Trending Now
We have updated our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use for Eurasia Group and its affiliates, including GZERO Media, to clarify the types of data we collect, how we collect it, how we use data and with whom we share data. By using our website you consent to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy, including the transfer of your personal data to the United States from your country of residence, and our use of cookies described in our Cookie Policy.
{{ subpage.title }}
How the circular economy empowers small businesses
Listen: Imagine an economy where products are designed to be reused, repaired, and regenerated instead of ending up as waste. That’s the circular economy, a model that redefines recycling and transforms how small businesses operate.
In this episode of "Local to Global: The power of small business," host JJ Ramberg sits down with Ellen Jackowski, Chief Sustainability Officer at Mastercard, and Rachel McShane, Chief Financial Officer at Depop, to discuss the scale of the circular economy, why circular practices boost both sustainability and profitability, and where the industry is headed next.
From Depop’s sustainable fashion marketplace that empowers small sellers and extends the life of clothing to Mastercard’s digital solutions that enhance the consumer experience and measure impact, the discussion highlights ways entrepreneurs can launch reuse, resale, and take-back programs. The conversation also addresses the pitfalls of greenwashing and the importance of credible, consistent standards.
“Local to global: The power of small business” is a new podcast series from GZERO Media's Blue Circle Studios and Mastercard, where we'll look behind the curtain to explore the world of small businesses and why they’re positioned to play an even bigger role in the future of the global economy.
To invest in recycling plastics, embrace risk and watch where you divest: JBIC's Tadashi Maeda
Tadashi Maeda, governor of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, believes there's huge potential for new technology to solve the global problem of plastic pollution via recycling. But to do so, he says companies should first be a bit less risk-averse with new ways of doing things, and don't rush to divest from countries that not only consume a lot of single-use plastics but also burn much coal like Indonesia or Vietnam.
Maeda spoke during the Sustainability Leaders Summit, a live GZERO event sponsored by Suntory. Watch the full discussion here.
Refuse single-use plastics — but not the rest: Aloke Lohia
Refusing single-use plastics is okay, but Aloke Lohia, CEO of Indorama Ventures, believes all other plastics should be given "a fair chance" at recycling. Lohia says that some plastics are already 100 percent reusable, while chemical recycling is "just around the corner." Lohia spoke during the second of a two-part Sustainability Leaders Summit livestream conversation sponsored by Suntory.
South Korean 'sparrows' try to cap surge of throwaway plastic
The "sparrows" get one upcycled tube-squeezer as a reward.
China's next problem is recycling 26m tonnes of discarded clothes
BEIJING (BLOOMBERG) - "Low-carbon, warmth, love," reads the sign on a large green metal bin, into which Beijing resident Zhao Xiao stuffs her unwanted, old clothes. "If some poor Chinese person really needs them, that would be great and would make me feel less guilty about throwing them away," said the 35-year-old resident of Dongcheng District.
Malaysia's battle against plastic waste spans beaches and city shops
TIOMAN (REUTERS) - Every weekend, a team of volunteers comb the coastline of the Malaysian resort of Tioman to collect plastic trash that washes up on the white-sand beaches of the island lapped by the South China Sea.
Myanmar's upcycling monk leads push to cut plastic waste
YANGON (REUTERS) - When a prominent Buddhist monk in Myanmar noticed a surge in plastic waste generated by residents in his Yangon neighbourhood during the pandemic, he decided to do something about it.
Trash for teaching: Indian students hope to set example on plastic recycling
CHENNAI (REUTERS) - Armed with bags full of discarded plastic, students at a school in north-east India are hoping to set a precedent by helping the planet - and getting free tuition.