CircularVision

The ISWA2024 World Congress is happening in #CapeTown, #SouthAfrica from 15-18 September at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC). The IWMSA - Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa and local organising committee has been super busy getting the event off the ground. What is even cooler for us is that, Bonte Edwards (CircularVision) is part of the local organising committee and guiding the sustainability and #circular outcomes of the conference. It is GO-time! Here are some of the interventions and initiatives taking place: Venue:  ISWA is being held at the beautiful CTICC that already holds incredible sustainability credentials and in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The CTICC’s green design and ability to partially sub-meter energy and water consumption is an advantage when trying to achieve sustainability goals. A Sustainability Report will be compiled with a summary of energy and water consumption and waste generation and diversion rates as well as highlighting the social benefits of key actions undertaken by the Congress. Exhibition Stands: In the context of ISWA this means designing the stands in a way that minimizes waste and promotes sustainability. All exhibition stands are required to meet the minimum criteria with a focus on incorporating locally sourced materials, energy-efficient lighting, and reusable components in the exhibition stands to minimise any wastage and promote a positive social and sustainability impact. There is a competition for the stand that meets all of the criteria but also demonstrates #circular principles. Stands will be evaluated during the three phases of build-up, the event itself and #dismantling.   Attendees also have a role to play through: ♻ Participating in the #reusable programs i.e. reusable bags, lanyards and water bottles, and returning them at the end of the conference for future use if the attendee won’t use them further. ♻#Avoid using single-use items wherever possible. ♻Politely decline items you do not need, such as flyers, brochures, or promotional giveaways, unless they are useful and sustainable. ♻Use the correct bins for recyclables and other waste. ♻Use energy and water wisely and efficiently at your Hotel and at the Congress. ♻Support the local economy and #SMME’s by choosing locally produced and sustainable meals and gifts. If you are in Cape Town, go along and have a look what is happening in this space and get inspired on your circular journey. Alan Winde Geordin Hill-Lewis African Circular Economy Network (ACEN)Circular South Africa (CSA) Sally-Anne Käsner #AfricaWeWant #Circular4All

A new collaborator joins us! Introducing Jodi Litzenberger, CA, CPA I first met Jodi when I was at thinkstep-anz and Tori Wouters and I were working with Guzman y Gomez Mexican Kitchen, where Jodi was at the time. Welcome Jodi to the Circular Network of collaboration! We look forward to working with you on future projects! Sally-Anne Käsner https://lnkd.in/djSpXgrB

#circulareconomy #sustainability #NLinAUS #VicGoesCircular

#ExtendedProducerResponsibility in Australia is mandated only for one product, Used Oil. Other arrangements are all industry-led and voluntary. This includes co-regulatory arrangements (i.e. Government and Industry working together) for TVs, computers and related components; and for Plastics and Packaging through Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) which received product stewardship accreditation in 2022. Other Government-accredited industry-led voluntary schemes are in place for Mobile phones; Tyres; Large plastic bags; Batteries, Aluminium Cladding; Plastics and packaging; Plastic paint pails. Every year the Government issues a priority list and industry is supposed to take note and action to this list. If insufficient action has been taken by industry voluntarily, the Government may move to regulate. Due to the lack of industry progress, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water is moving to regulate: 📢 Photovoltaic systems, electrical and electronic products 📢 Problematic and unnecessary single-use plastics 📢 Oil containers CircularVision has many years experience with both voluntary and mandated systems, across packaging and electronic materials. Reach out to us to see how we could assist you to stay #AheadOfTheCurve. The current indications on the packaging side of things are for an eco-modulated approach to EPR fees, i.e. simply - the easier your product or packaging is to manage (return/collect, reuse, recycle), the fewer fees you pay. Have a look at our website and get in touch. https://lnkd.in/dar2fF-d

Two more fabulous CircularVision collaborators...

Another wonderful human... Jelmer Hoogzaad

My next introduction is Susanne Yvonne Karcher

As a continuation from introducing our collaborators at CircularVision, I introduce you to Bonte Edwards. Bonté and I worked together at JG Afrika (Pty) Ltd for many years, and together worked on incredible projects along the way and we are both thankful to the amazing Directors who gave us the space to experiment and try new approaches and new directions in the company when many others in other engineering firms where focusing on carbon footprinting. We managed (along with a few other amazing colleagues at the time Quinton Williams; Sam Smout; Oliver Bonstein; Tamryn Heydenrych; Michael Vice; Richard Emery; Benjamin Biggs; Wise Chris; Susanne Yvonne Karcher; John Coetzee; Harold Tiganis; Duane Petersen Pr Eng; Gareth Randle Pr Tech Eng; Dr Richard Fyvie... I am forgetting someone... I can feel it - tag me, please to tell me who!) to venture outside of the traditional environmental management focus of compliance into measurement, environmental footprinting, become respected in the Green Building space in South Africa and launched EcoStandard South Africa (recognised by the Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA) as an accepted #ecolabel). We also went full steam ahead and conducted many resource efficiency and cleaner production assessments across a wide range of industries, from Hospitality to Automotive to Logistics to Food processing and Abattoirs - some of which included waste characterisations (i.e. bin audits for my Aussie colleagues). Enough about the broader team 😅 and over to Bonté. We are chief collaborators! We are continuously bouncing ideas off each other and pushing the boundaries. We have been working together for a long time and I admire and respect what we have achieved over this time. Bonté has 19 years of experience in environmental project management and legislative processes for the environmental and waste management sector, in addition to environmental compliance auditing, waste characterisations and waste management training for the IWMSA - Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa. Her interest lies in identifying opportunities to apply circular economy principles. She has expertise in resource efficiency, waste diversion projects, zero waste to landfill strategies, sustainability, green procurement and business greening. She has also been instrumental in founding and managing the non-profit organization, EcoStandard South Africa, a South African eco-label for the built environment and construction industry. Bonté joined Circular Vision, a Circular Economy strategy and design consultancy, as an Associate in April 2022. Prior to this she worked at JG Afrika as a Senior Environmental Scientist from 2009 – 2014 and as an Associate from 2014-2022. She was the manager of the Environmental Management & Sustainability Division from 2018. We are always on the look out for additional collaborators, so please reach out if there is a project that you are keen to work together on.

Collaboration is key to a circular economy. We know this and is why Circular-Vision has redesigned the conventional consulting model. We do not have an employee base. Rather we have an incredible pool of collaborators. In the next few posts, I will introduce our current cohort of collaborators. We have all worked together over the years on a diverse range of projects and we would love to be able to bring together the right team for you. Let’s start with Sally-Anne Kasner: Sally-Anne is a Director of Circular-Vision, which started in 2018 in South Africa and launched in Australia in 2024.  She is passionate about making a positive impact by identifying opportunities to shift circular economy principles into implementation.  Her focus is on driving economic, social and environmental prosperity through connecting across the value chain; collaborating on projects; creating new business models that respond to circular economy principles, leading to a thriving, regenerative and inclusive economy. A background in waste minimisation and many years in the resource efficiency and cleaner production consulting environment has provided a sound base from which to work to blend the beautiful systems within our materials, climate, energy, water and natural system cycles.  She served as a Senior Sustainability and Circular Economy Specialist at thinkstep-anz (www.thinkstep-anz.com) for 2 years; was previously an Executive Associate at JG Afrika (an engineering and environmental consultancy), a founding member of EcoStandard (083-558-NPO – www.ecostandard.co.za), and a Non-Executive Director of Polyco (www.polyco.co.za ). She is also a founding member of the African Circular Economy Network and remains on the executive team (NPC 2020/115399/08 – www.acen.africa). Africa is in her heart forever and while she is on a different continent, there are synergies and connections across the pond that she will continue to nurture and always look to connect the dots!

https://lnkd.in/dar2fF-d is LIVE! Take a look and get in touch! #circulareconomy #workingtogether #collaboration Sally-Anne Kasner