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SPW CRC Annual Partners Conference 2026: Growing the circular economy for plastics

More than 120 SPW CRC Partners, Associates, Project Parties and invited guests came together in Brisbane from Wednesday 19 to Friday 21 August for the SPW CRC Annual Partners Conference 2026, committed to growing Australia’s circular economy for plastics.

Across the three-day program, 125 attendees from industry, research, government and the wider plastics value chain shared progress from across the SPW CRC, strengthened connections and explored the challenges and opportunities ahead.

Connecting Research with Industry

The conference began on Wednesday evening with a Welcome Reception at Emporium Hotel South Bank, where SPW CRC Chair Dr Leonie Walsh and Griffith University Vice President (Industry and External Engagement) Prof Bronwyn Harch welcomed delegates.

Bronwyn reflected on the strength of the partnership behind the SPW CRC and the value of bringing research, industry, government and end users together around complex challenges. She encouraged delegates to deepen relationships, test ideas and sharpen priorities, setting the tone for the conference ahead.

Thursday began with a Welcome and Acknowledgement of Country from Dr Leonie Walsh, before SPW CRC CEO Paul Hodgson reinforced the SPW CRC’s mission to deliver high-impact, industry-driven research outcomes that accelerate the transformation of how plastics are designed, manufactured, used, recovered and recycled, and how microplastic soil pollution is remediated.

“We will only achieve our mission by providing opportunities for collaboration across the plastics value chain. It was inspiring to bring the whole SPW CRC community together to share, learn and build new connections and ideas that can lead to practical outcomes.”

– Paul Hodgson, CEO, SPW CRC

ARRC Gold Coast CEO Grant Gabriel then delivered the keynote, Waste Is Changing. So Must We., challenging delegates to rethink traditional approaches to waste and consider the systems, infrastructure and collaboration required as Australia moves towards a more circular economy.

The focus then turned to the SPW CRC’s four Research Programs: Materials and Design, Recovery and Recycling, Circular Economy and Microplastics.

Each session moved from the challenge being tackled to 3-Minute Project Updates and industry-led panel discussions exploring what the research means in practice.

Roundtable discussions then invited delegates to explore responsibility for reducing plastic consumption and managing materials at end of life; barriers and opportunities in plastics recovery and recycling; enablers for a carbon-neutral circular economy; and how Australia can better understand and respond to microplastics in the environment.

Together, the format moved from why the research matters to what the SPW CRC is doing, what it means in practice, and what needs to happen next, creating space to identify connections, opportunities and gaps.

SPW CRC Industry Researchers in the Spotlight

SPW CRC Industry Researchers (PhD Students and Postdoctoral Researchers) showcased 31 research posters across the four Research Programs.

Four researchers were recognised at the Conference Dinner for outstanding and commendable poster presentations:

Postdoctoral Researchers

  • Outstanding: Dr Apeksha Goswami, University of New South Wales – Plastic on our plate? Mapping Micro- and Nanoplastic in Australian Foods
  • Commendable: Dr Amanda Dawson, Griffith University – Developing Standard Protocols to Extract and Quantify Microplastics from Soil and Compost

PhD Students

  • Outstanding: Sandy Behrens, CQUniversity – Closing the Loop on Soft Plastics: From Pyrolysis Oil Quantity to Quality
  • Commendable: KC Kasturi, University of Technology Sydney – Designing a Reduction Pathway for Soft Plastics in Australia

From Plastic Pollution to Practical Action

Conference Dinner guest speaker and Eco Barge Clean Seas founder Libby Edge shared her inspiring story, The Plastic Problem in Paradise, recounting how her personal response to marine debris in the Whitsundays grew into Eco Barge Clean Seas and its work across clean-up, recycling, education, conservation and community engagement.

The dinner also gave delegates an opportunity to continue conversations, make new connections and build relationships across the SPW CRC community.

Looking at Plastics Through Agriculture and Packaging

Friday opened with Claire Andersen, Executive Director of the Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling within Queensland’s Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation, sharing Less Landfill, More Recycling 2035: Queensland Waste Strategy and the state’s direction on waste and resource recovery.

Two extended panel discussions then focused on sectors where plastics play an important and complex role.

The Agriculture and Plastics panel brought together perspectives spanning farming, horticulture, livestock and research to explore how plastic use is evolving and the priorities that need to be tackled collectively by 2030.

The Packaging and Plastics panel explored challenges spanning recyclability, recycled content, soft plastics, compostable packaging, collection systems, consumer behaviour, regulation and product design. Panellists also considered where investment is most needed and the research, knowledge and capability gaps slowing progress across the packaging value chain.

Meet the Agriculture and Plastics and Packaging and Plastics panellists.

Bringing the SPW CRC Community Together

Across the three days, the conference gave the SPW CRC community an opportunity to connect beyond individual projects and Research Programs, strengthening existing relationships and giving attendees greater visibility of research underway across the SPW CRC.

New connections were made across the conference, opening opportunities for further collaboration across projects, programs and organisations.

“No single organisation, sector or government can solve this challenge alone. Through settings like this conference, the SPW CRC is demonstrating how it is uniquely positioned to collaborate across the plastics value chain, address skills and research gaps, support new manufacturing opportunities and contribute to reducing plastics going to landfill.”

– Dr Leonie Walsh, Chair, SPW CRC

Circular thinking was also incorporated into the event through reusable Cercle cups, connecting the conference with the PhD research of SPW CRC Industry Researcher Katie Barton-Harvey. Read more about Katie’s research and how the cups were used across the conference.

Thank you to everyone who attended, contributed to the program, joined the discussions and helped bring the SPW CRC Annual Partners Conference 2026 together.

The conference may have concluded in Brisbane, but the conversations continue, with the focus now on building these connections and identifying new opportunities to deliver impact across Australia’s plastics value chain.

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What is SPW CRC?

Learn about our national mission to reduce plastic waste through industry-led research and collaboration.

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Our Research

Explore how our four Research Programs are delivering solutions across the plastics lifecycle.

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Contribute to research that drives solutions for reducing plastic waste and advancing a circular economy.

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Microcredentials

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Solving Plastic Waste CRC Hosts Inaugural Annual Partners Event

The Solving Plastic Waste CRC (SPW CRC) brought together its Partners from across Australia for its inaugural Annual Partners Event, held in Melbourne from 21–23 October 2025. The three-day program connected industry, government, not-for-profit and research Partners, marking the first major gathering since SPW CRC’s establishment and launch event in 2024.

On 21 October, the event series began with the Industry Researcher Development Day, where SPW CRC PhD and post-doctoral researchers built their skills in communication, leadership and innovation management. Facilitated by Associate Professor Brian McIntosh, Deb Friel, and industry experts, the day focused on strengthening connections among SPW CRC’s next generation of industry researchers.

On 22 October, more than 90 attendees joined the Annual Partners Conference at CSIRO Clayton to learn about research initiatives within SPW CRC’s four research programs and what’s next. The day opened with a Welcome from Dr Leonie Walsh, Chair of the SPW CRC Board, followed by Dr Ian Dagley, CEO, outlining SPW CRC’s progress to date, and Distinguished Professor Chengrong Chen, Research Director, providing an overview of the four research programs, their projects, and the Education & Training Program.

The Research Program Leaders then introduced their areas of focus, inviting Project Leaders and Partners to share their project goals and early-stage work. Each research program also featured a lively panel discussion and Q&A, with audience members actively engaging and sharing perspectives from across the plastics value chain.

Just 15 months into SPW CRC’s journey, the day offered a valuable opportunity to showcase the breadth of projects underway and strengthen connections across the network. The energy in the room reflected the enthusiasm and collaboration at the heart of SPW CRC.

The keynote presentation by Dr Deborah Lau, Research Director, Industry Environments, CSIRO, titled Plastic Waste in Australia: Current Landscape and Future Research Directions, reinforced the importance of cross-sector partnerships in accelerating solutions to plastic waste.

The SPW CRC Education & Training Program was also presented, highlighting the organisation’s commitment to building capability through its hands-on Industry Doctoral Program and the first Microcredential Program of its kind within a CRC.

The day concluded with the Annual Partners Dinner, where Dr Ian Christensen, CEO of iMove CRC, delivered a keynote address titled ‘Off and Running’ – Some Things to Think About When Establishing a New CRC. The evening provided an opportunity for all attendees to connect, share experiences and build momentum for the collaborative work ahead.

The event closed on 23 October with specialised workshops on IP, Patents and Commercialisation, delivered by experts from Davies Collison Cave and Elementary Law. These sessions explored the patent landscape in polymer recycling, the value of IP protection for early-stage ventures and practical approaches to commercialising SPW CRC research outcomes.

We extend our warmest thanks to all Partners and attendees for being part of our first Annual Partners Event. We look forward to reconnecting at upcoming networking events and to reconvening at next year’s event to share progress, strengthen collaboration and continue building a lasting legacy for Australia’s circular economy for plastics.

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The SPW CRC is interested in working with organisations wanting to engage in research to provide an evidence base for their innovations, initiatives, products, policies and more.

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Beyond the ban: Voluntary behaviour change for plastic reduction

 

Professor Sharyn Rundle-Thiele, our Key Research Leader for Behaviour Change within the Solving Plastic Waste CRC and Director Social Marketing at Griffith University, spoke at the Keep Australia Beautiful (KAB) NSW Conference in Sydney.

Used on average for 14 seconds, single use plastics (SUP) pose a significant challenge.  Voluntary behavioural change approaches provide autonomy capable of delivering lasting change. Her talk outlined how councils and individuals can reduce single use plastics and benefit from five years of R&D.

Sharyn’s talk draws from evidence from 15-year research program on voluntary behaviour change. It introduced the CBE framework, highlighted scalable co-designed solutions that can voluntarily reduce single use plastics, and outlined five tenets. The talk called for embedding co-design in policy and serves as a call to action for us all.

CSIRO Ending Plastic Waste Symposium 2024

The Ending Plastic Waste Symposium 2024, led by CSIRO in partnership with RMIT University as host of the ARC TREMS Hub was held on Tuesday 6th August and Wednesday 7th August at Sofitel Melbourne on Collins. The symposium showcased the latest science and technology research across the plastic waste ecosystem with experts from research, industry, and government discussing cutting-edge solutions to end plastic waste.
Key topics presented included plastic design and materials, advances in recycling and resource recovery, plastic in the environment, circular economy and system perspectives and international approaches.

The event provided a valuable opportunity for experts from industry, research and academia to foster connections and future partnerships. Sustainability efforts as part of this event included avoidance of single-use plastics, encouraging the use of reusable items, and included a 50% vegetarian dinner to reduce the carbon footprint.
To view highlights and access presentations and a highlight video from the event visit CSIRO Ending Plastic Waste Symposium 2024.

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Solving Plastic Waste CRC Launch

The Solving Plastic Waste CRC (SPW CRC) was formally launched at an event in Brisbane on 7 November. The event was hosted by Griffith University which led the bid to get the SPW CRC funded. The SPW CRC was very pleased to be joined by nearly 70 of its industry, government, not-for-profit and research partners to celebrate the opening of the centre.

The Honourable Ed Husic, Federal Minister for Science and Industry, delivered a congratulatory message to the CRC and its partners via recorded video, stressing the importance of work for the SPW CRC and its alignment with the government’s priorities.

The SPW CRC would like to thank all of its partners as well as colleagues from stakeholder organisations who took the time to join us in celebrating the start of an exciting 10 years of delivering research that will accelerate Australia’s transition to a circular economy for plastics.

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We acknowledge the traditional custodians across all the lands on which we live and work, and we pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We recognise that these lands and waters have always been places of teaching, research and learning.