CIRCULAR ECONOMY &
SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION
“Using less of the Earth’s resources more efficiently and productively in a circular economy [is a] defining feature of the emerging economic paradigm.”
Jeremy Rifkin¹
THE Challenge
Our traditional ‘take-make-waste’ consumption model is placing unprecedented strain on our planet’s resources.
Left unchecked, we are heading towards catastrophic climate change and ecosystem damage.
THE Solution
Sustainable consumption and the circular economy offer us the chance to revolutionise our resource use.
By minimising raw materials, optimising product lifespan, and re-using or recycling at the end of a product's life, we can help eliminate almost half of the necessary global carbon dioxide emissions reductions by 2050,⁹ as well as ensuring resources are available for future generations.
The market opportunity
Sustainable consumption and the circular economy offer a $2 trillion investment opportunity, combining groundbreaking impact with attractive financial returns.
investment areas
Our Systems-Based Investment approach spans the product lifecycle, from reducing raw materials at production to extracting value from waste.
Breakthrough Opportunities
Drashta unlocks access to game-changing solutions.
Best-in-class
carbon capture
A proprietary chemical-based technology that requires significantly less heat, energy and capital cost to capture carbon compared to best-in-class alternatives.
Breakthrough
modular recycling
An innovative system to process mixed plastic waste back into valuable resources while generating energy, offering superior CO₂ and energy balance vs standard systems.
Pioneering plastic-free vending machine
High-capacity robotic vending machine dispensing only 100% compostable bottled drinks, reducing plastic waste and aiming to revolutionize the bottled water industry.
IMPACT
Investing in Circular Economy & Sustainable Consumption contributes towards 7 of the Sustainable Development Goals:
Investing in sustainable consumption brings significant job creation (e.g., in developing and implementing new recycling technologies). and ensures long-term economic prosperity.
Implementing sustainable resource use can help industries innovate, strengthen supply chains, reduce risks, and increase resilience.
Cities offer a unique opportunity to test and drive adoption of new sustainable solutions, such as ride-hailing and other ‘sharing economy’ business models and recycling services.
SDG12 is the core impact of this theme. Reducing raw materials, extending product life, and recovering value from waste all help reduce pressure on natural resources, ensuring availability for the future.
Investments in sustainable consumption are vital for mitigating catastrophic climate change, addressing up to 45% of necessary carbon emissions reductions by 2050.
Reducing use and disposal of raw materials such as plastics - 5 trillion pieces of which currently lie in the Earth’s oceans - will help reduce water pollution and conserve marine life.
Sustainable consumption decreases pressure on raw materials, reducing negative environmental effects such as deforestation, soil degradation and habitat destruction.