To get back on track, the manufacturing industry should focus on R&D and innovation, including renewable resources and building materials, and build a market in these areas. These comments were raised by Graham Larcombe, Director of Strategic Economics Group, who spoke at the ‘Sustainability in manufacturing’ forum during National Manufacturing Week in May. [ + ]

In order to meet continued pressures being placed on commercial and government organisations to conserve fresh water supplies, Sydney International Airport, Terminal 1 (T1), created an environmental planning strategy to design and construct a water treatment plant in order to recycle its wastewater and reduce its dependency on fresh water. [ + ]

Municipal waste management company Berliner Stadtreinigung (BSR) and chemical company BASF have successfully completed a joint pilot project involving the use of organic waste bags made of the biodegradable plastic Ecovio FS. The bio-based bags meet European standard EN 13432 for compostable plastics, and in accordance with the amendment to the German Organic Waste Regulations at the end of 2011, they can be used to collect organic waste. [ + ]

There is potential to store large volumes of Australia’s precious fresh water underground, to offset climate change, avoid evaporation losses and meet national water needs into the future, leading water scientists say. Following a major national scientific workshop in Canberra, researchers in the National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training (NCGRT) say that managed aquifer recharge - the injection or infiltration of excess surface water into underground aquifers - could help secure the nation’s water supplies for an uncertain future. [ + ]

As the WSAA searched for more ways to service its customers, it decided that the Technology Approval Group (TAG) was the answer. [ + ]

Roofing materials that double as solar panels and can also moderate the temperature of buildings are among the next-generation building products being developed at UNSW. [ + ]

The packaging industry wants to fight food loss more effectively. Simple, decentralised packaging machines for emerging markets can improve food security, while the ‘throwaway’ mentality in western industrialised nations can be combated with smart packages. [ + ]

Situated at the heart of the Hobart metropolitan area, the Derwent estuary is a waterway of great natural beauty and an important and productive ecosystem supporting a wide range of habitats and species. [ + ]

In a climate where consumers and businesses are feeling pressured to meet new sustainable energy targets, Fuji Xerox Australia is way ahead of the pack. The company’s Eco Manufacturing Centre, recently relocated to Rosehill, proves, through the remanufacturing of parts and an eco-friendly building, that a commitment to the environment can pay off. [ + ]

The carbon tax will come into effect on 1 July 2012 and the big question is, how will the tax affect confidence and spending, particularly in the first few months of introduction? Businesses will need to start planning and preparing for the anticipated increase in operating costs the tax will bring. [ + ]

Responsible businesses looking for ways to reduce their carbon emissions need to ensure that they are best placed to minimise the potential risks while maximising the rewards. One method that can be implemented to lower carbon emissions and reduce energy costs is the installation of a voltage optimisation system. Powerstar is a triple wound voltage optimisation system that actively reduces a considerable percentage of electrical energy consumption - and Australia’s largest cold-chain logistics service provider has shown just how effective the technology is. [ + ]

Whether the issue at hand is scarcity, abundance, treatment, recycling, disposal or competition, the discussion around water is about securing our future and no issue is more important than the sustainability of our water supplies. Peter Fagan*, Asia Pacific Practice Leader, Sustainability for MWH, provides his opinions on this issue. [ + ]

From its headquarters in Everett, Washington, USA, Fluke played host to the first-ever Fluke Press Summit 2012. Over 80 journalist and editors from around the globe, including representatives from Canada, Brazil, United Kingdom and Australia (Westwick-Farrow Media), gathered for the educational insight into the operation and development of new technology by Fluke. Details of two of the latest exciting Fluke products being released soon were revealed during the summit: an easy-to-use infrared thermometer and a vibration meter for frontline screening. [ + ]

When a pump station in northern Sydney required the installation of a flow meter to an existing pipeline, the downtime had to be kept to a minimum to avoid disruption of the water supply. The new section with the flow meter was put in place and connected to the remaining main line with two Straub Flex 2H 1296.0 mm pipe couplings. Because the Straub pipe couplings have a very short installation time, disruption to the water supply was kept to a minimum. [ + ]

New and better ways of measuring high-tech energy consumption could lead to significant environmental and economic gains, a study from The Australian National University has found. [ + ]