Education and innovation are key to building a sustainable future
Over the past decade, we have seen the emergence of the idea of a circular economy to address global environmental issues and promote sustainable development.
Unlike the traditional linear economy, which follows a "take-make-dispose" model, a circular system uses resources as much as possible and generates as little waste as possible by “closing the loop” of products’ life cycles. This new way of thinking is changing how consumers use products so that they last longer and how businesses and policymakers design products to reduce their environmental impact, create economic opportunities and extend materials’ usability.
The European Union has been leading the way with its Circular Economy Action Plan, launched in 2015 and updated in 2020. The scheme sets ambitious targets for the bloc, including banning single-use plastics and enhancing resource efficiency.
In Asia, Japan established a robust policy framework for creating a Sound Material-Cycle Society back in 2000. This includes the 3R Initiative (to reduce, reuse and recycle), a law to promote green purchases by public entities and the development of eco-towns. In 2009, Japan also established the Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in Asia and the Pacific, which serves as a platform for countries in the region to work together in this arena.
For example, the Kitakyushu Eco-Town Project combines education with the circular economy by providing practical learning experiences and fostering innovation to establish a sustainable model that benefits the environment and society and can serve as a valuable example for other regions. Fostering cooperation between business, government and academia, the eco-town includes a research facility at the Kyushu Institute of Technology that is investigating the production of biomass-based plastic from food waste.
Further afield, the African Circular Economy Alliance promotes policies and practices that support the circular economy across Africa, with a focus on community-based solutions and integrating the informal sector into such a model. During the sixth United Nations Environment Assembly held earlier this year in Nairobi, African countries in particular urged the swift adoption of circular economy practices and enhancing resource efficiency.
For example, Kenya has implemented a comprehensive Sustainable Waste Management Act, revised in 2022, that emphasizes waste reduction, recycling and reusing materials. This policy encourages local communities to participate in waste sorting and recycling initiatives. In Nigeria, a 2020 waste management policy focuses on reducing plastic pollution through community-based recycling programs. Residents are trained to collect, sort and recycle plastic waste, therefore creating job opportunities while reducing environmental impact.
Key to the process of change is education, which helps people understand circular economy principles, including the relative merits of different approaches and strategies, as well as providing the essential skills and knowledge that can drive the transition to this new model. Educational programs, community projects and emerging technologies can all contribute to fostering circularity.
In Asia, the Regional Center of Expertise (RCE) Greater Gombak hosted by the International Islamic University Malaysia has developed the flagship “communiversity” program that allows students to connect directly with local communities. For example, a sustainable farming program in southern Vietnam connects students with local farmers to promote sustainable agricultural practices.
In addition, innovation allows for developing the necessary technological solutions for achieving circularity — and integrating artificial intelligence into this framework can further accelerate progress. For example, AI can improve data analysis and resource use, leading to new insights and efficiencies. AI-powered systems can anticipate when maintenance is needed, improve how long products last and help sort and recycle materials more accurately — all essential steps to a circular economy.
Over the past decade, the United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS), based in Tokyo, has been instrumental in promoting sustainable practices and supporting the global transition to a circular economy.
Its research, policy development and capacity-building initiatives include a global network of 190 RCEs focused on education for sustainable development. A recent publication by the institute also highlights case studies that drive sustainable consumption and production at the local level, leading to a circular economy.
Among these, China's Suzhou Industrial Park exemplifies industrial symbiosis, with companies collaborating to use each other’s by-products and waste materials as resources: Turning waste from one factory into raw materials for another to promote sustainable consumption and production. As a result, the park has successfully reduced waste and emissions while improving resource efficiency.
Over the past decade, we have learned a lot about what can be done to transition to a circular economy. By educating people and investing in new technologies, we can establish a foundation for sustainable practices and scale solutions up. However, the journey continues and it will require lifelong learning, adaptation, collaboration and a focus on education, innovation and regional strategies.
There are only six years left until the deadline of the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals — addressing the global challenges the goals seek to tackle requires building new synergies. This means combining efforts across multiple targets to have a more significant impact.
By implementing circular economy principles, we can make better progress on responsible consumption and production, climate action and economic growth. Let us embrace this opportunity to build a more sustainable future for ourselves and the next generations — while protecting the planet.
JT