Economia circolare: cos'è e quali sono i vantaggi

Economy of Circularity: A Solution to Resource Waste?

The Problem of Waste and Resource Scarcity

• Many items are discarded despite being in good condition due to lack of need or desire for newer models, leading to waste of materials and resources.

• The increasing demand for raw materials creates a problem when resources become scarce, compounded by the environmental impact of extraction processes.

Transitioning from Linear to Circular Economy

• Traditional product life cycle follows a linear model: extraction, production, consumption, and disposal. This leads to increased resource consumption.

• With rising global population and wealth, the demand for resources escalates, resulting in environmental degradation; Europe consumes 15 tons of raw materials per person annually.

Implementing Circular Economic Models

• A shift is needed from linear models (production-consumption-disposal) to circular ones where products are reused, repaired, or recycled instead of disposed.

• In this model, waste is viewed as a resource that can create new value by remaining within the economic cycle.

Redesigning Products for Sustainability

• Companies should focus on creating durable products designed with sustainability principles in mind rather than short-lived items that encourage frequent upgrades.

• Approximately 80% of a product's environmental impact is determined during its design phase; thus early intervention is crucial for reducing negative impacts.

Economic Benefits and Job Creation

• Businesses should transition from selling products to providing services; this change opens up new markets and opportunities within the circular economy.

• The circular economy could save €604 billion and potentially increase EU GDP by 1%, with an estimated additional million jobs created by 2030 linked to this model.

Real-world Applications: IKEA's Buy Back Program

• Companies like IKEA are adopting circular practices; they offer buy-back programs where customers can sell back old furniture for store credit based on condition.

• This initiative aims at creating designated areas in stores for customers to return used IKEA furniture while ensuring non-resalable items are recycled into new products.

Economic Trends and Circular Economy Initiatives

Introduction to Circular Economy in Scandinavia

• The concept of a positive climate by 2030 is introduced, highlighting initiatives in Scandinavia.

• An example from Finland discusses the creation of Sappi, a platform for secure purchasing of refurbished iPhones after users faced online fraud.

Growth of Refurbished Products

• The market for refurbished smartphones saw significant growth, with 206 million units sold globally in 2019, marking a 17% increase from the previous year.

• Despite a slowdown in 2020 due to the pandemic's economic impact, predictions suggest that the refurbished product sector will rebound strongly post-pandemic.

Circular Economy Practices by Major Companies

• Companies like Ferrero and Barilla are adapting to circular economy principles by reusing production waste rather than reselling used products.

• Barilla collaborates with Favini to create eco-sustainable paper from wheat bran, which can be used for pasta packaging.

Innovations in Waste Utilization

• Ferrero utilizes 32% of global hazelnut production but faces challenges as 55% of hazelnuts consist of unusable shells. Research partnerships have led to discovering antioxidant properties in these shells beneficial for health.

Policy and Consumer Role in Transitioning Economies

• Transitioning to a circular economy requires political support for regulatory frameworks at local, national, and international levels.

• The European Union aims for climate neutrality by 2050; circular economy practices are essential for achieving this goal.

Consumer Behavior and Economic Mindset Shift

• Consumers play a crucial role; they should focus on reusing or recycling products instead of discarding them.

• A shift from viewing individuals as consumers to users emphasizes sustainable usage patterns within the economic cycle.

Sharing Economy Connection

• The sharing economy complements circular economy principles; it alters ownership concepts where individuals become share-users rather than owners.

• Car-sharing exemplifies this shift: personal cars are underutilized (5% usage), while shared vehicles see significantly higher utilization (45%). This model reduces waste and enhances value.