Establish a collaboration

Collaboration is a key element that is needed to shift our entire economy from linear to circular. Through partnering with stakeholders such as suppliers, customers, competitors, research organisationand service providers you can strengthen your project and expand it's potential reach and success.  

If you’re looking to establish a collaboration, here’s some information on why collaborations are beneficial and things to think about when establishing a collaboration.  

The benefits of collaboration 

Collaboration in the circular economy enables a group of companies, organisations or institutions to jointly pursue opportunities and advance circular economy outcomes along the value chain. 

Some of the benefits of circular collaboration include:  

• Stimulate circular innovation which enables the inception of new circular products and services that reduce waste and/or keep products in use at their highest value.
• Enable the development of circular supply chains by bringing together different sectors and industries to overcome knowledge, coordination and logical barriers that otherwise prevent the growth of circular markets.   
• Enable the pooling of financial resources, shared infrastructure and shared knowledge to accelerate the transition to a circular economy.  

Types of collaborations  

Collaboration can take a range of different forms. It be formal for example a contractual agreement or informal like sharing innovative ideas and knowledge. For organisations who have not yet started a circular transition, the more informal version of collaboration are just as important. 

The report by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, and Deloitte Australia on ‘What works for collaboration in a circular economy?’, is a great guide on what successful collaboration looks like for the circular economy.  

The Victoria Circular Activator’s Innovation Framework showcases 4 examples of collaborations.  

1. Network Partner: Joining and collaborating with a network of like-minded organisations exploring circular, sustainable practices.
2. Strategic Partner: Exploring shared value opportunities that align with organisational goals and have complimentary capabilities, this could be an organisation in your supply chain.
3. Innovation Partner: Teaming up with a partner who may have expertise to support and test new ideas, such as teaming up with a research institution.
4. Transition Partner: Developing a long-term partnership to scale innovations in support to a more circular economy, like teaming up with an industry body to help lead a sector-based circular economy plan.  

Tips for setting up a collaboration:

Here’s a practical 5 step guide to collaboration in the circular economy, from the report ‘What works for collaboration in a circular economy?’.  

Step 1: Identify the need to collaborate 

• Start with your vision and what you’re trying to achieve
• Identify the problem you’re solving for
• Recognise that to succeed, you won't be able to go-it-alone
• Assess the complexity of the problem
• Entering a circular business collaboration requires an open mind 

Step 2: Find the right partner 

Find the right organisation: 

• Explore connections both within and outside of your immediate network
• If you’re looking to connect with like-minded people passionate about the circular economy, have a look at the events page on the CEBIC website 

Then find the right person within the organisation: 

• Someone who is passionate about the problem you are trying to solve and who shares similar values, so you may form a strong partnership.  

Step 3: Start collaborating  

• Start small
• Develop strong personal relationships
• Be persistent and committed
• Ensure mutual benefits
• Define roles and responsibilities
• Make the process easy  

Step 4: Formalise the collaboration  

• Introduce structure and governance
• Ensure long-term strategy alignment
• Legal agreements may be required  

Step 5: Grow and evolve 

• Utilise data and reporting to highlight the benefits of the collaborations
• Learn and reflect
• Regularly review processes 

Intellectual Property and collaborations 

Intellectual property (IP) models are important legal structures that play a vital role within the transition towards a more circular economy. They provide protection and commercial incentives needed to drive innovation by allowing organisations to create assets for competitive advantage.  

The below table from the Victoria Circular Activator’s Innovation Framework, provides organisations with a simplified way to think about IP models.  

This information is not advice. For more information, read our disclaimer.