ASPIRE

Advisory System for Processing, Innovation and Resource Exchange (ASPIRE).

Sarah launched the idea of ASPIRE as a digital tool that could support increased engagement in industrial symbiosis in Australia. At the time, we called it, eharmony - for waste. This product was developed in partnership with Kingston Council (Project Champion), Hume City Council, Knox City Council and City of Greater Dandenong. Other partners joined as ASPIRE expanded across Victoria, then Australia.

ASPIRE is Australia’s first circular economy, matchmaking marketplace. At the time of commercialisation, it was one of only three such products available globally. Sarah designed the concept, secured project funding and led the CSIRO research team to deliver the project.

Sarah also led the project team to develop a sustainable business model by applying lean launch methodologies. This work was fundamental in developing a product that could successfully operate outside CSIRO. The ASPIRE project was commercialised from CSIRO under the leadership of Dr Sarah King and Dr Melanie Ayre. This product continues to deliver significant impact for businesses and regions around Australia. It has over 5,000 active businesses, has saved over $5M in savings for businesses and diverted almost 700,000 tonnes of resources from landfill. The company is now B Corp certified and has added a life cycle assessment calculator to estimate carbon emission savings for each resource exchanged.

See Sarah describe ASPIRE, from when it started, here