Circular Economy
The circular economy: educating socially and environmentally responsible citizens
Education has a key role to play in ensuring that our society reuses products and materials and applies the principles of the circular economy. With this in mind, training to develop experts in this field will allow companies to adapt to this new model and help transform us into a fairer and more equitable society.
By Luis Salvatella Ibáñez
The transformation of a society that squanders natural resources into one that strives to maximise the reuse of products and materials requires well-informed citizens prepared to work in partnership with companies and institutions. In order for all of the players involved in the introduction of the circular economy to be able to cooperate fruitfully, it is essential to introduce the principles of the circular economy at all levels of education and even in the continuous training of professionals.
As a starting point, it is necessary to raise awareness among citizens of the impact of their own actions on the environment and the importance of nature in daily life. To do this, we need to be aware of how our way of life relates to climate change, soil degradation and air and water pollution.
Education should also encourage critical thinking. We need to make the daily decisions about the purchase of consumer items, the choice of means of transport, the recycling of waste and the optimisation of energy use at home.
A conscious society will be the best environment for the training of experts in the implementation of the circular economy, who will need specific training, such as that offered by the Master's Degree in Circular Economy at the Iberus Campus, consisting of the University of Zaragoza, the Public University of Navarra, the University of Lleida and the University of La Rioja. This type of training is ideal not only for recent graduates, but also for professionals wishing to acquire a comprehensive overview of the circular economy.
“Up to 70% of the materials contained in electric car batteries can be recycled thanks to new technologies".
The incorporation of circular economy experts into companies will be key to including corporate design for the circular economy and business models that allow the lifespan of products to be extended or even for their replacement by services.. These experts will design products and services that will be sustainable from the outset, and will know how to reuse and recycle materials, and how to use renewable energies. They will also know how to implement and manage circular economy practices in companies and organisations.. They will foster innovation and entrepreneurship in the business sector for the creation of sustainable businesses and products. They will develop skills in risk management and informed decision-making in relation to natural resources. These new experts will occupy the emerging jobs in companies that promote this new economic model and will work in partnership with other sectors to implement sustainable solutions.
Education in the circular economy helps to foster greater social and environmental responsibility in companies and organisations to develop a fairer and more equitable society, which helps to reduce poverty and inequality by encouraging a more efficient use of resources.
Citizens aware of the importance of the circular economy will demand that their institutions promote measures that encourage the sustainable use of resources and the maximum reuse of products at the end of their useful life. Institutions will need to have experts for the development of sustainable policies and regulations to guide and support the transition to a circular economy.
