Circular economy for businesses

Going Circular: Uncover the Hidden Potential of Circular Economy

Our first six-week Going Circular: Uncover the Hidden Potential of Circular Economy upskilling training program was a success! Business owners who participated in the program gained extensive knowledge on how to maximise the potential of the circular economy and transform their business practices.

Following the success of our first program, we want to continue supporting Glen Eira businesses to learn more about the circular economy through offering our six-week training program Going Circular for a second time in mid-2024.

 The term ‘circular economy’ refers to the system of re-using, re-purposing and recycling resources. In a perfect circular economy, the materials we use in products would all be recovered, reprocessed and reused in a continuous loop, rather than becoming waste in landfill. 

This upskilling training Program will support business owners to uncover circular economy benefits and embed them into the practices to drive financial, environmental and social outcomes for their business and customers.

We are partnering with Circulise an expert on circular economy to deliver the program.

Program details

With expert guidance, participants will identify opportunities to help improve their business performance and develop their own circular initiative action plans, resulting in:

• Reduced costs
• A growing customer base
• New revenue streams
• Enhance supply chain resilience
• Minimised waste

The training program consists of online workshops, in person networking opportunities and one-on-one consultation with circular economy experts. During the program, participants will develop a tailored pathway and circular economy action plan to support their business outcomes.  

Key dates

Our next program will run in mid-2024, specific dates to be confirmed soon. We are currently accepting expression of interest notices from businesses - submit your interest by clicking on the yellow box below.

Program eligibility

The training program is limited to 10 small to medium size businesses. Business owners in the City of Glen Eira are invited to apply.

Applicants must be able to attend the workshops and complete the course work during the program. 

Interested businesses are invited to submit an expression of interest use the button below.

Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application via email.

A $200 deposit is required to enrol in the training program. This deposit will be refunded upon successful completion of the program.

If the business fails to complete the program for any reason, the deposit will be forfeited to Council and will not be refunded.

If Council decides not to proceed with the program, applicants who have paid a deposit will be refunded their deposit.

For further enquiries about the Going Circular training program, email  sustainablebusiness@gleneira.vic.gov.au

The success of our first Going Circular program:

Businesses who took part in the program learned about the benefits of the circular economy and how to use new strategies in their own business practices.

Hear from some of our previous program participants:

Alishia Smart – Alexander Jayne Hairstylist

"Attending the Circular Economy Training with Glen Eira Council was a transformative experience that opened my eyes to new possibilities and empowered me to make meaningful changes in my business and community.

Throughout the training, I was impressed by the council's commitment to fostering environmental stewardship and promoting innovative solutions to address pressing global challenges.

As I reflect on my experience, I am grateful for the invaluable knowledge and skills that I gained from the Circular Economy Training.

Armed with a newfound sense of purpose and a deeper understanding of sustainable practices, I am confident in my ability to effect meaningful change and contribute to building a more sustainable future for generations to come. Thank you, Glen Eira Council, for this empowering opportunity!"

Pamela Irving- Pamela Irving Gallery + Studio

“I thought I ran a fairly sustainable practice, but the Going Circular Training course opened my eyes to new ways of seeing what being Sustainable means.

I feel like it was a great re-boot and opportunity to think about how my micro business could do better in this space. I highly recommend the course.”

What is a circular economy? 

Our Climate Emergency Response Strategy 2021–25 | Dhumbali Wurrungi-biik Parbin-ata defines the circular economy as ‘a system in which all resources are highly valued and remain in the system through re-use, re-purposing and recycling’. 

Many countries, states and local councils are transitioning to a model that manages the Earth’s resources more efficiently. In a circular economy, waste is designed out of the system, meaning that unnecessary or wasteful items are not produced in the first place. 

In a perfect circular economy, the materials we use in products would all be recovered, reprocessed and reused in a continuous loop, rather than becoming waste in landfill. 

Our Circular Economy Plan 2022–2026 will enable Council and the community to work together to implement this Plan for future generations and the bettering of our planet. 

Your business can transition to a circular economy too. Take a look below at ways your business can reduce waste and transition to a circular economy. 

Transitioning your business to a circular economy — ​single-use plastics ban 

Single-use plastics ban is now in effect.

By February 2023, single-use plastic drinking straws, cutlery, plates, drink stirrers and cotton bud sticks made from conventional, degradable and compostable materials, including bioplastic and oxo-degradable materials, are proposed to be banned from sale or supply in Victoria. The ban will also apply to food and drink containers made from expanded polystyrene.  

Find out more about the ban at Sustainability Victoria. 

How should your business prepare for the single-use plastic ban?  

• Stop ordering banned items now.  
• Do a stocktake and work out how long it will take to exhaust your banned items. 
• Speak to your supplier if you have large amounts of stock. They may accept returns or exchanges. 
• Transfer excess stock to another state (however be aware of similar bans in other states). 

Contact a local recycler to see if they can take some items if you cannot exhaust, return, exchange or transfer your stock in time. 

What can you do with your excess single-use plastic after the Wednesday 1 February?

• First, talk with your supplier and see if they can take it back from you.

• Visit Planet Ark’s website and put in what you want to recycle and find the nearest business who will take it from you. 

• Give them to someone who can use them — person, community organisation, kindergarten or art groups such as Reverse Art Truck.

• If you need more help, check the Victorian Government's single-use plastics FAQ section or contact the National Retail Association helpline on 1800 738 245.

Questions to ask your supplier 

• Do these items comply with the Victorian plastics ban that comes into effect in 2023?  
• Can you confirm that they do not contain any form of polymer, plastic, or compostable plastic?  
• Are my plastic shopping bags more than 35 microns in thickness at all parts of the bag?  
• If your supplier cannot answer yes to all questions, the items may be banned in 2023.  

Note: alternatives to EPS containers or cups can be made from other forms of plastic. 

Inform your team and customers 

• Prepare your staff for customer questions about the ban and inform them of the changes you have decided to make.   
• Inform your customers of the ban and prepare them for the changes you will implement. We recommend businesses display signage well ahead of the ban, so customers have time to adjust.  

For more frequently asked questions on the single-use plastic ban, visit Engage Victoria  

Alternatives to single-use plastic items 

Avoid single-use items where you can and choose reusables such as:  

• Straws — save costs by avoiding straws altogether, or only provide them on request. Alternatively explore reusable options such as metal or silicone. 
• Cutlery — save costs by not providing cutlery or only provide on request, including for food delivery customers. Encourage customers to bring their own reusable cutlery when they get takeaway and provide reusable cutlery for dine in customers. 
• Plates — avoid single-use and use reusable plates. 
• Drink stirrers — save costs and avoid drink stirrers altogether or provide only on request. Reusable alternatives include teaspoons or metal sticks.
• EPS food and drink containers — encourage customers to bring their own reusable container for takeaway. Alternatively consider a returnable container system for takeaway containers. If you cannot avoid or use reusable items, then choose non-plastic materials such as Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper, wood or bamboo.

Reusable alternative resources and platforms to consider 

What can businesses do? 

Add your business to the BYO Containers platform to inform the community your business accepts reusable containers. 

Register your business on the Responsible Cafes website to be awarded a ‘Responsible Bean Rating’ and promoted on their website.  

Use Sustainability Victoria’s Buy Recycled directory to find products containing recycled materials. 

Promote reusable alternatives in your business by using these posters from Sustainability Victoria.

Downloadable posters for businesses in Glen Eira

Download these posters to promote reusable alternatives by displaying in your shop, café or restaurant.

We welcome reusable bags A4 Poster (PDF, 437KB)

We accept reusable containers A4 Poster (PDF, 437KB)

We accept reusable cups A4 Poster (PDF, 437KB)

We welcome reusable cups, bags and containers A4 Poster (PDF, 440KB)

We also have printed reusable coffee cup A5 signs available for display, please contact sustainablebusiness@gleneira.vic.gov.au to get one for your business. 

Recycling resources 

Learn the right way to recycle with Recycle Mate.  

Find a recycling service or collection with Planet Ark’s Business Recycling 

How to reduce and recycle plastics at work  

Find out where to recycle coffee capsules 

Smart Recycling transforms timber, commercial green and builders waste into recycled pallets, timber packaging, landscaping and building products.  

Precious Plastic Melbourne find creative ways to repurpose and recycle plastic waste. They offer micro-recycling equipment, resources and tools for businesses to transition to a circular economy.  

Textile Recyclers Australia supports retailers and manufacturers with textile recycling, compostable packaging and circular solutions for unwanted textiles.  

Close the Loop provide best-in-class sustainability solutions to help companies enhance corporate social responsibility programs. 

Partner with Upparel to recycle unwanted textiles. 

Upcycle your excess cardboard with Greenway 

Use Nespresso capsules in the office? Participate in the Nespresso Bulk Recycling Program, a free-of-charge collection service for used Nespresso coffee pods.  

Partner with TerraCycle, who offer recycling programs and solutions for different business items. 

Recycle with Ecocycle, Australasia’s most experienced mercury recycling and recovery company. Recycle e-waste, batteries, lighting waste, dental and medical waste, industrial equipment and more. 

The ASPIRE marketplace is an online marketplace that connects businesses wanting to buy, sell or trade unwanted materials and products to reduce their waste disposal costs and earn money from unwanted goods.

Organic waste resources 

Connect with someone on Sharewaste and recycle food scraps with others who are already composting, worm-farming or keep farm animals. 

Visit or join the Caulfield South Community Garden and learn more about sustainable gardening and participate in their food swaps, workshops and open days. 

Sign up to Bring Me Home which aims to eliminate food waste in the retail space by making unsold food affordable and accessible to everyone. Businesses can list their meal deals for free on the app, with no sign up or monthly fee.  

Donate leftover food to OzHarvest, Second Bite, Foodbank or FareShare.

Paid services 

Reground collects businesses’ coffee grounds, chaff and soft plastics and gives them new life. 

KS Environmental offer a range of commercial recycling solutions.  

Veolia offers organic recycling collection and turns the biogas into renewable energy. 

Waste Ninja is an innovative, 100% Australian-owned waste management company with a specialist focus on food waste recycling 

Start an on-site worm farm with Worm Lovers 

More circular economy resources 

The Circular Toolbox aims to enable apparel brands to design and launch their own circular business model, specifically a rental or resale business model. 

Circular Metrics for Businesses  

Circular Economy Business Innovation Centre (CEBIC) 

Supply chain transparency

Customers want to know more about the products and services they buy. Find out more about having transparency in your supply chain and the eight steps to achieve this. 

If you have any questions or enquiries regarding circular economy for businesses, please contact sustainablebusiness@gleneira.vic.gov.au