#Carbon neutral

Just another cattle sale? Far from it. Beef producer, Robert Mackenzie has hosted Australia’s first carbon neutral cattle sale. Not just a marketing ploy for his family’s paddock-to-plate enterprise, Macka’s Australian Black Angus, Robert called the sale the beef industry’s ‘proof of concept’ – evidence it is working towards its Carbon Neutral 2030 target.

Six years out from the deadline, we’re already seeing glimpses of how supply chains plan to meet their 2030 carbon pledges. In short: farmers with the lowest carbon footprint will be prioritised, so how do you ensure you’re at the head of the queue? Professor Richard Eckard shares why he believes selling carbon credits isn’t the answer.

A quick disclosure — I love M.J. Bale suits. I was married in one, and most items in my wardrobe that aren’t workwear bear its label. The popularity of the Australian menswear brand shouldn't mean that it needs to worry about things like ethical clothing or sustainability, which have become selling points with consumers. It speaks to the morality of the clothier that it does. After becoming Australia’s first carbon-neutral fashion brand in 2021, the tailors to farmers, footballers and the top end of town have partnered with Sea Forest, an environmental technology company based in Tasmania, to further decarbonise their business by attacking the gassiest part – the sheep that produce the wool.

Part of the Harvest Road stable, the Leeuwin Coast aquaculture and seafood brand can genuinely boast that it is one-of-a-kind – on multiple fronts. The launch of the Akoya, a novel shellfish category, is capturing the attention of conscious consumers and discerning foodies around the world.

HydGene Renewables is paving the way for Australia’s carbon-zero future, using biowaste to produce 100% renewable and green hydrogen on-site and on-demand. The solution will provide farmers with low-cost and sustainable alternatives for ammonia, transport and seasonal energy storage. Now the startup is seeking investment to source alternative feedstocks and scale its technology.

Founder and Managing Director of Flinders + Co, James Madden shares his learnings about carbon neutral products and the path-to-market in the highly competitive shelves of major retailers and why embracing “failure culture” could lead to greater innovation and success for Australian startups.