BIZ NEWS: The New South Wales government has announced an investment of $6.8 million into high impact partnership grants, along with successful grantees, who have co-invested $17 million into carbon reducing projects for primary producers.
Grantees include 24 Degree Forest, Wilmot Cattle Company, Regen Farmers Mutual, Greening Australia, World Wide Fund for Nature Australia, and NSW Department of Primary Industries.
The partnership will cover four tree planting projects, a soil carbon project on estimating soil and carbon sequestration and a blue carbon project using tidal restoration of tidal wetlands. The project is estimated to be implemented across 2000 hectares of forest/woodland across 100 regional properties by June 2026.
The Australian Passivhaus Association has launched its inaugural Passivhaus Incubator. The two month program impacts successful applicants with the association’s introductory Passivhaus knowledge on:
- fast tracking to net zero
- promote healthier buildings
- reduce operational costs and energy waste
- lift Australian building stock
- promote best practice
- being an environmental custodian and market leader
Applications for this scholarship are open for professionals employed by client groups, policy, and advocacy organisations.
Unisuper and ISPT have acquired land next to Western Sydney Airport in an off-market transaction. The acquisition of the 280 hectare greenfield logistics development site is a 50-50 joint venture, which will see the land develop into a super prime manufacturing, warehouse, and logistics estate over the next seven years. The project will aim for a carbon neutral development. The expected value upon completion is $3.9 billion.
ISPT’s chief investment and development officer, Will Walker, said the group was committed to “tier-one sustainability credentials” for the industrial precinct.
A new international alliance consisting of BRE (UK’s Building Research Establishment), GBCA (Green Building Council of Australia) and USGBC (US Green Building Council) has been announced. The partnership wants to unlock the sustainable finances needed to help the built environment meet its global climate goals.
The three organisations will work together to ensure investors, property owners, developers, and governments have the information they need to enact change in the built environment.
The alliance’s first milestone will be to publish a practical guide on sustainable finance instruments available to the real estate market, and it is due to be launched at London Climate Action Week in June.
New data from the National Automotive Leasing and Salary Packaging Association reveals that novated leases for electric cars are on the rise. Total new car sales in February were also up by 20.9 per cent compared to the same period last year.
Sales of battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles made up 14.4 per cent of all passenger and SUV sales compared to 9.9 per cent in the previous year. NALSPA chief executive Rohan Martin said the increasing demand for EVs was thanks to the government’s EV fringe benefits tax exemption and more EV models becoming available.
Australian Renewable Energy Agency has announced $4.76 million in funding for the Europcar Mobility Group to roll out Rental EV and charging infrastructure. The car rental company intends to install 256 chargers across 41 sites around Australia, including airports, metropolitan hubs and regional locations. The infrastructure will support the deployment of around 3100 passenger EVs over the next three years.
NABERS has announced a new webinar for assessors and customers exploring funding opportunities to improve energy and water efficiency. The session will target businesses starting their sustainability journey and companies interested in improving their building’s performance. The online webinar will be held on Wednesday, 20 March.
Timberlink has announced the launch of its Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) as part of its efforts to enhance its awareness and appreciation of the First Nation Peoples of Australia. The program aims to equip the organisation with the means to actively participate in meaningful reconciliation efforts and increase employment outcomes for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Finland
Thai-based TotalEnergies Corbion has partnered with Finnish plastic-alternative solutions company Sulapac to propel the integration of recycled and biodegradable materials in the global cosmetic sector.
The alliance hopes to encourage the uptake of the patented Luminy PLA bioplastics technology developed by TotalEnergies, which allows recycled biodegradable biopolymers to be commercially available, offering quality on par with virgin materials. Sulapac will be responsible for sorting the biopolymers into select material grades and collecting and delivering waste materials for a circular economy.