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In sustainability, trust is earned through evidence.
That is especially true in sectors like construction and flooring, where claims about recycling, recovery and circularity are increasingly influencing procurement, specification and brand reputation. But as sustainability expectations rise, so does the risk of misinformation, misunderstanding and claims that move faster than the systems behind them. At ResiLoop, we believe the answer is simple: be honest about what is working, transparent about what is not, and rigorous about the data that sits behind every claim. That is why ResiLoop independently audits and publishes its performance data through its Annual Report. Our reporting measures how much material we collect, identifies any material that is not compliant for recycling, and tracks the total amount that has been recycled. This matters because circularity cannot be built on vague statements or unchecked assumptions. If an organisation says material is being recovered, the market should be able to ask: How much? Recovered into what? What was accepted? What was rejected? What was recycled? What happened to non-compliant material? These are not uncomfortable questions. They are the right questions. There can sometimes be a tendency in sustainability communications to treat ambition as though it is the same thing as achievement. It is not. Ambition is important, but only if it is matched by systems, governance and reporting. In practice, one of the biggest challenges in recycling is not collecting material for the sake of it. It is matching supply with genuine, viable end uses. That is also why ResiLoop has chosen to expand carefully. ResiLoop will only collect material where there is a current and credible pathway for its next use. Today, that means growing carefully with a manufacturing partner in Victoria, rather than collecting volumes that do not yet have a genuine end market. This slower, disciplined approach is not a weakness. It is what responsible stewardship looks like. For members, that provides confidence that ResiLoop is protecting the integrity of the recovery claim attached to their products. It demonstrates that the scheme is not chasing volume at any cost, but building the infrastructure, governance and end markets needed for a durable national system. For specifiers, it reinforces that credible recovery pathways are backed by transparent reporting, clear product scope, and evidence that recovered material is actually going somewhere useful. Just as importantly, not all recycling outcomes are equal. Our priority is not simply to move material out of one waste stream and into the first available outlet. The real opportunity lies in keeping materials in productive use and, where possible, directing them into applications that retain as much value as possible. In other words, the goal is not just diversion. It is value retention. That is also why end markets matter. Collecting material is only one part of the task. The harder and more important question is what happens next. If the sector is serious about circularity, recovery pathways need to be credible, measurable and capable of putting material back into productive use. For ResiLoop, that means being disciplined about what we collect, honest about what is compliant, and clear about what has actually been recycled. It also means focusing on pathways that retain material value, rather than simply moving waste into a lower value outcome because it is easier to claim a diversion result. This is where data becomes essential. Not as a marketing tool, but as an operational and governance tool. It helps identify contamination issues, track what is suitable for recycling, and measure whether collection is genuinely being matched with real processing capacity and end-market demand. In a supply chain where multiple parties handle material before it reaches its next use, that level of visibility matters. Without it, claims can quickly outpace reality. With it, members, specifiers and the wider market can have greater confidence that recovery is being managed responsibly and reported honestly. ResiLoop’s role in that system depends on continuing to be what the industry needs it to be: the trusted recovery mark behind leading flooring brands. That trust is not built through marketing alone. It is built through governance, measurement, independent assurance and a willingness to say only what can be substantiated. “In the sustainability space, credibility matters. Our responsibility is not to make the biggest claims — it is to make claims that are true, evidenced and independently reported. We are growing ResiLoop carefully because we will only collect material where there is a real and responsible pathway for its next use. That discipline is essential if we want to remain the trusted recovery mark behind leading flooring brands.” — Sophi MacMillan, CEO, ResiLoop As the market becomes more sophisticated, the organisations that will lead are not those with the loudest claims, but those with the strongest evidence behind them. That is good for the credibility of circularity, and ultimately, it is what will help create a more resilient, more honest and more effective recovery system for flooring in Australia. #ResiLoop #CredibleData #Greenwashing #Governance #AuditedData
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The Edith Cowan University (ECU) and ChemCentre project has officially commenced in Western Australia. This marks the start of ResiLoop’s CSF-funded “Smart Beads” research program, running over 12 months. Last week, the team has held its first project meeting, with a mix of in-person and online attendees. The research is exploring new pathways to turn recovered resilient flooring into engineered beads for future construction applications.
Thanks to Steve Collins of Jupps Floorcoverings and Tile Boutique Commercial Division for supplying the first batch of offcut material pictured, which will be used for initial material analysis in Stage 1 of the project. We are pleased to welcome Phillip Lee, Ashley Foot and the team at Carpet Court Australia Limited / West Coast Floors Ashley (Grovedale) to the ResiLoop network.
With 30 years’ experience in the carpet and flooring industry, Ashley brings a wealth of knowledge to every job and stays across new methods and products. As a ResiLoop Collection Point, they can now help local projects across the Geelong area keep eligible vinyl flooring offcuts separate so they can be turned into Aussie-made products like decking and garden edging. Great to have you on board. https://www.westcoastfloors.com.au/ ResiLoop is pleased to share that Sophi MacMillan, CEO of ResiLoop, has been appointed to the National Advisory Committee (NAC) for the Global GreenTag International Standard.
The NAC provides independent advice to the GreenTag Management Team on program oversight within each country or region - helping uphold transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement across the GreenTag Certification Program. The International Standard NAC is made up of representatives from industry bodies and associations and assists GreenTag program operation across key areas, including: - Operation of the program - Ongoing development of the Standard - Product category-specific standards - Stakeholder review processes - Dispute/conflict resolution and appeals relating to certification issues We’re proud to contribute to strong governance and credible certification frameworks that help lift consistency and confidence in sustainability claims across the built environment. ResiLoop is delighted to award its second Circularity Support Fund (CSF) to a project proposed by Edith Cowan University, to recycle resilient floorcoverings into engineered Smart Beads for future construction applications.
To be delivered by Associate Professor Amir Razmjou and his research team, in conjunction with ChemCentre, the $149,879 grant will fund a 12-month research program focused on converting uplifted resilient floor coverings and installation offcuts into engineered, plastic composite beads and granulates for composite concrete/cement applications. Unlike conventional mechanical processing (physical shredding and granulating), this project intends to apply a novel approach that restructures the polymer matrix via controlled dissolution and reprecipitation, producing engineered beads with tailored density. This creates an opportunity to lighten concrete/cement composites while enhancing performance characteristics, with potential for large-scale application. The project aims to design a pilot plant to take this concept to the next stage. Importantly, the project presents potential to build Australia’s local capacity to divert resilient flooring material from landfill by strengthening viable, scalable end-markets for recovered material streams. Watch Amir’s short video below as he explains the project and what the team is working towards. On Friday, our Directors, including our Chairman Rob Coombs GAICD, had the opportunity to visit our recycling partner, Think Manufacturing (Think Fencing Pty Ltd), to get an update from Jack Fitzgerald on new product development for the year ahead — products that are made from recycled material, designed to be recyclable, and manufactured here in Australia.
It was a great opportunity to see the plant in action at a beautiful location in Portarlington, and to see firsthand how local manufacturing capability is helping strengthen Australia’s recycling and remanufacturing industry. If you haven’t seen their newly launched One Deck range, it’s worth a look - it’s made with primarily recycled content, including up to 15% resilient flooring offcuts. If you’re a contractor or retailer of resilient flooring and you’d like to join our growing network of Collection Points, helping supply our Australian manufacturing partner, please get in touch. It’s free to join. Join Us: https://www.resiloop.org.au/collection-point-application.html View the One Deck Range: https://www.onedeck.com.au/ ResiLoop is pleased to announce its first Circularity Support Fund (CSF) project: a University of Technology Sydney (UTS) study titled “Managing legacy additives and restricted substances in the circular economy”. The project will deliver a practical industry guide to help address the challenges of recycling uplifted resilient flooring where, due to the age of the old flooring, the material may contain additives that are no longer utilised or acceptable in new products. With total resilient flooring waste estimated at around 60,000 tonnes, addressing uplifted flooring is essential to achieving circular outcomes at scale, and this UTS research is a step towards supporting safe end-of-life management for uplifted floorcoverings. The research will identify legacy additive issues for products on the Australian market, review local and international policy and legislation to identify best practice approaches (including potential safe thresholds for recycled content), and evaluate the technical readiness of technologies used to identify, treat and recycle material streams containing legacy additives. It will also assess current end-of-life treatment options to clarify what’s viable today and what may require further development. It is expected that the guidelines may be useful for other sectors working with durable product waste streams. “Uplifted flooring is where the scale is, but because of the long use of resilient flooring products, it is also where the complexity sits. Recycling at scale will require a clear understanding of material compositions and the options available to identify, treat and manage any legacy additives safely. We look forward to this UTS research providing practical guidance to support decision-making, development of future recovery and recycling systems and helping ensure our members’ products are designed for circular pathways in the future.” Sophi MacMillan, CEO, ResiLoop ResiLoop launched its Circularity Support Fund (CSF) this year with $180,000 in funding available. $28,930.50 has been awarded to UTS for this 5-month project commencing December 2025. The Product Stewardship Centre of Excellence is a partner with UTS in the project. The remaining grant recipients from the first tranche to be announced shortly. The Fund offers competitive grants for projects that avoid resilient flooring waste through improved design, recovery, reuse and recycling. Funding may be directed to research, product and process trials, end-market development and initiatives that scale local recycling capacity. Details on the 2026 tranche will be released in the coming months. See UTS video: We’re pleased to publish ResiLoop’s first Audited Annual Report, marking a milestone in our first full year of operation, a year of Laying the Foundations for circularity in Australia’s resilient flooring sector.
With the collective effort of our members, partners, and installers, collections began across Victoria, proving what’s possible when material recovery happens on the ground. As we move into our second year, we’re calling on all stakeholders - from manufacturers and distributors to retailers, builders, installers, and specifiers - to help build collections and scale circular practice across the industry. Through continued research and development and initiatives like our Circularity Support Fund (CSF), we’re building on these foundations to create stronger recycling pathways and a future where resilient flooring material stays in the loop. With the commitment of 17 leading brands behind the scheme we’re in a good position to move forward and to continue strengthening our foundations. Read the full Audited Annual Report #ResiLoop #CircularEconomy #ResilientFlooring #WasteReduction #CircularFuture #Sustainability #Recycling We’re proud to share that ResiLoop has now collected and diverted 100 tonnes of resilient flooring offcuts from landfill. This result comes from the collective effort of our Members, Collection Points, floorlayers and partners who have integrated collection into their projects. It’s an important step toward building local recycling solutions and reducing waste across the industry. Thank you to everyone who has been part of the journey so far - and here’s to the next 100 tonnes. If you’d like to join us, we welcome new Members and Collection Points to help expand the network. 1300 800 568 [email protected] Recently, Sustainability Victoria hosted a conversation with sustainability change maker, Emeritus Professor and former Dutch Cabinet Minister, Prof. dr Jacqueline Cramer.
Here are some of the key messages that resonated with us at ResiLoop: 1. The transition starts with a shared sense of urgency – No actor can realise a circular initiative alone. – Frontrunners must lead, but all actors need to be included. 2. Long-term goals must be connected to short-term action – Create space for experimenting and learning. – Every small step matters when building momentum. 3. Join forces to shape a circular economy – Transition management requires coordination across the ecosystem. – Collective action is the only way forward. Professor Usha Iyer-Raniga helped ground the conversation in the Australian context, highlighting local opportunities and challenges for the built environment. Thank you to Sustainability Victoria for hosting this important discussion and for including ResiLoop. We invite others to join us on our mission to accelerate circular solutions in resilient flooring - because building a circular economy will only be achieved together. [email protected] 1800 800 568 |