The Concept of GrEEn and Circular Economy
GrEEN Economy
A GrEEn Economy (GE) is a sustainable economy that is resilient against the effects of climate change, adopting innovative ways to reduce environmental degradation and focus on socially inclusive development. GrEEn Economy requires great change in production, consumption and lifestyles towards economic activities that enhance and preserve environmental quality, coupled with efficient use of natural resources; and reduction of social inequalities. The approach is based on sound economic analysis of current trends, risks and opportunities, as well as on taking stock of national experiences in effectively applying more integrated policy tools.
Within a GrEEn Economy, growth in income and employment is driven by investments that
Circular Economy
Circular economy is focused on minimalizing and reducing waste by ensuring that when a product reaches the end of its life cycle, its materials are re-used and kept within the economy wherever possible, creating further value for the product and its benefit to society. Circular economy is a departure from the traditional, linear economic model, which is based on a ‘take-make-consume-throwaway’ pattern. It focuses on repeated use of resources and products and entails gradually moving away from economic activity that consume limited resources towards designing model that makes use of ‘waste’ from the system. Transitioning to renewable energy sources, the circular model builds economic, natural, and social capital.
Benefits of Circular Economy
Principles of Circular Economy
Circular Economy In Ghana
The central idea of circular economy is the make use of natural resources in a more sustainable manner which ensures that production doesn’t end up polluting the environment. Factors that come into play when addressing and also creating awareness on this is the need for behavioural change and social constructs around waste and the importance of encouraging sustainable forms of production and processes.
In Ghana for instance, opportunity are rampant in the sectors from input selection, transport, packaging, industry processes. Ghana holds much promise for the incorporation of such forms of production that inspire the reuse, repair and restore of products seen as waste into various primary products that can be used in production processes. The collection of plastic waste which is sent to companies in Accra and Tema who then turn these plastics to rubber pellets which goes into the production of polythene rubbers. The use of scrap metals by smelting companies or used by artists in making sculptures are some of the few circular economy examples available in Ghana. The whole concept needs to be broken down into the ten so called “R-strategies
Examples of Circular Economy In Ghana
Nine ‘R’ Strategies for the Circular Economy
TYPE | R# | NAME | STRATEGY |
Smarter Product Use And Manufacture | R0 | Refuse | R0): Make product redundant by abandoning its function or by offering the same function with a radically different product |
Smarter Product Use And Manufacture | R1 | RETHINK | Make product use more intensive (e.g. through sharing products, or by putting multi-functional products on the market |
Smarter Product Use And Manufacture | R2 | REDUCE | Increase efficiency in product manufacture or use by consuming fewer natural resources and materials |
Extend The Lifespan Of The Product Or Its Parts | R3 | RE-USE | Re-use by another consumer of discarded product which is still in good condition and fulfils its original function |
Extend The Lifespan Of The Product Or Its Parts | R4 | REPAIR | Repair and maintenance of a defective product so it can be used with its original function |
Extend The Lifespan Of The Product Or Its Parts | R5 | REFURBUSH | Restore an old product and bring it up to date |
Extend The Lifespan Of The Product Or Its Parts | R6 | REMANUFACTURE | Use parts of a discarded product in a new product with the same function |
Extend The Lifespan Of The Product Or Its Parts | R7 | REPURPOSE | Use discarded product or its parts in a new product with a different function |
Useful Application Of Materials | R8 | RECYCLE | Process materials to obtain the same (high grade) or lower (low grade) quality |
Useful Application Of Materials | R9 | RECOVER | Incineration of materials with energy recovery |
Source: PBL, 2017