Who needs circularity? Everybody!
I2S recently partnered with CircularEco to discuss the ways in which cicular economy can contribue to ‘connected infrastrcuture for people and planet’, this year’s ISC Connect Conference theme.
So, what were our key take-aways from our ISCConnect24 panel on the circular economy?
Key take-aways for embedding circularity in infrastructure:
- Embed circularity early, as early as project development model selection to ensure it flows through your contracting expectations
- Collaborate, with your suppliers, government, fellow industry and local communities. Join initiatives like CircularEco Pty Ltd Asia Pacific Collective to advance the groundswell of circularity
- Normalise circularity-make it an expectation of how things will be done. Invest in making it happen and reward creativity and effort
- Be courageous. Be brave. Be bold. Be committed. Know the value of investing in circularity and be prepared to explain it and defend it until it becomes business as usual.
I2S Co-Founder and Director Professor Sara Bice gave examples ranging from offshore oil platform decommissioning through to local construction, focuses on the infrastructure sector’s opportunities to be a major contributor to sustainability through choosing materials and methods guided by circularity. She also cited great local examples of collaboration for circularity, including the Bega Valley Regional Circularity Co-Operative.
Examples from fellow panelists included Boral’s innovative work with Mirvac to improve circularity in construction materials and reduce construction waste through clever cement solutions. Boral’s GM and Director, Boral Recycling, André Meneghel Gobett, encouraged Australia to consider the benefits of a ‘virgin materials tax’, like those in Italy and other European countries. Policy measures like these incentivise circularity by making the costs to choose up/recycled and more sustainable construction materials competitive with those of virgin materials.And early results show they are having an impact in constructors’ materials choices.
ASPIRE Founder and CEO Cameron McKenzie explained how logistics and shipping play central roles in Australia’s ability to participate in the circular economy. ASPIRE is helping to ease that challenge by providing logistics for circularity. They are also demonstrating how materials can be repurposed to achieve circularity, with recent examples from Sunshine Coast roadworks showing the benefits of collaborative resource exchange.
Thank you to the ISC’s Gabriela Echavarria for your excellent facilitation and to my fellow panelists, André Meneghel Gobett (Boral) and Cameron McKenzie (ASPIRE).