Students have always had freer reigns than most. Is this because we learn from mistakes? Is it a mistake to question the status quo, the majority rule or the hand that feeds you? Well here’s to learning!
We are students that have spent a mere two weeks looking into Circular Economy in the Nordics, well, Norway mostly since that is where we are based. We will expand our research and analysis now that we have grasped the basics and are ready to take on the world.
Here are some of our thoughts so far:
Norway scored a dismal 2.4% on the circularity metric scale, well below the world average of 8.6%.
One reason for this is the absolute disturbing consumption of the Norwegian people (44.3 tonnes per person, per year). But, and there is always a but, it is not the only reason nor the main reason. In Norway, we have companies that have made the transition already, and we are lucky enough to have start-up’s that start with the circular economy model. Plus we even have multiple companies that offer strategic consulting within the field. Doesn’t this mean we should get a higher score? Some people are so knowledgeable about it that they can offer a paid service to help others make the transition. To be able to do this, you should, at the very least, be practising what you preach and have done so for some time.
Yet somehow we still scored so low. Could this be that it seems that there is no or little collaboration between these front runners?
One of the seven key principles of Circular Economy is collaboration.
So are they practising what they preach?
Could we raise the score by bridging the gaps and opening for collaboration between them all?
Otherwise will they not just continue being in their own little bubbles? Circular Economy is not meant to be an enclosure from the outside world.
Life inside the Circular Economy bubbles:
Life outside the Circular Economy bubble:
Do all experts come across as conspiracy theorists when they are explaining about their field? Is it essential for us to understand them?
Is it fundamental for the general population to know the terminology of Circular economy? Would it help Norway achieve their goal of becoming circular if people were more aware of what Circular Economy was? Is this a necessary gap that needs to be bridged?
Norwegians have an existing culture around recycling, at least, certain things like plastic bottles and aluminium cans. There is also a healthy digital market for buying second hand. These by themselves are part of Circular Economy. How important is it at this moment that the general public know more?
Will having more knowledge help catapult this to the foreground of activity and consciousness? Isn’t this what COVID has done already, made people search for answers that the current economy can not solve. So the availability of information is what this moment assuredly needs.
For the information to be available and intelligible, it must all coincide no matter where it is. Letting us then cross the bridge to more accessible and efficient cooperation, as well as a deeper understanding and sharper mindset to what might be missing.
For everyone, it is much easier to walk down an established path. That’s why it is to our advantage to have someone carve the path and build the bridges we need and are about to set out across.
One of those trailblazers is Dame Ellen MacArthur of The Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
The Ellen McArthur Foundation has become a global frontrunner and ambassador for Circular Economy. This has not been an easy journey by any means but a spectacular feat of perseverance, something Dame Ellen MacArthur has proven to the world time and again.
After speedily circumnavigating the world alone, she set out on yet another journey around the world — this time collecting knowledge and experience from the world economies and leaders. Having a kaizen approach, always evolving, learning, improving, networking and reaching out to teach others as well has found her to be an outstanding pioneer in the field.
Her foundation, as well as herself, continue working to bridge the gaps between industry, politics, education and the general public. They are working on all fronts and from all angles simultaneously.
Subscription over purchasing is it greenwashing capitalism.
There is a growing trend in subscriptions of a lot of things we used to own — bikes, now even electric scooters, cars and clothes, to name a few.
This isn’t revolutionary, renting appliances has been around for decades. The model was originally created for profit. So what makes these new models any different?
Are consumers paying more for the same thing, or are they saving the environment by not owning? Does this actually reduce production? Even if production is reduced, consumer goods and products related to the subscription are still needed.
In the example of the car, for instance, the production of cars may be reduced, but petrol and tires are not, they are still needed and used at the same rate. Could they even be using it more since these cars are shared and used a lot more than they would had they been owned?
There is a need for transparency within the model to ease the sceptics that this isn’t just another ploy to get rich or take advantage of people.
Furthermore, does one of our most significant consumer goods areas, electronics, even fit the model of subscription. A lot of our most used electronics such as computers and mobile phones are not only by design (built-in obsolescence) but just by the speed of innovation outdated within two or three years.
Would this work with electronics? If we make them last longer and they are outdated then what do we do with them. Food for thought, there is a lot of space for improvement, collaboration and innovation within this area alone.
Mind the gap! Or gaps, in this case, be aware and heed them. For it is those that we are trying to bridge, by any means possible; links of information, branches of collaboration, stepping stones of innovation or something new no one has thought of yet. Knowing now that something is missing and what that is, makes it easier to achieve solutions.
Maybe we should take a look at our Nordic history for inspiration, as many Nordic companies have done before us. Harald Bluetooth unified many with a greater understanding of communication and collaboration. It is in our heritage to achieve this, so what is stopping us?
There are also claims that he built the oldest bridge in southern Scandinavia (Ravning Bridge)
Further reading:
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation has been a global accelerator in the field of Circular Economy for more than ten years. Their blog posts on How history had forged the path to a circular economy, and Recovery requires a resilient circular economy brings some good insight on the matter.
This article; Moving towards a Circular Economy, explores the possibilities of going circular in Norway.
As this is a global movement; The Social Innovator Creating the Future through Plastic Waste takes on the situation in Ghana.
If you would like to watch a movie on the matter, the full documentary; Closing the Loop is free to watch on youtube.
