With accelerated climate change threatening the very fabric of the world as we know it, the need to be more sustainable in how we live, do business and operate has never been more dire.

“We’re used to living in an economy where we take things from nature, make something with them, discard them back into the environment and forget them,” observed the Principal Consultant of KiWi Strategy Consultants Kithsiri Wijesundera, on LMDtv recently.

He noted that “this process has been going on for centuries and was called a linear economy.” This is now being replaced by a more sustainable and Earth friendly alternative – i.e. the circular economy.

Wijesundera offered an example: “In simple rural villages, people may cultivate things, and bring them home to prepare and eat. And if there are leftovers, they’ll put them into a pit in the garden where they will be digested and probably become compost or manure for further cultivation – that is a perfect circular economy.”

“The concept of a circular economy is an engineering and practical approach to sustainability – it helps achieve sustainability in measurable and meaningful terms,” he maintained.

And he stressed the need to ensure that corporate leaders be involved in creating a circular economy: “When doing business and making profits, companies bear the cost of materials and energy. However, when it comes to disposing of waste including industrial waste, companies leave it to local authorities or municipalities.”

“The most significant concept built into the circular economy is ensuring that the disposal of waste is undertaken without causing any harm to the environment; and that’s the responsibility of the industry and manufacturers,” Wijesundera declared.

He continued: “If a business is driven by the principles of the circular economy, it will look at minimising or eliminating damage to the environment at the time of designing a product, be it in the form of solid waste, liquid waste or even polluted air.”

Wijesundera also discussed extended producer responsibility (EPR), stating that “it’s a new concept to Sri Lanka but started in Germany long ago when it introduced the Blue Angel label, which is awarded to manufacturers whose packaging is recyclable.”

“They realised that brand owners fill packages and scatter them all over the countryside. So brand owners were made responsible for collecting their packaging post-consumption and ensuring that they are recycled,” he said, asserting that “if you offer a product to the market, you’re responsible for taking it back – that’s the producer’s responsibility.”

Ensuring that packages are recycled is a critical part of the EPR equation, Wijesundera emphasised: “Putting waste material in an incinerator and calling it recycling is wrong. This causes air pollution if it isn’t a properly controlled incinerator – and wastes energy.”

“Ideally, after recycling, the recycled material should be good enough to be used again,” he explained, noting that materials will then continue to circulate in the value chain.

Wijesundera conti­nued: “EPR has become a major tool used in many countries to ensure that the original linear economy is transformed into a circular economy.”

“When planning new businesses, corporates have to look at what type of chain they’re getting into and how they can contribute towards maximising the circulation of resources,” he urged, emphasising the need for businesses to embrace EPR.

For this, the support of customers – and the general public – is important as well, beginning with the disposal of garbage in a manner that facilitates recycling: “Children should be educated on the circular economy concept and how they can be a part of it within their homes or schools.”

“Enabling the circular economy is the way we can help ensure that Sri Lanka remains a beautiful place – and therefore, it’s the responsibility of every citizen,” Wijesundera summed up.