2C - Accelerating circular behaviours - How can digitalisation help us?

Session 2C - Accelerating circular behaviours - How can digitalisation help us?
Start/End date
City
Brussels
Scope
Description

Lead organisation: CSCP, DE

Changes in consumption behaviours and dominant lifestyles are increasingly recognised as one of the key levers for enabling the transition to a circular economy, as the success of new circular business models and policy measures largely depend on social engagement (EEA, 2019). 

However, the majority of studies and strategies on the circular economy are still framed from a production and business model perspective, while the level of public engagement is still relatively low and the role of people in the process is largely overlooked (Selvefors, 2019; van den Berge et al., 2021). This is an issue, as users play a key role in advancing circular solutions to close material loops – ultimately, the decision lies with consumers on whether they engage with circular behaviours (e.g. repair, reuse) or not (van den Berge et al., 2021).  

In this workshop, we aimed to share insights from the collaboration of the ECESP Leadership Group and facilitate a dialogue between different actors to exchange ideas on real-life issues: 

  • What pieces are missing from the puzzle in order to make circularity the rule among the overwhelming majority of consumers in Europe?  

  • What can stakeholders such as retailers, city representatives, policymakers and NGOs do to support circular behaviour among consumers?  

  • How can digitalisation play a role in this process, particularly considering the increasing EU focus on digital tools, such as the Digital Product Passport, supporting apps and the role of Artificial Intelligence? 

Addressing these questions has been the main focus of the ECESP Leadership Group on Enabling Circular Behaviours through Digitalisation. The aim is to raise awareness of successful examples of digital interventions and identify options for stakeholders. This becomes especially relevant when looking at current developments such as Green Claims where digital tools will probably play an enabling role.

Programme

15:15-15:20 Opening remarks

Welcome, setting the scene and positioning the Leadership Group's vision and work

  • Michael Kuhndt, CSCP Director
  • Mariana Nicolau and Imke Schmidt, Project Managers, Collaborating Centre on Sustainable Consumption and Production (CSCP)

15:20-15:25 EESC provides insights into the role of circular consumption and digital tools in current EU policies

  • Maria Nikolopoulou, EESC member

15:25-15:50 Impulses: Real-life case studies from different stakeholder groups applying various digital tools to support circular behaviours

15:50-16:10 Panel discussion on the role of different stakeholder groups and digitalisation as an enabler of new circular solutions

  • Evolena de Wilde d’Estmael, faircado
  • Tim Breker, Co-founder, Vytal
  • Kasia Dulko-Gaszyna, Ikea DE

Q&A

Closing remarks:

  • Mariana Nicolau, Project Manager, CSCP

 

2C - Accelerating circular behaviours – How can digitalisation help us?