World Circular Economy Forum Online co-hosted by Nordic Circular Hotspot and Holland Circular Hotspot

Circular hotspots, initiatives and hubs drive the transition from the bottom up

More international collaboration and knowledge sharing needed to catalyse circular change

During an official side event of the World Circular Economy Forum Online co-hosted by Nordic Circular Hotspot and Holland Circular Hotspot, a dozen leading circular voices and experts from Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia Pacific addressed these questions. They convened to explore ways on how the circular economy will bring a new economic, social and ecological balance.

“The circular economy is not a destination, it is a journey,” says Bezawit Gizaw, Ethiopia Representative, African Circular Economy Network (ACEN). “On this journey, if you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together. In African and other emerging regions, the transition to a circular economy requires a different approach than in the West.”

“Every country has its own distinct circular economy journey, yet we all still share a common vision and shared values,”. “Only by listening to and learning from each other can we move forward to achieve an inclusive, circular future.” says Ladeja Godina Košir.

Some of the key insights and future forecasts from the participating circular hotspots, initiatives and hubs include:

A.   The need to go beyond raising awareness and experimentation: the next step is scaling up as well as circular economy mainstreaming in policy-making, business and society.

B.    A continued shift in the regulatory focus on waste management to the circular economy and an urgent need for a set of interventions aimed at removing barriers and advancing the transition to a circular economy.

C.    Establish national actors in each country of the world to promote the circular economy, provide a platform for learning and knowledge exchange, and bring actors together and scale-up initiatives.

D.   National circularity ambitions can only be achieved through international collaboration.

E.    Circular frontrunners will have the biggest market opportunities.

F.    The circular transition needs to be fair and inclusive.

G.   Cities will be the place of action. There is a need for setting-up value-chain initiatives as well as getting local communities, cities and local governments involved in the circular transition and circular procurement.

H.   A move from the linear understanding of value chains to a circular perspective of value-creating networks is needed. To achieve full circularity, the whole value chain needs to be redefined and redesigned.

I.      A circular economy transition is 20 per cent about technical innovation and 80 per cent social innovation.

If you missed the event, you will soon be able to WATCH IT. Stay tuned!