I caught up with Kevin Argus, PhD, Associate Professor at RMIT University and Co-Chair of the Circular Economy Hub, working at the intersection of sustainability, systems thinking, and real-world impact. We spoke about collaboration, circular economy, and the reality of business incentives today.
📍 Q: You’ve worked across academia, industry, and government. What’s the biggest challenge in getting these systems to collaborate effectively?
Kevin: “From a research perspective, a lot of work focuses on innovation, but not enough on how that innovation is actually adopted and scaled. The approach I take is more of a systems perspective. It’s about bringing all stakeholders together, from innovation through to adoption, so you can see the full picture.
There are always unknowns, but the goal is to identify enablers and barriers early and stress test ideas. That helps avoid blind spots and increases the chances of real impact.”
📍 Q: Circular economy is a term many people hear but don’t fully understand. How would you explain it in a way that makes it relevant to everyday life?
Kevin: “Most of our economy is linear. We take resources, make products, and then throw them away. Circular economy is about keeping those resources in use for as long as possible. That could mean reusing, repairing, or repurposing products before they ever become waste.
Recycling is part of it, but the bigger idea is designing products and systems from the start so they can be maintained and reused. We’re dealing with finite resources, so the question becomes what is actually good for society and the environment, and how do we design for that from the beginning.”
đź“Ť Q: Do you think businesses today genuinely care about impact, or are we still stuck in performative sustainability?
Kevin: “The reality is that most incentives are still tied to shareholder value. There are organisations doing meaningful work, but they’re not yet the mainstream. Some companies have openly said they would not prioritise sustainability without regulation.
In recent years, we’ve seen a shift back toward questioning how much priority this should get. There is a broader challenge around leadership and decision making. Ultimately, society needs stability and a sense of direction. People need to believe their efforts can lead to something meaningful, and that’s where stronger leadership is needed.”
đź“Ť Q: One message for the world
Kevin: “Treat others the way you would want to be treated.”
✨ Key Takeaway:
Kevin’s perspective reminds us that real change does not come from isolated ideas, but from systems that connect people, incentives, and action. To build a sustainable future, we need to move beyond intention and design solutions that work in practice.
