Every year, large amounts of resources—from plastics and food to clothing and building materials—are produced then thrown away. As global populations grow and become richer, there will be an increased pressure on these already strained resources that underpin our society’s needs. What will a system that eliminates waste, circulates resources, and innovates within the confines of our planet look like? What kinds of technologies, policies, collaborations and human ingenuity will be needed to get us there?
Visit us at: https://impact.economist.com/sustainability/Inside-the-circle
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Every year, large amounts of resources—from plastics and food to clothing and building materials—are produced then thrown away. As global populations grow and become richer, there will be an increased pressure on these already strained resources that underpin our society’s needs. What will a system that eliminates waste, circulates resources, and innovates within the confines of our planet look like? What kinds of technologies, policies, collaborations and human ingenuity will be needed to get us there?
Visit us at: https://impact.economist.com/sustainability/Inside-the-circle
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So much plastic is designed to be single-use. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, over 300 million tonnes of plastic waste is produced every year. Moreover, a study by Pew Charitable Trusts highlights that plastic-related greenhouse-gas emissions are projected to account for around 19% of the global carbon budget by 2040. How can we develop innovative upstream solutions and design products and packaging that promote circular models of production, consumption and waste management? To what extent have policymakers created a conducive environment for progress? How can business solutions engage policymakers and consumers alike?
Featuring: Claudia Amos, technical director for plastics technology, infrastructure & commercial due diligence at Anthesis; Sander Defruyt, lead of the New Plastics Economy initiative at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation; Maarten Dubois, project lead for circular economy and plastics at the OECD; Louise Scott, vice president of R&D capability at Natura & Co and chief scientific officer at Avon Cosmetics; and Alan VanderMolen, chief communications officer at SC Johnson.
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