I never thought I'd see the day when my family has to revisit the same activism that protected them so far. Really, Scott? Amazing. The USA is crying at the shame of this DC administration.
Next week "Hazard Waste."
September 20, 2017
By Anya Khalamayzer
Creating great products (click here) is any company's goal, but to those that think long-term about their value, making a profit "means nothing" unless they scale production in a way that doesn't harm consumers and the environment, said attendees at a circular economy summit during VERGE 17.
The circular economy, which moves away from the take-make-dispose system of "business as usual" and infuses manufacturer's material streams with recycled goods, is the mechanism that will allow companies to achieve this goal.
There are still massive barriers to implementing the circular economy as "business as usual," and it will require pulling a company's full value chain on board, said the panelists, meeting under Chatham House Rule. For example, the chemical processes that allow polymers to be dissolved and recirculated are still expensive to implement — and may have hidden health risks.
Getting into "full circularity at once isn't likely," said an attendee from an environmental nonprofit. Finding and optimizing the pipeline of circular opportunities means using the levers of technology, policy and investment from the consumer goods sector.
Here are five major challenges to proliferating the use of reclaimed goods, and the opportunities that may arise from them — because, essentially, circular thinking is about finding jewels in a waste stream.
- American recycling facilities must up the ante
- Don't depend on consumers
- The devil is in the details
- Everyone must be on board
- Build trust
