Identifying opportunities to improve the environmental and social impacts of resource use and supply chains.
Our research seeks to identify and evaluate strategies to improve the environmental and social impacts along supply chains, from primary resource extraction to end-of-life.
Our projects have evaluated impacts including greenhouse gas emissions, pollution, human rights, employment and safe working conditions in sectors including renewable energy technologies, textiles and agriculture.
We do this through sustainability evaluations, policy and regulatory analysis, stakeholder engagement and the development of strategies, tools and frameworks. We also have experience in the evaluation of sustainability standards and certification schemes.
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...
Decent work and environmental sustainability of textile and garment supply chains in Asia
This project aims to improve the environmental sustainability capacity of key actors in the textile and garment sector in Asia. The garment sector contributes...
Sustainability performance assessment for palm oil producers
Palm oil is one of the most versatile vegetable oils used in the world today, with applications ranging from food and pharmaceuticals to cosmetics, cleaning...
Responsible minerals sourcing for renewable energy
Under a 100 per cent renewable energy scenario, demand for metals such as cobalt, lithium and rare earths could rise dramatically. Solar PV, wind turbines,...
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Battery materials: responsible sourcing and certification
PROJECT | 2020
Pathways to assess the social and environmental impacts of Australia's battery production and to inform a more sustainable supply chain.
Environmentally responsible trade in waste plastics
PROJECT | 2020
Understanding how trading plastics for recycling affects ocean pollution, and finding ways to lessen the problem.
Ecosystem impacts of phosphorus and surfactants in consumer products
PROJECT | 2018-2019
Investigating the environmental impact of household products shows where improvements can be made.
ISF research on packaging is something out of the box
IMPACT STORY
ISF research played a major role in influencing government policy and strategy regarding waste management and resource recovery for packaging materials.
Chemical management for consumer products
PROJECT | 2017-2018
This report addresses the need for an improved understanding of best and worst practices in the use and management of potentially hazardous chemicals in consumer products.
Partner: Ascend Waste and Environment Pty Ltd
Researchers: Damien Giurco, Rachael Wakefield-Rann
Research outputs
Chemical management for consumer products (2020) (Report)
Sustainability evaluation of energy storage technologies
PROJECT | 2016-2017
The Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA) commissioned ISF to explore the transformative role that energy storage may play in Australia’s energy systems.
Client: Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA)
Researchers: Elsa Dominish, Nick Florin
NSW container deposit legislation a crushing story
IMPACT STORY
A major research report produced in 2000 by ISF’s Professor Stuart White played a major role in the NSW Government’s decision to finally introduce container deposit legislation in 2017.
Researchers
