Attend any conference, workshop or training session focused on the circular economy and you will invariably hear one word repeated: collaboration.

Collaboration will be a critical element in transitioning our current linear economy to a circular economy. If we are to achieve this lofty goal, natural competitors and previously unrelated parties will need to work together throughout business, government, academia and the community.

Last week Australia was visited by Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, to begin an exciting collaboration between Australia and The Netherlands. The Netherlands has the ambitious aim to be fully circular by 2050 and are therefore positioned as global leaders in circular economy implementation. This collaboration will bring the extensive knowledge and experience from The Netherlands to Australia.

Essential to this collaboration was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Planet Ark and the Holland Circular Hotspot to form an international collaboration which will accelerate the transition to a circular economy in Australia. This collaboration will help to develop Planet Ark's new program which will be launched in 2020, the National Circular Economy Hub.

This collaboration was announced at an event co-hosted by the Victorian Government and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which showcased the Netherland's achievements in developing a circular economy and launched the partnership between Holland Circular Hotspot and Planet Ark. The MOU was signed in the presence of Mr Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of the Netherlands, the Honourable Lily D'Ambrosio, Minister for Energy, Environment, the Honourable Trevor Evans, Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management and the Right Honourable Sally Capp, Lord Mayor of Melbourne.

Planet Ark was proud to have our program sponsors BINGO Industries and KeepCup represented on the panel discussions.

“The Netherlands is a global leader in circular economy thinking and the Holland Circular Hotspot's knowledge and expertise will be invaluable in the transformation to a circular economy in Australia," said Paul Klymenko, Planet Ark CEO.

Under the agreement, the Holland Circular Hotspot will provide their experience, knowledge and expertise with the aim of accelerating bilateral cooperation in the circular economy space. Planet Ark will promote dialogue and collaboration between Australian businesses, universities and governments to move towards a circular economy.

"Our foundation aims to accelerate the transition to a circular economy around the world, which is why we are excited to engage with the National Circular Economy Hub to fast-track this movement in Australia," said HCH director Freek van Eijk.

 

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