Circularity Conference 2024, 26-27 Nov in Sydney – Summary and Key Takeaways

SACC Honorary Board Member, Dr Nicole Garofano, opens the conference with Planet Ark Deputy CEO, Adam Culley.

The Circularity Conference 2024, held 26-27 November at the Doltone House in Sydney, gathered nearly 300 experts from government, industry, education, and research to advance Australia’s circular economy. The SACC together with the Embassy of Sweden were delighted to attend the conference which was filled with interesting presentations, talks and panel discussions that highlighted the urgent need for Australia to transition to a circular economy through collaboration, innovation, and practical action across sectors like waste, energy, and the built environment. Over two days, experts showcased actionable solutions, from policy frameworks to groundbreaking technologies, emphasizing the potential for circular practices to drive sustainability and economic growth.

Summary of Day One

The first day of the conference emphasized collaboration and practical action to transition from a linear “take, make, dispose” model to a sustainable circular approach.

Discussions and focus

  1. Resource-Efficient Value Chains

    • Focus: Transforming resource extraction, production, and consumption to minimize waste and environmental impact.
    • Call for collaboration across supply chains and supportive legislative and economic conditions.

  2. Circular Economy Investment Fund

    • Announcement of the Circular Future Fund to accelerate Australia’s circular economy through investments in recycling, circular product design, and renewable resources.

  3. Global Resource Management

    • Keynote by Dr. Janez Potočnik emphasized decoupling economic growth from resource consumption and highlighted the circular economy as a major business opportunity.

  4. National Framework and Legislation

    • Insights from Australia’s Circular Economy Ministerial Advisory Group outlined the need for:
      • A national circular economy framework with ambitious targets.
      • Harmonized collaboration between federal and state governments.
      • Challenge-based funding and systems thinking to avoid unintended consequences.

  5. Collaboration and Legacy Mindsets

    • Fireside Chat highlighted the need to challenge entrenched norms and foster partnerships that respect unique contexts, embrace innovation, and create resilient systems.

  6. Circular Design

    • Designers discussed transparency, skills development, and the need for better briefs to prioritize sustainability and ensure products are long-lasting and recyclable.

  7. Role of Finance

    • Panels addressed:
      • Standardizing circular financing models.
      • Bridging gaps in funding for scaling solutions.
      • Recognizing investment in biodiversity as an economic opportunity.

  8. Behaviour Change and Capability Building

    • Launch of Monash Circular Economy Labs to support workforce development, transition ecosystems, and systemic changes through technology, innovation, and consumer behaviour insights.

Takeaways

  • The circular economy is still in its infancy and requires systemic change across all sectors.
  • Practical, systems-thinking action is urgent to avoid unintended negative outcomes.
  • Collaboration is critical at all levels to achieve a successful and just transition.

Conclusion

Day one set a strong foundation for Australia’s circular economy, emphasizing collaboration, innovation, and action to drive transformative change.

Read the full summary by Liam Taylor, PlanetArk here: https://acehub.org.au/news/insights-from-day-one-of-circularity-2024

Summary of Day Two

The focus of the Day:
The second and final day of Circularity 2024 shifted from exploring the potential of the circular economy to implementing it across various sectors through practical action, innovation, and collaboration.

1. Zero-waste and Decarbonisation

  • Keynote by Matt Kean (Chair of Climate Change Authority):
    • Highlighted the urgent need for Australia to decarbonize and transition to a circular economy to achieve climate goals.
    • Emphasized sectors like waste reduction, renewable energy, and the built environment as key areas for circular principles to drive emissions reductions and economic growth.

2. Innovation Pitch Fest

  • Featured groundbreaking projects driving the circular economy, such as:
    • Packamama: Sustainable wine bottles made from recycled PET.
    • Licella: Technology converting waste into biofuels and biomaterials.
    • PV Industries (Winner): Solar panel recycling solutions.
    • Utilitarian: Blockchain-based digital product passports.
    • Koor: Refillable containers to reduce single-use plastics.
  • Takeaway: Showcased tangible innovations with real-world applications.

3. Workshops on Circular Practices

  • Circular Business Design (CIRCO):
    • Explored strategies like modular design and product-as-a-service models to extend product lifecycles.
    • Encouraged collaboration and actionable design strategies for sustainable business models.
  • Circular Procurement:
    • Highlighted lifecycle thinking and innovative procurement strategies (e.g., Product-Service Systems) to align environmental, economic, and social goals.

4. Product Stewardship and Regulation

  • Panel discussed:
    • Lifecycle accountability through product stewardship.
    • Tailored approaches for sectors like packaging, mattresses, and tyres.
    • Emphasis on stronger regulations to complement voluntary initiatives.

5. Measuring Circularity

  • Explored metrics for circular economy progress:
    • Shift from volume-based to value-based metrics.
    • Examples from Denmark and Tesco showed the integration of circular goals into regulations and incentives.
    • Highlighted Australia’s 13% circularity rate and opportunities to improve through systemic changes.

6. Industry and Sector Focus

  • Aluminium Industry: Challenges in recycling infrastructure and global collaboration opportunities to reduce emissions and increase circularity.
  • Built Environment: Circular urban planning to reduce emissions, with innovations like modular housing and retrofitting.
  • Fashion Industry: Progress through circular design guidelines and voluntary stewardship programs like Seamless.

Takeaways

  1. Action-Oriented Transition: Practical implementation of circular economy principles is critical, with innovations and collaborations driving real-world impact.
  2. Collaboration is Key: Effective partnerships across sectors and borders are essential to overcoming challenges and scaling solutions.
  3. Tangible Pathways: Workshops and case studies offered actionable tools and strategies for businesses, policymakers, and stakeholders to adopt circular practices.

Conclusion

Circularity 2024 concluded with a strong call to embed circular principles across society, emphasizing urgency and opportunity. While challenges remain, the conference highlighted clear pathways and innovative solutions for driving Australia’s transition to a sustainable, circular future.

Read the full summary by Liam Taylor, PlanetArk here: https://acehub.org.au/news/insights-from-day-one-of-circularity-2024

 

Special thank you to Dr Nicole Garofano, CEO PlanetArk for inviting us to take part in this conference.