The transition from an extractive to a regenerative economy should include social justice and poverty. The just transition is about transitioning towards a circular economy in a fair and just way, leaving no one behind.

The ECESP Leadership Group on Circular procurement and the Leadership Group on Social Circular Hubs invite you to their next joint #EUCircularTalks on 12 January 2023 at 10:00 - 12:15 CET to discuss the social impact of procurement in a circular Europe for developing countries. Participants will also learn how European procurement proceedings can integrate social aspects.

The event will focus on the theory and dive into very concrete cases. It will start with a preview of the upcoming Circularity 4 All Hierarchy. Several cases describe how procurement through supporting social enterprise can positively impact local jobs and training opportunities while driving the circular economy.
This will be followed by a presentation of STEP EcoLab project’s Mongolia case. This project aims to support the Mongolian wool and cashmere supply chain and processing industry in adopting more sustainable sourcing and production practices.

Finally, they will look at how regulation can help strengthen collaboration in the value chain in light of the Norwegian Transparency Act. The event will be concluded by reflecting on how regulation can play a role in the transition to a circular and social society.

Programme

10:00 Welcome & opening remarks

• Moderator Cristina Fedato, CSCP
• Peter Schmidt, Member of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)

10:10 Framework hierarchy

• Cynthia Reynolds
  A preview of the upcoming Circularity 4 All Hierarchy - where resources are maintained and kept in use at their highest societal value at all times: this includes living, biological, technical and financial resources. The hierarchy supports the communication of priorities for a Circular Economy with a just transition for all, bridging the Global North and South, utilising policies and economic incentives as levers to strategically transform resources and revitalise our global economy through shared norms and values. The Circularity 4 All draft of the Procurement model will be presented with a focus on social and circular procurement.

10:25 Examples of social and circular procurement for local impact

• Claire Downey
  The social impact of procurement can be local as well as global thanks to the role of pioneering social enterprises in the circular economy in Europe. In this talk, several cases will be described showing how procurement, through supporting social enterprise, can have a positive impact on creating local jobs and training opportunities while driving the circular economy. This includes cases on procurement involving furniture consortia from social reuse and repair networks, mattress recycling via the prison service and building deconstruction services.

10:35 Case from Mongolia

• Sarangoo Ukhnaa
  The STEP EcoLab project aimed at supporting the Mongolian wool and cashmere supply chain and the processing industry in adopting more sustainable sourcing and production practices and simultaneously improve the branding for sustainable products, allow for better access to green finance, optimise cost-saving measures and improve the herders’ future livelihoods. Bringing together key drivers of sustainable consumption and production in Mongolia, a sectoral voluntary code of practice (VCP) was developed together with a roadmap, formalizing the commitment of the sector towards a more sustainable future and ensuring continuous and long-term improvement of the industry’s ecological and social performance. This helps European consumers to recognise the industry’s efforts and to give both consumers and producers a way to value and identify goods produced through more responsible production practices

10:45 Making companies accountable for ensuring a responsible supply chain management

• Jenny Alström
  The Norwegian Transparency Act’s aim is to promote companies respect for fundamental human rights and decent working conditions and enabling consumers, organizations, trade unions, journalists and the public have access to information. In relation to requirements from public authorities on ensuring suppliers having a responsible supply chain management, the Transparency Act is an efficient tool. With the compulsory reports, which should be posted on the companies’ websites, public authorities can use this information to verify adherence to the contract requirements on responsible supply chain management.

11:00 Panel discussion with moderator Cristina Fedato from CSCP & Q&A

11:30 Closing remarks & Spatial Chat 

12:15 End of Spatial Chat