S3E7 Turning waste into an opportunity with Ryan Collins from Planet Ark

In this episode of Food Waste Matters, host Dr. Joanne Freeman welcomes Ryan Collins from Planet Ark, a leading environmental organisation in Australia. They discuss the crucial role of businesses and communities in reducing food waste, along with the practical resources and initiativesavailable to support them.

Ryan highlights Planet Ark’s efforts in promoting sustainability through programs like the Australian Circular Economy Hub (ACE Hub) and the Recycling Near You platform.

He explains how these resources help businessestransition towards a circular economy, where food waste can be minimised, repurposed, or recycled effectively.

The conversation covers:

1. Why food waste reduction matters its impact on the environment, economy, and businesses.
2. Planet Ark’s initiatives – including business recycling tools, waste audits, and case studies showcasing successful sustainability efforts.
3. Barriers to change – the knowledge gap in businesses about waste management and the importance of clear, jargon-free communication.
4. Behavioural science in sustainability – using positive reinforcement rather than guilt to encourage recyclingand waste reduction.
5. The benefits of composting for businesses from cost savings to environmental improvements.
6. Recycling Near You website recently launched
7. Future initiatives research on business attitudes toward waste.

Key Takeaways:

• Businesses want to reduce waste but often lack the knowledge or resources.

• Planet Ark provides practical tools and research to help businesses implement sustainable solutions.

• Behavioural change techniques like positive messaging and employee engagement can improve waste reduction efforts.

• The ACE Hub portal connects businesses, governments, and experts to collaborate on sustainability solutions.

About Ryan: Ryan Collins, is the Head of Impact and Research at Planet Ark. After nearly a decade working in the banking and finance industry, Ryan was drawn to a career in sustainability that saw him work in Sydney, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Fiji in diverse roles such as monitoring and evaluation, threatened species and sustainable agriculture. With a background in psychology and environmental management, Ryan’s role at Planet Ark since 2012 has focused on developing positive environmental behaviour change programs and research that help individuals, businesses, government and schools transition to a circular economy.

Links

https://planetark.org

https://businessrecycling.com.au/

https://planetark.org/programs/australian-circular-economy-hub

https://www.honeyandfox.com.au/

https://thegreatunwaste.com.au/

https://endfoodwaste.com.au/

https://recyclingnearyou.com.au/

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/planetark/?hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/foodwastematters_podcast/

https://www.instagram.com/honey_and_fox/

https://www.instagram.com/thegreatunwaste/

https://www.instagram.com/endfoodwasteaus/

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/@planetark/

https://www.facebook.com/HoneyandFox/

https://www.facebook.com/thegreatunwaste/

https://www.facebook.com/EndFoodWasteAus/

LinkedIn

https://au.linkedin.com/company/planetark

https://au.linkedin.com/company/honey-&-fox-pty-ltd

https://au.linkedin.com/company/endfoodwasteaus

As always, if you have questions, feedback, or a story about how you’re reducing food waste, we’d love to hear from you. Drop us an email at www.foodwastematters.com.au. 

And if you want to check out all our previous podcasts head to your favourite podcast platform and search Food Waste Matters.