Worldwide circularity rate drops, according to Economy Foundation and Deloitte report. Solutions for three sectors: food, construction and manufacturing.Everyone is talking about the circular economy. But in the world very few apply it. It is a bitter verdict that is recorded by the latest “Circularity gap report,” recently produced by Circle Economy Foundation and Deloitte. From the public’s point of view, the circular economy is doing great. According to the report, debates and insights on the topic have tripled in recent years. The problem is that internationally, the circularity rate has not recorded the same numbers: in 2018 it was at 9.1 percent, in 2023 it was down to 7.2 percent. Disaster.
THE SOLUTIONS TO MOVE FROM WORDS TO DEEDS
Circle Economy Foundation and Deloitte thus created a paper where they analyze possible solutions to ensure that the circular economy theme does not remain just on paper.
In particular, three macro systems, which are decisive, were analyzed: food, manufacturing and construction. Proposals were made for each of the macro systems.
- Prioritize satiating and healthy foods with lower environmental impact, ideally substituting calories from meat, fish and dairy products toward grains, fruits, vegetables and nuts;
- Prioritize the production and consumption of local, seasonal and organic products (sometimes in combination with GMOs). In this way it is possible to contribute to a reduction of chemicals for extra seasonal production and which is often the main cause of crop damage;
- Increase agricultural practices that regenerate ecosystems, recirculate nutrients, and reduce carbon by design;
- Reduce food waste by following the waste hierarchy along the supply chain and at the consumer level through improved transportation and storage management, increased refrigeration, and smart diet planning with a focus on the food service chain.
THE OTHER ACTIONS
On the manufacturing system, the goal, the report says, should be to achieve “process improvements, waste diversion and reduced yield losses through greater industrial symbiosis and efficiency.” Then the policy of “no waste” is needed, that is, buying only what is needed. Same for machinery durability: it is necessary to try to maximize it.On the building system, there are three proposed actions:
- meanwhile where new construction is needed, use secondary materials and be as efficient as possible with urban planning solutions that follow circular design principles so that buildings can be reused, repurposed and easily dismantled in the future.
- It is also necessary to maximize the reuse of high-value buildings.
- And finally, use circular strategies to create material- and energy-efficient buildings.
THRESHOLD AND POLLUTION
The report points out that “the adoption” of all these solutions “could not only reverse the overstepping of boundaries and pollution limits, but also reduce the global need for materials extraction by one-third. This reduction is rooted in the principles of the circular economy, which involve reduced, but longer-term use of regenerative materials and the recycling of materials at the end of life. Right now, we have never needed the circular economy more than we do today.” On the circular economy, therefore, a change of course is needed: just talking about it is no longer useful.
