The size and complexity of the waste challenge facing society dominated discussion at the first stakeholders’ meeting of the newly announced Circular Economy Innovation Network (CEIN).
The CEIN is an initiative of the Office of Chief Scientist and Engineer to bring together stakeholders from across governments, industry, universities and not-for-profit groups to work together to reduce waste and enhance sustainability by developing a circular economy in which waste is valued as a resource.
Director of CEIN, Professor Veena Sahajwalla, (pictured), who is founding director of the UNSW Centre for Sustainable Materials Research and Technology (SMaRT), said many stakeholders have already been making great progress in reducing waste and using it as a resource, and the first stakeholders’ meeting was a testament to that.
“What is clear is that we need much greater coordination and connectivity across stakeholders to identify the opportunities and problems in getting a circular economy really going,” Ms Sahajwalla said.
“And that is where the new network comes in.
“CEIN will bring stakeholders together to not only enhance current efforts to build a circular economy, but to identify the big impact opportunities,” she said.
Co-Director of CEIN, Ashley Brinson, who is Executive Director of the Warren Centre at Sydney University, said the passion and enthusiasm displayed during the first stakeholder meeting session demonstrated a strong collective desire to truly establish a circular economy in NSW and Australia.
“We heard from both the Chair and Co-Chair of the NSW Government’s Steering Committee for the CEIN, as well as many stakeholders representing the different sectors and industries that are central to a circular economy, and a key acknowledgement was the need for a coordination of sustainability efforts,” Mr Brinson said.
The CEIN will look to map and identify opportunities for stakeholders to work together in the goal to reduce waste, enhance sustainability and ultimately boost industry (growth and jobs) by developing a circular economy.
The first stakeholders’ meeting was held at UNSW as CEIN host, and was attended by around 150 stakeholders.
