Circularity Assessments
Jared Goldman, Circular Triangle Advisory Board Member
Transitioning from a linear economy to a circular economy will not happen overnight. The systems and thought processes that enable the take, make, waste flow of linear economies are baked into the infrastructure and societal norms of the modern world. If we want to approach problems in a more circular way, we must start by looking at the big picture. Once we identify the relative impacts of all of the tasks in a process and narrow in on small steps that can be taken to maximize the impact of innovations. In order to follow this model, we must first collect data on the relative impacts of all of the components in a system. We can then use that information to target the most impactful sources of waste. This systematic approach to circular innovation is known as a circularity assessment.
Many different stakeholders are jumping at the opportunity to create new approaches to old problems perpetuated by the linear economy. Not only will these changes help the environment but they drive job growth in both the private and public sectors. For instance, the Ellen MacArthur foundation launched a service that assesses the circularity of clients and provides targeted feedback for how each stakeholder can improve their performance from both an economic and environmental perspective. They have worked with over 1,000 clients including municipalities, federal governments, and corporations of all sizes. This broad interest in data-driven circular insight demonstrates a quantifiable demand for circularity assessment services in the modern world. The combination of increasingly high data availability and expertise in circular solutions makes these programs a beacon of hope for circular innovation.
Looking to the future of the triangle presents a difficult challenge. As one of the most high-growth regions in the world, the problems of energy waste, pollution, and inequitable access to clean environments that are inherent to the take-make-waste linear economy will only be exacerbated in the years to come. Unless the cities within the Triangle and the state of North Carolina take concrete actions to identify and redesign their infrastructure with reuse in mind, these problems will continue. These challenges are overwhelming when looked at with an untrained eye but could be addressed by experts with ample experience in circular innovation at a systemic scale.
A circularity assessment of the RTP or any of its constituent cities could shine light on the areas where we can improve the most and provide real solutions for how we can improve processes that have been ingrained in our society by decades of repetition. In order to make a significant difference in slowing the advance of climate change, we must innovate our standard, linear practices at every level of society. Circularity assessments identify where changes can be made to create the greatest impact with the least effort thus speeding the transition to a circular economy and improving the state of the world.