INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY ARE OUR DAILY DRIVES

Progress so far

Saved from landfill

8,000,000 KG

of materials recycled to date
by JR Hammer

Resource recovery rate

90%

Percentage of materials recycled
For comparison: Industry average for domestic cables is 50%

Why did waste become such an issue in Australia?

Until a few years ago Australia’s solution to waste was simple: shop it offshore and let somewhere else worry about it.

But since then, starting with China’s “National Sword Policy”, several countries are no longer prepared to accept our waste, and suddenly our lack of local recycling investment and facilities became very clear.

That’s when the seeds were sown for JR Hammer’s commitment: a determination to help industry reduce waste and landfill.

Australia’s waste ended up in toxic dumps like this

The win-win-win

When we sustainably recycle cables, the benefits ripple through the entire ecosystem:

Raw Materials Impact: Both copper and PVC deliver significant sustainability wins when recycled. Copper recycling saves up to 85% of the energy required for mining and will be crucial as global demand grows by 50% by 2050 to support renewable energy infrastructure. Meanwhile, our innovative PVC recycling prevents harmful compounds from entering the environment through incineration or landfill leaching.
Closing the Loop: These recovered materials return to the economy as valuable inputs for new cables, garden walls, pipes, flooring, and construction materials. This completes the circular journey and reduces pressure on new resource extraction.

Thanks to our pioneering R&D work, we expect to return 95% of all received materials into the circular economy, reducing waste, cutting emissions and creating a more resilient and sustainable economy. Which means it retains its value, so you get paid more for it.

It’s truly a case of everybody wins!

Round like a record: vinyl and the circular economy

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is found in thousands of products, yet in Australia we recycle less than 5% of the 200,000 tonnes produced annually.

And that’s why our R&D focus is on PVC. Through our program ‘Round Like a Record: Vinyl and the Circular Economy,’ JR Hammer is leading a strategic collaboration with the Vinyl Council Australia, CSIRO, Ouroborus, Welvic and RMIT, backed by a Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-P) grant. This government-matched funding of up to $3 million supports our groundbreaking research into advanced recycling solutions.

The core of our innovation is an environmentally friendly dissolution technique that separates PVC from complex waste materials without degrading the polymer. Unlike mechanical recycling methods that often yield lower-quality outputs, our selective solvent-based approach breaks down the composite waste matrix while preserving the PVC molecular structure. This allows us to extract near virgin-grade PVC that maintains its critical performance properties—suitable for reuse in demanding applications where traditionally only virgin materials could be used.

By transforming what others discard into high-quality recycled PVC, we’re not just reducing landfill – we’re building a circular economy where materials maintain their value through multiple lifecycles, just like a record that keeps on spinning.

For more information about PVC recycling, you can read CSIRO’s paper here.

Supporting ESG and governance

In Australia, almost 75% of organisations have environmental, social, and governance goals. This is driven not just by a sense of responsibility; investors now factor sustainability into their investment choices, seeking risk-adjusted returns.Good governance ensures companies are more accountable, resilient and transparent to investors and gives them the tools to respond to stakeholder concerns.

We issue Green Certificates to assist in this reporting and to enable clients to enhance their reputations and competitive effectiveness.

Beyond reporting, integrating ESG into your business is a transformative journey. By working with us, these changes can unlock more sustainable and profitable operations that optimise the value-capture potential of your waste streams while simultaneously strengthening your sustainability credentials.

Our recycling programs directly support Australia’s National Waste Policy Action Plan target of 80% resource recovery by 2030 – a critical milestone in the country’s sustainability roadmap. By partnering with us, your business not only contributes to national environmental goals but also positions itself as a leader in the transition to a more circular economy.

Sources:
https://www.herbertsmithfreehills.com/insights/reports/esg-in-australia-2024-report
https://kpmg.com/au/en/home/insights/2024/11/sustainability-reporting-survey-2024.html

Innovation in action

RMIT

Pioneering research collaboration with RMIT developing advanced PVC recovery processes. Our partnership tackles Australia's vinyl waste challenge, creating sustainable solutions that transform what others discard into valuable resources. You can find out more here.

Think Polymer Technologies

Partnering with Think Polymer Technologies to transform recycled PVC from copper cables into high-performance commercial products through advanced analytical technology and circular manufacturing practices.

Envirolite Concrete Products

Transforming recycled materials into lightweight cement products. Our partnership with Envirolite demonstrates how industrial waste becomes a valuable construction resource, creating stronger, more sustainable building solutions.