Transpower Sustainability Category Winner

5R Solutions has been named the Sustainability category winner from Transpower’s awards night. Recognising excellence in Technology and Engineering.

An initiative that will provide long-term positive impacts on the environment.

The 2020 Sustainability Strategy identified recyclable assets like glass insulators, which comprise 17% of Transpower’s waste. The glass insulator recycling initiative diverts 127 tonnes of insulators from landfill annually, helping Transpower reach its goal of reducing landfilled waste by 30% by 2030 and cutting disposal costs by 30%. Challenges included assessing the recyclability of hardened glass, processing practicality, and identifying a recycling partner. The scheme minimises impact on field operations and repurposes materials, with recycled glass used in products like glass wool insulation, enhancing energy efficiency in homes and businesses.

The judges said: An excellent example of a circular economy. This work really stands out. Its elegance is in its simplicity resulting in a positive environmental impact, a true example of work that strikes at the core of what sustainability really means.