Masterclass 25 Nov | Podcast 40 – sharing data and values | Book review: Fixation by Sandra Goldmark |
"When you change your thinking, you change actions, when you change your action you change your future." Zig Ziglar
We help entrepreneurs, companies and business leaders discover and use the circular economy – to build profitable, resilient, sustainable and successful businesses. We believe in a circular economy that is fair, transparent and inclusive, to create a better world for everyone.
Welcome to the latest round-up of what we’ve shared, and what’s inspired us. In this issue:
- Off the Page – webinar Wed 25 November
- Circular Economy Podcast #40 – Sharing data and values
- What we’ve been reading – Fixation by Sandra Goldmark
- Thank you letters – to UNSSC
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Event: Off the Page: How circular economy approaches can help organizations to ‘build back better’
This year has been one of accelerated change and disruption, providing the opportunity to re-assess outdated business practices and align values with customers and employees. As we learn to live with Covid-19, the key question is: how can we ‘build back better’?
Join Catherine Weetman on Wednesday 25th November at 1pm (GMT) to explore how circular economy approaches help to create profitable, resilient and sustainable organizations.
Drawing on her research and expertise, Catherine will be answering key questions including:
- What are the issues that Covid-19 has exposed and what does ‘build back better’ mean?
- What could a future-fit, post-Covid world look like and why is the circular economy seen as a key tool for future-fit businesses, communities, cities and regions?
- What examples show how circular approaches support both developed and developing economies and businesses in creating/building a more prosperous, resilient and sustainable world?
Understand why circularity should be central to any strategy to ‘build back better’ after the global pandemic.
Sign up to save 25% on copies of A Circular Economy Handbook.
Episode 40 of the Circular Economy Podcast – Sharing data and values
Catherine rounds up themes from the last nine episodes, exploring how data is the key to solving problems of waste and underused assets, and why aligning values with your customers is important. Plus, Catherine is celebrating the publication of the new edition of her award-winning A Circular Economy Handbook, and shares a code so you can save 20 percent on the print or e-book, worldwide.
We’ve talked to people in Australia, the US, the Netherlands and the UK. We’ve spoken to two organizations making fantastic products out of waste, particularly waste plastics. We’ve talked to a remanufacturer of beautiful, high-quality office furniture, and we’ve talked to several businesses helping to ‘intensify’ resource loops, so we can get more use and productivity out of many different kinds of resources, everything from equipment to staff.
One of the themes I noticed is that people everywhere are wanting to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. It’s becoming a motivator for companies, and is factored into decisions, particularly for procurement.
Episode show notes and audio player here
Find the podcast series on iTunes, Google Podcasts, PlayerFM, Spotify, TuneIn, or search for “circular economy” in your favourite podcast app.
PS We’d love it if you could post a review, and help other people find us!
Interesting reads – Fixation by Sandra Goldmark
Future podcast guest Sandra Goldmark takes readers on a quest to radically reimagine what a healthy relationship with our stuff might look like – for individuals hungry for a way forward, for businesses looking for a path to sustainable growth, and for everyone committed to building the personal, social and political changes that will move us to a more sustainable and equitable circular economy.
Sandra has an engaging writing style, and her book is an uplifting and enjoyable read. She explores how our relationship with stuff, and our global consumption system is broken. Sandra founded Fixup, a pop-up repair shop that gained her coverage in the New York Times. She set out to explore the business model for repair shops, looking at what kind of things we want to repair (and why), how easy (or difficult) manufacturers make it, and what would encourage people to get back into a mindset of repair.
I love that Sandra ‘riffs’ on Michael Pollan’s ‘rules’ for eating in his bestselling book Food Rules: “eat good food, not too much, mostly plants”. Sandra uses her axiom to structure the book: Have good stuff (not too much), mostly reclaimed, care for it, pass it on.
Look out for Catherine’s conversation with Sandra on the next edition of the Circular Economy Podcast!
Thank you letters...
Thanks to the United Nations Systems Staff College, for inviting Catherine to present on the current (2nd) edition of their free online course: ‘Circular Economy and 2030 Agenda‘.
Catherine presented on week 3 of the course, and was asked to tackle the question of ‘what is – and isn’t – sustainable’ in the context of the circular economy. Catherine gave a quick tour through her Circular Economy Framework 2.0 (featured in the course), giving examples of unsustainable practices for each element. Fitting it into 25 minutes was a challenge – there are lots of examples!
Peter Desmond completed this course earlier in the year, and it comes highly recommended. Another programme is planned for 2021.
Hope you have a good week…