Sustainable Business Development

Case Studies

A selection of examples where companies are translating the seminars into action for sustainability.

Following the presentation on Innovations in Plastic Recycling one company saw an opportunity to be able to find a way to divert one of their major waste streams from landfill into a recycled content product. By contacting Donmar Industries and developing a working relationship with them to test and analyse this particular waste stream they are well on their way to developing a new product, saving loads of money in disposal costs, providing an input material to a new manufacturing process and significantly reducing their impact on the environment.

One of the most recent seminars saw Monica Richter from Greenpeace provide an alternate view of her organisation to the manufacturers in attendance. In this half hour presentation she managed to alter their perceptions of Greenpeace from one of feral, corporate bashing activists to that of a more supporting and cooperative relationship with industry. Numerous companies would now be more willing to seek information, advice and solutions from an organisation such as Greenpeace rather than slam the door in their face and extinguish all possibility of future collaboration.

The program has opened up to the manufacturers of Western Sydney a whole range of services and support for implementing changes which were previously well kept secrets. Specifically, these programs include the Cleaner Production program of DSRD, and the activities of the Buying Recycled Business Alliance and the Sustainable Energy Development Authority. Whilst some participating companies have joined specific programs, for the SMEs the ability to tap into the knowledge and experience of these organisations is invaluable. Service and support oganisations provide information on their respective websites or via telephone conversations with their consultants.