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Advocacy organisation Circle Economy has denounced continued participation in what it calls the ‘throwaway global economy’. The impact organisation states that more than half a trillion tonnes of virgin materials have been consumed in the last six years since the Paris Agreement, which highlighted the importance of sustainable practises to prevent global warming rising above 1.5°.
The Circularity Gap Report 2022 This makes for fascinating reading. It goes beyond highlighting the causes of climate change. The roadmap to climate repair or at least prevention of the problem worsening is provided. The political leaders of the world must implement circular economy strategies urgently.
Why a circular model
Circle Economy presents facts that shed light on the climate crisis. 70% of all greenhouse gas emissions can be attributed to the production and implementation products. This includes fashion, transport, and buildings that are used every day. While governments are quick and eager to reduce reliance on it, fossil fuelsOnly one third of respondents are open to circular economy solutions.
According to the report, 70% more virgin fibres are currently being consumed than the world can replenish. The amount of these materials is increasing in weight every year. The 2016 figure was almost 90 billion tonnes. In 2019, it rose to more than 101 million tonnes. Circle Economy breaks down the maths and reports that 90% of virgin materials are discarded. The organisation claims that only 8.6 per cent of the material is currently recycled.
What can we do?
Despite the overall A disappointing outcomeThe COP26 saw world leaders commit to climate action. Circle Economy believes that the steps taken will not be sufficient to make a difference and wants to make circular economies a topic at the next global conference.
“Our insatiable demand for resources and throwaway economy is threatening the planet’s future and driving us down the road to climate breakdown.,” Martijn Lopes Cardozo, CEO of Circle Economy said in a statement. “Leaders from government, business and civil society must put circular solutions on the global agenda and ensure they feature strongly when countries update their national climate pledges ahead of COP27 in Egypt.”
Circle Economy’s report suggests 21 adoptable tactics for climate change improvement. These should be used alongside existing protocols and not in their place. This was made explicit. If committed to, they could double the circular economy, cut virgin material use to under 80 billion tonnes per year and make the 1.5° global warming limit viable. Suggestions are focused on reducing. The construction industry could make a significant contribution, for instance, by creating lightweight, resource-efficient buildings. It is important to promote recycling and for regenerative practices to be a standard. It was shown that the local supply chain is crucial to the former.
Time to act
Circle Economy’s report lays bare the urgency at hand. “By applying the circular solutions outlined in this report, we can reduce the use of scarce materials and dramatically cut emissions—thereby fighting climate change and biodiversity loss,” Frans van Houten, CEO of Royal Philips and co-chair of the Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy said in a statement. “But we can only do it by joining forces. That’s why I’m calling on all CEOs and business leaders, governments and NGOs to step up and accelerate our combined efforts, so we can reach the goal of doubling circularity within 10 years. Let’s take bold actions and deliver impact.”
Making progress
There are many startups that are trying to disrupt large businesses with circular economy models, though there is still much work to do. Most recently, Back Market, France’s leading circular electronics platform, became the country’s most valuable startup. After a brief delay, the news broke. Fundraising round for $510 million closed. The company specializes in connecting conscious consumers with refurbished tech products for a fraction off the new RRP.
Ikea announced in October that it was experimenting with circular models. The furniture giant converted a Thailand shop into a circular location for customers to bring used items for sale. It’s a step on the ladder to fulfilling promises to be a 100 percent circular company by 2030.
Fashion RevolutionThe movement to change the way we wear clothing has been a longstanding one. The social justice organisation focuses on the plights of garment workers and offers practical suggestions for reducing clothing waste. Next year, the campaign will mark its 10th anniversary.
Lead photo by Markus Spiske from Pexels.
