Jul 22, 2024 2 min read

💰🔪The Cost of Living Squeeze: Is Sustainability On The Chopping Block?

First up, the spotlight is on a pressing issue affecting us all: the cost of living squeeze and stubborn inflation. As prices soar, we’re making tough choices and trimming back. But how is this influencing the uptake of sustainable products and services in Australia?

Hello everyone,

Welcome to the latest edition of Waste Innovation Weekly!

A recent study by Monash Business School’s Australian Consumer and Retail Studies Unit into consumer behaviour and sustainability reveals several surprising insights into how we’re approaching sustainable living at home:

Among the shoppers surveyed, Gen X and older are actively recycling products, composting food, and bringing their own bags to the shops.
Meanwhile, younger demographics are leading the way in buying second-hand goods, taking public transport or biking, and recommending eco-friendly products to family and friends.
The two most common ways shoppers determine if a product is sustainable are whether the packaging is recyclable (62%) and whether the product itself can be recycled (59%).

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Notably, over half of the shoppers surveyed are willing to pay more for durable and repairable products. So, while personal budgets are being trimmed, sustainability is still making the list.

Read the full report at Monash University.

🎧 Scrunch Time: Tackling the Soft Plastics Recycling Challenge

As July comes to a close, so does the global initiative of Plastic Free July. This month-long movement has inspired individuals and businesses to reduce their use of single-use plastics.

In our latest What’s Up In Waste podcast episode, we tackle the challenging world of soft plastics – those pesky materials like snack wrappers and bread bags that are convenient but notoriously difficult to recycle.

We explore why these plastics pose such a recycling dilemma and highlight the innovative solutions being developed to address these challenges.

Join us as we examine the global battle against plastic waste, from the UN's ambitious Global Plastics Treaty to Australia's bold national waste targets and the $60 million fund dedicated to tackling hard-to-recycle plastics.

🍩🥬 New Food Rescue Grants from EPA NSW Launched

On the topic of sustainability and household budgets, the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has announced $4.6 million in Food Rescue Grants to combat food waste.

Nearly $3 million will support 20 charities, including FoodBank and OzHarvest, enhancing their capacity to rescue surplus food. An additional $1.66 million will aid business partnerships focused on reducing food waste. These initiatives aim to address food insecurity and environmental impacts by diverting edible food from landfills.

Minister for Climate Change and the Environment, Penny Sharpe, emphasised the urgency, stating, “Across NSW, up to 70% of wasted food is still edible; we have to turn this around."

For more details on the grants and partnerships, read the full news release here.

Until next time, stay green and keep innovating!