Moving away from the ‘take-make-dispose’ model
Context:
- Because it sees the need to move away from the “take-make-dispose” model and towards the “reduce-reuse-recycle” strategy, India has prioritised “Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy” as one of the three primary topics for discussion in the G-20 summit.
Recycling industry:
- Because products are designed to be durable, recyclable, and reusable in a circular economy, almost everything gets recycled, rebuilt, or used as a source of energy.
- It consists of six parts: material recovery, refurbishment, reusing, recycling, reduction, and repair.
- The circular bioeconomy, the steel industry, extended producer responsibility (EPR), and the establishment of an industry-led coalition for resource efficiency and the circular economy are the four important sectors of the circular economy that India has embraced during its G-20 presidency.
- Initiatives related to resource efficiency and the circular economy are now more broadly accepted within the G-20 community.
Converting the steel industry to a circular one:
- Most G-20 members have vowed to pursue net zero objectives and are lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
- Effective utilisation of steel is necessary for the development of infrastructure.
- Particularly in growing economies like India, steel is in high demand.
- Approximately 7% of the emissions from the energy sector are caused by the production of iron and steel worldwide.
- The switch to a circular steel industry is a crucial strategy for lowering emissions from the steel industry.
- Making sure the G-20 members collaborate to share information, develop technology, and transfer technology is the key.
- During India’s G-20 chairmanship, the usefulness of the EPR framework in integrating circularity throughout the value chain is being emphasised.
Recycling, a bioeconomy, and biofuels:
- The effective use of EPR results in the establishment of a streamlined rubbish collection system and significantly aids the expansion of the recycling infrastructure.
- India has also released comprehensive battery and e-waste management legislation.
- Biowaste, which includes municipal and industrial waste as well as agricultural residue, has become an issue on a worldwide scale since a lot of it is burned, leading to pollution, biodiversity loss, and climate change.
- When paired with crops suitable for degraded locations, biowaste can act as valuable primary raw materials and viable mineral resource replacements.
- The use of a circular bioeconomy plan will reduce the need for the extraction of new resources and provide a workable solution for waste disposal.
Governmental initiatives:
- The usage of biofuels has been encouraged by the Indian government. The Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana for Integrated Bio-Ethanol Projects provides financial support for the creation of second generation (2G) ethanol projects.
- The 2G bioethanol technique produces bioethanol from waste feedstock, such as crop residues and municipal solid waste, which are otherwise useless.
- Additionally, India has mandated that 5% of biomass pellets be used in thermal power plants that burn coal.
- The Galvanising Organic Bio-Agro Resources (GOBAR) Dhan initiative was launched by the Indian government to convert animal manure and other organic waste into compost, biogas, and biofuels in order to boost sustainable agriculture and reduce pollution.
- The scheme, which already has more than 500 operating biogas plants, has also improved rural livelihoods and hygienic conditions.
- Under the Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) Scheme, which was launched in 2018, compressed biogas (CBG) has been pushed as an alternative green transportation fuel. By encouraging the development of the infrastructure required for the production, storage, and transport of CBG, this project has benefited the bioenergy sector.
Moving forward
- Due to the importance of industries in enhancing resource efficiency and circular economy practises, India has envisioned an industrial coalition in these sectors.
- In addition, the alliance will aim to advance cross-industry technology cooperation, create cutting-edge capabilities, mobilise de-risked capital, and encourage aggressive private sector involvement.
Conclusion:
- Global gatherings like the G-20 are essential for putting forward solutions to urgent issues and working together to solve them. Resource conservation and the circular economy are now crucial tactics in our effort to combat the three main global issues.
