Cement, Concrete & Aggregates Australia (CCAA) has welcomed the release of The Circular Advantage Report by the Circular Economy Ministerial Advisory Group, and notes a number of recommendations are consistent with the policy positions put forward in the CCAA’s submission to the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Opportunities in the Circular Economy.

CCAA is the voice of the heavy construction materials industry in Australia, an industry that generates approximately $15 billion in annual revenue and directly employs 30,000 Australians, with a further 80,000 employed indirectly. CCAA members produce the majority of Australia’s cement, concrete, and aggregates, essential to the building and construction sectors.

“The Circular Advantage report is a key step forward in Australia’s transition to a circular economy. Our industry remains at the forefront of delivering sustainable outcomes through product and process innovation, efficient material use, and waste management initiatives”, said Michael Kilgariff, CEO of CCAA.

“We are delighted to see that a number of the Report’s recommendations align with our CCAA submission to the Productivity Commission’s inquiry into opportunities in the circular economy.

“Our submission builds on decades of leadership in sustainability and circular practices within the cement, concrete, and aggregates sectors. Our policies align with the broad vision set out in the Circular Advantage Report, in support of delivering sustainable outcomes for Australia.

“Both our CCAA Submission and The Circular Advantage report underscore the importance of advancing Australia’s transition to a circular economy through regulatory reform, financial incentives, and industry collaboration.”

Key Recommendations from the CCAA submission include:

  • Developing Environmental Incentives: Encouraging government-supported environmental incentives to promote the adoption of circular economy principles across industries.
  • Reviewing Regulatory Barriers: Removing regulatory barriers preventing the re-processing of concrete waste by quarries, ensuring concrete waste is recognised as a product, not subject to waste regulations.
  • Updating Building Standards: Revising standards and approval processes to accommodate recycled and alternative materials, and enabling the use of innovative, low-carbon materials such as supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs).
  • Harmonising Waste and Planning Regulations: Streamlining processes to support the use of recycled materials in infrastructure projects.
  • Adopting Performance-Based Specifications: Advocating for performance-based specifications in road infrastructure to increase demand for recycled materials and reduce reliance on prescriptive standards.

“CCAA remains committed to working with governments, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to ensure the heavy construction materials industry continues to lead Australia’s transition to a circular and sustainable economy.”’