Abstract
Our current economy is predicated on a linear model. Taking resources from the ground, making them into products and disposing of them. In a world with a predicted 3 billion more middle class consumers by 2030, a population set to hit 10 billion by 2050 and by the end of the century and global waste forecasted to triple from 3.5 million tonnes/day to 10 million tonnes/day by the end of the century - this just isn’t sustainable. As such raw material prices will continue to grow and we will continue to damage the environment unless we rethink the way we approach things.
The circular economy model decouples growth from resource availability, through building in the ability to remanufacture or reuse products from the outset and designing the associated business models to do so. This is estimated by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation to be worth $1 trillion to the world economy by 2025. It is thus no wonder that household names such as Phillips and Renault are taking this seriously. Given this context the Circular Economy looks set to be a big part of our future.
If this is the case, and engineers and technologists are the designers and makers of the future, then what do we need to understand to embrace and drive this transition? As these factors are wide ranging we have brought together a world class panel of experts who can provide this broad perspective. Our panellists are drawn from a range of sectors including finance, business design and innovation. There will also be an opportunity to talk to the speakers after the event in a drinks reception sponsored by PA Consulting Group.
A recording of this event will be shown at the Disruptive Innovation Festival (DIF): an online, open access festival which explores this central question: the economy is changing, what do I need to know, experience and do? The DIF is run by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation at www.thinkdif.co, and will run from 2nd - 20th November. Register to attend to view over 200 sessions exploring themes as diverse as biomimicry, product and system design, the collaborative economy, the digitisation of finance and more.
