It takes a village
We’ve discussed what a circular economy is and why it is so necessary. Now, in part three of Circular Index, we discuss each step a manufacturer must consider in their transition – and why collaboration is key.
In theory, a circular economy sounds great – we wave goodbye to pollution and waste, products and materials get used for longer, and the environment benefits long-term. But how can manufacturers turn these goals into reality, and what role does collaboration play throughout?
Making a start
Within each segment, there are numerous opportunities for manufacturers to start “closing the loop” and begin to eliminate waste. Be it reducing the amount of packaging they use (principle one) or switching to more sustainable packaging that can be recycled and reused (principle two), or ensuring all their sources are sustainable (principle three).
But to make such changes across the board – and ensure they last – is where collaboration enters the equation.
Partnering for change
While you may have certain aspirations for your business, you can’t do everything on your own – which is where working with the right suppliers and getting support from government initiatives becomes vital. Because without this network, barriers to entry into the circular economy tend to be too complex to tackle solo.
Barriers such as lack of appropriate infrastructure to enable manufacturers and, further down the line, consumers to recycle used products and packaging. Or lack of a supporting secondary raw material market, the likes of which can help slow down resource depletion, excess waste and CO₂ emissions. Another factor that can have a huge impact is low awareness among manufacturers about the type of support they can receive.
Overcoming challenges together
So, which governments are stepping up to help industries and manufacturers go circular – or get as close to it as they can? We’ll start with the Netherlands, whose government has set a nationwide goal to achieve a fully circular economy by 2050. With an action plan that includes supporting manufacturers with their plans or ideas for entering the circular economy. Other elements include possibly giving manufacturers more responsibility when it comes to how much recyclable material must be used in their products. A regulation like this could help the country vastly reduce its reliance on unsustainable materials while ensuring a level playing field for all.
Similar initiatives are being unveiled in other parts of the world. Be they on a grand scale, such as the EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan, or a smaller – but no less important – scale, such as the work we’re carrying out at SIG. At SIG we’ve made changes across the board to help ourselves and our clients be more responsible. Changes that have led to all our carton packs being made with FSC™-certified paperboard, and which have enabled us to produce all our cartons using 100% renewable energy.
In part four of the series, we look outside the circle and discuss the ripple effect of a circular economy on the world. To keep following the discussion and explore other topics we’ve covered, subscribe to SIGnals Update, our exclusive bi-weekly newsletter.
- May 19, 2022