Advancing the Circular Economy in South Australia

Since joining GISA in 2016, I’ve seen the concept of a circular economy become much more widely understood and embraced by individuals, businesses, and governments.

The core principle is simple yet transformative: keeping resources in circulation, minimising waste, and maximising resource efficiency. Our current ‘take, make, waste’ economy just isn’t sustainable.

SA has a proud history in leading the nation in recycling and resource recovery, including through our pioneering container deposit scheme – almost half a century ahead of some other states.

Despite our many ‘firsts’, SA, like the rest of the world, still has significant work to do in achieving UN SDG Goal 12.

A true circular economy requires collaboration between public and private sectors. Growing focus on ESG principles and climate reporting is pushing businesses to rethink product design, supply chains, and end-of-life strategies, unlocking new opportunities.

Product stewardship has a critical role to play – not just for high-value materials, but for all resources. Consumers now expect businesses to be accountable not only for production and supply, but also for product recovery, reuse and management.

Well-designed government policy can drive and support private sector progress in the circular economy. While a national approach to product stewardship is often most effective, as seen with container deposit schemes we can’t afford to wait decades for alignment. NSW’s leadership on batteries stewardship is a promising example.

SA’s experience demonstrates that policy and regulation work best alongside advocacy, collaboration, incentives, and behaviour change programs. The partnership between GISA and SA EPA highlights the power of this approach.

Looking ahead, SA has opportunities in the circularity of renewable energy infrastructure and technologies given our leadership on solar and wind energy, as well as large-scale organic processing, and the management of problematic waste streams such as textiles and treated timber.

By embracing public and private collaboration, SA can continue to set new benchmarks in shaping a truly circular economy.

Josh Wheeler
Chief Executive
Green Industries SA