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Building a circular economy

By Caddie Digital on October 17th, 2017 in Events
3R SBN Business Connector FG Smiths

Featured speaker at SBN / 3R Business Connector event in September.
In order to move forward we need to start going around in circles.
Such is the thinking behind a circular economy; one that doesn’t follow the linear process of taking resources, making products and then throwing them away, but rather creating a circular process where products are created and then stay in the system to be reused, recycled or repurposed. Nothing is wasted.
The venue of our third Sustainable Business Network (SBN) Regional Business Connector event, FG Smiths, is the perfect example of this theory in practice. The building in which the popular eatery is housed was remodelled with circular economy building practices firmly at the forefront of the design. PMA Architects showcased ‘adaptive reuse’ through their work on the building, reusing materials from the existing structure as well as from others in the area.
With the building industry responsible for around 20-30% of all landfill and 80% of all clean fill, this kind of approach needs to be more widely adopted.
Key speaker James Griffin of the SBN admits the current drive for building work to be done as quickly as possible doesn’t lend itself to circular economy thinking. “But I like to think builders and architects are slowly coming on board. We need more drivers and more champions for it.”
To support the change, the SBN has created the Circular Economy Model Office Guide (CEMO) which has been designed to encourage and guide building practices where architects and builders reuse or repurpose existing materials when possible, working to divert waste from landfill and encouraging suppliers to take responsibility for the new materials used.
Put simply, the aim is to design waste out of commercial building practices. “CEMO is all about embedding circular economy thinking in what is a very linear economy model in construction,” James says. “FG Smith is a fantastic example.”
SBN is a membership-based organisation in New Zealand which helps businesses increase their sustainability performance, with the goal of creating a model sustainable nation. The CEMO Guide is one example of the work they do to support these aims. It can be downloaded for free from the SBN website.

Previous 3R 2016 Sustainable Business Awards

Sponsoring zero waste

Next 3R FG Smiths construction work

Making the most of adaptive reuse

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ISO 14001:2015

Environmental management systems and safe work practices.

ISO 14001:2015 is an internationally recognised standard that certifies our commitment to environmental management systems and safe work practices.

Consistent with our environmental policy, the intended outcomes of our environmental management system include:

  • The enhancement of environmental performance;
  • The fulfilment of compliance obligations;
  • The achievement of environmental objectives.

Our ISO 14001:2015 certification includes 3R Operations, the Paint Product Stewardship Programmes, ChemCollect Service and the SeatSmart Child Car Seat Recycling Programme (owned and operated by 3R).

This certification is audited by TELARC.

ISO 45001:2018

Keeping our people safe, healthy and happy.

ISO 45001:2018 certification has been chosen to demonstrate the importance we place in caring for our people as we bring to life our values of Kaitiakitanga and Manaakitanga.

Keeping our team safe, healthy and happy is a primary focus for our business. We feel that the work our operations staff do makes this particularly important. Their responsibilities can include collecting and processing paint; collecting chemicals; driving trucks around the country; and getting hands-on with work wherever needed.

3R received ISO 45001:2018 certification in 2021. The ISO 45001:2018 certificate is valid for 3 years and includes annual surveillance audits which provide a valuable framework for further growth.

What is a circular economy?

New Zealand is “one of the highest generators of waste per person in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)”. The way we currently produce and manage our waste is not sustainable.

The current economy in New Zealand is linear: this equates to a process of take-make-use-dispose. The aim of the government is to move towards a circular economy.

A circular economy can refer to either biological or technical materials.

With biological materials, the cycle could be defined as make-consume-enrich. In this cycle waste returns to the environment and enriches the land.

A technical materials cycle may be more like make-use-return. In a technical materials cycle waste is repurposed and used to make something new.

Whether you need help with biological materials, technical materials, or both; 3R can partner with your business to assess your current waste, then help you reduce it.