Sustainable Business Development

Seminars: Overview of Topics Covered (Printable Version)

GOVERNMENT DRIVERS

• Waste Legislations - The Future
  Robyn Pearson, Waste Audit

  What does the future hold for waste legislation within NSW, how it is structured now and the impacts on Manufacturers. Examples from other companies on how they have made significant bottom line reductions through waste reduction techniques.
  

• Waste to Wealth
  Jane Pretty, General Manager; Western Sydney Waste Board

  Specifically the proposed drive through Recyling Centres. This involves the establishment of a National network of recycling centres. The aim is to reduce landfill by assisting the development of markets for current 'wastes'. This is to be achieved through providing collection points to aggregate viable quantities of materials so that they can be re-entered into the manufacturing process.
  

• National Packaging Covenant
  Richard Adams, VISY

  The demystifying the National Packaging Covenant and what it means for your business. The Visy approach and support available to large companies and SME's alike.

  CORPORATE DRIVERS
  

• Investing in a Sustainable Future
  Paddy Manning, Ethical Investor

  Explains the process of ethical investment and how this is relevant to small and medium sized businesses. The implications, the benefits and the opportunities.

• Corporate Sustainability
  Monica Richter, Greenpeace Australia Pacific

  Moving Forward is Greenpeace's response to the Sydney Morning Herald's Good Reputation index. It outlines the issues which Greenpeace sees as being important to be a good corporate citizen and which subsequently can be adopted by companies and businesses seeking to reduce their ecological footprint and have better business in the longer term.
  

• Planning for Sustainability at the Former ADI Site
  Joe Gorman, Lend Lease

  Sustainability is being considered within the planning phase of the redevelopment of the former ADI site at St Marys. This process is explained, and how it will deliver significant outcomes in the areas of conservation, employment, community facilities and sustainability for the new residents and the surrounding Western Sydney communities.

  STRATEGIC APPROACH
  

• A Sustainability Model
  Steve Macready, CEO of Interface Aust.

  Interface being a resource intensive company and large international client base means it has a significant impact on the plantet's commerce and ecology. This presentation provided the framework on which Interface bases its environmental initiatives.

  TOOLS

• Buying Recycled: A purchasing path to sustainability
  Peter Smigel, Buy Recycled Business Alliance

  Buying Recycled closes the loop and creates markets for recycled content products. A presentation to uncover the triple bottom line benefits to organisations implementing policies of buying recycled. Identifying the obstacles and opportunities involved and its integration into other corporate environmental leadership programs.

• Energy Smart Businesses
  Ian Higgins, Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA)

  SEDA has a comprehensive program developed to assist companies become energy smart. This presentation highlighted how this commitment has demonstrated direct, bottom line benefits to a range of manufacturing companies.
  

• Waste Reduction - Step by Step
  John Brooks, Advanced Manufacturing Centre

  A four stage structured Waste Reduction manual has been developed in conjunction with input from the Manufacturing industry to lead organisations through a process to save raw materials, and the environment.
  

• Cleaner Production Program in the Hunter Valley
  Colin Barker, Advitech

  Description of the program and how it was delivered to the companies in this region. Case studies demonstrating how companies have achieved savings in excess of $100,000
  

• Product Design and its role in Sustainability
  Mike Naylon, QMI

  It is the product Manufacturer who has a predominant responsibility as it is they who take key decisions concerning the product development which largely determine its waste management potential. Exploration of a range aspects which determine a products ultimate design: product function, material choice, product performance and process technology.
  

• Life Cycle Analysis
  Louis Wibberly, BHP Billiton

  Unearthing the mysteries of Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) and the application of LCA to a range of company activities. LCA provides a tool for companies to be able to improve the decision making process to evaluate new products or improvements to production though an increased knowledge base.

  ACTIONS

• Coca-Cola PET Project
  Charlie Woodford, Operations Manager, Coca Cola Amatil

  A demonstration of manufacturing closing the loop and providing a mechanism for product stewardship to be realised.
  

• 'ESD' and Energy Design for Buildings
  Ashak Nathwani, Norman Disney & Young

  Recognising that the E in Ecological Sustainable Development covers two equally important aspects "economical as well as ecological". A range of features are available to incorporate into buildings and factories to reduce energy consumption, save money on the bottom line and reduce the impact of greenhouse emissions.
  

• Innovations in Plastic Recycling
  Rod Clare, Donmar Industries

  A manufacturing case study of how the importance of a shared and integrated approach between industry, government and community go to create sustainable reuse industry within Australia.
  

• Profits from Product Stewardship
  Mark Glover, Eco Waste

  An innovative application of product stewardship applied to the oil reprocessing industry. Southern Oil has integrated the principles of product stewardship and sustainability into their strategic business plan. From conception this company has applied this philosophy to all aspects of product development, building design and marketing.
  

• Examples of product re-design in practice
  Kirsty Mate, Eco Balance Sustainable Design Consultancy

  The principles of sustainability have been incorporated into a range of products including: Schiavello's HotDesk, Fuji Xerox and their re-manufacturing plant, Kambrook Kettle, Gregory Chairs and Wharington International recycled plastic products.