RENEWABLE MATTER INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE ON THE BIOECONOMY AND THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY 22 | July-August 2018 Bimonthly Publication Edizioni Ambiente
Carlo Petrini: Food a Basic Unit of Connection
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•• 3D Intelligence. An Interview with Gunter Pauli
Focus Circular Food •• Back to the Future to Win the Global Food Challenge •• Interview With Jacqueline Alder, FAO: A Sea of Opportunities •• The Food System in the Circular Economy
Bioeconomy/Dossier Ireland •• Ecodesign for Aluminium •• All the Secrets of Cork •• Recycling Paper: An Almost Perfect Circle
Focus Future-Proof Cities •• Interview with Pietro Pelizzaro: We Are Resilience •• Cities as Catalysts for the Circular Economy •• 100 Resilient Cities •• The Blue Revolution Playground
COLLECTING WASTE OIL TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT
Combustion engines and industrial plants run with oil.
By regenerating
100kg
Waste oils have to be replaced and disposed properly.
of waste oils it is possible to obtain 65kg new base oil
12kg bitumen 8kg diesel oil
CONOU's supply chain accounts for 74 collection companies located throughout the country and 4 regeneration plants.
ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT OF WASTE OILS MANAGED IN 2016
CARBON FOOTPRINT
LAND FOOTPRINT
WATER FOOTPRINT
MATERIAL FOOTPRINT
40 thousand tonnes of CO2eq avoided
717 hectares of land spared
473 thousand cubic meters of water saved
240 thousand tonnes of mineral and fossil resources spared
equal to the emissions of 24 thousand vehicles
if cultivated, these could produce 2,500 tonnes of grain per year
equal to 190 Olympic-size swimming pools
In order to move this amount 10 thousand ATB would be needed
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Coke plant, Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler’s Medizinal-Pflanzen, 1897. Wikimedia Commons CC0
Editorial
A Global Affair by Emanuele Bompan
Coca production, in the Putumayo department of Colombia, is currently at some of the highest levels seen in recent history. The process of illegal crop substitution with cash crops like cocoa and prised chillies is struggling to gain traction: coca is sold at a much higher price. “Without a true valorisation of agricultural production coca cannot be stopped,” explains a local small-scale farmer called Nico, when interviewed. Even if this is an extreme example, the topic of how to extract increased value (not only in economic terms) from agricultural producers is of key importance in both developing and industrialised countries. With very few exceptions – such as the wine sector – the agricultural sector is in the midst of an endless struggle, constantly searching for subsidies. However, it is a sector that has the potential to find new sources of revenue and that should become a protagonist in the fight against climate change and improving soil productivity, thus making up for the damage caused by a technological and hyper-specialised approach to agriculture. With another fundamental objective: guaranteeing dignified and adequately remunerated employment, in stark contrast to the recent narrative. Some have defined the food industry as “the largest industry in the world,” employing over one billion people everyday to grow, process, transport, market, cook, package, sell or deliver food. The resources needed to sustain this sector are huge: 50% of the planet’s inhabited land and 70% of the demand for water is absorbed by agriculture. The environmental impacts of agriculture and livestock, cornerstones of our very existence, are huge. From carbon emissions connected with deforestation to the environmental footprint of intensive farming. At the same time direct producers (not the large brands) are unable to benefit substantially, especially in less industrialised countries. Is the circular economy a potential solution to these problems? This is the question that we put forth in the latest issue of Renewable Matter. How can we establish practices in farming and industrial processes that optimise the use of resources whilst generating profits at every stage, limit environmental impacts, and even operate so as to regenerate the environment?
Innovation in the chemical makeup of materials and the rediscovery of traditional knowledge, could be the key to unlocking the circular economy of food. Today we are able to generate a wide variety of products from a vineyard: wine, distillates, polyphenols, textiles and even fibres from the leaves. This is just one example from the many that are already in practice. At the same time, the rediscovery of agro-ecology and resilient plant species can protect crops and livestock from environmental and climatic shocks. It is a world that is open to discovery and involves an understanding of processes of scale (How many sub products are there? Will we have sufficient materials for a supply chain? What are the correct econometrics?); seeking more efficient models and more sustainable processes for a more resilient agriculture and food industry (like Gunter Pauli’s 3D Farming, outlined in the interview contained within these pages); studying examples of best practice; and feeding a political debate where this topic is still bubbling below the surface. With two pillars. Firstly, avoid using resources in the production of energy if they can be employed as food stuff. This will prevent disasters such as those caused by the boom in first generation bio-fuels, that distorted the market of staples such as corn and sugar cane, and created genuine food crises. Secondly, the issue of price: food has to free itself from the grip of speculation. By entering financial commodities markets (such as the Chicago Mercantile Exchange), not only as food produce but also as bio-matter, there is a high risk of strong price distortions and speculation tied to derived products. Once the right guiding principles are outlined it is down to independent research to concentrate on the quantitative and qualitative analysis of these processes, whereas for industry and agriculture the task is to innovate processes and study new solutions. Finally, designers have a responsibility to rethink and re-propose both the way in which we consume food, as well as the uses of new bio materials that will arise out of agriculture, production and food waste. It will be down to those that like us take care of communication to reveal all this, connecting the dots and attempting to promote new ideas and even stimulating a proactive political process.
The Circular Rush by Sirpa Pietikäinen
Sirpa Pietikäinen is a Finish politician and member of the National Coalition Party. From 2008 a member of the European Parliament and an alternate member of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, where she authored a report on organic farming in 2005 and served as rapporteur on the circular economy.
We are already consuming about 1.5 times the amount of natural resources that our planet can renew annually. If we continue at the current rate, by 2050 we will require four Earth’s worth of resources annually. The problem is, we only have one Earth. Sustainability requires a radical change in how we use resources. We need to reach the same level of production and wellbeing with one tenth of the resources and one tenth of the emissions. Europe is extremely dependent on imported raw materials and energy. In fact, since 2005 the EU has had a trade deficit in raw materials. Material costs often represent around 50% of a company’s total operating costs. Both raw materials and energy have continued to see a rise in prices. Resource scarcity brings an increase in prices – simple economics. European economies cannot survive – let alone grow and prosper – unless we take some radical steps towards increasing our resource efficiency and moving towards a truly circular economy. What we need is a true paradigm shift, one that will benefit both our economy as well as our environment. We have to stop wasting precious resources and start using them more efficiently. In this challenge, there also lies a huge opportunity. Those that can deliver solutions for the resource efficiency dilemma will be the winners of the new economic race: this means solving the problem of doing more with less and creating increased added-value with less resources. Many businesses have already recognised these facts and started to act accordingly. They have taken a leap towards a different mind-set, one where the whole logic of successful business is turned upside-down. These firms have created new business models so as to deliver greater resource efficiency and circular models, including increased renting, sharing, leasing, bio-innovations, remanufacturing... Business-driven studies reveal important material cost-saving opportunities for EU industry and a significant potential to boost the EU’s GDP. For example, the EU Commission has calculated that increasing resource productivity by 30% by 2030 would create 2 million new jobs and boost GDP by 1%.
In order to support this shift we also need to change the rules of the game. Regulation is never neutral. Legislation is one of the essential drivers of the business revolution. A lot of our thinking and also a big part of the current legislation is created for the needs of a consume-dispose society, and therefore must change to fit the new world order. In the circular economy there is no waste, products are designed to be durable, repairable, reusable and recyclable, and when they come to the end of their lifecycle the resources contained in these products are once again channelled back into productive uses. Wherever it is possible, we should move from non-renewables to renewables and hence make it easier to calculate what economic activity resides within the framework of sustainability. The bioeconomy has a major role to play in this shift. However, not all bioeconomy is sustainable. An example is the surge in use of palm oil and how this demonstrated the potential unsustainability of bioenergy when it uses products that have other more efficient applications. To fully comprehend how the bioeconomy functions within frameworks of sustainable ecosystems, biodiversity and renewability limits, we need appropriate, harmonised and compulsory indicators with full life-cycle analyses. While we are witnessing the increased need for bio-based materials in packaging, chemistry, clothing, buildings and other uses, we are also faced with the limits of renewability and sustainability. This is why we need to apply the principle of ten-fold uses in feedback cycles. Circularity must also be applied to biomaterials, and biomaterials that are becoming scarcer must be employed applying the principle of cascading use.
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22|July-August 2018 Contents
RENEWABLE MATTER INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE ON THE BIOECONOMY AND THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY www.renewablematter.eu/en ISSN 2385-2240 Reg. Tribunale di Milano n. 351 del 31/10/2014 Editor-in-chief Emanuele Bompan Editorial Director Marco Moro Contributors Irene Baños Ruiz, Mario Bonaccorso, Rudi Bressa, Elena Comelli, Joke Dufourmont, Franco Fassio, Sergio Ferraris, Michele F. Fontefrancesco, Roberto Giovannini, Igor Kos, Daniel Lerch, Nate Maynard, Giorgia Marino, Carlo Petrini, Francesco Petrucci, Andrea Pieroni, Sirpa Pietikäinen, Rebecca Ricketts, Nadia Tecco, Luisa Torri, Antonella Ilaria Totaro
Emanuele Bompan
5
A Global Affair
Sirpa Pietikäinen
7
The Circular Rush
10
NEWS
Carlo Petrini
13
Focus circular food Food, a Basic Unit of Connection
Marco Moro
14
by the editorial staff
Think Thank
Policy
Managing Editor Maria Pia Terrosi Editorial Coordinator Paola Cristina Fraschini Editing Francesco Bassetti Paola Cristina Fraschini
Focus circular food The Food System in the Circular Economy
Franco Fassio, Nadia Tecco
17
Emanuele Bompan
24
Emanuele Bompan
28
Joke Dufourmont
32
Focus future-proof cities Cities as Catalysts for the Circular Economy
Rebecca Ricketts
35
Focus future-proof cities Circular Glasgow
Igor Kos
36
Focus future-proof cities Maribor, a Circular City
Daniel Lerch
37
Focus future-proof cities Why is Portland a Resilient City?
Nate Maynard
38
Focus future-proof cities Tai-Pay-As-You-Throw to Lower Waste Production
Emanuele Bompan
40
Design & Art Direction Mauro Panzeri Layout & Infographics Michela Lazzaroni
Focus circular food 3D Intelligence Interview with Gunter Pauli
Community manager Antonella Ilaria Totaro Translations Francesco Bassetti, Erminio Cella, Franco Lombini, Mario Tadiello
Focus circular food A Sea of Opportunities Interview with Jacqueline Alder Focus circular food Back to the Future, Rediscovering Traditional Knowledge to Win the Food Challenge Interview with Danielle Nierenberg
Focus future-proof cities 100 Resilient Cities Interview with Lina Liakou
9
Executive Coordinator Anna Re
Sergio Ferraris
Antonella Ilaria Totaro
43
45
Focus future-proof cities We Are Resilience Interview with Piero Pelizzaro
Press and Media Relations press@renewablematter.eu Contact info@renewablematter.eu Edizioni Ambiente Via Natale Battaglia 10 20127 Milano, Italia t. +39 02 45487277 f. +39 02 45487333
Michela Lazzaroni, Antonella Ilaria Totaro
50
Mario Bonaccorso
52
Dossier Ireland Ireland is Ever Greener Thanks to the Bioeconomy
World 58
Slovenia Aims to Become a Circular Hub for Europe
Irene BaĂąos Ruiz
60
Development Agencies in the Circular Economy
Rudi Bressa
64
All the Secrets of Cork, Circular by Nature
Rudi Bressa
68
A Heritage Worth Preserving
Giorgia Marino
70
An (Almost) Perfect Circle: Paper Recycling in Italy
Sergio Ferraris
72
Ecodesign for Aluminium
74 75 76 77
CupClub, the Startup Providing Cups as a Service ecoBirdy: New Toys from Recycled Plastic InStock Recovers 500 Tonnes of Food Evoware, the Algae Based Packaging that Disappears
Francesco Petrucci
78
Circular by Law The EU Wants to Seal the Deal on Plastic
Roberto Giovannini
79
The Media Circle Sometimes We Are the Villains
Startup Antonella Ilaria Totaro
External Relations Manager (Italy) Anna Re
Focus future-proof cities The Blue Revolution Playground In Depth Why Cities Need to Become Circular
Rudi Bressa
External Relations Manager (International) Federico Manca
Columns
Advertising marketing@materiarinnovabile.it Annual subscription, 6 paper issues Subscribe on-line at www.renewablematter.eu/en/ subscription This magazine is made in Dejavu Pro by Ko Sliggers Published and printed in Italy at GECA S.r.l., San Giuliano Milanese (Mi) Copyright ŠEdizioni Ambiente 2018 All rights reserved
renewablematter 22. 2018
NEWS
Wang Hui: Peach Blossom, Fishing Boat, National Palace Museum, Taipei/wikimedia.commons
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by the editorial staff
New Vague As of the next academic year, London College of Fashion’s Centre for Sustainable Fashion (Csf) will offer courses on circular economy integrated production techniques. Asos Group’s designers will be amongst the first to attend these courses; the group will enrol the majority of its creative department. “We want our designers to acquire the necessary knowledge and expertise to apply sustainability and circularity,” said Vanessa Spence, Asos Designer Director. “It is crucial to design our products in a circular and responsible way from the very beginning.”
UE + China = Circular China and the EU signed a memorandum of understanding on the circular economy during the 20th EU-China Summit (16-17 July 2018). The agreement, signed by EU vice-president Jyrki Katainen and He Lifeng, President of China’s National Development and Reform Commission, will see the two biggest global economies defining mechanisms and regulations for a global circular economy, opening
Jump off, Plastic
AB InBev
Australia has joined the extensive list of countries that have banned disposable plastic bags in large retail organisations, charging for reusable ones and encouraging customers to use their own. Even though some chains have delayed the ban so as to facilitate the transition, before the end of the summer all stores will have achieved the zero bag goal. Dozens of countries have already banned or taxed disposable plastic bags, including Great Britain, France, China and the Netherlands. Kenya is probably the country with the toughest law: those violating the ban are subject to a 4-year incarceration or a fine of up to $39,000.
Beer colossus AB InBev found a new life for used grains, making beer by-products suitable for consumption. This sustainable technology was developed by AB InBev’s Global Innovation and Technology Center (GITeC) in Leuven, Belgium. They developed
the way for new products, standards and policies that could create the environment for a “system change” on a global scale towards a low-carbon- emission and regenerative economic model. The textile, packaging, electronic and chemical sectors are some of the most affected by the agreement. The cooperation between the two economic super powers in this field will include exchange of know-how, strategies, legislation, policies
and research in areas of mutual interest. It will involve managing systems and political tools such as ecological planning, ecological labelling, manufacturer’s extended responsibility and green supply chains, as well as funding to the circular economy. Both parties will share their best practices in key sectors such as industrial parks, chemicals, plastic materials and waste.
a single fermentation process to convert used grains into stable food ingredients with a specific technology able to preserve the nutritional value of plant-based ingredients. The first product made is Canvas, a circular, plantbased barley drink available in five flavours: Original, Cocoa, Latte, Matcha and Turmeric Chai.
A Fund for the Circular Economy Geneva-based management company Decalia launched Decalia Circular Economy, the first share investment fund devoted to the circular economy. With an active share estimated at 93%, the fund will include 70 positions, 25 of which based on strong convictions. It will be aimed mainly at lesser capitalisations and managed by Clément Maclou, responsible for strategies centred on consumption trends. The fund, a sector of Sicav Ucits Luxembourgeois Decalia, is currently reserved for qualified investors, but soon it will be listed in Switzerland and many other European countries.
News
Fairphone-as-a-service ©Fairphone
BioAfrica
Product-as-a-Service
per year. Taking into account existing engineering, R&D and production planning of legacy products, this jump to a completely new category of products is forcing manufacturers to reinvent themselves. 18% of manufacturers are considering abandoning products based on transfer of ownership and moving to an activity completely based on services. The majority (54%) is thinking about selling both, both legacy products and new smart products that will become their platforms for income from services.
By 2020, 47% of all manufactured products will be able to generate income as product-as-a-service. A Capgemini survey discovered that producers in this sector are reinventing the use of digital technologies to exploit new market opportunities. Manufacturers anticipate that smart products and associated items launched on the market, will jump from 35% in 2017 to 47% in 2020 (they were only 14% in 2014), with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.3%
The BIOAfrica Convention took place in South Africa between 27-29 August. The aim of this event is to support and strengthen the continent’s burgeoning bioeconomy. “The BIOAfrica Convention will create a favourable environment for businessto-business interaction while promoting partnerships between local companies and international investors as well as strategic cooperation with the sector’s actors all over the continent, to promote and develop Africa’s bioeconomy,” states Siyabulela Ntutela, CEO of AfricaBio. This summit, the first for the sector in Africa, promotes the development of cutting-edge technologies that will lead to the discovery of new industrial biomolecules.
Circular Finance ABN AMRO, ING and Rabobank joined up to publish the guidelines for those wishing to invest in the circular economy: they will be a useful tool to help financial services companies all over the world to transition towards the circular economy, increasing the capital devoted to projects with circular business models (CBMs). Such guidelines will help financial services companies establish whether initiatives are in line with CBMs, encouraging the finance sector to assess investment’s environmental consequences, in particular their ensuing environmental footprint due to material, energy and water usage.
Destroy Everything Burberry destroyed over £28 million worth of fashion and cosmetic products over the last year to protect itself from fakes and the distribution on the grey market of non-approved items. The company also declared its desire to reduce to a minimum the quantity of excess stock it produces and is exploring ways to
reduce and “upcycle” waste. To avoid criticism, the company admitted using expensive clothes to produce energy through incineration. Is someone behaving worse? Richemont reported the destruction of €421 million worth of watches, including brands such as Cartier and Jaeger-LeCoultre, in Europe and Asia.
ABN AMRO, Amsterdam/Mig de Jong
Circular Economy Network has organised the first award for circular economy start-ups for eco-design and industrial symbiosis using waste derived from other production processes, eco-innovation projects, and efficient use of materials. All of which whilst reducing the use of raw materials or producing secondary raw materials, and employing production technologies that use waste materials and recycled waste. The top three will be recognised and given the chance to join Circular Economy Network for free, whereas the winner will be incubated by the Manifattura Project, the international circular economy incubator.
press.burberry.com
Award-Winning CE Start-up
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Focus circular food
Think Tank
Food, a Basic Unit of Connection The linear economic model based on the concept of waste and disposal is particularly obvious in the food sector. This is why food and nutrition are an area of priority for experimenting new modes of production and consumption, new approaches to raw materials and waste, and new economic and social relations. by Carlo Petrini
gorartser_PixabayCC0
Slow Food, www.slowfood.com
Carlo Petrini: gastronomer, founder and President of the Slow Food Movement and the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo, European Ambassador for Sustainable Development Goals – Zero Hunger at the FAO, and the creator of the Terra Madre (Mother Earth) network. Columnist for La Repubblica, and publisher of “Terra Madre. Come non farci mangiare dal cibo” (Mother Nature. How not to be eaten by food) and “Buono, pulito e giusto” (Good, clean and just) (Slow Food Editore, 2009 and 2016).
Every living being is the result of relationships that are influenced by context and, in turn, capable of influencing the natural and social environment around them. We are open systems with circular dynamics in a terrestrial ecosystem with these very characteristics. As living beings, we are characterised by circularity. Therefore, when we interrupt this circularity we create problems at a system level. In this scenario, food offers a privileged perspective from which to discover the properties and potential of circular thinking. Food is the vital link in the circular process of metabolising matter in the human body and transforming it into energy. Information flows characterise circular feedback mechanisms, starting and driving the evolution of species. Food is the base connecting unit and is a field of priority for experimenting a new way of understanding the production and consumption of goods, a new approach to raw materials and waste, and a new paradigm with which to build integrated economic and social relations that are useful for all. Developing a new economic model that starts from food means refocussing on communities, on the quality of relations and the substance of behaviour. Food is a local structuring agent because it is still connected to actual needs. This does not imply dealing exclusively with what keeps us alive, on the contrary, it means exploring new complex territories pertaining to social relations, community, identity and the spirituality of each human being, everywhere and from all socio/cultural backgrounds. The extractive and linear economy, based on profit maximisation and relentless cost reduction, and hinged on the concept of waste and disposal, has slowly but inexorably colonised our imagination and way of thinking, increasingly homogenising our mental processes to those of production. This phenomenon is particularly evident in relation to food, where common practices involve production scenarios that keep exploiting people and raw materials,
where standardisation is the norm and based on the greedy rules of financial markets, generating negative impacts on our planet’s natural, social and cultural capital. We must emphasise that respecting the planet, first of all, means taking care of ourselves and giving future ecosystems the opportunity to benefit from what we feed back into them. We must limit our desire for daily gratifications, in order to respect the planetary and social boundaries of a system whose dynamic balance we must not upset. This is why it is necessary to develop new partnerships, to share values and goals, to curb the irrational use of resources, to try and mend the social fabric that must be both the starting point and driving force of the change we hope to see. People make the economy, and a model that depletes natural resources goes hand in hand with labour exploitation, income inequality and the marginalisation of community and social interests. In essence, the social and environmental crises we are witnessing cannot be separated. There is no duality whereby: on the one hand we have a planetary resource problem and on the other a crises of global social fairness. These two issues are intrinsically connected and integrated, and as such they must be tackled. There is no environmentalism without fighting poverty and there is no social advancement without ecology. We must develop this dialogue, rethinking and redesigning a regenerative and circular economy, and paying attention to the preservation of the extraordinary knowledge that the planetary library can offer us. Thinking at a system level is the necessary condition for understanding how different parts influence each other, how we can move from a model based around competition to one of collaboration amongst the players of the same system, and how the circular concept cannot be reduced to the simple definition of “waste economy.” Let’s not waste this golden opportunity for a shift in paradigm; we urgently and desperately need it.
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renewablematter 22. 2018
Focus circular food
3D Intelligence Interview with Gunter Pauli Natural systems work on three dimensions, whereas our agro-industrial sector is particularly interested in flat geometry. What is most important is how much space is available. What if we tried to use the intelligence of nature? by Marco Moro
Gunter Pauli, writer, professor, activist and entrepreneur. His latest book is The Intelligence of Nature, published by Edizioni Ambiente.
Non-conventional is the standard definition of Gunter Pauli’s ideas. The visionary entrepreneur from Antwerp has always tried to overthrow the rules of neoclassical economics, with an ability for considering the far-off future and recent history, infinite complexity, and always in search of new paradigms. In his latest work, The Intelligence of Nature, he delves deep into food production models. Renewable Matter took the time to sit down with him in a Milanese café for a long chat on the topic. In your latest book, where you retouch on Blue Economy principles, you mention that the current approach to food production is oversimplified and small minded. What are the main features of current “mainstream agriculture” that have pushed you towards the formulation of this opinion? “Nowadays everything is standardised. We treat the production of tomatoes as we would the production of cars. Cars are made of metal and they are machines. Tomatoes are life. Yet, a tomato that is completely devoid of its true taste is devoid of life, and I don’t think you would need to convince any inhabitant of the Mediterranean of this, where the forces of life have manifested themselves in an even more spectacular fashion than many other locations! To answer the demand for food in the global marketplace: industry, science and politics have
chosen the route of standardisation. This means that today, as consumers, we expect to find the same types of tomatoes all over the world, the same corn everywhere. We have denied biological and climatic diversity. In the face of increasing drought, we answer with genetic modifications rather than using plants that have adapted and are suited to dry conditions. Therefore, the model is standardisation and in particular standardisation guided by price. Today everything is directed by price, as this answers to the logic of conventional economics: if food is less expensive then it will be accessible to a greater amount of people. However, it is this very logic that has led to us treating soil as an extractable resource. We often denounce the negative effects of mining practices on the quality of our air, water and wellbeing. Yet, agriculture has become an activity of extraction of carbon from soil. Without the carbon found in soil there is no water retention and there will be a need for ever increasing quantities of water to guarantee soil fertility. We also know that currently 70% of global drinking water is used for irrigation, a trend that is in constant growth, because we have completely forgotten the role and importance of carbon in soil. The current agro-food system is on the brink of collapse. It is only kept together through the ever greater use of ever more powerful fertilisers. The answers we give for this crisis in soil quality
Think Tank
Keynote Speech: Prof. Johan Rockström & CEO Pavan Sukhdev, www.youtube.com/ watch?v=tah8QlhQLeQ
G. Pauli, The Intelligence of Nature, 2018 Edizioni Ambiente www.edizioniambiente. it/libri/1218/theintelligence-of-nature www.zeri.org www.TheBlueEconomy.org Twitter: @MyBlueEconomy @gunterpauli
are influenced by the desire to produce greater and greater quantities of the same thing. The answers are genetics and chemistry: pesticides, herbicides and fungicides are our answers. To this you have to add all the conservatives we use on fruit, because the use of chemistry doesn’t just stop in the field. Starting from the seed which is subject to chemical treatment, and finishing with the food which is also treated both directly and through its packaging. When we look at this chemical cocktail we have to be aware that it isn’t just our soil that we are depleting but food itself. We are changing the way in which we are used to thinking of food, defining it differently from the German word Lebensmittel whose etymology suggests food as a means and instrument for life. For food to continue to be a means for life then we have to guarantee its wellbeing, whereas what we are using now is chemistry; whose contributions may even be beneficial when taken singularly, but whose effects on our body, when taken as a chemical cocktail, remain untested. The fundamental contradictions of the current agro-food system are therefore the consumption of water and soil, the production of food at ever lower costs (and price), and an obsession with chemistry. When we look back on today’s practices in 50 years time, we will wonder how was it possible for there to be so much stupidity, how was it possible that we eliminated the orang-utans natural habitat just for some palm oil and the production of biscuits to be sent around the world wrapped in plastic. And in all this what I ask myself is: where is it that we are generating profit? Profit is generated in the transformation phase. We all know that it isn’t in farming that real money is made, too many farmers are suffering. The money lies with those that create the final product to be sold to consumers. Therefore, maybe it is in the very system currently in vigour that we can find the ingredients for the creation of a new agro-food system. It is here that we need to look, rather than a revolution that stops the current system, we need to identify what features are making it work and how these ingredients can be applied as elements in a new virtuous model of production and consumption.” This is what you propose in your call for a transition from a two-dimensional system to a “three-dimensional” one. If agriculture today only thinks in terms of flat geometries, what is this third dimension that we can’t see and which we have forgotten? “Today, by combining the best genetics with chemical excellence, you can obtain around 20 to 25 tonnes of biomass from a hectare of land. A rainforest typically produces 500 tonnes of biomass per hectare. If the objective is to feed the planet we have to operate as a rainforest, the very ecosystem that
we are currently destroying to make way for monocultures and justifying our destruction with the idea that this is the price to be paid for the difficult task of feeding the world. Yet, numbers clearly indicate that this is not the case: what we have to do is ask ourselves what produces this huge difference. In a hectare of space, Kelp forests (laminaria digitata seaweed) can grow quite a few meters underwater and produce up to a thousand tonnes of biomass. And, whilst industrial players claim that ‘ok, but no one wants to eat that stuff,’ they continue to submerge us in junk food. If we managed to make hamburgers from Mc Donalds tasty, how can we think that it is impossible to do the same thing with seaweed? Obviously not! What we truly need is the productive levels of rainforests, that don’t deprive, but rather nourish, the fertility of soil. To obtain this the essential condition is to bring carbon back into our soil. Rainforests, even if they grow in impoverished soil, are able to complete this cycle of regeneration. Indigenous populations know this all too well, whereby their methods of collaboration with nature so as to conserve soil fertility form a fundamental part of their cultural heritage, just as the famous terra preta in the Amazon rainforest demonstrates. Nature is giving us a clear message: give me three dimensions, let me grow in height so as to protect the life that would otherwise be destroyed by ultraviolet rays. The ability to work in 3D allows for the creation of a dense biomass that would otherwise be impossible if all attention was focused exclusively on the cob of corn and if we suppose, as we normally do, that ‘fertilisers are not to be used to grow the stalk.’ If everything has to go toward the cob what we obtain is a two dimensional approach to farming, that gets ever closer to the soil, so as to ensure that fertilisers go straight to the cob and chemistry is more efficient in increasing productivity. In 3D agriculture the density develops in height, just as occurs in rainforests where the highest density of plant biomass is 20 or 30 meters up, and whose value is shared with other life forms. If the objective is productivity, then let’s look at water, which has a further advantage, its density: water is 700 times denser than air and therefore more rich in nutrients. It is curious how today we focus on hydroponic cultivation where only roots are immersed in water, when up to a depth of 20 meters thanks to filtering light, a plant that is completely submerged can fully indulge in the maximum supply of nutritional substances that float around in water. 3D agriculture, as you can see, is biomimicry, because nature is made to reproduce itself. And, anyone who has a basic understanding of geometry can immediately grasp the added value of using three dimensions instead of two. Therefore, why should agriculture only focus on our plains or worse? Why does genetics only aim to bring crops ever closer to the soil? I think that here we are
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renewablematter 22. 2018 mistaken, and that today those that are involved in biomimicry should look to the physical space in which agriculture places itself, instead of focusing on insects and single plants. There are marvels everywhere in nature, but the true marvel is the way in which it uses the three dimensions of space, and there is no doubt that today we can practice agriculture that imitates this capacity. What experience do we have in the use of the three dimensional space in agriculture? With greenhouses we try to create an environment that has a controlled atmosphere, yet once again without comprehending the functional models of nature. Because, the way in which engineers consider nature to operate has nothing to do with the way in which it truly functions. In a greenhouse, so as to grow tomatoes and salad during the winter, we heat the air with huge energy costs and generating a high amount of water evaporation. Hence we have to water and use irrigation, and greenhouses are renowned consumers of high quantities of water per square meter. What is the problem? It is that we have forgotten that plants not only need hot air so as to grow leaves, but also need a difference in temperature between leaves and roots which is what allows them to have an optimal flow of nutrients to the plant. We invented drip irrigation, a big business for those that produce these systems, when it is nothing more than that which nature always tends to create, an environment that has a sufficient difference in temperature between soil and that which grows above it to generate morning dew (depoint). In nature it is dew that has provided ‘drip irrigation’ every morning for millions of years. Something else that we have forgotten. Let us consider another factor: light, questioning how much light plants require and what kind of light. Today we use led lights to keep greenhouses lit constantly. Led light is interpreted by plants as ‘daylight,’ yet they do not require constant daylight, but rather the change that occurs between dawn and dusk, that generates different chemical processes in the two types of chlorophyll present in plant organisms. Chlorophyll that allows the plants, even on the basis of minimal differences in the light frequency, to ‘know’ in which part of the world they are and what day of the year it is. Using techniques that are capable of simulating these natural processes will still allow us to reach desired results, and get our salad in two weeks without added chemicals, genetics or drip irrigation. This is where we have made a mistake, in not taking the time to properly understand how nature works, instead always choosing what are perceived as shortcuts.” Do you think that other sectors could also benefit from a 3D model of agriculture? Can the relationship between farming enterprises and other productive processes change? “I believe that never before in history have we
considered agriculture exclusively as the ‘activity that produces food.’ It is a simplification that today has brought us to the point where we produce millions of tonnes of cereals to feed livestock. It is absurd to think of agriculture as being solely responsible for the production of food, because it is intrinsically connected to areas such as the textile sector and chemistry, or even with the issue of water, and finally with culture in general. You can’t separate the word ‘culture’ from ‘agriculture.’ What we have done is to actually transform ‘agriculture’ into ‘agroindustry.’ This is the reason why we need people like Carlo Petrini (read his article in the preceding pages) that recall the unbreakable link between culture and agriculture, and mobilise millions of people that are willing to change the current system. You can’t separate activities that impact the development of a region: agriculture, chemistry, transport, everything has to be coordinated as an integrated system, and you have to start from what an area has, and then think of what it may need. It is here that economists are mistaken: they just look at what a territory needs out of the desire to create a market, because if there is no need for a market… how can you create business? This induces a mentality whereby we always feel like we have too little. The economist arrives and says ‘you are too small to compete, better not try,’ and this way farmers leave their fields and fertile soil is transformed into abandoned land. We need a profound change in our way of thinking. If we don’t do this we will lose important business opportunities, but we will also lose the possibility for entire areas to develop. This is exactly the direction we have been going in up until now, a direction that has led to crisis, the abandoning of agricultural practices by younger generations, and the reduction of everything to market competitiveness on commodities markets. All of which makes the positive effects of the adoption of a different model, and the cascade effects that this model would bring, utterly superfluous. A model that would allow us to think outside of core business in a system that integrates agricultural production, renewable energies and new chemistry.”
Policy
Focus circular food
The Food System in the Circular Economy
Ecodesign and upcycling are the key words with which to breakdown the circular economy in the food system. 150 case studies from around the world tell the story of experiences in circularity.
Value chain in the circular economy for food
BIOLOGICAL AND/ OR TECHNICAL UPCYCLE OF OUTPUTS IN OTHER SYSTEMS
FOOD LOSSES 1 8
9
3 BIOLOGICAL AND/OR TECHNICAL UPCYCLING OF OUTPUTS IN THE FOOD SYSTEM
7 6
Source: Fassio F., Tecco N. (2018), Circular Economy for Food, Edizioni Ambiente, Milan.
2
4 5
FOOD A
K C A ND P
OT
FOOD SYSTEM
H ER S YS TE M S
1. Raw materials, production and harvest 2. First Transformation 3. Industrial Transformation 4. Distribution 5. Household Consumption 6. Catering 7. Food Collection and Packaging 8. Reduction Reuse Recycle 9. Residual waste
GW ASTE
Researcher, professor and consultant in sustainability assessment of food systems and natural resource management. Nadia Tecco – PhD in Analysis and Governance of Sustainable Development – has undertaken several assignments in various Italian universities. She currently collaborates at the Department of Cultures, Politics and Society at Turin University.
Linear management, that has characterised the food production and consumer systems over the last century, has been the root cause of environmental and social degradation. It has contributed to the depletion of natural and cultural assets, generated pollution from the field to the stomach and often producing poor food, both in terms of nutrients and values.
This economic system has demonstrated how mankind can become greedy, causing disruption to the natural balance by extracting resources from ecosystems and sifting them back into natural cycles. Food waste and losses are a good case in point. Indeed, they represent 1/3 of the entire production of food, and could feed the 795 million people that are currently starving 4 times over. So, it is pretty clear that the relationship between humans and nature is no longer founded on
IN
Systemic Designer, researcher at the University of Gastronomic Sciences, national advisor for Slow Food Italy, member of ADI Design Permanent Observatory, and Director of Systemic Food Design Lab; Franco Fassio – PhD in Design Culture – is a professor of Gastronomic Planning, Food Packaging, Company Creation, Designing Sustainability, Ecodesign and Systemic Food Design.
Why talk about food and the circular economy?
AG
by Franco Fassio and Nadia Tecco
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renewablematter 22. 2018 The “wedding cake” model by Rockström and Sukhdev
Key 1. No poverty 2. Zero hunger 3. Good health and well-being 4. Quality education 5. Gender equality 6. Clean water and sanitaion 7. Affordable and clean energy 8. Decent work and economic growth 9. Industry, innovation and infrastructure
The model highlights the concentric circles acting in a food system in relation to the 2030 SDGs. Food is the only lever linking them all.
Source: Azote Images for StockholmResilience Centre, 2016.
F. Fassio, N. Tecco, Circular Economy for Food, Edizioni Ambiente 2018; www.edizioniambiente. it/libri/1197/circulareconomy-for-food
a win-win rationale – i.e. aimed at the mutual satisfaction of players within the same system – but rather a lose-lose situation, where both humans and ecosystems are losing out on their chances of survival. The potential impact and benefits engendered in a shift towards a circular and systemic rationale are humongous: enhanced stability and healthy ecosystems, a recovery of the ability to share, cooperation, as well as becoming consciously responsible and reaping the benefits of widespread wellbeing. To date, technological development and dissemination of knowledge have indeed led mankind to a point where we are able to feed over 7 billion people. In contrast, it also leaves the next generations a not too promising and already compromised global situation. This is why the circular economy must be seen as the right “diet,” in reference to the etymology of the word diet, which comes from the Greek
diaita, meaning “a way of life.” Food has a unique and incomparable strategic potential within the productive sector. Food feeds our bodies as well as the nature of our relations with the world and other people. Therefore, food can embody circular economy principles whilst at the same time bolstering the circular economy by outlining a theoretical and practical course of action and defining its objectives. Therefore, in an aptly-oriented food system, the circular economy can find a precious ally that can help achieve many, if not all, UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as propel the development of many emerging economies and improve the agricultural sector in industrialised ones. The bearers of change In practice, how does the circular economy materialise in the food system? One of the answers comes out of the research group
Policy SDG Cloud 10. Reduced inequalities 11. Sustainable cities and communities 12. Responsible consumption and production 13. Climate action 14. Life below water 15. Life on land 16. Peace, justice and strong institutions 17. Partnership for the goals
Obtained by assessing by assessing currently recorded case studies in a systemic manner: scenarios that highlight the current direction of the Circular Economy within the food system.
Source: Fassio F., Tecco N. (2018), Circular Economy for Food, Edizioni Ambiente, Milan.
“Circular Economy for Food. Materia, energia e conoscenza in circolo” (Circular Economy for Food. Materials, energy and knowledge in circulation) of the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo, Italy. Their research has led to the classification of over 150 international and national case studies, some of which are included in the homonymous book published by Edizioni Ambiente and mentioned again in the current “Focus” section in Renewable Matter. Although dealing in experiences that have big variations between them due to company sizes, positions within the food system, types of product, secondary materials or services used for circular action (from corn cobs to beet molasses, and from olive pomace to nut shells, as well as taking into account the specific characteristics of materials in the complex food system), the analysed experiences of circularity revolve around two key words: upcycling and eco-design.
Upcycling represents the transformation of what is wrongly considered waste or of little value into a new resource for another productive or consumer cycle. Unlike what traditionally happens with recycling processes, where materials often experience a loss in value (downcycling), the material/ immaterial and/or relational value is kept or even enhanced, while reducing disposal costs – where possible – especially with regards to special waste that is subject to specific legal regulations. This is the case with Duedilatte and Vegea that obtain textile fibres from milk and wine by-products respectively. Upcycling is also the procedure carried out by Frumat company, whereby apple peel and cores become paper; or when hazelnut shells are transformed by Agrindustria into plant granules for vibratory finishing, polishing and sanding procedures or, as they are used by Ferrero, in the production of packaging cardboard and to extract probiotic fibre.
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renewablematter 22. 2018 The other key word is eco-design. Here, we are dealing with a decision: to use “circular” resources because they are reusable, some of which in (almost) endless cycles, such as glass and steel for packaging; to prefer renewable material and energy resources; to keep purity of resources throughout the various stages of the value chain; to favour single-material use and stop material contamination or to adopt new technologies that endorse disassembly and recovery operations; and to promote sharing practices. Proximity takes on a new value, both in the rational use of locally-available resources and in the search for creative solutions for their uses, as well as the value attached to the relations of local industrial and territorial symbiosis. In this respect, the non-alcoholic drink Unico is a good example. It is produced by Lurisia Acque Minerali with 70% of Barbera grapes and 30% apple juice, and mashed pears and peaches. The case study represents the potential of circularity in finding answers to local needs, such as the market crisis faced by Piedmont Barbera grapes, which might otherwise have been left unpicked, since the costs of picking them was too high compared to the revenue generated with their sale. The Unico drink production took place between 2013 and 2016, up until the Barbera grape market stabilised again, thus showing the value of circularity and its ability to adapt to temporary situations that would otherwise engender food loss and waste. In essence, markets all over the world show how companies are increasingly moving towards generating new relationships of symbiosis, which is synonymous with shared responsibility, and towards the creation of new opportunities for development and jobs. The concept of product quality is progressively evolving throughout the whole production chain and over time redefining the terms of agreement between consumers and producers, and towards a new paradigm for the creation of more integrated economic, social and environmental relations. Thanks to the Circular Economy for Food, a context is gradually forming whereby the concept of “system quality” and “value system communication” will develop against a background that must move on from an industrial to a communication symbiosis. Therefore, agro-economics must increasingly take into consideration the value chain of resources in view of circularity within open systems (food systems), thus helping the development of peoples’ food sovereignty, and by taxing resources rather than work. The circular economy, associated with food topics, is a great opportunity that can wholly rethink the Green Revolution and restore the marriage of two players in the same system, food and humans, in sickness and in health.
The Impacts of Linear Agriculture
Food production is one of the main causes of the world’s loss in biodiversity. This is due to its impact on natural habitats and overexploitation of certain species. According to FAO estimates, 75% of crop varieties have been lost and 3/4 of global food depends on just 12 plant and 5 animal species. Such agro-biodiversity loss directly affects food: out of 30,000 edible plant species present in nature, there are just 30 food crops that alone account for 95% of the world’s energy requirements. These include wheat, rice and corn, and supply over 60% of the calories we consume. Industrial agriculture based on intensive production, monocultures, a restricted number of plant and animal species, and external synthetic inputs (such as fertilisers and pesticides) account for almost 34% of the planet’s total surface area and almost half of the inhabitable land. It is estimated that agricultural production is responsible for 69% of water extraction and because of that, by 2030, almost 3 million people will not have easy access to drinking water. Together with other players in the food system, agricultural production is responsible for almost 30% of greenhouse gases. Out of 1.5 billion hectares of farmed land worldwide, 1/3 is used to produce animal feed while the remaining 3.4 billion hectares are used as pastures. However, animal-derived products represent only 17% of calories and 33% of protein consumed by humans around the world. Due to intensive farming, 25% of the planet’s soil is severely depleted and 30% of arable land has become unproductive. If we consider population growth estimates, that predict the world population will exceed 9 and a half billion people by 2050, this “target,” coupled with current consumption patterns, will require a 70% increase in agricultural production. In this production framework, every year, 1 billion and 300 million tonnes of food for human consumption goes to waste, totalling the equivalent of almost 8,600 cruise liners worth of food waste. At a global level food waste has an economic value, together with the estimated costs linked to the environment and society, of $2,600 billion a year. The rate of risk of mortality due to diseases related to a poor diet exceeds that of diseases caused by insufficient calorie intake. While there are 795 million people starving, about 1.5 billion people are obese or overweight. Worldwide, about 36 million people die every year from lack of food, whereas 29 million die from diseases linked to overeating. When we are faced with the fact that $267 billion a year would be sufficient to eliminate world hunger by 2030, amounting to approximately 0.3% of the world’s GDP, we are quite obviously witnessing a genuine “crisis of reason.”
Policy
CASE HISTORY: BACARDI An innovative step towards overcoming such issues was taken by Bacardi, world leader in the production and distribution of alcoholic beverages. Bacardi has adopted many measures over the years to reduce its own environmental impact, focusing on energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. With Vodka 42 Below, Bacardi Group launched an innovative campaign for the recovery of citrus fruit and olives from cocktail glasses in Australia and New Zealand. Bars serving them collect the organic matter which would otherwise be landfilled, pile it up and hand it over to Bacardi. In 2016, three months on from the start of the initiative, 400 kilograms of organic matter, from 3,200 cocktails, were recovered. This then went towards creating 20,000 single-use soap packages and over 400 mid-sized dispensers which were then redistributed to the bars involved. Citrus fruit and olives are actually used as basic ingredients for several cosmetic products and detergents thanks to the essential oils extracted from fruit zest or pulp. The recovery of such waste responds to consumer needs and in particular to those of the cosmetic industry that can thus, for instance, extract the aroma from the peel of real lemons instead of using synthetic substances. Thanks to the collection of waste, over just two weeks and with good customer attendance, a bar can contribute to the production of an average of 25 litres of soap.
CASE HISTORY: BALADIN
CASE HISTORY: LUFA FARMS
Baladin brewery was initially founded in 1996 in Piozzo as a simple brewpub. Since 2012 Baladin has become a farm brewery in its own right. The new brewery – inaugurated in July 2016 with a production capacity of 50,000 hectolitres – focuses on respecting the local economy and the efficient use of raw materials, with special attention to regeneration of waste and the use of energy produced with renewable sources. Baladin intends to pursue a “production autarchy” model in every step (with the exception of some spices), so as to reduce their environmental impact, taking on responsibility for the entire production cycle of its beers and with the ambition of reaching full autonomy with regards to the main raw materials used. Since 2016, the company has directly managed a 1 hectare plot of land, 800 metres away from the brewery in the municipality of Piozzo. For their “circular” energy independence, the distribution headquarters supplies its energy requirements with 1,800 square metres of solar panels, whereas the brewery is run on certified energy from renewable sources such as wind power. The company is currently carrying out several trials to plan a “zero waste” production cycle, where waste becomes a source of energy or secondary material for new products. Starting from the production of one tonne of distillation residue per day from the brewing processes, on top of the usual option of upcycling them as livestock feed and fertiliser, a biomass-fuelled plant for generating heat is also being designed starting from dehydration and combustion of residues. Further experiments are leading the company to consider the possibility of producing other food products such as biscuits from distillation residues.
Lufa Farms is reinventing a broken food system by using urban rooftop spaces to produce food that can then be sold locally. The Canadian company, based in Montreal, is integrating food development into the urban fabric. A crucial element in bringing our linear food chain into a circular system. In fact, since 2009, Lufa Farms has been tackling a variety of issues with their urban rooftop greenhouses. Not only do they make acres of unused rooftop space productive, they also take advantage of this position for collecting rainwater; harnessing free energy from the sun; using heat that rises from the buildings below; and lowering transport costs by taking “locally produced” to a whole new level and employing electric cars for deliveries. Lufa Farms have already built three rooftop greenhouses, amounting to 3.7 acres of growing space, where 1 acre of roof space can feed 2,000 people using 50% less heating energy, and 50-90% less water and nutrients. The greening of city roofs is going hand in hand with the circularisation of the urban food chain and Lufa Farms embodies a distributed and integrated approach to food production that will form the backbone of the circular economy.
CASE HISTORY: LAVAZZA Turin-based Lavazza, a leading company in the production of coffee, has developed a compostable capsule in collaboration with Novamont, operating in the bioplastic sector. Starting in 2010, the project required over 5 years of trials focused on the research of a highperforming material which could replace commonly-used plastics. A compostable plastic for Italian espresso coffee was created with Mater-BI, a completely biodegradable bioplastic obtained from plant components. Once used, the new capsule can then be disposed of with organic waste and sent on for industrial composting: after about 75 days, when the process of biodegradation is complete, there is a total transformation of the initial organic substances into simple inorganic molecules, thus making soil compost out of both capsules and coffee dregs. Therefore, compostable capsules also become an incentive to separate household organic waste. The attention devoted to the capsule’s end of life thus contributes to further reduce the quantity of waste produced and to consolidate the company’s commitment in optimising packaging and processes within a circular perspective. Something which Lavazza has been doing for many years.
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renewablematter 22. 2018
From Gastronomic Sciences to the Food Monitor
CASE HISTORY: AGRIPROTEIN The South African based company Agriprotein, founded in 2008, uses insects to produce high quality protein feed from organic waste. They are addressing the challenge of over 650 million tonnes of organic waste produced every year in cities, a figure that is likely to double by 2050. At the same time, they are also tackling the inefficiency of our food system, and in particular the way in which we produce our meat. By drawing on naturally occurring processes they have created a circular solution to organic waste and the production of animal feed. In fact, Agriprotein uses the exceptional nutrient recycling capacity of the black soldier fly larvae to break down organic waste and at the same time produce high quality protein that can be used as animal feed. Furthermore, the residues left from this process are then used as rich compost. A truly circular solution! Agriprotein is a booming company, that plans to build 200 new facilities by 2027. The financial rewards of this model come hand in hand with reduced carbon emissions, regenerated soil and less pressure on wild fish stocks as a source of animal feed. Agriprotein believe that how we treat waste and how we produce our food are key factors in creating a truly circular food system.
by Andrea Pieroni, Luisa Torri, Michele F. Fontefrancesco
University of Gastronomic Sciences of Pollenzo, www.unisg.it
The end of the twentieth century has signalled a profound change in the perception of food in public debate. The aftermath of WWII was characterised by a rapid industrialisation in the agro-food sector and the establishment of mass consumption, creating a gastronomic landscape of unprecedented abundance. The decades of reconstruction signalled, for the most part, a rapid abandonment of traditional cooking and the erosion of local bio-cultural diversity, in the face of an affirmation of mass consumption of industrial products and an economic model far from any kind of sustainability. In relation to this massification of consumption and standardisation of taste, associations and movements arose during the eighties that were interested in the rediscovery and valorisation of local gastronomy and quality food. Amongst these: Slow Food. A new consciousness of food This cultural climate opened up a space for dialogue on the sustainability of food, a conversation that has rippled into present day. It reinforced the awareness that discourse on food and gastronomy needed a transdisciplinary synthesis, a community and a place where a new language and way of thinking about food could mature, so that challenges such as sustainability, the “good, clean and righteous,� the issue of food sovereignty and equal access to resources could be tackled effectively. Out of this idealistic push, in 2004 the University of Gastronomic Sciences (UNISG) was born. Founded in Pollenzo, Italy, as a Slow Food initiative and with the collaboration of the Piedmont and Emilia Romagna regions, the University proposes a new methodological and didactical approach that is able to provide a complete vision of the systems of food production and form new professional figures with the necessary knowledge and transdisciplinary competences, tied to the agro-food industry, so that they can work to direct production, distribution and consumption of food towards sustainable choices. Today, UNISG is directly involved in guaranteeing high quality education and contributing to the sharing of knowledge to reinforce sustainability and food sovereignty around the world, promoting research that is able to contribute to wellbeing, the support of bio-cultural differences, and the recognition
of the equal dignity between scientific knowledge and traditional knowledge. The University’s research has moved towards a definition of “gastronomic sciences.” As the Manifesto di Pollenzo explains, drafted by the University, these are understood by the UNISG as a plural expression of all knowledge, methodology and practices that are applicable and inherent to food, and outline: “a new type of humanism [...that in line with] the best humanistic traditions places its roots in respect of the living and the blossoming of diversity at all levels.” The UNISG’s approach to research is interdisciplinary and based on three interconnected macro areas of interest. 1. Bio-cultural diversity and change; 2. Quality and perception of food; 3. Environmental and economic sustainability. The UNISG contribution In this context we can address UNISG’s endeavours in the circular economy field. This concept is applied to the complexity of food systems and is crucial for the spread of a new concept of food innovation, tied to the safeguarding of natural, social and cultural capital and the right
of all people to heathy and culturally appropriate food, produced using ecological and sustainable methods. In this field of research there are new areas being developed. Amongst these is the study of the impact of circular economies on the performance of companies, sociological investigations on the perception of circular actions on society, the deepening of the “Circular Geography” thematic and its impact on specific areas, the analysis of the role of food in circular and regenerative cities, the valuation of acceptability and sensorial perception of new circular products on behalf of consumers, and the development of the Circular Economy for Food (CEFF) indicator with which to measure the impact of circular actions. With regards to the accessibility of research, the university intends to make available all results, to both companies and society in general, on a dedicated digital platform: Circular Economy for Food Monitor. Therefore, the initiative wants to allow information to become knowledge and consciousness, making UNISG a point of reference on an international level for the theoretical and practical development of CEFF, a protagonist in the constant monitoring, analysis and planning of circularity in the food system.
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Andrea Pieroni is the Dean of the University of Gastronomic Sciences, and a Professor of Food Botany and Ethnobotany. Luisa Torri, is an associate professor of Sensorial Sciences and Director of Research at the University of Gastronomic Sciences. Michele F. Fontefrancesco, teaches Cultural Anthropology and is a member of the Research unit at the University of Gastronomic Sciences.
Bottom: Universtiy of Gastronomic Sciences of Pollenzo.
Source: UNISG
Andrea Pieroni
Policy
Photo by Tommy Ton – Blue Fashion Challenge event
Focus circular food
A Sea of Opportunities
Interview with Jacqueline Alder Efficiency and innovation to arrive at a sustainable use of marine resources. Here are the FAO objectives in the words of Jacqueline Alder.
by Emanuele Bompan, from Rome Jacqueline Alder has been Deputy Director at FAO since February 2015, overseeing the administration and technical work of the Fisheries and Aquaculture branch. She was previously Coordinator at UNEP for the management of marine, coastal and freshwater ecosystems.
Pollution, over-exploitation, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, as well as climate change have become major threats to aquatic eco-systems. To unlock the potential of seas and oceans, adequate fishing management is essential. The world’s marine and freshwater ecosystems – the Blue World – provide essential ecosystem services, biodiversity, food and a livelihood for hundreds of millions of people. However, up to now humans have only tapped into part of its resources, without respecting biodiversity, contributing to fish stock repletion or engaging in adequate coastal management. To achieve the sustainable use of living aquatic resources, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) actively promotes sustainable fishery and aquaculture policies
and practices, including initiatives aimed at creating a circular and bioeconomy in the blue world. In 2013, FAO launched the Blue Growth Initiative (BGI), which builds on the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries and focuses on innovation and sustainable use of aquatic living resources. To learn more about the Blue Growth Initiative, Renewable Matter has interviewed Jacqueline Alder, FishCode Manager, from the FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department. What is BGI’s core mission? “BGI’s focus is resource efficiency from sea products. Basically, we are reducing and eliminating food loss and waste. In particular, we are implementing innovative ways to
Photo by Tommy Ton – Blue Fashion Challenge event
The photos capture some of the winning creations of the “Fashion Challenge event” sponsored by the Nordic Council.
Photo by Tommy Ton – Blue Fashion Challenge event
Blue Growth Initiative, www.fao.org/policysupport/policy-themes/ blue-growth/en
What can be done with fish skin? “It depends on what you want to do with it: you can dry fish skin and then either dye it and it becomes just like leather, or you can apply rubber wax so it becomes a shiny waterproof textile. It is used for accessories, or a full-size cloth. I’ve seen fish leather shoes in Morocco for example. Different fish give you different textures: some have very small scales, which create a very fine looking pattern, whereas bigger
Photo by Tommy Ton – Blue Fashion Challenge event
use fish parts that are not eaten, like the skin and the bones. These are often dispersed in the environment or in the very water where the fish are caught. We have identified markets where these parts can be reused, some of which are unexpected, such as the fashion industry.”
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renewablematter 22. 2018
Source: based on FAO data, April 2005.
ones create a nice textured leather with a fuzzy feel.” Where is this innovative idea being developed? “We have projects in Brazil, Morocco and the Seychelles. In the industrialised world it is also becoming an emerging industry, especially in Nordic countries like the Færøer Islands. These countries are becoming a hub for the marine bioeconomy, not just fish skin but also for products like algae and other sea plants. At FAO we are hoping to transfer these technologies and processes, that have emerged in Nordic countries, to developing countries so that we can engage more women and young people in creating new industries around marine fashion.” Why will women benefit the most? “The nice thing about fishery is that women take on a lot of the post-harvest processes. The men catch the fish and then the women take it and process it. However, often they don’t necessarily get the right value for their labour. So, if they add other processes, they can make more money for what they are doing. This can empower them and improves family incomes. And women are often the ones that manage the household. Increasing women’s income will mean direct improvements for their families, such as contributing to tuition fees and the provision of nutritious food. What’s more: fashion is often linked to women. Therefore, women in the fishery sector can open up either small businesses producing new garments or form cooperatives so that they can get together and process and sell the skin, making an income on what would otherwise be wasted. This can especially inspire younger women to create fashion out of fish so they can raise awareness about the need to sustainably use and reuse our marine resources. It is all part of the circular economy in the making.” What is the bioeconomies potential in emerging nations? “Given what we have seen over the last 10 years, I think the potential for the bioeconomy is fantastic. Besides fish skin we have used other parts to make food supplements, grinding all the leftovers into a powder that is then used by mothers for nursing and for young
North-East Pacific
0.0
Canada
United States
-13.8
Central-East Atlantic
Mexico
9.7
-17.4 Venezuela Colombia
Central-East Pacific
Ecuador Peru
South-East Pacific
Brazil
Chile
Argentina
-5.5
-21.4 South-East Atlantic
children’s nutrition, as it supports their brain’s development. It has great potential in many sectors: in fishery and agriculture, and for the creation of products, materials, and as alternative food source. Innovation is boundless: for instance, there is a group in Iceland that is using fish skin to replace human skin, for people that have diabetes or burns. It is important to note that these neo-products aren’t going to cause food security issues because they employ what is discarded by the food industry. Actually, the bioeconomy can play a role in fighting hunger by developing aquaculture feeds. Using algae as a source of feed can fill that gap in aquaculture. Fishery in general is one of the areas where we have the potential to expand food production because land is
Policy
Large Fishing Countries by Area of Impoverished Fish Stocks Færøer Islands Greenland Norway Iceland
North-East Atlantic
Great Britain
Sweden Denmark
Finland
Russia
Latvia North-West Pacific
Ireland Poland Netherlands Gemany France Spain
-21.1 Portugal Morocco
Ukraine China
Italy Turkey
Mediterranean and Black Sea
South Korea Pakistan
Mauritania
Oman
Nigeria
Central-East Atlantic
Vietnam
India Burma Maldives
Sri Lanka
East Indian Ocean
1.9
Malaysia 11.5 Papua New Guinea
Indonesia
-17.7
-10.0
South-East Atlantic
Central-West Pacific
38.7
Mozambique
Namibia
Philippines Cambodia
Thailand Singapore
West Indian Ocean Angola
Taiwan
Bangladesh
Yemen
Ghana Sierra Leone 14.3
8.0
Japan
Iran -13.3
Senegal Guinea
North Korea
South Africa
Antarctic and Artic Atlantic 25.4
Marine fishing by country. Millions of tonnes, 2013
Australia
10 1 0.5 0.1
Fishing
Aquaculture
South-West Pacific
New Zealand
International fishing areas as defined by FAO -1.0 Percentage increase/decrease in fishing from 2002 to 2012 Note: Only countries with a production above one-hundred-thousand tonnes and fishing of marine species are represented
limited. We must make sure that everything we’re growing is used and nothing is wasted. Fish waste should either be recycled back into our farming system enhancing soil quality or transformed into a useful material.” According to the FAO, global seaweed production more than doubled in the period between 2000 and 2014, reaching a total of over 30 million tonnes (in wet weight), with China as the world’s largest algae producer. However, is it just a nutritious addition to tofu soup, a crunchy salad topping and an indispensable ingredient for sushi or can it become a launching pad for the bioeconomy revolution? “We are just starting to see alternative uses
for algae other than just as a food per se. We can transform it into materials. Its active substances have also caught the attention of a sprawling range of industrial sectors – from papermaking and textiles to cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. There are companies that are using algae for packaging because it decomposes in the environment: either in water or as compost. Some algae-based material starts to decompose in less than a week. These alternative uses for sea products can really impact economies in the developing world.”
The bioeconomy can play a role in fighting hunger by developing aquaculture feeds.
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Focus circular food
Back to the Future, Rediscovering Traditional Knowledge to Win the Food Challenge Interview with Danielle Nierenberg by Emanuele Bompan
850 million people suffer from hunger, whereas around 2 billion are either overweight or obese: to solve this paradox we have to rethink the entire agro-food system. In the words of Danielle Nierenberg, creator of Food Tank, one of the main centres for the documentation and promotion of sustainable production and food models. From a commodity to a common good, rediscovering traditional agriculture and applying technology to the service of nature. Danielle Nierenberg is an activist, author and journalist, with expertise in sustainable agriculture and food issues. She is currently the President of Food Tank non-profit organisation, where she focuses on building a global community for safe, healthy, nourished eaters.
What has food become? What does it mean for Western society to feed itself? What does the meat on the plate before us represent? What do we mean by food security? Questions that, even if simple in appearance, we rarely delve into. We don’t understand what we have on the plate before us, and even worse we don’t know why it is there. Feeding 7 billion people is a complex process, that has changed radically over the last 50 years. An anthropological and cultural transformation the true extent of which still remains unknown. We tackled these issues with the Danish researcher Danielle Nierenberg, President and founder of Food Tank, a research centre for the promotion of sustainable food production and consumption models. This year she has published ‘Nourished Planet’ with Island Press, together with the Barilla Centre for Food and Nutrition, with the objective
Policy We have to alter how we think about what and how we grow. The focus needs to be on productivity and nourishing people in the long run. Therefore, we need to turn to traditional and smart solutions, as well as rethinking the way we use soil and how to protect it.”
There is no ‘one solution fits all’ to fixing the food system. There is no silver bullet, no magic cure. We need multiple solutions that take into account the different levels at play.
of rethinking agrofood systems, in search of a true model for global sustainability.
Food Tank, foodtank.com
We are constantly searching for solutions to the food conundrum. As we continue to consume too much, we also strive to feed the world. Is our agrofood system on the verge of collapse? Can we fix it? “One thing that emerges clearly from our work at Food Tank is that there is no ‘one solution fits all’ to fixing the food system. There is no silver bullet, no magic cure. We need multiple solutions that take into account the different levels at play. We should not focus exclusively on calories and yield. This approach has put a lot of stress on short-term productivity, leading to some serious and unintended consequences. We have a food system that is completely focused on the marketability of crops, whilst not really providing people with nourishing and nutrient dense food. Therefore, we need a paradigm shift. The majority of crops grown around the world, including wheat, corn, rice and other types of starchy staples, don’t contain enough nutrients. They might be good for being processed into other foods, especially for livestock, but they are not as good at creating a healthy food system. They are very resource intensive. In most cases these crops require artificial inputs like chemical fertilisers. Furthermore, they come hand in hand with serious consequences for the environment, economy and public health. Part of the reason behind the global food paradox – of 850 million people who are hungry and around 2 billion people who are overweight or obese – is that we focus on commodity crops that are not nutrient dense.
What role will traditional crops play in transforming the way we produce food? “The role of indigenous and traditional crops has often been overlooked. We forget to consider crops that are actually really good for soil fertility, like leguminous crops. We have forgotten practices such as agroforestry and intercropping (the cultivation of different plant species on the same plot of land, author’s note), that allow us to safeguard soil; growing perennial crops like sorghum that are more resilient to pests and disease, instead of intensive crops; as well as using crops that are resilient to floods, drought, and high temperatures. Traditional foods that often have a lot of potential have not received much attention, research or investment. They are not high yielding and are considered poor people’s food. I think there are really interesting ways of combining high and low tech methods for growing food. We are witnessing the rise of new and simple technologies such as smart phones to help farmers know more about markets; drones for precision farming; or even artificial intelligence to help large and small scale farmers get better deals and income, whilst contributing to their ability to protect natural resources and increase social equity. All of which working together with traditional knowledge and farming practices.” An issue that requires an approach based on both old knowledge and hi-tech is that of water. What is the relationship between these factors? “It is essential that we establish adequate water management methods, particularly in agricultural practices as these account for more than 70% of global water use. Therefore, it is essential to protect ourselves from water scarcity. Again, it is not just a case of one solution fits all. However, we do know that vegetable, almond, corn, and soybean monocultures, as witnessed in places like California, can lead to severe drought. We need to understand that the crops being grown now might not be the same as those grown in 10 or 15 years’ time. We have to be able to diversify agricultural systems, and learn to grow different kinds of crops that together can retain water, help prevent soil erosion, provide shade for crops, and absorb high amounts of CO2. Technology has to improve: solar drip irrigation; precision techniques that allow farmers to get precise amounts of water to where it is most needed; and accurate
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renewablematter 22. 2018 measurement of evaporation so as not to loose any water. All these factors will be key. We will get there. But, what we really need is more diversity in the food system and to move away from this ideology of monocultures.”
If food is not seen as a right, but rather as a good to be exchanged on international markets and futures, there is a problem. [...] All it takes is for a fluctuation in price and an entire nation can find itself on the brink of famine. It isn’t a good on which we can speculate. Today, global food production is sufficient to feed the entire population of planet earth. It isn’t a problem of quantities produced. It is a problem of distribution and value.
Today we live in a strange epoch where food is simultaneously prohibitively expensive and at the same time super-cheap, scarce and yet so abundant that it is wasted shamelessly. “Today there is an inexplicable schizophrenia around food. Wealthy consumers pay absurd prices for food design, organic produce, products from renowned chocolatiers, high end wines and artisan cheeses. At the same time, in the United States and Europe, common food is also incredibly cheap: in these countries less than 10% (in Italy this figure is around 15%) of total revenue is spent on food. We expect and even demand, that food in supermarkets be sold at very low prices. And when prices go up we protest vehemently, as occurred in the United States in the Sixties, with the family matriarchs protesting against the rise in price of steaks and ribs. The most recent Farm Bill in the USA – similarly to what is occurring in Europe – has confirmed generous subsidies, with the objective of maintaining food prices artificially low. However, if we go to developing countries, the value of food, especially as of 2008-2009, has risen exponentially, taking up to 80% of revenue per capita. Furthermore, this is in reference to primary food staples, and hence not even considering a balanced diet, but rather food ‘that fills you up’ but which often lacks necessary nutrients due to the lack of variety in crops that the agro-business imposes. This imbalance in prices has given rise to numerous conflicts, in countries such as Mozambique and Tunisia amongst others. Today young people are ‘hangry’ (a mixture of hungry and angry.)” Therefore, we both ascribe and deny value to food? “A part of the globe pays too little for food the other pays too much. A contradiction which also has to deal with the problem of speculation. It is no coincidence that the food and financial crisis came about at the same time. If food is not seen as a right, but rather as a good to be exchanged on international markets and futures, there is a problem. Food products are neither diamonds nor another kind of raw material that can be sold on financial markets. We can’t have derivatives and sophisticated financial products based on rice and other grains. All it takes is a fluctuation in price and an entire nation can find itself on the brink of famine. It isn’t a good on which we can speculate. Today, global food production is sufficient to feed the entire population of planet earth. It isn’t a problem of quantities produced. It is a problem of
distribution and value. Just think about obesity, an excessive accumulation of resources that has nothing to do with nutrition.” How can we reconstruct the real food value chain, far from economic speculation and the interests of global agro-business? “Olivier De Schutter, Special Rapporteur on the right to food for the United Nations, has officially declared that there has to be a net division between food markets and financial markets. Furthermore, we have to define the right to food as a fundamental human right. There are few nations that guarantee the right to healthy, nutritious, and environmentally respectful food every day. Secondly, we have to think of the 1.3 billion tonnes of agricultural produce wasted every day, an amount that according to our estimates is even greater if you consider postharvest losses, depletion of stocks and simple household waste. This occurs in industrialised countries where the cost of food is very low because food is deprived of its real value. We don’t give importance to waste, yet we should learn to preserve food, just as farmers in Rwanda or Malawi do: these small scale farmer families don’t waste a single gram of food. It isn’t just a moral question, it is an environmental one too, due to the emissions related to food production and waste management.” Can we create a circular economy of food? “Today we can extract various products from food waste, including paper, textiles, and compostable materials such as bags and straws. That which we still have not achieved is to address the issue in a systemic and holistic fashion. Politicians, companies and citizens are realising that an integrated system can really make way for a circular economy that can lead to better solutions.”
Rome ©NASA
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Focus future-proof cities
Cities as Catalysts for the Circular Economy Housing half of the world’s population, producing over 80% of global GDP, and 70% of all greenhouse gases – cities are uniquely placed to be accelerators for sustainable development. The circular economy provides a clear roadmap for the necessary transition. A circular city of the future holds the potential to do so thanks to three main drivers: urban innovation systems, the market for digital platforms, and locally rooted governments. by Joke Dufourmont
Prodock, www.prodock.nl
In the 21st century urbanisation has taken flight. Today, over half of the world’s population live in cities, a share that is expected to increase to almost 70% by 2050. Furthermore, economic activity is concentrated in cities and amounts to over 80% of global GDP. It is hardly a surprise that cities are at the centre of the main challenges that we must face today: cities produce 70% of all greenhouse gases and consume two thirds of the global energy supply. They are hotspots for air pollution, overcrowding and the consumption of resources, and are often the stage for segregation, unemployment and inequality.
business as usual. In cities, what we plan, design, and build today will continue to exist and affect other developments for many years to come. Buildings in the urban environment have a lifespan of two to four generations. Therefore, infrastructure depicts the boundaries of the system these buildings are embedded in (think of mobility and waste management). These urban systems create interdependencies and lock-ins, and hence the way in which they are conceived has long term effects. Cities must tackle the problems of yesterday, today and tomorrow in order to avoid an unsustainable lock-in for future generations.
What is more, these problems can grow exponentially if we continue with urban
However, urban concentrations have the potential to become positive elements that
Policy
Joke Dufourmont has an MSc in Public Policy and Human Development with a thesis on transitions to a circular economy in European cities. She now works to address environmental as well as social issues within Circle Economy’s Cities Team, where she is involved in carrying out Circle City Scans.
propel sustainable development: circular cities capture this potential through systemic solutions that provide an answer to the challenges related to people, the environment and the economy. If cities are constituted by the systems that provide for societal needs (such as communication, mobility, healthcare, housing and nutrition), circular cities provide for these needs in a fundamentally new and sustainable way. Their constituting systems make circular the way in which we live, eat, travel and work by designing circular products, deploying productas-a-service models and adopting policies that put man at the centre. As these systems coincide in space and time, they interact with each other and their effects multiply. A circular city is more than the sum of its circular systems. Today, the world is only 9% circular. Cities can close this circularity gap by exploiting their incredible capacity through three main drivers: urban innovation systems, a market for digital platforms and locally rooted governments. Urban innovation systems The technological barriers that the circular economy is facing can be resolved with urban innovation systems. Cities are characterised by economies that require a high level of competence and concentrate the more innovative economic activities, creative industries and cultural and research institutions. This concentration translates into potential for innovation. Therefore, it is in cities that circular innovations are developed, both in terms of circular products and new financing models. At the same time, cities are often too densely populated and too strictly regulated to house large-scale industrial processes. This requires coordinated interaction with the wider territory. The transition towards the circular economy requires both the development
of new technologies, and the scaling of innovative solutions which arise from a city’s interaction with its surroundings. Prodock is an accelerator in the Port of Amsterdam that focuses on a decarbonised, bio-based, and circular economy. The hub offers infrastructure for startups that have outgrown their testing environment. For example, this happens with startups from the Innovation Chemistry Lab Amsterdam. The lab is located in the city’s Science Park, which houses multiple universities, research institutes, and businesses. It offers a testing space for entrepreneurs and researchers who would like to market their innovations. Amongst these are: 30MHz, which provides smart sensing solutions to optimise agriculture; NPSP, that employs natural raw materials such as flax and hemp fibres to reduce the environmental impact of composites used in the production of vehicles, furniture and machines; and The Calcite Factory, that has developed a technology to reuse calcite pellets for water softening. As such, Amsterdam proposes itself as a breeding ground for circular innovations, which can then be up-scaled. The city serves as a laboratory for circular innovations, its surroundings as the grounds for scaling. Digital platforms for cities-as-a-service Digital platforms, which enable the implementation of models based on the transformation from product to service, find the ideal context in cities as they enable asset tracking and are essential for the services used in sharing and leasing schemes. Service models change our relationship to material consumption and hence contribute to the realisation of the city-as-a-service. If asset tracking is not a unique requisite of urban environments (keeping track of resources is just as important in cities, as in industrial and agricultural areas), the success of peer-topeer, B2C or product-as-a-service models
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City governments can take a central role in favouring the development of a new mind-set, which is essential for the promotion of a long term transformation.
is based on digital platforms in densely populated urban environments.
procurement, and the planning of spatial management and land development.
When adopted by commercial and productive businesses, public institutions and citizens, these business models rely heavily on efficient logistics. Snappcar and Turo enable individuals to rent their cars, thus reducing the number of vehicles that need to be produced. Peerby enables the lending of goods between people in the same neighbourhood, working in a similar fashion to car sharing apps. TooGoodToGo allows for shops, restaurants, and caterers to advertise their unsold meals, in order to sell them at a reduced price at the last minute, thus reducing food waste. Parallel to these peer-to-peer platforms, B2C models employ digital platforms in a similar way for sharing and renting, thus facilitating the shift from ownership to use. These platforms proliferate in cities; their success is often dependent on the physical proximity of users, and the fundamental “network effect” of cities.
City administrations have the possibility of “understanding” the reality that they govern better than anyone else and hence can develop innovative policies to promote the kind of circularity that is specific to their city.
Locally rooted governments City governments can take a central role in favouring the development of a new mind-set, which is essential for the promotion of a long term transformation: by implementing locally rooted policies and taking on the role of “pilot consumer” as a trigger for the transition towards a circular economy. Local administrations are in close contact with citizens and businesses and as a consequence they are generally more trusted than other levels of government. This close contact also favours the formulation of policies that are able to answer specific questions that emerge on a local level: the circular economy manifests itself in many shapes and forms, and can certainly not be interpreted as a one size fits all paradigm. What is more, local governments often carry a mandate that directly impacts resource flows, for example with public
Since 2013, the Bogota Zero Waste Programme reduced waste production and increased recycling rates: a key element to this was formalising the statute of waste workers, and as such increasing safety standards and salaries. The Green and Digital Demonstration Programme deployed by the Vancouver Economic Commission provides access to city-owned assets such as streets, buildings and digital infrastructure to test and promote products and services. An initiative geared towards attracting global talent to the city and increasing its overall economic appeal. Cities provide the knowledge systems needed to develop and disseminate circular innovations, possess the markets for digital platforms that enable circular business models and are home to locally-rooted government administrations that can create the favourable conditions for a transition to the circular economy. When all the active subjects in a given urban context align and get involved with the realisation of a “circular city,” they can effectively give life to policies and practices that are able to transform the relationship between resources, society and territory, thus becoming areas of inclusive and prosperous life.
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Focus future-proof cities: 4 CASE STUDIES
Circular Glasgow by Rebecca Ricketts Rebecca Ricketts, is senior project manager and founding member of Circular Glasgow. Rebecca works to bridge the gap between the business sector and non-profit organisations, as well as informing and engaging change-makers who have the ability to accelerate Glasgow’s transition to the circular economy.
Less emissions, more growth and new jobs. According to the analysis performed by the Chamber of Commerce, these are the advantages that Glasgow will benefit from by adopting the circular model. Highlighting the great potential of the food and beverage sector.
Circular Glasgow, www.circular glasgow.com
Glasgow’s vision is to become one of the world’s first circular cities. In 2015, it took its first steps towards creating a stronger more sustainable economy by pioneering a complete Circular Economy Scan. Commissioned through a partnership led by Glasgow Chamber of Commerce with global experts such as Circle Economy from the Netherlands, Zero Waste Scotland and Glasgow City Council, the scan showed that adopting circularity can help create jobs, increase resource efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions throughout the city. By analysing Glasgow’s economic and political landscape and by mapping the city’s resource flows from consumption to waste, the scan identified leading industries through which the city’s economy can become more “circular.” The study also brought into focus ways in which the Chamber could directly support local organisations in adopting circular models; including new collaborations, market opportunities, significant financial savings and generating increased profits. The manufacturing sector was highlighted as having the greatest circular potential, with the initial phase of work focusing around the
food and drink sector. As a result, a number of practical and scalable pilot studies were identified, including the creation of a new local beer made from left-over morning bread rolls. Aulds Bakers bakery supplies its bread to retailers on a sell or return basis. Therefore, surplus bread is then passed on to Jaw Brew brewery in a new partnership, thus ensuring any excess bread is reused. Following recognition from the World Economic Forum for its initial phase of work, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce is now working directly with local businesses across all sectors in the city, supporting the adoption of their own circular ambitions. Whether organisations are just starting their journey to circularity or already have circular processes in place, Circular Glasgow’s suite of programmes and tools have been tailored to facilitate each organisation in implementing their own ideas and plans. No matter which sector, the range of support tools offers businesses endless possibilities in terms of integrating circularity into their day-to-day work practices. Alison McRae, Senior Director at Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, says: “Since 2015, we’ve seen many local businesses adopting practical circular business models including technological innovation and designing for the future. Recycling and repurposing of materials is only part of the equation for businesses. It is without question that a key to the city’s success so far has been a coalition of the willing through our robust partnerships.’’
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renewablematter 22. 2018 Not only has this new way of thinking inspired local businesses, it has also played a strong role in engaging key stakeholders at an urban level by exploring practical circular economy related policies as a priority and objective for the future. Glasgow sees this new approach – moving from a linear economy to a circular economy – as a
solution with which to create improved product quality, economic growth, jobs, and ultimately a future proof, more resilient and inclusive city. The city’s desire to transform the Circle City Scan results into tangible and practical outcomes highlights its frontrunner status, leadership and vision, and serves as an example for other cities around the world.
Maribor, a Circular City by Igor Kos
Igor Kos worked in the Mayor's Cabinet for the Municipality of Maribor from 2014 to 2017, where he contributed to the development of the Mobility Plan and Integrated Urban Development Strategy. Since May 2017 he is an Advisor in the Maribor WCYCLE Institute, where he works on the promotion of the circular economy model and the development of strategies in the circular economy field for both Maribor in Slovenia and the EU in general.
In the first Slovenian city to outline a strategy for the transition to a circular economy, Wcycle Institute has developed an innovative environmental and business model for the management of the cities material and resource flows. With their involvement, Maribor is implementing projects tied to the treatment of urban waste, the use of C&D waste, the reuse of purified waters, and the management of excess heat and renewable energy. Maribor is the second largest city in Slovenia and home to approximately 110,000 inhabitants. Although it is not Slovenia’s capital city, it is the regions circular economy capital. In June 2018, the Municipality of Maribor became the first city in Slovenia to outline a Strategy for the transition to a circular economy which was then adopted and formally approved by the City Council. Its content is in sync with United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, highlighting the central role of cities in achieving sustainable development. The strategy currently being implemented in Maribor was developed by Wcycle Maribor – Institute for Circular Economy, which was established by Maribor’s five utility companies
in 2017. Its aim is to implement and coordinate a new and innovative environmental and business model called Wcycle. The idea behind the model is the establishment of a system for the management of all material and resource flows available in the Municipality. It is based on the operation of enterprises that are predominantly publicly owned and provide services for their residents. The Strategy’s purpose is to generate cross-sectorial cooperation in handling, processing, re-using and developing of the resources involved in Maribor’s circular economy, across seven selected sectors or pillars of resource management: urban waste; construction and demolition (C&D) waste; energy; mobility; water; spatial planning; and the collaborative economy. Maribor, with the active involvement of the Wcycle Institute, is either preparing or implementing many projects connected with treatment of urban waste, use of processed urban C&D waste, reuse of recycled water, management of surplus heat and renewable energy. The first project completed is a fully automated sorting plant for municipal waste that started operating in June 2018 and will finish its testing period in a year’s time. Companies in the city, with the aim of creating a regenerative urban environment and provide quality services for citizens, are sharing information and working to achieve the highest
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Wcycle Insitute, www.wcycle-maribor.si
possible rate of reuse of waste, surplus heat and wastewater so as to then employ them as new resources. All of which whilst respecting the quality of land used, the development of sustainable urban mobility and the principles of a cooperative economy. In practice, this actually means that output generated in one sector is to be used as a material, product, energy or service in the operation of another sector. The positive consequences of these practices are the emergence of new business opportunities for the municipality, its residents and the local economy, as well as the creation of high-quality and predominantly green jobs that will generate an economic boost.
to the high concentration of resources, capital, data and talent in a small geographical area. Maribor has recognized the weight of its impact on the environment and has been acknowledged as an important player by the EU, which awarded the city with (until now) four approved circular economy projects, all of which aim to support a successful transition to the circular economy and make Maribor the most circular city in this part of Europe.
Cities are in a unique position to guide the global transition to a circular economy. This is also due
Why is Portland a Resilient City? by Daniel Lerch
Daniel Lerch is Education & Publications Director of the Post Carbon Institute, responsible for PCI’s educational efforts on community resilience and energy resource constraints. He has been the lead editor of PCI’s major publications over the last decade, most recently The Community Resilience Reader (2017). He is the author of Post Carbon Cities (2007) and was the founding chair of the Sustainable Communities Division of the American Planning Association.
The secret to Oregon lies in its long history that demonstrates how urban resilience starts with a focus on community consciousness and adequate government/management tools. *Redundancy in reliability engineering is defined as the duplication of critical components or functions of a system with the intention of increasing reliability of the system, ndr.
Portland, Oregon (with a metropolitan area population of 2.3 million people) regularly tops the lists of “most sustainable cities” in the United States. For decades, Portland has been a national leader in initiatives that reduce energy use and protect the environment, like transit-oriented development, cycling infrastructure, farmland preservation, and food composting. But, Portland is not really a sustainable city. For all the city’s achievements, Portlanders still use far more resources – and create far more pollution – than the environment can
renewably handle. This is of course true of any industrialised city. It’s not theoretically impossible for a modern city to be literally sustainable (i.e., able to persist indefinitely); but it would need to function quite differently than even the “greenest” of cities as we know them today. In our globalised civilisation, true sustainability is not an outcome achievable simply by scoring high on the right metrics. It is an ideal we can only strive towards iteratively, and on all scales. Portland is also often referred to as a “resilient” city, and this too is not really true. Urban resilience is about the ability to adapt in the face of disruption while preserving the city’s essence. To be sure, Portland has many of the qualities popularly associated with resilience: climate change preparedness; redundancies* in critical systems; and a strong civic culture and social cohesion. But, there is one big problem with declaring a city resilient:
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Post Carbon Institute, www.postcarbon.org American Planning Association, www.planning.org
we don’t actually know what urban resilience really looks like! The problem is that social-ecological systems’ resilience science (the intellectual foundation of urban resilience) was developed by studying the relationship of rural communities and the natural resources they make use of. We have some sense of how a small farming community might build its resilience to things like changing soil salinity and decreasing rainfall by adjusting certain governance structures and cultural norms. But, how would such ideas apply to globalised, industrialised, 21st-century communities made up of millions of people? We simply don’t know yet. Resilience scientists have begun tackling this question only in recent years. Portland certainly can’t function in its current state indefinitely, and it would suffer greatly in a disruption like a catastrophic earthquake or a global economic depression. And yet, when it comes to sustainability and resilience, the city is clearly on a better trajectory than most others in the United States – thanks in large part to the fact that it has simply been working towards these ideals for longer than just about anywhere else. How did Portland do it? I think it comes down to two prerequisites: sufficient intention
within the community, and sufficient government mechanisms. Portland and Oregon indeed have a long history of intention towards what we now call sustainability and resilience. It may have its roots in the region’s relative isolation: the lush Willamette Valley, where white settlers established their cities and towns in the mid-1800s, is separated from the bulk of the United States by hundreds of kilometres of mountains and desert. Perhaps it was the visceral sense of geographic limits, together with a pioneer’s readiness to devise home-grown solutions, that led late 20th-century Oregonians to unusual (for the U.S. at the time) political initiatives like regional governance, land conservation, highway removal, and public space creation. As the need for urban sustainability and resilience became clear over the last 30 years, the pieces were already in place for Oregon – and Portland – to act. If so, this means any community can achieve what Portland has achieved. Instead of chasing sustainability metrics and resilience frameworks, cities can cultivate long-term sustainability and resilience starts by focusing first on community awareness (the precursor to intention and political will) and government/ management tools.
Tai-Pay-As-You-Throw to Lower Waste Production by Nate Maynard Nate Maynard graduated from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in 2014 with a degree in international environmental policy. He is now a consultant with the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research (CIER), focusing on ocean economics, alternative energy development, and circular economy policies.
In 18 years, Taipei’s per capita waste production has diminished by 31%, whereas recycling has passed from 2% to 57%. This is the result of the introduction of Pay-As-You-Throw schemes and programmes aimed at educating the urban population on correct methods of waste disposal.
Walking around Taipei, Taiwan, one seldom sees trash or even trash cans. Instead you might see people washing plastic bottles, carefully sorting computer parts and families waiting for the nightly garbage trucks with blue trash bags. This trash transformation is a recent phenomenon. In 1993, Taiwan had a trash
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Garbage generated per capita per day (kg)
1.15 1.10 1.05 1.00 0.95 0.90 0.85 0.80 0.75 0.70
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45 40 35 30
Furthermore, the financial penalty scheme has driven recycling, increasing recycling rates from 2% to 57%. While Taipei adopted the scheme first, a similar trend is emerging across Taiwan. Taipei city boasts a 56% recycling rate, the highest in Taiwan, thanks to the PAYT and EPR schemes.
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disposing of their waste in public trash cans. This resulted in fines, removal of public trash cans and educational programmes to educate the population on proper waste management. Shortly after launching the programme, residents complained that they had to dispose of too much food waste, raising the costs substantially. The city quickly responded with a food waste composting system in 2003 that allowed residents to dispose of organic waste freely. This policy came six years before San Francisco’s acclaimed food waste composting law, yet few outside of Taiwan know of this achievement. Later, the city implemented a blue bag programme where residents had to purchase trash bags with a built in disposal fee. Recyclable items have no extra charge, thereby encouraging re-use. Since the launch of PAYT, per capita waste generation in Taipei fell 31% in 15 years, from 1.26 kg per person per day in 1997 to 0.87 kg in 2015.
Source: Taiwan EPA.
collection rate of just 70%. Meaning that 30% of waste entered the environment either through littering or burning. Over a ten-year period, Taipei has not only increased its recycling rate to the point where it is now considered one of the top five cities for recycling, it has also substantially reduced waste production. How have they achieved this? Through waste charging schemes and urban recycling projects funded with a garbage levy. Pay-As-You-Throw Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) schemes were introduced simultaneously with public education programmes. Together, these strategies decreased waste production from 1.08 kg of waste per person per day in 2001, to 0.86 kg per person per day, almost eliminating the need for landfills. Charging for waste disposal, typically called a “pay-as-you-throw” scheme (PAYT) reduces total waste output by citizens and industry by creating a financial penalty for garbage production. In 1991, Taipei City experimented with waste fees by charging residents for water, assuming that if residents used more water they also created more waste. Failing to reduce waste, Taipei then decided to start charging for waste by volume in 2000. When the programme first launched, citizens attempted to circumvent the measures by
Today, Taiwan incinerates less than it did in 2000, despite a peak in 2007. In fact, many incinerators around the island operate well below capacity. Landfill use, which was once threatening to take over the island, has decreased by 98%. Today, Taiwan produces more recyclable waste than unusable waste and has made considerable progress towards a “zero waste society.” Now Taipei City has passed legislation to fully ban single-use plastic bags, and straws. The solution for bags? Simple: require stores to hand out city approved trash bags and citizens who forget a reusable bag are charged for a trash bag which they can then re-use to dispose of their nonrecyclable waste. Taken as a whole there is a clear lesson to be learnt: charging for waste disposal and developing an EPR scheme drives down waste production, builds infrastructure and increases recycling. The result is that Taiwan has created a multibillion-dollar recycling industry by cleaning up it’s streets. Taiwan has shown us that, when faced with rising waste, there is the potential for developing successful waste management policy.
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Focus future-proof cities
100 Resilient Cities
Interview with Lina Liakou Architect and urban designer, Lina Liakou is the regional director for Europe and the Middle East at “100 Resilient Cities.” She was Vice-Mayor and Resilience Officer for Salonicco, guiding the city’s resilience strategy and initiating collaborations with the European Commission, the European Bank for investments and the World Bank.
100 cities selected to teach all the others around the world how to be resilient. by Emanuele Bompan, from London
How can we implement a real circular economy without having cities geared for resilience against stress and shocks? This is a key area of reflection when discussing the future of cities and in particular “circular cities.” To learn more about it we flew to London to visit the 100 Resilient Cities programme offices.
and the Middle East, in a luminous office not far from St. Pancras Station. Before joining 100RC, Lina was Deputy Mayor and Chief Resilience Officer for the City of Thessaloniki, Greece. In this capacity she led the development of the city’s Resilience Strategy.
100 Resilient Cities (100RC) was created in 2013 by the Rockefeller Foundation on its centennial. It began working with the first group of 32 cities in December of 2013. Before the second round in 2014, it received over 330 applications from 94 countries and then announced the 35 cities to be included in round 2 by December. Now they are nearing 100 selected cities.
How did the 100RC project start? “In 2013 the Rockefeller Foundation wanted to celebrate the 100 years from its foundation by doing something that would aggregate the different lessons learned from other programmes. The president of the Rockefeller Foundation, Dr. Judith Rodin, proposed the creation of an organisation that would select 100 cities all over the world and help them develop their resilience. This would move the practice and the discussion about resilience forward. Furthermore, these cities would then act
To learn more we met the EU Regional Director, Lina Liakou, who is overseeing the 100 Resilient Cities work with cities in Europe
Policy as examples for thousands of other cities all over the world.” 100 Resilient Cities, www.100resilientcities.org
What is the mission of the 100RC? “Its core contribution involves helping selected cities establish a Chief Resilience Officer (CRO) inside the city council. Her/his role is to align different priorities and make the cities resilient to shocks and stress. First, CROs have to define their city’s priorities and set a Resilience Strategy. This is then implemented by bringing a series of actors from private and non-profit organisations to help the cities move forward. It’s important to have not only public sector support, but also a role for the private sector that can develop tools and services for urban resilience. This enables a faster dissemination and application of resilience strategies.” Resilience is a key concept in the sustainable and circular economy mind-set. What defines a truly resilient city? “We define urban resilience in a much
broader way than how it is traditionally considered. A Resilient City is not only a city that survives shocks but is actually a city that adapts and develops even better in response to the shocks and stresses. To achieve this, it is essential to understand how stresses are connected with shocks and vice-versa: it’s a very integrated approach. In the past we focused only on disaster risk or resilience. We need a broader vision that connects the climate, natural resources, social fabric and the economy, whilst at the same time having effective action plans for shocks already in place.” What is the role of CROs? “Cities need somebody with a mandate on resilience. CROs possess integrated and horizontal thinking, and are capable of identifying who (from inside or outside the city) can help them to achieve their goals. We have a methodology that enables us to compare different cities and different strategies.
Our member cities Following a highly competitive application process (1,000+applications), 100RC selected a first group of cities in December 2013, announced the second in December 2014, and the third in May 2016
ROUND ONE CITIES ROUND TWO CITIES ROUND THREE CITIES
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renewablematter 22. 2018 This way we can learn from each other, aggregate needs, collect lessons learnt and pass them on to all the various CROs. The Foundation creates a lot of opportunities and spaces for peer-to-peer learning dedicated to CROs. The first cohort of heroes was able to teach and inspire the second cohort and then the lessons learnt from the second cohort were fed to the following. We have Learning Communities, online and offline conversation, and key events for dissemination.”
CROs possess integrated and horizontal thinking, and are capable of identifying who (from inside or outside the city) can help them to achieve their goals.
You were CRO for Thessaloniki, Greece. What was your job there? “First, I set a resilience strategy as a holistic narrative, defining where the city wants to go in the next fifty years. Thessaloniki didn’t have a long-term strategy. So, the CRO office created a unit that worked horizontally connecting all the PA offices with the non-profit sector, the communities, the private sector and academia. We brought them into the discussion on what the city should look like. Through this process a lot of new themes and connections to different projects emerged. We reinforced trust on public and metro systems; created Safe Routes to schools; and worked on the economic development of the bay, in connection with climate predictions for the Thermaic Gulf. This last project was a very systematic one and we were able to leverage resources from the European Investment Bank and the World Bank. They gave technical assistance for us to move forward with the priorities established in the strategy. We also submitted, along with stakeholders, the first Horizon programme on resilience.” How can CROs address their resilience strategies? “Each city has its priorities. Resilience for Milan may be more related to how climate connects with urban planning. In Paris you connect social issues and social integration with climate adaptation projects. It really depends on the context.” How important is it to reshape city budgets so as to make them resilient? “Part of the work of CROs is to understand the budget and try to put resilience around how the city does budgeting. Furthermore, the CRO has to tap external funds. For example, there are multiple EU funds that can be used for urban resilience. Last but not least, we create a dedicated team that works towards financing resilience. They will train CROs on how to work with the multilateral banks and general investors to support city needs. Often, officials have funds but lack a pipeline of projects or they have projects that have no financing. We have to bridge these gaps and help cities leverage resources. We also have to help investors understand
the value of resilience and long term planning.” Why work on cities and not just implement nation-wide strategies? “Cities are the place to be. The 21st century is the century of cities. Stresses, shocks, vulnerabilities and risks are increasing in cities.” Which megatrends are emerging in the resilience strategy? “Especially in Europe the circular economy is a fast and relevant emerging trend. Trying to reinvent the economic sector is a very high priority because of the general financial crisis that Europe went through and the impact of the linear industrial economy on the environment and health. The circular economy also connects with resilience in terms of relevance of waste management and water. Globally, other trends include: 1) water in relation to flooding, consumption, scarcity and quality; 2) flows of population and population changes inside cities (it is key to adapt to different changes in population, both in terms of needs and numbers, and adapting infrastructure); 3) youth and ageing population: the first as the centre of economic and social development, the latter in terms of adapting our cities to a growing population of senior citizens. All the megatrends have to be connected. For example, we’ve seen a lot of projects that are related to the repurposing of public spaces, connecting climate adaptation and the rise of migration issues, while creating a safe environment for kids. This problem can be faced in an integrated way. That is the most important type of thinking that a CRO has to implement.”
Policy
Focus future-proof cities
We Are Resilience Interview with Piero Pelizzaro
Over the next ten years Milan will experience a social and economic transformation. It will achieve this by shedding its skin and becoming resilient. by Sergio Ferraris
Since the 1st of December 2017, Piero Pelizzaro has been the Chief Resilience Officer (CRO) for the Municipality of Milan.
Sergio Ferraris is director of QualEnergia.
What are you doing at the moment as a resilience facility? “Today we are mapping the city’s current and future risks, both in terms of shock and stress. Those classifiable as stress events are the sudden ones, such as floods, that in the past were occasional and extreme instances but that today happen quite regularly because of climate change. On the other hand, shock events are sudden occurrences such as the rail accident of 25th January 2017 in Pioltello (where three women lost their lives, author’s note). This outline will allow us to define a metropolitan resilience strategy. Furthermore, I am also drawing up a list of guidelines for climate change adaptation that will be included in the Municipality of Milan’s Climate Action Plan. Lastly, I am also a member of the circular economy work group because it is key to reducing one of the main social stresses of the last few years: unemployment.” In practice? “Over the last few months we worked in synergy with town planning, within the context of the revision of the Territorial Zoning Plan (TZP), by including an implementation rule (art. 10 on resilience and sustainability), defining future actions of ordinary maintenance and new building development (if there is to be any, since the Municipality has outlined a 4% reduction in soil use), and a series of rewilding projects. We therefore codified elements of resilience within our TZP.” Therefore, is it correct to state that the concept of resilience is not just ecological, but also social? “That’s right. We will focus mainly on the relationship that adaptation policies have with climate change and social inclusion. For instance, I believe that local safety and security must be managed not only through law enforcement but also by focusing on the quality of public spaces and their liveability. Through quality and liveability, dialogue and participation can be created. We regard all people – migrants and citizens – as vulnerable, with no distinction. Of course, there are some delicate situations such as education where differences can be problematic. Education
is also included within the resilience strategy because issues do arise in this area. For us, these are opportunities for work on inclusion processes. Here, in collaboration with the resilience city network, we are devising educational projects aimed not only at children but also at families and parents that often carry complex situations with them. Moreover, for us social, climate and migration issues are all interconnected from a methodological point of view: if we were to further compartmentalise, we would not act according to resilience principles.” There are lots of issues involved. Are you not spreading yourself too thin? “I don’t think so, since they are all interconnected issues. Rather, those dealing with the same issues separately, as if they were independent problems, are indeed spreading themselves too thin. Our job is to create a system with which to solve many problems. In cities it is impossible to work by separating issues. For instance, a circular economy means using fewer resources, increasing efficiency in economic processes but also difficulties and opportunities linked to climate change. In this framework we need to implement urban economic policies so that issues such as employment reduction can be tackled, thus creating new forms of economic innovation. Here, we would like to assess whether we can lead innovative processes that do not take profit alone into account, but that can also have a social impact. Therefore, I think that by tackling complexity with order and vision, we are not spreading ourselves too thin.” Can you give us an example of such interconnections? “Milan is a city with thirteen fablabs, we have a very effective policy to bring back digital as well as traditional manufacturing within the city, 63.35% of organic waste collection, and urban regeneration activities with innovation processes. These are all tiles in the circular economy mosaic, economic innovation and social inclusion. With regard to health, a luxury brand such as Ferragamo uses a natural fabric obtained from citrus fruit, processing by-products that reduce allergies.”
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renewablematter 22. 2018 *Gentrification – literally “middleclassification” – is the process of renovating historical districts or whole urban centres so that they conform to middle-class taste, with the ensuing transformation of those inhabiting the area: a change combining a new urban identity and social fabric, editor’s note.
What transformations do you expect in the urban fabric? And what actions are you undertaking? “From now to 2030, 30,000 new people will arrive in the city every year, with 15,000 new over 85 year olds every year. We already have a large flow of young people from Southern Italy. We increased the amount of passengers on public transport by 20%, 4% increase in the roads covered by Milan’s public transport system (ATM), 16,000 new shared bicycles, 7 car sharing operators, a new underground line which will be completed within the next couple of years, and we have also amplified the amount of cycle lanes, although the number of cars on our roads has also increased due to population growth. While other cities are deserted, we grow. Migration to cities is not only for economic reasons by also out of personal interest. Therefore, either we are able to manage local, social and economic issues sustainably or we will go bust.” Bringing back manufacturing to the city. Is this not an environmental risk? “We are talking about workshops which are a great asset to the city and we have to work on production processes through eco-friendly technologies. If we manage to keep the labour force in cities without polluting, the mobility issues of workers are also solved, with a reduced overall impact. We are not talking about big industry, but rather about Italy’s large heritage of small and medium size enterprises. In other words, we are not talking about bringing back steel plants to the city, but rather to take advantage of the urban know-how, such as design and fashion, which are sectors that have deep-roots in the city.” What about city planning. Milan’s latest city planning interventions have been controversial. How is the current administration tackling city planning, specifically with regards to resilience and climate? “The current Territorial Zoning Plan (TZP) includes 29 parks, a reduction of soil use index from 74% to 70%, a new urban reforestation plan (with the aim of planting 300,000 new trees by 2030), all new building projects will have to use at least 10% circular materials and materials that facilitate solar reflection (white roofs to prevent heat bubbles, editor’s note), we are focusing on a vertical green expansion and we have rules and regulations in place with which the Municipality has the right to regain possession of buildings that have been abandoned for over 5 years, in order to avoid urban holes and wrecks. All these elements make the TZP extremely resilient and also linked to climate change. Moreover, we have councillor Pierfrancesco Maran, who combines the authorisations for green town planning with agricultural policies, which is unheard of in the Italian context.”
300,000 more citizens in the next ten years, 20% more people, how are you tackling this? Could this not lead to non-resilient effects such as a rise in real estate prices and gentrification*? “We have to recover abandoned spaces, making the most of existing buildings, helping those investing in innovation, proximity and economic services and try to reduce the number of shopping malls, thus increasing local consumption. All this together with city planning initiatives.” What will you do about energy issues? “For example, we are considering self-generation of electricity, so as to address energy poverty, and we are also considering whether energy self-sufficiency can be an element with which to fight it, verifying if there are technologies that can support social initiatives. Technology has to tackle social questions and not vice versa. Here, we need to understand what the private sector and public administration with public assets, can do. These two players must talk to each other and act hand in hand, each with separate roles. As a public administrator I must understand how public buildings can generate these solutions, in turn these can then be adopted autonomously by the private sector. Furthermore, the public sector also has other tools. For instance, ATM, Milan’s transport company, aims to replace all diesel-fuelled buses with electric ones by 2030, investing two billion euros. This is also resilience, both for emissions and adaptation, as it will reduce the heat loss by endothermic engines that in turn create heat bubbles.” Everything you describe clashes with a political culture that considers growth in GDP and the construction sector the two major indicators of wellbeing. Do you not see some contradictions? “I think cities must take brave decisions and share them with their citizens. In this way, from a political point of view, the rewards may not be seen in the short term but rather in the medium/long term, bringing environmental and cultural benefits. Listening to citizens is a pre-requisite. Each one of Milan’s municipalities allocates €1 million per year in citizen participation. There is a participatory budget programme for the opening of the Navigli (the city’s canals): we have organized meetings for over six months, there have been public consultations, there is a platform to promote participation and we are working on improving data accessibility for citizens. In the future, such elements will be able to demolish the equation GDP and construction sector growth equals wellbeing.”
Focus future-proof cities
The Blue Revolution Playground
From the abandoned tanks and slides of an old swimming pool, to experimentation and innovation hub for the circular economy. In Holland, thanks to innovative entrepreneurs and flows of circulating materials, BlueCity is forging the Rotterdam of the future. by Antonella Ilaria Totaro
1. See also Femke Groothuis, “A Fiscal Update: The Winning Strategy,” Renewable Matter n. 21, May-June 2018.
“To have a real impact and solve the most pressing problems, we need entrepreneurs.” This is the mantra that has been repeated for years by Siemen Cox and Wouter Veer – the creators and founders of the Blue Revolution initiative currently taking place at BlueCity in the heart of Rotterdam. Whilst Amsterdam is constantly facing space and rent problems, Rotterdam is not short on space. BlueCity is one of the best examples. Metres and metres of space reclaimed from abandoned areas that have now become a true playground for innovative companies and the linchpin of circular transformation in the second-biggest Dutch city. You can breathe constant experimentation in the 12,000 square metres of the old Tropicana aqua park, an iconic piece of the cities architecture and the dream of thousands of children and families back in the 1990s, abandoned and then reconsidered, redesigned, rebuilt and partially reopened in late March 2017 as an incubator for circular companies and offices. The regeneration, led by Dutch companies Coup, Superuse Studios and Workspot, was carried out using 90% of materials found within Tropicana or from abandoned buildings in the surrounding area. Red cedar wood frames were reused and
thanks to a two-level joint work they now separate working stations in BlueCity, whilst offering a view over the Mosa River. The remaining 10% of the refurbishment was carried out choosing reusable and sustainable materials. This material reuse guaranteed a saving of 60 tonnes of CO2 compared to the emissions that would have been produced using traditional building processes with new materials. However, this regeneration was not cheaper than constructing a new building. The main reason? Taxes… As explained by Sabine Biesheuvel, co-founder and managing director of BlueCity, “It is absurd that a building made using 90% recycled materials is more expensive than a building made with new materials.” According to Biesheuvel, the tax system needs to change, moving taxes from labour to raw materials and consumption.1 But despite costs and environmental impacts, the transformation is underway. Where the Club Tropicana disco stood before, they are now building offices and meeting rooms; laboratories on the ground floor have replaced the swimming pool’s old changing rooms, whereas the Aloha Bar with its terrace overlooking the Mosa River
Policy now stands between old tanks and slides. They are currently working on the renovation of the “dome,” the most iconic part of BlueCity, but it is a lengthy and expensive process. The official opening for the public is scheduled for March 2019. Companies “We need brains, a lot of courage and an engaging and radically innovative plan with which to develop a world where waste becomes a valuable commodity.” Among old slides, decorative tiles, stones and plants, reminiscent of the old Tropicana aqua park, over the past five years many startups have moved in. Today there are a total of 25 startups, all sharing a common denominator: their involvement in the Blue Revolution theorised by Gunter Pauli. They work with locally available materials, collaborating instead of competing and generate income flows: using the output of any given company’s productive process as the input for another’s. It is a continuous creation
of networks and connections of local players with the aim of creating innovation and jobs, considering waste as a commodity and creating social capital without depleting the environment. BlueCity accommodates start-ups involved in the reuse of materials such as Better Future Factory, an engineering design studio focussed on creating projects (such as Perpetual Plastic) and startups (such as Refil) that manufacture new objects from plastic waste, packaging or recycled yarns in different colours for 3D printers. On the other hand, Okkehout focuses on giving wood a second life. Mooring poles, which spent their first life in the Mosa River and must be periodically replaced for safety reasons, are transformed into tables and other modular furniture items by Okkehout. These are the very tables and pieces of furniture that can be admired in BlueCity’s spaces and rooms, treated using beeswax produced by the apiarian company present in the structure.
BlueCity, www.bluecity.nl Blue economy, www.theblueeconomy.org
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renewablematter 22. 2018
Wouter Veer
Sabine Biesheuvel. Credits: Daphne van Drenth
waste, such as mango skin, into durable and hard-wearing leatherette which can then be used in fashion and furnishing items.
Siemen Cox, Mark Slegers
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Many startups and companies are working on food production and upcycling. For instance: Spireaux which produces spirulina, an algae used as nutritional protein; UglyFoodRescuers Club, which is engaged in reducing food waste and serving recovered food at events hosted by BlueCity and Aloha Bar; Vet&Lazy is a brewery based in the basement of BlueCity that reuses spices from other processes (for example Aloha Bar’s coffee beans) and circulates its own outputs, such as used barley malt that becomes an ingredient for the production of granola, and cooling water which is saved and reused in other processes within BlueCity; Fruitleather Rotterdam is committed to transforming fruit
However, all these start-ups would not be in BlueCity without Rotterzwam and the creativity of its founder Siemen Cox, the first to see the Tropicana as a space for experimentation. After considering aquaculture and vertical agriculture, Cox saw in the wet basement of the old swimming pool the ideal place for growing mushrooms. In 2013, with Mark Slegers, he started Rotterzwarm, a company collecting coffee grounds from the city’s bars and restaurants to grow mushrooms which would then be sold to restaurants and bakeries that produce bitterballen, a traditional Dutch mushroom sauce. Furthermore, they made mushroom cultivation and production from coffee grounds available to all. Anyone can grow Pleurotus ostreatus at home, by buying the cultivation kit and following the company’s simple online tutorials. Embracing the idea of output flows as resources, CO2 produced by mushrooms helps Spireaux to grow algae, while Aloha Bar’s biological waste ends up in Rotterzwam, which in turn serves mushroom bitterballen to customers. Transforming an old swimming pool in an innovation and experimentation centre has not been easy. In 2013, police raided the Tropicana, the premises of Rotterzwam, believing they were growing illegal mushrooms, but they had to come to terms with the fact that the mushrooms cultivated there were edible and legal. In May 2017, a fire broke out in the basement of BlueCity causing heavy losses in material and equipment. However, the fire was followed by a crowdfunding campaign that collected €22,000 in two months from 470 people; fridges, telephones and other equipment were also donated. Furthermore, in the birth of BlueCity we must not underestimate the role of the public sector and their desire to support original and ground-breaking solutions. The very Municipality of Rotterdam understood the value and potential impact of the BlueCity Project, showing flexibility with regards to innovations and experimentations: such as those that were undertaken in a building that was legally registered as a swimming pool. Gemeente Rotterdam was an important player when it came to transferring the ownership of the swimming pool. Other buyers wanted to turn Tropicana, built in 1988 and closed to the public in 2010, into a hotel, a restaurant or tennis courts. After months of meetings with the institutions, possible partners and funds, in October 2015, Tropicana officially started its transition towards BlueCity. During a public auction (Roger Lips was the previous owner who had gone bankrupt)
Policy the old swimming pool was bought for €1.7 million by iFund Foundation led by Wouter Veer, impact investor and the main financial player in the BlueCity operation. The Lab of the Future In this model circular city, where entrepreneurs connect their outgoing flows and transform waste into precious raw materials, an important role is played by BlueCity Lab where materials are experimented and developed. Since it all started from mushrooms, BlueCityLab is inevitably experimenting with mycelium to
develop materials for packaging, thus treading in American Ecoactive’s footsteps. The lab is situated in the swimming pool’s old changing rooms where there is a wet and a dry lab. Thanks to this special combination, unique in the Netherlands, materials can grow in the wet lab and be transformed into the end product in the dry lab. Thus, the lab can develop and produce packaging material from mushrooms’ mycelia or leather from kombucha (fermented material consisting of bacteria and yeasts) dyed with ink produced by bacteria. As a start-up incubator and laboratory, BlueCity offers training courses, acceleration programmes, challenges for youngsters and innovators, and events such as Living University, an annual meeting for pioneers of the Blue Economy that took place last October. Thus, in order to get a glimpse of the future, it is worth paying a visit to BlueCity, the lab that is increasingly transforming Rotterdam, the Manhattan on the Mosa, the European New York, the city of Erasmus, but above all, the biggest European port threatened by rising water levels (it is located over 6 metres below sea level), into a field of experimentation and innovation, ready to become a resilient and future-proof city.
Rotterzwam, www.rotterzwam.nl Ecovative, www.ecovative design.com The Living University, www.livinguniversity.com
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renewablematter 22. 2018
In Depth
Why Cities Need to Become Circular
The urban population is experiencing constant growth. If in 1950 only 700 million people lived in cities around the world, today urban areas are home to 4.2 billion people (around 55% of the global population), compared to the 3.4 billion that still live in rural areas or small settlements. The trend does not appear to be abating. In fact, it is predicted that by 2050 cities will
bring together 6.4 billion people. With Asia and South America hosting the largest cities by population. To sustain this crushing growth in urbanisation it will be crucial to rethink the city, means of production, forms of consumption, flows of materials, urban mobility and many other aspects.
infographics by Michela Lazzaroni, text by Antonella Ilaria Totaro
2.3 1.3
1.0
0.7 1950
1.7
1960
1970
1980
1990
URBAN POPULATION Millions of people that live in cities around the world (1950 - prediction for 2050) 80 YEARS OF GROWTH
Inhabitants: 40,000,000
The world's 30 largest cities by population in 2018 (n . = position in the top 30):
30,000,000 20,000,000
Population in 1950
10,000,000
Population in 2018
1,000,000
Predicted population for 2030
n . CITY
1 . TOKYO
Country
3 . SHANGHAI
4 . BEIJING
5 . MUMBAI
10 . DHAKA
11 . KARACHI
12 . BUENOS AIRES Argentina
China
Bangladesh
17 . GUANGZHOU China
25 . JAKARTA Indonesia
China
18 . MANILA
6 . SAO PAULO
India
Pakistan
7 . MEXICO CITY
Brasil
13 . KOLKATA India
14 . LAGOS Nigeria
9 . CAIRO
15 . ISTANBUL
16 . CHONGQING
Japan
Turkey
19 . RIO DE JANEIRO
20 . MOSCOW 21 . TIANJIN Russia
China
22 . BANGALORE
26 . CHENNAI
27 . LONDON
28 . LIMA
29 . BOGOTA
30 . JOHANNESBURG
India
United Kingdom
Peru
Colombia
India
South Africa
India
8 . OSAKA
Mexico
Philippines
Brasil
2 . DELHI
Japan
23 . PARIS France
Egypt
China
24 . SHENZHEN China
Source: worldpopulationreview.com
In Depth
io ns
6.4 i
ct
Fu
tu
5.7
re pred
5.0 4.2 3.5
2.9
2000
2010
2020
2030
2040
2050
Source: UN, Department of Economic & Social Affairs, Population Division.
CLIMATE DEPARTURE A city hits “climate departure” when the average temperature of its coolest year is projected to be warmer than the average temperature of its hottest year from then on (between 1960 and 2005)
Helsinki
Oslo Vancouver San Jose San Diego
Toronto Chicago Austin Houston
Honolulu
Berlin
Dublin Paris
Rome
Madrid
Philadelphia
Rabat
Orlando Port-au-Prince Santo Domingo
Moscow Minsk Budapest Istambul Baku
Santiago
Kuala Lumpur
Nairobi
Rio de Janeiro Buenos Aires
Dar es Salaam
Jakarta
Antananarivo Johannesburg
Perth
Durban
Brisbane Sydney
Cape Town
Estimated year of climate departure Sources: Mora C, et al. “The projected timing of climate departure from recent variability”. Nature, vol 7470, pp 183-187. 2013. Rosenzweig C et al. “ARC3.2 Summary for City Leaders”. 2nd ed. New York. Urban Climate Change Research Network, Columbia University. 2015. Underfunded, Underprepared, Underwater? Cities at Risk. 2015.
Manila
Bangalore Chennai
Abuja
Luanda
Lima
Tokyo
Shanghai Taipei
Dhaka
Amman
Quito
Seoul
Lahore
Karachi
Conakry
La Paz
Beijing
2023 - 2033 2033 - 2043 2043 - 2053 2053 - 2063 After 2063
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Dossier
IRELAND Dublin is using the bioeconomy as leverage with which to obtain sustainable economic growth. This will allow for a decarbonisation of the economy, creation of jobs – especially in rural areas – and an increase in the countries competitiveness. In this scenario research and innovation will play a fundamental role.
Policy
Ireland is Ever Greener Thanks to the Bioeconomy by Mario Bonaccorso
Arcaion_Pixabay_CC0
Mario Bonaccorso is a journalist and creator of the Bioeconomista blog.
Developing new biobased products, facilitating access to European funding and private investments and promoting better cohesion between interested sectors: these are just some of the Irish Government’s action plans. Green is the Irish colour. Historical, cultural, geographical and even religious reasons underpin this inseparable pairing. Today, green is also the banner of Ireland’s environmental aspirations, a country that has based its national development strategy leading to 2040 on environmental sustainability. Ireland still doesn’t have a bioeconomy focused strategy. However, last February its government presented a “National Policy Statement on the Bioeconomy,” thus getting close to one. The Statement outlines three main actions to be undertaken in the coming years: promotion of better cohesion amongst the many sectors making up the bioeconomy; development of new biobased products and creation of relevant markets; and access to EU funding and private investments. This Statement is matched by the initiative Project Ireland 2040, allocating €116 billion to drive Ireland’s development over the next 22 years. Ireland’s action against climate change represents one of the plan’s focal points, with a staggering €22 billion – about a fifth of the total budget – devoted to investments in this area, and targeting key sectors such as transport, energy and construction.
Actions against climate change In particular, Ireland 2040 establishes a €500 million fund to tackle climate change, introduces a ban on selling fossil-fuel powered cars after 2030 – with a further objective of no fossil fuel cars on roads by 2045 –, and sets the objective of reducing carbon emissions from electricity generation with an extra 4,500 megawatts from renewable sources by 2030 and new investments for heat insulation and retrofitting schools, public buildings and 45,000 dwellings per year, as of 2021. “The recognition of climate change as a serious global and local issue is seeing the emergence of a new economic model focused on two principal pillars: low carbon growth and resource efficiency,” writes Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Leo Varadkar in the foreword of the Statement of national policy on the bioeconomy. “Ireland needs to move beyond simply a target compliance and carbon mitigation focus to integrating sustainable economic development into our economic model as we transition to a low carbon economy. Relying less on fossil-based resources and increasing our use of renewable biological materials is one significant way of accomplishing this shift, and this is an area
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renewablematter 22. 2018 in which Ireland enjoys important comparative advantages.” The Irish vision beyond Brexit The Irish plan aims high: to make Ireland a global bioeconomy leader through a coordinated approach able to fully exploit the country’s natural resources while respecting the four guiding principles. The first refers to sustainability, whereby economic activity must not interfere with the ecosystem’s resilience and biodiversity. The second involves the cascading use of biomass, preferring uses that generate the highest added value rather than focusing on energy recovery. The third, refers to pre-emption and focuses on environmental and population protection. Last but not least, the forth one prioritizes food and nutrition security, thus avoiding any conflict with food supply.
Bioéire, www.teagasc.ie/ publications/2017/bioeireresults-launch.php
The Irish government strongly believes in the bioeconomy as a lever for sustainable economic growth, starting from rural and coastal areas. This will mean, according to Varadkar’s government, decarbonising the economy and above all creating jobs and increasing his country’s competitiveness. This is a crucial issue in Ireland, as they fear negative consequences on their economy as a result of Brexit. According to a study published in February by Copenhagen Economics, one of the leading economic consultancy firms in the Nordic region, Brexit’s effects on the Irish economy could cause a contraction of its GDP between 2.8% and 7% by 2030. This macroeconomic evaluation takes into account exports from Ireland to the UK currently worth 13.5% of the Irish GDP (the UK is second only to the USA for Irish imports). The “Ireland First” approach that the EU claims to have adopted in its negotiations with London might not be enough to reassure Dublin. Then again, a country that only a few years ago was described as the “Celtic Tigre,” only to be forced at the beginning of this decade to ask for 67.5 billion in international aid, and thus entering a three-year rescue plan resulting in hard austerity and increasing poverty, managed to improve its economy thanks to exports to the USA and the UK. According to the Central Bank of Ireland’s forecasts, in 2018 its GDP will grow by 4.4%. The institute, led by Philip Lane, also forecasts that in the next two years, 89,000 new jobs will be created, an annual growth of 2.2% and 1.8%, so as to reach a level of employment of 2.3 million, higher than the peak reached just before the crisis in 2007. However, in 2007 in Ireland, 1 job out of 9 was in the construction sector, which imploded when the real estate bubble burst. Today – the Central Bank points out – the picture is very different and it envisages that
in 2019 only 1 worker in 16 will work directly in the construction industry. The bioeconomy could be a way of stabilising this positive economic picture, making it less reliant on the presence of multinational companies in Ireland. This is the view expressed by the authors of “BioÉire – A Bioeconomy for Ireland,” a document published in February 2017 as a precursor to the Statement of national policy supported by the Irish Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. “Eventhough much of the Celtic Tigre’s boom was due to construction and many jobs lost due to the recession were in this sector, the current recovery period offers an opportunity to find safe and sustainable ways to consolidate the Irish economy as a whole. The first example of how this could be achieved could be by using local biomaterials, getting better value from by-products and the waste generated in production processes, exploring and developing new products and processing opportunities for underused resources.” The agro-food industry’s role The Irish agro-food sector, including fishery and forestry, employs 8% of the workforce and creates 7.6% of gross added value, whereas its exports exceed €10 billion per year. An important aspect of this sector – as outlined by Project BioÉire – is its decentralised nature: while most of the food processing activity takes place in urban centres, agriculture, fishing and silviculture occur mainly in rural areas, which represent a priority for development within the EU bioeconomy strategy. While there is no specific strategy regarding the agro-food industry as a subsector of the bioeconomy, in recent years Ireland has put in place a series of plans to increase the agro-food sector’s output, including Food Harvest 2020 and Food Wise 2025. The latter, published in July 2015, identifies a series of ambitious and challenging goals for the Irish agro-food sector: export growth by 85% to €19 billion, increase in added value by 70% up to €13 billion, increase in primary production by 60% to €10 billion and creation of 23,000 new jobs along the entire value chain, from production to product marketing. To achieve these objectives, Food Wise 2025 identifies 400 sustainable growth recommendations with a coordinated approach amongst primary sectors, industry and government bodies. The forestry sector At the end of 2015, forests covered 10.7% of Ireland’s surface, with a production of 3.2 million cubic metres of wood per year,
Policy and it is forecasted that this could increase to 8 million by 2035. The forestry sector as a whole generates €2.3 billion for the Irish economy, with 12,000 jobs. This is why there cannot be a bioeconomy plan that does not take into account the forestry sector’s strategic role. “Growing the Irish Forest Bioeconomy” is the title of a report published at the end of 2017 by Coford, the Council for forestry research and development, analysing the very contribution of the forestry sector to the emerging Irish bioeconomy. “There is no doubt,” claims Food, Forest and Horticulture Minister Andrew Doyle, “that the forestry sector plays a crucial role in the emerging bioeconomy. Nevertheless, its enormous potential can be further exploited by using new wood products and construction systems, as well as by increasing the use of wood fibre in a range of innovative products identified in the report. So I do welcome this report, highlighting the importance of the forestry sector in decarbonising our economy now and in the future.”
Dwelling on the marine sector in Monaghan, the biotech company BioMarineIngredients, has built the first pilot-scale biorefinery in Ireland. Moreover, a park for marine innovation Páirc Na Mara, has been created in Connemara to lead the sustainable growth of the marine economy at a local level. And there is more: through Science Foundation Ireland, the Irish government has invested €14.2 million in a bioeconomy research centre (Beacon) that will explore how to convert marine resources and food production waste into higher-value products. Beacon Research Centre’s headquarters are based in the University College in Dublin, but was born from a collaboration between the same university, Dublin’s Trinity College and the University of Limerick and Galway (NUI), the Agriculture and Food Development Authority (Teagasc) and the industrial world.
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Coford, www.coford.ie Beacon, www.beaconcentre.ie
According to the report published by Coford virtually everything that can be made with fossil fuels can also be made with biobased resources. Replacing fossil fuels with sustainably-produced timber will help decarbonisation and the ongoing economic growth, improving environmental resilience while developing rural economies.
In this scenario of policies, aiming at decarbonising the country and promoting the growth of the bioeconomy, the Irish government has given research a crucial task. The same document for the national bioeconomy policy outlines how in recent years Ireland has created and funded several research centres focused on the bioeconomy. One of them is the Irish Bioeconomy Foundation, based in the National Bioeconomy campus in Lisheen, Tipperary County: a converted mine with an area of 455 hectares boasting an €80 million plant. At the end of last year, IBF secured a €4.6 million fund from Enterprise Ireland’s Fund for rural development to build a national pilot plant for innovation and industrial scale-up. This plant, which should be completed by the first quarter of 2019, aims at becoming a benchmark for the Irish bioeconomy ecosystem, catalysing the development of technologies from the industrial and academic world while promoting the valorisation of secondary flows and waste from the agro-food and fishery sectors. The higher added value products developed will include ingredients for food and feeds, pharmaceutical products, natural chemicals and biodegradable plastics.
Oxalis acetosella, Otto Wilhelm Thomé, “Flora von Deutschland Österreich und der Schweiz,” 1885/WikimediaCommons
Research
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renewablematter 22. 2018 Interview
by M. B.
Agriculture, Food and the Sea: The Fundamental Elements of our Bioeconomy Maeve Henchion, Head of Department of Agrifood Business and Spatial Analysis at Teagasc
Teagasc – the Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority – is the national body responsible for providing integrated research, as well as advisory and training services, for the agriculture and food industry and rural communities. Maeve’s research interests span the supply chain and usually operate at the interface between social science and technical science. They include food innovation, sustainable food production and consumption, consumer and industry acceptance of novel food technologies, food quality, and strategic food marketing. As far as you’re concerned, what are the strengths and weaknesses of the bioeconomy in Ireland? “Ireland has many natural advantages including healthy and productive soil, a climate that is good for producing grass (and a well established agro-food sector based around this), an ambitious forestry sector, and an extensive coastline which positions it well for the development of new marine-based value chains, in addition to those based on terrestrial biomass. Ireland also has a coordinated research and innovation funding system and a very strong cohort of research producing organisations, researchers and companies actively engaged in innovation. Having a supportive national policy is also a strength upon which the future of the Irish bioeconomy will build.” Who are the main bioeconomy players in Ireland? “Ireland has developed a bioeconomy ecosystem which includes policy makers, businesses, investors, researchers, consumers and local communities. At a policy level, leadership by the Department of the Taoiseach (Prime Minster’s Office), along with involvement of all government ministries through the Inter-Departmental Group, positions policy makers as key players. In addition, some of our large agro-food companies are actively involved in bioeconomy related projects including our dairy companies (e.g. AgriChemWhey), our mushroom companies (e.g. Fungus Chain), and our marine companies (e.g. BioMarine Ingredients). On the research side, a significant amount of national funding for research has been allocated to the bioeconomy by Science Foundation Ireland, and by industry through the BEACON Bioeconomy Research Centre, which has its headquarters at University College Dublin, but is actually a partnership between University College Dublin, Teagasc, Trinity College Dublin, NUI Galway, University of Limerick, and industrial players. BEACON is unique in the way that
it combines science, technology, social science and business to address the challenges of developing a sustainable bioeconomy. In addition to Universities, institutes of technology are also active. For example, the EU funded Agriforvalor project that in Ireland involves IT Tralee and Teagasc (the Irish Farmers Association and the Irish Forest and Forest Products Association). This project was established to develop bioeconomy innovation design hubs in Ireland (and also in Hungary and Spain). Local Authorities are also important. For example, Tipperary County Council have been instrumental in the development of a National Bioeconomy Campus in a rural part of Ireland, which includes a pilot biorefinery. Valorising agricultural waste and linking the circular economy and the bioeconomy are important aspects of the bioeconomy in Ireland. The Irish-led and EU-funded AgroCycle project, has the ambitious aim of delivering a 10% increase in agricultural waste valorisation by 2020. The commercial forestry business and publicprivate company Coillte, is an important player in the forestry sector and has worked with COFORD (DAFM), Teagasc and industry, to produce a strategy document for the forestry sector in relation to the bioeconomy, entitled ‘Growing the Irish Forest Bioeconomy.’ Recently, the Irish Bioeconomy Foundation (IBF) was also established to provide a forum for key stakeholders (including policy makers, academics and industrial representatives) to come together under a single bioeconomy umbrella.” Last February, the Irish Government issued the National Policy Statement on the Bioeconomy. Yet, some people in Ireland still complain about the lack of a specific strategy on the bioeconomy. Is this topic really part of the government’s agenda? From your point of view, what measures should the plan contain so that it can give practical support to the bioeconomy? “I am still not sure if a national strategy is required. The policy statement, coming as it did from the Department of the Taoiseach and the InterDepartmental Group, has given a strong indication of the Irish government’s commitment to the bioeconomy and a signal that various strategies need to align in support of the statement. With the implementation of the policy statement – that involves the aforementioned Inter-Departmental Group, co-chaired by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment –
Policy the vision is clear and the next set of key priorities for Ireland and the support frameworks required are outlined. The next steps for the implementation of the Irish bioeconomy, that have been established as requisites by all stakeholders, include: establishing appropriate networks; focusing on research and innovation translation so as to extend and intensify commercial opportunities; examining smart regulatory processes; and increasing communication to all key stakeholders in the bioeconomy. Whether there is a need for a national strategy to provide an overarching framework for existing related strategies, for example FoodWise 2020, will be clearer after this process and will be an area of discussion involving all stakeholders. The development of business models, to ensure primary producers are not just suppliers of cheap biomass, will be an important area requiring support. Furthermore, ensuring awareness and understanding of the bioeconomy and bio-based products by consumers and citizens will also be important. These elements will be critical to achieving a sustainable bioeconomy.” Project Ireland 2040 is the Government’s overarching policy initiative to make Ireland a better country. How is this plan connected to the development of the bioeconomy? “Project 2040 and the national planning framework process, highlight the opportunities engendered in the Circular Bioeconomy. The three regional areas will further examine the bioeconomy opportunity in the upcoming year, so as to develop more regionally focused approaches. In turn, the government will establish funding opportunities through the national development plan, that will focus on delivering, in terms of climate change, the circular economy and sustainable economic development. The publication of the national bioeconomy policy statement, highlights the high regard with which the bioeconomy as an opportunity is held. In particular, with regards to its potential contribution to the achievement of the strategic policy objectives of decarbonisation, climate change mitigation, sustainable economic development, employment, growth, and development of regional and rural areas. Ireland’s bioeconomy will create significant economic opportunities in rural areas, where a large portion of industrial players in the bioeconomy are based.” How relevant is the role played by the agriculture and food industries in the Irish bioeconomy? Also, how relevant is the role played by marine biotechnology? “Agriculture, food and the sea are core elements of the Irish bioeconomy. In addition to primary production, valorising agricultural co-products and waste are also increasingly important areas of value for Ireland. The national policy statement specifically recommends the implementation group to ‘progress the leading value chain propositions identified in the BioÉire project by establishing the conditions required for their commercial viability and how these might be fulfilled.’ The top supply chains identified in BioÉire for development in the short to medium term are the
use of 2nd generation feedstock for the production of biochemicals; dairy processing side-streams for sports nutrition products; horticultural by-product for biocompostable packaging; marine discard for functional food and feed applications; agricultural and food waste for bioenergy production; seaweed use for food and healthcare applications; and forestry residues for decentralised heat generation.” Without the people on board, it’s really difficult to actually decarbonise. What is the public perception of the bioeconomy in Ireland? Are there plans for education and training? “As is the case elsewhere, the Irish public do not easily relate to the term bioeconomy. It is a challenging term even for so called ‘experts.’ The implementation steps over the next year will start to increase public awareness of the bioeconomy. The aforementioned BEACON centre, has a specific education and public engagement programme to engage all levels of society, from primary schools upwards, as a key aim. Teasing out consumers’ current understanding of the bioeconomy and its associated terms, their awareness and potential attitudes towards bio-based products, and developing a lexicon to help communicate the concept, will all be key components of the work I will be doing in BEACON. Indeed, we currently have a 4-year fully funded PhD opportunity in this area. Through the development of a ‘knowledge hub,’ BEACON is integrating the perspective of consumers, businesses, investors, researchers, regulators, policy makers and local communities to enhance public understanding of the bioeconomy, its value and the opportunities it offers.” Lisheen is the first Irish cluster dedicated to the bioeconomy. What is its role in supporting the bioeconomy? Can this case be replicated in other parts of the country? “In Q4 2017, Enterprise Ireland (EI) announced funding through the EI regional enterprise development fund for a pilot biorefinery to be located in Lisheen Mines, Co. Tipperary. Tipperary County Council is developing a National Bioeconomy Campus in Lisheen Mines. Tipperary County Council is also due to become a designated Chemical Model Demonstrator Region, thanks to an award created by the EU Commission, and is currently the recipient of ongoing funded consultation to aid the development of the Lisheen project. Vedanta, the company currently operating in Lisheen Mines, has an ongoing working relationship with Prof. Kevin O’Connor in UCD (Director of BEACON) and is working closely with Tipperary County Council to remediate and source alternative enterprise activities for the site.”
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Slovenia Aims to Become a Circular Hub for Europe With Circular Change, Slovenia has launched its circular economy roadmap. Aspiring to become a benchmark and experimental hub for all of Europe. by Rudi Bressa
Circular Change, www.circularchange.com 1. ec.europa.eu/ commission/sites/betapolitical/files/circulareconomy-factsheetgeneral_en.pdf
A circular transition. Slovenia launched this campaign during the Third Circular Challenge Conference held on the 10th and 11th May 2018 in Kostanjevica na Kriki and Maribor, and endorsed by Circular Change, a non-profit organisation born to create a network of expertise and propel the entire nation through an environmental, economic and social transition.
Rudi Bressa is a freelance journalist and naturalist who writes about the environment, science, renewable energy and the circular economy for various Italian newspapers.
A true paradigm shift which could lead Europe’s little nation to become a new permanent lab for best practices, international exchange, as well as public and political debate. In Slovenia’s first roadmap for the circular economy, the excitement and inspiration characteristic of a young nation is palpable. A country that is open to innovation and able to seize on the opportunities of a new economic model and the recent EU Circular Economy Package which was approved in April. Therefore, an opening for a new model of production and consumption, which could save Europe at least €600 billion by 2030, whilst creating 170,000 new jobs by 2035.1
Top: The transition towards a circular economy is a complex and long-term process. For an in-depth analysis of this process the roadmap uses the socalled “circular triangle” principle.
“I established Circular Change three years ago, when I realised the topic of the circular economy was a boat we could not miss,” says Ladeja Godina Košir, founder and director of Circular Change. “Coming from the world of industry and innovation, it was a logical choice, because I have always been interested in sustainability. At last, this model offers an opportunity to link the various industrial sectors, not only in our country, and to create something new.” Her enthusiasm is catching: “It started off as a platform to create a
network amongst various entities and to raise awareness on the subject. The next step has been to create an international board that is still evolving. The aim is to create an inclusive, creative society that is able to have fun.” Sustainable agriculture and circular fashion The challenge of the century will be to produce food in an efficient and sustainable manner throughout the entire supply chain. Slovenia, a Country highly dependent on agriculture, is already moving in this direction: Paradajz d.o.o project is a case in point. It produces low-environmental impact Lust tomatoes. The company has developed an innovative farming method for solanaceous crops, which is deemed to be one of the most innovative in the world: saplings, selected from local seeds, are grown on a peat and coconut fibre substrate, using rain water for irrigation, geothermal energy to heat greenhouses and integrated pest management (IPM). Thus, high-quality tomatoes are produced and then sold throughout the country. Furthermore, the Ljubljana-born haute couture designer Matea Benedetti was one of the finalists in the Green Carpet Talent Competition held in Milan. Sustainable and circular fashion is her signature production. A whole fashion line produced with recycled or bio-based materials, and leather items produced from pineapple leaves or sewn with fibres obtained from recycled PET bottles. Moreover, the wool and cotton employed is all organic. “Slovenia is a small nation – with a population of about two million – but it can represent the perfect field in which to experiment this model,” claims Ladeja Godina Košir. “Our ambition is to become a hub for the circular economy. We actively work in partnership with the government that is supporting us and we are working to implement a roadmap.”
World Make room for the bioeconomy Today, Slovenia imports 71% of its raw materials, while 60% of its surface is covered in forests: while it is Europe’s fourth country for forest cover, it is highly dependent on imports. The linchpin? Focus on the bioeconomy: wood, which is a largely untapped resource, is naturally circular and has what it takes to become a raw material of choice in the construction industry and Below: “Circular Europe – What is next” Roundtable.
the energy and industrial sectors. Celcycle consortium was created with this in mind, in coordination with the Ljubljana Pulp and Paper Institute and with the aim of developing a circular economy model based on biomass as a renewable resource. Over twenty partners actively work together in all sectors, ranging from paper to chemistry, and from construction to automotive, in order to make the bioeconomy Slovenia’s pride and joy.
Right: Ladeja Godina Košir, founder and director of Circular Change.
Above: Presentation of the Circular Economy Roadmap in Maribor.
Anders Wijkman’s Opinion According to Anders Wijkman – co-president of the Club of Rome and President of ClimateKic – who took part in “Circular Europe – What is next” roundtable, Europe will need laws and incentives to develop an industrial model able to promote secondary raw materials in order to go from a linear to a circular model. Anders Wijkman Co-President of Club of Rome and President of Climate-Kic.
www.clubofrome.org www.climate-kic.org
Our economic model is based on the idea of infinite growth, with limitless resources. Do you believe that the circular economy can play a role in moving on from this paradigm? “Today, we are still living as if there was no tomorrow or as if the planet has limitless resources. However, this is not the case. A situation described in the concept of ‘an economy in a full world’: we still have the same economic model as we did when there were 1-2 billion people, whereas today there are almost 8 billion. This is why we have to rethink the way we manage our resources, both in terms of demand and pollution. The idea of a circular economy is certainly a sensible and simple approach, but it will require substantial commitment for its implementation. This is because, for instance, most investments are made in the linear model and this will go on until they remain profitable. The European
Commission has implemented a few initiatives, but it is still not enough. The system won’t change by itself.” There are certainly some positive examples. However, is a market that is able to intercept secondary and recycled materials still lacking? “Today, we still experience quality problems caused by bad planning. Until we pay more to use natural resources, all this will carry on. A radical change is necessary. For instance, by paying more for natural resources. Companies are still paying far too little for raw materials, which are kept cheap, whereas secondary materials remain blocked from the market. We need to think of a new system of incentives for this kind of market to flourish.” Europe, with the new Circular Economy Package, seems to be aiming for this result. “Something good has been done, albeit still not enough. New standards, planning criteria and incentives have not yet been considered. Europe is large enough and boasts large industrial groups that operate at an international level. Despite the fact that it might be complicated in a globalised market, Europe is large enough to impose new standards.”
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renewablematter 22. 2018
United Nations flag. Credit Sanjitbakshi
Development Agencies in the Circular Economy Consultancy work, awareness campaigns, passing on of knowledge, and the development of strategies: this is how a shift towards circularity is initiated. by Irene Baños Ruiz
Irene Baños Ruiz is a Spanish freelance journalist who focuses on environmental topics. She is currently based in Bonn, Germany, where she regularly collaborates with Deutsche Welle.
The Cascading Materials Vision, www.worldwildlife. org/projects/cascadingmaterials-extendingthe-life-of-our-naturalresources
In many industrialised countries recycling is part of the daily routine and waste treatment is not a major problem. At least not at first sight. However, this is not the case in all parts of the world. On average, the world’s richest countries consume 10 times more materials than the poorest, which are in turn the source of most of the raw materials then employed in productive processes. Therefore, a global effort is required to move towards a circular economy, making the most of resources in a sustainable manner.
the German development agency GIZ are good examples of this, as well as different development initiatives launched by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is an important piece of the puzzle too and has established 2018 as “the year of consuming and producing sustainably, a chance to close the loop and bring circularity into our purchasing and consuming behaviour.”
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are amongst the forerunners to enhancing social and environmental awareness and behavioural change. Greenpeace campaigning to make smartphones durable and recyclable. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) launching a circular economy platform – the Cascading Materials Vision – which brings together companies such as Coca-Cola, Nestlé and McDonalds with policymakers and NGOs. The group Friends of the Earth acting to help people reduce consumption, whilst increasing reuse and recycling. In Spain, they have created a business directory to find where to repair, rent, barter or buy second-hand products.
Based on the International Resource Panel’s scientific advice, UNEP provides recommendations to policy makers and businesses, amongst others, to build circularity along different value chains and thus achieve sustainable development. GIZ India has replicated the model and established the Indian Resource Panel to advise the government and relevant actors on resource efficiency and the use of secondary raw materials, beginning in the construction and automotive sector. As a technical cooperation agency, GIZ provides guidance and promotes cooperation with the private sector to enhance local training, knowledge transfer, networking and strategy development. However, GIZ is not responsible for the financing side, which is usually carried out by local partners or other donors such as the German KfW development bank.
Development and cooperation agencies also have an important role to play. They promote the financing of projects, carry out an advisory role for local authorities and stakeholders, and help improve the technical skills and knowledge of local communities. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and
Knowledge transfer and financing
With a similar approach, the Dutch government sets out its intention to bring the “Dutch knowledge and experience” abroad,
World
especially to those “countries and local communities that have difficulty coping with the social and environmental impact of the current linear economic system, and where a circular economy could contribute to a local sustainable economy and the security of supply of critical materials,” the official report “A Circular Report in the Netherlands by 2050” reads. In turn, USAID focuses on financing projects that lead to greater resource efficiency and, therefore, to the reduction of environmental impacts and costs. Yet, USAID specifies that it does not seek in any way to promote specific policy approaches.
Credit Ciclofactoria
Credit Ciclofactoria
Left: Ciclofactoria, a bike business included in the Friends of the Earth Spain directory.
-$
+$
Waste management Achieving an adequate waste management system is a primary objective for development agencies. This basic service is key to access clean water, hindering the spread of diseases and improving climate protection whilst reducing greenhouse gas emissions. To top it all off, the use of waste materials can help establish new business models and promote income and employment opportunities in the circular economy. “It is an important development objective,” claims Ellen Gunsilius, GIZ senior advisor on sustainable solid waste management. GIZ strongly supports waste management programmes in Southeast Europe. In countries such as Albania, Serbia and Kosovo the agency advises stakeholders on the circular economy regulatory framework; supports them in setting up public institutions and improving
The world’s richest countries consume on average 10 times as many materials as the poorest.
Planet Earth will need 180 bn tonnes of material a year by 2050 if trends continue.
70 22
1970
2010
Primary material extracted from the Earth rose from 22 bn tonnes in 1970 to 70 bn tonnes in 2010.
Source: International Resource Panel.
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renewablematter 22. 2018 Annual material* extraction rate
Increase in resource use per capita annually 1905
2005: 60 billion tonnes
4.6 tonnes
8.5-9.2 tonnes
of resource use per capita annually
2050: estimated 180 billion tonnes * Materials = fossil fuels, minerals, metals and biomass
collaboration with the private sector; as well as implementing awareness campaigns. For example, in Albania the legal framework and strategy on solid waste management is intended to meet EU standards, but it is far from these. The country only has three sanitary landfills and most of the waste is either dumped, ends up in water bodies or burnt. GIZ helps review the strategy and regulations in place, develop a plan to finance the costs of waste management operations and encourage people to separate waste and compost, as well as accept fee payments. Other projects take place in Northern Africa. In Algeria, GIZ works in solid waste management with local municipalities and advises national and local governments on plastic packaging. In Jordan, the agency supports better waste collection and generates valuable jobs in the recycling and waste value chains, not only for the local population but also for the numerous Syrian refugees they host. Plastic pollution has a central place in the waste management field. UNEP has “declared war on ocean plastic,� through extensive awareness campaigns and in-depth studies on the issue. USAID offers grants and technical assistance to local organisations in Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Vietnam to increase recycling efforts and reduce the amount of plastics entering the oceans. Asian countries are responsible for more than half of the plastic waste in the world’s oceans, and for these countries marine pollution is not only a threat to marine ecosystems, it also means the loss of coastal livelihoods, public health issues and employment problems, as marine pollution
of resource use per capita annually
2015 2 tonnes of resource use per capita in some developing countries over 30 tonnes of resource use per capita in some developed countries
Bottom: Combined with a clean cookstove, a biodigester system creates a smokefree cooking environment, producing benefits to respiratory health and safety.
Credit USAID PFAN
Source: International Resource Panel.
2005
1900: 7 billion tonnes
DEMAND FOR RESOURCES
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World
Growing population
Increasing
from 7 billion today to 9 billion by 2050
resource extraction
Economic development and
Increasing
resource scarcity
Land degradation
Increasing
Price increase and volatility
Water pollution
Growing middle-class with
Loss of biodiversity
Air pollution
increasing global trade
consumption of biomass
changing consumption patterns
Credit MatHelium
impedes the development of local commerce and tourism. In Kosovo, the company Izolimi Plast uses recycled plastic waste as insulation material and has increased its recycling capacity from 300 tonnes per year in 2015 to 1,200 tonnes in 2017 with USAID support.
Top: Waste in Albania.
Still, much work has to be done. Elisa Tonda, the Head of the Responsible Industry and Value Chain Unit in the UNEP Division of Technology, Industry and Economics, claims that: “We are replicating the approach across other sectors.” Fast fashion and electronic waste are some of the next enemies to fight. E-waste, for instance, could go from being a threat to a resource opportunity. “Several of these products still contain very valuable materials, and the reprocessing and extraction of such valuable materials could offer employment opportunities in countries where E-waste currently presents a serious environmental problem,” adds Tonda. Clean energy Waste can also generate low carbon energy. GIZ is carrying out a project in Mexico that advises the government on the energy value of waste. USAID has financed the production of biodigesters in Cambodia, which consist of a large tank that converts manure and biowaste into clean biogas for cooking and organic fertiliser for crops. In this way, a typical Cambodian rural family with three heads of cattle will be able to meet their daily cooking needs. As part of the programme “Securing Water for Food: A Grand Challenge for Development,” the US agency also supports compost
Greenhouse gas emissions
production for the cultivation of vegetables in India through the recycling of households blackwater and greywater. As in most cooperation and development areas, many challenges remain to continue supporting a circular system: funding, lack of capacity and low awareness are just a few. However, support is gaining momentum and moving forward. In 2017, the head of UNEP initiated a publicprivate partnership with Philips and the Global Environment Facility, with the aim of eliminating obstacles to a circular economy. Experts agree that a circular economy is not only about funding new technologies, but also – and mainly – about changing our consumption patterns. And, of course, collaborating and joining efforts. “Unless we all come together in a collaborative way of working, where we really see what the gaps are and address them and which are the areas that are not covered to ensure the circularity of that system, it is very difficult for this to work,” concludes Tonda.
human health
Results of resource demand
Impact on
Drivers for resource demand
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renewablematter 22. 2018
All the Secrets of Cork,
Circular by Nature Cork is the best solution in terms of environmental impact, consumption of resources and social value. A renewable material that is intertwined with territory and tradition, enclosing half a century of history in a single piece of cork. by Rudi Bressa
Forty million cells and only 0.16 grams per cubic centimetre. Around 90% air. These are some of the characteristics that make every single piece of cork unique. A naturally derived material that has an ancient bond with man, made of patience, knowledge, and tradition. For oak cork to be employed as a cork stopper, it has to “mature” for at least 43 years before it gains the necessary physical and chemical characteristics needed for the sealing of a bottle, thus assigning the role of improver to time itself. Extracted from the outer part of the cork oak’s bark (Quercus suber) it is composed mainly of suberin, lignin, polysaccharides, cervids and tannins, that make it a waterproof material, that is also extremely flexible, elastic and practically incorruptible. Produced from phellogen, a layer of cells that dividing themselves create a barrier, oak cork is able to regenerate itself at each removal of the bark and hence produce a new layer of bark, or rather new layers of cork. To get the first removal of bark the tree has to be at least 25 years old, over 1.30 meters high and have a circumference of at least
70 centimetres, whereas all subsequent removals of bark occur every nine years, thus giving the tree time to regenerate. Here is where the topic of time enters the relationship between man and cork, as a typical Portuguese saying demonstrates: “plant a eucalyptus for yourself, a pine tree for your children and a cork oak for your nephews.” In fact, a cork oak can live up to two centuries, an assured inheritance for future generations. The cork industry, between innovation and tradition Cork oak grows naturally in the Mediterranean basin, in particular in Spain, Portugal, Marocco, Alegria and Tunisia, as well as in the southern coast of France, the western coast of Italy, Sardinia and Sicily. The total surface area occupied by cork oak plantations is of 1.44 million hectares in Europe – half of which is found in the Iberian Peninsula – and 700,000 hectares in North Africa. Portugal is the land of cork, with over 730,000 hectares, most of which concentrated in the geographical area of Alentejo. “Today, Portugal produces around half of the world’s cork, whilst the average density is of only 50 plants per hectare, in a naturally occurring propagation,” explains Carlos Veloso dos Santos, general director of Amorim Cork Italia, a branch of the large Portuguese group that is among the market leaders in cork stoppers. In cork oak plantations there is a different type of cultivation compared to other forestry methods, at least until today. Consequently, production is intertwined with the natural cycle of plants. However, it has been discovered, almost by chance, that a cork oak that is watered constantly with a drip irrigation system can become an adult in just 8 years, instead of 25. “This means that the first removal of bark can already occur at 8 years of age, and by consequence cork that is suitable for the production of bottle corks is ready in 21 years, instead of 43,” explains Carlos Veloso dos Santos.
World “This means that in around 50,000 hectares we could have approximately 30 million new plants, which would increase production by 30%.” An increase that would benefit not only employment, that to date sees 9,000 employees, but also for the Lusitania territory, which is ever more prone to desertification and devastating fires. In fact, at a difference to other tree species, after a fire the cork oak’s branches, protected by this very material, remain alive and are able to re-sprout and grow back.
CO2 emissions in grams per 1,000 corks MATERIAL
CO2 EMISSIONS (g)/1,000 corks
Oak Cork
1,437
Plastic
14,716
Aluminium
37,161
Source: results from the PricewaterhouseCoopers and Ecobilan study.
Cork, sustainable by nature Over the years, particularly in the wine sector, a new market for corks has developed, specialised in the use of aluminium (screw on caps) and plastic polymers. However, if we perform a lifecycle assessment of the materials used starting from the raw materials extracted, through to their processing and up to the end of life phase; oak cork remains the solution that offers the smallest environmental impact. According to results reached in a study conducted by PWC and Ecoliban1 and sponsored by Amorim, a plastic cork, which is therefore derived from fossil fuels and not a renewable source, is responsible for 10 times the amount of greenhouse gas emissions compared to oak cork,
whereas in the case of aluminium the amounts are even greater and can reach up to 26 times more emissions. The study also demonstrates how oak cork is the best alternative in terms of non renewable energy consumption, CO2 emissions and eutrophication of surface waters, acidification of the atmosphere (with the production of nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxides) and finally in the production of waste. Only in terms of water consumption is oak cork a worse solution than aluminium, but still better than plastic. Without considering the end of life aspect: oak cork is a natural material that biodegrades in nature. Plastic and aluminium have to be collected
In cork oak plantations there is a different type of cultivation compared to other forestry methods, at least until today. Consequently, production is intertwined with the natural cycle of plants.
1. Pricewaterhouse Coopers/ECOBILAN, “Evaluation of the environmental impacts of Cork Stoppers versus Aluminium and Plastic Closures” (2008).
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2. www.apcor.pt/wpcontent/uploads/2016/01/ Manual_Rolhas_IT.pdf 3. www.oecd. org/newsroom/ governments-need-toact-to-encourage-plasticrecycling-markets.htm
There is also the presence of an absolute value that is of substantial importance, especially in the age in which we live: the ability for carbon sequestration in plant matter. This means that cork oak, during its growth, assimilates carbon dioxide, and sequesters carbon throughout its lifecycle. It is estimated that processed cork continues to withhold around 1.7 grams of carbon per oak cork or the equivalent of 6.2 grams of CO2. According to Felipe Costa y Silva, of the Portuguese Institute of Agronomy (ISA), “in a cork oak plantation with a good productivity in the central region of Portugal, for each tonne of cork extracted, the oak forest can contribute to the carbon sequestration of 73 tonnes of CO2.�2 The alternatives on the market In the world today only 15% of plastic is collected and sent on for recycling. In Europe this statistic is a little better, whereby the rate of recycling reaches 30%. However, globally more than half of plastics end up in landfills, whereas 25% are used for energy recovery.3 Confronted with these
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figures, many companies are working, some of which successfully, to find alternatives to plastic polymers derived from fossil fuels with those derived from renewable sources, such as biomass. Even in the world of corks for wine bottles this
The TCA question TCA (2,4,6-tricloroanisolo) is a chemical compound that is present in nature, in wood, in wine, in water, in soil, in vegetables, in fruit and even in cork. This compound is one of the principal factors responsible for the issue of moulds that can develop in cork and then give wine that “cork taste.” The cork industry has worked hard to reduce the presence of this compound, and today can guarantee almost all their cork products. “For example, today with the NDtech system we are able to analyse a single cork every 10 seconds, so as to guarantee 125 million corks per year,” explains Carlos Veloso dos Santos. “Considering that globally 150 million bottles of high quality wine are produced per year, we want to open a potential 125 million bottles of wine by 2020, all of which guaranteed.” However, this is a method that is dedicated specifically to the top quality corks. What about the others? “Amorim – continues Carlos Veloso dos Santos – has established a project that aims to eradicate TCA completely from its products by 2020. In this way we will be able to guarantee that 99% of our corks are TCA free and only 1% with a maximum of 1 nanogram. This means that wine will have almost no chance of being altered.”
4. assets.publishing. service.gov.uk/media /57a08a03e5274a31e0 00039a/130520_ENV_ BraEthPro_BRIEF4.pdf 5. wwf.panda. org/?22255/Sugarand-the-EnvironmentEncouraging-BetterManagement-Practicesin-Sugar-Production-andProcessing 6. www.manitese.it/wpcontent/uploads/2017/10/ Dossier_La_Filiera_ Amara_della_Canna_ da_Zucchero_Mani_ Tese_2017-1.pdf
is happening and today the market proposes a significant range of bioplastic corks, realised using base materials such as ethanol derived from sugar cane. However, over the years an important body of academic research has demonstrated that the constant increase in agricultural areas that are subject to the intensive cultivation of sugar cane, has produced serious environmental repercussions. According to a report by the Evidence and Lessons from Latin America Institute (ELLA), that works to create plans for development and cooperation in South America, Asia and Africa, “the expansion of sugar cane in Brazil has been revealed to be unsustainable because of the lack of knowledge surrounding biodiversity and adequate laws to protect it. Researchers such as Martinelli, Smeets, Bernard and Almeida, amongst others, especially in Brazil, have demonstrated that the environmental impacts associated with the production of ethanol in Brazil have been important obstacles for the production of sustainable biofuels.”4 Even environmental associations like the WWF report that the production of sugar cane generates “environmental impacts through the loss of natural habitat, the intensive use of water, the heavy use of chemical products for agriculture, the discharge and flow of toxic effluents and pollution,”5 with obvious impacts on wildlife, soil, and entire ecosystems. Not only, the entire supply chain often comes with stories of exploitation and working conditions that are on the edge of disrespecting basic human rights. A recent report published by the Mani Tese association, revealed “undeclared or contract less working relations, below minimum wage salaries, negation of trade union rights, underage workers and instances of land grabbing with negative impacts on wellbeing and the environment.”6 All of which demonstrates that, if produced under these conditions, ethanol is anything but sustainable and comes with serious environmental and social impacts.
A Heritage Worth Preserving Every piece of cork tells a story spanning almost half a century. Each one comes from one of the most valuable natural habitats in the Mediterranean basin, the cork forest. by Rudi Bressa
1. eunis.eea.europa.eu/ habitats/10221
Looking at any map of the geographical distribution of cork oak (Quercus Suber L.), what immediately catches the eye is the precise area in which it has spread over time: the Mediterranean basin. The warm and humid climate, characterised by dry summers and mild winters influenced by Atlantic currents, make this the ideal location for the growth and prospering of this very particular plant species. In fact, the cork tree is part of what is defined as a unique ecosystem. Yes, because Montado, the name given to the agroforestry system in Portugal, is an extremely complex mosaic, that balances different plant and animal species. Including man. Made up of an exiguous number of tree species, intermixed with bushes, fields and farmed land, the Montado is home to entire communities of specimens: Holm Oak (Quercus rotundifolia), Pierrenei Oak (Quercus pyrenaica) and for the most part of cork oak trees. According to data collected by the national forestry inventory, 34% of the entire global presence of cork oak is found in Portugal, amounting to around 736,000 hectares, and around 23% of the entire
tree coverage in the country, second only to the eucalyptus tree. An area that has also been included in the Rete Natura 2000 (habitat 9330),1 an instrument used by the European community to protect biodiversity and the conservation of nature. A biodiversity reserve All it takes is a brief walk in a cork oak plantation to understand its ecological value. Here, space and resources are shared between tens of plant and animal species, and it is often possible to find not only small and primitive or semi-primitive farms, but also endemic species: meaning plants that are exclusive to this area which in some regards recalls the African savannah. Like the pardina lynx (Lynx pardinus), now included in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List and hence at risk of extinction. In the heterogeneous foliage of cork oaks the imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti) finds a resting place, as well as other birds of prey such as the short toed eagle (Circaettus gallicus), the booted eagle (Hierattus pennatus), or the Bonelli’s eagle (Hierattus fasciatus). Obviously present thanks to a food chain that is well supplied with small mammals and birds, that often nest in the shrubs. In a particular climate such as that of the Mediterranean, which is even subject to long periods of drought, there are various communities of plant species, supported
World by different microclimates present in the vicinity of cork oaks, that in turn sustain entire communities of insects and other small animals. However, among the ecosystem services, meaning all those natural functions that are capable of supporting human activity, cork oak plantations are able to influence the water cycle positively. Cork oaks are perfect allies against desertification and soil degradation. In fact, their roots intercept water at a deeper level than other species, reducing competition for resources. Furthermore, they are able to intercept an average of 26.7% of total precipitation,2 reducing the quantity of water run-off and preventing the consequent soil erosion. Finally, the fall of organic matter helps increase humus in the soil, which is hence kept stable and healthy. In recognition of the economic and social value of conservation and responsible management of cork oak forests, to date around 100,000 hectares in Portugal are certified Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) – out of a total 150,000 between Spain, Italy and Portugal. In this way not only have we certified the reduction of impacts on the natural habitats, but there is also an added value to the improvement of conditions of workers and relationships with local communities.
2. www.apcor.pt/wpcontent/uploads/2015/09/ Cork-EnvironmentalImportance_EN_VF.pdf
Distribution of cork tree forest coverage NATION
AREA
PERCENTAGE
Portugal
736,775
34
Spain
574,248
27
Morocco
383,120
18
Algeria
230,000
11
Tunisia
85,771
4
France
65,228
3
Italy
64,800
3
Total
2,139,942
100
Source: Portugal: IFN6, 2013; Spain: MARM, 2007; Italy: FAO, 2005; France: IM LiĂŠge, 2005; Marocco: HCEF Marroc, 2011; Algeria: EFI, 2009; Tunisia: Ben Jamaa, 2011.
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An (Almost) Perfect Circle: Paper Recycling in Italy In Italy, the annual report by Comieco – the consortium for recovery and recycling of cellulose-based packaging – confirms Italy’s positive trend. Italy’s paper sector is amongst Europe’s elite in terms of circularity. However, there are still challenges to overcome, such as those embodied in compostable food packaging, in order to come full circle. by Giorgia Marino
Graduated from the University of Turin in Communications, Giorgia Marino – freelance journalist web/social editor – writes about culture, innovation and environment. She was the director of Greenews.info and now writes for various magazines, including La Stampa.
Making a virtue of necessity. This has always been the mantra in the Italian paper industry. A Country of “poor” forests that are not particularly productive in terms of biomass, the Italian peninsula has had to adapt to recycling to supplement paper and cardboard production. A habit that today, at a time when it is necessary to accelerate the transition to a circular economy, has become one of the most appreciated qualities for which Italy is known amongst Europe’s elite. And, if the new EU sustainability goals impose increasingly stringent standards for separate waste collection, the Italian paper sector continues on undisturbed towards its pre-established targets. Yet again, this trend has been confirmed by Comieco’s report – the Italian consortium for recovery and recycling of cellulose-based packaging. Paper and cardboard separate waste collection keeps on growing, with 1.6% increase
in 2017 compared to 2016. This result fits in with a series of positive trends over the last few years, spurred mainly by the South, where collection rose by over 6%, thus significantly reducing the gap with Northern regions. Some figures: throughout the year Italian municipalities collected almost 3.3 million tonnes of cellulose-based material, i.e. 54 kilos pro capita, of which 45% (almost 1.5 million tonnes) were managed directly by Comieco. When adding together the industrial and urban collection, as well as production waste, the paper sector recovers over 6.5 million tonnes of pulp that then goes back into productive processes. Therefore, Italy ranks fourth in Europe for reuse in production processes, with over 5 million used fibres. Although levels are already high, there is no room for complacency. Comieco is looking to the near future and claims that: “The opening of new paper factories,
World of which two are already operational, will make pulp demand soar, thus guaranteeing market opportunities for materials collected by municipalities.” Indeed, the growing trend cannot stop, especially considering the targets set for the next few years by the European Union: an 85% rate of cellulose-based packaging recycling by 2030. Perceptions and labels Undoubtedly, Italy is a virtuous nation when it comes to paper and cardboard recycling but Italians are not aware of it. Almost 80% of the Italian population believes paper is responsible for deforestation and more than half is unaware of the high recycling levels achieved so far. In order to facilitate information and equip operators with tangible tools with which to improve ecodesign and circular planning, Aticelca – the Italian technical association for cellulose and paper – has devised an analytical method with which to ascertain the actual recyclability of any given paper or cardboard product, even including printed, glued, coupled or laminated products. Starting as early as 2011, it has worked in partnership with Comieco, Assocarta, Assografici, Innovhub and Lucense, reaching the current version in 2017 which will soon become a UNI standard. In practice, the method uses laboratories to replicate the pulp processing phases, from crushing to end sheet: the non-cellulose waste, as well as any obtained material, is then measured step by step and lastly trial sheets are examined for aesthetic rendering and visible irregularities. On the basis of all these characteristics, a level of recyclability is then allocated with four grades (from A+ to C). Furthermore, the simple label “Recyclable with paper” is provided on request. The challenge of composting for food packaging The future of paper packaging and its recycling also depends on online trade. This subject has been dealt with during the Lucca conference held in June and organised by Centro Qualità Carta. With the exponential growth of e-commerce and takeaway food consumption (as well as food that is ordered online and home delivered), the paper recycling industry and the compost sector will have to consider eco-design and packaging very seriously. While e-commerce pushes for more simplicity and lightness in packaging (in order to avoid waste and to reduce transport and storage costs), with regard to food packaging composting is paramount. Clearly, if packaging is contaminated by food, it cannot be recycled mechanically and then sent to a paper factory: it will have to be disposed of via other channels and preferably together with food leftovers, as compost. So, innovations in this sector are concentrating on replacing plastic
parts (those that generally speaking cover the cardboard and come into direct contact with food) with biopolymers that honour mandatory hygiene regulations whilst being compostable. Bio-based packaging, according to recent research conducted by Bocconi University in Milan, can improve the quality of separate waste collection for both the paper and organic fractions. However, the commitment must be undertaken by packaging producers and above all its designers. This is another target of the annual competition launched by Comieco Factory for sustainable innovation of paper and cardboard packaging. The committee, formed by Comieco, Assocarta, Assografici and Aticelca, will examine all inventions presented by 30th September 2018 and award cash prizes to the best three patents. Circularity also begins with new ideas.
Italian consortium for recovery and recycling of cellulose-based packaging, www.comieco.org
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Ecodesign for Aluminium Guidelines for designing environmentally-sustainable aluminium packaging have been established by CiAl – the Italian consortium responsible for the recovery and recycling of these kinds of packaging. A virtuous example of industrial symbiosis. by Sergio Ferraris
CIAL, Aluminium Packaging. Guidelines for ecologically sustainable design. Design for recycling.
Thinking circular. It sounds easy but, when dealing with industrial processes, the approach of having a common thread linking products from the cradle to the grave, and considering end-of-life recycling from the very design phase, is not as easy as it sounds. Industrial culture in the 20th century has not adopted this approach and a product’s end of life destiny has long been seen by manufacturers as a non-issue. Those producing goods do not deal with “waste.” This has been the linear economy mantra, with few notable exceptions embodied in countries that are usually poor in raw materials, such as Italy. Paper, steel, used oils and aluminium are some of the materials Italy has learnt to recycle over the past few decades making a virtue of necessity, and pioneering excellent methods that are profitable and now taken as textbook cases abroad. The Aluminium Packaging Consortium (CiAl) has issued guidelines for the proper planning of aluminium packaging recycling, an unprecedented event at European level, in order “to clarify the reasons behind choices made during the planning phase of aluminium packaging and the management of post-consumer aluminium packaging,” reads the foreword to the document written by CiAl’s General Manager Gino Schiona, who adds: “Therefore, our guidelines are meant to promote greater awareness, amongst the sector’s enterprises, on the impact of products and in particular of packaging.” In essence, it is an operation designed to inform and educate packaging designers so that their activities take into consideration the end-of-life aspect of packaging and its recycling. The document opens with a declaration on the importance of the compatibility of packaging with the recycling sector, starting from separate waste collection. For example, the tinfoil used in our homes must be crumpled up before being disposed of in a specific container, otherwise it is excluded from the selection systems. A small yet very important action that guarantees the recyclability of aluminium foil. The document starts with a description of
aluminium alloys and their specific uses, ranging from spray cans to the various series of aluminium, including the 1000 series where aluminium is 99.5% pure; the 8000 series containing iron which, thanks to its malleability, is used for thin sheets, tubs and screw tops; and the 5000 series where magnesium is added to aluminium to make the alloy stronger, for use in can tops and easy-open containers. Therefore, there is not just one aluminium alloy but several ones which have varying quantities of materials according to their various uses. For flexible packaging a 5 to 40 µm thickness is used, for semi-rigid packaging between 30 to 170 µm, and for rigid packaging between 90 to 300 µm. The combination of alloys and thicknesses clearly offer a great variety of possibilities for packaging. Furthermore, the guidelines regulate the aluminium processing phases, from material primary production which is very energy consuming, and which could be replaced with secondary or recycled materials. This would save a great deal of energy, whereby to produce one kilo of aluminium from recycled material 0.7 kWh are needed, compared to 14 kWh in primary production. This is only considering energy, and disregards the difference between the use of primary raw materials, since the necessary bauxite for primary production contains 54% of alumina, while aluminium from packaging is virtually pure. Because of these economic figures it is no coincidence that worldwide secondary process aluminium accounts for 52% of total production, whereas Italy can boast 100% since 2013. While on the one hand there is an intrinsic virtuosity in the aluminium production process, on the other there is also excellent commitment to the optimisation of the end product. For example, the traditional 33 cl refreshment can has reduced its aluminium makeup by 30% from 1990 to 2017, going from 16.58 to 11.60 grams. We have also witnessed an improvement in technological production capacity from 1997 to 2014, whereby the thickness of used laminate has been lowered by 37%, whilst maintaining the same quality characteristics. Subsequently, the guidelines give a detailed
World description of the various aluminiumbased packaging types and their respective characteristics, uses, and methods for selection and recycling. The topic of aluminium packaging planning is also tackled. According to CiAl, it must follow four planning criteria: to be useful for their given purpose; focused on resource efficiency; employ low-impact materials; and predisposed for the recovery of resources. Each criterion has its own practical implementation, both from the manufacturing and recycling points of view, including descriptions of the physics behind their use. For example, in the case of screw top containers where the designer is made aware of the criterion that states the need to reduce the rotational force needed to break initial seals to a necessary minimum. This is because, torque stronger than
CiAl, www.cial.it
1.1 Nm (newton/metre) can create problems for disabled and elderly consumers, as it exceeds their functional abilities. Or, the point where other strategies are recommended compared to the use of cardboard together with aluminium, with the aim of supplying consumers with additional information about the product. Furthermore, compatibility of secondary components with collection and recycling systems is also dealt with thoroughly. This is because rigid plastic components can create problems in aluminium collection and recycling. A practical example of planning aluminium spray cans is also provided via a brief information sheet where all necessary steps required to make such an object are described, taking in strong consideration environmental sustainability.
THE FOUR PRINCIPLES Fit-for-Purpose Design 1st PRINCIPLE Design for: • Better accessibility • Resisting and facilitating stacking
• Reducing consumer waste material to a minimum • Reaching a compromise between primary, secondary and tertiary packaging
Design for Resource Efficiency 2nd PRINCIPLE Design for: • Reduction in the thickness of rolled aluminium to a minimum • Reduction in primary packaging to a minimum • Reduction in secondary packaging to a minimum
• Use of reusable or returnable secondary packaging • Recovery of lost packaging on the filling line • Maximisation of the weight/ volume ratio between product and packaging • Maximisation of transport efficiency
Design for Low-Impact Materials 3rd PRINCIPLE Design for: • Maximisation of the content of recycled material in primary packaging
• Maximisation of the content of recycled material in secondary packaging • Reduction in the use of problematic chemicals in inks and lacquer to a minimum
Designing for Resource Recovery 4th PRINCIPLE Design for: • Ensuring the compatibility of secondary components with collection and recycling systems
• Provision of clear information to consumers • Maximisation of the value of recovered materials • Printing directly on aluminium packaging
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Startup
Name: Sector: Plus: Characteristics:
Cupclub, the Startup Providing Cups as a Service CupClub Product as a service in the packaging sector Reusable packaging service for beverages Cupclub helps shops reduce throwaway packaging by creating a traceable packaging system and an integrated loyalty programme
by Antonella Ilaria Totaro
cupclub.com
Cupclub is the first company in the world to provide packaging as a service for the catering industry. The London-based startup offers a range of reusable plastic cups tailored for coffee shops, beverage dealers and distributors. Cupclub tackles the throwaway packaging problem by offering multi-use packaging where cups, once used by customers, can be returned to participating outlets or collection centres to be washed and redistributed to coffee shops, retailers and companies. Cups as a service is the brainchild of Safia Qureshi who designed a simple, durable cup
that can be reused many times. It is a neutral cup that can be branded with different logos, whilst not being too eye-catching so that it is returned instead of being taken home. Cupclub switches from the idea of owning a cup, to the concept of paying a price for a beverage that also includes the costs of the cup, its maintenance and the infrastructure created. Customers do not pay an extra cost for the service; it is an agreement between the company and beverage distributors, coffee shops and in the future with offices, building owners and university campuses. According to some studies, this system could reduce the use of throwaway packaging by 40% simply by tracking products thanks to lnternet of Things (IoT) technologies and by creating a loyalty programme promoting packaging return. Cupclub markets longer-lasting and betterquality packaging compared to throwaway equivalents. Each Cupclub cup, made with recyclable polypropylene and a low-density polyethylene lid, is designed to be reused up to 132 times before being recycled. Cupclub is one of the winners of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastics Economy Circular Design Challenge.
Startup
Startup
Name:
ecoBirdy: New Toys from Recycled Plastic ecoBirdy
Sector:
New materials and products from recycled materials
Plus:
Furniture and designer objects for children made with recycled plastic waste
Characteristics:
Old toys and other plastic items are collected, sorted, ground, selected and checked to create furniture and designer collections for children, raising their awareness on the issue of plastic waste and its recycling
by Antonella Ilaria Totaro
ecoBirdy is a Belgian startup that creates furniture objects for children from recycled plastic. It all started when designers Vanessa Yuan and Ioris Vanbriel became aware that children’s toys use more plastic than other consumer goods – the quantity of plastic in a single toy can amount to that of 500 plastic bottle caps – and have an average lifespan of only six months.
www.ecobirdy.com
In 2018, after an in-depth study on sustainable recycling of plastic toys that lasted about two years, the two founders
developed a new material: ecothylene, made with 100% recycled plastic and completely recyclable, and used to create new products with no need to add colours or other chemicals. The two Antwerp-based designers of ecoBirdy, besides designing the collection, also created a whole system ranging from the collection of old and broken plastic toys to recycling, grinding, precision selection and laboratory quality control, that lead to the production of furnishing items. ecoBirdy has also developed a school programme both for collecting old and damaged plastic toys, and making children aware and encouraging them to help create a more sustainable future, also through the publication of Journey to a New Life, a book telling the story of a plastic moped and its toy friends. For its first collection of furnishing items, including a table, a chair, a container for objects and a lamp, ecoBirdy collaborated with Van Werven, its Dutch partner with branches all over Europe, for the recycling of plastic, whereas the final printing of products is carried out in Italy.
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Startup
Name: Sector: Plus:
InStock Recovers 500 Tonnes of Food InStock Catering Supplies from salvaged food InStock transforms food surplus into products served in restaurants, catering companies and food trucks
Characteristics:
Food, that for various reasons is unsellable and bound to be wasted, is used in restaurants, catering services, food trucks and for the creation of new products with the aim of involving chefs and expanding the food salvage movement
by Antonella Ilaria Totaro
Since 2014, 470,000 kilos of food have been recovered and served. These are the figures boasted by InStock, the brainchild of Frekevan Nimwegen, Merel Laarman, Selma Seddik and Bart Roetert, all former employees of Albert Heijn, the largest Dutch supermarket chain. Today, almost one third of the food produced is wasted through various processing steps. Every day, thanks to the support of a few partners, including above all Albert Heijn, InStock recovers 80% of the food that it then serves for lunch and dinner. Such food, despite complying with safety standards, for various reasons cannot be sold, such as meat that is too close to the sell by date, bread left over from the day before, fish surplus from producers, and leftover stock such as bottles of wine that are in too short supply for them to be put on supermarket shelves. Pasta, refreshments and chocolate with damaged packaging or with packaging that is suitable
www.instock.nl
only for certain times of the year, such as Valentine’s Day or Christmas, are also recovered. Most of the time, salvaged products are donated to InStock. They are then able to slash food costs, while incurring in other ones such as those for transport and staff selecting the products to be used. InStock is now a social enterprise with three permanent restaurants in Amsterdam, The Hague and Utrecht, producing beer and granola from recovered products with its own catering service and a food truck. To broaden the movement of restaurants and catering companies using “rescued” food, in 2017 InStock opened Food Rescue Centre, a distribution facility where unsold products, mainly fruit and vegetables, are collected and selected: each restaurateur can then purchase these products from the online shop and receive them the following day free of charge.
Startup
Startup
Name: Sector: Plus:
Evoware, the Algae Based Packaging that Disappears Evoware New bioplastic materials Biodegradable and edible packaging for food and other products made from algae
Characteristics:
Design and production of algae based packaging, as an alternative to single-use plastic packaging, with benefits for the environment and the local Indonesian economy
by Antonella Ilaria Totaro
Born in Indonesia, Evoware is a socially responsible enterprise that uses local abundance and good conditions for algae production to create packaging that is certified as 100% biodegradable and dissolvable in hot water.
www.evoware.id
The material, designed to be used for food packaging or bags, is developed directly from algae. The result is edible and nutritious packaging, that acts as a source of fibres, vitamins and minerals. These bags can be used to store cereals, instant coffee and even the dressings used on noodles, whereby a special wrapping melts upon contact with hot water and hence releasing the dressing without having to be opened. They can even be used to hold sugar, hamburgers, tooth picks or tampons. Without having to use conservatives the algae based packaging doesn’t degrade for two
years, it is customisable – whereby you can print logos or other information for different companies – and at its end of life it can be used as a fertiliser or animal food. Evoware is born out of the need to tackle marine waste. In fact, Indonesia is second only to China in terms of plastic pollution. This is having a strong impact on the local fishing economy. Furthermore, they are the biggest producers of red algae, an ideal variety for obtaining bioplastics and packaging. On top of solving the environmental question Evoware also contributes to local development: Indonesian algae farmers, that have a problem of surplus and unutilised production, can find a new sales channel and increase their revenue stream. Currently, the Evoware team – which is spearheaded by the 23 year old founder and CEO David Christian – are working to make the material resistant to water so that it can be used to store liquids such as shampoo and soap. The company is a winner of the Circular Design Challenge, a part of the New Plastics Economy initiative by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
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Columns Circular by Law
The EU Wants to Seal the Deal on Plastic Francesco Petrucci in collaboration with the Magazine “Rifiuti – Bollettino di informazioni normativa” and Observatory for environmental norms on www.reteambiente.it
It appears that the European Union wants to seal the deal on single use plastics before the 2019 elections, a topic that is not only an environmental and economic question, but also a “political” one. Maybe, this is the reason behind the single use plastics directive presented by the European Commission on the 28th of May 2018 (see n.21/2018 by RM) which was already voted for on the 10th of July by the Environment Commission of the European Parliament. The legislative proposal, amongst other things, prohibits the sale of certain plastic products (including cotton buds, cutlery, plates, and straws). Compared to the text presented by the European Commission, European members of parliament voted for the ban to start in 2020 for oxo-degradable plastics, microplastics contained in cosmetics and in products for personal hygiene, detergents, and cleaning products. The European Parliamentary vote will take place in October so that negotiations with the EU Counsel can then start, with the intention of sealing the deal before the elections in May 2019. Incisive actions on plastic, even using financial backing, have also been requested by the OCSE in a Report published on the 24th of May 2018. The European Union (that in any case recycles an average of 30% of plastic compared to the 10% recycled in the USA) is aware that this circular industry needs support and for this reason the European Commission approved, at the end of May 2018, three proposals on regulation for sustainable finance with the objective of propelling private investments in the direction of the circular economy. As mentioned in the previous edition, on the 4th of July 2018 new directives on EU waste came into vigour that are part of the “Circular Economy Package” and which will have to be adopted by member states by the 5th of July 2020. On the over hand, no agreement was reached on the broadening of rules for the directive on ecodesign so as to include other products on top of those tied to energy. The European Parliament, in a resolution dated 31st May 2018, requested that smartphones be included in the list of products that will be required to have an ecologically compatible design, as they are currently one of the least recycled and recovered products. In terms of the classification of waste categories
there is an important date for businesses: from the 5th of July 2018 the new definition of the characteristics of hazardous waste “HP 14 Ecotoxic” (established in the regulation 2017/997/ EU) will be applied. There is also some big news on the energy front: from the 9th of July 2018 the directive 2018/844EU will come into vigour and will update the 2010 directive on energy efficiency in the construction sector; the objective is to arrive at the decarbonisation of the European real estate sector by 2050. On the other hand, on the 27th of June 2018 there was an agreement on the new directive on renewable energy with the mandatory target of 32% renewable energy by 2030, whereas on the 20th June 2018 the directive on energy efficiency fixed the target at 32.5% by 2030. Now all that is missing is the formal vote by the European Parliament and Counsel. In the field of Greenhouse Gas emissions from the 29th of July 2018 the regulation 2018/956/ EU will come into vigour so as to monitor and transmit information on the emissions produced by trucks, lorries and busses. Delving further into the automotive theme, there is an interesting proposal by the Commission dated 17th May 2018, on the renewal of labels for tyres so as to improve the information conveyed to consumers on their purchases, regarding safety and noise, so as to spur them to make environmentally conscious choices. In the meantime, the European Counsel is discussing the proposed directive that aims to promote public contracts for “clean” vehicles, thus improving the current norms that date back to 2009, with the aim of introducing minimal objectives for public contracts on “green” vehicles for 2025 and 2030. More news in the field of certifications: from the 5th of October 2018 the European Commission guide for EMAS certifications will be operative, outlining best practices from an environmental point of view in the agricultural sector. Finally, two things to highlight on Reach (the 2006 regulation for the authorisation and registration of chemical substances). The first regards the proposal to ban the emission into the market of products containing percentages of “phthalates” above 0.1% in weight. The second addresses new tariffs for businesses for the approval of new chemical substances with the regulation 2018/895/EU and in vigour since 16th July 2018.
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The Media Circle
Sometimes We Are the Villains Roberto Giovannini, journalist, writes about economy, society, energy, environment, green economy and technology.
P. Kareiva, V. Carranza, “Existential risk due to ecosystem collapse: Nature strikes back,” Futures; www.sciencedirect. com/science/article/pii/ S0016328717301726
Ever more often, cinema and television tackle environmental issues and, as we have often claimed in this column, the prevalent mode is that of depicting ecological disasters. However, as illustrated by the recent research conducted at UCLA and published in Futures – “Existential risk due to ecosystem collapse: Nature strikes back” – in the majority of cases the ecological catastrophe, described in a more or less spectacular way and hence of success at the box office, does not stem from issues of denial or ignorance – as is the reality when we talk about real world ecological disasters. On the contrary, we always prefer to blame the disaster on humanity’s greed or the selfishness of a few “bad guys.” A choice, as research and common sense point out, that does not help in the establishment of appropriate countermeasures with which to avert disasters. The fear of Armageddon is as old as humanity itself. Already in the Mesopotamian epic Gilgamesh, written around 2100 BC, we can find the story of a flood caused by a vindictive god. As it appears, little has changed in over 4,000 years of popular culture, at least as portrayed by Hollywood. Peter Kareiva and Valerie Carranza, scholars at UCLA’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability and authors of the research in question, examined catastrophic blockbusters released between 1956 and 2016, excluding those where catastrophes were of divine origin. The first observation is that in most cases the apocalypse is due to alien invasions, genetically modified viruses, artificial intelligence, a global war or some kind of mechanism that makes technology spiral out of control. Only in 10 movies out of those examined – hence 17% – are disasters linked to environmental catastrophes. In 4 films, the blame is placed on the financial greed of big corporations: in The Chinese Syndrome, Silkwood, Erin Brokovich, and The Lorax, big companies pollute the environment intentionally, so as to make a profit. Six others – Interstellar, The Adventures of the Wilderness Family, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, Waterworld, The Day After Tomorrow, and Wall-E – present a future where Earth becomes uninhabitable due to short-sighted societies that deliberately refuse to take the necessary precautions needed to avoid an ecological
catastrophe. Normally, in these films, the looming disaster is perceived by one of the main characters; but the hero is either ignored or only considered when it is already too late. What matters, experts say, is that the responsibility for the catastrophe is never attributed to the most plausible culprit: ignorance regarding the ecological risk factors that can cause the very catastrophe. “In Hollywood,” Kareiva and Carranza write, “environmental disasters are always due to individual human failure, they are never the consequence of ignoring the scientific understanding of certain phenomena.” It is no coincidence that none of these films are able to define a possible future based on solid and real environmental science or from a serious understanding of ecological mechanisms. In a sense, it is not a very serious problem. Films are films, free from the need to respect the rules of the real world. However, they are popular representations of the disaster factor. From this point of view, the interesting element emerging from the study is that “pop” disasters invite real world people to look in the wrong direction when it comes to understanding where the so-called “existential dangers” come from. Furthermore, even if they confirm that climate change is due to human behaviour, it is much easier to blame a few cruel captains of industry rather than for all of to take responsibility for our actions, such as choosing to use a car to go to work rather than public transport or a bicycle. We are all very aware that serious damage to the environment is caused by certain business or economic policies, or even by criminal actions such as deliberately spilling toxic substances in rivers. However, we find it difficult to grasp that, very often, the risk of ecological catastrophe stems from small individual actions. Or even worse, from “mass ignorance” of the potential consequences of phenomena that are still not completely understood. In short, sometimes, we are the “villain,” us and our inability to understand the reality we live in.
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Among the speakers: Jennifer Holmgren (LanzaTech), Tony Duncan (Circa Group), Philippe Mengal (BBI JU), Liesbet Gooverts (EIB), Sandy Marshall (Bioindustrial Innovation Canada), Bernardo Silva (ABBI Brazil), Elisabetta Balzi (EU Commission), Mathieu Flamini (GFBiochemicals), Alit Fasce Pollicelli (Ministry of Economy, Argentina), Paolo Corvo (Clariant), Niklas von Weymarn (Metsä Spring), Henri Colens (BraskemBio), Giulia Gregori (Novamont), Andrea Pipino and Vito Guido Lambertini (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles), Mieke De Schoenmakere (EEA), Jean-Marie Chauvet (Foundation Jacques de Bohan), Vander Tumiatti (SEA Marconi), Susanne Braun (University of Hohenheim), Luca Cocolin (University of Turin), Mauro Fontana (Ferrero Group), Veerle Rijckaert (Flanders’ Food), Simão Soares (SilicoLife), Christian Hübsch (UPM Biochemicals)