Targets for recycling, reuse and minimisation are all very well at demonstrating ambition and a desired path of travel, but they don’t alone deliver greater sustainability.
Targets exist from now to 2040 with the lofty ambition of halving residual waste production per capita, reaching recycling rates of 75% meaning an extra 10 million tons of recyclables to be managed and the near elimination of avoidable plastic waste whilst plastic production rises. With the world level of circularity now declining with only 7.2% of materials being cycled back into the system down from 9.1% the progress has been painfully slow. This all despite decades of targets and regulations implemented at both European and British levels.
Whilst the recent regulatory support coming from the Government and DEFRA is welcome, as is their understanding of how a more circular economy could assist growth supported by a coherent industrial strategy it is starting from a low point.
Regulation and fiscal instruments which drive change are fundamental to ever achieving greater circularity as behavioural change is both complex and slow to modify. However real systemic change can only ever be achieved by changed behaviours. So entrenched is the linear economy in both producers and consumers behaviours that subtle “nudge” style communication won’t alone be sufficient to shift the dial and certainly not in the timescales to meet the targets even in the short term.
The slow pace towards greater circularity reflects the system wide inertia, which is highlighted in a combination of structural, economic, behavioural and policy barriers. Progress cannot be left to innovation alone and it will require bold policy frameworks, financial incentives, cultural and consumption shifts and a greater collaboration across the sectors if we are to see progress.
So “nudge” style influence will not be enough and despite the efforts of the sector and more recently the Government and DEFRA to begin the movement towards circularity it will require their continued strong commitment combined with a multitude and mix of interventions over the long term if we are even to get close to the aspirations contained in the multiple targets, we have set ourselves.
