Pip Kiernan: It's time to begin fixing what's broken before it becomes waste
My father Ian Kiernan used to say he'd like Australia to be the cleanest country on earth.
That is my aspiration too. It's certainly possible but first we need to change our mindset to encourage more Australians to adjust their spending and shopping habits — from 'take, make, waste' to re-use and repair.
This isn't just about the environment, it's about fairness. It's about extending the life of our products, saving money, and reducing pressure on households during a cost-of-living crunch. We need to guide, inspire and empower our communities to make more sustainable choices.
Our approach to materials and products in the Western world is so destructive. It's a linear approach, where materials are extracted from the earth, made into products, and eventually thrown away.
In many respects we're devouring the future. In Australia, CSIRO reports that our circularity rate is sitting at 4 per cent, which is half the global average. That means that only 4 per cent of what we consume is not a virgin resource. We are also the world's biggest consumer of textiles per capita.
Repairability is a key solution to reducing waste, but one that Australia continues to fall behind on. It ensures products can remain in use for as long as possible, keeping them out of landfill.
Repair is an obvious 'first responder' when it comes to waste prevention and having control over the products we buy and use, from computers, kettles and toasters to furniture, clothing and agricultural equipment.
France is leading the way on repairability reform. In 2021 they introduced the Repairability Index to foster sustainable consumption, by making it easier for consumers to repair electronic devices rather than replace them.
Products are scored from 0 to 10 based on how easy they are to repair. That's an effective way to promote and encourage repairability, as well as drive brands to redesign their products for a longer life.
Wales is another superb example of a country which is excelling in circular economy achievement, thanks to simultaneous top-down and bottom-up action. Repair cafes have taken off in Welsh communities, and the Welsh Benthyg Cymru (libraries of things) areprevalent around the country.
In the same year that France introduced the index, the Australian Productivity Commission released a report on the right to repair, identifying significant barriers to repair and recommending comprehensive reforms to enhance consumer choice, reduce e-waste, and promote competition in repair markets. Four years on and not one of the recommendations from the report have come to fruition.
Clean Up Australia strongly advocates for the right to repair products and equipment, including access to parts, manuals, tools, software and extended warranties. It's part of living an independent and sustainable life — being able to mend, fix and extend the life of products we have.
The Australian Repair Network has done a great job setting up an interactive map of community initiatives and repair cafes in Australia. But we still have a long way to go in this country.
If we are to successfully transition to a more circular and sustainable future, with regulated waste, moving markets for recycled materials, and a flourishing culture of repair and reuse, an entire consciousness shift is needed. I am mindful that even the terminology 'circular economy' may still not be known to the general public.
On our 35th anniversary I'd like to see increased community awareness to reduce wasteful consumerism and reliance on single-use, enhanced product design standards for longevity and repair, and continued investment in waste management infrastructure.
To achieve this, collaboration across all levels of government, industry, brands, business, and the everyday Australian is required.
It is encouraging that late last year, the Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced the Albanese Government's commitment to developing a general right to repair. With our Federal Government sworn in and back to work, we're hoping to see that commitment enshrined in policy in the term to come.
Australia can lead the way to develop new patterns of consumption that meet consumer expectations and reduce environmental impacts, while being affordable to the public and creating new business opportunities for brands and retailers.
This year, more than 800,000 volunteers across the country pulled on their gloves and got to work removing litter from our precious environment. Our volunteers already put in the hard yards, but Clean Ups alone cannot solve the mess we're in. It's time to begin fixing what's broken, before it becomes waste.
Pip Kiernan is the chairwoman of Clean Up Australia
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