The National Secretariat for the Environment of the Portuguese Regional Government of Madeira recently launched a digital agenda and platform to promote the circular economy. The new initiative relies on engaging the entire civil society, government and private institutions in a system that seeks to reuse materials in various sectors and promote efficiency and sustainability.
Contrary to the traditional model of industrialization and consumption based on the concept of exploitation and industrialization of resources, And then waste it as waste, The “circular economy” aims to preserve the value of resources and make the most of them by returning consumables to the economic loop. The circular economy is based on a set of practices that ensure sustainability such as maintenance and repair of equipment, and reuse or recycling of materials, and waste management. Optimizing the circular economy requires the participation of society and all sectors of the local economy. It depends on cooperation and exchange of resources between different industries. Innovation in a circular economy can turn the waste of one industrial sector into material for another.
With the increase in the world’s population and the accompanying consumption of goods, Many countries of the world are aware of the need to shift to a circular economy, whether partially or completely. Especially in light of the challenges posed by climate change and the depletion of environmental resources. But this transformation itself involves a host of challenges. One of the most important is the dissemination of circular economy concepts and practices and raising awareness of the economic, social and environmental feasibility that results from it. In this sense, The government of Portugal’s autonomous region of Madeira recently announced its intention to experiment with its own circular economy by adopting a national agenda and launching a digital platform that supports this trend. More than 60 entities and institutions within this region have contributed to the preparation of the “Madeira Circular Economy Agenda”, which is being implemented by the National Secretariat for the Environment.
This trend came as a result of the Madeira government’s awareness of the importance of the circular economy due to its special situation. Its economy relies heavily on imports, This makes them vulnerable to the risk of supply chain disruptions and external changes. It also lacks the domestic resources to expand its industrial activities, This has made its economy largely confined to certain sectors such as tourism. These factors have led the Madeira government to look for innovative ways to enhance resource sustainability to meet the needs of its local economy and population growth. Madeira also aspires to become a role model in the field of circular economy in the region. The government considers the involvement of all parties a key factor in its success and competition.
The “Circular Economy Agenda” for the Madeira Region focuses on two main aspects, the first of which deals with the dissemination of the benefit gained from the best practices and experiences that have been achieved. The second aspect focuses on laying the foundations for circular economy initiatives in priority sectors including agri-food, construction, tourism, and social institutions. As a major first step in supporting this agenda, The government has launched a special electronic platform to educate members of the public and private sectors. Civil society and educational institutions in the circular economy and its applications.
The launch of the Circular Economy Gateway in Madeira is part of a broader plan to conserve the environment and resources. It was approved by the government within the general budget for 2021 when it announced the allocation of 40% of government investments. or approximately €310 million (US$367 million) in environmental, economic and climate change projects, Sustainable water resources include, renewable energy, and digital transformation. The EU is expected to provide an additional grant of €143 million (US$170 million) in additional support to the plan.
The main purpose of launching the online platform is to promote the circular economy, Establishing the necessary communication channels to promote cooperative work between various entities. Madeira’s “circular economy agenda” and online platform are expected to contribute to building a new business model for companies. Away from the traditional competitive approach. The platform provides information on best practices that ensure efficient use of resources in companies’ “value chains”, It also provides tools to help business owners track the environmental impact of their business and its impact on climate change.
As part of the efforts to educate companies in Madeira, The online platform has published a set of case studies on the practical applications of the circular economy in commercial enterprises. For example, studies included an innovative solution by startup Nam, which devised a way to reuse spent coffee beans. The company converts coffee bean waste into rich agricultural soil that enables consumers to grow organic mushrooms in their homes and shorten the time required to grow them from six weeks to just one week. Nam has partnered with a coffee chain in Portugal to supply it with spent coffee beans.
But at the end of the day, The success of Madeira’s “Circular Economy Agenda” and its online platform will depend on its ability to educate individuals and institutions about the importance of the circular economy and bring about a real change in the culture of cooperation between companies. This can be a challenge as many stakeholders are accustomed to commercial competition. But despite the challenges it faces, the Madeira government believes that the value it can gain by fostering a circular economy will lead to numerous economic, social and environmental benefits.
References:
https://www.themayor.eu/en/a/view/madeira-launched-a-platform-on-circular-economy-8375
