Industry urged to leverage circular economy
Lewis Njoka @LewisNjoka
The private sector has been challenged to deepen efforts towards a nascent circular economy with a view of maximising the limited resources in the country.
At the same time, the Kenyan government has been encouraged to develop a solid legal framework to support the adoption of sustainable business practices.
This emerged during the virtual 6th Annual Circular Economy Conference in Nairobi, the conference aimed to create a mind shift of the private and public sector to speed up the transition to a circular economy.
Speaking during the event, Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) chief executive, Carole Karuga, said that the private sector must increase awareness on circular economy and its extensive benefits.
“I am a firm believer of the cradle to cradle model, where everything is a resource for regenerating another product,” said Karuga.
Working together
“From green manufacturing, sustainable water use, regenerative agriculture, construction to tourism; industries must work together to close the loop by promoting and embracing the redesigning, repairing, recycling, reusing and reducing strategies.”
She said the sector continues to spearhead transformative public-private partnerships, providing market-based solutions.
“The shift towards a circular economy is the way forward to achieving Sustainable Development Goal number 12 on responsible production and consumption.
We need to exchange knowledge and experiences to accelerate the transition together and achieve our mutual shared goals,” said the Ambassador of Netherlands to Kenya, Maarteen Brouwers
As opposed to the linear one, the circular economy aims to increase efficiency at all stages of the product economy.
