Circular Economy Business Support Fund – Stream 1: Identification grants guidelines

Last updated: 31 May 2023
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Prior to 1 July 2022, this fund was named the Recycling Victoria Business Support Fund

Fund recipients

This grant closed on 12 March 2021. View the fund recipients.

1. Funding overview

The $10 million Recycling Victoria Business Support Fund (“Fund”) will support both individual businesses (including not-for-profits and charities) and business-led groups (including trade and industry associations) to identify, develop and implement circular economy approaches within businesses or across supply chains and sectors.

The Fund will primarily target waste prevention and reuse/remanufacture. Innovative recycling approaches will also be supported, where they develop new recycling markets in Victoria.

The Fund will be delivered under two streams of funding to support the Recycling Victoria funding program.

Stream 1: Identification Grants

Grants of $75,000 to $200,000 will be made available to support businesses to investigate how to apply and adapt circular economy business opportunities and approaches.

Stream 2: Implementation Grants

Grants of $100,000 up to $500,000 for individual applicants, or up to $1,000,000 for Collaborative Partnerships (with a Lead Applicant and Project Partners) seeking to implement solutions across multiple businesses. These grants will support the business to implement evidence-based circular economy business opportunities and approaches in Victoria, for example, new circular economy-based products, services, markets and models.

The grant program involves a competitive, merit-based application process.

  • Identification Grants: Projects in round 1 must be completed by 30 June 2022.
  • Implementation Grants: Projects in round 1 must be completed by 31 December 2022.

Applications must be submitted by 3:00 pm on 12 March 2021.
Late applications will not be accepted unless exceptional circumstances apply.

2. Why is the Victorian Government providing this funding?

Looking beyond the current take-make-waste extractive industrial model, a circular economy aims to redefine growth, focusing on positive society-wide benefits. It entails gradually decoupling economic activity from the consumption of finite resources and designing waste out of the system.

“Recycling Victoria: A new economy” aims to deliver the Fund to help businesses improve resource efficiency, reduce waste to landfill, increase recycling and reduce business costs. Victorian businesses are not capitalising on the scale and scope of circular economy business opportunities.

The grants will kick-start Victoria’s circular economy by providing support for businesses to identify and implement circular economy opportunities and approaches, including new circular economy-based products, services, models and markets.

Importantly, the Fund will support the early identification and implementation of circular economy opportunities in Victorian businesses, to help the Victorian government and business community evaluate and promote the success of these opportunities. This will help accelerate independent action from businesses to take advantage of the circular economy in, and through, their businesses.

2.1 Fund objectives

The Fund’s objective is for businesses to:

  • identify opportunities for businesses to take advantage of circular economy opportunities and approaches in Victoria
  • increase uptake of circular economy opportunities and approaches, to accelerate Victoria’s transition to a circular economy.

The grants seek to deliver the following outcomes for Victoria:

  • increased access to circular economy products and services for businesses and consumers
  • increased materials efficiency within individual businesses and across supply chains
  • increased duration of product and material lifecycles and value
  • reduced materials intensity of a product, service or business model
  • new circular economy-based services, products, models, and markets
  • new local jobs and increased circular economy-based skills in the workforce
  • reduced materials to landfill and other waste destinations
  • reduced greenhouse gas emissions and pollution.

3. About Recycling Victoria Business Support Fund

Stream 1: Identification Grants

Grants of $75,000 to $200,000 will be made available to projects seeking to adapt and apply circular economy opportunities and approaches. Successful stream 1 projects can apply for funding to implement opportunities and approaches under stream 2.

Eligible applicants are required to contribute to the project at a funding ratio of $2:$1 (SV:business). Up to 50% of the applicant’s co-contribution can be in-kind (for further explanation of in-kind refer to section 9: Fund definitions).

These grants are targeting projects that seek to undertake:

  • feasibility studies to apply or adapt circular economy business opportunities and approaches to business or supply chains
  • materials efficiency and flow assessments (e.g. to identify waste reduction or prevention opportunities) in businesses or across supply chains
  • business case development to support the implementation of a circular economy business opportunity or approach
  • access to business advisory and support services to support the development of circular economy business opportunities and approaches
  • pilot projects and trials of circular economy business opportunities and approaches.

Any of the following organisation types may apply for an individual grant:

  • individual businesses
  • charities
  • other not-for-profit organisations
  • industry groups and associations.

Alternatively, organisations may apply as a Lead Applicant in a Collaborative Partnership. Each Collaborative Partnership application must have:

  • a Lead Applicant, who can be a/an:
    • individual business
    • charity
    • other not-for-profit organisation
    • industry group and association
    • consultant (assisting other organisations).
  • at least one Project Partner from one of the following organisation types:
    • individual business
    • charity
    • other not-for-profit organisation
    • industry group and association.

Stream 2: Implementation Grants

Grants are available with a minimum of $100,000 and up to a maximum of $500,000 for individual applicants or up to $1,000,000 for Collaborative Partnerships seeking to implement solutions across multiple businesses. These grants will support the business to implement circular economy opportunities and approaches in, or through, Victorian businesses.

Eligible applicants are required to contribute to the project at a funding ratio of $1:$1 (SV:business). Up to 10% of the applicant’s co-contribution can be in-kind (for further explanation of in-kind refer to section 9: Fund definitions).

These grants are targeting projects that seek to:

  • set up a new circular economy-based establishment
  • extend an existing circular economy-based establishment
  • diversify the output of an establishment into new additional circular economy-based products, services, models or markets
  • improve circular economy-based outcomes within existing establishments.

Importantly, the project should demonstrate a clear and thorough understanding of the circular economy opportunity, backed by evidence, before applying for an Implementation Grant.

Where projects are based on adopting and applying an established circular economy business opportunity (that is, an existing circular economy business model, product, service or market), the applicant is required to demonstrate its feasibility for implementation (for example, replicating a successful international opportunity or approach in a Victorian business) in Victoria.

Any of the following organisation types may apply for an individual grant:

  • individual businesses
  • charities
  • other not-for-profit organisations
  • industry groups and associations.

Alternatively, organisations may apply as a Lead Applicant in a Collaborative Partnership. Each Collaborative Partnership application must have:

  • a Lead Applicant, who can be a/an:
    • individual business
    • charity
    • other not-for-profit organisation
    • industry group and association
    • consultant (assisting other organisations).
  • at least one Project Partner from one of the following organisation types:
    • individual business
    • charity
    • other not-for-profit organisation
    • industry group and association.

3.1 What will be funded?

Stream 1: Identification Grants can be used to support:

  • research and design to adapt or apply circular economy approaches
  • business case development and feasibility studies
  • materials efficiency and flow assessments
  • circular economy business case development
  • circular economy business advisory and support services
  • pilot projects and trials
  • capital purchases for small-scale demonstrations / pilots (for example, equipment)
  • circular economy business opportunities and approaches
  • reducing the generation of waste (that is, preventing waste)
  • reducing materials intensity of a product, service or business model
  • increasing waste avoidance
  • increasing reuse or remanufacture of products and/or materials currently wasted
  • establishing new and innovative recycling markets
  • increasing the lifecycle or value or material or product currently wasted
  • the demonstration of a clear business opportunity for the implementation of a circular economy-based business opportunity or approach
  • marketing, advertising, promotional costs of new products, services, models or markets established through the grants
  • consultancy or contract work required for the project/dedicated project management costs.

Stream 2: Implementation Grants can be used to support:

  • setting up of a new circular economy establishment or business model
  • extension of an existing circular economy establishment or business model
  • diversification of the output of an establishment into new additional circular economy products, services, or markets
  • improving circular economy outcomes within existing establishments
  • capital purchases (for example, infrastructure or equipment)
  • circular economy business opportunities and approaches
  • materials efficiency and productivity
  • increasing the lifecycle or value or material or product currently wasted
  • leasing/financing of equipment for the project (during the project only)
  • marketing, advertising, promotional costs of new products, services, models or markets established through the grants
  • consultancy or contract work required for the project/dedicated project management costs
  • reducing waste currently disposed to any waste or recycling destination
  • waste generated at, or by, any business-specific life cycle stage (for example, primary production, reducing secondary production, distribution, wholesale, retail)
  • a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions; and
  • at least one of the following targets is achieved:
    • reducing the generation of product or material waste by at least 750 tonnes per annum
    • reducing the materials intensity of a product, service or model by at least 750 tonnes per annum
    • redistributing materials or products (to prevent waste) by at least 750 tonnes per year.
    • increasing re-use, remanufacture, or upcycling of materials or products by at least 750 tonnes per annum
    • increasing capacity to prevent waste or to re-use, remanufacture, redistribute, or upcycle materials or products by at least 2,500 tonnes per annum
    • increasing capacity to recycle materials or products currently wasted, through new and innovative solutions, by at least 2,500 tonnes per annum.

3.2 What won’t be funded?

Funding will not be provided for:

  • projects that have received funding or support for the same activities from other sources, including projects that have been awarded funding through other Recycling Victoria programs administered by SV
  • requests for retrospective funding, where the project has commenced or completed before signing a funding agreement with SV
  • operating costs – existing staff costs (unless these are demonstrated to be directly related to the project), rent, electricity, water and other utilities
  • lease or purchase of land
  • travel, conferences and other educational activities
  • purchase of vehicles (for example, front-end loaders, forklifts)
  • projects focused on:
    • existing waste recycling solution in Victoria (for example, composting)
    • waste recovery (for example, waste to energy)
    • bioenergy or biofuel production
    • waste disposal (for example, incineration, landfill, sewer)
    • prevention and reuse solutions for products or materials not currently wasted
    • development of specifications and standards
    • solutions for household kerbside collections
    • litter and illegal dumping
    • compliance with regulation or a regulatory notice or order
    • meeting minimum regulatory or industry requirements
    • community-focused share or repair initiatives
    • solely focused on water, energy, GHG emissions (although these may be co-benefits to a material-focused project)
    • routine or cyclical maintenance works.

Stream 1 Identification Grants will not be provided for:

  • projects focused on implementation (see Stream 2 Implementation grants)
  • projects that seek to develop a new idea (for example, not based on a known approach or opportunity).

Stream 2 Implementation Grants will not be provided for:

  • projects focused on identifying an opportunity (see Stream 1 Identification Grants)
  • projects that cannot demonstrate a clear and robust understanding of the circular economy opportunity or approach, backed by evidence
  • projects that do not meet regulatory or planning requirements
  • pre-construction (site preparation) such as site clearing, earthworks or site accessibility works
  • lease or purchase of land.

4. Assessment process

4.1 Compliance criteria

Applicants must meet all the following compliance criteria to be considered for progression to eligibility. These will be assessed on a pass/fail basis.

Applicants must:

  • lodge their application in the required format by the closing date of 3:00 pm, 12 March 2021.
    Late applications will not be accepted except under exceptional circumstances.
  • complete a Declaration where indicated by an authorised person with delegated authority to make this application on behalf of the organisation.

4.2 Eligibility criteria

Applicants are not able to be funded if they do not meet the eligibility criteria. Applicants cannot progress to merit assessment unless all eligibility criteria are met. To be eligible for funding applicants must:

Organisation type

Any of the following organisation types can apply for individual grants:

  • individual businesses
  • charities
  • other not-for-profit organisations
  • industry groups and associations.

A coordinated group of businesses can apply for a grant as a Collaborative Partnership, with one organisation taking a lead role as the Lead Applicant.

Each Collaborative Partnership application must have:

  • a Lead Applicant, who can be a/an:
    • individual business
    • charity
    • other not-for-profit organisation
    • industry group and association
    • consultant (assisting other businesses).
  • at least one Project Partner from one of the following organisation types:
    • individual business
    • charity
    • other not-for-profit organisation
    • industry group and association.

Note: Lead Applicants will have responsibility over the delivery of the project deliverables and contractual requirements under SV’s funding agreement and be subject to due diligence checks. They are also responsible for the Collaborative Partnership responsibilities, so will need to have the capability to undertake these tasks. Project Partners depending on the activities undertaken may be subject to due diligence checks by SV. The relevant requirements for Lead Applicants and Project Partners will be highlighted in the grant's Information bulletin and reiterated at Grant Information Sessions. Project Partners’ experience, resources and capabilities are tested through the criteria related to ‘Who’.

ABN

The Lead Applicant and Project Partners must have a current Australian Business Number (ABN).

Length of operation

Stream 1 Identification Grants:

  • The applicant has been operating a minimum of two years; or
  • The applicant has been operating less than two years but can provide a company guarantee from an entity (Related Entity or Project Partner) operating more than two years (Note: These applicants can apply for grants of $75,000 only).

Stream 2 Implementation Grants:

  • The applicant has been operating a minimum of two years.

Co-contribution

Meet or exceed the minimum co-contribution requirement for funding:

  • Identification Grants: 2:1 ratio (SV:business). Up to 50% co-contribution can be in-kind.
  • Implementation Grants: 1:1 ratio (SV:business). Up to 10% co-contribution can be in-kind.

Note: The applicant’s or Collaborative Partnership’s required cash and/or in-kind contribution relates to the total project income. Co-contribution can be provided by the Lead Applicant and/or the Project Partners.

Project location

  • All projects must be implemented and service at least 50% of the project in Victoria

Note: Where project activities occur outside of Victoria, the project will need to deliver the minimum required benefits to Victorian businesses as outlined in these Guidelines (for example, reduce waste generation by 750 tonnes in a Victorian business).

Project timeframe

  • Identification Grants: Projects in round 1 must be completed by 30 June 2022.
  • Implementation Grants: Projects in round 1 must be completed by 31 December 2022.

4.3 Assessment criteria

Stream 1: Identification Grants

The funding objective is to:

  • increase awareness of circular economy opportunities and benefits to Victorian businesses
  • identify opportunities for businesses to adapt and apply circular economy approaches in Victoria, where the implementation of the solution could:
    • increase access to circular economy products and services for businesses and consumers
    • increase materials efficiency within individual businesses and across supply chains
    • increase the duration of product and material lifecycles and value
    • reduce materials intensity of a product, service or business model
    • establish new circular economy-based services, products, models, and markets
    • create new local jobs and increased circular economy-based skills in the workforce
    • reduce materials to landfill and other waste destinations
    • reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pollution
    • increase processing markets and capacity.

Stream 2: Implementation Grants

The funding objective is to:

  • increase awareness of circular economy opportunities and benefits to Victorian businesses
  • increase uptake of circular economy opportunities and approaches by business and to accelerate Victoria’s transition to a circular economy, where implementation will:
    • increase access to circular economy products and services for businesses and consumers
    • increase materials efficiency within individual businesses and across supply chains
    • increase the duration of product and material lifecycles and value
    • reduce materials intensity of a product, service or business model
    • establish new circular economy-based services, products, models, and markets
    • create new local jobs and increased circular economy-based skills in the workforce
    • reduce materials to landfill and other waste destinations
    • reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pollution
    • increase processing markets and capacity.

What (45%)

Applicants must demonstrate how the project meets Recycling Victoria policy and SV’s strategic objectives:

Stream 1: Identification Grants

Increase awareness of circular economy opportunities and benefits to businesses in Victoria.

Identify and develop circular economy-based opportunities and approaches, ready for businesses to implement, where implementation will lead to reduced waste or materials intensity, or increased processing capacity.

Stream 2: Implementation Grants

Increase awareness of circular economy opportunities and benefits to businesses in Victoria.

Implement circular economy-based business opportunities and approaches (e.g. circular products, services, models and markets) that lead to reduced waste or materials intensity or increased processing capacity.

Increase uptake of circular economy approaches by business, to accelerate Victoria’s transition to a circular economy.

Who (20%)

The individual applicant, or Lead Applicant and Project Partners, can deliver the project and has the capability (skills) and capacity (resources) to deliver the project.

Why (15%)

The applicant demonstrates why the project is needed and to what extent it will achieve the desired outcomes and supports Victorian businesses to take advantage of circular economy opportunities.

How (20%)

The project is commercial, feasible and capable of being delivered

4.4 Diversity considerations

SV may overlay rankings to achieve an overall mix of projects that represent a:

  • geographical spread across Victorian regions
  • a spread across industries/types of applicants
  • a mix of project types.

The grants seek to encourage diverse projects including, but not limited to:

  • new circular economy-based business models
  • re-use, repair and remanufacturing
  • materials efficiency
  • projects that design out waste.

4.5 Due diligence

A risk-based approach will be used to assess the applicant’s social, economic and environmental risks in relation to the project. This assessment will include the applicant’s Related Entities and may include Project Partners (see section 9: Fund definitions).

Applicants (and their Related Entities and if applicable their Project Partners) should:

  • have had no environmental, safety or workplace breaches in the last five years, or if there was a breach, SV can assess a satisfactory level of risk the applicant’s breach poses
  • have not been the subject of an Enforceable Undertaking or successful litigation by the Fair Work Ombudsman for a breach of the Fair Work Act 2009 or a fair work instrument within the last five years
  • demonstrate financial capability to undertake the project
  • have adequate insurance as outlined in the Funding Agreement and below:
    • Public Liability $10M minimum
    • Professional Indemnity $5M minimum
    • WorkCover
  • have not failed to satisfactorily progress or complete previous projects funded by SV within funding program timelines and without sufficient reason
  • manage any conflicts of interest adequately.

Assessment of a satisfactory level of risk will include but not be limited to SV’s consideration of:

  • the seriousness of any finding/s
  • whether the finding/s has been resolved to the satisfaction of the relevant enforcement agency, or the applicant can demonstrate it is working effectively to resolve the finding
  • the efforts made by the applicant including implementation of management systems, to ensure no further finding/s occur
  • whether, since the finding, the applicant has had a satisfactory level of compliance with relevant environmental, safety or workplace laws.

SV may conduct due diligence checks on the Project Partners involved in the delivery of the project. The applicant must ensure that any Project Partners(s) agree to cooperate with this requirement and will provide information at SV’s request.

SV reserves the right not to award funding to applicants where the due diligence risk (including that of Project Partners) is unsatisfactory or not able to be managed.

5. Funding conditions

5.1 What is required of successful applicants?

Successful applicants approved for funding must:

  • agree to realistic evidence-based and performance-based milestone payments
  • provide insurance certificates of currency to SV prior to commencement of the project
  • sign the SV funding agreement within 30 days of approval
  • provide a project plan and deliver the project as outlined in the application and comply with the funding agreement
  • contribute to regular project progress updates or meetings
  • notify SV immediately of any delays or change to project scope
  • provide update reports to SV at agreed milestones with evidence of expenditure, progress and performance
  • provide adequate monitoring and evaluation of the project under the funding agreement as required by SV
  • collect and release data to SV including national data and reporting requirements during and post project completion, noting that data may be shared and reported in Victoria and for national purposes
  • contribute to promotional activities such as video or publishable case studies and share learnings that may be published about the project
  • participate in and contribute to activities with SV to distribute the findings to broader stakeholders (e.g. government and industry) during and after the SV funding agreement period
  • acknowledge that SV has contributed funding in all communications related to the sustainable infrastructure project.

5.2 Government signage requirements

Applicants should note that capital works signage is required for projects over $250,000. It is recommended applicants consider this in their proposed budget.

5.3 Local Jobs First Policy (LJF)

LJF creates opportunities for local businesses and workers. It aims to develop the local industry and grow the next generation of skilled workers in Victoria.

Grant recipients are subject to LJF when the Victorian Government contribution (value of the grant) meets the LJF monetary thresholds of $1 million for regional projects.

It is recommended applicants consider this in their application.

6. Key dates

* Please note: these timelines are indicative only and may change.

Applications open – 20 November 2020

Applications close – 3:00 pm, 12 March 2021

Notification of outcome – 21 July 2021
SV will provide applicants with updates about the progress of their applications as much as possible but cannot provide a definite approval /announcement date.

Funding agreements established by – 11 October 2021

Projects commenced by – 11 November 2021

Project completed

  • Stream 1: Identification Grants – Projects in round 1 must be completed by 30 June 2022.
  • Stream 2: Implementation Grants – Projects in round 1 must be completed by 31 December 2022.

7. How to apply

Applicants should review and follow these steps:

  1. Ensure your organisation is eligible to apply (see Section 4.2: Eligibility Criteria)
  2. Ensure your project meets the assessment criteria (see Section 4.3 Assessment Criteria)
  3. Read the terms and conditions of SV’s Funding Agreement Terms and Conditions and ensure you can meet them. Acceptance of these terms is required for grant funding to be provided.
  4. Read and understand the Terms of Participation in Grant Programs.
  5. Register or login to start your application for Recycling Victoria Business Support Fund - Stream 1.

Submitting your application:

  • Applications can only be submitted online (unless otherwise agreed or at SV’s discretion).
  • Applications must be submitted by 3:00 pm on the closing date 12 March 2021. SV’s online grant portal will not accept late applications, except under exceptional circumstances, refer to Terms of Participation in Grant Programs.
  • It is highly recommended that you click Save Progress every 10–15 minutes when filling out the online application form. Note: you will be logged out of your application if 60 minutes has elapsed and you have not saved your progress or navigated between pages. If logged out, you will lose any changes made that have not been saved.
  • If you are attaching files, allow sufficient time for the file to be uploaded to the page. You should not navigate to another page until the document has been successfully attached, otherwise, the file upload will be cancelled. The maximum file limit is 25MB.
  • You cannot make any changes to your application after it has been submitted.
  • You will receive a confirmation message and email when the application is submitted.
  • If you experience difficulties submitting your online application, contact SV on 1300 363 744 and ask to speak to a grant support representative or email grants.enquiries@sustainability.vic.gov.au.
  • SV will update applicants on the progress of their applications as much as possible but cannot give a definite approval/announcement date.
  • We will endeavour to advise you if we experience any unforeseen delays.

8. Further information

8.1 Information session

At our information sessions, we go through the fund and answer participants’ questions about it.

Past sessions
Go to the Information bulletin for:

  • the recording and presentation
  • questions asked and answers given.

Future sessions
To check if there is a session coming up, see Events.

8.2 Questions?

Email grants.enquiries@sustainability.vic.gov.au with Circular Economy Business Support Grants in the subject line.

Alternatively, for more information, view the Information bulletin.

9. Fund definitions

These are the definitions of the terms used in these Guidelines.

Circular Economy: Looking beyond the current take-make-waste extractive industrial model, a circular economy aims to redefine growth, focusing on positive society-wide benefits. It entails gradually decoupling economic activity from the consumption of finite resources and designing waste out of the system. The Recycling Victoria: A new economy policy describes a circular economy as follows:

“A circular economy continually seeks to reduce the environmental impacts of production and consumption, while enabling economic growth through more productive use of natural resources.

It allows us to avoid waste with good design and effective recovery of materials that can be reused.

It promotes more efficient business models that encourage intense and efficient product use, such as sharing products between multiple users or supplying a product as a service that includes maintenance, repair and disposal.

The value people obtain from the resources used to create goods and services increases.

It transforms our linear economy mindset—take, use and throw away—and fosters innovation and productivity that invigorates existing businesses and creates new ones, delivering more jobs and more growth for local, regional, state and global economies.”

Charity: A Charity is an organisation that is not-for-profit and has only charitable purposes that are for the public benefit. A Charity must not be an individual, political party or government entity, and be registered on the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Charity Register.

Co-contribution: The applicant’s required cash or in-kind contribution to the total project income.

Collaborative Partnerships: A relationship with businesses established to meet common project objectives and outcomes.

Collaborative Partnerships will need to be demonstrated by a formal agreement between the partners that outlines the governance, financial and intellectual property arrangements and roles and responsibilities of each party. A formal agreement must either be in place or be finalised before commencement of the project.

Direct Jobs: Actual new full-time positions created by your business. This can include training or upskilling of employees who would otherwise be made redundant through the implementation of your project.

Environmental, Safety or Workplace Breach: An environmental or safety breach is any past or current prosecution, reportable incident, investigation, notice, penalty, warning, regulatory intervention or enforcement action from the Environment Protection Authority (EPA), Victorian WorkCover Authority (WorkSafe) or Fair Work Ombudsman or failure to comply with any environmental, safety and workplace laws.

Environmental and Safety Laws: Environmental and safety laws are the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004, Environment Protection Act 1970 or any other legislation, regulation order, statute, by-law, ordinance or any other legislative or regulatory measure, code, standard or requirement relating to the protection and safety of persons or property or which regulate the environment including laws relating to land use planning, pollution of air or water, soil or groundwater contamination, chemicals, waste, the use, handling, storage or transport of dangerous goods or substances, greenhouse gas emissions, carbon trading, or any other aspect of protection of the environment.

Full-Time Equivalent Employees (FTE): The hours worked by one employee on a full-time basis.

Calculating FTE

The calculation is used to convert the hours worked by several part-time employees into the hours worked by full-time employees. For example, you have three employees working the following – 40, 40 and 20 hours per week giving you 100 hours per week in total.

Assuming full-time hours are 40 hours per week, your full-time equivalent calculation is 100 hours divided by 40 hours which equals 2.5 FTE.

Indirect Jobs: Jobs created by other businesses that come into existence due to the economic growth of your business.

Individual business: A commercial enterprise seeking to generate profit through its activities, including Social Enterprises.

Industry groups and associations: An industry peak body, representative industry association or group, or an industry-owned Rural Research and Development Corporation (industry-owned companies).

In-kind contribution: An in-kind contribution is a contribution of a good or service other than money.

In-kind contributions may include, but are not limited to:

  • staff time to manage project implementation (project management and installation costs that utilise existing internal resources)
  • time spent on project activities by volunteers
  • donated goods or services related to the project.

Financial contributions (not in-kind) may include, but are not limited to:

  • consultant or contractor costs to undertake project activities
  • hiring a new role specifically for the project, such as a project manager
  • procurement of goods and services related to the project
  • procurement or hire of equipment or machinery related to the project.

The following activities cannot be considered in-kind contributions:

  • operating expenses that are not directly associated with delivering the project; and
  • opportunity costs such as staff ‘downtime’ during the installation of equipment or implementation of activities.

Lead Applicant: The Lead Applicant is the listed applicant for an application and is responsible for all details in the submission of an application. The Lead Applicant will be responsible for the contractual obligations of the funding agreement with Sustainability Victoria if successful for grant funding.

The Lead Applicant is also responsible for managing the project outcomes and deliverables of the Collaborative Partnership.

Materials intensity: Refers to the amount of materials used in a product, service or model. For these Grants, reducing materials intensity means to reduce the amount or volume of materials used in a product, service or model, to produce a given number of goods or services (output). Another way of considering this is increasing the materials efficiency of a product, which means reducing the input and waste of resources to accomplish the desired output. Materials efficiency is the fundamental reduction in the amount of wasted resources that are used to produce a given number of goods or services (output).

Other not-for-profit organisation: An organisation that provides services to the community and does not seek to generate profit through its activities (either direct or indirect). For this grant program, the definition of Other not-for-profit organisation does not include a charity or an industry group or association.

Project Partner: Organisation/s in a Collaborative Partnership with a Lead Applicant that have a critical role in the project and a formal commitment to delivering the support required to ensure the project’s success.

The role of Project Partners will need to be demonstrated by a formal agreement between relevant parties and will outline the roles and responsibilities of each party, such as governance, financial or intellectual property arrangements. A formal agreement must either be in place or be finalised before commencement of the project.

Related Entities: Entities which are related to the applicant and includes:

  • holding companies of the applicant
  • subsidiaries of the applicant
  • subsidiaries of holding companies of the applicant
  • companies with common directors or shareholders as the applicant
  • companies that are a beneficiary under a trust of which the applicant is a trustee
  • trustees of a trust under which the applicant is a beneficiary
  • companies that conduct business at the same address as the applicant, or the same address as the location of the activity for which the funding is sought.

Related Persons: Related Person means a director, officer, employee, agent, board member or contractor of the applicant or a Related Entity.

Research and Development (R&D): R&D activities are experimental activities that are conducted to generate new knowledge or the use of existing knowledge in creative and new ways (including about creating new knowledge or improved materials, products, devices, processes or services

Research Institution: A Research Institution can be a tertiary education institution, a government agency established for research, a Cooperative Research Centre, an Institute or Centre for Research or a privately owned and accredited research facility. Consultancies and industry-owned Rural Research & Development Corporations are not considered to be research institutions for this grants program.

Re-use: A process defined as using a product more than once in its original form, for the same purpose or a different purpose, by buying or otherwise obtaining second-hand items; renting or accessing products through a sharing platform; and/or repairing products rather than discarding and purchasing a replacement.

Remanufacture: A comprehensive and rigorous industrial process by which a previously sold, leased, used, worn, or non-functional product or part is returned to a “like-new” or “better-than-new” condition, from both a quality and performance perspective, through a controlled, reproducible, and sustainable process (ANSI Standard).

Redistribution: A process whereby surplus un-used products (often food) that would otherwise have ended up as waste are, instead, made available for people to use or consume. In the circular economy, redistribution is similar to ‘re-use’ however this definition is not suitable for food and other products that have not yet been used or may only be used a single time (e.g. collecting unsold bread from a bakery and redistributing it to people in need).

Recycling: Typically refers to converting waste into a reusable material. It is a term that may be used to cover a wide range of activities, including collection, sorting, reprocessing and manufacture into new products. For these Grants, a recycling-based project cannot replicate a recycling solution currently operating in Victoria.

Risks associated with climate change: Risks may include extreme weather events, sea-level rise and storm surge, increased fire danger and reduced rainfall. The planning for the development of new infrastructure or the upgrading of existing infrastructure is an appropriate time to examine the associated risks. Risks will also arise from the impact of climate change to infrastructure which may be beyond the boundaries of the facility and may influence its location or siting. For example, an increase in flooding may impact a facility for which the access requires passage over low lying roads. For more information, applicants may wish to refer to climate change information and resources at Climate Change in Australia and Victorian climate projections 2019 published by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action and CSIRO.

Social Enterprise: A social enterprise is an organisation that is driven by a public or community cause, be it social, environmental, cultural or economic. A social enterprise derives most of its income from trade, not donations or grants, and uses the majority (at least 50%) of its profits to work towards its social mission. A social enterprise is considered an individual business for the purposes of these Grants.

Upcycle: Refers to the use of secondary products, components or materials that results in a higher economic value of that material.

Workplace Laws: Workplace laws are the Fair Work Act 2009, or any other legislation, regulation order, statute, by-law, ordinance or any other legislative or regulatory measure, code, standard or requirement relating to the provision of fair, relevant and enforceable minimum terms and conditions for all persons and to prevent discrimination against employees.