Constantin Damov, CERC: “The circular economy is a concept that must be unblocked at the political level“

“The circular economy is not an alien; it is not a different economy. The circular economy takes into account all the values ​​of the economic chain. The circular economy has been the basis of a very active dialogue lately and is now the most discussed field in theory, but in practice it is still an emerging field. It is a natural pattern at the base. Today’s economic model that reaches the limits of the resource will have to be a natural model.

It’s a first step, we’ve made the transition from “garbage” to “waste.” The next step is to change the definitions, namely, to move from concepts such as waste management to resource management.

Today, the circular economy is becoming an economy of peace, in the sense of recovering, capitalizing on and re-valuing resources, so as to avoid resource-based conflicts,“ Constantin Damov, President, Circular Economy Coalition (CERC) said during Circular Economy Conference organized by The Diplomat-Bucharest.

“For the circular economy to exist, we must have financing. Will the banks come to finance, for example, a photovoltaic park that does not bring an investment return as good as a thermal power plant? I asked several bankers if the circular economy was bankable and they didn’t know what to tell me. I say that the circular economy is bankable, but in certain segments.

If every consumer does not accept the circular economy as a model, it will not take place. The circular economy must not be rejected, it must be accepted financially as well.

Instead of talking about ownership of waste, we should talk about ownership of resources. Sustainability requires enormous efforts on the part of the human species. We are invasive animals that attack the environment in which they live for a comfort that sometimes exceeds the limits of morality.

The first resource in the circular economy is waste. The waste is colossal in all areas and today’s consumer consumes much more than his needs. He gets the urge to consume things he doesn’t need.

The companies they represent have completely disconnected from the consumption of natural raw materials. We are talking about an industry that grows and develops only through the consumption of secondary resources or waste.

We have a huge shortage of specialists. There are no specialists in Romania to calculate the carbon footprint. We used specialists from Switzerland and other countries to calculate our CO2 footprint. Things are moving, and Romania does not have specialists to provide various measurements that we will have to make in the future in the field of sustainability. Universities prepare students for the past, not the future.

The circular economy involves cooperation between all the actors in the economic circle. The circular economy is the only chance of survival for the human species. The circular economy is a concept that must be unblocked at the political level.“

Full recording of the conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oonbexyNmcw&t=9905s