Coreo( 2024). Bass Coast circular case studies: Program overview. Prepared for Bass Coast Shire Council. https:// www. basscoast. vic. gov. au / assets / general-images / Economic-Developmentand-Tourism / Bass-Coast-Circular-Case-Studies- Program-Overview. pdf
Coreo( 2024). Circular case study: Genesta House Bed & Breakfast. Prepared for Bass Coast Shire Council. https:// www. basscoast. vic. gov. au / assets / general-images / Economic-Developmentand-Tourism / Bass-Coast-Circular-Case-Studies- Genesta-House. pdf
Coreo( 2024). Circular case study: Phillip Island Community and Learning Centre. Prepared for Bass Coast Shire Council. https:// www. basscoast. vic. gov. au / assets / general-images / Economic- Development-and-Tourism / Bass-Coast-Circular- Case-Studies-PICAL. pdf
Coreo( 2024). Circular case study: San Remo Fisherman’ s Co-op. Prepared for Bass Coast Shire Council. https:// www. basscoast. vic. gov. au / assets / general-images / Economic-Development-and- Tourism / Bass-Coast-Circular-Case-Studies-San- Remo-Fishermans-Co-op. pdf
Coreo( 2024). Circular case study: Wildlife Coast Cruises. Prepared for Bass Coast Shire Council. https:// www. basscoast. vic. gov. au / assets / generalimages / Economic-Development-and-Tourism / Bass-Coast-Circular-Case-Studies-Wildlife-Coast- Cruises. pdf
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water( 2024). Australia’ s Circular Economy Framework. Australian Government https:// www. dcceew. gov. au / sites / default / files / documents / australias-circular-economyframework. pdf
Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning( 2020). Recycling Victoria: A new economy. Victorian Government. https:// www. vic. gov. au / sites / default / files / 2020-03 / 02032020 % 20Circular % 20 Economy % 20Policy % 20- % 20Final % 20policy % 20- % 20Word % 20Accessible % 20version % 20. pdf
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
LAUREN VAN STRIJP Lauren van Strijp( ACEcD) is Acting Coordinator Business and Industry Development at Bass Coast Shire Council. Her work focuses on designing and delivering practical initiatives that strengthen business capability, support local economic growth and respond to emerging industry opportunities. She has a particular interest in making complex policy concepts practical, relevant and achievable for small and regional businesses. Lauren developed and led Bass Coast’ s Circular Economy Business Accelerator Program, which won the 2025 national EDA Award in the Economic Development Sustainable Initiatives category.
> Take this back to your organisation <
Start by looking for where circular economy is already happening across your local business community, even if businesses aren’ t using that language. It may already be visible through waste reduction, asset reuse, repair, local procurement or more considered supplier decisions.
Bring together a small cohort of businesses with existing interest or momentum and create space for them to identify practical actions, learn from each other and explore opportunities for collaboration. The work doesn’ t need to begin as a large, grantfunded program. A smaller model can be delivered through officer time, existing business networks and targeted support.
Track practical outcomes such as actions implemented, materials reused, waste avoided and new partnerships formed, and use those insights to shape future strategies, programs, case studies and funding priorities.
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