Since Wednesday, the Basque Country has been hosting the Basque Circular Summit, the conference on the circular economy that brings together 600 professionals and experts. We summarize the keys to this model, essential to curb climate change.
The Ficoba fairgrounds in Irun (Gipuzkoa) are hosting these days the Basque Circular Summit, a conference on the circular economy that aims to show the importance and commitment of the Basque Country to this model. We explain to you, visually and with practical examples, what the circular economy consists of.
The concept of circular economy it is inspired by the natural environment: in nature there is no waste because what is waste for one organism is a resource for another; that is, nothing is left over, everything is transformed.
This circularity is contrasts with the linear model of the prevailing economy. In it, the finite natural resources of the Earth are used to manufacture the products to be consumed, which once used become waste. The problem is that between 80 and 90% of what is extracted from nature that is not renewable never becomes a product, and of the part that does become a product, between 60 and 80% becomes in residue after a single use and only after six weeks.
Chart: EITB Average
Against this, the circular economy proposes a paradigm shift and advocates providing circularity to the entire process (design, manufacturing, consumption…). It is about redesigning, rethinking, reducing, reusing, repairing, renewing and recycling —the so-called 7 R’s— existing materials and products as many times as possible to create added value. In this way, the life cycle of the products is extended.
Graph prepared by EITB Media.
This new model is easier to apply on a day-to-day basis than we think. Here are 10 practical examples to be more circular.
In addition, not only citizens can bet on this model. Proof of this are the 175 Basque products on display until Sunday, November 27, at Ficoba in the “Zirkularrak” exhibition, also on the occasion of the aforementioned Basque Circular Summit. Ander Elgorriaga, responsible for eco-innovation at Ihobe, has told us what five of them are like:
Source: Eitb
I’m Tifany Hawkins, a professional journalist with years of experience in news reporting. I currently work for a prominent news website and write articles for 24NewsReporters as an author. My primary focus is on economy-related stories, though I am also experienced in several other areas of journalism.