2022.11.17 THU

17:30 - 18:45

Circular Priciples for Carbon Neutrality -Accelerating circular economy actions by the business sector and key drivers-

Organizer

Ministry of the Environment, Government of Japan

Co-organizer

World Economic Forum

Seminar abstract

Circular Economy (CE) is necessary to realize a carbon neutral society, as it has been pointed out that making the economy more circular is essential to increase the potential for significant and accelerated greenhouse gas reductions(GHG) in all relevant sectors. In this field, the Japanese government, together with Keidanren, launched a public-private partnership in March 2021, and has held a total of seven public-private dialogues by September 2022. This seminar aims to contribute to the "Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency Principles (CEREP)" to be formulated at the G7 Ministerial Meeting in 2023 by discussing how the private sector, including Japanese companies, can be positioned at the core of management in the CE sector and how to implement this as a strategy.

The aim of the seminar is to discuss the development and dissemination of the Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency Principles (CEREP), which will serve as a common thread to guide companies willing to achieve their Net Zero ambitions toward a more circular world, as CE is a positive issue that contributes to the economy, environment, and society, including climate change, biodiversity, and resource constraints. The goal is to build momentum and increase the involvement of private sector constituents, making this seminar a milestone in the promotion of a circular economy that contributes to a carbon-neutral society.

Live-streaming: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_9TuCmKqLRo-nfaH2VkF8ZA
*Depending on local network conditions, it may not be possible to distribute the streaming

Speakers

【Local Speakers】

• Akihiro Nishimura（Ministry of the Environment, Japan） Minister of the Enviroment
• Vivian Heinen（Ministry for the Environment, the Netherlands） Minister for the Environment
• Kristin Hughes（World Economic Forum） Executive Director for Resource Circularity
• Wataru Baba（Panasonic Group） Senior Fellow, Sustainability and Climate
• Andreas Follér（Scania CV AB） Head of Sustainability
• Nidhi Baiswar（JLL） Sustainability and Climate Leadership Director
• Izabella Teixeira（UNEP International Resource Panel） Co-chair

【Online Speakers】

• Daisuke Kanazawa（Mitsubishi Chemical Group） Advisor to General Manager, Green Transformation Division

Session Summary

NISHIMURA Akihiro, Minister of the Environment, Japan stated that Japan has set a target to increase the domestic circular economy market from JPY 50 trillion to JPY 80 trillion by 2030, and that under the Japanese G7 Presidency in 2023, Japan aims to formulate circular economy and resource efficiency principles. Vivian Heinen, Minister of the Environment, Netherlands, also emphasised that it would be impossible to limit global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius without global resource efficiency.
The panel discussion focused on how the private sector can be a driving force, with views from the participants from Scania, JLL, Panasonic and Mitsubishi Chemical, as well as the United Nations Environment Programme’s International Resource Panel (IRP).
Scania introduced the company’s efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from its products and to extend product life. The panellist stated that the challenge is to create business models offering more economic value to both customers and the company.
Citing the fact that more than one billion people around the world use its products on a daily basis (emitting 100 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year), Panasonic explained the importance of the circular based business and presented measures to reform its entire business.
JLL introduced the company’s initiatives in infrastructure and the built environment, such as integrating climate change measures into the corporate sustainability strategy to reduce carbon dioxide emission from both its own offices and customers’ property.
IRP highlighted the importance of understanding the impact of climate change on biodiversity, redesigning business, and also called for prompt actions rather than “green wishing”.
Mitsubishi Chemicals noted that plastic waste is an effective resource and that a product passport to is a practical tool for realising recycling-oriented business, and stressed the need to improve cooperation between the chemical industry and plastic waste recovery systems.

Message and Results

• ・Collaboration and partnership can be very effective means of promoting a company’s own circular business, turning competitors into partners and building relationships to circulate resources, meaning that there are no major risks associated with working with competitors.
• ・Without building circular based business, companies may lose competitiveness in the global market in terms of costs, carbon footprint, resilience and geopolitical risks.
• ・Since many customers and clients are interested in sustainability nowadays, efforts to achieve carbon neutral targets and circular businesses will have a positive impact on acquiring customers.

https://www.iges.or.jp/en/events/20221118