Hello Reader,
As you would expect, it's been pretty difficult to avoid the Paris Olympics the last couple of weeks. What's been interesting, aside from the events, is some of the sustainability insights of the games.
The Paris games are aiming to be the most sustainable yet by repurposing existing facilities rather than creating wholly new stadiums, relying heavily on renewable energy and using recycled materials as much as possible.
This hardly makes the games completely sustainable, but it is a far cry from the demolition of a good chunk of a city and construction of new stadiums purpose built for the event.
What is interesting is that the Olympic Committee is making the efforts because it recognises that a summer games on a warming planet is at risk (and winter games for that matter). The games have taken place in a heat wave and accordingly they've had to adapt. Temperatures have been closely monitored, breaks and access to water increased and thermal monitoring of horses in equestrian events to ensure their welfare.
So while there's a way to go, the Paris Olympics have been an example of understanding impacts, working to address those impacts and adapt to a changing climate. It's the sort of thinking and action that drives change.
Food for thought.
Adam
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Business As Unusual Innovation
โGoterra is an Australian-based start up making inroads in food waste management for a truly circular economy. Using a specially-designed container unit filled with black soldier fly larvae, food waste goes in, and the larvae consume it, processing the waste in less than 2 weeks. The by-product is then used as a high-value fertiliser or protein source that's safe for animals (and even humans).
With large name first-mover clients like Lendlease, Hyatt and Woolworths, Goterra are showing how nature-based solutions can integrate into existing infrastructure. Taking up only as much space as one car park, these units are an exciting look into the near future for the sustainable and cost-effective diversion of food waste from landfill.
Melissa had the pleasure of meeting CEO Olympia Yarger this week. Unsurprisingly, one of their key challenges is achieving commercial sustainability, convincing investors of balancing the long term opportunity for ROI with the short-term benefits of emissions reductions and food waste elimination.
Food Science: Navigating Our Future
This week, Melissa had the pleasure of attending the Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology 2024 Convention. There were common themes across all of the speakers about food security in a challenging and uncertain future, namely how to feed the predicted 2 billion extra people by 2050, globally.
Chairing the Sustainability and Circularity session, Melissa hosted contributions from CEO of Goterra, Olympia Yarger sharing "Future proteins and the role of black soldier fly larvae in creating value from food waste"; Dr Yasmina Sultanbawa sharing research she's led with the topic: "Under utilised crops hold the key to sustainable food systems", with a focus on engaging First Nations stakeholders; Ian Hayes from Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) sharing the sobering news that Australia will miss our 2025 packaging targets on recyclable material use and recyclability in packaging, "Sustainable Packaging Design"; Aaron Rodman from the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) shared his monumental task of solving the "Soft Plastics Circular Economy" challenge in Australia, with an update on what's next after the disasterous collapse of RedCycle in 2022.
The panel discussion was particularly robust and highlighted the need for collaboration and early stakeholder engagement for more successful outcomes.
Roundup
Keeping with the theme of sporting event sustainability, Wimbledon gardeners have turned to waste coffee grounds as a compost source. It's a small initiative but there are plans to do more alongside other initiatives.
We're often promoting collaboration over competition, so it comes as no surprise that Thai universities that are openly collaborating with each other and engaging stakeholders are tracking well against SDGs.
Not great news to hear, but a reminder that there is a purpose behind sustainable action. August the 1st marked Overshoot Day, the day where the world has used more resources than it can regenerate in a year.
Australian food manufacturer Bega is working with the rural community where it's based to promote circularity, regenerative agriculture and waste reduction. It hopes to shift from a linear approach, increasing value while reducing waste.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission handed down its first greenwashing penalty. The case was a blatant misleading of consumers, but should prompt mindfulness to all businesses of the sustainability claims they make.
What We're Reading
Shorter: How Working Less Will Revolutionise The Way Your Company Gets Things Done, by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang provides some insights into the growing number of companies across the world shifting to a 4-day work week or 5-hour work day and seeing incredible leaps in productivity and engagement - with better results for customers and clients. Less truly is more. This is a worthy read.
We acknowledge the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as the first inhabitants of the nation and that sovereignty was never ceded. We pay our respects to the Turrbal and Yuggera people who are the Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work in beautiful Meeanjin (Brisbane), Australia. |
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