Circular economy

We believe in empowering a circular future through cutting-edge knowledge creation, catalytics industrial and policy impact, and the development of visionary leaders.

We begin by deeply understanding the problem: its causes and consequences, who is affected and how. But we don’t stop there. We design innovative and integrated solutions and build pathways for implementation. We help unpack complex problems, build capacity, design and test solutions, and transform systems for sustainable development.

Through our Circular Economy Labs, we drive the transition to a circular economy by enabling deep collaboration and co-design with government, industry, and communities.

Contact Martin Geissdoerfer or Jennifer Macklin for collaborative opportunities.

Behavioural roadmap to circular consumption

Building on research with govt partners and stakeholders, the project combined systems thinking and behavioural science to create a roadmap of the change needed to transform Australia’s systems of production-consumption towards a circular economy.

Waste and circular economy collaboration

Leveraging the missions, reach and expertise of government partners to explore how behavioural science can be used to encourage households, businesses and the community to avoid, reduce, reuse and recycle, and transition to a circular economy.

Reducing food waste

One of Australia’s leading food rescue organisations, OzHarvest, teamed up with BehaviourWorks Australia's Dr Mark Boulet to conduct research and develop a behaviour change program to fight household food waste.

National framework for waste prevention in a circular economy

In consultation with over 100 of Australia’s circular economy experts, we produced a framework for understanding waste prevention activity, and methods for measuring waste prevention activity and outcomes at national, state and more local scales.

Circular economy product labelling schemes

We explored the international literature for evidence on whether eco-labels have positive impacts on consumers, businesses and the environment, in order to inform Australian public policy.

Single use plastics interventions

Through a rapid literature review and practice review we explored the types and effectiveness of behavioural interventions that were implemented to reduce consumption of single-use plastics.

Circular t-shirt guide

The guide sets out clear and practical principles and steps at each phase of the clothing lifecycle. Created by a collective of designers, distributors, recyclers and researchers to raise awareness of a circular textiles approach.

Transitions to a circular textile economy in Australia

We helped shape govt policy to include textiles waste, a significant contributor to landfill, and published research in consultation with 11 fashion industry groups who provided their perspectives and experiences on the textile circular economy.

Circular Economy Labs

We are working towards a circular economy through deep collaboration and co-design, working in close partnership with government, industry and communities.

Our approach

Knowledge creation

We help our partners explore the specific questions that they need answered to enable the transition to a circular economy. Then we look for evidence, decide what’s relevant and credible, and pull it all together to draw conclusions and make recommendations to support evidence-based decision making and action.

Our research aims to generate interdisciplinary and practical knowledge to help industry, policymakers and communities shift towards circular economies locally and internationally.

Developing visionary leaders

We foresee where the academic field moves, building a strong PhD cohort, and proactively shaping key academic management and policy debates. Teaching industrial and policy leaders, and developing an action research team and a suite of open-access tools. We Facilitate key players to realise a circular, zero-waste future.

We collaborate within and outside academia, developing and refining new methods and integrated approaches to enable us to solve complex problems and transform systems.

Industrial and policy impact

We support decision makers in industry and policy with structuring complexity, building a circular economy transition profile and advising policymakers.

Major transformations like a circular economy require coordinated action towards common goals. We combine rigour with relevance, centring on deep collaborations and real-world application, working in close partnership with government, industry and communities to amplify impact.

Using our expertise in systems and behavioural change, we help shape policy, set agendas and build narratives to deliver the real-world impact needed.

Circular Economy Labs

Dr Martin Geissdoerfer

Launched by MSDI, the Circular Economy Labs are designed to act as transition brokers, bridging the gap between ambition and action. The Labs aim to accelerate circular transitions by combining world-class research with practical tools and partnerships.

“Circular Economy Labs are more than research hubs – they are catalysts for change. By fostering collaborations between policymakers, industries, and academics, we aim to scale solutions and de-risk investments in circular production."

Click here to discover more about the Circular Economy Labs