US Chamber Foundation, partners launch Circular Economy Toolbox
US Chamber Foundation, partners launch Circular Economy Toolbox
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The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Corporate Citizenship Center, in partnership with The Sustainability Consortium (TSC) and the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), have launched the Circular Economy Toolbox, an online platform to help companies incorporate more sustainable business practices that eliminate waste and increase efficiency.
“The circular economy has the power to transform the business community,” says Marc DeCourcey, senior vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. “The Circular Economy Toolbox will help foster innovative ideas and solutions that can strengthen business performance while invigorating sustainable development and economic growth.”
The concept of the circular economy emphasizes longevity, reuse and recycling within business operations beyond standard sustainability practices, says the foundation. The Circular Economy Toolbox will assist organizations in the development of programs that capitalize on the business value of the circular economy, providing actionable tools and steps for companies to adjust their practices and take advantage of the long-term benefits of becoming more circular.
The tool features a repository of projects that highlight how companies have successfully implemented circular business practices. It also provides information for businesses, including:
- an overview of the circular economy;
- background on the differences between circularity and sustainability;
- a glossary of terms and keywords; and
- a list of circular economy resources.
Euan Murray, chief executive of TSC, says, “The circular economy concept is important because it gives us a way of looking at product supply chains as holistic systems rather than as separate, individual activities. Using this tool, we can now expand the scope of sustainability right across the supply chain, rather than getting products to market first and tackling the sustainability issues after.”
Murray continues, “This approach aligns well with the vision and methodology used by TSC to look at a system as more than the sum of its parts. TSC is honored to partner with RILA and the U.S. Chamber Foundation to create this essential and important tool.”
Adam Siegel, senior vice president of research innovation and sustainability at RILA, adds, “RILA is excited to partner with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and The Sustainability Consortium to create this important resource for brands looking to participate in and grow our nation’s circular economy. We designed this toolkit to help America’s retailers navigate the process of moving away from the traditional ‘take-make-waste’ approach into a circular and more sustainable model. As America’s retailers focus on promoting sustainability from shore to shelf, we want to help them every step of the way. This toolkit is a new way to help move industry forward.”
The toolbox will be a dynamic platform and will accept new projects for consideration on an ongoing basis.
The Circular Economy Toolbox was supported by Tarkett and can be found online here.
TSC, Scottsdale, Arizona, is a global organization dedicated to improving the sustainability of consumer products.
RILA, Arlington, Virginia, is the trade association of more than 200 retailers, product manufacturers and service suppliers, which together account for more than $1.5 trillion in annual sales, millions of American jobs and more than 100,000 stores, manufacturing facilities and distribution centers domestically and abroad.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Corporate Citizenship Center is a leading resource for businesses dedicated to making a difference. For more than 15 years, its programs, events, research and relationships with key nongovernmental organizations and governments have helped businesses make the world a better place, the foundation says.
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Source: Recycling Today
US Chamber Foundation, partners launch Circular Economy Toolbox
<![CDATA[The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Corporate Citizenship Center, in partnership with The Sustainability Consortium (TSC) and the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), have launched the Circular Economy Toolbox, an online platform to help companies incorporate more sustainable business practices that eliminate waste and increase efficiency. “The circular economy has the power to transform the business community,” says Marc DeCourcey, senior vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. “The Circular Economy Toolbox will help foster innovative ideas and solutions that can strengthen business performance while invigorating sustainable development and economic growth.”The concept of the circular economy emphasizes longevity, reuse and recycling within business operations beyond standard sustainability practices, says the foundation. The Circular Economy Toolbox will assist organizations in the development of programs that capitalize on the business value of the circular economy, providing actionable tools and steps for companies to adjust their practices and take advantage of the long-term benefits of becoming more circular.The tool features a repository of projects that highlight how companies have successfully implemented circular business practices. It also provides information for businesses, including:an overview of the circular economy;background on the differences between circularity and sustainability;a glossary of terms and keywords; anda list of circular…