The weekly roundup:š„¤Solving a sports challenge
As single-use plastic is phased out of sporting events, Australian homesteads are sharing sustainability tips.
Australia's stadiums have been estimated to burn through up to 50 million disposable cups a year.
That's an astonishing number for something used for roughly 20 minutes. This week we looked at a Perth startup making the case that high-volume reuse will offer a durable fix.
And closer to home, an Australian open-house event next weekend will be putting sustainability projects on show, including a Melbourne apartment that went from a summer hotbox to a comfortable, low-impact home on a tight budget.
So, let's dive into this week's news š
Cups that come back
Perth's Optus Stadium has become the latest Australian venue to serve draught beer exclusively in reusable cups.
The stadium has partnered with WA startup FSG NickNack to serve all draught beer in durable, washable 425ml polypropylene cups, replacing the paper alternatives that patrons found flimsy. Since March, the stadium says fans have used more than 300,000 reusable cups, avoiding the same number of disposables. The company said the venue is expected to prevent more than 1.5 million single-use cups being used in the next 12 months.
Open for inspection
Next weekend's Sustainable House Day will put working retrofits on show nationally.
The annual Sustainable House Day, run by not-for-profit Renew, invited homeowners and renters to open their doors and share what they've learned about solar, efficiency and electrification. Among this year's participants is a Melbourne apartment, where the owner installed insulation batts, rigid wall panels, block-out blinds without a major renovation budget, transforming it from a "hot box" to a comfortable home.
ā·Solar savings for renters
A new report from Solar Citizens, modelled by Rennie Advisory, proposes accelerated tax depreciation as a federal lever to expand rooftop solar access in rental properties. The current model, where landlords bear installation costs while tenants receive bill savings, has historically limited uptake. Compressing the depreciation schedule from 20 years to five years would increase the value of the landlord's tax saving by around 25 per cent, according to the modelling. If 30 per cent of rental homes installed solar and batteries by 2030, renters could collectively save $27 billion on energy bills over 20 years, the report finds.
ā·Membrane boost for plastic recycling
Monash University engineers, working with CSIRO and the University of Texas, have developed a nanocomposite membrane that may make chemical recycling of PET plastics more cost-effective. The research, published in Chemical Engineering Journal, addresses a longstanding bottleneck: ethylene glycol (the chemical used to break down PET) is expensive to recover using conventional methods. The new membrane separates water from ethylene glycol efficiently, allowing the chemical to be reused.
ā·Circular nylon network expands
Australian startup Samsara Eco has grown its Nylon Materials Collective, adding the Outdoor Industry Association alongside brands including Burton, WL Gore & Associates, and Black Diamond Equipment. The collective, which launched in November with the European Outdoor Group, aims to make recycled nylon easier to source and adopt across the outdoor apparel and equipment sector. The company says the expanded network now connects more than 260 brands.
ā·Solar farms as land regenerators
Solar farms can help restore degraded land while generating electricity according to a peer-reviewed study published in Geography and Sustainability. Synthesising 147 individual studies, the research found that solar photovoltaic systems significantly reduced wind speed, soil temperature, and surface heat, while increasing soil water content by 38.60 per cent on average. The findings suggest solar infrastructure can deliver ecological benefits alongside energy output.
āŖļøThe Zero Planet is an independent Australian news site focusing on climate-friendly innovation. Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.
