Sustainability lead, Sam Jones from DS Smith, discusses implementing circular economy principles. They track and reuse cardboard fibers up to 25 times. Experts explore why more manufacturers aren't following suit for sustainable product lifecycle management.
Circular economy focuses on reusing products like fibers multiple times, reducing waste and environmental impact.
Businesses face challenges aligning profit motives with eco-conscious practices, highlighted by differing views on sustainability.
Deep dives
The Circular Economy: Reusing Products to Minimize Waste
The podcast highlights how the concept of the circular economy aims to minimize waste by continually reusing products. It points out that materials like fibers can be recycled and reused multiple times within the same loop. By focusing on materials staying in use and limiting the need for virgin resources, the circular economy model emphasizes sustainability and reduced environmental impact.
Business and Sustainability: Balancing Profit and Environmental Concerns
The episode delves into the intersection of business and environmental sustainability. Leaders at the World Economic Forum showcase differing perspectives, with Prince Charles advocating urgent environmental action while Coca-Cola emphasizes consumer demand for plastic bottles. This highlights the challenge businesses face in aligning profit motives with eco-conscious practices.
Transitioning to a Circular Economy: Challenges and Opportunities
Experts discuss the challenges and opportunities in transitioning to a circular economy. While recycling remains essential, the focus is shifting towards waste prevention and responsible consumption. The concept involves shifting from a disposable mindset to prioritizing reuse and repair, with companies like DS Smith implementing circular models for products like cardboard boxes.
Why don't more manufacturers embrace the principles of the circular economy? It's a pertinent question, given the dire state of the recycling industry.
Manuela Saragosa speaks to one company that has already implemented the principles of the circular economy. Cardboard box manufacturer DS Smith tracks its products throughout their life, and can reuse the fibres they contain up to 25 times, according to the firm's sustainability lead, Sam Jones.
So why don't more manufacturers do the same? Manuela speaks to circular economy expert Alexandre Lemille, Jarkko Havas of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, and Josephine von Mitschke-Collande of EIT Climate-KIC in Switzerland.
(Picture: Old plastic water bottle on a beach; Credit: s-c-s/Getty Images)
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