Those who prepare and plan for this changing landscape will be equipped to thrive under the circular economy. Those who ignore or delay planning for this change, will be underprepared and could
place their developments and businesses at risk.
The circular economy practices and principles can be applied to many stages of a project’s development. The key is to plan early and prepare for this change. Attempting to retrofit these requirements into a development can be costly and could jeopardise the integrity of initial design intent, not to mention project delays.
Integrating circular economy considerations now, from the outset of a project doesn’t necessarily mean increased costs but definitely reduces project risk. Plus a project or organisation that embraces the circular economy can leverage the marketing advantage it presents, much like the ESD credentials or any other design feature.
Damien Connell is our expert in circular economy progress in Australia.
Prior to joining Ratio as our Circular economy lead, he led the Victorian State Government’s initiative to deliver five Regional Circular Economy Plans, a first of its kind and a massive state-wide suite of projects enabling stakeholders from local government and industry to pave their way towards a circular economy future.
Through this work and his extensive networks, Damien has unique insights and appreciation of where the government is heading, what can be feasibly done now and what’s coming.
For a sense of what a circular economy approach could entail in the property and development sector, see below. Each one of these buildings below is an opportunity to incorporate circular economy into a development, organisation or design studio.
For those in our network interested in the circular economy concept but unsure what to do, or what it means for them, we have a ‘diagnostic tool’ which we can run with our clients over a coffee. Going through this simple assessment will help clients quickly understand where they are doing well, from a circular economy perspective, what they could do better and what they should start planning for.
