It's Time to Think 'Circular'

The circular economy and the urgency to minimise waste is gaining momentum. In Australia, our State governments are beginning to swing into action with discussion papers and policies aimed at transitioning industries to a new way of operating – toward circular systems where we gradually decouple growth from resource consumption and design waste out altogether. We have the opportunity, now more than ever, to become leaders in this new economy. Think renewable energy. However, we need innovation, ingenuity and imagination across many domains in government and the private sector to catapult us into this new future.

Our economy, like all economies across the globe, has traditionally been a linear system that consists of a ‘take, make and dispose’ model. We extract raw materials, manufacture goods, use them (often for a short period of time, or even once only), collect and recycle some of them, then dispose the rest to landfill. This economic approach has generated a standard of living never experienced before in the history of humanity. However, it has also placed a tremendous strain on natural systems and the consequences are now all too obvious. The circular economy is an alternative to this model and aims to maximise the value of resources by keeping products and materials in use for as long as possible. Further value, as we know, is then created when resources at the end of their ‘designed product life’ are recovered and circulated back into the economy for new uses.

" Our economy, like all economies across the globe, has traditionally been a linear system that consists of a ‘take, make and dispose’ model. "

The transition to a circular economy requires cooperation across different sectors, all levels of government, and citizens. Let’s quickly look at just some of the shifts that need to happen. Manufacturers for example, will need to be encouraged to rethink how they create products and use resources, such as favouring modular designs that minimise the natural resources needed and allow for easy disassembly, repair and re-use. Retailers will have to be encouraged to move from product sales to the leasing and servicing of products, and urged to take greater responsibility for the return, refurbishment and recycling at the end of use. Consumers require education to make informed purchases that create more demand for sustainable products including second-hand products made from recycled materials. Sharing platforms that tap into idle capacity such as car sharing will also play a critical role, as will repair hubs that extend the useful life of an item. The recycling industry, without a doubt, is critical in collecting waste materials and end-of-life goods and processing them for use in new products.

Green Furniture Hub focuses on item 'reuse'

So what does this mean for those of us working in the office sector? Well, office buildings represent a tremendous opportunity to assist with the transition into a more sustainable and circular future. From a lifecycle approach to design and construction of new buildings, to energy efficient operations, retrofitting existing buildings with sustainable systems, and smarter treatment of ‘waste’.

On the topic of building waste, one of the less spoken-about issues is the waste generated from commercial office make-good / strip-out projects that occur in a building’s tenancy churn. A large percentage of materials from these projects is still directed to landfill by the appointed contractors.

Research by the Better Buildings Partnerships (BBP) in 2018, discovered that around 25,000 tonnes of materials including glass, metals, plasterboard, ceiling tiles, carpet and furniture is generated from strip-outs in Sydney’s CBD alone.¹ Just 18% of this is recycled and 2% reused. With the fallout of new working arrangements resulting from the current pandemic, it’s possible many corporates will look to reduce their office footprint in the coming period and further contribute to this generation of strip-out waste.

By focusing on the ‘re-use’ level of the waste hierarchy, strategies can be put in place to intercept these materials that otherwise would be destined for landfill, and help other business in the process. Simple strategies such as incorporating aspects of your current fit-out into the new fit-out, allowing staff to take the no-longer wanted items (such as furniture), donating to charities or established re-sellers, or working with up-cyclers and recyclers are all avenues that can be explored and will keep our resources in circulation for longer!

To learn more about how to become a client or customer of Green Furniture Hub, please visit www.greeenfurniturehub.com.au or phone 1300 55 56 57.

¹ Better Buildings Partnership, (Version 1.2 2018), Strip-out Waste Guidelines