Circular Economy Innovation Fund is a grant from the Circular Economy Business Innovation Centre (CEBIC) that funds collaborative projects helping businesses, industry groups, charities, and research institutions identify, apply, and scale up circular economy business models.

Previously known as the Recycling Victoria Innovation Fund prior to July 2022, the fund supports projects that enable industry transitions to sustainable, circular practices and stimulate new circular products and services. Eligible collaborators include industry groups and associations, charities, research institutions, government bodies, and community organizations.

Projects have included circular economy business accelerators, country-centred circular economy frameworks, and localized sustainability initiatives. Funding amounts and specific deadlines vary by project cycle, with information on open rounds available through the Recycling Victoria policy framework.

Circular Economy Innovation Fund – Funded projects Circular Economy Innovation Fund – Funded projects Last updated: 10 September 2025 Funded projects to identify opportunities, apply and scale-up circular economy business models and practices.

Number of recipients to date: Total funding awarded to date: All projects to be completed by: Prior to 1 July 2022, this fund was named the Recycling Victoria Innovation Fund The Circular Economy Innovation Fund supports collaborative projects between: industry groups and associations charities and/or research institutions.

The projects may also include government or local government organisations or other not-for-profit organisations including community groups and associations. These grants are funded through the Recycling Victoria policy . Funding stream: Capability building The Circular Economy Business Accelerator Program aims to help local businesses transition to sustainable, Circular Economy models.

Targeting 20 businesses in the Bass Coast region, it will enhance understanding and implementation of circular practices and stimulate new circular products and services. Activities include a full-day launch event with keynote speakers and a workshop, personalized consultations, and a practical challenge for actionable Circular Economy projects.

Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations Ltd Through the localisation and application of a Country Centred Circular Economy business model and framework on Gunaikurnai Country, this project aims to build awareness, understanding, training, and capability in Circular Economy practices.

It will involve staff innovation, co-design, and prototyping of Circular Economy products and services for the Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC), including the Bush Cafe, Events, and Tourism facilities. The project will inform future GLaWAC service expansion, develop methodologies for other Traditional Owner Corporations, and showcase First Nations leadership in a circular and regenerative economy.

Gippsland Climate Change Network The project aims to strengthen Circular Economy practices among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Gippsland through a dedicated project officer, workshops, web resources, and training programs. Key objectives include increasing Circular Economy knowledge and adoption within SMEs by assessing current practices, enhancing awareness, organising training events, and developing assessment tools.

Additionally, the project seeks to encourage business-to-business collaboration for Circular Economy solutions by providing guidance, facilitating stakeholder collaboration, and training local government business concierges for ongoing support. Perceptions of the Circular Economy often focus on recycling and are largely theoretical, lacking practical strategies.

This project will adapt the Circular Economy Collage Workshop to the Australian and Victorian context, creating a comprehensive service that integrates education, analysis, and strategy. Through interactive evaluation sessions, participants will apply circularity metrics. In tailored strategy workshops, the project team will help participants create a Circular Roadmap and actionable steps to adopt circular business models.

Participants will then be connected with relevant stakeholders to implement these insights. Planet Ark Environmental Foundation Planet Ark launched the Australian Circular Economy Hub (ACE Hub) in November 2020, which has become Australia's key platform for Circular Economy knowledge and collaboration.

Through the ACE Hub, Planet Ark will partner with CIRCO, a Netherlands Government-funded organisation, to bring their Circular Economy training to Australia. CIRCO focuses on product design and circular business models, providing practical training within organisations or across value chains. The project will offer training to Victorian organisations in sectors like the built environment, textiles, technology, and packaging.

Training will be provided by a mix of internationally based CIRCO accredited trainers and locally trained (then accredited) trainers. This initiative aims to equip Victorian organisations with circular design skills, enabling them to create new circular products and extend product life through design.

Shopping centres often have rudimentary one- or two-stream waste setups, leading to significant resource loss to landfills and higher costs for centre management and their businesses. The Shopping Centre Circular Economy Capability Building project will provide a Circular Economy education program focused on avoidance and material flow. This program will cover avoidance, minimisation, and Circular Economy implementation.

It will target 5 small to medium-sized shopping centres, helping over 100 businesses eliminate waste and pollution while keeping materials in use at their highest value. Worn Gundidj Aboriginal Co-operative Ltd Worn Gundidj Nursery, a native plant nursery, will launch a 6-month blended training program to promote Circular Economy principles among 50 nurseries and gardens in Victoria.

The program will educate on waste elimination, product value retention, and ecosystem regeneration. The initiative aims to help nurseries create tailored circular action plans, targeting a reduction of over 300 tonnes of plastic and green waste in 3 years. Funding stream: Capability building The Circular Economy Business Accelerator Program aims to help local businesses transition to sustainable, Circular Economy models.

Targeting 20 businesses in the Bass Coast region, it will enhance understanding and implementation of circular practices and stimulate new circular products and services. Activities include a full-day launch event with keynote speakers and a workshop, personalized consultations, and a practical challenge for actionable Circular Economy projects.

Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations Ltd Through the localisation and application of a Country Centred Circular Economy business model and framework on Gunaikurnai Country, this project aims to build awareness, understanding, training, and capability in Circular Economy practices.

It will involve staff innovation, co-design, and prototyping of Circular Economy products and services for the Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC), including the Bush Cafe, Events, and Tourism facilities. The project will inform future GLaWAC service expansion, develop methodologies for other Traditional Owner Corporations, and showcase First Nations leadership in a circular and regenerative economy.

Gippsland Climate Change Network The project aims to strengthen Circular Economy practices among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Gippsland through a dedicated project officer, workshops, web resources, and training programs. Key objectives include increasing Circular Economy knowledge and adoption within SMEs by assessing current practices, enhancing awareness, organising training events, and developing assessment tools.

Additionally, the project seeks to encourage business-to-business collaboration for Circular Economy solutions by providing guidance, facilitating stakeholder collaboration, and training local government business concierges for ongoing support. Perceptions of the Circular Economy often focus on recycling and are largely theoretical, lacking practical strategies.

This project will adapt the Circular Economy Collage Workshop to the Australian and Victorian context, creating a comprehensive service that integrates education, analysis, and strategy. Through interactive evaluation sessions, participants will apply circularity metrics. In tailored strategy workshops, the project team will help participants create a Circular Roadmap and actionable steps to adopt circular business models.

Participants will then be connected with relevant stakeholders to implement these insights. Planet Ark Environmental Foundation Planet Ark launched the Australian Circular Economy Hub (ACE Hub) in November 2020, which has become Australia's key platform for Circular Economy knowledge and collaboration.

Through the ACE Hub, Planet Ark will partner with CIRCO, a Netherlands Government-funded organisation, to bring their Circular Economy training to Australia. CIRCO focuses on product design and circular business models, providing practical training within organisations or across value chains. The project will offer training to Victorian organisations in sectors like the built environment, textiles, technology, and packaging.

Training will be provided by a mix of internationally based CIRCO accredited trainers and locally trained (then accredited) trainers. This initiative aims to equip Victorian organisations with circular design skills, enabling them to create new circular products and extend product life through design.

Shopping centres often have rudimentary one- or two-stream waste setups, leading to significant resource loss to landfills and higher costs for centre management and their businesses. The Shopping Centre Circular Economy Capability Building project will provide a Circular Economy education program focused on avoidance and material flow. This program will cover avoidance, minimisation, and Circular Economy implementation.

It will target 5 small to medium-sized shopping centres, helping over 100 businesses eliminate waste and pollution while keeping materials in use at their highest value. Worn Gundidj Aboriginal Co-operative Ltd Worn Gundidj Nursery, a native plant nursery, will launch a 6-month blended training program to promote Circular Economy principles among 50 nurseries and gardens in Victoria.

The program will educate on waste elimination, product value retention, and ecosystem regeneration. The initiative aims to help nurseries create tailored circular action plans, targeting a reduction of over 300 tonnes of plastic and green waste in 3 years. Announcement date: 17 November 2023.

All projects to be completed by: 15 December 2024. This funding round aims to support projects that focus on the research and development of innovative market solutions that apply circular design. These projects prevent, minimise, or eliminate waste and pollution, while keeping products and materials in use for longer at their highest value.

Projects must improve the environmental outcomes of products, services, industries, supply chains, or systems, and contribute to Victoria's transition to a circular economy.

Funded project – Decreasing waste from apple juice and cider manufacturing Deakin University, JET Technology, HeiQ Australia, and Austeng Circular Economy Innovation Fund Funded project – Development of Solar PV Reuse Protocols and National Accreditation Training Program Solar Training Centre, Torus Group Electrical, and Victoria University Circular Economy Innovation Fund Funded project – Designing Modular Construction Systems for Circular Economy - A framework for disassembly and reuse Rendine Constructions Pty Ltd t/a Modularity by Rendine Department of Infrastructure and Engineering, University of Melbourne, and prefabAUS Circular Economy Innovation Fund Funded project – Refashioning: Accelerating Circular Product Design RMIT University, School of Fashion and Textiles Circular Economy Innovation Fund Funded project – ​​A new mortar design enabling the reuse of demolished bricks Brickworks and The University of Newcastle Circular Economy Innovation Fund Funded project – Circular Economy design for collagen production from aquaculture by-products Swinburne University of Technology Circular Economy Innovation Fund This funding round aimed to support circular economy projects that design out waste to improve environmental and economic outcomes for Victoria.

Announcement date: 14 May 2022. All projects to be completed by: October 2023. There were 2 funding streams: Textiles Innovation : focused on preventing textile waste.

Collaborative innovation : focused on preventing waste from multiple organisations in a specific supply chain, sector or region.

Funding stream: Textiles innovation Funded project – A novel PPE gown – extending use and reducing waste The University of Melbourne Western Health and Full Circle Fibres Recycling Victoria Innovation Fund – Round 2 Funded project – Kathmandu apparel life extension pilot Aleasha McCallion and Kirri-Mae Sampson Circular Economy Innovation Fund – Round 2 Funded project - Revolutionising the entire lifecycle of clothing from purchase to disposal Melbourne Textile Knitters (MTK), Full Circle Fibres and The Social Studio Circular Economy Innovation Fund Funded Project – Biofibres for sustainable apparel inspired by Humble Bee Circular Economy Innovation Fund – Round 2 Funding stream: Collaborative innovation Funded project- Reducing 50% of construction waste through prefabrication Cross Laminated Offsite Solutions Pty Ltd Monash University, Ys Housing, AKD Softwoods, Ireland Brown Constructions Circular Economy Innovation Fund Announcement date: 15 July 2021.

There were 2 funding streams: Food innovation: Collaborative partnerships that identify opportunities and apply innovative circular economy business models and practices for food waste or for the food sector. Collaborative innovation: Collaborative partnerships that identify, develop and/or scale-up innovative circular economy business models and practices.

The projects need to address systemic barriers with innovative thinking and practice.

Funding stream: Food innovation Funded project – Feasibility study on valorisation of stone fruit waste Circular Economy Innovation Fund Funded project – Enzymatic conversion of seafood waste into products Mantzaris Fisheries Pty Ltd Circular Economy Innovation Fund – Round one Funded project – Whole Crop Purchasing Open Food Network Foundation Limited Social Traders, Farmer Incubator Circular Economy Innovation Fund – Round one Funded project – Reducing food waste in manufacturing by developing food products Benzoil Pty Ltd as GrainOut Circular Economy Innovation Fund Funding stream: Collaborative innovation Funded project – Victorian Circular Activator (VCA) RMIT Activator, Circular Economy Victoria, Swinburne University Circular Economy Innovation Fund Funded project – Open Sauce Circular Economy Innovation Fund Funded project – Converting brewers spent grain byproduct to food products Grainstone Pty Ltd and a network of brewers, food manufacturers and bakeries.

Circular Economy Innovation Fund Want to know more? Contact us Grants Support Representative grants. enquiries@sustainability.

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