Potential Benefits of a Circular Economy in South Australia - report methods (2017)

The project task was to quantify the potential benefits of a more circular economy to South Australia, in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and jobs. The project team extended the analysis to also examine energy consumption. The year of comparison is 2030. This date is far enough away to be able to enact real change, but close enough to 2016 to be tangible. The assumptions adopted to assess potential impacts of the scenarios were benchmarked against other similar international studies and tailored with Green Industries SA’s guidance to reflect South Australia’s particular circumstances. An international panel of circular economy experts reviewed 4 key assumptions, modelling techniques and results. The following four scenarios were modelled: BUSINESS AS USUAL Based on existing trends and implementation of current policy on renewable energy (State Strategic Plan). MATERIAL EFFICIENCY Products, components and materials are kept at their highest utility/value at all times. EFFICIENT AND RENEWABLE ENERGY South Australia implements its ambitious Climate Change Strategy 2015-2050. CIRCULAR ECONOMY The strategies from Material Efficiency and Efficient and Renewable Energy scenarios are combined to achieve a circular economy.