The Path to a Circular Economy

The Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC) is hosting an event to introduce recycling for the circular economy.

The circular economy can be great for business; by maximising the use of our valuable resources, and by contributing to innovation, growth and job creation.

AMGC is facilitating strong linkages between industry, government, researchers, local councils, and the community to find new and clear pathways to meet the challenges of recycling and the circular economy.

A circular economy is about valuing our resources, by getting as much use out of products and materials as possible and reducing the amount of waste we generate. For example, using recycled materials in manufacturing, repairing household goods before buying new ones, or repurposing items that are no longer needed.

Bringing together key stakeholders to accelerate partnerships and opportunities to help build the circular economy across Australia to address the waste and recycling issue and enhance manufacturing and industry capability.

Keynote Speakers:

Professor Veena Sahajwalla, Director of the UNSW SMaRT Centre for Sustainable Materials Research and Technology

Sahajwalla is one of Australia's leading engineers. She is known for her role as a judge on the ABC television show, The New Inventors and as a councillor on the independent Australian Climate Council. As Founding Director of the Centre for Sustainable Materials Research and Technology, Veena and her team are working closely with industry partners to deliver the new science, processes and technologies that will drive the redirection of many of the world's most challenging waste streams away from landfills and back into production; simultaneously reducing costs to alleviating pressures on the environment. She is reimagining the global supply chain by demonstrating the viability of 'mining' our overburdened landfills to harness the wealth of useful elements like carbon, hydrogen and materials like silica, titania and metals embedded in our waste.

Panel Discussion with circular economy industry leaders including:

Michael Sharpe – AMGC National Director, Industry

Professor Veena Sahajwalla – NSW CEIN Director

Ashley Brinson – NSW CEIN Co-director

Debbie Hambly – Milk Bottle Collective

Ian Hudson – Industry Capability Network

Tim Askew – Hunter Joint Organisation of Councils

Marta Fernandes – Nespresso

Brooke Donnelly – Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO)

Paul Klymenko – Planet Ark

Nishi Vissamraju – Downer