The circular economy, a more sustainable development
The 20th century was marked by the emergence of a consumer society, which caused a drastic increase in the withdrawals from the natural and limited resources of our planet. According to the United Nations Environment Program, doubts and worries about the future of resource management are allowed because research predicts an advanced depletion of natural resources before the middle of the century. Indeed, it has been observed that demographic development , but also economic performance in developed countries are linked to the consumption of resources , which fuels the desire of developing countries to reproduce this growth model. The future will therefore lead to a profound change in organizations and lifestyles. The prevailing pattern of production and consumption is currently based on a constant and linear pattern which has accelerated technical progress and development . The foundation of the consumer society today finds its limits in the face of environmental challenges, employment and the increase in the world population which is expected to grow by 41% between 2018 and 2100. Collective awareness has made it possible to take steps to reduce environmental impacts, which are an essential first step. However, reducing the impact of the current development model only postpones the deadline. A more ambitious approach is needed, and it is materialized by a complete economic transition.
- So how does the circular economy move from a model of impact reduction to a model of positive value creation?
What is the circular economy?
The concept of circular economy has officially entered the law relating to energy transition for green growth of August 18, 2015, but also in article 1 of the French constitution in 2018 where it is indeed recognized that the transition towards a circular economy is indeed a national objective but also one of the pillars of sustainable development. This law gave the following definition for the circular economy:
“The transition to a circular economy aims to go beyond the linear economic model of extracting, manufacturing, consuming and throwing away by calling for a sober and responsible consumption of natural resources and primary raw materials as well as, in order of priority, the prevention the production of waste, in particular by the reuse of products, and, according to the hierarchy of waste treatment methods, to reuse, recycling or, failing that, recovery of waste. “ (environmental code, article L.110-1-1) “
The circular economy thus targets the sustainable and efficient management of resources . The emergence of the notion of circular economy follows the awareness of the limited resources of the planet and the need to save them. Indeed, our withdrawals from natural resources already greatly exceed the earth’s biocapacity, ie its capacity to regenerate renewable resources, to supply non-renewable resources and to absorb waste. According to estimates by the McKinsey firm, Europe’s transition to a circular economy would allow an annual saving on raw materials of around 380 billion dollars. The creation of new activities and jobs that are both sustainable and non-relocatable are inherent in the transition to a circular economy. They embody the essence of this model, which is to take into account the three essential dimensions of respect for the environment and social issues, but also stability and economic growth. While the traditional model of using an object is linear, going from its creation to its elimination, the circular economy upsets the codes by advocating a loop . Thus, each stage of the life cycle of a product is synonymous with the creation of positive value , where the objective is to optimize the efficiency of management and use of resources while ensuring satisfaction but also well-being. of the consumer and finally, by reducing the impact on the environment.
Why is the circular economy an issue for companies?
As part of the energy transition law for green growth of 2015, France has set itself ambitious objectives to initiate the transition to a circular economy. Published on April 23, 2018, the circular economy roadmap proposes to take action by presenting concrete measures to achieve these objectives. Today, the main challenge is that of mobilizing all
- Citizens
- Communities
- Companies, see article
- Associations
- Authorities
- Research and development actors
- Financial players, see article
And this in all territories and on all scales for a real move to action. Among these objectives, we can find:
- Aim for 100% recycled plastics by 2025
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions: save the emission of an additional 8 million tons of CO2 each year thanks to the recycling of plastic
- Create 500,000 additional jobs
- Reduce by 30% the consumption of resources related to French consumption
It is therefore a question of producing using fewer materials, in order to decouple growth from the consumption of materials. This circular economy roadmap also makes it possible to bring our circular economy model to European and international level via the #MakeOurPlanetGreatAgain initiative. In the wake of the leadership it has taken on the climate, France can become the spearhead of the circular economy at the global level. The circular economy will also contribute to the achievement of some of the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for France. The transition to a more circular economy involves environmental gains but also sectoral reallocations of employment between materials-intensive activities and those that contribute to saving them, known as eco-activities, which is why it is interesting to measure the employment content. of these activities to appreciate the extent of the transformation at work. It has thus been calculated by France Strategy that the volume of employment currently concerned amounts to 800,000 full-time equivalent jobs. The circular economy makes it possible to develop new activities and consolidate industrial sectors . It thus makes it possible to create local jobs that are permanent and cannot be relocated . For example, the development of activities to repair used products, reuse or recycle waste, generates about 25 times more jobs than the dumping of this waste.
How to adapt to the circular economy?
The transition to the circular economy requires progress in several areas, among which we find sustainable procurement , eco-design and responsible consumption , which require individuals but also companies, before carrying out a purchase or to launch the production process, to anticipate the environmental and social impacts of the stages of the life cycle of a product but also of the resources used to design it. Industrial and territorial ecology also intervenes in order to optimize the resources present on the same territory since it connects all the economic actors who manage the flow of natural resources, energy and raw materials. It is also necessary to take into account the trend which is towards the economy of functionality : it thus makes it possible to favor the use of a service rather than the purchase of a good. It is thus possible for an occasional user to rent a product temporarily (such as a screwdriver for the time to put up a shelf) or else to buy it, subject to a take-back condition after x years, which allows the material to be reintegrated into the manufacturing process. Finally, extending the product’s useful life is essential and of course goes hand in hand with improving the prevention, management and recycling of waste. This problem is accompanied by the fight against planned obsolescence, which is a scourge of our time.
ESCadrille Toulouse Junior Conseil offers services that can enable a company to improve its performance . We are able to analyze existing life cycle plans for your products or services, but also to optimize them by providing recommendations at each stage: finding suppliers, raw materials and energy sources that respect the environment, anticipation of the lifespan of your products then proposal of an adequate repair or recycling method… We also propose to advise you on the sales model , taking into account the mode of consumption which is gradually turning away from possession to the use. In addition, we consider it essential for companies to be part of a logic of cooperation in the territories in order to contribute to the reuse and pooling of resources in order to guarantee manufacturing in synergy with the industrial fabric: the waste of some is the resources others. For this to be possible, it is necessary to know the flows of materials and waste in a territory… and to put in place the structure allowing the actors to be connected. We thus offer a consulting service in the major decisions of your project, concerning in particular the optimization of the use of material and energy flows, the reflection around the life cycle of the object and also the development of a production model inspired by the functioning of natural ecosystems.
If our 42 years of existence have allowed us to acquire a certain expertise in supporting and listening to our customers, they have also taught us the constant need to innovate to best adapt to your changing needs. with our time. Thus, ESCadrille Toulouse Junior Conseil offers strategic support and action plan development services in order to guarantee long-term support. In addition, using a junior firm is considered advantageous in the field of the circular economy since the drivers of change in this field are mostly young people. Thus, our consultants are able to propose innovative ideas for your projects, also relying on our courses carried out by teacher-researchers, and whose contributions thus correspond to the most advanced methods currently used. In addition, in this particular situation, we offer you a Crisis Management service which will allow you to adapt your model according to different scenarios and an internal audit of your structure which will allow us to offer you recommendations to those closest to your issues and those of more sustainable management.
We understand that the circular economy is an increasingly popular economic system that is part of an innovative dynamic . The challenges of tomorrow are therefore to be part of this growing sector and to adapt to a whole new economic system. During the second citizen consultation on the French roadmap, more than 50,000 votes were recorded, confirming the strong interest of citizens for the circular economy. Today, there is no doubt that the circular economy will profoundly change the global economic landscape , whether you will be part of the change remains to be seen.