Welcome to this first module of the Circular Economy Capacity Building Program!
We hope you can get a lot out of these resources and find something that suits your needs and learning style. We’re sure the content presented here will get your cogs whirring as you consider your business and the broader economy in a new way.
Below you’ll find a podcast, a short video, and a blog. Plus we have a short survey we’d love for you to fill out to help us gather information from participating businesses and organisations about what will best serve your needs.
Enjoy!
Understanding the Circular Economy and Its Principles in the Nursery Industry
In recent years, the concept of a circular economy (CE) has gained significant attention as a sustainable alternative to the traditional linear economy, which follows a ‘take, make, dispose’ model. The circular economy challenges this paradigm by advocating for a system that minimises waste, optimises resource use, and regenerates natural & social systems. This approach is increasingly being recognised across industries, including the nursery sector, where the integration of CE principles can drive innovation, and the capturing of new market segments, all the while leading to better environmental & social outcomes.
What is the Circular Economy?
At its core, the circular economy is an alternative to our current economy, for meeting human needs and fairly distributing resources while restoring nature’s functions and regenerating the natural capital on which we depend. Unlike the linear economy, where products are created, used, and then discarded, the circular economy seeks to eliminate waste, keep products, materials, and resources in use for as long as possible at their highest value, and regenerate natural & social systems.
The circular economy is not just about recovering waste once it has been created; it’s a whole system reset to create a closed-loop system where every product and material has a reason for being in circulation in our economy, and once in circulation, they are circulated. Did you know that a circular economy can support decarbonisation through addressing the 45% of global greenhouse gas emissions that cannot be addressed through renewable energy and energy efficiency. If we are to achieve a 1.5 degree scenario, circularity in how we produce and consume key metals in our renewable energy technologies, is non- negotiable.
Importantly, the circular economy is a macro-economic system- meaning that no one organisation can achieve it alone. It will require cross-sector collaboration, new design of products, & new business models to make it a reality. While macro-economic change may be daunting, every organisation forms a part of the economy and has an opportunity to adopt circular practices that, when collectively adopted, can change the nature of our macroeconomic model.
So how do organisations begin to adopt circular practices? Well…
The Three Principles of a Circular Economy
The circular economy is built on three foundational principles that guide its implementation across different sectors, including the nursery industry.
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Eliminate waste and pollution
The first principle of the circular economy is to design out waste and pollution from the outset. In a traditional linear economy, waste is often an inevitable byproduct of production and consumption processes. However, in a circular economy, waste is considered a design flaw. By rethinking and redesigning products and processes, businesses can minimise waste and prevent pollution from occurring in the first place.
- In the context of the nursery industry, this could involve implementing a system for reusing products such as plant pots and packaging.By eliminating new material use in the first place, or carefully choosing materials that have a known method of recovery, nurseries can significantly reduce waste & procurement costs of new materials.
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Circulate products and materials for as long as possible
The second principle emphasises the importance of keeping products and materials in use at their highest value for as long as possible. This involves strategies such as reuse, repair, refurbishing, and remanufacturing. By extending the lifecycle of products, businesses can reduce the demand for new resources and minimise waste.
- For the nursery industry, this principle can be applied in several ways. For example, nurseries can explore the refurbishment of gardening tools and equipment, and implement innovative ways to repurpose organic materials, such as turning plant trimmings and compost into valuable resources for growing new plants.
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Regenerate natural & social systems
The third principle of the circular economy focuses on regenerating natural systems. Instead of merely sustaining current practices, the circular economy seeks to restore and enhance natural ecosystems. This means using renewable resources, supporting biodiversity, and replenishing ecosystems that have been degraded by human activity.
- In the nursery industry, this is something that is already inherent. However, there is a huge opportunity for the nursery industry to become a leader in natural regeneration in Australia. Recent government announcements such as the Nature Repair Act, and increasing private sector interest in nature due to the release of new reporting frameworks such as the Task Force on Nature Disclosures, signal that natural regeneration will increasingly be in high demand. With its existing knowledge and experience, the nursery sector has an opportunity to begin to provide the services that the market needs for large scale natural regeneration; offering value-added services such as tailored regeneration plans that support increased biodiversity & nature on Australian land & in developments.
The Circular Economy in the Nursery Industry
The nursery industry is uniquely positioned to embrace and benefit from the principles of the circular economy. By integrating CE principles into their operations & value propositions to market, nurseries can reduce environmental impacts within their operations, but more importantly, access new markets & business opportunities through circular offerings that contribute to wider Australian natural regeneration.