Why circular economy solutions make good business sense

Forward-thinking business leaders are always looking for ways to reduce their environmental footprint, decrease their workplace waste, and make more strategic and efficient use of their resources. This helps to create a circular economy—a way to resolve the issues of the linear economy built on mass production and hyper-consumption, which is highly unsustainable. This requires new, cutting-edge technologies to avoid surplus and the use of unsustainable materials across whole supply chains. This can help reimagine the delivery of products and services to inspire a more environmentally friendly way to do business.

The three principles underpinning circular economy solutions are to design out waste and pollution, keep products, materials, equipment, and infrastructure in use for longer, and regenerate natural systems. The aim is for circular measures to increase the lifespan and productivity of resources whilst minimising the overall impact on the environment.

With the purpose of being regenerative, a circular economy is a framework that reimagines the way businesses supply, transact, and serve their consumers. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australia's circularity rate in 2024 stood at just 4.3%—below the global average of 6.9%—highlighting significant room for improvement. However, the economic opportunity is substantial: CSIRO modelling shows that meeting Australia's Circular Economy Framework goals could add $26 billion to GDP annually by 2035, whilst cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 14% and diverting 26 million tonnes of material from landfill each year.

Clearly, there is still a long way to go, but whilst organisations bear an enormous responsibility, there is also an exciting opportunity to lead the way in this venture. In December 2024, Australia released its first National Circular Economy Framework, setting an ambitious target to double the nation's circularity rate by 2035.

Now, let's take a closer look at the three big benefits of adopting circular economy solutions for your business:

Environmental Benefits

The most obvious benefit of employing circular economy solutions in your organisation is the direct, positive impact they will have on the environment. Choosing business solutions and office equipment that are recyclable or reusable can significantly reduce your company's environmental footprint.

This can include printers that are environmentally friendly from the start to the end of their life. That is, they're made from reusable products, manufactured in warehouses that operate off clean energy, packaged with recycled materials, come from providers that offer collection services to divert print consumables like toner from becoming landfill, and finally, printers that can be recycled or remanufactured when they're no longer operable.

With Australia having the highest material footprint among G20 nations at more than 31 tonnes per person, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, choosing equipment designed for longevity and recyclability becomes even more critical. All of these components lead to significantly less workplace waste and, in turn, provide a better outlook for the environment.

Kyocera's sustainability solutions exemplify this commitment to circular economy principles. Aligned with Kyocera's environmental goals of achieving RE60 by 2031 (60% renewable energy) and a 46% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to 2020 levels, these solutions demonstrate how businesses can integrate environmental responsibility into their core operations whilst maintaining operational excellence.

Business Benefits

It's well-reported that employing sustainable practices can improve a company's reputation. Organisations that demonstrate an active, genuine commitment to circular economy solutions are also more likely to attract and retain top talent. In fact, the implementation of greener solutions and practices is a key consideration for as many as 70% of Australian employees.

Studies have repeatedly shown that top talent want to work for organisations they feel aligned with and who share their values. According to PwC research, accommodating the sentiments of employees towards the environment, upholding their trust and loyalty, and winning that of prospective talent is contingent on implementing circular economy solutions and principles in your business.

Moreover, with 64% of Australian consumers expressing a clear preference for circularity in their purchasing decisions, businesses that embrace circular economy principles gain a significant competitive advantage in the marketplace.

Financial Benefits

Adopting the circular economy business model also contributes to significant cost savings. Energy-efficient electronic devices such as computers, monitors, and office printers and multifunction devices are typically more cost-effective, allowing you to minimise your environmental impact and your operational costs.

What's more, having devices that require fewer part replacements—for example, Kyocera's ECOSYS printers with a drum that can deliver up to 600,000 print jobs—also reduces downtime. This means better use of resources, higher productivity levels, and getting more value from your investment.

Studies have also shown a direct correlation between environmentally friendly businesses and greater collaboration, boosted productivity and cognitive behaviour, and greater ability to innovate. These are key drivers that stimulate growth and power up a company's competitive advantage.

The Productivity Commission's inquiry into circular economy opportunities identifies six priority sectors in Australia—the built environment, food and agriculture, textiles and clothing, mining, vehicles, and electronics—where circular economy adoption can deliver substantial economic benefits whilst reducing environmental impact.

Taking Action Towards Circularity

Building a network that supports circular economy solutions can therefore optimise your business framework and curb your company's environmental impact at the same time. So it's not only good for the environment, but it also makes good business sense.

With Australia's Circular Economy Framework setting ambitious targets—including reducing per capita material footprint by 10%, increasing material productivity by 30%, and safely recovering 80% of resources by 2030—businesses that act now position themselves as leaders in this transition.

Kyocera's comprehensive approach to sustainability demonstrates how organisations can embrace circular economy principles throughout their operations. From long-life eco-friendly print technology designed for maximum durability and minimal waste, to managed print services that optimise resource use, businesses can implement circular solutions that deliver both environmental and economic benefits.

Joining the circular economy can optimise your business framework and curb your company's environmental impact at the same time—making it not only good for the environment but also sound business strategy for long-term success.