New circular economy report

Cross Hub Waste Coordinator Leader Dr Heinz Schandl is an expert contributor to a new report that establishes a baseline understanding of circular economy measurement for governments.

Launched on 25 February 2022, the report's research was conducted by sustainability and circular economy consultancy Edge Environment in collaboration with the Australian Circular Economy (ACE) Hub.

Heinz is the Hub's Waste Impact Management Leader, Science Leader at CSIRO, and Chair of the ACE Hub's Metrics Working Group.

The report, 'Measuring the circular economy - an Australian perspective', is the first in a series of projects the ACE Hub is undertaking with its Technical Supporters — a selection of organisations partnering with the ACE Hub to fast-track Australia's circular transition.

The findings were generated through interviews with technical experts in the fields of circularity and metrics and an online survey of government representatives from the local, state and federal level.

ACE Hub webpage and report

ACE Hub logo2

Excerpt from the ACE Hub:

KEY FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

EMERGING MEASUREMENT OF THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN AUSTRALIA:

  • Circular economy and its measurement are currently centred within the waste management narrative.
  • Australia has sufficient data to start measuring circularity more comprehensively.

  • Some stakeholders are making progress on circular economy measurement, but are disconnected from one another, stifling progress.

POTENTIAL FOR ACCELERATED CHANGE IN CIRCULAR ECONOMY MEASUREMENT:

  • A national circular economy measurement framework tailored to our context and objectives.

  • A sophisticated data collection, integration and management system underpinned by strong governance.

  • Effective measurement to create shared value and accelerate Australia's transition to a circular economy.

ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE CIRCULAR ECONOMY MEASUREMENT FRAMEWORK:

  • Plan — agree on the objectives and particulars of an Australian circular economy measurement framework.

  • Do — calculate the circular economy baseline for Australia.

  • Evolve — evaluate, iterate, set a long-term vision and targets and drive long-term improvement in how the circular economy is measured.