An economy that preserves its ecosystems is an imperative, not only for meeting sustainability targets, but also because our economic activities crucially depend on natural resources and ecosystem services. Therefore, we recognise the necessity to reform our production patterns towards a more sustainable model. For this objective, a circular economy, particularly circular product design, can become an effective means to reduce our dependence on virgin natural resources and eliminate waste and pollution. In turn, it can help build a regenerative economy, bringing about multiple layers of benefits including carbon sequestration, biodiversity enhancement, healthy soil, and reduction of air and water pollution. This transition to a regenerative economy supported by circular product design can also accelerate a just transition, as it can materialise broader societal benefits such as circular job creation, more equal access to resources, and lesser cost and pollution arising from waste management.

In today's context, circular economy strategies predominantly focus on industrial practices. However, there is immense potential rooted in applying circular design principles to biological and renewable inputs, such as food waste, which are significant carbon emitters as a direct consequence of food product design decisions. Therefore, in this session, we will discuss the economic, societal and environmental rationale for transitioning to a circular economy. Specifically, it will explore how circular product designs can help build an economy that regenerates land and ecosystem services, using the examples of biological and renewable inputs and offsets.

To foster practical actions for this circular economy transition, the session will explore solutions grounded in “knowledge”, which can accelerate closer coordination and collaboration among the circular economy practitioners, whether that would be policymakers, businesses and SMEs, sectoral experts, or financiers. Within the framework of a regenerative economy that Ellen MacArthur Foundation proposes, the Green Growth Knowledge Partnership (GGKP) together with the SWITCH-Asia Programme applies its knowledge-based solutions, including the AI-supported knowledge synthesis, automated knowledge-sharing through a digital knowledge-sharing network and a harmonised knowledge taxonomy, and peer-to-peer experience sharing through the Circular Economy Leaders’ Community.  Finally, case studies illustrating successful circular and regenerative food systems will be showcased, demonstrating their viability and economic benefits. Overall, participants will gain insights into how embracing circular economy principles can drive regeneration, improve social equity, and enhance environmental quality.

Room 2.2, Museu de Arte do Rio, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil  

Join the live session stream online, and watch the youtube upload after the event