3R
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Overview
    • Our Team
    • Sustainability
    • Sustainable Futures Accelerator
  • Services
    • Overview
    • Product Stewardship
    • Sustainability Projects
    • Waste Assessment
    • Hazardous Waste Management
      • ChemCollect
      • MyHazWaste
    •  Compliance and Certification
    • ChemCollect
  • Work
  • Case Studies
  • News
  • Contact Us
3R Logo Yellow
Services
  • Overview
  • Product Stewardship
  • Sustainability Projects
  • Waste Assessment
  • Hazardous Waste Management
    • ChemCollect
    • MyHazWaste
  •  Compliance and Certification
  • ChemCollect
3R Logo Yellow
Work
  • Overview
3R CE Adele Rose and GM innovation Trevor Tutt
3R Logo Yellow
About Us
  • Overview
  • Our Team
  • Sustainability
  • Sustainable Futures Accelerator

Partnering to accelerate the New Zealand circular economy

By Caddie Digital on December 20th, 2017 in Circular Economy
3R part of the Circular Economy Accelerator

The circular economy is the economy of the future, and 3R Group are proud to have joined as Foundation Partners of the newly launched Circular Economy Accelerator (CEA).
3R, along with Fuji Xerox are the first to get on board with the Sustainable Business Network-led initiative. As the name suggests it aims to speed up the growth of the circular economy in New Zealand.
“It’s crucial that the CEA aligns with suitable organisations and the work 3R Group have been doing for years to facilitate a more circular economy in New Zealand is truly impressive,” says SBN General Manager Projects and Advisory James Griffin.
“We are delighted that they have come onboard as a Foundation Partner to allow us to create a platform for increased circularity in New Zealand, as their services demonstrably help organisations provide circular solutions.”
The circular economy model is certainly nothing new, in fact it mimics how the natural world works. In recent years the approach has gained traction as governments and businesses around the world begin to put more emphasis on sustainability and climate change action.
The old linear economy is simply not sustainable. It leads to millions of tonnes of wasted resources each year in New Zealand alone, and results in expanding landfills as well as land, air and water pollution. In contrast, the circular economy maximises the lifecycle of resources, optimises their usage and ensures products are re-utilised at the end of their life.
There are also other benefits, such as encouraging sustainable and smarter design, improved efficiencies, innovation and reduced dependency on virgin materials, as well as the positive environmental impacts these benefits bring.
The circular economy is at the heart of the 3R philosophy of combining science and imagination to repurpose waste. Product stewardship – a core aspect of the 3R business – is vital to creating and sustaining a circular economy.
3R Chief Executive Adele Rose says we are proud to take a leadership position in the New Zealand circular economy. Moving from a ‘take, make, waste’ model to a circular economy opens up an exciting new way of doing business and brings with it a wealth of opportunities for New Zealand companies.
It will take a collaborative approach which we fully embrace as we work with small and large businesses alike on reimagining our resource use, she says.
To learn more visit the Circular Economy Accelerator website.
This Ellen MacArthur Foundation video also does a great job of explaining the circular economy.

Previous 3R Right to repair

Kick starting the circular economy

Next 3R Circular economy article in NZ Manufacturer

Spreading the circular economy message

Browse articles:

Archives

Categories

3R

3R Group Limited

info@3r.co.nz
0508 374 768
+64 6 872 7235
ChemCollect: 0508 243 642
207 Karamu Road North, Hastings 4122
PO Box 1216, Hastings 4156
New Zealand

Quicklinks

  • About Us
  • Services
  • Work
  • Case Studies
  • News

Subscribe for latest updates

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Social Media

© Copyright 2022 3R Group Limited | Privacy Policy

Site by Agrarian + Caddie

Cleantalk Pixel
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.