The Circular Economy as the New Normal
This case study explores the steps that must be taken to apply circular thinking in the real world. It gives examples, shares experiences, and discusses the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach. It also describes the need for upscaling and innovation from a pragmatic and programmatic approach and shows how implementation gaps can be bridged.
Why is cooperation in the value chain needed at a multi-stakeholder level? If capitalism and industrialization are responsible for social and environmental degradation, what economic reforms are needed to create a circular economy?
Finally...
It is obvious that the concept of the circular economy is generating traction and that many lessons have already been learned on a small scale. These lessons are the basis for scaling up a system transition that makes the circular economy the 'new normal'. The breakthrough to a circular economy requires a combination of technological solutions, adjustments in regulation and legislation, and new financial models, but it will blossom with sufficient demand. The right scale gives circular solutions the opportunity to compete with existing linear solutions.