How can we use the resources smarter and better? That’s a key question in the circular economy.
Workers often have specific knowledge on how to save materials, electricity and heat.
This knowledge must be used. It can, among other things, contribute to the transition to a circular economy which requires new ways of thinking and business models, and in the development of green and socially sustainable procurement and tendering.
According to FH’s survey, in the past five years, 37% of the respondents have experienced that their workplace has used their green proposals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
FH proposes a commitment to the circular economy. And fortunately, this is already gaining traction.
Paper beer bottles and “Snap Pack”
A way Carlsberg Group has tackled the challenge of recycling more and minimizing material usage is by developing new environmentally friendly packaging types.
45%
..of Carslbergs CO2 emissions is from Carlsberg Groups packaging
1200
..tons estimated reduce of total CO2 emission via Snap Pack annually
37%
of respondents in FH survey has workplace with green proposals
Around 45% of Carlsberg Groups CO2 emissions come from the company’s packaging.
Carlsberg Group has developed the world’s first fully biodegradable beer bottle made from wood fibre created from bio-based sources. While the project still has a long way to go the prototypes is holding beer.
Another environmentally friendly initiative Carlsberg Group has rolled out is “Snap Pack”.
Using a new glue to stick the beers together, Snap Pack is estimated to reduce the total use of secondary plastic packaging by more than 1,200 tonnes annually.
That’s the same amount of plastic used to produce 60 million plastic bags. Such innovations are not possible without the workers skillful hands, clever heads and green ideas.
Circular economy
The circular economy is about moving from a linear production to methods of production where materials are kept in a circuit and the need for new raw materials is reduced.
Specific focus areas are, among others, a longer lifetime for products, waste management, plastic recycling and basing materials on biomass, such as wood or bioplastics.
A circular economy aims to maintain the value of products, materials and resources for as long as possible by returning them into the product cycle at the end of their use, while minimising the generation of waste.
The European Commission’s circular economy plans – timeline
In 2015, the European Commission adopted its first circular economy action plan. It included measures to help stimulate Europe’s transition towards a circular economy, boost global competitiveness, foster sustainable economic growth and generate new jobs.
On 11 March 2020, the European Commission adopted a new Circular Economy Action Plan – one of the main building blocks of the European Green Deal.
The 30th of March 2022, the European Commission presented “Circular economy package I” which includes:
- Sustainable products policy initiative, including a revision of the Ecodesign Directive
- Review of the Construction Product Regulation
- Strategy on sustainable textiles
- Empowering consumers for the green transition
Literature
The European Commission. First circular economy action plan:
The European Commission. 2022. Green Deal: New proposals to make sustainable products the norm and boost
Europe’s resource independenceCarlsberg Group. Green Fibre Bottle. One step closer:
Visit web site of FH: https://www.fho.dk