Along with 15 other CEOs representing major companies, the Veolia Group Chairman and CEO has signed the WBCSD Guide to Circular Bioeconomy. This guide provides the keys to the circular bioeconomy using nature-based solutions to address five priorities: climate change, resource scarcity, biodiversity loss, land-use change and food waste. By 2030, the circular bioeconomy will represent nearly 8 billion US dollars (source Boston Consulting Group).
While the global population has doubled over the last 50 years, resource extraction has tripled. 90% of biodiversity loss and water stress are caused by natural resource extraction and processing. Unless we change how we manage and reuse resources, we will be confronted with the catastrophic consequences of climate change, biodiversity loss and resource scarcity.
The circular bioeconomy maximizes renewable use of biological resources
It responds sustainably to society’s need for food, products and energy. As far as possible, in a circular bioeconomy biological resources are recovered for reuse. As a result, resources are better allocated to society’s needs and to preserving the environment. These nature-based solutions should enable more than 9 billion people to live well with a limited ecological footprint. The circular bioeconomy currently represents only 7% of the economy.
An example: the partnership between Veolia and Yara recycling nutrients
Veolia signed a partnership with Yara, a group specializing in crop nutrition, to develop the circular economy in European food and agricultural production chains by recycling the nutrients from this production within closed loops. Veolia and Yara are inviting companies in the sector to join the initiative.
In the guide to the circular bioeconomy, Yara's CEO Svein Tore Holsether says, "Recycling nutrients is a must to make farming more sustainable." »
"We call for more companies to integrate circularity when using biological resources," says Maria Mendiluce, WBCSD’s Managing Director, Climate & Energy, Cities & Mobility and Circular Economy..
Published during the European Business and Nature Summit held in Madrid on 7 and 8 November, this guide has been developed with the member companies of the WBCSD's "Factor10" circular economy program, in collaboration with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and the Forest and Food & Nature programs.
The Geneva-based WBCSD is an organization of 190 international companies united by a common commitment to sustainable development.
More:
> “Qualiagro, urban composts for sustainable agriculture”, in the Planet digital magazine
> Biowaste management, a major environmental challenge
> Veolia press day : How do we feed 9 billion people in 2040?
> The CEO Guide to the circular bioeconomy from the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)