The prevailing economic model today is largely linear, meaning that companies extract resources from the environment and turn them into products that will end up in the waste dump at some point at the end of their lives. With the depletion of natural resources the linear production model is no longer sustainable!
In contrast, the circular model is an approach that is modelled on nature. The concept of the circular economy arises as a necessity, expressing the ideal economy in which nothing is lost and everything is reused. This new model requires new ways of production and consumption and, above all, requires the active participation of all parties in economic life (businesses, local communities, citizens-consumers).
The European Union has realized the importance of the circular economy and aims to send only 10% of waste to landfill by 2030.
This objective is expected to have other positive effects, such as:
It is estimated that European businesses will save €600 billion and increase their profitability.
Carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced.
Businesses will reduce their energy and water consumption by around 80%.
280 thousand jobs can be created in Europe.
Every household can save €500 a year on energy costs.
The four principles of the circular economy:
Conservation and efficiency of resources and products
In a world with limited resources, the circular economy offers a realistic solution by maximizing resource efficiency and minimizing waste generation. By adopting practices such as recycling, reuse and remanufacturing, valuable materials stay in circulation for longer, reducing the need to extract new resources. This not only saves natural resources, but also reduces the strain on ecosystems and minimizes environmental degradation. It also means designing and developing for durability, reuse, remanufacturing and recycling to keep products, components and materials in circulation in the economy for longer periods of time.
Waste and pollution free design
The circular economy helps reduce waste from overconsumption and minimise the environmental impacts associated with resource extraction, product production processes and disposal. It promotes the adoption of sustainable technologies, the use of renewable energy sources and green practices, leading to lower greenhouse gas emissions, improved air and water quality and reduced pollution levels.
Economic opportunities and job creation
The transition to a circular economy unlocks important economic opportunities. It promotes innovation, encourages the development of new technologies and creates a variety of business opportunities in different sectors. The shift to a circular model stimulates job creation, particularly in areas such as recycling, repair services and the development of environmentally friendly products and services.
Enhanced business resilience and competitiveness
The adoption of the circular economy can be a game changer for businesses. By adopting circular practices, companies can streamline their supply chains, reduce costs and boost resource efficiency. They can also tap into new revenue streams through product redesign, remanufacturing and the provision of circular services.
The circular economy includes environmental solutions of great importance for achieving sustainable development and mitigating climate change. By implementing it, we can protect the environment and enhance economic growth. It is essential that businesses, governments and citizens work together to accelerate the transition to the circular economy and ensure a sustainable future.
At E-ON Integration, in the context of enhancing the functionality of our applications, we closely monitor developments and new technologies related to projects and actions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lead to a circular economy. This information, which usually comes from external databases, is combined with a company's internal data and through the methodologies we have developed in our cloud tools, risks, opportunities and other performance indicators can be assessed. All information related to the circular economy and the objectives of each business is presented in a clear and interactive way. In this way, stakeholders have all the necessary information regarding the sustainability of their business in order to develop its strategy and achieve its objectives.
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