by Komoneed | Feb 24, 2025
It stands to reason that if you reduce the amount of pollution in an environment, the organisms there will thrive. Now, a study confirms that is happening in rivers in England. According to the research, reducing the amount of metal pollutants like zinc and copper in English rivers led to an increase in the aquatic […]
The post Metal Pollution Reduction Linked to Increased Biodiversity in English Rivers, Study Finds appeared first on EcoWatch.
by Komoneed | Feb 24, 2025
In 2018, Americans generated 35.7 million tons of plastic waste. Some plastics are recyclable, but not all of them are. Less than 10% of plastic items are properly recycled. HDPE (29.3%) and PET (29.1%) are the types of plastic with the highest recycling rates. Some people don’t recycle as they should due to confusing policies […]
The post Beyond Petroleum: The Rise of Bioplastics in a Greener World appeared first on RecycleNation.
by Komoneed | Feb 24, 2025
It may have been around a while, but time hasn’t dampened the i4’s appeal. It’s our Deal of the Day for 24 February.
by Komoneed | Feb 24, 2025
Amazon Australia has continued its commitment to reduce packaging waste by moving to 100% recyclable packaging.
From its boxes, bags and envelopes to the tape that holds it together, all packaging from Amazon that is sent from its Australian facilities can go directly into the household recycling bin.
This step addresses the 1.2 million tonnes of plastic packaging generated annually in Australia.
The company has been working to reduce packaging waste, including:
using AI and automation to create right-sized packaging and investing in paper-based solutions;
globally reducing packaging weight per shipment since 2015 by 43%, avoiding more than 3 million tonnes of waste; and
introducing new automated paper packaging machines that create unpadded, durable and flexible paper bags that are said to be up to 77% lighter than similar-sized plastic padded envelopes and help to optimise and reduce packaging weight.
Many items are now also shipped without additional Amazon packaging, such as nappies, toilet rolls and soft drinks, reducing unnecessary materials.
“Moving to 100% recyclable delivery packaging in Australia is a major milestone. This project has been almost two years in the making, following a rigorous process of product development and testing to ensure the paper envelopes can also withstand the delivery process and customer orders arrive safely,” said Janet Menzies, Amazon Australia Country Manager.
While the company has worked to reduce single-use plastic packaging material, there are still a few instances where customers in Australia may receive packages in plastic packaging; for example:
Amazon controls the packaging for items shipped to customers direct from its own fulfilment centres, yet third-party sellers can ship directly to customers themselves, in which case Amazon does not control the packaging. The company encourages third parties to use alternative packaging options.
When a product comes in a single-use plastic bag from the manufacturer and the bag is suitable, Amazon will deliver the product to the customer in the manufacturer-supplied bag. This avoids the addition of extra packaging.
Plastic preparation material such as bubble wrap may still be used where necessary, such as to protect fragile items like glass or to seal liquid products such as shampoo and soaps.
“We are proud of this progress, but it’s just the beginning and we will keep innovating to improve our packaging,” Menzies said.
Amazon’s 100% recyclable packaging has been in product development and testing for two years, so as to ensure that orders can withstand the delivery process and still arrive safely.
Image caption: Amazon Australia’s 100% recyclable packaging.
by Komoneed | Feb 20, 2025
Australia’s circular resource exhibitors, buyers and thought leaders are set to attend ReGen | Australia’s Circular Resource Expo, taking place on 23–24 July 2025 at ICC Sydney.
The two-day trade event, organised by Diversified Australia, marks the evolution of what was previously known as the Australasian Waste Recycling Expo, a longstanding brand dedicated to resource management and waste reduction for over 15 years.
The rebrand to ReGen reflects the expo’s expanded scope and emphasis on the circular economy, welcoming an array of innovative exhibitors, experts and emerging professionals committed to reducing waste, promoting resource efficiency and fostering sustainable markets.
“At Diversified Australia, we’re proud to produce events that drive positive industry change,” said Ali Lawes, event director for ReGen at Diversified.
“ReGen embodies our commitment to equip and empower industry leaders and practitioners in support of Australia’s ambitious 2035 targets for waste elimination, resource circulation, and pollution reduction.”
ReGen will showcase technical displays, offer vital industry insights and feature keynote addresses, panel discussions and networking opportunities.
The program aims to help attendees — from seasoned experts to newcomers — navigate their roles in creating a circular economy that keeps resources in use, minimises waste and regenerates natural systems.
As part of its evolution, ReGen will incorporate Circularity, Australia’s original circular economy conference, into its 2025 education program.
Since its launch in 2022, Circularity has served as a platform for industry practitioners to discuss Australia’s transition to a circular economy.
Now integrated into ReGen, Circularity will reach a broader audience, offering free sessions on topics such as circular product design and sustainable waste management — ensuring these critical insights remain accessible to all attendees.
For the last three years Circularity has been proudly presented by Planet Ark’s Australian Circular Economy Hub in partnership with Diversified Australia.
Planet Ark CEO Rebecca Gilling said that integrating the country’s leading circular economy event into ReGen would offer even more impactful opportunities to drive Australia’s circular transition.
“The inclusion of Circularity into ReGen is a significant step forward in promoting circular economy principles on a national scale in collaboration with the waste and recycling industry,” Gilling said.
“At Planet Ark, we are thrilled to see Circularity evolve into a broader platform, ensuring critical conversations about sustainable resource management and circular product design reach more professionals and innovators than ever before. This partnership underscores the importance of collaboration in building a circular Australia.”
The expo’s name, ReGen, represents both the regenerative practices it champions and the generational transformation required to meet sustainability goals.
ReGen invites participants to “Rethink, Redesign, Repurpose, and Renew” as they contribute to a circular and sustainable future for Australia.
For more information and to register, visit regenexpo.com.au
Image credit: iStock.com/izusek
