Circular Economy Hub@RMIT

The Circular Economy Hub (CEH) is a cross-disciplinary, industry-engaged network of RMIT experts working on cutting-edge and innovative circular economy research across Australia and internationally.

The RMIT Circular Economy Hub fosters cross-disciplinary collaboration, promoting holistic and systemic research partnerships focusing on empirical outcomes. This enhances the University's influence and proficiency in the circular economy domain. Additionally, it aids in the development of a new platform for capability building, encompassing micro-credentials, executive training, and vocational and higher education outcomes. 

Themes

The following themes reflect areas of expertise across the network. Members may work in several of these areas.

Science and engineering

Science enables changing physical and chemical composition of products so they can be upcycled. Engineering plays a central role in identifying and re-engineering the use and reuse of by-products in a variety of industries and supply chains across various sectors.

Policy and governance

Circularity needs to be embraced in all sectors of the economy. Having the right policy and governance arrangements is central to success as they influence the uptake of the circular economy.

Construction

Applying principles of circularity to construction ensures resources, materials and products entering and leaving the built environment contribute circular value in buildings and construction projects. Space sharing presents an opportunity.

Design

Circular economy is a design challenge. Design for extended life ensures products remain in the use-phase longer. Design for disassembly ensures that different components of a product can be upcycled.

Waste recovery

Waste is an opportunity. Circularity means going beyond recycling to ensure that value is maintained or upcycled, as well as reducing and avoiding the use of virgin resources altogether.

Network leads

Professor Usha Iyer-Raniga
School of Property, Construction and Project Management

Dr Kevin Argus
Graduate School of Business and Law

Dr Saniyat Islam
School of Fashion and Textiles


Membership and contacting CEH

The Circular Economy Hub serves as a collaborative platform for academics conducting research in the field of Circular Economy. It offers a space for the exchange of ideas, presentation of research findings, and discussion of research methodologies, theories, and modes of engagement. It also facilitates dialogue on knowledge translation intending to achieve impactful outcomes through education, training and workplace upskilling.

Please get in touch with any of the leads listed above.

Enabling Impact Platform (EIP) sponsorship

people crossing the road with a network pattern overlayed

CEH is supported by the following Enabling Impact Platforms:

Urban Futures Researching how cities can be more resilient, sustainable and regenerative.
Social Change Focuses on transformative research in the areas of digital society, quality of life, global mobility and research practice for social change.
Sustainable Technologies and Systems Leveraging sustainable technologies and systems to solve national and global environmental, social and economic challenges in the areas of energy, water, food and circular economy.
Global Business Innovation Working with researchers around the world to unlock the value and impact of innovation.
Advanced Materials, Manufacturing and Fabrication Focuses on driving the next wave of innovation and research translation in Australia through the transformation of specialised materials into high-performance products and solutions.
Design and Creative Practice Applying an inventive, exploratory approach to real-world problems through interdisciplinary research, within and beyond design and creative practice.

Explore RMIT Enabling Impact Platforms

EIPs enable economic, environmental, societal, health and cultural impact with government, business and the community through research and innovation.

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.

aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.