Holla-Fresh : A carbon negative energy solution
Horticulture company and herb producer Holla- Fresh was determined to become even more efficient and sustainable , the impact is being felt beyond the boundaries of its Tantanoola property in South Australia ’ s temperate South East .
Heat was one of its most important inputs , but it was also one of its most expensive and greenhouse gas intensive . What began with the company asking the State Government agency Green Industries SA ( GISA ) for help in sourcing an alternative to its oil-fired boiler for heating its glasshouses , ended with a renewable energy technology known as pyrolysis , and a high-quality and lucrative by-product called biochar . In addition to the large financial benefit through reduced costs – their process is now carbon negative – taking more carbon out of the atmosphere that they produce .
Figure 3 . Holla Fresh , Tantanoola
BUILDING A RESILIENT SYSTEM Australia ’ s early prosperity has been built on a foundation of an abundance of land and resources . However increasingly the world is becoming smaller , and the competition for resources ever greater . With international governments also seeking resource security , there are ultimately strategic as well as economic advantages to pursuing a circular economy that boosts resource security .
The fragility of our global supply chains was highlighted in the early stages of the pandemic , particularly for those who struggled with the availability of medical equipment . Recognising the risks associated with this dependence , there has been increasing demand for local manufacturing . A circular economy focus could look at the potential costs and benefits of reducing waste and providing for remanufacture of medical grade equipment and supplies here in Australia .
Investing in a circular economy could boost Australia ’ s immediate economic recovery but might also provide sustainable and lasting benefits in making Australia more resilient to future external economic shocks .
2020 marks the start of the Australian Government ’ s bans on exporting certain waste streams as a result of China and other countries restricting the imports of contaminated recyclables . As of the 1 July 2020 and through to 2024 , there will be bans on exporting certain types of paper , plastic , glass and tyres . Until 2018 , 29 % of all paper collected at kerbsides and 36 % of all plastics were exported to China .
The fragility of our global supply chains was highlighted in the early stages of the pandemic , particularly for those who struggled with the availability of medical equipment .
This is expected to reduce Australian exports of 620,000 tonnes annually worth $ 523M and require these traditional resource streams to be processed onshore , requiring an increase in infrastructure and a greater number of jobs . Increasing recycling activities in Australia and reducing our waste will make the economy more resilient to changes in global markets and supply chains .
BENEFITS FOR FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE Circulating products and materials through the economy instead of producing new ones can help cut energy demand by maintaining the energy that went into making them .
Climate change strategies tend to focus on energy supply overlooking the vast potential of the circular economy . It has been estimated that the transition to renewable or zero carbon energy supply could only reduce emissions by a maximum of 55 %. The remaining 45 % of emissions come from how we make and use products , and how we produce food 7 .
To achieve our climate change mitigation targets , increasingly we will need to rethink and reengineer our supply chains all the way back to where our resources originate .
A report for the Ellen MacArthur foundation investigated how applying circular economy strategies in cement , aluminium , steel , plastics , and food could potentially eliminate almost half of the emissions from the production of these goods 8 .
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