Wednesday, 19 March 2025
Australia Hits Earth Overshoot Day: A united call to action for Australians to use less and for longer
Today marks a significant and concerning milestone for our nation: Australia’s Earth Overshoot Day. If everyone on Earth consumed at the same rate as we do here in Australia, as of today, we would have already exhausted our planet’s allocation of natural resources for the entire year, and humanity would need 4.5 Earths to support itself.
“This alarming data highlights the urgent need for a collective response from Australians to halt the depletion of our natural resources,’ said Ms Sloan, CEO of the Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia (WMRR). “Continuing on this unsustainable trajectory poses a dire threat to our environment, food security, and overall quality of life.”
Australia is the 11th fastest country to reach its Overshoot Day, surpassing the United States by only six days and lagging behind the United Kingdom by more than two months.
Bodies from across research and industry collectively agree that while the data may seem grim, there is a pathway forward that can transform our current practices into sustainable solutions. Key to this transformation is the effective management of materials.
According to Ms Sloan, to pivot towards a more sustainable future, Australia must prioritize the waste and resource recovery (WARR) industry, which currently generates over 76 million tonnes of waste annually, and become more resource efficient.
“Australia possesses the resources to recycle and reuse many of the materials we currently mine, “said Ms Sloan. “We must focus on extending the lifecycle of materials rather than adopting a ‘use once and throw away’ mentality.”
The CSIRO’s Dr Heinz Schandl, agrees that the solutions for Australia to be more resource efficient already exist.
“By reducing waste, improving resource efficiency, and embracing a circular economy, we can cut emissions, reduce pollution, and protect ecosystems all while creating jobs and driving innovation. This requires the right economic incentives to design products for durability, reuse, and recycling; to view waste not as an endpoint but as a valuable resource; and to make extended producer responsibility and the right to repair not just optional policies, but essential principles guiding how we produce and consume.”
Given that Australia’s material productivity currently ranks amongst the lowest of the OECD, significant changes need to be made across all of Australia’s supply chains to increase our resource efficiency. Industry experts believe it is achievable with the right systems in place.
“Maximising resource productivity and eliminating waste requires a mindset that goes beyond collection and recycling,’ said Mr John Gertsakis, Director, Product Stewardship Centre of Excellence. “It demands that we create new patterns of production and consumption through systems with a greater focus on incentives that operate at scale. Modernised regulation will be essential as will conscious procurement that prioritises the reuse of materials, as well as product durability and repairability.”
Whilst modernised regulation can take time, Australian consumers and business already have the tools to buy less and use longer, through simple steps like:
- Avoiding buying single use items (go reuseable when you can);
- Buying products containing Australian recycled materials;
- Asking yourself “Can I hire rather than own?” - particularly when I need it infrequently (think tool library, dress hire, car rental., camping gear, party hire);
- Ask yourself “If I buy this, can I get it repaired?”;
- Thinking through your shopping list and eating your leftovers!
Australians are urged to let today serve as a turning point. It’s time to take action and make the conscious decision as a collective to use less and for longer, and ensure that future generations inherit a thriving and resilient environment.
Together, we can create a sustainable future for Australia where we respect the limits of our planet.
END.