Article 13 Circular Economy and the redefinition of mode of production

October 7, 2021

Crucial pillar for the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the European Commission's Sustainable Development Integration Action Plan

By Nicole K. Phinopoulou, Lawyer/Legal Counsel, Alumni of the Institute for Sustainability Leadership, University of Cambridge

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It is now generally accepted that 2021 has officially signalized a new era for humanity and business. An era dedicated to Sustainability and Sustainable Development whereas compliance with the United Nations Agenda 2030 and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is sought.

At European Union level, Phase A Regulations that will lead to Sustainable Development, targeting to a more sustainable development model, have either already been implemented or will be fully implemented within 2022. This is a long-term and multi-level project in efforts achieving sustainability is now starting to be noticed. Within the project, specialized emphasis is given to Sustainable Finance, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and the implementation of ESG criteria and factors measurement mechanisms (Environmental, Social, Governance). So, this is a complex and hard to resolve but, at the same time, necessary challenging puzzle. A puzzle that might not have been so difficult and could require much less effort, if political and business leaders few decades ago had realized and culturally embraced the importance of Sustainable Development and hadn't let things get to the point of no return. At the end of the day, the success of this project is not based only on the existence of the required regulations but mainly on all of us, our goodwill, culture and change of mentality. Τhe leaders of each sector involved should lead by example and each and every one of us can and should be supportive for the benefit of the whole.

Considering real facts, Circular Economy, within the Sustainable Development project, is something that quickly becomes part of our lives since Climate Change and the need to protect the Environment, don’t allow complacency. Despite the global mobilization regarding Circular Economy, it should always be remembered that there is no universally agreed definition for its parameters, only for its concept. The United Nations Environment Assembly, the most important event in the field of Sustainability, described Circular Economy as a model in which products and materials are "designed in such a way that they can be reused, remanufactured, recycled or recovered and thus maintained in the economy for as long as possible "(June 13, 2021). Therefore, we must understand that it is not just about recycling processes. If we really want to achieve the implementation of the Circular Economy, the existing dominant linear economic model of "planned obsolescence", i.e., the model that provide for products to have a specific lifespan, should come to an end. Both businesses and consumers need to learn to value and protect raw materials and natural resources. As Ellen MacArthur Foundation rightly addressed it, “Circular Economy focuses on improvements that will positively affect the Environment and not the whole spectrum of the term Sustainability. Circular Economy provides the tools to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss in parallel addressing important social needs". In other words, it is another powerful tool for implementing the SDGs goals, leading from theory to practice. Circular Economy specifically can have a particular impact on implementing many of the SDGs, including SDG 6 on energy, SDG 8 on economic growth, SDG 11 on sustainable cities, SDG 12 on sustainable consumption and production, SDG 13 on climate change, SDG 14 on oceans, SDG 15 on life on land.

Even though the results are well known and will be particularly beneficial, the transition from a linear to a circular economy model and practices requires the joint effort of all those involved in various sectors and specialties (freelancers, employees, managers, governments).

The 76th Annual United Nations General Assembly is scheduled to take place between 14-30 of September. In addition to the developments in Afghanistan, and for us here in Cyprus whether there will be mobility on the Cyprus issue, the agenda includes a dedicated session overviewing the level of the UN SDGs implementation across the globe. How far SDGs implementation has gone will show what important steps the planet has taken to fight poverty and hunger, tackle climate change, achieve gender equality and much more.

The next decade is crucial for the future of humanity. Especially in a time of uncertainty like the one we are experiencing now, the SDGs Goals, including Circular Economy, show the way towards a strong and sustainable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and a better future for all on a safer and healthier planet.