Sustainability Skills

Learn about sustainability

What is sustainability?

Business sustainability is a goal for most enterprises. As a micro business owner you may want to sustain an income to retirement or to hand over a viable business to your family. You might be involved in a larger company which has a responsibility … More

Skills and qualifications

Skills and qualifications for sustainability

Sustainability skills Sustainability is recognised as a key driver for new directions within manufacturing enterprises and across the entire value stream. Manufacturing Skills Australia has identified key areas of skills that can support the … More

Sustainability skills resources

Sustainability skills resources

The resources will help Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) and enterprises to design and deliver effective skills development programs for sustainability. They are intended as one source of information about the breadth and complexity of … More

Greenhouse Gas Reduction Scheme (GGAS)(NSW)

The NSW Greenhouse Gas Reduction Scheme (GGAS) (sic) closed on 30 June 2012. The GGAS Registry will continue to be supported into the future to enable the trade and surrender of certificates by interested parties. The Energy Savings Scheme (ESS) is the NSW-based mandatory energy efficiency scheme for electricity retailers and other liable parties under the Electricity Supply Act. The ESS reduces electricity consumption in NSW by creating financial incentives to invest in energy … [Read more...]

Greenhouse gas (GHG)

Greenhouse gases refers to the six that are rated under the Kyoto Protocol as having Global Warming Potential (GWP): Carbon dioxide (CO2) Methane (CH4) Nitrous oxide (N2O) Hydroflourocarbons (HFCs) Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) GHG emissions are reported as million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent  (MtCO2-e)   … [Read more...]

Amcor reduced waste to landfill

Amcor has achieved a 48% reduction in waste to landfill compared to 2005-06. Through a partnership with Fibre Energy P/L solid waste is being is processed to form pellets known as fibre shots, to be used as coal replacement. This accounts for 60,000t per annum of solid waste being diverted from landfill in a waste to energy process. Amcor has also developed a bacterium to digest nearly all of its 35t waste ink sludge per month. The annual expected saving in waste disposal is more than … [Read more...]

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth)

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act focuses on the protection of matters of national environmental significance. State and territory governments have responsibility for matters of state and local significance. The Act requires Government approval to undertake any projects, developments or other activities that may have a significant impact on the environment, indigenous heritage, historic places, biodiversity and other matters that are listed under the Act. See … [Read more...]

Barwon area recycling innovation

Barwon Regional Waste Management Group (BRWMG) collects and processes expanded polystyrene (EPS) waste. They provide a free drop off point for the bulky plastic saving businesses the cost of waste removal and diverting it from landfill. To date 129t of EPS has been diverted. BRWMG then shreds the EPS and works to find recycling opportunities. One example is a local concrete manufacturer that uses the EPS in a successful range of light weight pavers. See … [Read more...]

Rigid plastic packaging recycling

The rigid plastic packaging project found that recycling of 100% post-consumer polypropylene (PP) is technically feasible, cost effective and there are a variety of suitable markets for the recyclate. Potential markets for the recyclate include: Cable reels Compost bins Export pallets Trenching products Binders / folders Pot planters Desk calendars See http://www.packagingcovenant.org.au/page.php?name=natrigidplasticpackagingrecoveryandrecycling0105 … [Read more...]

Fuji Xerox eco remanufacturing

Fuji Xerox is aiming to achieve zero landfill, no pollution and zero illegal disposal. Its Australian eco-manufacturing centre collects used Fuji products such as copiers, printers and cartridges and disassembles them to be re-used and/or re-manufactured into products of equal or better than new condition. The eco-manufacturing centre: has returned $240 million on a $22 million investment over 15 years re-manufactures approximately 250,000 parts and subassemblies annually to ‘better … [Read more...]

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This website and many of the products have been produced with the assistance of funding provided by the Australian Government; including through the Green Skills Agreement and the Clean Energy and Other Skills Package.