Switzerland has almost no circular economy

class=”sc-3778e872-0 gWjAEa”>

Most of the materials and raw materials used in the Swiss economy come from newly mined sources – this is demonstrated in a study published Monday by networking platform Circular Economy Switzerland and consulting firm Deloitte Switzerland. Accordingly, only 7 percent of the raw materials used come from so-called secondary sources such as recycling.

Common circular economy measures are reuse, treatment, repair or recycling. But there are shortcomings here. According to the research, about 163 million tons of new materials are currently used in Switzerland every year. This corresponds to 19 tons per person. According to the report, the sustainable level will be 8 tons.

Less food waste, more sustainable buildings

The majority (73 percent) of material consumption in Switzerland comes from the manufacturing industry, the construction industry, and the agriculture and food industry. The study’s authors identified several areas with great improvement potential, including advancing circular production and the circular food system, and rethinking transportation and mobility. Concrete examples of this would be promoting sustainable buildings, reducing food waste and electromobility.

The authors write that the implementation of the measures could almost double the share of the circular economy. Material consumption can be reduced by one third, CO₂– Up to 43 percent footprint.

The report also sees other benefits of the circular economy: improving population health, increasing well-being through more sustainable food, and protecting nature and biodiversity.

The Netherlands relies on cycles

Deloitte has prepared the study several times globally. At 7.2 percent, the international average is currently slightly higher than in Switzerland. The Netherlands has strongly supported the circular economy in recent years. According to Deloitte, about a quarter of the economy currently works with recyclable materials. In Norway and Sweden, the circular economy is even less common than in Switzerland.

The presented report was initiated by Circular Economy Switzerland and Deloitte Switzerland. The study was written by Amsterdam-based influencer Circle Economy. Over 60 organizations from the Swiss private sector, public sector and civil society were featured in the report, including Swissmem, Migros, ETH Zurich and WWF. (sda/uae)

Source : Blick