By Emily Shilton, Ethan Sun, Sheena Yan
Dr. Chris Bataille gave a workshop on circular economies in Canada a month ago, where he introduced the idea and explained some current practices and challenges. The “How circularity can contribute to emissions reductions in Canada” white paper [1] he co-wrote also provided more insights into the circular economy as a tool for achieving net zero emissions targets.
An Overview of Circular Economy in Canada
In Canada, the Canadian Council of Academies (CCA) has defined circular economy as “a systemic approach to production and consumption for living within planetary boundaries that conserves material resources, reduces energy and water use, and generates less waste and pollution” (CCA 2021). The shift from the current “extract-use-toss” economy requires changes from both the engineering and consumer side.
The idea of a circular economy compliments other aspects of the Canadian plan to achieve net-zero emissions like investing in clean energy sources and carbon capture mechanisms. Circularity addresses carbon emissions by reducing consumer demands for new products and “circulates” the existing ones for maximal utilisation. From a material perspective, it includes but is not limited to – material innovation, material substitution, process optimization, life cycle extension, and recycling. Each aspect is facing many technological as well as societal challenges. For example, introducing new materials that have smaller carbon footprints but do not compromise on structural integrity to meet regulatory requirements, or for process optimization a more in-depth understanding of the materials is required which often takes years to advance, or establishing consumer trust and preferences for refurbished and recycled goods.
The CCA believes that a circular economy could greatly help Canada meet sustainability goals. Many Canadian initiatives have been developed in the past few years, such as the Canadian Circular Cities and Regions Initiative launched by the National Zero Waste Council in 2021, and the Clean B.C. plan by the Government of British Columbia. Even with these steps towards circularity, there remain challenges ahead. The first challenge comes from the fact that Canada is a resource rich country. It would potentially be difficult to emphasise material circulation or resource recovery if it could have a negative economic impact on our resource extraction industries. Another challenge seems to be that the required labour to operate a circular economy is expensive and lacking. For example, it is often found to be cheaper and easier to replace a broken home appliance because repairing is costly both financially and timewise.
Besides the aforementioned technical and human-related aspects, two other factors are important to consider while adopting circular economy as identified by Cundiff et al. [1] – to track circularity progress and to look for backfires. The CCA commented that Canada lacks material flow tracking which makes it difficult to calculate current circularity rates. In order to effectively utilise circularity as a tool towards decarbonization goals, being able to track the progress will be required. In terms of potential rebound, it happens when some progress has been made with circular approaches, that the rewarding mentality further drives up the demand and causes unintended emission increases.
Embracing the Circular Economy: Impact on Manufacturers and Consumers
While the concept of a circular economy may sound promising on paper, its success hinges on the active participation and support of both manufacturers and consumers. Manufacturers play a crucial role in the circular economy by reevaluating their production processes, from the initial manufacturing stages to the selection of packaging materials. Yet, it is the consumers who wield the power to drive manufacturers towards sustainable practices. The circular economy holds the promise of substantial benefits for both parties involved.
One significant advantage for consumers is the potential for cost savings. Extending the lifespan of products through repair and repurposing can lead to financial benefits, as consumers can avoid the need to frequently purchase new items. In turn, manufacturers benefit from reduced reliance on new materials and lower waste disposal costs, contributing to overall cost savings and improved profitability.
Moreover, the circular economy fosters the creation of sustainable products, aligning with environmentally friendly and socially responsible principles. Consumers increasingly prioritize ethical and sustainable choices, and businesses that adopt circular economy practices stand to gain a competitive edge. According to Greg Petro from Forbes [2], consumers across all generations are increasingly willing to invest more in sustainable products. This trend is particularly pronounced for Gen X consumers, with their preference for shopping sustainable brands rising by nearly 25%, and their willingness to pay more for sustainable products experiencing a substantial 42% increase. This shift towards sustainability not only enhances brand reputation but also cultivates customer loyalty, as more individuals seek products that align with their values.
However, the adoption of circular economy principles faces some challenges on the consumer front. For the circular economy to thrive, there must be a demand for circular products and services [3]. If consumers are not inclined to choose sustainable options, businesses may struggle to see a return on their investment. Additionally, the circular design of products may limit choices available to consumers, as not all products can be easily adapted for circularity.
Furthermore, the upfront costs associated with circularity can be a deterrent for both consumers and manufacturers. Products designed for circularity may come with a higher initial price tag due to the use of superior and more sustainable materials. This could make them less accessible to budget-conscious consumers. Similarly, manufacturers keen on embracing circular economy principles may face significant upfront investments in new equipment, processes, and training.
In conclusion, the success of the circular economy depends on a collaborative effort between manufacturers and consumers [4]. While the benefits are substantial, overcoming challenges such as consumer preferences and upfront costs is essential for the widespread adoption of circular practices.
Looking Forward: Research Advancing Circular Economy in Canada
Through learning more about the complex and interdisciplinary barriers that exist to creating a circular economy in Canada, we have realised that it’s going to require collaboration and innovation from across academic disciplines to achieve this goal. As part of this blog post, we wanted to shine a spotlight on research currently being conducted at UBC that relates to circularity. Specifically, we hope to highlight the diversity of fields whose works are contributing to a more circular Canadian economy in order to demonstrate how there are opportunities for all of us to contribute to this mission.
Within the Institute of Mining Engineering is the “Urban Mining Innovation Centre”, founded with the goal of recovering valuable materials from our urban waste streams. Their goal is to change the narrative of extraction within mining to “create a new paradigm in material flow and waste management that enables a circular economy scenario” [5]. Their work so far has investigated plastic recycling and the recovery of critical metals and elements from mining tailings. Developing robust material recycling and recovery systems is a critical step in reducing our economy’s material inputs.
Over in the Department of Psychology, Dr. Jiaying Zhao is applying psychological principles to design behavioural solutions to address sustainability challenges [6]. Dr. Zhao has published papers such as “Measuring what works: quantifying greenhouse gas emission reductions of behavioural interventions to reduce driving, meat consumption, and household energy use” [7] and “Convenience improves composting and recycling rates in high-density residential buildings” [8], which demonstrate that well designed interventions can change people’s behaviours around activities like recycling and personal vehicle use. A successful circular economy will require everyone’s participation, and the pro-environmental interventions that Dr. Zhao research can be used to increase participation.
Looking at circularity from a public policy perspective, Dr. Milind Kandlikar is a researcher at the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs. As part of his research, he investigates to what extent global policies have been effective at creating more circular economies [9]. For example, his paper “Is European end-of-life vehicle legislation living up to expectations?” [10] evaluates how effective the EU’s policy end-of-life vehicle directive has actually been at improving material recovery and recycling. As Canada continues to develop more strategies to cement circularity as part of our economy, we should use learnings from around the world to ensure we develop thoughtful and effective policies.
Conclusion
Through Dr. Chris Bataille’s paper and presentation as well as our discussions afterwards, we have had a lot of time over the last month to reflect on the idea of a circular economy. Canada has pledged to become a net-zero emissions country by 2050 [11], but how and where those emissions reductions are going to come from is still being decided and creating a circular economy has a role to play in that. While the phrase “Circular Economy” may mean different things to different people, we feel it’s useful as a paradigm in changing the way people relate to their own resource use. If Canadians are buying less and recycling more and Canadian companies are extracting less and recovering more, then the emissions reductions will follow.
[Complete bibliographies can be provided upon request.]