Macao International Environmental Cooperation Forum & Exhibition 2016 (2016 MIECF) invited Professor Dr. h.c. Walter R. Stahel, the pioneer of the circular economy and founder of cradle-to-cradle and performance economy concepts, to give a lecture titled “Explaining the latest trends in circular economy developments”. Dr. Stahel explained that the concept of circular economy is possibly opposite to that of traditional industrial economy. Circular economy focuses on the durability of a product which is favorable for reducing greenhouse gas emissions while balancing trade, although it may affect the sales volume of a company.

New solution for waste management: circular economy and expressive economy

    Dr. Walter Stahel is also the Founder-Director of The Product-Life Institute, Geneva, Full Member of the Club of Rome, Vice-Secretary General and Director of Risk Management research of the Geneva Association, Visiting Professor at the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, UK, Laureate of the Mitchell-Prize Competition on sustainable societies in Houston, TX, USA. and first prize in the competition of the German Future’s Society, Berlin.

   At the lecture on the first day, Dr. Stahel elaborated that there are different solutions for waste treatment, the most common of which is incineration, but new solutions consists of circular economy and expressive economy, which gives more prominence to the better utilization of existing resources. Circular economy may be applied to the manufacturing industry, water resource and materials of the local area. There are challenges existing together with opportunities.

The concept of circular economy may be opposite to that of traditional industrial economy

    According to Dr. Stahel, the concept of circular economy may be opposite to that of traditional industrial economy. Circular economy advocates keeping the value of the product, stresses the durability of the product and follows the principle that as long as the product is properly maintained by the consumer, it will have a longer service life so as to lower the frequency of replacement. This, in turn, will reduce the emission of greenhouse gas and balance trade. However, circular economy may affect the sales volume of a company that the leaders, owners or stock holders of an enterprise have to bear in mind when considering a concept in the promotion of circular economy.

Expressive economy stresses on recycling and reuse

    Expressive economy advocates that the holder owns the product constantly but utilizes the product to its largest extent by leasing and sharing, thus enabling technologies to bring a better life to human beings. Recycling and reuse of the product may grant the product with prolonged value and use to the owner, although thought to be disadvantageous from an economic perspective to manufacturers. Technological progress in an expressive economy may solve relevant problems. An expressive economy can make old products into future resources, which is bound to benefit humanity once adopted.

Dr. Walter Stahel was invited by the organizer to exchange views with attendants on the theme of “Enhancing Waste Management through the Internet Plus” at 2:00 p.m. on April 1. In recent years, the Internet of Things (IoT) has revolutionized business and society in many and diverse ways no less than in the manner in which products and services are being allocated and supplied to their respective customer networks. The most important innovations among these changes are happening within the waste management industry, where sensors and smart modules are being used to automate the administration and control of waste and are aiding in cost-saving measures. The forum expects to demonstrate the cutting-edge opinions of Dr. Walter Stahel while allowing the attendants to comprehend the concepts on circular economy as well as the latest technologies of waste management through this session.

Dr. Walter Stahel providing a lecture titled “Explaining the latest trends in circular economy developments”