Written by: Snorri Hallgrímsson, Cody Alexander Skahan, Unnur Björnsdóttir and Kolbrún Fríða Hrafnkelsdóttir.
General summary from discussions on CE
UU believes in a fair circular future where there is a collaboration between every part of society and every industry where our resources flow in a circular manner. A future where our resources are used efficiently, distributed equally, nothing is wasted and we make use of what we have. One industry's trash is another industry’s resource. We see a future where the human system is a complete part of the natural system. All humans have access to energy and live with financial security. UU will advocate for this vision. UU believes that we need to put the emphasis on using what we already have and to adapt the current systems towards circularity while also finding innovative solutions. We need to work simultaneously in taking many small improvements while working on the big picture. We need to restructure our entire human systems so that every resource goes in circles just like in the natural system.
UU acknowledges that a behavior change and mindset shift is needed in society at individual levels and in the whole society. UU sees that circular technology and design can play a role in that behavior shift. Behavior that has bad consequences for the environment needs to be made difficult and behavior that has good consequences needs to be made easy, accessible and convenient. A shift is needed from the mindset that we have enough resources. Equality and well being for all is a top priority for UU, every gender has an equal role to play. The whole community needs to be involved. We need to face this imminent threat to humanity in collaboration together, we all have a common ground in this situation, we all love our earth. UU believes that we are in the midst of huge societal change to adjust our way of life to the way of nature with the help of technology and design. The industrial mindset needs to change.
Young people see the Circular Economy (CE) as an empowering tool in these drastic times. Thinking about the circularity in your own home can be liberating, spark creativity, and improve well-being. Young people see that older generations in Iceland were better than the younger generations in utilizing the resources they had, we need to go back to this way of thinking. Products tend to lose value due to societal behavior such as fashion. UU will advocate for finding ways to disencourage such behavior or make sure the resources do not lose value. We do not only need to find better ways to consume, we also need to find ways to consume less.
SUGGESTION/DRAFT POLICY ON GENERAL ON CIRCULAR ECONOMY:
UU believes in a fair circular future where there is equality for all and a collaboration between every part of society and every industry. A future where our resources flow in a circular manner. A future where our resources are used efficiently, distributed equally, nothing is wasted and we make use of what we have. One industry's trash is another industry’s resource. We see a future where the human system is a complete part of the natural system. UU will advocate for this vision. UU believes that we need to put the emphasis on using what we already have and to adapt the current systems towards circularity while also finding innovative solutions. UU acknowledges that a behavior change and mindset shift is needed in society at individual levels and in the whole society. More mindful consumption is needed. UU will continue to advocate for such behavior. Behavior that has bad consequences for the environment needs to be made difficult and behavior that has good consequences needs to be made easy, accessible and convenient. Policy is needed to implement circularity to all systems.
Politics and the circular economy
Summary
The start of the discussion was highly general with a lot of discussion around topics such as
the need for definitions around the circular economy and what circularity means,
the need for establishing data, knowledge,
the need for innovation in this space and for that to be encouraged,
the need for a fair transition to new technologies,
the need for a change of mindset,
the need for international collaboration,
the need for regulation, and
the need to consider the full lifecycle of products and services.
The discussion moved onto topics more specific to politics and policy, with the following broad strokes.
Politicians and decision makers need to be educated on the topics of sustainability and circularity. They need access to the data, information, and expert consultation required to facilitate decision- and policy making.
If the industry is reluctant to move towards circularity they must be encouraged by subsidies and tax incentives and/or forced by regulation and policy. Small to medium sized enterprises must especially be supported.
Regulation must be efficient to not hinder action and not place overdue burden on companies and organizations doing the right thing. Special consideration should be given to small to medium sized enterprises.
We must ensure that as regulations are made stricter that non-sustainable tasks and operations are not simply outsourced to countries with less rigid rules.
Decisive, aggressive goals must be set with accountability if those goals are not met.
Transparency is required on the sustainability and circularity of both companies and governments. Consideration must be given to the impact throughout the whole supply chain and whole lifecycle of products and services.
Make consumers and the general public aware of the environmental impact of the products they buy, services they use and politicians they vote for.
Repair and maintenance need to be encouraged, facilitated, and incentivised in all its forms. Products must be designed to last and be maintainable, including the availability of spare parts.
Recycling and reuse in all its forms must similarly be encouraged and increased.
Companies must be held accountable both for the waste they generate directly and the waste created by their products at the end of their lifecycle.
Miscellaneous specific policy:
Improved urban planning to foster a sense of community and lessen the need for travel, with improved better funded public transport;
Bans and restrictions on single use products;
Bans and restrictions on pollutants and non-circular chemicals;
Fast fashion crackdown;
Government backed sustainability index.
SUGGESTION/DRAFT POLICY ON CIRCULAR POLITICS AND THE CE:
Ungir umhverfissinnar (e. The Icelandic Youth Environmental Association) should:
Take an active part in political discourse relating to sustainability and the circular economy, highlight the good and hold those who are responsible accountable for the bad;
Review and provide and provide feedback on draft legislation and policy;
Initiate and participate in projects relating to circular innovation;
Educate persons of kinds from children to politicians about environmental issues in general and the circular economy in particular.
Education and knowledge sharing
Summary
CE solutions need to be enhanced in the current school systems. This could be strengthened with improved wellbeing education so that younger generations have a better understanding on what quality of life actually means. The education system needs to adapt to the differences of individuals, one way of teaching might not be suitable for all. UU has contributed to educating young people on CE and will continue to do so. UU encourages governments to support such contributions from NGOs and nonprofits. UU will continue to educate young people and campaign for the environment in an accessible and understandable manner to fill gaps in the education system. UU notice that the government, policy makers and industry stakeholder also need to get informed and educated on the CE.
UU noticed a significant lack in knowledge sharing and knowledge protection on the CE in Iceland. UU strives to inform the public on the CE and encourage policy makers to improve knowledge protection on the topic. UU will keep on improving the available information on the CE in an relatable manner. Visualization in environmental issues could be improved. Circularity can exist on different levels and perspectives and there is a need to define what circularity means at each level. The discussion on the environmental issues is important for everyone and UU will strive to involve and engage everyone and participation is key. Knowledge and technology must be shared across borders, international standards created and regulation harmonized.
SUGGESTION/DRAFT POLICY ON EDUCATION REGARDING CE:
UU finds the use of the CE concept is missing consensus, policy, and regulation and a response is needed to the use of the concept as a greenwashing term. UU encourages policy makers to protect and regulate environmental concepts and data quality with standardization metrics. There is a need to define better what a CE is and what that means for each industry and each level of the society, so that the phrase does not become diluted with multiple meanings that crash into each other.
UU finds a significant lack of education on sustainability and potential solutions such as CE. UU will continue to educate young people and campaign for the environment in an accessible and understandable manner to fill gaps in the education system. UU notice that the government, policy makers and industry stakeholder also need to get informed and educated on the CE. UU noticed a significant lack in knowledge sharing and knowledge protection on the CE in Iceland. UU strives to inform the public on the CE and encourage policy makers to improve knowledge protection on the topic. The discussion on the environmental issues is important for everyone and UU will strive to involve and engage everyone and participation is key. UU finds the use of the CE concept is missing consensus, policy, and regulation and a response is needed to the use of the concept as a greenwashing term. UU encourages policy makers to protect and regulate environmental concepts and data quality with standardization metrics.
Technology
Summary
When it comes to technology and climate change, UU strongly emphasizes the need for structural change instead of focusing just on the consequences or outcomes of the system. However, innovation is currently primarily geared towards addressing environmental and circular economy issues separately, which fails to account for the context in which the current political and economic frameworks were established. It is important to remain honest and respectful of tradition, but climate change has ushered in a state of emergency that the existing system of society and politics is unprepared to deal with in an urgent fashion. Additionally, climate change affects all aspects of society, and since elements of the circular economy are connected, it makes sense to not look at each issue individually, but to see how they work together as an interconnected whole. Greater collaboration between researchers, designers, entrepreneurs, and so on as well as increased transparency and sharing of knowledge between different sectors would assist in this process.
UU also holds that the responsibility for the current state of the climate and environment should not be placed on individuals, but on companies or organizations responsible for climate change who do not engage in circular pracitces. We are all responsible for addressing climate change together, but companies and organizations related to the petroleum, construction, and transport sectors have an outsized impact on the environment. However, it is not simply about blaming these companies because effort, support, and political will are needed from all aspects of society. Because these companies have an outsized impact on the environment, they also have the ability to have the greatest impact on reducing carbon emissions and environmental degradation. For example, they can improve their production processes to reduce waste and inefficiency before their products ever enter the market.
Finally, UU thinks that technology should be used more to drive climate innovation and used to educate people about climate change in novel ways, but not be relied on as the best or only solution to climate change. Solutions like CarbFix and GreenBytes should be encourage and emulated, but it will also take drastic lifestyle and societal change to address the roots of climate change. People will often see increased efficiency and efforts to reduce environment impacts as an excuse to consume more, but they should be convinced to consume less overall. Other solutions that are not currently available but could have a great impact include a database that contains information about the Greenhouse Gas emissions, circularity, and overall environmental lifecycle impact of products and proposed political policies. And instead of serving for profit corporations and the increasing accumulation of capital by the rich, technological innovations should ease the burden for the most marginalized of society (who experience the effects of climate change most harshly), as well as shortening the work week and lessening the need for consumption on the part of workers.
More specific suggestions included:
As circular technologies develop, the regulation should be forced to follow (be developed).
Retrofitting aluminum smelters into recycling facilities
E bike long term rent
Paying people for not driving
SUGGESTION/DRAFT POLICY ON CIRCULAR TECHNOLOGY:
The government should ensure that all large scale projects and policies
have the full picture in mind rather than only focusing on one aspect of the circular economy. This is especially relevant when it comes to the construction industry, production and the handling of waste. It is important that the government promotes solutions that do not solely rely on technology, focus on holding company’s responsible for the outsized effects they have had on climate change and environmental degradation, and also advocate for lifestyle change and novel ways of reaching peodo not focus only on consumers. Finally, the organization insists that technological developments should at the very least not have an adverse effect on the environment, and ideally would instead be focused on improving the environment and reducing the effects of climate change.
Ungir umhverfissinnar (e. The Icelandic Youth Environmental Association) should take part in political discussions surrounding proposed policies related to technological solutions to climate change ensuring that all large scale projects and policies have the full picture in mind rather than only focusing on one aspect of the circular economy. The NGO should also take part in working on solutions to these problems by participating in workshops, applying for innovation funds, and working to implement existing technological solutions. Promoting solutions that do not solely rely on technology, advocating for lifestyle change and novel ways of reaching people are important as long as they do not solely focus on consumers. Finally, the organization could work with groups who are not familiar with technology to understand their needs and wants, teach them how to use technology to be more environmentally friendly, to develop a positive sense of community.
Design
Summary
When it came to the Circular design theme, political interference was the most commonly discussed topic. Political interference such as in shaping the framework of design, productions and shifting the responsibility of waste consumption from the consumers hand to the producers. The right to repair, Pant systems (isl. skilagjald) for all materials, Carbon taxes and design grants for concept designing rather than designing in the name of producing were among some ideas for government actions.
The second most discussed topic was the topic of education and mediation on circular design. The schools should improve their circular design education by teaching the value of resources, repairing, maintaining, identifying material differences and to be creative in solution designing. The need for positive role models to raise awareness was also considered an important factor within the education system.
The third most discussed topic was the production process. Material use, durability, multipurpose and afterlife was the main theme within the discussions of the production process. Human rights, accessibility, equality and diversity in teamwork were all mentioned in concern to the production and design process.
The discussion on the topics of “upcycling” and “second hand shopping” were the most controversial topics of the theme. The disagreement was based on the ethics of finding them to be a good solution or not enough of a solution for the waste problem we are facing today.
How can people of power involve young people into the topic of circular design?
Create a safe space to share their opinions and ideas
Listen to young people and take their word to account, see their viewpoint,
Have a run through focus group with young people for a sustainable criticism for new design projects.
Provide young people with a accessible database to gain the knowledge they seek
Show information visually, designed in an appealing way
SUGGESTION/DRAFT POLICY ON CIRCULAR DESIGN:
Ungir umhverfissinnar (e. The Icelandic Youth Environmental Association) should take part in circular design political discussion, both state vice and municipalities vice all over Iceland. The association should come across with both formal and informal civic participation. “Umsagnarskrif” and also proposing legislation is an example of a formal civic participation. An example of Informal civic participation would be by spreading awareness with the power of visual language. The association should prevent bad change from happening as well as propose good changes. As for events, Ungir umhverfissinnar should hold workshops on legislation and innovation and creative competitions to tackle waste. The NGO should collaborate with hringrásarsetur, The Environmental agency, Góði hirðirinn, Landvernd.
Transforming the economic system
Summary
UU encourages the government and policy-makers to transform the economy towards sustainable development. UU finds it obvious that limitless growth with finite resources is not possible. A change in discourse is needed towards de-growth and stabilization of the economy. Well-being of the nation can be measured with other indicators than solely economic indicators such as increased GDP. UU acknowledges that industry can have a huge role to play in the implementation of a CE. More interdisciplinary collaboration is needed.
UU encourages more communication between companies and industries on what resources are available and increases their accountability. Industry needs to collaborate with interdisciplinary researchers, designers, entrepreneurs and so on to find successful solutions for the CE. We need to be wise with our resources and loop together circular systems on all levels. Transparency is a crucial part for all industries. Actions such as planned obsolescence should have consequences. We need to take action now and continuously improve with improved data. UU encourages all companies to adapt to the CE.
UU noticed a significant lack of collaboration between the local level and the national level. Institutions are being transferred to the local level where funding is not supported. UU encourages governments to further support innovations in CE solutions, especially innovations that improve consumption behavior such as sharing systems. Economic drivers can be used in benefit of the environment for example by making more environmentally friendly choices cheaper.
The current economic system encourages companies to sacrifice their environmental and human rights related values due to profit-motiveness to mass produce cheaper products. This has negative repercussions for all stakeholders and the planet. This system will not sustain human life on earth for infinite time and needs to change if we want humanity to strive for the foreseeable future.
SUGGESTION/DRAFT POLICY ON TRANSFORMING THE ECONOMY:
UU encourages the government and policy-makers to transform the economy towards sustainable development. UU finds it obvious that limitless growth with finite resources is not possible. A change in discourse is needed towards de-growth and stabilization of the economy. UU encourages that the well-being of the nation be measured with other indicators than solely economic indicators such as increased GDP. UU will strive to advocate for increased interdisciplinary collaboration and improved transparency from industry. UU encourages governments to further support innovations in CE solutions. Economic drivers can be used in benefit of the environment (making more environmentally friendly choices cheaper). The current economic system encourages companies to sacrifice their environmental and human rights values due to profit-motiveness to mass produce cheaper products. This has negative repercussions for all stakeholders and the planet. This system will not sustain human life on earth for infinite time and needs to change if we want humanity to strive for the foreseeable future.
Waste management
Summary
UU believes that drastic changes are needed in the Icelandic waste management system. Waste management should be dealt with in regards to the waste management hierarchy. Too much emphasis is put on the lowest ranked solutions such as landfilling.
Viewpoint of waste management should be moved from the endpoint of waste and towards the starting point. Products need to be designed with the whole lifecycle in mind and designed for repair, reuse, and recycling in mind. New innovative ideas are needed in how we create things in the first place instead of how to deal with our mistakes. We need to close waste streams from the production industry and see the value in it as a resource for other production processes. UU sees a lack of measuring and monitoring of production processes and waste streams and encourages that this will be improved.
UU believes that further support is needed for consumers and industry to reuse, repair, and recycle in Iceland. Consumers could be rewarded for reusing and recycling and it needs to be made convenient. UU questions the cost of repairing in Iceland as young consumers are influenced to purchase new items rather than repair what they have due to repair costs.
Subsidizing food so people can eat and reduce the waste, using the methods of greenbytes, maybe implement that as a policy
Waste systems need to be improved in all different industries, f ex. using biomass and biowaste from the sewage system for fetilizer or an energy source, recycle water from power plants for other purposes, and cleaning companies and those who use toxic materials should have a convenient way to dispose of their toxic waste to be filtered.
SUGGESTION/DRAFT POLICY ON GENERAL ON WASTE MANAGEMENT:
UU encourages that waste management is prioritized with the waste management hierarchy. Products need to be designed with the end-of-life mind and designed for repair, reuse, and recycling in mind. New innovative ideas are needed in how we create things in the first place instead of how to deal with our mistakes. We need to close waste streams from the production industry and see the value in it as a resource for other production processes. UU believes that further support is needed for consumers and industry to reuse, repair, and recycle in Iceland. UU suggest that consumers could be rewarded for reusing and recycling and it needs to be made convenient. UU questions the cost of repairing in Iceland as young consumers are influenced to purchase new items rather than repair what they have due to repair costs.
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