Transforming Australia’s Bega Valley into a circular economy | Barry Irvin | TEDxSydney

Key Concepts:

• Circularity/Circular Economy: Moving from a linear "take-make-dispose" model to a system where resources are reused, recycled, and repurposed.
• Community: Emphasizing the importance of engaging with the entire community, not just select parts, for collective success.
• Enterprise Stacking: Utilizing resources in multiple ways and sharing them across different businesses or individuals.
• Industrial Symbiosis: Collaboration between different industries to use each other's byproducts or waste as resources.
• Bega Valley: A geographically defined area used as a case study for implementing circular economy principles.
• National Center for Circularity: A planned center in Bega to showcase circular economy projects and promote sustainable practices.

1. Introduction and Personal Context

• The speaker begins by establishing a personal connection, speaking from his veranda and referencing his upbringing in a rural community.
• He recalls his mother's advice to "Know your place," emphasizing the importance of good manners, respect, listening, and being part of the whole community.
• He shares his experience playing sports as a child, highlighting the need for community participation and self-reliance.

2. Indigenous Knowledge and Circularity

• The speaker consulted with Daring elders who confirmed that the principles of circularity have been practiced by indigenous peoples for generations.
• He mentions the Bunan rings in the Bega Valley, ancient gathering places for neighboring tribes to discuss problems and find solutions, emphasizing the historical significance of community collaboration.

3. The Bega Valley as a Case Study

• The Bega Valley is described as a diverse region with mountains, forests, agriculture (large and small animals, orchards, truffle growers, hops growers), estuaries, and a fishing industry.
• The speaker highlights the valley's potential for implementing circular economy principles due to its defined geographical boundaries and measurable resources.

4. The Need for a Circular Economy

• The speaker cites a statistic: if we continue with a linear economy, we will need 60% more resources in the next 30 years than we currently have.
• He emphasizes the need to shift from a linear economy to a circular economy, where products are designed with their end-of-life in mind.
• The goal is to minimize environmental impact while maximizing benefits for the community (environmental, social, and economic outcomes).

5. Engaging the Community

• To change the way the community thinks, the speaker emphasizes the importance of talking to everyone, not just select groups.
• He suggests asking three questions: "Tell me what you do," "Tell me what you dream of," and "Tell me what's stopping you from realizing your dreams."
• He also suggests asking "What do you fear?" to address potential concerns and build trust.

6. Collaboration and Partnerships

• The speaker mentions seeking help from external organizations, including Bravo Bank, universities, energy companies, communication companies, and packaging companies.
• The goal is to leverage their knowledge and resources to transform the Bega Valley into the most circular valley in the world.

7. Measuring Success and Implementing Circular Practices

• The speaker emphasizes the importance of measuring everything in the Bega Valley to establish a baseline and track progress in social, economic, and environmental circumstances.
• He mentions using concepts like "enterprise stacking" and "industrial symbiosis" to promote collaboration and resource sharing.
• Examples include a fertilizer company using waste forestry product, waste fisheries product, sea urchins, and council organic waste, and oyster growers sharing their oysters with a local gin distilling company.

8. The National Center for Circularity

• The speaker announces the construction of the National Center for Circularity in Bega, a beacon to the world showcasing circular economy projects.
• The center will demonstrate how to transform a valley and share information with other regions, states, and countries.
• It will also showcase sustainable building practices.

9. Conclusion

• The speaker concludes by inviting the audience to visit his veranda and expressing hope that the National Center for Circularity will inspire others to adopt circular economy principles.
• He emphasizes the importance of leading the way so that others will follow.

Notable Quotes:

• "Know your place." (Speaker's mother, emphasizing good manners, respect, and community involvement)
• "The principles of circularity have been practiced by our peoples for years." (Daring elders)
• "Imagination will take you everywhere." (Referencing Einstein)

Technical Terms:

• Linear Economy: A traditional economic model based on "take-make-dispose."
• Circular Economy: An economic model focused on reusing, recycling, and repurposing resources.
• Enterprise Stacking: Utilizing resources in multiple ways and sharing them across different businesses or individuals.
• Industrial Symbiosis: Collaboration between different industries to use each other's byproducts or waste as resources.

Logical Connections:

• The speaker connects his personal experiences and upbringing to the broader concept of community and the importance of collaboration.
• He links indigenous knowledge of sustainable practices to the modern concept of circularity.
• He uses the Bega Valley as a specific example to illustrate how circular economy principles can be implemented in a real-world setting.
• He connects the need for a circular economy to the growing scarcity of resources and the environmental impact of the linear economy.

Synthesis/Conclusion:

The speaker advocates for a shift from a linear to a circular economy, emphasizing the importance of community engagement, collaboration, and resource sharing. He uses the Bega Valley as a case study to demonstrate how circular economy principles can be implemented in practice, and announces the construction of the National Center for Circularity to showcase these efforts and inspire others to adopt sustainable practices. The core message is that by working together and thinking differently about resources, we can create a more sustainable and prosperous future for all.