Researchers in Monash University’s Monash Business School, in partnership with the South East Melbourne Manufacturers Alliance (SEMMA), and funded by the Circular Economy Business Innovation Centre (delivered by Sustainability Victoria), are investigating the status of the Circular Economy (CE) adoption in Victoria's manufacturing sector. Through the project, we aim to:

1. Establish the extent of relevant circular economy practices (waste prevention, reuse, remanufacture, and upcycling) being implemented by businesses and their tier-one suppliers, across four manufacturing sub-sectors in South East Melbourne, and how effective they are in delivering circular economy outcomes.
2. Identify and develop practical approaches for manufacturing businesses to adopt circular economy strategies and practices, where their implementation will lead to a reduction of waste by up to 20% in their operations and tier-one suppliers.
3. Identify potential barriers and challenges to adopting these new approaches and identify how these can be overcome through education, training, mentoring, and other support services for businesses and their tier-one suppliers.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The project is completed in a partnership between a team in the Monash Business School, Monash University, and the South East Melbourne Manufacturers Alliance (SEMMA). This project was supported by the Circular Economy Business Innovation Centre (CEBIC) which is delivered by Sustainability Victoria, and Monash Business School.

We are very appreciative of the availability and insights of Victoria’s leading circular economy businesses who participated in this phase of the project.