The burden shouldn’t be on the individual, we need to redesign the system
Our take, make, waste linear economylinear economyAn economy in which finite resources are extracted to make products that are used - generally not to their full potential - and then thrown away ('take-make-waste'). cannot work in the long term. In order to reduce emissions, we need to transform the way we make and use things.
Opening a panel discussion — Draw a Circle: Removing Waste From Our Economy — held at the New York Times Climate Hub, alongside COP26, Dame Ellen MacArthur explained that we need to redesign our economy based on circular economycircular economyA systems solution framework that tackles global challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution. It is based on three principles, driven by design: eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials (at their highest value), and regenerate nature. principles — eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials, and regenerate nature.
Her introduction was followed by a discussion moderated by author and journalist Thomas Friedman, featuring the Foundation’s Finance Lead, Michiel De Smet, Nike Vice President, Innovation, Seana Hannah, and PepsiCo CSO, Jim Andrew.
Michiel De Smet explained that the Foundation worked with companies in order to challenge and inspire them to redesign the entire system, rather than make small changes within it. He said:
“If you are trying to squeeze that take, make, waste system, you will always be running behind.”
He said it was brands that needed to redesign the system, not consumers, and the burden of transitioning to a circular economy should not fall on the individual.
Seana Hannah spoke about the need to design out waste and said Nike was extending the life of its products, making them from recycled and renewable materialsrenewable materialsMaterials that are continually replenished at a rate equal to or greater than the rate of depletion. which could then be recovered, refurbished, and resold. Jim Andrew spoke about regenerative farming, in order to sequester carbon and improve soil health.
