The Circular Capability Toolkit for Social Enterprise

The Circular Capability Toolkit for Social Enterprise is a 2026 resource created by Green Collect, in partnership with a learning community of 12 social enterprise practitioners from across Australia. It was funded by the Department of Social Services as part of the Social Enterprise Development Initiative. A circular economy is one where products are designed to be reused, repaired, and recycled rather than discarded. The toolkit helps social enterprises understand where they fit within this system and take practical steps towards more circular ways of working.

The toolkit is structured around three objectives, each supported by practical tools. The first helps enterprises understand the circular economy and map their own activities against established frameworks. The second covers purchasing decisions, with templates and directories to help enterprises choose more circular, ethical, and sustainable suppliers. The third focuses on internal operations, offering an asset register to extend the life of equipment and a waste audit guide to reduce landfill.

Each tool is designed to be picked up and used immediately, without extensive planning or research. Real examples from participating social enterprises are included throughout, showing how organisations like Reverse Garbage, STREAT, and Imagine Re-Evolution apply circular principles in their day-to-day work. The toolkit also introduces the Australian Indigenous Doughnut (Dinadj), a Country-centred economic framework developed by First Nations practitioners.

This resource is most useful for social enterprise founders, operations managers, and staff looking for accessible, low-effort ways to make their enterprise more sustainable. It is also relevant to social enterprise support organisations and funders interested in building circular economy capability across the sector.