The Resources Centre for Excellence (RCOE) has launched a pilot program with BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) to understand what opportunities there are for integrating circular principles along the whole value chain, enhancing outcomes organisationally, environmentally and socially. This “Pit to Port” project provides a foundation for this concept to be extended to a regional context.
Phase 1:
The Pit to Port Circularity Project is exploring the potential of a mine site to drive circularity in the broader resources sector. BMA has partnered with the Resources Centre of Excellence and circular economy experts Coreo and Metabolic to conduct an analysis that can unveil catalytic circular opportunities from the perspective of a BMA-operated site.
The project team is leveraging both quantitative and qualitative analysis to identify impact hotspots and circular intervention opportunities that will incur meaningful and transformative outcomes that can benefit the environment and society, as well as drive more resilient and sustainable business operations.
Coreo and BMA will work together to conduct a series of targeted interviews with pre-identified stakeholders from BMA, industry, government and research institutions. Findings and data sourced from these key stakeholders will be provided to Metabolic and will help identify circular economy opportunities.
Metabolic will work collaboratively with BMA, RCOE and Coreo to collect accurate data and understanding of impact hotspots in the region. Their analysis will include a material flow analysis and an embodied impacts assessment to inform hotspots, thus identifying circular intervention opportunities.
Metabolic and Coreo will review the data collected throughout the data analysis and interview process to generate a final report with circular intervention opportunities and recommendations in line with impact hotspots. This report will provide a framework for future action.
Phase 2:
This phase involves acting on the framework and recommendations developed from phase 1 of the project. To make this happen, RCOE will be calling for expressions of interest from resource sector partners in the Bowen Basin Circular Collaboration.
Also invited to participate in identifying and developing opportunities with the partners will be key areas of government, industry, education providers, researchers, peak bodies, community and Traditional Owners.
This vision sees a symbiotic network of Bowen Basin sectors, businesses and community which are interlinked to optimise their services to each other, the flow of materials more sustainably, and the regeneration of natural and social systems.
Want to know more or have something to share? Email engage@rcoe.com.au