A first of its kind, the Circular Economy Directory will assist businesses to transition to a circular economy model where products and materials are designed to reduce waste and carbon emissions by keeping existing products in circulation for longer.
Businesses looking to do the right thing can find suppliers that have listed their products and services. Categories include reducing carbon, sharing and trading existing resources, and extending the lifespan, and can easily be found through the search function.
Sustainable Business Network (SBN), through a public-private partnership, has created the directory to help businesses transition from a linear to a circular economy at greater speed and scale.
James Griffin, General Manager Projects and Advisory at SBN, says the new Circular Economy Directory will be a valuable resource.
“Businesses haven’t known who can help them or where to find them so we have created a one-stop-shop to provide access to what they need”.
Innovative upcycling social enterprise Critical is looking to partner with businesses that have upcoming building fit-out projects to find new life for plastic waste.. Like the nearly 9,000 plastic milk bottles that were used to build Kōkako Organic Coffee Roasters’ newest coffee shop.
Critical Chief Executive Rui Peng says “We understand that businesses have problems with plastics and zero waste commitments that aren’t easy to solve. Not only that, they want durable products while being able to tell a great story to their customers. We hope to not only solve those issues but to also solve one of the biggest pollution crises of our generation. The directory provides a much-needed conduit to businesses looking for innovative ways to reuse existing materials as well as other circular economy practices.”
Griffin cautions that pressure from government regulations and customers means change is coming and urges businesses to take action now.
“The Circular Economy Directory exists to easily find solutions to solve the issues we face now. It provides access to innovative products and services that contribute to regenerating our world rather than degrading it” says Griffin.
Griffin is encouraging people to join the online launch and find out how they can be part of the solution.
View the Circular Economy Directory.
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The Directory has been possible due to the support of SBN’s partners at the Ministry for the Environment, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, Waste Management, Auckland Council & Auckland Unlimited and Āmiomio Aotearoa.
Quotes from project partners:
Vicky Robertson, Secretary for the Environment, Ministry for the Environment / Manatū mō te Taiao
“The Ministry for the Environment is working at the forefront of New Zealand’s transition to a circular economy, which is an essential shift needed to ensure Aotearoa achieves a flourishing environment for every generation. We have recently consulted on two significant proposed policies involving the circular economy: the Emissions Reduction Plan and the New Waste Strategy and Legislation. And we are currently consulting on Transforming Recycling, which will significantly contribute to the transition journey. We are also partnering with the private sector to support this transition through sector-led initiatives, such as SBN’s Circular Economy Directory for businesses. I encourage you to join us in supporting Aotearoa’s circular transition, by signing up to the directory and making use of it.”
Chris Lijzenga, Sustainability Advisor, New Zealand Trade & Enterprise
“At New Zealand Trade & Enterprise we recognise the growing importance of the circular economy around the world. This week alone, the European Commission proposed new rules to make textile products sold in the EU more durable, repairable, reusable and recyclable. Regulatory requirements as well as soaring international demand for more circular goods and services are a strong motivator for our support of Go Circular and the Directory. Aotearoa New Zealand's companies need to be prepared for a circular future and currently have an enormous opportunity to embrace the circular economy and be leaders on the world stage. The launch of the Circular Economy Directory is a milestone in helping businesses to tap into the circular solutions around them, enabling collaboration and ultimately supporting their growth for the good of New Zealand.”
Ingrid Cronin-Knight General Manager, Strategy, Customer & Sustainability, Waste Management NZ
“Waste Management is a leader in materials and resource recovery in Aotearoa New Zealand and is strategically committed to helping New Zealand move towards a carbon positive future. We have significant circular economy investments in building and construction recovery, organics recovery and plastics recovery. The breadth of our materials recycling facilities around Aotearoa and associated collections fleet means we see first-hand how inefficient our resource utilisation is across all sectors including consumers, business, and government.
The circular economy represents a productivity and competitive opportunity for an island nation like New Zealand to maximise resource use, promote the local economy, boost GDP and create jobs.
Our future innovations will allow us to keep materials within the value chain for as long as possible, provide surety over the chain of custody, oversight of where materials end up, and how they are used. We can minimise waste and limit the GHG emissions associated with the transportation of that waste.
A circular future is the only future that will ensure we make the very best use of our precious resources, minimise waste and reduce our impact on the environment.”
Professor Eva Collins, Waikato Management School, Key Researcher, Āmiomio Aotearoa
“Our goal is to help businesses increase wellbeing by designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and restoring natural systems.
Āmiomio Aotearoa is on a mission to create a bold new blueprint for change, with a particular focus on the construction and packaging industries. The Circular Economy Directory is helping us achieve this goal by helping us forge meaningful connections with the business community along the way."