How Digitalisation and Cultural Understanding Can Help Us Transition to a Better System The CSCP led two dialogues at the Circular Economy Stakeholder Conference in Brussels in February. “Roadmap to ICT-enabled circular economy”, where we discussed how digitalisation can enable circularity and “Overcoming Cultural Challenges in the Circular Transition” on the cultural factors that are key for developing better systems. Transitioning from our linear, degenerative, wasteful economy to a circular, regenerative, value-enhancing economy requires bringing about systems level improvements across a wide range of actors and processes. So we ask – how can we overcome the many challenges that we are encountering, and how can digitalisation and cultural understanding lead us to a system that is good for people, good for the planet and good for the economy. In the session on “Roadmap to ICT-enabled circular economy”, the CSCP’s Executive Director, Michael Kuhndt, opened with some of the current advancements in digital technology that have enhanced sustainability. After short impulse presentations, participants discussed how digitalisation can enable the circular economy and accelerate the transition. Collaboration is a central factor, as circular value chains require trust and openness to share data and create transparency. Digital material “passports” may be used in tracing goods throughout their lifetime and would enable easy sorting and recycling. Furthermore, a digital platform where material offers and needs are shared can aid in achieving synergies and symbiosis among companies. In the session on “Overcoming Cultural Challenges in the Circular Transition”, Raymond Slaughter, Senior Advisor at the CSCP, opened with some of the cultural issues being raised by company leaders and policy makers when it comes to shifting from linear to circular. In this session, participants emphasized the need to connect old values to the new concepts, rather than creating a whole new value system. Benefits of the circular economy for people, companies and the environment must be tangible, rather than abstract to excite changes in habits. Advocacy around the transition should focus on the positive future ahead rather than criticising the status quo. Similar to the session on digitalisation, participants stressed the need for collaboration, since problems seem too daunting (and surely are too complex) to be solved by one actor alone. If you are interested in or are also working on any of these topics, please get in touch with us and let’s find ways to collaborate! Feel free to contact Raymond Slaughter and check out our R2Pi project on the transition towards a circular economy. The Circular Economy Stakeholder Conference was hosted by the European Commission and the European Economic and Social Committee as a multi-stakeholder dialogue of the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform. The CSCP has been a member of the Platform since 2016 with the Executive Director, Michael Kuhndt, serving on its Coordination Group.