Presenters Name: Rachael Roberts
Employment Title: GM R&D and Innovation
Company: Paintback
Biography: As the General Manager of R&D at Paintback, Rachael has successfully spearheaded initiatives that align with the Paintback scheme’s stewardship schemes goals of diverting paint waste from landfill by developing recycled products from paint and paint packaging. She has valuable insights into the practical implementation and commercialisation of research in sourcing new solutions for utilising paint waste in the construction and built environment sectors.
Presentation Title: Unlocking Circular Solutions for Unwanted Paint and Packaging at Paintback
Presentation Abstract: For years, the industry standard for unwanted paint focused on collection and containment. However, as Paintback’s General Manager for Research and Development, the presenter argues that Australia is currently sitting on a resource goldmine rather than a waste problem. This session explores how Paintback is pivoting from a traditional stewardship model toward a sophisticated circular engine, transforming liquid waste and packaging into commercially viable industrial assets.
The presentation provides a data-driven look at the journey of moving recycled water-based paint from the laboratory to the Australian marketplace. It examines the commercial potential and technical hurdles of high-value applications—such as innovative concrete additives and specialty coatings—demonstrating that circularity can be both profitable and environmentally responsible.
Key takeaways include:
- The Data of Discovery: How R&D insights drive the commercialisation of recycled paint products.
- Closing the Loop on Packaging: Strategies for reclaiming steel and plastic containers within a fragmented supply chain.
- Market Realities: Navigating the unique economic and geographic challenges of the Australian resource recovery sector.
Attendees will gain insight into how Paintback is re-engineering “unwanted” materials into the building blocks of a circular future, proving that what remains in the bucket is the next frontier of Australian industrial innovation.
