If there is waste, there is a system: Understanding Victoria's circular economy transition from a systems thinking perspective

Published on September 25, 2024

Governments around the world have started adopting circular economy policies with the aim of transitioning production and consumption systems to be more circular. This transition requires a holistic approach to overcome a multitude of interdependent challenges. To understand how the State of Victoria, Australia is transitioning to a circular economy, this paper uses a systems thinking approach to analyse the current ecosystem. Using data from multiple sources, Causal Loop Diagrams to depict sub-systems were developed and validated through focus group workshops. We found that there is a heavy reliance on the resource recovery and recycling sector, both at industry level and policy interventions. Common misconceptions that circular economy is an advanced recycling strategy was found to be a major barrier for the transition. Policies to overcome these misconceptions and developing accepted circularity indicators focusing on the design stage and upfront considerations of downstream end of life impacts would enable a holistic transition.

Professor Usha Iyer-Raniga is at the School of Property and Construction Management at RMIT University. Usha is co-leading the One Planet
Network’s Sustainable Buildings and Construction Programme (SBC), United Nations 10 Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable
Consumption and Production (UN 10FYP SCP) aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 12, as well as the newly formed Integrated
Platform for Circular Economy, Climate Resilience, and Energy. This book is directly related to the work of the UN OPN SBC Programme.