Brisbane-based Circonomy expands amid push for less waste

Brisbane-based Circonomy is expanding nationally to help recycle the $2.5bn worth of unsold goods headed for landfill each year.

Brisbane-based Circonomy, whose shareholders include Officeworks, has launched a national team to help recycle the $2.5bn worth of unsold goods headed for landfill each year.

Circonomy, formerly known as the World’s Biggest Garage Sale, has opened a new warehouse in Melbourne to supplement existing services in Brisbane and NSW.

Founded in 2017, Circonomy refurbishes, repairs or recycles goods that normally end up in dumps having never had a first life due to being unsold, end-of-the-line or surplus.

To date, the company says it has saved 1.29 billion litres of water from the production of new goods, diverted 4.3 million kilograms of goods from landfill and prevented 774,000kg of carbon from entering the atmosphere.

Circonomy founder Yasmin Grigaliunas said refurbished products can be up to 70 per cent cheaper than buying new and typically with the same quality. Circonomy sells the refurbished products through bricks-and-mortar channels, online or donates them to charity.

“With the current cost of living, we are able to offer very affordable alternatives to new products,” said Ms Grigaliunas. “For example, brand-new iPhone 14s will set you back over $1600 but you can buy a renewed iPhone 11 for only $549.”

Circonomy, formerly known as the World’s Biggest Garage Sale, has opened a new warehouse in Melbourne to supplement existing services in Brisbane and NSW. Picture: AAP

Officeworks acquired a 21 per cent stake in the company last year as it sought to become a zero-waste business. Circonomy also has established partnerships with Mirvac, David Jones and Catch working on the repurposing of office furniture, shop fittings and electronics.

Circonomy chief executive Ryan Swenson said businesses needed a more sophisticated approach to handling outdated, used or what could be deemed as imperfect products.

“Current systems are costly, wasteful and inefficient,” said Mr Swenson.

“Typically, resources such as damaged products, customer-returned items or even furniture or fixtures that are no longer needed in office buildings or retail stores are sent to landfill but could in fact be easily repaired or repurposed. This is a national challenge that requires national solutions that are available at scale.”

He said consumers wanted to see a more sustainable retail industry. “By broadening our service offering, both geographically and in the products we can repair, we’re providing a model for businesses to easily adopt and reduce their waste and costs.”

Officeworks managing director Sarah Hunter said Circonomy is a long-awaited solution to the retail sector to divert waste from landfill, extend product life cycles and ultimately build domestic repair and remanufacturing capabilities.

“It is a feasible model to collect, repair, repurpose and resell damaged or customer-returned products across Australia,” Ms Hunter said.

Originally published as Brisbane-based Circonomy expands amid push for less waste