Here’s a piece by a well-known analyst from Europe on Managed Print Services. MPS faces many similar issues no matter where you are.
By Louella Fernandes …The circular economy is fast gaining ground as the latest buzzword in sustainability, bringing together emerging practices such as collaborative consumption and traditional concepts such as recycling and remanufacturing. The circular economy aims to eradicate waste, departing from the linear “take, make and dispose” model and its reliance on infinite natural resources and energy. According to McKinsey, each year around 80% of the $3.2 trillion worth of materials used in consumer goods are not recovered 1.
Through a more effective use of materials, the circular economy envisions a smarter approach to the creation, use and disposal/recycling of products. As well as the obvious environmental benefits, the transition to a circular economy will be driven by the promise of over $1tn in business opportunities, as estimated by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation 2. This includes material savings, increased productivity and new jobs, and new product and business categories.
International momentum
Some countries are already starting to introduce legislative drivers such as waste prevention targets and incentives around eco-design to promote products that are easier to reuse, remanufacture and disassemble.
China has set up CACE, a government-backed association to encourage circular growth, while Scotland has issued its own circular economy blueprint. In a significant move, the European Commission’s circular economy framework, to be released in late 2015, is expected to introduce higher recycling targets and a landfill ban on recyclable materials across all 28 EU member states.
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