Circular economy

Applying our expertise

Circular Economy has taken centre stage in policy and academic discourse as a regenerative approach to waste management and creating a more sustainable, secure and fairer future for all. Our expertise in co-developing solutions and implementing transitions to circular economy – in partnership with government, industry and communities – is creating real world impact through applied research, evidence review, capacity and capability building, and policy design. Our Chair, John Thwaites, is the Chair of the Australian Government’s Circular Economy Ministerial Advisory Group. Our team is on the national stage, presenting at high profile conferences such as the Circular Economy Research Network conference and the Australian Circular Economy Hub’s two day event, Circularity Conference 2023.

Learning through living

The Citarum Action Research Program – a collaboration with Monash Art Design and Architecture, CSIRO, Universitas Indonesia, Universitas Padjadjaran, EAWAG, the West Java government, YPBB, proBSF, Precious Plastics Bandung, and local communities – is transforming the polluted Citarum River. Following extensive consultation with local governments and communities, the Masterplan drawing that sets out the plan for developing the Citarum corridor was completed. In the next 12 months, the program will co-design a community-run village waste management facility to support a circular economy for plastic and organic waste and contribute to local economic development.

In consultation with over 100 of Australia’s circular economy experts, BehaviourWorks Australia produced a Behavioural Roadmap for Circular Consumption to identify priorities for consumer behaviour change and, more importantly, priorities for policy-makers and industry to create more lasting system change.

Continuing BehaviourWorks Australia’s partnership with OzHarvest, in 2023 we looked at maximising the efficiency of food rescue at supermarkets and evaluating how their curriculum-aligned education program FEAST can support further reduction of food waste in homes.

Australia’s fashion and textiles industry and the nation’s media is seeking out our expertise to share our knowledge and we’re seeing major brands and retailers, such as Country Road and Kathmandu, excel within the industry and embed circular economy piloting and practices into their business. Aleasha McCallion’s membership of the Country Road Climate Fund Assessment Committee will continue in 2024.

Some other 2023 highlights include being approached by key publications to write news articles, as well as two live national broadcasts on ABC TV News and four radio interviews. Notably, this media engagement  includes our comment on the launch of the national clothing product stewardship scheme, ‘Seamless,’ which we had supported through our advisory group membership.

As part of the Sustainable Community and Waste Hub of the National Environmental Science Program we are exploring circular economy governance in regional and remote Australia. The survey and analysis in 2023 set us up to identify shared solutions and build local capacity to meet the unique needs of these communities. In 2024, we will focus on identifying and delivering place based solutions with local partners, and generating evidence for a national framework for supporting circular economy innovation in regional and remote Australia.