2023年世界循环经济论坛总结报告（摘要）-World Circular Economy Forum 2023 Summary Report

SWORLDUCIRCULARECMONOMYFORUM20M23SUMMARYREAPORTRY

World

Circular

WWORLD

CIRCULAR

ECONOMY

FORUM

2023

Economy

Forum2023

Summary

Report

SITRa

2

Towardsanaturepositivetomorrowtogetherwithfutureleaders

In2023,oneoftheworld’smostinfluentialcir-

culareconomyevents,theWorldCircularEcono-myForum,returnedtotheNordics.Withexam-

plesfromaroundtheworld,theForumgatheredaglobalaudienceinHelsinki,Finlandtosharesolu-tionsandshowhowthecirculareconomycanhelpbothnatureandtheeconomy.

WiththeKunming-Montrealglobalbiodiversityframeworksteeringeffortstodeliverafuture

wherebiodiversitylossisreversed,theForum

broughtnatureasanintegralelementtothetable.Bydeliveringsolutionsthatreducepressuresonland-useandgivemorevaluefrombiomass,the

circulareconomyprovidesaplethoraofoppor-tunitiestoacceleratethetransitiontowardsana-

ture-positivefuture.

Sincetheseissuesaremulti-generationalandthecoreprincipleofacirculareconomymustbeen-suringsustainabilityinthelong-term,onegoalofWCEF2023wasengagingyoungergenerationsinthetop-levelcirculareconomydiscussions.Ontheopeningday,aplenarysessiondesignedbyfouryouthorganisationshadyoungleadersbold-

lyspeakingforafuturetheybelievein.Youthwerealsowellrepresentedintheaudience,with31percentofallparticipantsbeingunder35years.

Overall,speakersattheForumagreedthatcircularsolutionsimplementedtodaycangrowourecon-omy,regeneratenatureandsustainasafeandjustspaceforfuturegenerations.LastyearinKigali,

someonehitthebull’seyebysayingthatthedis-cussionaroundcircularityisstillstuckinthefu-ture.Therefore,thisyeartheaimwastoshiftthefocusfrom“why”to“howandnow”.

SomeofthekeyleversdiscussedduringtheForumincludedtheneedtostrengthencollaborationandengagementatdifferentlevels,leveragefinance

andpolicytosupportcircularbusinesses,regen-erateland,translateglobalideastolocalsolutions,prioritisehumanwell-beingandrethinkthewayweconsumeanddobusiness.

TheForumsharedinspiringandscalableexam-plesofthecirculareconomycoveringavarietyoftopics,suchas:finance,accountingandmetrics,everydaylifeandhealth,futureskills,andstrate-

giesandroadmaps.Italsocoveredindustrieslikeregenerativeagricultureandforestry,finitemateri-alsandenergy,mining,trade,fashionandtextiles,food,constructionandthebuiltenvironment,

plasticsandpackaging,electronicsandhydrogen.

On30and31May,151speakersfromacrosstheworldsharedtheirinnovativeideasandaction

plansacross20sessions.Betweenthemaineventsessions,morethan50organisationssharedtheirsolutionsattheWCEF2023Expo.Andon1and2June,41partner-ledAcceleratorSessionsdelveddeeperintothedailyworkofWCEFpartners–onlineandinHelsinki.

TheForumgathered1,867globalparticipantstoHelsinkiandmorethan12,500viewsonline.

Attendeesfrom155countriesparticipatedinthemainevent.

ThcI5no1n-eehoxWovpsaootterisodltdnabnCyFdiuNrnhcoudorlsdaStriistcEraIancn,odntnomoogvmeaatnthyiyoeFmnrowaro

unirtemdhitn22ht10ee2prF3nairanwttnniaoiessnrhsa,l

collaborators.

Concreteresultsfrom

WCEF2023

TheWorldCircularEconomyForum2023

providedaplatformforthelaunchofvarious

agreements,plansandpublications.Someofthehighlightsinclude:

1.

CircularcollaborationintheGlobal

Southstrengthens.

Sevenorganisationssignedaco-operationdocumenttoincreasevaluecreationinlocalandregionalbusinessandindustryintheGlobalSouth.

2.

LeadingMultilateralDevelopment

Banks(MDBs)tightentheircollabora-

tiontoacceleratethecircularecono-

my.

TheEuropeanInvestmentbank,theAf-ricanDevelopmentBank,theEuropeanBankforReconstructionandDevelopment,the

Inter-AmericanDevelopmentBankandtheWorldBankwillincreasetheshareofimpact-fulcirculareconomyprojectsintheir

financing.

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3.

WCEF’scollaborationdeepenswith

CircleEconomy,theInternationalRe-

sourcePanel(IRP)andtheUnitedNa-

tionsDevelopmentProgramme(UNDP).

IRPwillprovideWCEFwithasolidbackbonebasedontheinternationalscientificcommu-nity’sviewsonthesustainableuseofnaturalresources.CircleEconomywillprovidethe

communitywithinsightsintothecurrentstateofthecirculareconomyaroundtheworld.

CollaborationwithUNDPbringsthecirculareconomymorefirmlyintoUNdevelopmentpolicy.

4.

SitralaunchedacalltofindEurope’s

leadingcirculareconomysolutionsfor

nature.

Thelistwillshowpracticalexamplesofhowcompaniesaretacklingbiodiversitylossthroughcircularsolutionswhilegenerat-ingsuccessfulbusiness.Thelistwillbepub-lishedattheWorldCircularEconomyForum2024inBrussels.

6.

NordicInnovationandSitrapresent-

edtheresultsofasurveyconductedby

YouGovonNordicconsumers’percep-

tionsonthecirculareconomy.

7.

UnitedNationsEnvironmentPro-

gramme(UNEP)launchedareportSus-

tainabilityandCircularityintheTextile

ValueChain:AGlobalRoadmap.

8.

WorldBusinessCouncilforSustaina-

bleDevelopment(WBCSD)announced

theirupdatedCircularTransitionIndi-

cators.

9.

EllenMacArthurFoundationlaunched

TheBigFoodRedesignChallenge

thatbringstogetherfoodindustryforerunnersandworld-leadingexpertsoncirculareconomy

andregenerativeproductiontodesignnew

foodproductsusingcirculardesignprinciples.

10.CircularBuildingsCoalitionlauncheda

5.

Sitrapresentedaproposaltothenext

report

TowardsaCircularEconomyin

EuropeanCommission:Putnatureat

theBuiltEnvironment

togetherwitha

theheartofdecision-makingandcon-

blueprintprojectfundingcall.

tinuetheEuropeangreendeal.

Strengtheningcollaboration

totransformsystems

DuringtheForum,bothspeakersandtheaudienceonceagainhighlightedcollaborationasacriticalelementtoacceleratethetransitiontowardsacir-

cularfuture.Collaborationcanbeapproached

frommanydifferentangles,butwhatstoodoutthisyearwassystemsthinking:wecannotchangetheworldjustbyredesigningsingleproducts.

Instead,thefocusmustbeonredesigningthebigsystems–bybringingfinance,policyandpracticeaswellaswholevaluechainstothesametable.

Educationiskey:circularityandsustainability

educationthatprovidespeoplewithsharedunder-standingandvocabularycanfostercollaboration.Noteveryoneneedstohavethesameknowledgeorskillsbutbysharingbasicunderstandingacrosssectors,itiseasiertocometogetherandcreate

solutionsthattackletherootcausesofmultiple

crises.

Inadditiontosharedbasics,trustisamustforsuccessfulcollaboration.OneinterestingexampleoftrustbuildingsharedduringWCEF2023wasCarbonActionplatform’s“mistakebattle”.By

sharingtheirmistakes,farmerswereabletobuild

“

“Weneedtodobetteras

asocietythansacrificing

humanrightsinthenameof

maintainingcommodityand

consumerism.”

Theaudiencewasalsoremindedthatcollaboration

shouldextendtofrontlinecommunities.Current-ly,someindigenouscommunitiesviewthegreentransitionasgreencolonialism.Thisisduetotheunfairextractionandexploitationofresources

whichisoftenassociatedwithviolence–forin-

stancebetweenindigenouspeoplesintheAmazonandthefossilfuelandminingindustries.

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trustandempowertheircommunitytocollaboratefurthertobuildregenerativefoodsystems.

HELENAGUALINGA

Indigenousrightsadvocate

Unitingstakeholdersacrossgeographiesandvaluechainsalsorequirescreativityandtakingsmall

firststeps.Somesuccessfulexamplesofchangingsystemstogetherinclude:

•

ClimateFarmers

havebuiltacommunityofEuropeanfarmersthatprovidesfundingforthetransitiontoregenerativeagriculturewhilealsoofferingaspacetosharebestpracticesthroughstorytelling.

•

Néstle

aimstoincreaseingredientsfromregen-erativeagriculturefrom6.8percentby2050.Toachievethis,thecompanyisworkingtogetherwithfarmersandexpertstobuildunderstandingonregenerativepracticesthatworkontheirpro-ducers’farms.

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•

TheNewCottonProject

hasbroughttogether12actorsacrossthetextilesvaluechaininclud-

ingresearch,retail,communications,manufac-tureandinnovation.Togethertheconsortiumisshowcasingthatcreatingnewclothingfromre-generatedtextilewastecanbecommercially

viable.

•Theyouthmovement

ReGeneration2030

iscreatingcollectivespaceswherepoliticians,busi-nessleadersandyouthcanmeetoneanotherashumans,leavinghierarchicalrolesaside.This

approachallowsdifferentvoicestobeheardequally.

“

“Itisneveronlyaboutwhat

thefarmerdecidestodoin

thefield.Nowisthetime

toconvincegovernments,

companiesanddecisionmakerstojoinwiththefarmers.”

TANYASANTALAHTI

BalticSeaActionGroup

Businessesneedtobe

engaged

Businessesplayakeyroleinmakingthecirculartransitionreality,yetcompaniesfacemanyinternalandexternalbarriers.Theyoftenlackfinancingtoscaleuptheiroperationsforavarietyofreasons,

suchasperceivedrisks,inadequatemetricsandstandards,limitedunderstandingandbecausethepricesinlinearbusinessmodelsdonotcoverthefullcostofproduction.

Toacceleratethecirculareconomy,companiesalsoneednewskillsandeducation,aswellaspoliticalsupportsuchasregulatoryandtaxationframe-

works.Currently,governmentsnotonlyfailtotaxthelineareconomyappropriatelybutalsosubsi-diseit,thushinderingtheneededtransition.Itisimportantthatcorrectivemeasuresbytaxationandregulationareactivelypromotedtosupportalreadyexistingprivatesectorsolutions.Policieswillencourageinvestmentstocomein.

Todayonlyaverylimitednumberofcompaniesunderstandtheirimpactonnature.Tounderstandtheprogresstheymake,companiesfirstneedtounderstandtheirbaseline.However,perfection

shouldnotbetheenemyofgood–itisimportant

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thatcompaniesbegintounderstandtheirimpactonnatureandpeople.Rightnow,itshouldn’tbeaboutwhetheracompanyis100percentcircular,buttheirpathtowardscircularity.Environmentalaccountingisjustasimportantasfinancial

accounting.

Thereisalsoaneedtoencouragetheformulationofindustrialsymbioses,wherecirculareconomybusinessescomplementeachotherandcreate

ecosystems.

Electronicsandmining

Thegreentransitionandpopulationgrowth,

especiallyinAfrica,arerapidlyincreasingthe

globaldemandformineralsandmetals.Thein-

formalcollectionofelectronicwasteinAfricais

efficient,butitisimportanttointegratethisintotheformalrecyclingsystemstoensurehighenvi-ronmentalandsocialstandards.Centralisedwastetreatmentcanprovidebenefits.Noteverycountryneedstohaveelectronicwastemanagementfacili-ties,aseveryonecanbenefitfromtheeconomyofscale.Yet,weneedtoensurethatthewasteismov-ingintherightdirectionsothattheGlobalSouthdoesnotbecomeadumpinggroundforglobal

wastestreams.

“

“Webelievethatbiodiversity

losswillbeasbiganissue

asclimatechangeistoday

withinthenextfiveyears.

Onlyprotectionorsettingup

newconservationareasisnot

enough.Weneedbusinessto

beinvolved.”

JYRKIKATAINEN

JyrkiKatainen,President,Sitra,

theFinnishInnovationFund

Circularelectronicwastemanagement,metals-as-a-serviceandextendingthelifespanofolddevicesprovidesuccessfulbusinessopportunities,espe-ciallyasthedemandandpricesofcriticalrawma-terialsareincreasing.Atthesametime,consumersalsoneedtoengagetoensurethatelectronicwasteiscompliantlycollectedandmanaged.

Construction

Constructionisanotherindustrywithvariouscir-cularbusinessopportunities.Aroundhalfofthe

builtenvironmentisurbansprawlandamisuseofspace.Weneedtoshiftthefocustowardsservingthewell-beingofpeopleandoptimisingtheuseofexistingresourcestomeetpeople’sneeds.Especial-lyinmanycountriesintheGlobalSouth,muchofthehousingstockisyettobebuilt,whichoffersajuicyopportunitytothinkdifferentlyintermsofthesolutions.

Theconstructionsectorneedstoleveragesolutionssuchaslow-carbonconstruction,life-cycleimpactassessmentandreuseandrecycling.Digitalisationcanprovidesignificantbenefitsinfacilitatingcir-cularpractices,forexample,throughimproved

materialtraceability,progresstrackingandoptimi-

sation.

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Moneytalks,buthowdowe

getmoneytolisten?

Oneofthekeyquestionsofthisyear’sWorldCir-

cularEconomyForumwashowtoacceleratefi-

nancingforcircularcompanies,especiallysmall

andmedium-sizedenterprises.Manyinspiring

solutionsarealreadyoutthere,butinvestorsoftenseethemastooriskyduetolimitedunderstand-ing,lackofinternationalstandardsorbecause

investmentmodelsaredesignedtomaximise

short-termprofitsoverlong-termwell-being.

Manycircularbusinessesaresuccessfulbytradi-

tionalstandards.However,ifenvironmentaland

socialaspectsareintegratedintoinvestors’risk

considerations,circularbusinessmodelsareoftenlessriskythanlinearones.Toincreasethefinancialattractivenessofcircularsolutions,thereisaneedforinternationalcollaboration,suchasde-riskingactivitiesamonginvestorswithdifferentrisk-

returnexpectations.Acommonlanguagefor

metricsandstandardisationneedstobecreated

tocombatalackoftransparency.Theavailability

ofdataisconstantlyincreasingandweneedto

useittomakerightdecisions.

“

“Whenintegratingthe

environmentalandsocial

externalitiesintoour

assessments,thecircular

solutionsareoften

cheaperandlessriskyfor

societyasawholethan

thelinearones.”

AMBROISEFAYOLLE

Vice-President,European

InvestmentBank

Finally,andperhapsmostimportantly,investorswillnotinvestinprojectstheydonotunderstand.Hence,itisimportanttoincreaseunderstandingofthefactthat100percentoftheeconomyisde-pendentonthenaturalworldandthatbiodiversitylossalreadycausesasbigariskasclimatechange.Theexpectationsofstakeholdersandconsumers

arerapidlyincreasing,andthisfactorwillcontinuetosteerthemarketsinthefuture.

Politicsandregulation

Publicpoliciesdefinetherulesoftheplayingfieldandsetthestageforinvestors.Politicalmeasurescantiltthemarketstosupportthescalingof

circularsolutionsinvariousways:

1.Collaborationbetweenprivateandpub-licsector:Ifpolicymakersdon’tactbusiness-eswilltakethelead,whichleadstofragment-edpolicymaking.Inadditiontotheministriesofenvironment,wholegovernmentsshould

comeupwithplansandtasksonhowtotransformtheeconomysothatitsupportscircularity.

2.Taxationandregulation:Notonlydowetaxthelineareconomytoolittle,butcurrently

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wealsosubsidiseit.Thefieldshouldbetiltedtosupportsustainabilityinawaythatattractsinvestors.Duetotheirsignificantvolume,

publicprocurementsareahugedriverforincreasingthedemandofcircularproductsandservices.Thecirculareconomymustbealsoinstitutionalisedinlegislationtosupportthetransition.

3.Circulareconomyroadmaps:Provide

avisionandalong-termstrategy.Withoutaroadmap,thereisnocleardestination.Morethan40countriesalreadyhavecircularecon-omyroadmapsandstrategies,andmorethan50countrieshaveincludedcircularstrategiesintheirnationallydeterminedcontributions(NDCs).Butweneedtoupthegame.

4.Globalgovernance:Animprovedversion

oftheEuropeanGreenDealiscrucialfor

acceleratingEurope’ssociallyinclusivegreentransitionamidaworseningecologicalcrisis.Globalsystemsforextendedproducerrespon-sibility,digitalproductpassportsandpayingfarmersfortheirecosystemservicesare

importantdriversforchange.

“

“Atlastyear’sForum,welaunched

Rwanda’sfirstevercircular

economyactionplanandroad

map,andimplementationisnow

underway.Similarstoriesof

acceleratingacirculareconomy

areunderwayacrossthe

continent,inlargepartdueto

theworkoftheWorldCircular

EconomyForumandtheAfrican

CircularEconomyAlliance.”

JEANNED’ARC

MUJAWAMARIYA

MinisterofEnvironment,The

RepublicofRwanda

Regeneratinglandthrough

circularapproaches

Manyofusareusedtoviewingcircularityastech-nicalcycles,butbiologicalcyclesarealsopartofthecirculareconomy.Wemustconservelandaswellasuselandinnewregenerativewaystohaltandreversebiodiversityloss.

Regenerativeagricultureisahugeopportunitytorecoverthediversityoflifeandincreasecarbon

sinksonagriculturallands.Expertspointedout

thatregenerativeagricultureprovidesmoreresil-ientandnutritiousfoodsystemsthanconvention-alfarmingtofeedthegrowingpopulation.Asa

holisticsolution,regenerativeagricultureneedstobecomethenewnorm,notanewnichelikeorgan-icproduction.

Redesigningfoodproductstoincluderegenera-

tivelyproduced,diverse,upcycledandlower-im-pactingredientscanalsohelpdrivethischange.

Solutionslike

upcyclingleftoveringredientsfrom

oatmilkproductionorcombiningunder-usedfish

specieswithbeanstocreatelowerimpactfishcakes

areshowingtheway.

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Agricultureisthemaincauseofdeforestation

globally.Therefore,itisimportanttodesignsolu-

tionswherefeedingtheworldgoeshandinhand

withforestry,suchasagroforestry.Agroforestry

isoneoftheoldestformsoflanduse.Theprac-

ticebreaksindustrialsilosbycombiningforest

managementwithcropsorlivestockproduction.DuringtheForumweheardthatagroforestrysolu-tionscanalsobescalable.

Theforestsectoronitsowncanalsorampupef-

fortstomakethemostvalueoutofthefinitere-

sourcesforestsprovide.Regenerativeprinciples

inforestrycanensureforestbiodiversityincreas-

esinsteadofdecreasesafteroperations.Thelife

cyclesofwoodproductscanbeextended–even

wastewoodcanbecycledbackintousethrough

methodssuchascharring.Mostimportantly,for-

estsneedtoberespectedbeyondthewoodthey

carry,includingecosystemservices,foodandcom-poundsforotherindustriessuchascosmetics.

Tocreatecircularsolutionsthatregeneratenature,circularitymusttransformourrelationshipwithresourcesbynarrowing,slowingandclosingre-sourceflows.

“

“Weneedtorethinkourbottomline.Insteadofprofitability,ourbottomlinehastobeanintactbiosphereandaworldwherewecanflourish.”

KEIRADIGNAN

Circularityneedstoshiftfromglobaltolocal

Thetripleplanetarycrisisaffectsthewholeglobe,andoftenthecirculareconomyisviewedasa

globalsolution.However,speakersattheForumstressedrepeatedlythatthebestcircularsolutionsareoftenlocal.Theymakeuseoflocalknowledgeandlocalresources,adaptandnurturelocal

ecologyandrespectlocalculture.

Forexample,intheagriculturalsectorfarmerscanlearnfromeachotherinaglobalcommunity,buttransitioningtoregenerativeagriculturewilllookverydifferentbasedonlocalweatherconditions,nativecrops,availableresourcesandculture.

Thekeyistoleverageglobalgoalstobuildplace-basedsolutions,toempowerlocalcommunities

andtobringlearningsfromglobalconferencesliketheWorldCircularEconomyForumbackhome

andadaptthemtolocalcirclesandcontexts.

Puttingpeopleattheheartof

theeconomy

Thecirculartransitionisnottakingplacefastenoughasthetransitiondoesnothavecritical

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mass.Therefore,itiscrucialtoattractmorepeopleandnewsectors.WCEF2023focusedonengagingyouthinthediscussionaswellasbringinginnewsectorslikehydrogen.

Manyspeakersemphasisedthatthecircularecon-omyisatool,nottheendgoal.Thegoalissecuringathrivingbiosphereandprosperouscommunities.Whileweneedtourgentlyimplementourcurrentideas,wemustalsokeepevaluatingwhetheroursolutionsarereallytakingustowardsafuturethatprioritisesthewell-beingofpeopleandtheplanet.

Aninclusivetransition

Thelineareconomyisnotdeliveringforeveryone.Toensureajustandinclusivetransitiontocircu-laritywemustembracethefactthatchangingourrelationshipwithnatureisultimatelynotjusta

matterofenvironmentalconcern,butalsoanim-

perativeforequality,securityandresilience.

Asustainablefutureconcernseveryone,soall

voicesmustbeheard,includingthosetraditionallymarginalisedintheGlobalSouth.ToensurethattheForumremainstrulyglobal,WCEFwillworkcloselywiththeUnitedNationsDevelopment

Programme,anorganisationthathelpscountries

“

“Thelineareconomy

isnotdeliveringfor

everybody.Thecircular

economyisanagenda

ofopportunity:toput

peoplebackintheheart

ofeconomy.”

VALERIEHICKEY

GlobalDirectorofEnvironment,

NaturalResourcesandtheBlue

Economy,TheWorldBank

aroundtheworldtofightpoverty,inequalityandclimatechange.

Fromancientwisdomtofuturegenerations

Thecirculareconomycreatessolutionsthat

ensuresustainabilityinthelong-term.Todothis,circularitymustevolve:learningfromthewisdomofthepast,nurturingnewideasofleadersyettobeandsecuringthewell-beingoffuturegenerations.Inotherwords,intergenerationalcollaboration

mustbeatthecentreofcirculardecision-makingandinnovation.

Rediscoveringancestralknowledgeandtechniquescanwieldgreatopportunities.Forexample,

ancientagroforestrypracticesarebeingscaledupbyPretaterrainBrazilandawoodpreservingcharringmethodfromthe18thcenturyJapanisupcyclingwastewood.

Engagingyouthvoicesincirculardiscussions

canbringinfreshandinnovativeideas.The

youngleadersattheForumhighlightedthat

nodecisionsconcerningthemshouldbemade

withoutthem.Tomakeyouthparticipation

meaningful,companiesandpolicymakersneedto

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createparticipationsystemstoworkwithyoung

peopleandmonitorthevalueofparticipation.

Inaddition,youngpeopleneedalliesandlow-

barrieropportunitiesforengagement–likereverse

mentorshipthatbringstogetherbusinessleaders

andyoungpeople.

Circularsolutionsmustbelongterm.One

concretewayoffosteringintergenerationaljustice

istransitioningtoagriculturalpracticesthatwill

alsofeedfuturegenerations.

ThemostimportantRisRethink

DuringtheForum,manyspeakershighlightedtheroleofconsumersintransformingtheeconomy:bothbyloweringthematerialintensityof

consumption,butmoreimportantlyreducingtheamountofconsumption.

BeforeWCEF2023theinternationalonlinemarketresearchanddataanalyticsfirmYouGovsurveyedconsumersintheNordicsabouttheircircular

actions.Themostcommonactivitiesincludeusingreusableinsteadofdisposablecoffeecups,offeringitemsforreuse,andrecycling.Unfortunately

rentingandrepairingwerenottoopopular.

InEurope,upto70percentofemissionscanbetracedbacktopeople’sdailychoices.Lifestyle

Test,afreewebapppresentedattheForumoffersatooltocalculateone’scarbonfootprintbased

onthelocalcontextandtoreceivetailor-madesuggestionsforactionstobuildapositiveandsustainablelife.

Althoughsufficiencysolutionsthatreduce

consumptionaremostimpactful,theyareleastlikelytobeadoptedbyindividuals.Tochangethetrend,businessesandgovernmentsneedtotake

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aroleinrebrandingsufficiency.Sufficiencyisa

wayoflivingenrichedandmorepurposefullives

whilesupportingtheresilienceofindividualsand

societies.

Businessescanreinventlong-lastingproducts,

userecycledandlessimpact-intensivematerials,

reducematerialuse,createmodularstructures,

andoffermaintenance,repairandvintageservices.Forexamples,Fiskarsoffersrecoatingservicesforusedpans.However,totrulyfacilitatethepublic’sinterestinthesenewproductsandservices,

companiesneedtotakeamoreactiverolein

educatingconsumersandfindingwaystomake

thesolutionsattractive.

Besidesbiggerplayersonthejourneytowards

circularity,theWorldCircularEconomyForum

2023alsoofferedaplatformfor“borncircular”

startupstosharetheirwaysofrethinkingbusiness.OneinspiringexamplewasSwimbe’scustom-madeswimwearencouragingemotionalattachment

leadingtolongevity.Thecompanyusesplastic

wasteasamaterialandusingalldamagedandleft

overfabricpiecestocreatescrunchiesandbags.

Rethinkingwon’ttakeplaceincompanieswithouteffortstoreskillworkers.Vocationaltraining

“

“Learningandeducationmustbeaboutnew

practicalskillsand

notonlytheoretical

knowledge.”

ZUZANA

MALINKOVIČOVÁ

StudentInnovationManager,

DTUSkylab

canplayakeyrolehereasithasstronglinksto

industryandprovidestheflexibilityneededto

reskillorupdatetheskillsofworkers.Inaddition,vocationaltrainingcanofferanaccessiblepathwayforpeoplewithdifferentlevelsofskillsandevenhelppeopleoutsideoftheworkforcebackinto

business.

Whethertalkingaboutconsumersorcompanies,rethinkingmeanschangingthewayresources,

jobs,skillsandpeoplearevalued.Forexample,

peopleworkinginend-of-value-chainjobslike

wastesortinghaveextremelyvaluableskillsforthecirculareconomy,buttheireffortsarecurrently

undervaluedandeveninvisible.Anotherexamplecouldbefindingnewpathwaysforplasticsto

besharedandreusedinsteadofthrownaway.

Fosteringconnectionstothematerialsthatfuelourlives,forinstancebyvisitinglocalfarms,isamusttomakethecircularfuturereality.

Whileconsumersandbusinessesdoplayaroleinthecirculartransition,positioningindividualsnotonlyasconsumers,butalsoasactivists,politicalsubjectsandmembersofcommunities,canbeaverypowerfulwayofrethinkingeachofourrolesinsociety.

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