Director David Pollington said the UNE research is an important step in further improving the effectiveness and efficiencies of recycling processes.

“We are also committed to supporting the regions in which we operate, so we’re extra excited that this industry-leading research is happening right here in the New England,” Pollington said.

For UNE, a key reason for getting panel recycling right is to support the local economies that host renewables infrastructure.

“UNE is in the heart of NSW’s largest renewable energy zone (REZ),” Karton said. “It is not practical to ship thousands of tonnes of solar waste across the country for processing. The university has a strategic focus on ensuring the renewables rollout here provides maximum benefit to the region while it benefits the nation.

“New technologies are making it possible for us to apply world-class methods to these challenges, not as some distant abstract issue, but in support of an energy revolution that is almost literally taking place in our backyards.”

Image caption: (L–R) Professor Amir Karton, Dr Kasimir Gregory and PHD student in Computational Chemistry Amber Hocks. Image: Supplied

Visy reaches 70% recycled content target again for NZ glass

Wed, 06 May 2026 00:00:00 +1000

Visy has again met its target of an average of 70% recycled glass in its locally made bottles and jars in 2025.

First achieved in 2024, the consecutive milestone highlights the strength of the company’s fully integrated glass recycling and manufacturing operations in New Zealand, delivering a local and secure supply chain for wineries and food and beverage businesses.

“New Zealand makes some of the best food and beverages in the world — it deserves the best bottles and jars,” said newly appointed Visy New Zealand Country Lead Aaron Ashby. “Kiwi businesses can’t rely solely on imported packaging, it’s critical for export and getting their product on supermarket shelves.

“We’re making some of the most sustainable glass packaging in the world, right here in New Zealand.”

Visy recycles glass from 50 councils across the country and remanufactures it into more than 700 million bottles and jars. Glass packaging made with 70% recycled content can be up to 30% less greenhouse gas intensive than glass made with no recycled material.

High-quality kerbside colour-sorted glass has helped lift glass recovery rates, supporting the company’s progress towards — and consistent achievement of — the recycled content target.

Image caption: Visy AKL Glass. Image: Supplied