RENEWABLE MATTER INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE ON THE BIOECONOMY AND THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY 23-24 | September-December 2018 Bimonthly Publication Edizioni Ambiente Focus Jobs: Is the Circular Economy an Employment Driver? • The Sustainable Future of Labour. Interview with Enrico Giovannini • Daniel Gros: Too Much Pessimism Over Europe • New Jobs: How Many and What Kind Dossier Italy: Circular and Top of the Class • Capillary Circularity at Enel • Renovating People and Objects • Sustainable Water Management in Cities • The Novamont Recipe for Microplastics Focus Construction: Increasingly Green and Circular • Ecotopia 2121, Power to Imagination • 111,000 Net Zero Energy Buildings • Blockchain for Waste • The Advantages of Integrated Buildings Battle to the Last Bottle: Canada vs Nestlé • A Strategy for the Environment. Interview with Sergio Costa • Bioeconomy Portugal: Oceans and Forests at the Centre Euro 25.00 – www.renewablematter.eu/en – Poste Italiane S.P.A. Postal Subscription 70% LOM/MI/00670__Tax Paid/International Postmail Partners Patronages ADI Design Index 2015 Selection RENEWABLE MATTER Networking Partners Supporters Initiative arbon Tracker Technical Partners Printed by Geca Industrie Grafiche using mineral oil free vegetable-based inks. Geca production system does not produce exhaust and all waste of our manufacture is introduced into a process of collection and recycling. www.gecaonline.it Printed on Crush ecological papers by Favini, made using process residues from organic products to replace up to 15% of virgin pulp: cover Crush Mais 250 gsm, text Crush Mais 120 gsm. www.favini.com/en Editorial Marx Reloaded by Emanuele Bompan The linear capitalist economy, founded on paid €3 for an article, 12 hours a day for €350 the paradigm of “extract, produce, consume, a month, consultancy for €6.50/h. “Wealthy” dispose,” has been working incessantly, even on for some. Even those professions that used to a social level, towards treating the labour force be seen as quintessentially bourgeois have not with the same commodifying logic. In this way, been spared from the total deregulation of the the worker becomes a commodity; to be used job market. And, it is not just global corporations as long as it is productive, and then disposed that are to blame: exploiters can also be found of at the end of its (productive) life; once it has among small and family-businesses. In small generated a satisfactory amount of surplus and medium sized business enterprises in the value. Hyper-exploited and underpaid, workers developing world worker protections are non- have generated a surplus value that has allowed existent. The likelihood that a woman or mother will for a small group of individuals to accumulate lose their job in China and Brazil is dangerously enormous amounts of wealth. The world’s 42 high. Automation and digitisation will erode the richest multi-billionaires possess as much wealth availability of new jobs, while the complexity of the as the 3.7 billion people who work and toil every global economic situation might never be able to day, or are excluded from employment and guarantee the necessary social welfare for a new relegated to lives of mere survival. circular economy. This same circular economy, as defined by European industrialists, does not For over a century, social activists and trade- have the right foundations to be a remedy to the unions have battled for new rights, including those question of employment. Thousands of new jobs of women, and have fought for changes such as will be created; new professions will emerge. But, the universalisation of paid holidays and minimum what kind of quality of life will these jobs bring with wage. These victories have helped to counter the them? Will this new economic vision regenerate the socially destructive force of an economic model world of labour through a new interpretation of the that has drained our planet of all its resources, European Community and the economy in general? taking away our rights to a healthy existence and to Can the environment and environmentalism the enjoyment of common goods by contaminating contribute to a renaissance in social justice which soil, air and water. Regardless of all of this, has disappeared wretchedly; destroyed by false nowhere near enough is being done to improve emergencies and an ever less humane social the state of affairs. The situation continues to consumerism? deteriorate in the industrialised world, whereas in newly industrialised countries little to no progress Work should be as Marx described it: “a is being made. The new generations in rich manifestation of liberty,” “objectification/ countries are often underpaid, with poor labour realisation of the subject,” “true liberty.” In all the protection, long working hours and no pension historical forms that have followed, work has in plans; all for the benefit of the small cadre of various cases become “repellent,” creating social employers who, more often than not, belong to outcasts (as well as material waste) and slowed the previous generation. belief in a better future, in a jubilee of peoples. The emergence of dictators, new-right movements and Trade unions are losing their power to defend populism all over the world is also a consequence workers even in the industrial and agricultural of economic imbalance and uncertainty, as well as sectors, whereas in the developing world they the erosion of workers’ rights. fail to flourish, leaving workers at the complete mercy of management (the Master). Entire sectors If we really want to consider a circular economy, such as publishing, architecture, law and design we mustn’t kid ourselves. No business, region or all underpay their junior collaborators. In what nation will ever be circular if it doesn’t value its is considered “wealthy” Europe they are being workers. Chile’s Journey by Petar Ostojic Over the last few years, the circular economy has first public circular economy instrument in Latin gained momentum in Latin America. Historically, America to promote entrepreneurs and companies Chile has based its economy on an agro-mining with circular business models, providing up to export model focused on the extraction and $100,000 in financing for projects. exploitation of natural resources – wheat, nitrate Furthermore, the Chilean government is in the and copper. This has led to Chile participating process of drafting a new Climate Change Law to help in the international market merely as a user combat the effects of climate change on the country. of the technologies developed during the last The bill is expected to enter Congress in 2019 and will three industrial revolutions. Currently, there is help boost the transition towards a circular economy. a consensus that this situation cannot continue and that this time around Chile must not pass up Circular Economy and the Fourth Industrial on a historic opportunity to participate in a new Revolution technological paradigm shift. Furthermore, Chile currently faces new challenges Hand in hand with the majority of Latin America, that are forcing a rethink of their economic model. Chile missed the three previous industrial revolutions, Co-Founder and CEO of Chile leads the Latin American ranking for countries becoming a country with large deficits in terms of Neptuno Pumps; Founder that generate the most waste per capita, with 456 industrial development, innovation and technology. and Executive Director of kg produced per person per year; as well as taking The current linear economy, based on take-make- the Centre for Innovation third place in the regional ranking for generation of dispose, has made it even more difficult for the and Circular Economy – electronic waste (e-waste), with 10 kg per capita per country to become an important player in the global CIEC; UNIDO Consultant; Endeavor High Impact year. The country has also fallen behind in terms of economy, being mainly relegated to the extraction Entrepreneur; Petar recycling, since only 10%, of the 17 million tonnes of its precious and finite natural resources, such as Ostojic is recognised as of solid waste generated annually is recycled. copper and lithium. the first promoter of the Climate change is another sensitive issue for the However, several specialists and organisations share circular economy in Latin country. According to the 2017 Global Climate Risk the idea that the circular economy will become the America by the World Index (CRI), Chile is among the ten most affected economic model of the fourth industrial revolution. Economic Forum. countries by this phenomenon. Therefore, by adopting a National Strategy for the Centre for Innovation and Circular Economy, Chile is creating a tremendous Circular Economy – CIEC, National Policies and Government opportunity to join the new industrial revolution ciecircular.com/en proactively. Fortunately, Chile has managed to transform these The Chilean Government agency CORFO, has Blog: www.petarostojic.cl Twitter: @petarostojic threats into opportunities by pledging to reduce taken on an important role by creating policies GHG emissions by 30%, as well as committing to that promote the development of an industry 4.0 in the recovery and reforestation of 200,000 hectares Chile. The combination of circular economy and of woodlands by 2030. This has put them at the industry 4.0 will create a new breed of entrepreneurs forefront of development in renewable energies, and innovators that will incorporate technologies possessing 55.8% of the total installed solar such as the internet of things, big data, advanced capacity in Latin America and the Caribbean. manufacturing, 3D printing, artificial intelligence and It is also one of the first countries in Latin America blockchain technology. In turn, this will allow for to adopt an Extended Producer Responsibility the birth of new companies, and local world-class (EPR) policy in order to manage and reduce the enterprises with disruptive business models, that will generation of waste. Their EPR policy focuses on not only fight climate change and create thousands six key products: lubricating oils, electric/electronic of new high quality jobs, but will also finally enable devices, batteries, packaging, and tyres.