SCP/RAC represented at the 1st Summit on Circular Economy in France

In light of those challenges, the French Environmental Conference, organized every year at the highest political level, made of circular economy a central theme for the development of national policies related to the smart and efficient use of resources, in line with the strategic guidelines of the European Commission.

On the ground, public and private actors are getting mobilized: companies anticipate this change using instruments like sustainable procurement, product design, servicizing and some even decide to change their business model; furthermore regions and local governments are convinced that the circular economy approach represents a lever for the development of their territories. But the magnitude of the challenges for the next decade requires moving from experimentation to the acceleration and scaling-up of actions.

In this context the French Environment and Energy Management Agency, together with the Circular Economy Institute organized in Paris, June, 17th the first French Summit on Circular Economy in order to review the main challenges and issues, present on-going initiatives and open up new perspectives.

The conference gathered 900 participants, both public and private decisions-makers: national and local governments, public agencies, business organizations, private companies, entrepreneurs, professional organizations, consulting companies, environmental protection and consumer associations, universities, media and institutions.

After a plenary session dedicated to see how circular economy constitutes a positive dynamic for the economic, social and territorial development and define the strategic levers for the transition, the afternoon session aimed at providing concrete examples of implementation of the circular economy concept within businesses and territories, as well as many testimonials. Participants had to choose among the following itineraries:

• Switching from planned obsolescence to the duration of use: matching manufacturers and consumers,

• Territories strengthened by the cooperation and collaboration of all stakeholders,

• Eco-design, functional economy: new models for businesses.

SCP/RAC SWITCH-Med Regional Management Team will share with you some of those inspiring examples on the SWITCH-Med platform very shortly.

To see the video of the plenary session, click here

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