Women in Circular Economy Leadership Award 2018 winner

Shani Wood

An Environmental Officer with the City of Holdfast Bay, Shani Wood has been awarded the Green Industries SA Women in Circular Economy Leadership Award for 2018.

She has developed key behaviour change projects for the City of Holdfast Bay which have resulted in improved waste management and recycling rates. Her project will address the global issue of textile waste by investigating practices in Australia, Hong Kong, the UK, and Belgium and, by drawing on these experiences influence improved practices in South Australia. "In the world of fast fashion, textile waste is an ever-growing issue of global significance. After the US, Australians are the second largest consumers of textiles," says Ms Wood.

"New technology and programs need to be embraced to help reduce the approximate 85% of textile wast that goes to landfill in Australia. While South Australia leads the country in waste and resource recovery practices, textile waste remains a significant challenge and opportunity.

Addressing textile waste is an important step in South Australia’s transition to a more circular economy particularly in the area of technology and re-manufacturing."