Carmen Ene is the CEO of BNP Paribas 3 Step IT, one of Europe’s leading circular technology management providers. getty The world is drowning in waste. In the U.S., food waste is estimated at up to 40% of the supply. The EU generates 12.6 million tons of textile waste per year, and international e-waste is expected to reach 74 million tonnes by 2030—equivalent to around 200 Empire State Buildings—with dire consequences for the planet and all living beings. However, waste is far from being just an environmental emergency. It’s a socioeconomic one, too. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently stated that between 2.9 and 12.9 million women who work in the informal waste sector are potentially exposing themselves and their unborn children to toxic residue. And, if we look at e-waste, only less than 20% of it is collected and recycled, with a loss of up to $57 billion worth of raw materials. It’s therefore not surprising that the circular economy—a system designed to minimize waste by keeping existing materials in circulation—is emerging as a tantalizing opportunity to tackle multiple socioeconomic and environmental issues simultaneously. However, the greater question is whether a global system built for centuries on the principles of “take, make and waste” can truly transform into a circular, resource-efficient one. Spotlight On Europe Over the last decade, the EU has been a leading force in advancing the circular economy worldwide, and its focus on circularity is driven by the synergy of benefits it can offer. Yet, with… Click below to read the full story from Forbes
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