Australia has exceptional solutions to support the global green economy. We are  recognised as a world leader in integrated water resource management and ESG solutions.

The Australian Government has set an ambitious policy agenda to drive the transition to net zero and are committed to:

  • reforming environmental laws and policy to benefit nature
  • creating a nature repair market to reward landholders who restore and protect nature
  • supporting sustainable management of Australia’s water supply for industry, the environment and communities.

Environment  

Australia’s strong regulatory environment means our environmental firms are global leaders in delivering projects that meet high ESG standards. We are a trusted, export-oriented economy with a lot to offer including:

  • a skilled and diverse workforce
  • top-tier educational institutions
  • robust ESG standards
  • expertise in the vital net zero sectors of energy, mining and agriculture.

Water 

Australia has a mature water infrastructure industry, which means Australian companies have expertise across multiple water sub-sectors including:

  • water and sewage treatment facilities
  • desalination plants
  • smart water grids
  • digital water platforms
  • water quality monitoring and management
  • water asset management
  • municipal water
  • aquifers
  • dams.

Australian water infrastructure companies have:

  • a highly skilled workforce and expertise in delivering mega projects and critical water infrastructure
  • expertise in delivering global projects on time and within budget
  • competitive project lifecycle costs
  • world class research and development centres dedicated to water infrastructure innovations with a strong focus on sustainability
  • stringent occupational health and safety (OH&S) regulations.

Similarly, Australian environmental consulting firms excel in a wide range of professional capabilities including:

  • natural resource management consulting services
  • sustainability reporting services
  • seismic analysis
  • disaster, waste and air pollution management
  • hazardous material contamination control
  • site remediation planning services
  • policy, licensing and litigation support services
  • environmental risk assessments and impact surveys
  • environment monitoring and testing
  • climate and ESG advisory services
  • the circular economy.

In December 2024, Australia made a commitment to double the nation’s circularity by 2035 through the release of our national Circular Economy Framework; a roadmap towards greater economic resilience and environmental sustainability.

Austrade supports Australia’s transition towards a Circular Economy by attracting investment in resource recovery, the process of extracting valuable materials from waste through recycling or Waste to Energy processes. We work with eligible overseas companies across the entire waste value chain who are tackling key waste streams including e-waste, tyres, textiles, plastics, and food and garden organics.

Support for innovation in recycling technologies and solutions that reduce waste and sustainably manage our resources are being driven by initiatives such as the Recycling Modernisation Fund, and new state government Circular Economy strategies.

Many of Australia’s waste management and recycling businesses are finding success overseas using home-grown technologies that have emerged from our unique landscape and strong research and development ecosystem.

The Circular Economy

Australia is making progress towards a circular economy which will foster environmental sustainability and economic efficiency. This transition is driven by government policies and industry initiatives focused on waste reduction, recycling and sustainable resource management, including the conversion of waste to energy.

Support for innovation in recycling technologies and sustainable materials, in addition to investments in research and development through bodies like the CSIRO (Australia's national science agency), are helping to promote our circular economy. Australian companies operating within the circular economy have also found success overseas, solving novel problems with their technologies.   

Snapshot


Making progress towards a circular economy


Australian recycling

Australia recycles around half of all materials captured through waste streams, representative of the Australian innovation in the sector.  


Environmental science service industry

In 2024, Australia’s environmental science services industry’s revenue was $7.3 billion. 

Sources:

  1. Australian material flow analysis to progress to a circular economy, 2024
  2. At a Glance - M6925 Environmental Science Services in Australia - MyIBISWorld, accessed December 2025.

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