Loop Organics recognises the inherent value of organic materials and the significant advantages of sustainably returning them to the earth. It transforms biosolids – the waste output from wastewater treatment plants, and other organic materials – into user-friendly, low-odour soil amendments.
Loop’s transformed organic material provides organic waste reuse solutions to various industries, including food manufacturing, food processing and councils. The company’s long-term strategy is to promote a circular economy using all forms of organic waste.
Hunter Valley regional manager Matthew Brown says Loop views waste as a resource, not as a disposable product. He ensures the Ravensworth Composting Facility maximises its organics processing to produce custom-made composts for use on farms and mine rehabilitation, boosting soil health and improving the fertility of depleted soils.
“Our purpose is to responsibly return organics to the earth,” Matt says. “Historically, only farming land distant from high-population centres applied biosolids. It resulted in excessive transport emissions and loss of waste ownership from the communities that generated the waste.” Loop also provides consulting services for the beneficial use of biosolids.
Loop Organics is certified Climate Active carbon neutral for its business operations. As part of its commitment to driving sustainability in the organics recycling industry, Loop Organics has become a Bronze Partner of the NSW Government Sustainability Advantage program in acknowledgement of its environmental achievements. Loop also implements the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Hunter Manufacturing Awards (HMA) appropriately named Loop Organics its Excellence in Sustainable Operations winner for 2022. HMA represents all businesses actively engaged in the manufacturing sector, including their allies, in the Upper Hunter, Lower Hunter, Central Coast, Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, Port Stephens, and Mid-North Coast regions. The awards inspire, encourage, and recognise vibrant and enduring manufacturing in these regions.
In recognising the growth of manufacturing in the Hunter and celebrating the innovations and commitment, HMA 2023 places a spotlight squarely on global reach. The organisation is keen to push the message of international opportunities and its tagline for 2023 is “made in the Hunter, for the world”.
Certainly, the Hunter’s industrial history and impressive transport infrastructure provide the region’s manufacturers with a compelling advantage as they make their forays into international markets. HMA encourages the growing and diverse base of established and emerging manufacturers of the region to use this advantage, look beyond Australia, and take their products and services to the international market.
“Loop does not have an international market as such,” says Matt. “We sell all our products locally and regionally. We’re not exporting products. But we believe that in aligning with the 17 UN sustainability goals, we are taking a global approach. We have 25 employees in local and regional operations, but we think globally in terms of responsibility.”
Loop Organics’ compost recycles by-products from sewage treatment to create a high-quality, nutrient-rich soil conditioner. Its process dramatically increases the marketability, usability, and sustainability of the original waste product. To achieve this, Loop worked with the NSW Environment Protection Authority to create an exemption for Biomix™️. This exemption allows farmers to apply Biomix™️ without the regulatory constraints associated with the original biosolids. The success of the project has resulted in the use of Biomix™️ on agricultural land adjacent to the communities that generated the waste in the first place.
In designing and implementing Biomix™️, Loop’s team of environmental scientists, engineers, and agronomists focused on achieving the desired outcomes of increased marketability, usability, and sustainability of biosolids. It’s not so much, “made in the Hunter, for the world,” as “made in the Hunter, for the earth.”
