BREP Home

Can Tasmania become a circular economy?

Tasmania has many advantages that make it well-suited to a circular economy. It has a relatively small population and a strong sense of community, which means that it is easier to build networks and collaborate on projects. It also has a rich natural environment, with a diverse range of resources and primary industries. Additionally, Tasmania has a thriving tourism industry, which could establish a competitive advantage by implementing sustainable and circular practices.

The Tasmanian Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy is a key component of Tasmania’s transition towards a circular economy. The strategy outlines a range of objectives and priority actions to be taken over the next three years, including reducing waste to landfill and increasing recycling rates.

Business Action Learning Tasmania (BALT) has recently released a response to the Strategy, outlining its recommendations for optimising the opportunities for circularity in the long-term, while delivering the short-term objectives and targets of the strategy. BALT’s recommendations include decentralisation and co-design of planning and action, strategic investment in low-risk, fast iteration experimentation, prioritising processing materials at the source, building sustainable design capability into the Tasmanian workforce, and endorsing the ongoing delivery of the Business Resource Efficiency Program (BREP). Download the full response here.

Tasmania has a unique opportunity to learn from the experience of others and design bespoke solutions that are specific to its location, industries, natural environment, and communities. There is enormous potential to create a more resilient and self-sufficient economy by reducing reliance on imports and promoting local production and consumption.

Achieving a circular economy requires a systemic shift in the way we think about and use resources. To make this shift, collaboration and innovation are necessary at all levels, from individuals to businesses and in government.

Collaboration is vital because the circular economy is a complex and interconnected system. Achieving a circular economy requires the cooperation of all stakeholders, to share knowledge, resources, and expertise, and work towards common goals. For example, businesses can collaborate to create closed-loop systems where waste from one business becomes a valuable resource for another, reducing waste and promoting resource efficiency. Collaboration creates economies of scale and removes duplication of effort, making circular practices more cost-effective and accessible.

Innovation is also critical to becoming a circular economy. We need new ways of thinking and doing things, and innovation is key to developing these new approaches. Innovation can come in many forms, from new technologies to new business models to new ways of designing products. Innovation can overcome barriers to established practices, such as the lack of infrastructure for recycling or the high costs of establishing centralised systems, based on solutions developed in a completely different context.

To further explore these ideas and hear a range of perspectives on the Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy, Sustainable Living Tasmania has organised a panel discussion as part of the Big Weekend of Sustainable Living Ideas. The panel will include guest speakers Alasdair Wells from the Waste and Resource Recovery Board, Maree Bakker from Natural Resources and Environment, Brad Mashman from Recovery (Tas) Pty Ltd, Brendan Mitchell from Mitchell Plastic Welding Sustainable Plastics Australia, and Aaron Benham from Repair Café Hobart.

The Big Weekend of Sustainable Living Ideas is a whole weekend of exhibits, activities and community fun based on sustainable living. It is a unique opportunity for people to learn more about sustainable living practices and to connect with like-minded individuals and businesses in the community. The event is family-friendly and open to all members of the community.

The Business Resource Efficiency Program (BREP) brings together businesses, government, and industry experts, to create a supportive ecosystem for the transition towards a circular economy. BREP facilitates the sharing of knowledge, resources, and best practices, this helps to foster innovation and promote the development of new business models and practices. Businesses can implement circular economy principles into their operations and products, such as designing products for durability, repairability, and recyclability, and using renewable energy and materials. Individuals can also play their part by reducing waste, recycling, and supporting businesses that promote circular economy practices.

More from BREP

Load More

Join the community

“We are very efficient at many things already because stinginess is a waste-fighting superpower!”
Karina DambergsCidermaker, Red Brick Road Ciderworks
Image of Karina Dambergs
“I had really good engagement from staff. Everyone wants to be a part of the solution.”
Anna RobertsonGeneral Manager, Bridestowe Lavender Estate
Image of Anna Robertson
“I learned a lot from other set members, who had more experience with this type of project.”
Greg HillierCookery Teacher, Drysdale Training Restaurant
Image of Greg Hillier
“I appreciated having people outside my business to help me reflect on my achievements and celebrate successes along the way.”
Fiona TurnerVigneron, Jinglers Creek Vineyard
Image of Fiona Turner
“I discovered that we’re not isolated, there are common themes around resource efficiency across businesses and industries​."
Brett WheldonSystems Coordinator, CPT Engineering
Imageof Brett Wheldon
“Changing our mindset from ‘reducing waste’ to ‘improving quality’ made a big difference.”
Scott LovellOwner/Manager, Think Big Visual Solutions
Image of Scott Lovell
“A key learning for me was the important part industry plays in reducing waste in Tasmania.”
Phil StephensonChief Production Officer, Nichols Poultry
Image of Phil Stephenson
“Finding a solution for fibre composite waste would be ground-breaking and quite significant. I feel we have come very close.”
Darren EmmertonProduction Manager, Penguin Composites
Image of Darren Emmerton
“Check your waste contracts, don’t just renew them. You may find there is a strong business case for diverting waste from landfill.”
Adam SuttonProject Manager, Pitt & Sherry
Image of Adam Sutton
“It was great to get ideas from other businesses and see some of our ideas adopted by others in the group.”
Bronte RichardsonProgrammer, Direct Edge Engineering
Image of Bronte Richardson
“Your company must be fully on board, right to the top, before you look at funding options.”
Ray HoweProduction Manager & Chief Engineer, Botanical Resources Australia
Image of Ray Howe
“We’ve been really inspired by some of the solutions being developed in the different sectors that we were exposed to during the program.”
Kim RobinsonManaging Director, The Cove Tasmania
Kim Robinson, The Cove Tasmania
“There is no time to waste. George Town and the surrounding areas are ideal for developing a model for regenerative systems in regional areas.”
Frank StrieManaging Director, Terra Preta Developments
Image of Frank Strie
“We’re driven by the tangible impact of sequestering tonnes of carbon, the co-benefits for the environment, and the potential to catalyse a cascade of carbon capture.”
Christina GiudiciCo-founder, The New Black Biochar
Profile picture of Christina Giudici
“Working intensively with the group, we clearly defined niche customer groups for the Reuse Shed.”
Mica PerezProject manager, The Reuse Shed
Image of Milca Perez
“Having to clearly define the problem to a group is helpful. The active listening and open questions are really valuable.”
John MeehanOperations Manager, Mitchell Plastic Welding
Image of John Meehan of Mitchell Plastic Welding
Previous
Next
Facebook Twitter Youtube

The Business Resource Efficiency Program is funded by, and delivered in partnership with, the Tasmanian government.