This webinar presents the SCALER methodology and demonstrates how it is used to evaluate the potential for industrial symbiosis across Europe.
Concept and Systemic Transformation
The webinar introduces the concept of the circular economy as a transformative model that challenges the traditional linear system of “take, make, dispose.” It highlights the need to redesign production and consumption systems in order to keep products, materials, and resources in use for as long as possible, minimising waste and environmental impacts.
The circular economy is presented as a systemic shift that integrates sustainability into economic activities, promoting resource efficiency, waste reduction, and the regeneration of natural systems. It is framed as a response to global challenges such as resource depletion, environmental degradation, and climate change, while also offering opportunities for innovation, competitiveness, and long-term resilience.
Key Principles and Implementation Pathways
The video outlines core principles of the circular economy, including designing out waste and pollution, extending product lifecycles through reuse and repair, and recycling materials to create closed-loop systems. It emphasises the importance of product design, business model innovation, and consumer behaviour in enabling this transition.
Implementation requires coordinated action across stakeholders, including businesses, policymakers, and consumers. The video highlights enabling factors such as supportive regulation, technological innovation, and new economic models (e.g. sharing economy, product-as-a-service). Real-world examples demonstrate how circular practices can generate both environmental and economic benefits, contributing to more sustainable and resilient systems.
Overall, the circular economy is presented as a comprehensive framework for rethinking how value is created and maintained, supporting the transition towards a more sustainable and regenerative economy.