SACC Sustainability Committee Update

Moving to a circular economy is increasingly being recognised as vital to reduce waste, emissions, pollution, and ensure resource efficiency as well as competitiveness. The Australian government is working towards developing ambitious national targets to protect nature, critical next steps to transition Australia to a circular economy, and practical on-ground actions to boost conservation and leave nature better off for the future.

At the last Sustainability Committee quarterly, we were privileged to have Paul Klymenko, the Chief Sustainability Advisor and Executive Director at Planet Ark who sits on the Circular Economy Ministerial Advisory Group (CEMAG). The Circular Economy Ministerial Advisory Group was established to advise government on the opportunities and challenges to transition to a circular economy by 2030. The group consists of 15 of Australia’s most prominent circular economy experts and will be led by inaugural Chair Professor John Thwaites AM from the Monash Sustainable Development Institute.

CEMAG is currently working on the National Circular Economy Framework which will be finalised in December and strongly welcomes views from the member organization in the Sustainability Committee to inform their understanding of challenges and opportunities. If you would like to share your position on potential ways forward to accelerate to a low-carbon circular economy and net-zero society, please reach out to Isabel Wagner at sacc@swedishchamber.com.au by September 30, 2024.

As the appetite for sustainability has never been greater, ABB has recently released a report titled, Progressing Sustainability in Australian Business, which explores the challenges holding Australian businesses back from achieving their sustainability goals.

Following the successful Circular Economy workshop in Brisbane, planning is currently underway for a Melbourne workshop. More details on this will be shared shortly.

The SACC Sustainability Committee welcomes interest from other SACC member companies to join the Committee.

Contact:

Flavia Vaz, Chair of the SACC Sustainability Committee at Flavia.Vaz@tetrapak.com or Camilla Jennings, General Manager SACC at sacc@swedishchamber.com.au