Circular economy advisory group to hold first meeting this month

A new Circular Economy Ministerial Advisory Group, chaired by Professor John Thwaites and announced in November, will meet for the first time this month.  

In a statement on Wednesday from federal environment minister Tanya Plibersek, the group was described as advising on the “opportunities and challenges” of “Australia’s transition to a circular economy by 2030.”

Thwaites is a former deputy premier of Victoria, and current Chair of Monash University’s Sustainable Development Institute and Climateworks Centre.

“By developing our circular economy, we reduce waste and pollution, we get more value out of materials in our economy, and we put our economy on a more sustainable footing for growth over the long-term,” he said.

“We’ve brought together some of the best and brightest minds from industry, academia and the scientific community to advise on the best path forward. 

“We’ll be looking at the most impactful policies and actions that government and industry can pursue to advance our circular economy.

Plibersek said that the circular economy involved more than improved recycling, and included better design for longer lasting, as well as reusable and repairable, products.

“More than seventy percent of environmental impacts are locked in at the design stage, before a consumer ever purchases a product, and well before we even consider its disposal or reuse,” said Plibersek. 

“I’m excited about the economic opportunities of a circular economy. Australia can be a global leader in technology, innovation, design, materials and processes.”

Picture: Tanya Plibersek (credit bingoindustries.com.au)

Further reading

CIRCULAR ECONOMY ROADMAP PREDICTS GDP BOOST

RETHINKING WHAT AUSTRALIA CAN AND SHOULD DO IN SILICON

THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND THE FUTURE OF INDUSTRY AND ECONOMY – BY LANCE WORRALL