Potocnik: Unique opportunity to implement circular economy at scale
13/01/2021
Janez Potocnik said now is a unique time to progress the idea through the European Green Deal, with Europe having “double the normal budget for the next few years” due to the pandemic.
Mr Potocnik is co-chair of the International Resource Panel (IRP) and was speaking as part of an Ellen MacArthur Foundation webinar. The foundation describes the Circular Economy as a new way to design, make and use things within planetary boundaries.
Mr Potocnik said: “With the European Green Deal, leadership is important, and for the first time it has been clearly stated in political documents that future economic development isn’t in contradiction with using natural resources wisely. This is dependent on how we solve the critical issues that are linked with responsible use.”
He suggested it might be useful to introduce a global convention on sustainable resource management, to create a level playing field and this would “teach everyone what we mean when we talk about circular economy”.
He added that some big companies think more strategically than governments. “We are coming to the end of the road when it comes to resources, and if companies don’t address that they will have problems in the future. They need to stay competitive and profitable, answering to shareholders, and that’s the problem. They need public and government to help.”
Companies need to work with policymakers, and understand that “policies are there to help them, in the long run”, he stressed.
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