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Phillips 'Refurb Better Than New' Campaign

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Phillips 'Refurb Better Than New' Campaign

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How do you build trust, aspiration and overcome perceptions of poor quality, in relation to refurbished goods? See creative campaign for Phillips.

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The CEO of Better Packaging, A New Zealand company, talks about their circular economy solution. Better Packaging Co. (BPCo) partners with brands looking to reduce their environmental footprint.

Their POLLAST!C range of mailing satchels and poly garment bags is made from certified recycled Ocean Bound Plastic pollution. The POLLAST!C Project recycles plastic waste collected by a network of individuals from coastal communities in Southeast Asia, regions with no formal waste management infrastructure responsible for most of the world’s ocean plastic.

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Designing Revolutionary Sustainable Packaging for the Circular Economy | Better Packaging Co

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Seeing is believing: Understanding & Aiding Human Responses to Global Climate Change

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Seeing is believing: Understanding & Aiding Human Responses to Global Climate Change

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A short academic paper that addresses the intellectual puzzle of our time: what lies at the root of pervasive inaction, wishful thinking, and denial in the face of global climate change? It covers the effectiveness of appeals (guilt versus pride) and explains the single-action bias.

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What is this company doing to address climate change? Australian technology solving a global problem.

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The Sea Forest team is dedicated to fighting climate change by being the first in the world to cultivate Asparagopsis at a commercial scale.

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How are local businesses changing their practices?

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Be inspired by these Queensland-based businesses and community groups as they share their climate action stories.

There are multiple ways organisations can reduce greenhouse emissions to become more sustainable.

We asked a range of small to medium-sized organisations across different sectors in Queensland about how they overcame their sustainability challenges.

Watch these videos to discover the environmental, economic and social benefits that have flowed from their actions.

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sustainable businesses; climate action; waste reduction initiatives; climate action initiatives

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Showcasing multiple ways organisations can reduce greenhouse emissions to become more sustainable.

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Discussed in week 2, here is the latest scientific report, by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

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AR6 Synthesis Report: Climate Change 2023

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Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

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From the The Department of Environment and Science (Queensland).

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Some simple actions you can take at home to help save money, reduce emissions, and reduce your exposure to future climate risks.

Government, industry, the community and individuals all working together will collectively make a difference in reducing our emissions and protecting our unique environment and the lifestyle we all enjoy. Taking climate action at home can also help reduce the cost of household energy, water and food bills.

Climate action at home

Here are some simple actions you can take at home to help save money, reduce emissions and consider climate risks in your decision-making:

Reduce your carbon footprint-for example, choose a car based on its fuel efficiency, use public transport, walk or ride where possible, wash clothes in cold water, buy green energy and select energy efficient appliances. Brisbane City Council has useful resources that are relevant for other local governments.

Find out what your household carbon footprint is by using the carbon footprint calculator.

Get Ready Queensland provides tools and resources to help you prepare for storm season.

Your Energy Savings provides information about saving energy and money, and the available government assistance. This includes how to understand your energy bills and electricity and gas market offers.

The Energy Efficiency Council provides information on how to make your home energy efficient.

Live For Less provides tips, DIY tips and advice on sustainable living.

Your Home provides a guide to building, buying or renovating a home with low impact on the environment.

The Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) is a star rating system that rates the energy efficiency of a home, based on its design.

The Green Vehicle Guide provides buyers with information on the performance of light vehicles sold in Australia to reduce the impact on the environment.

The Australian Government's energy efficiency standards and rating systems helps individuals buy more efficient appliances, which reduces emissions and saves money on energy bills.

Climate science and data resources provide information including high-resolution climate projection data, regional climate change impact summaries and Queensland's latest greenhouse gas inventory.

Reduce your purchase of plastics and/or excessive packaging.

Plant native trees, suitable for your backyard and local area using GroNATIVE app. The Queensland government collaborated with Natura Pacific and Griffith University to develop the app that helps people select the most appropriate species for their area and tastes.

Assess and manage the exposure of your household to climate change risks by using our climate change risk management tool for households in Queensland (PDF, 7MB).

Encourage members of your household and others in your network to take climate action at home.

Do you have a story to share?

We would love to hear about how Queenslanders are taking climate action in their own home, community or business.

Send your climate action story to climatechange@des.qld.gov.au and your project may be profiled on the Queensland Climate Action website.

Climate action projects

Take a look at how Queenslanders are benefiting from climate action in your region.

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queensland; climate change; climate; emissions; low carbon; low-carbon; climate action; climate action plan; paris agreement; climate risk; queensland climate action plan; sustainability; recycling; sustainable resources; energy efficient; energy savings

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Some simple actions you can take at home to help save money, reduce emissions and consider climate risks in your decision-making.

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This not-for-profit, Rewiring Australia, founded by Saul Griffith, has some great statistics on the energy sector, and need for an energy transition.

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Luckily in Australia we have access to the cheapest home energy in the world - our rooftop solar. We are the sunburnt country after all.

Over its lifetime rooftop solar costs about 3 cents per kWh, cheaper than any other source of home energy. Combined with a home or community battery it's still cheaper than the grid. When the grid becomes renewable you can use it for backup too, but the cheapest energy will always come from your roof.

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Rewiring Australia is a non-profit, independent, non-partisan organisation dedicated to representing the people, households and communities in the energy system. We empirically demonstrate and communicate the cost savings, emissions reductions, and energy system benefits of electrification.

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Select one company that has won an award for circularity and explain its innovation.

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Circulars Awards | The Circulars Accelerator

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The Circulars offer recognition to individuals and organizations from commerce and civil society that have made a notable contribution to driving circular economy principles.

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15 countries signed this agreement. Is Australia a signatory? What is this declaration all about?

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Accelerating to Zero Coalition | Zero emission by 2040

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Accelerating to Zero (A2Z) Coalition Launches at COP27 to Drive Global Transition to Zero-Emission Vehicles

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BSI has developed a sustainability calculator for business to help further their journey to sustainability

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Driving change to address economic, social and environmental challenges is high on everyone's agenda. From fostering positive workplaces, to achieving net zero, tackling climate change and nurturing environmental regeneration; change is coming.

We can help you achieve your sustainability goals, whatever they may be, for any organization large or small. Whether you're at the beginning of your sustainability journey or at a point where you need extra support, we can help you to achieve objectives and push forward with your next steps.

Explore seven key topics using our sustainability evaluator to assess where you are in your sustainability journey and discover what comes next.

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Driving change to address economic, social and environmental challenges is high on everyone's agenda. From fostering positive workplaces, to achieving net zero, tackling climate change and nurturing environmental regeneration; change is coming. We can help you achieve your sustainability goals, whatever they may be, for any organization large or small.

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Definition of social enterprises: • are led by an economic, social, cultural or environmental mission consistent with a public or community benefit. • trade to fulfil their mission and derive a substantial portion of their income from trade. • reinvest most of their profit/surplus into the fulfilment of their mission (Social Traders).

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Department of Employment, Small Business and Training

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The Queensland Social Enterprise Strategy was released in September 2019 and is the Queensland Government's commitment to supporting the growth of the social enterprise sector in Queensland.

Social enterprises exist to benefit the public, community and environment rather than just shareholders and owners. The sector is gaining momentum in Queensland and plays an important role in delivering jobs and training opportunities for disadvantaged Queenslanders.

The strategy outlines three key focus areas of targeted support to address the challenges social enterprises face:

building capability and capacity in the sector including access to financial support

making connections across the sector to increase collaboration and promotional opportunities

improving market access by linking social enterprises to procurement opportunities.

Research that informed the development of the strategy was facilitated by Jobs Queensland.

Social Enterprise Jobs Fund

The Queensland Government has committed $8 million for the Social Enterprise Jobs Fund to support social enterprises to scale-up activities and create training and employment opportunities. This funding was announced in the 2020-21 State Budget.

The Social Enterprise Jobs Fund will support the sector through three key tiers of activity:

Social enterprise capacity and capability development - support for the Queensland Social Enterprise Council (QSEC) as a sector peak body and provide grants to social enterprises and the sector to develop and grow.

Social enterprise market development - promote procurement opportunities for social enterprises.

Social enterprise finance - support access to finance and the creation of training and employment opportunities within social enterprises.

Initiatives under the Social Enterprise Jobs Fund are being progressively rolled out. We continue to work closely with QSEC and sector stakeholders to ensure that initiatives respond to the unique opportunities and challenges for social enterprise in Queensland.

Capacity and capability development

Under the Social Enterprise Jobs Fund, development and growth grants are being made available to new and established social enterprises and to community and sector-wide development projects.

Funding has been allocated to continue to support QSEC as the sector's peak body for a further 12 months until 30 June 2024, so they can continue the valuable work they are doing to support the maturity of the social enterprise sector, particularly in regional Queensland. This builds on $385,000 provided to support QSEC's regional hub development activities and to raise the profile of social enterprises as suppliers to the private sector.

A $450,000 commitment has also been made towards research and evaluation projects to further progress the growth of the sector.

The Fund also provided $100,000 in sponsorship for the two-day 2022 Social Enterprise World Forum that was held in Brisbane on 28-29 September 2022. A further $48,000 funded bursaries to support Queensland social enterprises to attend the event in person. The Forum provided an important opportunity to showcase and build on the achievements of Queensland's sector. For more information about the forum, visit Social Enterprise World Forum.

Market development

The Queensland Government has committed to using its procurement to support social, economic and environmental objectives by engaging with genuine, quality social enterprises.

To assist more social enterprises supply goods and services to government, $660,000 has been allocated to market development initiatives over two years.

Through a partnership with Social Traders, investment is being made in building the social procurement capability of government buyers and extending access to the Social Traders' Portal. Government buyers are encouraged to use the Portal to find and assess supplier capability from its list of certified social enterprises.

Through the Fund, the Queensland Government will also meet the Social Traders certification cost for up to 20 eligible Queensland-based social enterprises that become certified for the first time in 2022-23. This will be through a free Connections membership, which provides certification, certification logo and marketing kit, social enterprise finder listing with full social procurement profile and access to networking and support.

For more information, including details on eligibility and how to connect with the program, visit Social Traders.

The Social Deck, will develop and deliver tailored training and support, including an online tool, to help social enterprises build their capability to identify opportunities, navigate procurement processes, compete for contracts, respond to tenders and grow their business and social impact.

For more information on the Social Procurement Capability Program, and to complete an expression of interest form which will connect you to the Program and all the upcoming learning activities, visit The Social Deck.

Social enterprise finance

The Social Enterprise Jobs Fund includes funding for a new finance capability program for social enterprises providing one-to-one mentoring and coaching support to support social enterprises. The program will support individual social enterprises to build their financial literacy and increase their capacity to access available funding sources to grow their enterprise.

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The Queensland Social Enterprise Strategy was released in September 2019 and is the Queensland Government's commitment to supporting the growth of the social enterprise sector in Queensland. Social enterprises exist to benefit the public, community and environment rather than just shareholders and owners.

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1) Explain the meaning of the term ‘sustainability’ and ‘sustainable marketing’.

2) Outline the root of the current crisis of unsustainable growth (declining supply and increasing demand).

3) Analyse the implications of the sustainability movement for business, explain the drivers of sustainability and give examples of organisations that have adopted a sustainability strategy.
4) Distinguish between the levels of commitment to sustainable business.

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A social enterprise? The 'thank you' brand.

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A social enterprise? The 'thank you' brand.

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Thankyou is a social enterprise that bring's consumers a product choice that exists for one purpose only; to help create a world where not one person lives in extreme poverty.

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Have you seen this brand in your local supermarket? Do you buy it?

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Community Co provides responsibly sourced products at great prices. For every one of our products sold, we give back to community causes in Australia.

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Social Traders: Creating jobs for Australians through social enterprise

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By linking business and government buyers with social enterprises, we aim to facilitate the creation of 1,500 jobs for disadvantaged Australians by 2021. To do this we will create a community of 95 buyer members and 600 certified social enterprise suppliers and facilitate $105 million in procurement spend.

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What are 'eco-system services'? Can you put an economic value of nature?

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As the economist Herman Daly pithily said, the economy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the environment - not the reverse. Nature makes our lives possible through what scientists call ecosystem services. Think healthy food, clean water, feed for livestock, building materials, medicine, flood and storm control, recreation, and attractions for tourists.

Despite this, Australian businesses and financial institutions have so far failed to track how their activities both rely on and affect nature. This means our investments and superannuation could be exposed to hidden financial risks because of nature loss - and may also contribute to the destruction of nature.

That's set to change. The private sector is waking up to nature's value (and the risks of losing it). The world's biodiversity rescue plan agreed to last year could help motivate governments and businesses to clean up their investments by directing more money to protect nature and less towards bankrolling extinction.

There's one crucial plank we're missing though - mandatory reporting of how businesses both depend on and impact nature.

Nature and financial health are inextricably linked

Fully half of the world's total economic activity - around A$61 trillion - is moderately or highly dependent on nature and its services.

In Australia, that figure is very similar: around half of our GDP - $896 billion - has a moderate to very high direct dependence on ecosystem services provided by nature.

What happens when we breach nature's limits? Ecosystem services seize up or collapse, eventually disrupting these sectors. The tireless pollination work of honeybees, for instance, is valued at $14 billion a year. Or take Australia's wheatbelt, where poor soil health is now costing farmers almost $2 billion a year in lost income.

Ecosystem services are not hypothetical. They have real value - and we will absolutely notice if they are gone.

What does this have to do with my super?

Australia's super sector is responsible for the retirement savings of around 12 million Australians. Super funds are directly exposed to financial risk from nature loss through their investment portfolios.

Just as farmers can't grow crops without healthy soils or pollinators, developers can't build apartments without timber or environmental permits. In turn, that has implications for their value as investments.

Read more: Taking care of business: the private sector is waking up to nature's value

And because so many sectors are exposed, classic investment strategies such as diversification may no longer protect your super from losses.

So what are our super funds and banks doing about it?

To find out, we surveyed ten super funds and ten retail banks about their responses to nature-related risks. The survey - commissioned by the Australian Conservation Foundation - is the first time this has been done in Australia.

The findings? Not ideal. Every participating super fund and bank agreed the loss of nature now presented a serious risk to investment returns. They all agreed it was part of their responsibility to members and customers to measure and manage these risks. But only 20% of super funds and 10% of banks had attempted to assess how exposed they were.

Again, this is not abstract. Super funds often have large holdings in the big four banks. Together, these banks have $170 billion in exposure to agriculture, mining, fisheries, and forestry - sectors directly reliant on a functioning natural world.

So why isn't it a higher priority? One issue may be that many financial institutions are currently focused on climate change, given how rapidly impacts are mounting. But climate change and the breakdown of natural systems are twin crises. Nature offers far and away the largest method of taking carbon back out of the atmosphere, for instance. But that only works if salt marshes and wetlands and forests are intact.

Net zero targets for our banks and super funds are not fully credible unless there is a commitment to end the financing of deforestation. Only one organisation, Australian Ethical, had made such a commitment.

You would think Australia's super funds and banks would be interested to find out how exposed their investments were to this growing risk. Tools to do this such as IBAT and ENCORE are readily available.

But to date, our survey findings don't indicate banks and funds will do this voluntarily.

Banks and super funds may soon have to report these risks

The biodiversity rescue plan agreed to last year - known as the Kunming-Montreal agreement - is intended to set expectations for responsible finance and business globally, as the Paris Agreement did for climate change.

That means Australia will be expected to introduce disclosure requirements. If this comes to pass, banks, super funds, and the businesses they invest our savings in will have to measure and publicly report their impact on nature - as well as how much they rely on nature to make a profit.

First, though, the Australian government must introduce mandatory nature risk reporting. It's already moving ahead with plans to make climate risk disclosures mandatory.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has indicated nature is also on his radar.

The question then will be whether making this information public will actually do what we hope it will and use money to help natural systems rather than extract from them.

What happens next?

Since taking office, the Labor government has pledged to take action on the perilous decline of the natural world with plans such as bringing the value of nature into our national accounts.

While positive, the real action won't happen until nature risk reporting is mandatory, environment laws with teeth are introduced, and until both governments and private industry direct serious money into helping nature, not harming it. Risky nature credit markets aren't going to cut the mustard.

You don't have to sit back and wait. Why not ask your super fund and bank what nature-related risks they are exposing your money to?

Read more: The historic COP15 outcome is an imperfect game-changer for saving nature. Here's why Australia did us proud

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Losing the natural world comes with major risks for your super fund and bank

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As the economist Herman Daly pithily said, the economy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the environment - not the reverse. Nature makes our lives possible through what scientists call ecosystem services. Think healthy food, clean water, feed for livestock, building materials, medicine, flood and storm control, recreation, and attractions for tourists.

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Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

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CLIMATE CHANGE 2023: Synthesis Report - Trailer