Andrew Taylor from the Regional Circularity Co-operative presenting at the business breakfast in Moruya. Photos: Scott Baker.
The Regional Circularity Co-operative (RCC) has ventured outside of the Bega Valley to hold business breakfasts in Moruya, Jindabyne, Yass and Bowral.
The breakfasts aimed to raise awareness of the opportunities that the circular economy offers and enabled the RCC to learn about circularity projects in neighbouring regions and expand its network.
RCC CEO Andrew Taylor spoke at each of the breakfasts in mid-May, supported by Scott Baker from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development to coordinate the meetings.
At each breakfast, Mr Taylor shared the story of how RCC formed in 2021, with Bega Group executive chair Barry Irvin the driving force. Its keystone project is the Bega Circular Valley program. Its bold ambition is to make the shire the most circular regional economy by 2030 and a world-leading circular region by 2050.
It has attracted many like-minded members and partners, and created a network of businesses and organisations that are on the circular economy journey.
To showcase the shire’s circular economy knowledge, data and projects happening in the Bega Valley and beyond, the RCC’s other focus is building the National Circularity Centre. It is expected to open in 2027 as a national edu-tourism attraction, drawing school groups and anyone curious about the circular economy.
Mr Baker said the breakfasts were held to foster a wide network in the broader regions for the Bega Circular Valley program and the National Circularity Centre.
At the breakfasts, Mr Taylor explained how the circular economy is different and better than the linear economy of taking, making and wasting resources. He said in a circular economy, more thought went into design so that the planet’s limited resources were used optimally in the first place and could be repaired, repurposed, reused or recycled so they had a longer life.
“People know about sustainability: namely, the origins of their inputs, whereas circularity looks at the whole life cycle, not just the materials, but the life span, what the waste stream looks like, and can it be used by other businesses,” Mr Baker said. “Andrew spoke about opportunities for industrial symbiosis.”
Mr Taylor said: “The breakfasts reinforced that there are plenty of collaboration opportunities between the regions. There are projects and ideas in neighbouring regions that can be replicated in the Bega Valley and that are very complementary to what we are doing.”
Moruya’s Paul Dolphin of Paul Dolphin Design talks about creating sustainable homes.
He said while RCC was backed by Bega Group, showing that big corporates could get on board and make a difference by working across Australia with other large groups, grassroots initiatives were likely to be the most important driver.
Mr Taylor spoke about some of the key principles, such as thinking about whether a product is needed in the first place and designing with its end of life in mind so it can be repurposed.
One person at the Moruya breakfast has a repair-and-refurbish business that takes appliances from people who want to recycle devices they no longer want.
“He is a profit-for-purpose, looking at who needs the appliances the most,” Mr Taylor said.
Also in attendance were people from the construction industry, music and the arts, social enterprises, the disability sector, as well as businesses looking at resource reclamation and repurposing. There were about 30 people, representing around 25 organisations.
The breakfast was delivered in partnership with Eurobodalla Shire Council and there was strong support from its sustainability and economic development teams. Repurposing for Resilience Eurobodalla provided the venue and catering.
Mr Taylor said the breakfasts had demonstrated that the transition to the circular economy was underway in the regions, and enabled RCC to engage with businesses and organisations that were circular economy champions in their districts. Also evident was a thirst for transition brokers to make it easier for businesses to make the change.
“The ideas often make business sense, as well as making environmental and social sense, but they need support such as knowing where the supply streams are, the funding to make it worthwhile, and knowing there is government support and support from organisations like ours,” he said.
“It is often about education and awareness. The technical solutions are there.”
RCC wants to see the engagement continue. That could include regional businesses and organisations visiting the valley for future events as part of fostering a strong regional network that can tell governments what is needed.
