The University of Newcastle has awarded three $10,000 grants to projects which will help reduce waste, lower carbon emissions and maximise resource efficiency by extending the life of products and materials.
The grants were delivered by the University’s Integrated Innovation Network (I2N) through the annual Circular Economy Grand Challenge, an initiative that brings together multi-disciplinary teams, including students, staff, academics, alumni and industry, to address an issue of local and global significance.
One of the winning projects – Every Blade Counts – aims to recycle old wind turbine blades into reusable materials instead of sending them to landfill, creating commercial pathways to divert thousands of tonnes of waste while reducing reliance on mining.
Zyora was awarded for its work creating upcycled skincare. It proposes to recover bioactives from yeast waste to create science-backed skincare ingredients, addressing growing consumer demand for sustainable, transparent and evidence-based beauty products.
The final winner was ReCrete, a project which proposes repurposing waste concrete as a circular alternative to agricultural lime. By breaking down concrete and using its natural calcium content to neutralise soil acidity, the team demonstrates how one of Australia’s most challenging waste streams can be transformed into an environmental resource rather than a landfill burden.
Other outstanding projects included Grounds to Growth, which received $2000 for the Best Student Team Award. It seeks to transform spent coffee grounds into fresh mushrooms.
Heavy Matters also received $2000 as the Rising Star Award winner for creating a digital platform to enable residents, councils, and community organisations to reclaim items in bulky household waste collections, before they become landfill waste.
The $2000 People’s Choice Award went to Bingage, which aims to motivate students to recycle thoughtfully, by using a gamified app linked with smart bins.
For more information, visit: www.newcastle.edu.au/
Related stories:
Newcastle University researchers develop mortar made from recycled plastic
Researchers use ultrasound technology to destroy PFAS
.png){kind=small}
