The EU, for example, is talking about green growth and competitiveness, from which all European citizens should benefit. But when it comes to implementation of these plans, the circular economy is seen as a technological issue and cultural or social components give way to cold numbers about targets and efficiency. “That is a misconception. It won’t work without involving citizens,” says Dommerholt.
Moreover, it is contradictory to strive for both economic growth and drastically reduced resource consumption. This would not only require new business models, but also inevitable changes in lifestyle. “So the whole transition is based on false assumptions. That means we may be heading in the wrong direction altogether.”
Egbert Dommerholt spoke at the Circular Economy Event on 22 April, alongside Harald Tepper (Philips), Geert Doorlag (Auping) and Britta van Boven (Gasunie). Read the full article on Agro&Chemistry.
Image: Billion Photos/Shutterstock
