Hard hats are worn at our sites to ensure the health and safety of our people and contractors. Because of occupational health and safety guidelines, hard hats can only be used for three years before they expire (as per manufacturing guidelines), with Stanwell going beyond this and replacing them every two years.
In collaboration with Recycling Solutions Australia, approximately 500 hard hats which were once destined for landfill, are now repurposed every two years. Once assumed to have come to the end of their usable life, these hard hats are now beginning their reusable journey after leaving one of our sites.
For Stanwell Category Specialist, Amanda Lingard, establishing the initiative was a no-brainer.
“Applying the principles of a circular economy and recycling products that would once have gone to landfill, allows us to reduce the impact our resources would have otherwise had.”
The recycling initiative with Recycling Solutions Australia, sees our hard hats turned into a multitude of new products. Due to the pliable and diverse quality of the plastic used in hard hats, known as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic, Stanwell’s hard hats are turned into anything from bumper bars to technology equipment. Stanwell now ensures that all the hard hats used onsite are made of ABS plastic to guarantee they can be recycled, come their expiration date.
Environmental Advisor, Jodi Liddell, believes hard hats are only the start when it comes to exploring other items that may be recycled from our sites.
“The team at Stanwell are always looking to explore other products that may be recycled from our business. We will continue to work with both our people and contractors, constantly challenging ourselves to evolve this initiative. It’s very exciting,” Jodi said.
“It is also important that we share our learnings with the wider industry. The initiative is not only about better environmental outcomes for Stanwell, but about ensuring greater outcomes for the industry at large,” she said.
We are proud of the continued efforts of our people to explore new processes that provide a greater benefit to both the environment and our community. A true reflection of our value – we care.