Bass Coast Shire Council
The Circular Economy Business Accelerator Program aims to help local businesses transition to sustainable, Circular Economy models. Targeting 20 businesses in the Bass Coast region, it will enhance understanding and implementation of circular practices and stimulate new circular products and services. Activities include a full-day launch event with keynote speakers and a workshop, personalized consultations, and a practical challenge for actionable Circular Economy projects.
Funding: $96,585.
Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations Ltd
Through the localisation and application of a Country Centred Circular Economy business model and framework on Gunaikurnai Country, this project aims to build awareness, understanding, training, and capability in Circular Economy practices. It will involve staff innovation, co-design, and prototyping of Circular Economy products and services for the Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC), including the Bush Cafe, Events, and Tourism facilities. The project will inform future GLaWAC service expansion, develop methodologies for other Traditional Owner Corporations, and showcase First Nations leadership in a circular and regenerative economy.
Funding: $195,380.
Gippsland Climate Change Network
The project aims to strengthen Circular Economy practices among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Gippsland through a dedicated project officer, workshops, web resources, and training programs. Key objectives include increasing Circular Economy knowledge and adoption within SMEs by assessing current practices, enhancing awareness, organising training events, and developing assessment tools. Additionally, the project seeks to encourage business-to-business collaboration for Circular Economy solutions by providing guidance, facilitating stakeholder collaboration, and training local government business concierges for ongoing support.
Funding: $122,000.
Pangolin Associates
Perceptions of the Circular Economy often focus on recycling and are largely theoretical, lacking practical strategies. This project will adapt the Circular Economy Collage Workshop to the Australian and Victorian context, creating a comprehensive service that integrates education, analysis, and strategy. Through interactive evaluation sessions, participants will apply circularity metrics. In tailored strategy workshops, the project team will help participants create a Circular Roadmap and actionable steps to adopt circular business models. Participants will then be connected with relevant stakeholders to implement these insights.
Funding: $61,920.
Planet Ark Environmental Foundation
Planet Ark launched the Australian Circular Economy Hub (ACE Hub) in November 2020, which has become Australia's key platform for Circular Economy knowledge and collaboration. Through the ACE Hub, Planet Ark will partner with CIRCO, a Netherlands Government-funded organisation, to bring their Circular Economy training to Australia. CIRCO focuses on product design and circular business models, providing practical training within organisations or across value chains. The project will offer training to Victorian organisations in sectors like the built environment, textiles, technology, and packaging. Training will be provided by a mix of internationally based CIRCO accredited trainers and locally trained (then accredited) trainers. This initiative aims to equip Victorian organisations with circular design skills, enabling them to create new circular products and extend product life through design.
Funding: $149,460.
Reground
Shopping centres often have rudimentary one- or two-stream waste setups, leading to significant resource loss to landfills and higher costs for centre management and their businesses. The Shopping Centre Circular Economy Capability Building project will provide a Circular Economy education program focused on avoidance and material flow. This program will cover avoidance, minimisation, and Circular Economy implementation. It will target 5 small to medium-sized shopping centres, helping over 100 businesses eliminate waste and pollution while keeping materials in use at their highest value.
Funding: $162,645.
Worn Gundidj Aboriginal Co-operative Ltd
Worn Gundidj Nursery, a native plant nursery, will launch a 6-month blended training program to promote Circular Economy principles among 50 nurseries and gardens in Victoria. The program will educate on waste elimination, product value retention, and ecosystem regeneration. The initiative aims to help nurseries create tailored circular action plans, targeting a reduction of over 300 tonnes of plastic and green waste in 3 years.
Funding: $212,000.