Australia’s first recovery, repair and resale service for retail and commercial products, Circonomy has launched a national refurbishment and response squad to support the sustainability performance of Australia’s broader retail industry.
Aiming to grow and connect the supply and demand of the resale market, Circonomy’s national refurbishment and response squad expands the existing collection and repair services of the social enterprise, beyond furniture, technology and office supplies to incorporate the broader retail industry.
Its new facility in Richmond, Melbourne joins its established collection, repair, refurbishment and reselling operations in its circular economy precinct in Morningside, Brisbane and a team in New South Wales catering to businesses and consumers.
Originally founded as the World’s Biggest Garage Sale (WBGS) in 2017, Circonomy is a pioneer in Australia’s emerging circular economy, which is estimated by the World Economic Forum to grow to a value of $26 billion per annum by 2025.
With an estimated $2.5 billion worth of goods never having had a first life, and being wasted in Australia each year, due to being unsold, end-of-the-line or surplus stock ending up in waste, Circonomy advocates for sustainable business practices and conscious consumerism. By capturing products that are suitable for refurbishment and resale as ‘new’ or ‘as-new’ products, they are reducing the need for new products and resources and enables the transition to a more circular economy.
Circonomy CEO, Ryan Swenson (pictured left) said it’s time to address the challenges businesses face when it comes to waste management and resource reuse, with practical, sustainable and transparent solutions that are just as viable as existing processes.
“Businesses need a more sophisticated approach to handling excess, outdated, used, or what could be deemed as imperfect products. Current systems are costly, wasteful, and inefficient. 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 landfills, but could, in fact, be easily repaired or repurposed. This is a national challenge that requires national solutions that are available at scale.”
Circonomy founder and chief evangelist, Yas Grigaliunas (pictured right) said Circonomy reduces waste and landfill by repairing and repurposing still-useful retail products that may be damaged in the supply chain or returned and unfit for immediate sale.
“We sell these products online or through bricks and mortar channels, or donate them to people in need. Refurbished products can be up to 70% lower cost than buying new, and typically with the same great quality,” she said.
Having established partnerships with major national brands including Officeworks, Catch, Mirvac and David Jones, Circonomy is implementing solutions for products and fixtures that may otherwise be sent to landfill.