A free 10-minute online tool to measure, track and improve your business’s circular economy performance.
Circular Diagnostic tool for businesses
We know sustainability can sound like a complicated topic when you are busy running a business. But what if spending 10 minutes answering a few straightforward questions could show you exactly where money is quietly leaving your business, and point you toward practical steps to get some of it back?
That is exactly what CircularDiagnostics does. And Glen Eira City Council is giving local businesses free access to it right now.
How it works
CircularDiagnostics is a simple online tool developed by researchers at Swinburne University of Technology. Participation is free.
The online tool will ask you 20 plain-English questions about how your business runs. The questions are written specifically for your industry, so nothing feels irrelevant. For example, a restaurant owner will see questions about food waste and energy and a builder will see questions about materials and skip costs.
Your information is kept confidential and managed under Swinburne University's research ethics guidelines. Participation helps shape a tool being developed for Australian small businesses, so your experience genuinely matters.
What you get at the end
Once you complete the assessment, you’ll receive a personalised action plan that outlines what to focus on first and what it’s roughly worth financially. You’ll also get a 5-leaf sustainability rating that you can display on your website, include in tender documents, or show to customers who ask about your environmental practices. It is a real credential, backed by university research.
You will also see how your business compares to similar businesses across Victoria, get a list of grants, rebates, and free government programmes that you may be eligible for right now, and receive a downloadable PDF report you can use for grant applications or share with your team.
What is the circular economy?
A circular economy is about using resources more efficiently — reducing waste, reusing materials where possible, and recycling what can’t be reused instead of sending it to landfill. CircularDiagnostics helps businesses play their part by identifying opportunities to reduce waste and keep materials in circulation for longer.
Why is Council involved?
We are committed to supporting businesses to thrive. Strong, sustainable local businesses are essential to a resilient economy and healthy community, and helping them reduce their environmental impact and operate more efficiently is an important part.
We are one of the first councils in Victoria to bring this program to local businesses. We believe the businesses in our community deserve tools that make sustainability practical and worth their time, not just feel-good ideas.
Is this for you?
If you run a business in Glen Eira with fewer than 100 staff, it is for you. Whether you are a café, a trade business, a retail shop, a professional practice, or anything in between, the tool is built to work for your situation. You do not need any prior knowledge of sustainability to get real value from it.
We would love to hear from you
Places are open to Glen Eira businesses now. If you have any questions or would like to get started, please complete the expression of interest form below or reach out to our Sustainable Business team at sustainablebusiness@gleneira.vic.gov.au
