On Earth Day 2024, tune into a special episode of Sustainability In Your Ear host Mitch Ratcliffe as he shares his insights from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s REMADE conference. The conference, which took place at the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in Washington DC earlier this month, brought together scientists and business leaders to discuss and share research on enabling a circular economy.
The REMADE conference had a strong focus on reducing waste and creating circular systems in industries, which account for 30.2% of annual human CO2 emissions. The event explored advanced recycling technologies for plastics, textiles, and metals, industrial decarbonization techniques, and how to design products for easier recyclability. These initiatives are crucial in moving towards a make-recapture-remake approach to the products humans rely on daily.
However, achieving this requires an enormous investment and is a form of technological utopianism that promises solutions so simple people don’t have to think about it. Mitch Ratcliffe will share the potential benefits of a circular economy and how investing in advanced recycling technologies and pushing for easier recyclability in product design can lead to significant positive changes in the sustainability of industries worldwide as well as individual consumption habits. By staying informed and engaged in these discussions, we can contribute to a more sustainable future for our planet.
