Towards a circular economy

The Spanish Parliament has recently approved a waste law in Spain that is a major step toward a circular economy model. One of its main features is the prohibition of single-use waste, aimed at plastic items such as straws, plastic cutlery and ear swabs. There are other consequences as well, such as providing legal protection for the prohibition of smoking on the beach or limiting microplastics in a variety of products.

Entities such as Greenpeace expressed themselves approvingly of the law, highlighting the fact of having for the first time a packaging return system (SDDR), the eradication of single-use plastics and the obligation for restaurants to offer tap water. However, they are critical of the fact that there is still too much emphasis on recycling instead of setting more ambitious reduction targets. The organization points out that valuable time is being lost in which we should be committed to a zero-waste model, since recycling is not enough to address the critical situation of waste pollution that we are experiencing worldwide and that aggravates the climate crisis.

The urgency of the matter has been expressed by many organizations and experts who have raised their voices to demand concrete actions and greater involvement of institutions, companies and society in general. On April 4, the IPCC released a shocking report stating that if we do not limit emissions of greenhouse gases soon, the planet will be inhospitable as soon as 2050. We are therefore at a critical point where we are called upon to act immediately.

In this regard, numerous associations, organizations and institutions are demanding a circular economy model that minimizes the generation of waste and our impact on the planet. The European Commission adopted a plan in 2020 to achieve climate neutrality objectives and reduce human pressure on natural resources.

But what do we mean when we talk about a circular economy? The circular economy integrates environmental, economic and social aspects, and it is based on ecological respect, collaboration and the coordination of actors. The main idea is that starting from the design of processes and objects, a production and consumption model is developed to extend a product’s life cycle in order to reduce waste and consequently the carbon footprint, in addition to generating jobs and improving competitiveness.

One of the main guidelines when taking action is the 4 Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Repair and Recycle. Nevertheless, as mentioned above, we must bear in mind that the order matters and therefore the first three will always be prioritized, i.e.: Reduce, Reuse and Repair. We must not forget that the recycling process is complex, consumes energy, and many times does not even fully materialize.

This path towards a circular economy is by no means free of challenges: it is crucial to find alternatives to the ubiquitous plastics, often a difficult task. Luckily, for many products, we have options in biodegradable materials: cardboard, wood, bamboo, the so-called bioplastics, etc. Fortunately, it is becoming more and more common to see them integrated into the hospitality sector, for example.

Another issue is the planned obsolescence of some products, a practice that has been carried out for decades to benefit some manufacturers. To overcome these drawbacks, there are multiple initiatives that empower citizens to encourage repair and prevent more objects from being discarded. One example in Barcelona is the Millor que Nou platform, which allows you to search for repair workshops, promotes exchange and offers training to learn how to repair and give a new life to obsolete objects.

On the other hand, one of the most important barriers is changing consumer habits and mindsets. This can be tackled through education and awareness-raising, as well as by implementing reward systems that recognize and compensate consumers who choose sustainable options. More importantly, laws such as the one recently passed are key to driving this change in mentality, for instance with the requirement that at least 20% of supermarkets must be dedicated to bulk sales. This will provide a valuable opportunity to showcase package-free products and teach consumers that another type of consumption is possible.

All in all, it is a matter of doing our part individually but also at a corporate level, since the consequences of the climate emergency are evident, imminent and affect us all. If we strive to do our bit in our daily lives, even with the smallest of daily actions, we will be part of the solution.

What about you, have you already thought about what you are going to do? From Pax# we are preparing a specific plan to reduce emissions. Should you be interested, we can help you generate your own. We will start by calculating your carbon footprint, and depending on the activity and processes that generate the biggest impact on the environment, we can propose specific actions to achieve significant reductions.