Progressing economies that serve people and planet.
We work in partnership with governments, businesses and the community to advance economic systems and models that promote sustainability, equality and wellbeing for all. A major component of our work is research services to support the implementation of circular economy principles and practices.
Drivers of change: meeting the energy and data demands of AI adoption in Australia and New Zealand
As artificial intelligence (AI) continues its swift integration into various facets of business operations, a pressing concern emerges: its impact on energy...
Corporate Sustainability Review for responsible investor
Reflections were made on the overall sustainability governance and topics ranging from climate change, circular economy, and nature-related issues to diversity...
Wellbeing wardrobe
The European Environmental Bureau (EEB) commissioned a team from ISF, Erasmus University Rotterdam and Lund University to develop the concept of a 'Wellbeing...
How can we limit global warming to 1.5°C?
ISF’s previous work on Sectoral Pathways to Net Zero Emissionsfor The Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance (NZAOA) has emphasised the urgency and importance for rapid...
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Understanding the economics of regional adaptation
PROJECT | 2019
Knowing to what extent economics influence decision-making can support a drive to transition and build resilience in regional areas.
CSIRO Wealth from Waste Collaboration Cluster: business models for service innovation
PROJECT | 2013-2019
The CSIRO commissioned ISF to investigate the current and emerging business models and innovation opportunities of increasing resource efficiency of metal and associated materials. This research also explored the policy ecosystem supporting these new business and employment opportunities.
Circular economy best practice and application in NSW
PROJECT | 2018
Assisting the NSW government with planning a sustainable future by looking at international applications of a circular economy.
Circular economy planning and mapping for Greater Parramatta and Olympic Peninsula and Lower Hunter
PROJECT | 2019
Guiding major utilities to consider new ways of thinking about water for a more sustainable system.
Circular economy analysis for the Lower Hunter Water System
PROJECT | 2018-2019
This study focused on all water, organic waste and energy material flows within the Lower Hunter. It built on previous work ISF completed for Sydney Water, which applied this focus to the Greater Parramatta and the Olympic Peninsular regions in Sydney.
The project explored four scenarios: Business as Usual 2017, Business as Usual 2047, Alternative 2047 and Alternative Plus 2047 (which included potable and non-potable reuse options). These prospective pathways provided Hunter Water staff with an alternative approach to integrating the material flows within the water and waste water system and revealed potential innovations for reducing the freshwater consumption and electricity demand from the grid by 2047.
Client: Hunter Water
Researchers: Pierre Mukheibir, Melita Jazbec, Ben Madden
Creating a circular economy precinct
PROJECT | 2018
ISF produced a report for Sydney Water to support both internal and external dialogue on the potential of creating a circular economy precinct in Sydney. The proposed precinct would include organics processing from wastewater and additional organics waste streams.
To assist the dialogue, the report provided a selection of example case studies of scenarios in which materials – such as separated food waste, wastewater sludge and trade waste – have been combined and treated with technology like anaerobic digestion, to create by-products for further use. Such by-products could include: biogas for hot water heating and electricity generation; and nutrient rich soil conditioner, created from the digestate, for agricultural application. The example case studies, all international, were generated from a review of available public literature and academic journal papers.
Client: Sydney Water
Research outputs
Creating a circular economy precinct report (Report)
Assessing corporate sustainability for investors
PROJECT | 2016-2020
ISF's ongoing partnership with an international investor group results in research that influences ethical investment.
Greening local economies
PROJECT | 2014
This project was conducted for the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, who wanted to define a ‘green’ local economy and how government actors could stimulate this economy.
The research aimed to: 1) define local green economies, including the parameters of the concept, and an overview of the drivers of local green economic activity; 2) understand the basis for enterprise and financial support in nurturing local green economies, including analysis of the specific needs of social enterprises involved in the production of green products and services; and 3) identify the role of customers in creating demand and innovation for green products and services, with analysis of demand drivers and inputs at the local scale.
Client: NSW Office of Environment and Heritage
Researcher: Samantha Sharpe