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SUSTAINABILITY
We work to protect, contain and secure the physical environment using smart geotextile and geosynthetic products. We help our clients mitigate environmental risk through world leading research and innovative product development.
Recycled material
Providing a use and a market for recycled material is integral to developing a circular economy. By incorporating recycled material into products such as Bidim® Green, Tracktex® Green, Sealmac® Green and Megaflo® Green, Geofabrics is helping to reduce waste to landfill.
Through technology and our enterprise software IFS we are navigating the complexities of our supply chain, transparently tracking the number of recycled bottles used and calculating our progress to report. Over the past 18 months, we have utilised the recycled material from almost 70 million bottles.
Geofabrics is a proud member of the Infrastructure Sustainability Council (ISC). We are providing more sustainable products for infrastructure businesses to incorporate into their projects, reducing their own impact on the environment.
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Reducing energy intensive material use
When used in infrastructure projects, geotextiles have the additional benefit of reducing energy use and carbon emissions as they are lighter and less energy intensive to produce than traditional construction materials such as steel and cement. The use of geotextiles can also reduce the need to transport and use high quantities of quarried materials and aggregates while achieving the same result.
Containing contaminants
Contaminated sites and landfills which may contain PFAS & other contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) can be contained and sealed using a hybrid clay liner such as Sorbseal®. This protects the surrounding environment and waterways from dangerous contaminants that don’t break down.
Erosion & revegetation
Geotextiles can be used to prevent erosion to coastal shorelines caused by extreme weather events such as heatwaves, cyclones and floods. The increase in intensity and frequency of these events is being influenced by climate change.
We have been working with coastal communities and developing countries in coastal protection for many years. In 2018, Geofabrics won the AusTrade Australian Export Award for Environmental Solutions. Recognised for the positive environmental impact our Australian made Elcorock coastal protection system had in projects in Tuvalu and New Zealand.
To increase the sequestation of blue carbon and lower atmospheric CO2 levels we are helping to protect and regenerate mangroves, marshlands and seagrasses.
We are also collaborating with government and mining companies to rehabilitate mining sites for landholders and traditional owners. By promoting revegetation and surface protection against wind and water we are helping to reestablish native plants and animal habitats.
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Energy saving
While we are utilising recycled material in manufacturing, we are also implementing changes to reduce our own impact. We have installed solar systems and LED lights across the business, improved the energy efficiency of production and reduced waste.
Product Packaging
Our Sustainable Packaging Policy ensures excessive packaging is avoided or reduced to optimise material efficiency. We have a goal to achieve 100 per cent recycled packaging and 50 percent recyclable packaging for Australian manufactured products. We are a signatory of the Australian Packaging Covenant and report to APCO annually.
