CIRCULAR ECONOMY STILL A
DISTANT GOAL
WRITTEN BY : SEAN ASHCROFT
The move away from wasteful and carbon-heavy linear supply chains to circular models is happening , albeit very slowly & with huge challenges ahead
Currently , just 8.6 % of the world ’ s economy is circular , which means around 91 billion tonnes of material each year is being left to its fate in the natural environment . Research conducted by SAP alongside the World Economic Forum shows that 61 % of the world ' s population ( 4.9 billion people ) lacks access to infrastructure around waste management or recycling . The numbers around sustainability – or rather , those showing how far we still have to go – are mind-boggling .
Speaking at BizClik Media ’ s Sustainability LIVE event in April this year , Stephen Jamieson – Global Head of Circular Economy Solutions at SAP – addressed the significant sustainability challenges that lie ahead .
“ We ' re using more resources than the planet can sustainably provide , and half of total global emissions comes from the way we use materials ,” he told his live and virtual audience . “ Shifting to a circular economy means a change in how we design not only products and new materials to eliminate waste , but also new policies , infrastructure and business ecosystems .”
Circular supply chains are operationally vital Sustainability has never been higher on the agenda for businesses , both politically and operationally . In today ’ s world , organisations
86 November 2022