Funding boost for reuse and repair

Published: 8 March 2023
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Woman using a refill station at zero waste.

Sustainability Victoria is calling on businesses, industry groups, research institutions and charities interested in supporting the reuse and repair economy to apply for $4.8 million in funding through the Victorian Government’s Circular Economy Business Support Fund and the Circular Economy Innovation Fund.

The funding is available to those Victorian organisations looking to explore opportunities to design out waste and extend the useful life of products.

These funds have so far supported 36 projects with grants of more than $7.1 million, including a zero-waste hub for olive growers, a circular economy action plan for Australia’s clothing, a sustainable business model for retired electric vehicle batteries, and the transformation of surplus vegetables into healthy snacks.

Sustainability Victoria’s interim CEO Matt Genever said these grants are fostering business innovation, commercialisation and collaboration across supply chains to prevent waste, increase reuse and repair and generate new streams of revenue for businesses.

“This funding will stimulate innovation and commercialisation of circular solutions that create new jobs and improve environmental and economic outcomes for Victoria.”
Matt Genever, Interim CEO at Sustainability Victoria

Successful funding recipients can benefit from Sustainability Victoria’s Circular Economy Business Innovation Centre (CEBIC) which offers the chance to engage with past grantees, attendance at networking events, opportunities to collaborate and connect with other CEBIC stakeholders and promotion of the project and organisation.

Mr Genever said lessons learned from funded projects are shared with Victorian businesses to inspire more market creation and accelerate the state towards a sustainable, thriving circular economy. 

“We encourage business to explore the many opportunities and benefits the circular economy has to offer.”

The Circular Economy Innovation Fund and Circular Economy Business Support Fund are part of the Victorian Government’s $380 million circular economy plan, Recycling Victoria: a new economy, targeting a reduction of total waste generation by 15% per capita by 2030.

Learn more about these funding opportunities for business and industry.