Transforming waste into valuable resources is no longer a distant vision but a tangible reality.
Earlier this year, Valiant entered a collaboration with UNSW and met with Professor Veena Sahajwalla at the UNSW campus in Sydney to see one of their MICROfactorie facilities firsthand. This visit marked the beginning of our active involvement in supporting Veena's groundbreaking work in recycling science.
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More recently, Valiant's Chief Executive Officer, Michael Sternberg; Managing Director, Brian Lindeman; and Creative Director and Procurement Manager, Samuel Clarke, took a roadtrip to Nowra, and caught up with Veena Sahajwalla and her research team from UNSW to see their incredible ‘Green Ceramics MICROfactorie’ they run in partnership with the Shoalhaven City Council.
The partnership between UNSW and Shoalhaven City Council was driven by urgency, as the landfill site would reach capacity in six years, with no approval for a new facility. This situation underscored the importance of circularising waste and developing innovative recycling solutions.
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During our visit, our team toured the landfill site, observing the robust recycling operations, including dedicated bins for niche waste categories such as polystyrene, textiles, and batteries.
However, what truly sets this project apart is how it challenges traditional recycling methods. Instead of simply turning glass into more glass or plastic into more plastic, this approach also considers energy efficiency and circularity. For example, melting glass down requires extremely high temperatures, whereas grinding it down is more energy-efficient.
The result? The facility uses grounded glass, textile waste and an eco-binding agent to create high-grade terazzo-style tiles. Remarkably, these tiles are more durable than regular terazzo tiles and feature UV stabilisation and heat resistance, making them ideal for any number of architectural applications.
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By making material substitutions where possible, we aim to meet the growing demand for sustainable products.
Valiant is proud to support the UNSW research team, and are particularly interested in exploring how these new technologies can be applied to furniture recycling.
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Valiant’s visit to the Nowra landfill facility underscores our commitment to sustainability and innovation. By supporting cutting-edge research and exploring practical applications, we aim to make a meaningful impact on the environment and inspire others to join us on this journey.
Check out what else we're doing to contribute to a more greener planet!