How Can Digital Circular Economy Help Us Get To Carbon Neutrality?

A global push to achieve zero carbon emissions has been driving enterprises and governments to embrace policies that promote decarbonisation. The growing climate crisis has coerced policymakers to figure out ways to lessen the odds of global warming. Of course, efforts to replace fossil fuels as an energy resource has worked well in reducing carbon emissions. Recycling, too, stands out as a strategic effort to lower the burgeoning pile of waste, a leading cause of groundwater and air pollution. Regrettably, the policies have failed to mark a striking emphasis on decarbonising and cutting down toxic greenhouse gas emissions at scale. In order to step up decarbonisation efforts, it is critical to combine digitalisation with strategic circular economy principles, giving way to a renewed digital circular economy (DCE).

How can digitisation empower circular economy?

A circular flow of economic activity implies a structured and strategic initiative to prolong the life of resources and products in a supply chain. However, in order to create a robust and sustainable ecosystem, brands and businesses need to integrate leading-edge technology. Wondering why? Well, by utilising technology, businesses enjoy an absolute overview of the supply chain. What’s more, businesses get their hands on accurate data that facilitates businesses to execute prospective business models and better decisions.

Policymakers emphasise the importance of pairing circular economy with digitisation to ensure peak utilisation of products, materials, and components. As quoted by Luohan, an Alibaba venture, coupling digitisation with circular economy principles strengthens the framework to conduct comprehensive research and practises in mitigating climate crises.

It is no surprise that evolution has been a constant in the world of technology. Consumers toss out products in a spry or alternate their products with upgraded and newer versions quicker than usual. It is, of course, a no-brainer that the rejected gadgets end up in waste piles. According to statistics, more than 50 million tonnes of e-waste are generated every year. Do you know how much that weighs? It is heavier than the cumulative weight of commercial planes ever made. Surprising, right? Little do you know that only 17% of global e-waste is effectively treated and recycled. Unfortunately, the lack of e-waste management is detrimental to the environment and sparks hazardous health conditions in human beings.

Wondering if e-waste is the only problem? Definitely not! From the solid waste stream to glass waste, battery scraps, and more, the mounting volumes of trash are overwhelmingly high. Moreover, what’s reckoned as waste comprises billions of dollars worth of raw materials, such as gold, silver, copper, palladium, etc. It is undeniably a bummer for the global economy and, worse, a major loss of valuable resources. Further, excessive mining of raw materials to meet the surging demand lowers the ratio of the earth’s finite resources. The top e-waste companies in India and across the world are dedicated to addressing the present challenges, as mentioned above.

Are you curious to know how the digital circular economy aims to tackle the challenges? Digitisation and technology upgrades enable businesses to use data for better scalability and lesser waste of resources. Businesses can now keep tabs on their transaction costs, counts of idle resources, and the life of goods to ensure minimum wastage. Haven’t you heard of second-hand marketplaces like Craigslist? Undeniably a wonderful initiative to proceed with responsible recycling of used products.

Producer Responsibility Organisations in India, such as Karo Sambhav, pioneer the implementation of technology with a strategic circular flow of economic activity to head forward with the idea of a zero-waste nation in the years to come. The organisation collaborates with leading enterprises and the government to maximise the implementation of circularity and achieve carbon neutrality.

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