All of Australia’s environment ministers have agreed to work with the private sector to design out waste and pollution, keep materials in use and foster markets to achieve a circular economy by 2030.
This work builds on the significant progress made to improve and harmonise waste management and recycling activities across Australia, including under the National Waste Policy.
Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek has established the Circular Economy Ministerial Advisory Group to advise government on the opportunities, challenges, and actions to develop Australia’s circular economy.
What is a circular economy?
A circular economy is a way of achieving sustainable consumption and production, nature positive outcomes. In a circular economy, products are either recycled, remanufactured or re-used after they have served their initial purpose. This minimises pressure on the environment, and helps tackle global challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution.
The Ellen Macarthur Foundation, which is dedicated to creating a circular economy, identifies 3 key principles, all driven by design:
- Eliminate waste and pollution
- Circulate products and materials (at their highest value)
- Regenerate nature.
Why a more circular economy is important
By transitioning to a more circular economy, we reduce waste, emissions, pollution, and landfill, and develop a nature positive economy. We also get more value out of the materials that are currently in our economy by using them again.
Adopting circular economy principles, models and systems will put our economy on a more sustainable footing for growth over the long-term.