Find Morgan O'Neill on
PhD title: Regulation in a Circular Economy: Barriers, Stakeholders, and Smart Solutions
About this research
The Circular Economy offers major social, economic, and environmental benefits—but its transition is hampered by outdated regulation and regulatory gaps. While regulation can drive change, current frameworks often overlook the complexity of sustainability transitions. Research into how regulation constrains CE progress remains limited.
This project investigates Australia’s regulatory landscape to uncover how legal frameworks hinder circularity and how reform can unlock system-wide CE outcomes. The core objective is to understand how regulation impedes CE transition in Australia and how it can be reformed to support it. By identifying barriers and proposing actionable reforms, the research aims to guide policymakers and stakeholders in reshaping regulation to enable adaptive, resilient, and circular systems across industries and communities.
Supervisors
- Professor Rowena Maguire
- Associate Professor Bree Hurst
- Dr Andrew Walton (external)
Research funding
This research is being conducted under a CSIRO iPhD Scholarship in partnership with Wanless Waste Management.