For a Sustainable World: Circular Economy

Circular Economy for a Sustainable World EGİAD, the Aegean Young Businesspeople Association, closely monitors developments such as climate crisis, sustainability, and the Paris Agreement that have become increasingly important in our lives. In this context, the association has rolled up its sleeves to raise awareness about circular economy and accelerate the transition to this new era. EGİAD organises various events to help the business world move away from traditional, low-impact methods and experience new ways of doing business. The association has recently begun work to ensure that the Circular Economy, which is gradually being implemented in European Union member countries, can also be applied in EGİAD member enterprises. Gülcan Ergün, founding partner of D Cube—a scientific research and social development cooperative aimed at raising awareness in the circular economy model, increasing capacity, designing solutions and developing policy—was the guest at a meeting organised by EGİAD on the subject. Increased consumption resulting from industrialisation leads to a rise in waste. The fact that growing environmental pollution has reached levels that will negatively affect human health and the welfare of future generations has made it imperative for the international community to seek various solutions. It shows that the desired results cannot be achieved through the current linear economic approach. With the rise of sustainable development thinking, alternative approaches to the linear economy operating on a take-use-dispose basis are being developed. As a result of these efforts, circular economy has emerged. Circular economy can be defined as a system in which the principles of recycling, reuse and reduction are accepted to achieve sustainable development goals. Alp Avni Yelkenbiçer, Chair of the Board of EGİAD, who delivered the opening remarks at the meeting on the subject, emphasised the importance of D Cube's work, noting that the association aims to ensure that productive and sustainable development policies resulting from the implementation of the "Circular Economy Model" in sectors such as agriculture, food, energy, textiles and water become widespread around the world, particularly in Turkey. In his remarks, Yelkenbiçer recalled that EGİAD has frequently addressed the topics of Sustainability, Circular Economy and Climate Change during this period. Yelkenbiçer stated that they will continue to focus on these concepts, which are actually interconnected and are both cause and consequence of one another. Yelkenbiçer noted that they have continuously kept the Paris Climate Agreement on the agenda through various channels, both written and visual media. Alp Avni Yelkenbiçer, Chair of the Board of EGİAD: "Increasing waste resulting from resource consumption brings various problems. The world's limited resources are diminishing at a rapid rate and the inevitable consequences of climate change are becoming noticeably apparent. Due to increasingly growing environmental pollution and climate crisis, countries have begun to seek various solutions. Circular economy, a sustainable production model in which every waste generated in the production system is re-evaluated, thereby minimising raw material costs and maintaining resource efficiency at the highest level, stands at the forefront of these solutions. Many countries are developing policies related to circular economy. It is clear that we, as a country, need to do much more work on this issue. The Paris Agreement is in this sense actually only a beginning; it would be appropriate to say that the real work is only starting now." Yelkenbiçer reminded that there are many activities that can be carried out to contribute to the Circular Economy, from large industrial enterprises to start-ups and personal measures in our daily lives. Yelkenbiçer also noted that EGİAD Angels, in which he is an investor, has invested in a project that contributes to the circular economy. He drew attention to the fact that Fazla Gıda, one of EGİAD Angels' investments, creates technology-based solutions to reduce food supply chain waste by 50 per cent by 2030. Pointing out that Fazla Gıda was selected as one of nine impact-driven ventures from around the world in the Accelerate 2030 Acceleration Programme supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Yelkenbiçer said: "Not only in Turkey but also worldwide, it produces solutions through its technological infrastructure in combating food waste and hunger effectively. Fazla Gıda ensures that excess food that cannot be sold and therefore remains idle is evaluated in the most appropriate financial, environmental and social manner. Companies enter unsold excess food into the system with various criteria such as best-before date, quality blocking errors, and location, and through the digital infrastructure, the fastest sale, donation or recycling of these products through the correct channel is ensured. In fact, it is possible to prevent waste and contribute to the economy with a circular perspective through quite simple and basic steps. What is important is that we in the business world internalise this perspective and philosophy and take action accordingly. I hope we can leave a more liveable world to the next generation after us," he said. **This Year's Resources Already Depleted** Gülcan Ergün, founding partner of D Cube, provided information about the functioning of Linear Economy and the requirements of Circular Economy. Ergün recalled that the linear economy has continued as an economic model in the period extending from the Industrial Revolution to the present day. Ergün drew attention to the fact that of the approximately 93 billion tonnes of material used annually in the world, only 10 per cent can be reused. Ergün stated: "The cost of resource extraction has increased more than threefold in the last 20 years. As of 29 July, we have exhausted the resources the world has provided us this year. We have begun to use next year's resources. We are facing a situation that would not be acceptable in any economic model or enterprise. It is expected that the world's population will increase by 28 per cent compared to the current situation by 2050 and reach 9.7 billion. A 71 per cent increase in per capita resource consumption by the world's population is projected. If necessary measures are not taken for efficient use of resources, demand for limited resources such as metals, biomass, minerals and the like will reach 130 billion tonnes annually by 2050, compared to 50 billion tonnes annually in 2014. In this respect, the formula for Sustainable Development is Circular Economy," he explained.